Tim and Olive's Blog

Thoughtful marriage, parenting, and life.
  • My Birthday Tradition (A Gift for my Mom)
    It’s my 32nd birthday today. When I was young, my father taught me that I should buy my mother a gift on every one of my birthdays, because she had worked so hard to give me life. I took my dad’s suggestion so he would not cancel my allowance because I love my mom. Read More
  • 9 Signs Your Child May Have Vision Trouble 9 Signs Your Child May Have Trouble Seeing

    [This is a guest post by Emily Joseph]

    Do you know that one in four children has a problem with her vision that could be affecting her ability to learn? That’s according to the American Optometric Association, which also says that many eye problems aren’t detected during routine exams.
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  • What I Learned: 10 Life-Changing Lessons From My Teenage Years What I Learned: 10 Life-Changing Lessons from my Teenage Years

    “What I Learned” is a guest post series of lessons learned in relationships that matter the most (you can send us your story too). This guest post is by Agnes Jimenez from Cebu, Philippines.

    If you are anything like me, your teenage years were very eventful. It seems like more happened to me during those years than during any other period of my life. There are many changes, both mental and physical, that take place. This is literally the period of time in which a boy turns into a man or a girl turns into a woman, and the process can be trying in many ways. However, all of these changes can lead to some very important lessons, such as these 10 that I learned while I was growing up.
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  • Our Word for 2013: Courage

    “Courage is not the absence of fear, but action in the face of fear.” – Unknown

    As we launch into 2013, Tim and I both feel significantly drawn to the word, “Courage.” It’s an invitation, a challenge, a rally cry and a prayer.
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  • why-looking-for-a-low-maintenance-wife-is-a-mistake Why Looking for a Low-Maintenance Wife is a Mistake

    “Make a list of qualities that you are looking for in a wife.” That was the advice that many people gave me as a single person – in magazines, conferences, and as personal advice. So I started making my list: beautiful, intelligent, fun, adventurous, and low-maintenance.
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  • 2012 Year In Review 2012 Year in Review

    As 2012 comes to an end, I’m prompted to reflect on the past year. What happened? What moments defined the year? What have I learned and how have I changed? As I reflect, I gain a sense of gratitude for how blessed my family and I are. But reflection also helps me to look ahead to the next year and decide how I can live deliberately and intentionally to make the most of my life. Here are a few things I’ve been reflecting on.
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  • 9 Ways to Cheer Up Your Wife

    Is your wife in a bad mood? Or is she just tired? Here are 9 great ideas for cheering up your wife.
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  • Merry Christmas

    Chan family Christmas 2012

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  • Remember Whose You Are

    “Always wear your invisible crown,” was a quote that caught my eye a while ago. I had seen it floating around Pinterest and I thought it would be a good reminder to hang up in our house. I liked the idea of having a visible prompt to remember my identity as a child of God.
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  • My Daughter Hates Santa Claus

    It’s official. My daughter hates Santa Claus. My cousin-in-law arrived at the family Christmas party dressed up as Santa (partly at my request). At first Allie was curious, and crawled over to see what the fuss was all about. That curiosity quickly turned into fear, as she quickly started crying.
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