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Writing About The Hard Stuff By Laura L. Smith
I’m excited to be hosting several guest posts over the next several months – author, writers and bloggers who have things to share beyond the picture perfect image. You’ll find their posts under the...
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Raising A Daughter As An Eating Disorder Survivor
Today I’m posting a personal article in my monthly column at Whatever Girls, a ministry for moms and daughters. It’s the first part of a two-part serious sharing my experience raising a daughter as an...
View ArticleThe Top 3 Lessons from 25 Years of Marriage
As promised, here’s the first of upcoming posts on lessons learned from twenty-five years of marriage. I’m sharing the first three this week at Not Alone Mom, where I currently write by-monthly and...
View ArticleGuest Posts, Angry Moms, and God’s Grace
I’m guest posting this week on motherhood with ministry partners at iwokeupyesterday and with Jenny Sulpizio, author of Confessions of A Wonderwoman Wannabe. First I’m sharing “To Angry, Irritated,...
View ArticleHow To Achieve Balance By Finding Wholeness
“Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Psalm 139:23 Do you ever wonder what God was thinking when He made you a mom when you don’t have it all together? You bring your hurts, insecurities, fears and...
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The Great Do-Over In Raising A Girl
I often share my testimony with women about my almost-near disastrous relationship with my only daughter. Five years ago I made hard decisions to change my lifestyle and behavior so I could salvage our...
View ArticleWhen You Just Want To See Jesus
It’s only Tuesday. My kids started school. Robin Williams took his life. A friend buried a baby. All night I’ve been listening to Sandy Patti’s “We Shall Behold Him” because I was ushered into the...
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When God Removes Bitterness
I learned something today. I sat in a room with forty other people and learned they weren’t so different from me. We worshipped God, shared honestly with each other, and worked towards a common goal....
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When Humanity’s Falling Apart, He Holds It Together
Life beyond the picket fence isn’t just a ministry, it’s life - not the Instagram or Facebook kind, but the one you and I live that’s not the storybook image. The one that leaves a hole in your heart...
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7 Steps for Dealing with Anger
Anger is an emotion I’ve struggled with over my lifetime. Do you ever struggle with anger? As a child, I got angry when I didn’t feel heard, when I felt no one took me seriously or when my feelings...
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Guest Post & A Giveaway: #Live2015
It’s my privilege to share a guest post from Kimberly Muench. I’ve recently connected with Kimberly as she’s joined the writing team of 10 to 20 Parenting with me. Email me at yoderbl@gmail.com if...
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Why Chosen Isn’t a Dirty Word
I said the word. It was like a deep, dark, secret I was finally releasing. A gift I wanted to share, but wasn’t sure how it would be received at the Bible study in my home. As children of God, we’re...
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Are You a Mess? You’re in Good Company
She had every reason to be a mess. She was one of two wives (every girl’s dream). The other wife was her enemy. Scripture even says so (1 Samuel 1:7). Her rival provoked her and intentionally bullied...
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4 Steps to Re-image Your If-Only’s
I looked around the room thinking how much solace I’d find if only I lived here. I was in the parlor of a colonial home in the mountains of Northern Virginia. I’ve been to Virginia often in the past...
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3 Responses to A Mother’s Anxiety
In the last post, we identified “what-if’s” that feed a parent’s fears and anxiety. We identified three steps to manage momentary and long-term fears. 1. Stop. 2. Breathe. 3. Listen to God. You can...
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When the Land is Still Yours
“The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.” 2 Chronicles 14:7b This verse jumped off the...
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The Risk of Releasing Your Dream
I asked the question on social media–what areas of control do you struggle to give up? The answered varied–parenting, law, and the calendar. More than one responded with giving up dreams for God’s...
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Your Great Reward in Times of Waiting
Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very great reward. Genesis 15:1 God promised He would make Abram into a great nation. He told Abram He would be his great reward. And Abram was honest with God....
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When You’re THAT Loser Mom
“Brenda, are you picking the kids up?” my friend called me on the phone. I forgot I had volunteered to drive the carpool to 4-H that night–what a loser mom. And I thought I was doing great. I had...
View ArticleWhy Love is a Dirty Word to Me
I shy away from the moral and cultural religious wars of today. I cautiously disengage from new age, occultic, and secular beliefs that have infiltrated the church, and those that are also on the...
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