Welcome!
I’m Terry, a Christian, wife of 36 years, mom of ten, homeschool teacher, and amazing to me, already in the “grandmomma” category!
My first blog was named “Mom’s Many Lessons” as a tribute to all the lessons God has given me over the years.
As I moved into the next phase of life, that of being a grandmomma, I realized that my lessons aren’t just those of being a mother. They encompass so many other areas and roles in my life. My tagline was “Living above the noise and for the glory of God” so I decided to use the most important aspect of my recent lessons, that of discovering that my quest in life has become to live “for the glory of God” and that necessitates “living above all the noise” is this crazy world.
If you’re anything like me, you struggle with being all that you want to be – a good wife, mother, teacher, homemaker, friend, and most important of all, an obedient servant of God. So my guess is, you’re probably looking for answers and tools to become that “better” person. I’ve spent much of my adult life on that same quest. And I’ve discovered much to help me in that quest, along with some surprising truths. These are what fill the pages of this blog.
Yet, the main lesson of my life has been realizing this one thing – all my work was void when it came to true success by God’s standards. It is only through Christ in me that I can truly reach the potential God has planned for me.
Throughout my search, God brought me many mentors, authors, and most importantly, life’s lessons. I’m finally in a place where I realize I was relying on all the work and effort to gain my identity as a woman, yet missing my true identity in Christ. But without God and His love, I’d still be struggling.
As I wade through these many lessons, God shows me His grace. All my work is in vain if I don’t find my identity in Christ, seek His face daily, and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power at work in my life. It is in this small space where I hope to share God’s amazing lessons with you!
You’ll find me writing about – life’s lessons – relationships – femininity – homemaking – parenting – our family’s favorite recipes – writing and blogging tips – legalism.
Who Am I?
You came to this page to find out who I am. First I’ll share what I am not!
- I am not a born organizer. I think that’s why God gave me ten children – to force me to have to become organized!
- I am not a morning person! You won’t find me advising you to wake earlier. It might be great advice, but I won’t advise something I won’t do.
- I’m not a perfect wife in a perfect marriage! We’re trying, but our marriage didn’t begin as a fairytale.
Now for what I am.
- I am passionate about growing into the woman God created me to be and in helping others who desire that type of growth.
- I love building relationships with my children and now my grandchildren. I love watching them grow and develop into individuals!
- I love reading good books.
- I love writing – painting pictures with words.
- And I’m always up for a new project or skill to learn. Our family is filled with entrepreneurs and we encourage anyone to be bold and get creative with the talents they’ve been given!
And like most moms, I wear lots of hats! One of a wife, mother, and grandmother, a friend, daughter, homeschool teacher, a “cook and bottle washer” (as my mom used to say), a maid / homemaker, scheduler (that’s my husband’s profession, so I’ll use his term), midwife’s assistant, and many other roles a woman takes on in our responsibility as moms!
I’m also a ‘mom-of-many’ as some call it. That almost sounds unusual now that almost more than half of my ten children are out of the house, but it is what I am. Being a mom-of-many doesn’t place a medal of honor on my shoulder. It wasn’t a “label” I sought to attain; I just loved having the babies that got me here! It seems a long time ago that we were the family that everyone stared at as we entered a building – all twelve of us! And those memories and the lessons that came with them, add to these pages.
I’ve been married 36 years, have four five six! married children and seven eight ten (almost eleven!) grandchildren. My oldest is 35 and, oh my, does that make me wonder where the years have gone! My youngest is 14 – a busy, sweet and innocent-but-growing-into-a-man-before-my-eyes wonder to have in our home in the midst of feeling my age and being Grandmomma! We’re in our 25th year of home educating our children and we’re constantly learning along the way.
Life’s busy, and there’s still so much to learn. So please join me in this challenging, crazy, but joy-filled adventure called Life!
I hope you’ll visit often to share this journey in “Living Above the Noise” and for the glory of God. Just maybe, one of them will inspire or encourage you as you seek God with all your heart and gain the strength to be all God intends you to be!
Please write me with any questions, thoughts, or topics you’d like to see covered: livingabovethenoise@gmail.com!
