“Who” I Write For –

If you’re a woman who feels drawn to family, I believe you’ll find community and encouragement here.  

• You who have the quest to raise kids who can stand on their own, set apart from the lure of the world.  

• You who hope your kids will live up to the high calling of God to advance His kingdom for the short time they’re here on this ball called Earth.  And I’m guessing you might want that for yourself, too!

• You who often feel alone in your desire to simply love your husband, love your children, and care for your home.  Of course, you want to care for your body and soul, but you want to be responsible for the roles God has given you.
  
• You know in your soul you‘re meant for more than what the world has to offer – success, wealth, beauty, or status. 

It’s sad those goals aren’t valued or accepted in our culture anymore.

You can listen to this post on the podcast here. ⤵️

Why I Write for You

I’m here to encourage you to become all God wants you to be!  

I was blessed to live in a time when it was more normal to want to be a wife and mom.  I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s when moms often stayed home. 

My mom was cutting edge in working part-time as a substitute teacher — but honestly, as a kid, I felt lost when she started working and I came home to an empty house.  I don’t think I’ve ever realized that before, but I think that’s probably why I decided to stay home with my kids.

This is for the woman who knows in her soul that she’s meant for more than what the world has to offer – success, wealth, beauty, or status.    

Are you that woman? 

If so, I know life isn’t easy in a world that’s going in what seems like the opposite direction as you are –  and following your heart and doing your job alone is even harder.  

• If you’re like me, you’re looking for answers and desiring a better life than what you see in the world around you.  
• Perhaps you’re tired and don’t feel the value of motherhood.  Or is it that you can’t seem to get your kids to listen to you?  
• You might be wondering how in the world you’re going to make it through another day.  
• And you wonder how your kids will turn out.  

Believe me, I understand!  While I’m not chasing toddlers anymore, I get a refresher when my grands stop by!  It was 20 years ago when I had a toddler and a full passel of kids at home. 

I don’t remember every day-to-day detail but that’s not why I’m here. 

You can learn a lot from others online who are sharing from the middle of family life. 

But I feel called to write from the other side of parenting. 

The side where we’ve lived through the tough stuff – and watched our kids grow into and now live as adults. 

I offer perspective on things to help with your roles – and things that can hurt as a wife, mom, and homemaker. 

I’m even more motivated to write as I watch my kids adjust to adult life. 

The transition to married life and then again to changes that take place when they become “mom.”

I’m reminded first-hand how tiring and taxing mommy-ing is.  How it changes who you are in magical – yet what also can feel like soul-sucking ways.  

The “What” of Living Above the Noise

It’s the foundation for all we’ll be discussing here – faith, family, home, and more. 

In Titus 2:3-5, Paul instructs “older women to encourage young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

In this verse, Paul reveals that family must be pretty important to God.  And I believe it’s such an important framework for Christian women to pay attention to. 

So… because you’ve chosen a path that most women in our day don’t seem to want or even care about, you need to remember that cultural opinion doesn’t make it any less important!  

In fact, when you see it according to God’s design, it’s one of the most important jobs in the world. 

Raising the next generation for His glory.  How can that be of no consequence!?  So we’re going to be discussing that.  How to stand firm and sometimes alone in your beliefs and values.

And for that reason, I don’t want you to have to go it alone! 

I’ve been blessed to have older women in my life who taught me and challenged me and even reproved me.  Sometimes I didn’t like it, but it was all for good!

I can’t imagine not having them in my life.  

So “how” can I help you? 

If you’re still with me, I think you want to be known as the woman who loves her home, and creates a life of love and faith and health within your four walls.  

You want to build a healthy marriage and you want to grow capable, intelligent, thoughtful, hard-working adults.  

If that’s you, then you’re in the right place!

Let’s begin with my journey

Who am I? Why should you listen to me? And why I do what I do?  

I’ve been on my journey as a Christian for over 30 years.  

And it’s taken me places I wondered about, worried about, was confused about – but all along the way, I stand amazed that God has been so very patient.  

That He’s grown our family into what it is today.  Into 7 new families!  Each seeking to pattern their lives after God’s word and faith in Christ.  

And it never ceases to amaze me — especially with all I’ve done to potentially mess things up!

Follow me and you’ll hear some of those mess-ups — and how God cares so deeply for you and your kids that He can redeem even the most sinful or selfish heart.  

Yes, He can!

I’ll share lessons, thoughts, tips, and helpful tricks I’ve picked up in over 40 years of parenting my 10 kids. 

I’ll talk a lot about thinking.  About taking time to process and learn from your mistakes.  About reading God’s word to discover who He created you uniquely to be — and how to then use it in your own family in a more personal way than just patterning what another family is doing.

I love helping people see their own value rather than conforming to the world’s ideas of value.  

My goal is to never be prescriptive [relating to the imposition or enforcement of a rule or method].  That’s the last thing I want to do to you!  I’ll offer ideas and tips we used in our family, but not with the intent that you’ll only get results if you try them.  

Some of us have had enough of rules and shoulds.  Been there, done that!

You and I want — and need — to feel the freedom to use our God-given gifts and personality to obey Him and discover what works for us and for our own family.  

The Benefit of Retrospect!

In my years of discovery, I can tell you that the times I stepped back and waited for some level of wisdom or discernment to come — I called it “biding my time”  — those were the times I grew the most!  

I’d also swing to the extreme of that when I seemed to be “always learning. ” I can be the poster child for the verse, “Always learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth!”  2 Timothy 3:7

But through all those years of growth, without knowing it, I was learning that my independence (I’ve often called myself a rebel – but now I more politely call myself an “independent thinker”) well, those years were getting me much further than those around me who were following the crowd.  

I love retrospect!  Without it, we can’t see what God was up to and why He allows things in our lives.  

To be honest, I’d rather be 40 again — but one thing being the older woman offers me is retrospect.  

I can see where, why, and how God brought me here.  I can better understand how patient He’s been with my failures and the amazing fruit of my obedience.  

It all works together as Paul says in Romans 8:28, “And we know – that in all things – God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“

But one thing to remember!  The “good” in that verse doesn’t mean “easy.”

There is no guarantee in this life as a wife and mom.  No guarantee that all will be “happily ever after.”  Or that your kids will all become successful (by the world’s standards or by your own.). 

The only guarantee comes from God who says that as we love Him and trust in His Son’s work on the cross, we will live in eternity with Him.  

Everything else is based simply on the level of trust you have in God’s word and His promises for your obedience to Him.  And of course, His perfect plan for your life.

“Why” Am I here for you

You already know Titus 2 is why I’m here.  I’ve blogged for 12 years, but in our fast-paced world, it’s becoming easier for you to listen than read. 

And because I love a good podcast – rich with meaty topics and delving into a plethora of discussions on why, how, and when we do things as a wife, mom, and homemaker — I decided to add my voice to the mix.  

Honestly, Living Above the Noise is why I keep putting off taking it seriously. Because I don’t want to add to all the noise online — but you can help me here!  

With your help, with your ideas, thoughts, and questions, I think we can make this a place to grow and escape above the noise!  You can help me by commenting on my posts, following my podcast, and leaving a review.  

I’d really appreciate it!

What Is “Living Above the Noise?“

Recently, I had a friend say she didn’t know what “living above the noise” meant.   To be honest, I was surprised.  I’ve used this term for years.  In case you’re like my friend — I’ll share about what’s at the core of actually Living Above the Noise!

My favorite time of day is when I grab my coffee, sit on our hammock swing on my back porch and just relax for a few minutes without any distraction.

I think, I ponder, I wonder, I ask myself questions.  I ask God questions.  Before I get into my Bible reading — before I get into my book reading — before I get into the work of my day.

That’s my daily practice. Do you have a daily practice? 

Like the Birds

On a recent morning, I looked up and at the very top of one of our tallest pine trees there sat three birds, chirping to one another, overlooking their lake view. 

I wondered what they could see from up there.  I do know it was a whole lot more than I can see – and it’s a much better view than mine. 

Then I realized they were actually above the noise around them.   Sure, the truck going by, the lawnmower next door, and my pool pump humming might still reach their ears, but it’s a whole lot quieter up there. 

This is one amazing picture of what living above the noise looks like!

We can be down in and among the noise, like I am right now. I can still get my quiet time – but then there are moments like those birds when I can escape a bit.  

I can actually rise above the noise of life.   And you can, too!  

You can purposefully seek to move away from the things that dull your senses. The things that create stress or comparison or fear in your life.  

Like those birds — they chose to rise above and rest on the top of that tree.  To escape for a bit.  And I think they’re safer while they’re up there.

Such a perfect picture of what living above the noise is all about!

Noise, Chatter, & Perspective

As humans, we live with a lot of “noise” in our world.  And I’m not just talking about physical noise, like that truck or the mower.  You have internal conversations all day long — your fears, expectations, comparisons, and more.  These create mental noise.

Then there’s the chatter of the world around us. 

• The never-ending rampage on the internet to get your attention. 
• The ads that tempt you to buy.  To convince you to take the latest course or follow the “best” system. 
• Social media begging you to compare your life with everyone else. 

That’s a lot of noise!

Well, my goal is to help you quiet that noise!

• To help reset your perspective.
• To reframe what you hear (and choose to listen to) every day.
• To help you focus on what God says about trusting Him to discover your value and purpose in life.

As a Christian woman, your goal is to live surrendered.   I’m here to encourage you to give up some things in your life so you can live free — above the noise of the world. 

Live surrendered — the way God intended.  Live your best life — and remember — it’s the life Jesus died for! That alone will help you silence much of the noise. Or at least learn to live above it!

Think of how ever since 9/11 we hear about our government listening to online chatter to discern what’s safe – what’s not normal – and what’s unsafe.  

Well, that’s our job as a Christian.  To scout out the “noise” around us to see what fits into God’s plan and His purposes for our life and for our family. 

As you listen to the Holy Spirit and learn to filter what you’re hearing through the Spirit, you’ll gain clarity on your value, your unique personality, and how God created you to use it.

You’ll be able to filter the lies the world offers you – and there are a lot of lies!  And compare them with the promises of God!

No Comparison Here!

Each one of us is on a different path in life.  We have various personalities and giftings to use in beautiful and varied ways.   I share my experiences and my life lessons. 

But I’m not sharing to cause you to compare or choose the same. 

They are here for you to consider.  And cause you to think.  

We don’t have to perfectly match in our lifestyles — what we do or how we live.  How many kids we have.  Whether we homeschool or not.  If we stay home or work. 

But there are lessons we all can learn from each other.  Insight we can gain.   Perspective that can draw us closer to God if we’ll only listen.

My hope is that these conversations about life and living it – will cause you to consider your life and help you navigate life as a Christian woman.  

There will be new topics to think about – and discuss – issues and questions about how to live as a Christian in the world but not of it. 

We’re Peculiar People

We Christians are called to be “peculiar people.”  And we’re doing this in a world that caters to its own kind of peculiar  – yet balks at ours!  That’s not an easy task.

When you’re choosing a different than normal lifestyle, even your best friends and fellow church members might question or judge your choices.  To be honest, I think we’re all guilty of that!  So don’t let it stress you out.  Most of us want others to like what we do.

But this is where — knowing yourself, your sins, your desires, your motives, the truth you hold so dearly, and the lessons you know you need in order to follow God’s plan — come in.  

It’s where He can use you and your unique personality and talents to do the work He’s given you.

The When, Where, & How

Check out the next posts in this series, as we dip our toes into the waters of Marriage and Parenting.

I’ll share how to build a true foundation for your family by resetting your framework on solid ground. 

How You Can Help Me!

The last thing I want is to add to all the noise online – but with your help, with your ideas, thoughts, and questions, I think we can make this a place to grow and escape above the noise! 

You can help me create relevant content and get the message out:

— Follow the Living Above the Noise podcast wherever you listen in — and please share it with friends and leave a review to help others find me!
— Connect with me on Instagram or Facebook
— Sign Up for my bimonthly newsletter to get extra encouragement, ideas, and resources.
— Book a Discovery Call for Mom Mentoring or Life Coaching
— Check out my website here!

All this is to help you start Living Above the Noise and into your life!