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Babies & Toddlers

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Babies & Toddlers Home & Family

The Hospitable Home

March 27, 2017
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I pull the car into the driveway and my toddler shouts from the backseat, “My home!” The simple …

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Babies & Toddlers

From the Military to Motherhood

March 24, 2017
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I am a former Air Force officer with a Civil Engineering degree. I hold a Professional Engineering license. …

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Babies & Toddlers Faith & Encouragement

When Hospitality is Messy

March 10, 2017
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My toddler Sam cares very little about impressing anyone. He eats with gusto, snorting and shoving fistfuls of …

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Babies & Toddlers Soul Care for Moms

The Mindset of Motherhood

March 8, 2017
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I remember being a girl – I played house and longed for the day when I would join …

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Babies & Toddlers

Twinkling Mom

February 23, 2017
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Christian stamps his foot hard against the tile floor, imitating his mother’s Irish dancing. He stamps three times …

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Babies & Toddlers Soul Care for Moms

Mama’s Ruby Slippers

February 21, 2017
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The other day my husband worked a particularly long day. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it …

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On the blog & podcast this week: Little By Little On the blog & podcast this week: Little By Little by @jacelya_jones “I’ve asked God for lots of things, and before I grew in my understanding of Him (and myself), truthfully, I often felt like my prayers were just meaningless breath headed to a black hole—a place where things went in, but nothing came out. No answers. No response. No help from God. I wanted to stop being angry without growing enough to understand and face the source of my rage. I wanted to be a successful writer without having grown in skill or the courage to submit my work and face failure. I wanted to have friends before my ability to trust others with authenticity had grown. I wanted lots of things and asked for them without the maturity to understand what I really need and what’s good for me. In the same way, I’ve wanted to be a better parent—responsive to each child’s unique needs. It’s taken research and gradually picking up the tools to see growth in our connections. I’ve learned to listen when I’m tired. To say, ‘I’m tired,’ or ‘I’m in a bad mood, but I care about what you’re saying.’”
This week, @rusticandredeemed Jana Fraley shares This week, @rusticandredeemed Jana Fraley shares a story about helping her son be brave as the new kid in school. “A new school with no friends was tough enough; being the lone ranch kid in the 4th grade was turning out to be excruciating. He was the only one out at recess wearing jeans instead of shorts or athletic pants, cowboy boots and not tennis shoes, a belt and buckle (a buckle that just months before he had won at the county fair and was his pride and joy). The kids weren’t mean to him, he just didn’t fit in. They’d ask Kade, ‘How can you run in those cowboy boots?’ To which he’d answer with a shrug, ‘With two feet just like you, I guess.’ Or, ‘Why do you always wear that belt and big old buckle?’ His reply, ‘How else am I supposed to keep my pants up?’ Kade didn’t change just because his school setting had changed, which at once made me proud of him but also made me nervous that he was never going to fit in at his new school.” Jana, thanks so much for sharing this heartwarming story of how your son found his way in a new school. Hop over to KindredMom.com to read Jana’s essay “Brave” or listen to the audio version on the Kindred Mom podcast in your favorite podcast app! . . . . #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #newbook #joyfulmamas #postpartum #postpartumsupport #selfcareformoms #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #simpleandslow #myeverydaymagic #simplemoments #shareyourheart #theartofsimple #nestandflourish #writercommunity #ohheymama
“When I first became a mom, looking at my brand “When I first became a mom, looking at my brand new baby’s little face, I was overcome with the importance of my new role. With all of my heart, I wanted to do right by him, to be the mom God wanted me to be. And how quickly I discovered what a difficult calling this is!” New essay on KindredMom.com this week from @bysarahkbutterfield 😍 hop over to follow her, check out her book, and read the essay she shared with us titled “Drawing Our Resilience From God” Did you know you can listen to Kindred Mom essays through our podcast feed? Each essay is read in the writer’s own voice, and you can be sure not to miss any of them by subscribing to Kindred Mom in your favorite podcast app. . . . . . . . #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #newbook #joyfulmamas #postpartum #postpartumsupport #selfcareformoms #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #simpleandslow #myeverydaymagic #simplemoments #shareyourheart #theartofsimple #nestandflourish #writercommunity #ohheymama
“If we do our jobs correctly, our children will “If we do our jobs correctly, our children will seek their own way, their independence. However, his plea this gray February afternoon resides more deeply within him than just a natural angst to be free. ‘I know; I have been waiting to hear this.’ My quiet answer allows him to keep talking. By the grace of God alone, I know better than to defend his father and me. I know better than to justify anything we have done in the twenty-plus years leading up to this one moment in the front seat of a black Hyundai Sonata in the near-freezing rain. I know I just have to listen. So, I listen to his grievances. Some are legitimate, but some words ring false, the truth hidden by a hurt he can’t overcome and one I can’t take away. He feels trapped by his college choice, pressed against a future he isn’t sure he wants, persecuted by individuals who were supposed to be friends, and disappointed in his parents. It’s always easier to assume our perpetual pain is someone’s fault. I decline to debate with him, forfeiting my opportunity to be ‘right’ so he will know I hear him. At each perceived cry for help, we talk about options and resources, for him and for us as his parents, the remaining three souls in our little clan. In the end, I walk away from my six-foot-five little boy, letting him drive west on the rain-slicked streets with all his possible choices nestled next to him in the seat I just vacated. I don’t know if my sweet boy will shut us out completely or take the wrestling match of words with him. As helpless as I felt when my daughter was dying, the danger I sense in this moment with my son threatens to steal my breath.” ~ Lisa Witcher, from the essay “Be Strong and Courageous” If you missed the essay last week from @mzwitch11 — hop over to KindredMom.com to read it! . . . . . . . #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #newbook #joyfulmamas #postpartum #postpartumsupport #selfcareformoms #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #simpleandslow #myeverydaymagic #simplemoments #shareyourheart
This week on the Kindred Mom blog, Lisa Witcher ( This week on the Kindred Mom blog, Lisa Witcher ( @mzwitch11 ) shares a truly courageous story—navigating empty nest life with her son after the tragic loss of her daughter a few years prior. Today I wanted to honor the memory of Lisa’s beautiful daughter by sharing this photo of her, and say a prayer for all mamas who have lost a child and live with the constant ache of grief. Lisa—we are so honored to host your story. Thank you for sharing your heart and your girl with us. . . For mamas with a deep and constant ache: God, please be present in the quiet and lonely moments. In Your mercy, bring comfort and healing. Help those of us who have not lost a child learn how to uphold and encourage those who have. Hold the hearts of these mamas close, in the name of Jesus. . . . . . . . . . #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #joyfulmamas #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #workfromhome #WFHmom #wahm #workingmom #coffeeandcrumbs #wellwateredwomen #motherhoodrising #motherhoodcommunity #momstrugglingwell
“In a season when I already felt overwhelmed, th “In a season when I already felt overwhelmed, the added pressure of coordinating my son’s extracurricular studies led me to frequent grumbly, under-breath murmurings and wrinkled brows. So many things had battered my defenses, leaving them paper-thin and ineffective. I was cranky, tired, and constantly felt on edge. Any time I thought there was about to be a semblance of normality, something would shoot out of nowhere and knock everything off-kilter again. I felt like I was in continual transition. Whether it was from illness to healing, from an old role to a new one, or from homeschooling to in-person school and possibly back again, I was fed up. As I went through the concepts of number bonds with my daughter, I saw the parallels between us—I am also very reluctant to drink from the unpalatable cup that has been placed before me. Looking back, I know I didn’t handle the bumps of the year with the kind of grace I want to have.” ~ Wemi Omotosho, Stretch? None For Me, Thank You If you missed the essay last week from @reflectionsinthemess, hop over to KindredMom.com to read it! . . . . . . . #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #newbook #joyfulmamas #postpartum #postpartumsupport #selfcareformoms #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #simpleandslow #myeverydaymagic #simplemoments #shareyourheart #theartofsimple #nestandflourish #writercommunity #ohheymama
New this week on KindredMom.com: Wemi Omotosho @re New this week on KindredMom.com: Wemi Omotosho @reflectionsinthemess shares a story about resilience, and the uncomfortable experience of navigating new circumstances. Here is a quote we find so relatable... “I mourned the loss of the old and comfortable and very reluctantly started to step into the new. I was being stretched and didn’t much care for it.” Are you grieving the loss of the old and comfortable? Feeling stretched? Hop over and follow Wemi, and tell us in the comments below what you might be grieving in this season. What is most challenging right now? Also, be sure to read or listen to Wemi’s essay over on the blog! Great writing, Wemi—We are so grateful for the opportunity to feature you! . . . . . . . . . #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #joyfulmamas #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #workfromhome #WFHmom #wahm #workingmom #coffeeandcrumbs #wellwateredwomen #motherhoodrising #motherhoodcommunity #momstrugglingwell
Are you looking at the week ahead, feeling a twing Are you looking at the week ahead, feeling a twinge of overwhelm at all the days will bring? There will be meals, messes, challenges, and chores. There will be questions, big feelings, hurts, and hopes. There will be hard things and beautiful things. But mama—God is with you. Take refuge in Him, pour your worries out in prayer, and let this overwhelm pass from your hands into His. God—This week is Yours. Please be in our midst, in our homes, in our hearts, leading us in the way we should go. Help us navigate decisions, recognize holy, tender moments with our kids, and respond to the movement of Your Spirit in our lives. Bring us Your peace. Amen. . . . @emily_sue_allen . . . . . . . . . . #kindredmom #prayersformoms #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #coffeeandcrumbs #wellwateredwomen #motherhoodrising #motherhoodcommunity #momstrugglingwell #shetheroar #christianwoman #christianliving #christianmoms #propelwomen #givemeJesus #faithinspired #theeverygirl #gritandvirtue #pursuitcommunity #womenintheword #shereadstruth #risenmotherhood
Hi friends! Lindsey here (@lindseycornett), with m Hi friends! Lindsey here (@lindseycornett), with my little guy who’s not-so-little anymore. If he were here, he’d want you to know he is now officially 7.5. Emphasis on the 0.5. On the Kindred Mom blog earlier this week, I shared about this boy when he was a little baby with chronic ear infections. I wrote about how motherhood asks us to dig in and hold on for the long haul. I’m the kind of person who likes to learn a lesson once and move on, and I like to see quick resolutions too problems. But motherhood doesn’t always work that way, does it? Earlier this week, a friend was talking about a motherhood issue and said, “I don’t know what to do, but I’m showing up.” And YES. Me, too. Most days, I don’t know what to do, but I’m showing up for the long haul. These days, showing up means saying “yes” to board games more often than I’d like, making sure every kid has something they enjoy on their dinner plate, and leaving my phone upstairs until lunch time (sometimes). How are you showing up today? . . . . . . . . . #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #joyfulmamas #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #workfromhome #WFHmom #wahm #workingmom #coffeeandcrumbs #wellwateredwomen #motherhoodrising #motherhoodcommunity #momstrugglingwell
Today, @lindseycornett is up on the blog, sharing Today, @lindseycornett is up on the blog, sharing about being in it for “The Long Haul”. Oh man, if we’re not all feeling this message right now—learning how to stay the course, stay in the ring, even when challenges arise. Mamas—YOU ARE CHANGING THE WORLD. It doesn’t feel like it, perhaps. Maybe you’re down on yourself for being impatient, putting your kids in front of screens, feeling discouraged, but I will bet you have done a million small things this week to nourish your children, get them the rest and love they need, and you are persevering. You are changing the world for each one of your kids every time you show up for them. Cheering and praying for you today. Here is an excerpt of Lindsey’s essay, “So much of motherhood exists in the follow-up appointments. The handful of firsts and lasts are dwarfed by the sheer volume of the again and again and agains. Meals. Potty breaks. Read alouds. Sibling squabbles and apologies. Reminders about choosing love, being brave, making mistakes, and trying again. ‘You already had a snack.’ ‘Your birthday is still three months away.’ ‘You may not speak to me like that.’ ‘I love you.’ ‘I love you.’ ‘I love you.’  Pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson once borrowed a phrase from Nietsche to describe the Christian faith as ‘a long obedience in the same direction.’ And my, if that isn’t also a good description of motherhood. It is long. It is often marked by sameness. But we keep showing up. Faithful and present, even if nothing ever changes. And isn’t that what Jesus says to us? ‘I love you, even if nothing ever changes. I am faithful.’” Find it on KindredMom.com or listen on the Kindred Mom podcast feed. Tag a mom you know who is persevering even though times are tough. Tagged mamas: You’re strong, brave, and more beautiful than you know. . . . . . . . . . . #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #mommemes #joyfulmamas #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #workfromhome #WFHmom #wahm #workingmom #coffeeandcrumbs #wellwateredwomen #motherhoodrising #motherhoodcommunity
The Kindred Mom team is thrilled to present the bo The Kindred Mom team is thrilled to present the book we published together this past fall, and hope you’ll join us in the effort to get this book into the hands of mamas who will find encouragement and solidarity in these pages. It’s a volume of essays—43 of them! About everything from epic messes, poop stories, struggling through PPD, cultivating resilience through motherhood challenges, and so much more! We’re so grateful to @adrielbooker for a timely and insightful foreword to the book, and for the generous endorsements from @beckykiefe, @dorinagilmore, @shaunaletellier, @sortaawesomemeg, and @brittanylbergman. Find it wherever books are sold! . . . . . . . . . . #strongbravebeautifulbook #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #newbook #joyfulmamas #postpartum #postpartumsupport #selfcareformoms #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast #simpleandslow #myeverydaymagic #simplemoments #shareyourheart #theartofsimple #nestandflourish #writercommunity #ohheymama
Hey all! @emily_sue_allen here, squeezed into a ph Hey all! @emily_sue_allen here, squeezed into a photo with half of my children. Squeezed-in is pretty much how we roll all the time with our big fam! It’s been a long while since I’ve surfaced here, but I hope to be around on IG a bit more in the coming months. I’m so thrilled about this upcoming series, and hope you’ll follow along, follow the writers we will be sharing week-to-week, and join in for the conversations we have here. I shared on the blog today about the mix of emotions I’ve been navigating as we moved to a new area and moved into a new season of life...so much good and also: hard! At this moment, I am grateful for the sun and mid-50s temperatures, plus the boundless energy of these kids. I wish they could straight up transfer some of that energy to me, but I’ll settle for the snuggles. What is bringing you joy today? Tell me in the comments -or- share a photo on your feed with the #kindredmom hashtag so I can see the loveliness you’re seeing. 😍 . . . . . . #shetheroar #christianblogger #christianwoman #christianliving #christianmoms #propelwomen #givemeJesus #faithinspired #theeverygirl #gritandvirtue #pursuitcommunity #womenintheword #butGod #risenmotherhood #shereadstruth #coffeeandJesus #proverbs31woman #proverbs31 #jesuscalling #goodmorninggirls #joyfullifecommunity
Waving to all the mama-writers out there! This wee Waving to all the mama-writers out there! This week, we’ll be sending out an email with upcoming opportunities to write for and partner with Kindred Mom in the coming months, and we’d love to include you on the email! DM your address or find the signup on the Write for Us page of KindredMom.com. We exist to share beautiful and honest motherhood stories from women in all different stages of raising kids. Nudge a friend if you know she has a story to share. Writer-moms can use all the encouragement they can get! ❤️ #kindredmom #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #momblogger #faithblogger #coffeeandcrumbs #writingmotherhood #motherhoodstories #writersofig #submissionopportunity #womenencouragingwomen #momboss #hopewriters #hopewriterlife #wellwateredwomen #meetwritermoms #christianwriters #faithjourney #faithbloggers #connectedfamilies #risenmotherhood #gritandvirtue #faithwriter #shewritestruth #shespeakstruth #mamawriter #lifewellcaptured #documentyourdays
“Wide-open fields pass by, and I see, maybe for “Wide-open fields pass by, and I see, maybe for the first time, there is space for everything I’m feeling. Joy. Sorrow. Hope. Uncertainty. I’ve said goodbye to a season of life that was full of good things, and the one ahead…there is no reason it can’t be full of new and different good things.” ~ excerpt from Moving Into a New Season, by Kindred Mom founder @emily_sue_allen New on the blog and podcast feed, the start of our Strong, Brave & Beautiful essay series in celebration of the Kindred Mom book release of the same name. We can’t wait to share the rest of this series with you! Drop an emoji if you’re here for it 😎 #kindredmom #inbeautyandchaos #rawmotherhood #thisismotherhood #mommemes #joyfulmamas #postpartum #postpartumsupport #selfcareformoms #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #babiesgrowingup #myhonestmotherhood #lifeofmom #mombloggernetwork #connectingmoms #momcommunity #MamaTribe #theartofslowliving #theygrowsofast
Waving hello with an announcement: in a few days, Waving hello with an announcement: in a few days, Kindred Mom will begin sharing new essays on the blog & accompanying audio on the podcast feed. We're so grateful for the writers joining us for our upcoming series that celebrates strength, courage, and beauty in humble motherhood moments. Many lovely stories coming your way. Stay tuned! #kindredmom #joyfulmamas #postpartum #postpartumsupport #selfcareformoms #intentionalmotherhood #stopdropandmom #newmom #workfromhome #WFHmom #wahm #workingmom #coffeeandcrumbs #wellwateredwomen #motherhoodrising #motherhoodcommunity #momstrugglingwell #sahmomlife #sahm
Dear friends, ⁣ Beginning today, our Kindred Mom Dear friends, ⁣ Beginning today, our Kindred Mom team is taking a sabbatical. ⁣ You may have noticed that things have been a bit quieter here lately. Behind the scenes, we have all been navigating the extra weight of this current season, and we sense a call to rest and retreat for the time being. ⁣ In the meantime you can… -Buy our book! Strong, Brave & Beautiful: Stories of Hope for Moms in the Weeds is available on Amazon (just search for “Emily Sue Allen”!) or at http://KindredMom.com/book -Catch up on the Kindred Mom Podcast! All our recent essays have been released in audio format on the podcast feed. It would make lovely listening for any mama needing some encouragement and solidarity. -Sign up for the Kindred Mom Email Newsletter, so you’ll be sure to know when we are back in action. ⁣ We’ll be back sometime in February, and our next series of essays will go live in March. If you submitted an essay for that series, we will be in touch with you shortly about the details. Our team sends love to you from Alaska, Washington, California, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. ⁣ Stay safe, wear your mask, take good care! ⁣ You are strong. Your are brave. You are beautiful. The work you are doing as a mom matters. ⁣ xoxo, The Kindred Mom Team (Emily, Jenni, Lynne, Robin, Lindsey, Mary Kate, Jay, Melissa, and Bethany)
As Advent begins, we consider what it means to wai As Advent begins, we consider what it means to wait well. 

We wait, just as Mary waited. 
We wait, as the Israelites waited. We wait, all of us—waiting for a pandemic to end, for life to return to “normal”, to be reunited with friends and family. ⁣ Who knows the tension of waiting better than a mother, who has waited to conceive, waited to adopt, waited to labor, waited to hold her little one to her chest, waited for her grown children to return home? ⁣ We have experience with waiting. May that experience lead us well through this next season, eagerly expecting the arrival of Christ. 

Ready for some good news? It’s coming. #ipreview via @preview.app
We’re officially welcoming the holiday season to We’re officially welcoming the holiday season to the blog today, with a new essay from Robin (@robin.chapman). This will also be our final essay this fall!

Today, Robin is sharing about the time she brought a fire extinguisher with her to church.

Yes, you read that right. When she first told our team that story, the cry was unanimous: “Please write about that!” ⁣ Head to KindredMom.com to read Robin’s story. ⁣ . . . . #thejoyfullife #risenmotherhood #mamaswhowrite #coffeeandcrumbs #motherhooddiaries #motherhoodthroughig #simplymamahood #momlifeunfiltered #connectedmotherhood #modernmama #joyfulmotherhood #raisingytinyhumans
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Lonely writers everywhere: Hope*Writers is the solution to all your problems! Ok, maybe not all of them, but this writing community is one you want to be in. The writers here write messages of hope, make friends, overcome self-doubt, and navigate next steps in the writing and publishing industry with the experience and support many gracious writers. Join one of the most encouraging places on the internet! (affiliate link)

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The Drafting Desk is a monthly email newsletter that offers soulful encouragement to recovering perfectionists. As writers, wives, moms, and Jesus-followers, Lindsey Cornett & Rebekah Crosby share vulnerable personal reflections to help you trade perfectionism for more joy, grace, and freedom. This newsletter is thought-provoking, and every issue is a breath of freedom for those who hold impossibly high standards for themselves.

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Joyful Life Magazine is a quarterly lifestyle print publication for Christian women seeking the authentic joy by inviting Jesus into their everyday lives. Believing every woman can experience joy whatever her circumstances, the stories in this publication are sure to become a treasured source of encouragement, inspiration & community in the journey toward living a joyful life. The first print issue of this magazine releases later this year.

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A Wife Like Me is a well of wisdom for wives navigating marriage in all it's beauty, complexity, and difficulty. This collaborative blog is a refreshing and honest look at personal stories and practical steps a wife can take to strengthen her relationship with her spouse. She can discover the essential components of a grace-filled, Christ-centered marriage, and draw on the experience and wisdom of wives in all stages. This a tremendous resource for married women.

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