by Gayla | Aug 22, 2012 | Blog, Fear, feelings, perseverance, Prayer, stepfamily relationships
She was looking forward to some time alone as her husband left for a business trip to India. With three stepchildren in the throes of the teen years, life wasn’t easy. Married for less than two years, she had no idea the challenges that would erupt when she...
by Gayla | Jun 14, 2012 | Blog, hope, love, patience, perseverance, rewards of stepparenting, successful stepparenting
My husband, Randy, and I will celebrate 17 years of marriage this year. My youngest daughter, Jodi (pictured) was 2 1/2 years old when we married. I had no idea what an influence my husband would be with Jodi. Jodi bonded easily with Randy from the beginning....
by Gayla | Jun 7, 2012 | Blog, hope, perseverance
I knew my stepson had been having gastrointestinal problems for several weeks and we encouraged him to make a doctor’s appointment. Since his mother died of colon cancer, he knows his risk factors for that disease. But it hurt my feelings to learn he had ...
by Gayla | May 14, 2012 | Blog, conflict, Faith, Fear, perseverance, stepfamily relationships
Over the week-end, we braved severe storms with damaging tornadoes in Central Arkansas. My family and I retreated to our “fraidy hole” more than once to seek protection from our frightful surroundings. As I listened to the blare of tornado sirens and...
by Gayla | Apr 10, 2012 | Blog, Change, Faith, patience, perseverance, rewards of stepparenting, stepfamily relationships
Our family enjoyed a long Easter week-end with four of our five children home. As I watched our kids interact, I couldn’t help but reminisce of times past when we encountered constant bickering and conflict among them. But now, with four of our children in their...
by Gayla | Mar 1, 2012 | Blog, counseling, expectations, hope, perseverance, rewards of stepparenting, stepfamily relationships, stepparenting choices, successful stepparenting
My husband, Randy, and I leave tomorrow to travel to Little Rock to run the Little Rock marathon on Sunday. The picture below is after last year’s race – Randy is on the left. Randy posted a faster time last year than his previous four marathon events....
by Gayla | Jan 23, 2012 | attitude, Blog, character, Faith, feelings, Finances, perseverance, Rejection, rewards of stepparenting
I had the privilege of attending the first “stepmom retreat” this week-end in Dallas, hosted by http://www.blendedandbonded.com/ with Laura Petherbridge speaking. It was a wonderful time of connecting with stepmoms from around the country, meeting stepmom...
by Gayla | Jan 18, 2012 | Blog, character, Faith, perseverance, Prayer, surrender
“Observe the ant,” the great oriental conquerorTamerlane told his friends. In relating a story from his early life, he said, “I once was forced to take shelter from my enemies in a dilapidated building,where I sat alone for many hours. Wishing...
by Gayla | Jan 12, 2012 | attitude, Blog, character, patience, perseverance, stepfamily relationships, successful stepparenting
If you’re a football fan (or even if you’re not), you’ve likely heard the ongoing publicity surrounding Tim Tebow. Tebow is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos and has made a name for himself with his unorthodox...
by Gayla | Jan 10, 2012 | Blog, feelings, patience, perseverance, stepfamily relationships
Do you have triggers that send your emotions over the edge quicker than you want to admit? Unfortunately, I do and one of them is the emotional struggle with my ex-husband.I’ve had a difficult week as a result of his out-of-town visit with...
by Gayla | Jan 3, 2012 | Blog, Faith, Fear, peace, perseverance, Prayer
I just finished reading God Enough: Trusting God when Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Kasey Lowery Ewing. It’s a beautiful story of God’s faithfulness through a horrific loss as Kasey tells her story of losing her two-year-old son in an accident. But...
by Gayla | Sep 10, 2011 | attitude, Blog, perseverance
It seems appropriate at this time to honor those who suffered and gave their lives in the Twin Tower attacks on 9/11 ten years ago.I just finished reading a book, Unmeasured Strength, by Lauren Manning, who survived the 9/11 attacks. It’s an...
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