by Gayla Grace | Jun 6, 2017 | Blog, Faith, hope
When it comes to the stepparenting journey, the path is often full of potholes. Some so deep they’ll swallow us whole if we let them. In my own journey, there have been times when I wanted to give up. To quit. To move on. But I didn’t. I chose to continue....
by Gayla Grace | Apr 19, 2016 | Blog, character, Faith, hope
It’s easy to feel like one some days, isn’t it? Especially when our stepchildren treat us that way, despite our best efforts. My friend, Carol Boley, and her co-author Kathi Lipp wrote a resource for stepmoms, But I’m Not a Wicked Stepmother! Secrets...
by Gayla Grace | Jul 25, 2015 | acceptance, Blog, encouragement, hope, rewards of stepparenting
My son has an upper respiration infection. As he whined about his symptoms while picking at his breakfast, I didn’t want to believe him. My to-do list for the day didn’t include a trip to the doctor, a two-hour wait with screaming children sliming their...
by Gayla Grace | Feb 25, 2015 | attitude, Blog, hope, stepfamily relationships
“Please pray for our marriage. I’m afraid my husband is about to walk away.” My heart sank as I listened to the voice mail. The woman and her husband had been in our stepfamily class and I knew there were a lot of struggles. But I didn’t expect her spouse to quit. The...
by Gayla Grace | Jan 27, 2015 | Blog, conflict, hope
Today I’m including a devotion I wrote recently that will be included in a new stepmom devotional book Laura Petherbridge, Heather Hetchler and myself are working on. Enjoy! ———————————–...
by Gayla Grace | Jul 10, 2014 | Blog, hope, perseverance
Have you experienced hard days as a stepmom? Do you wonder why stepdads seem to have an easier time bonding with their stepchildren than stepmoms? Not all step-relationships are the same. In our own family, the relationships I have with my stepchildren are very...
by Gayla Grace | Jun 26, 2014 | Blog, Grace, hope, stepfamily marriage
She had been wronged. Pornography had invaded her home and her husband couldn’t seem to give it up. Tears puddled her eyes as she described her feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and hopelessness with his addiction. But she wasn’t ready to quit. She had...
by Gayla | Jan 22, 2013 | Blog, expectations, hope, patience, stepfamily relationships, stepmother role, Uncategorized
As I listened to my husband on the other end of the phone with his daughter, I knew something bad had happened. He handed the phone to me and said, “She wants to talk to you.” Through tears, my stepdaughter, Adrianne, relayed that her boyfriend of six...
by Gayla | Dec 13, 2012 | attitude, Blog, Faith, feelings, hope, perseverance, Prayer, stepfamily holiday tips, stepfamily relationships
The facebook status of my friend was heart-breaking:”After 25 years of working for the same company, my wonderful hard working amazing husband was told he does not have a job. Our world has turned upside down…” A hard situation to face at the holiday...
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 | Apr 27, 2012 | Blog, Faith, hope, stepfamily relationships, stepparenting heartache
It’s easy to trust God’s plan when the journey is easy and comfortable. But it’s much harder when the days are long and the circumstances don’t make sense. That’s the journey my husband and I found ourselves on several years ago. The...
