Join Brenda’s tribe to learn more about an uncomplicated life, and life, faith, and family beyond the storybook image.
Why The Future Is Defined by Today’s Choices
This week summer is ending. The college kids leave and the teeners and mom and dad go back to school. As summer ends, it’s tempting to chalk it up as one more year, to moan about the things I didn't get done, and say, “Next year.” But I don’t want to live for “Next...
Parenting Series: Why Mama Needs A Minute
By Contributing Writer Kristen L. Nelson of Not Alone Mom “Can everyone just leave me alone for a minute PLEASE?! Mama needs a minute. Sound familiar? There are “those days” that seem to creep up on us when we least expect it. We've all had them. The days where the...
Change And Transition: Keeping Up and Giving Away {for you}
The winds of change and transition are blowing at home. Our summer's been busy as our family's been experiencing transitions. As I've spoken to hundreds of women this summer, change and transition is a theme I hear in people's stories. People transitioning from grief...
Barnyard Lessons on Obedience And Why Obeying Is Better Than Sacrifice
He called me at 9:15 am asking for his brother's phone number. "We're having some trouble with the calf" he said. I held my tongue, gave him Brett's phone number, and sighed in my spirit. I'll talk to him about disobeying later, I thought. He's learning the hard way...
Why I Can’t Do Everything and What You Can Learn By Doing Nothing
A reader asked, "How do you do everything?" My reply is, "Sometimes by doing nothing." That's what I've done lately as a blogger, writer and social media participant. Nothing. Because I can't do everything. Neither can you. Instead, I've been spending time with people...
GPS Routing Not Advised – A Road Trip With God and GPS Jack
Last summer, my friend and I went on a road trip to Virginia. When we got ready to return home, we relied on Jack, our GPS, to guide us. We talked a lot while going where Jack told us to go, not paying attention to where we were on the map. As we drove the hills of...
A Pin For You And Giveaway Winner
Blessings to you today! Thank you for supporting with prayer and encouragement. The winner of the $10 Target gift card is Connie Gadson. Have a great weekend!
Why We Need To Talk About Our Messy Lives
{and a give-away} I stood in the my drive way with dirty hands from pulling weeds. An acquaintance stopped to talk with me about life beyond the picket fence. "If someone's life is picture-perfect, they're not living" they said. a profound statement Last week I spoke...
News Beyond The Picket Fence {And A Giveaway!}
Lots of things have been happening with the ministry of Life Beyond the Picket Fence. New web design {with assistance of Sara Smoker, webdesigner} Expanded weekly posts at Parent Space, Not Alone Mom, and Ten to Twenty Parenting "Pins" with inspiring words and...
How to Acculturate and Broaden Your Son’s World This Summer
By Josh Kissee, Manbuilders.com The summer season is a time every boy longs for. The joy of swimming, backyard fun, water fights, summer camps, BBQ’s, downtime from school, family vacations, and overall summer boredom busting shapes this time before the hurried pace...
Brenda L. Yoder, LMHC
Speaking, writing, advocating and educating about life, faith, and parenting beyond the picket fence image.
Why You Should Consider The Gospel According To Country Music
Country music gets a bad rap. I used to think it consisted of Hee Haw's cast singing about getting drunk because their wife ran off with their best friend's sister's brother-in-law from her third marriage. With a lot of twang, "fer's" and a really bad steel geetar....