Blog Contributors
Shannon Acheson
Home Organization & Management
Shannon Acheson is a mostly self-taught designer, decorator, and author. Although she has completed her interior design training, she’d much rather teach you how to decorate your own home than do it for you. She is the editor and designer behind the design and lifestyle company and blog HomeMadeLovely.com. Her happy place is in the suburbs of Toronto, where she is a Homebody with a capital H, a Jesus girl, a happy wife to Dean, and a momma of three. Learn more about Shannon at HomeMadeLovely.com.
Sophie Agbonkhese
HOMESCHOOLING
Sophie and her husband Ben live in a suburb of Vancouver, Canada with their four children, whom they have homeschooled for the past nine years. Serial entrepreneurs at heart, they have run home-based businesses since their college days and still enjoy taking on new ventures together when the opportunity arises. Sophie is also an aspiring novelist and the creator of www.mycuprunsover.ca, a site dedicated to helping busy women flourish in their homes, homeschools, and personal lives.
When she’s not working, teaching, or writing, Sophie loves studying spiritual disciplines and ancient rhythms, eating chocolate and cheese (though not together), drinking decaf oat milk lattes, reading (especially historical fiction), birdwatching, going for walks, hosting parties, and decorating her house continually.
Carina Alanson
Identity & Purpose
Carina Alanson is a former professional counselor turned writer, editor, and course creator who is passionate about helping women live with purpose and grow in their relationship with God. She lives in the subarctic town of Fairbanks, Alaska, where she enjoys scenic drives with her husband, snowshoeing, and reading by the fire. To connect with Carina and find resources for purposeful living, visit carinaalanson.com or find her on Instagram @carinaalanson.
Bethany Broderick
Prayer
Bethany Broderick lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband, three-year-old daughter, and one-year-old son. A recovering perfectionist, she writes about resting in God’s grace in the everyday moments of life as a woman, wife, and mother. She regularly contributes to The Joyful Life and Momma Theologian, and her articles have been featured on Risen Motherhood, Coffee + Crumbs, and Kindred Mom. You can find her words on her personal blog dwellingword.com and on Instagram @bethanygbroderick.
Alissa Coburn
Marriage
Alissa Coburn and her husband, Josiah, live in Virginia and have seven children, ranging from adulthood to toddlers, as well as two beautiful granddaughters. For five years they volunteered with FamilyLife, a national marriage and family ministry and have now joined the organization as staff missionaries. They love seeing God’s redemptive work in marriage! Alissa’s passions are Jesus, her people, writing, and speaking. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, chatting over coffee, and hand-lettering.
Sarah Damaska
Friendship & Community
Sarah Damaska lives in rural Michigan with her pastor-husband and three school aged kids. Shaped by the death of her daughter Annie, she writes about God’s invitation to live in the intersection of hope & sorrow. She is passionate about spiritual formation and helping women discover a love for Jesus and His Word.
Laurie Davies
Difficult Family Dynamics
An author and speaker, Laurie Davies has been writing since her advanced composition teacher told her she broke too many rules. Laurie’s motto is “Go get your life,” and she knows first-hand that we can forgive and live no matter what we’ve endured. Laurie has contributed to Guideposts and Chicken Soup for the Soul, and is honored to join the Joyful Life team, where she writes with courage and care about difficult family dynamics. A former journalist and women’s ministry director, Laurie serves as a lay counselor in the Phoenix area, where she lives with her husband, son, and their puppy Pearl (who invites you to catch her monthly column in Laurie’s newsletter by signing up at lauriedavies.life.) You can also connect with Laurie on Instagram or Facebook.
Kristin Demery
Fun for Kids
A career in journalism set Kristin Demery up to one day publish her own stories of living this wild, precious life. She is now an author of numerous books—including her newest, One Good Word a Day (Tyndale, 2021)—and part of a trio of writers collectively known as The Ruth Experience. Kristin served as a newspaper and magazine editor, and her work has been featured in a variety of publications, including USA Today. An adventurer at heart, she loves checking items off the family bucket list with her husband and three daughters.
Sue Moore Donaldson
Hospitality
Speaker, author, Sue Donaldson and her husband, Mark, live in San Luis Obispo, California. Sue taught high school English, part of the time in Brazil with Wycliffe Bible Translators. She and her husband, Mark, have raised 3 daughters who keep them at the bank and on their knees. Sue loves connecting people to one another, to God, and to His Word, and has been speaking for the last 20 years or so with long pauses for babies, diapers and soccer pasta parties. She blogs at WelcomeHeart: Knowing and Showing the Heart of God and hosts a weekly podcast: Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life.
Maria Dyck
Marriage
Maria Dyck is a blogger, worship leader, and music teacher who is passionate about helping women find healing and wholeness in Jesus Christ. A mother to 3 wonderful kids, and happily married to Jim, the man who fixes everything. When she’s not on some crazy adventure with her family, she’s happy to be home with a hot cup of tea, her favorite chair, and a good book. You can read more from Maria at her blog When Walls Tumble and on Instagram @whenwallstumble.
Rebekah Fedrowitz
Women's Health
Rebekah Fedrowitz is a dynamic health and nutrition speaker and writer who helps women discover a fresh, holistic approach to health for themselves and their families. As a board certified holistic nutritionist, Rebekah helps women overcome health challenges with a unique whole-life, whole-body perspective. She is especially passionate about helping women discover a new-found excitement and confidence for cooking healthy food that satisfies, nourishes, and restores. You can find her at her website, on Facebook, or on Instagram.
Laura Fleetwood
Anxiety & Mental Health
Laura Fleetwood is a captivating Christian creative who inspires girls and women. As a published author, national faith speaker, podcaster and self-described anxiety warrior, she teaches you how to seek the S T I L L amidst your chaotic life by sharing her trials and triumphs about everything from anxiety medication to parenting girls, peaceful home style to panic attacks, Spirit-filled living to anxiety flares and more. Her voice soothes your soul. Her stories touch your heart. And her hard-won, practical wisdom sticks with you when you need it most.
Simone Griffin
Emotions
Simone is a full-time counselor and mom of two under two and a half. In the margins, she writes on faith, freedom and motherhood. She can usually be found sipping coffee, serving her church, or creating calligraphy for her small business. Simone is the author of Glimmers of Hope – A Devotional Workbook for Navigating the Challenges of Womanhood with Grace.
Marnie Hammar
Raising Boys
Marnie Hammar writes to encourage women that freedom isn’t found in perfectly completed checklists, but in knowing God deeper and hearing Him louder. You can find her most often on the soccer sidelines cheering with her hubby of 28 years for their boys (17, 14, & 11). Marnie hangs out on Instagram, on Facebook, and at her website, where you can subscribe to receive a free resource, A Listening Guide and Prayer Map, to help you capture your prayer time as you listen for His voice.
Loralie Hoffort
DIYs
Loralie lives in Saskatchewan, Canada with her husband of 34 years. She is blessed with three grown children and five grandchildren. Loralie loves nature and the serenity found only in the wee hours of the morning, running on mountain trails with her dog Music, soft pretty music, singing and flowers. Her purpose is to bring joy to the hearts of others through her creating, especially photography.
Vanessa Hunt
Homemaking
Vanessa Hunt is the co-author of the book ‘Life in Season: Celebrate the Moments That Fill Your Heart and Home’. She founded the website At the Picket Fence where ideas for your home meet encouraging inspiration for your heart. Her deepest desire is to help women to create homes that are peaceful havens. Vanessa writes and creates from her home in Oregon which she shares with her husband and two teenage children and as a true Pacific Northwesterner she takes her coffee very seriously.
Shannon Leibold
Bible Study Methods
Shannon Leibold believes the greatest story ever told is the one found on the pages of Scripture. Captivated by God’s grand narrative of relentless redemption, she spends most of her free time immersed in the Bible, both as a student and teacher and curriculum developer. She is passionate about helping women find their way around the Bible and inspiring them to develop a deep hunger for God through His Word. She makes a home with her husband Kris and two teenage children in Ontario, Canada. She’s the one frantically taking notes through every sermon, playing podcasts during every mundane task, and devouring every book that sparks her interest. She would love to connect with you on her website, Facebook and Instagram.
Susan Macias
Mid-Life Womanhood
Susan Macias writes and speaks to train up an army of women in the second half of life to serve the Kingdom, confidently follow Jesus, and fight offensively in prayer for their families. Her award-winning book “UNCEASING: A Parent’s Guide to Conquer Worry And Pray With Power” is available on Amazon. Find Susan at her blog, susankmacias.com, or on her podcast, “We’re Not Done Yet!”
Jenna Marie Masters
Parenting Tweens
Jenna Marie Masters is a Jesus follower, held together by prayer, coffee, and paper plates. Holding a Masters/Seminary Degree in Christian Ministry and Pastoral Counseling, she’s passionate about leading women to intimacy with Christ. She runs her race alongside her hubby, their three bio kids and precious foster daughter. They’ve been pursuing adoption for seven years and have learned to adopt God’s will in the waiting. His ways are always better!
Cathy McIntosh
Faith
Cathy McIntosh is a devotional writer and a certified coach who helps writers and entrepreneurs with strong marketing and business principles so they can reach a wider audience for Christ. Three generations of family fill her home with love, making her life full of chaos, snack crumbs, dog slobber, and lots of laughter. You’ll find her blog and coaching availability at cathymcintosh.com.
Adelaide Mitchell
DIYs
Adelaide was first gently nudged and then heftily shoved by God to start a blog in 2020 detailing her commitment to read the Bible thoughtfully in its entirety. She blogs about what God reveals to her in scripture, her ongoing battle with chronic anxiety, and her love for DIY projects. She is sorely outnumbered in her house between her husband and three sons, so she compensates by snuggling up to her two sweet female pups, Lady and Lucy. She and her family have been transplanted a few times, and they currently reside in central California.
Michele Morin
Raising Boys
Michele Morin is a reader, writer, speaker and gardener who does life with her family on a country hill in Maine. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty years, and together they have four sons, two daughters-in-love, and three adorable grandchildren. Active in educational ministries with her local church, Michele delights in sitting at a table surrounded by women with open Bibles.
Ronne Rock
Work / Life Balance
Ronne Rock weaves themes of transformative hope and grace-filled leadership into everything she shares on page and stage. She’s an author and speaker—offering honest encouragement and road-tested wisdom about topics ranging from leadership and ministry engagement to discovering your God-crafted design and purpose. Her book, One Woman Can Change the World: Reclaiming Your God-Designed Influence and Impact Right Where You Are, is available wherever books are sold. An Oklahoma gal by birth, Ronne now lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband, Brad, and rescue pup, Pearl. Her son and his family live in Arizona, which Ronne has deemed way too far away.
Josephine D. Rose
Bible Study & Theology
Josephine D. Rose is a writer and Bible teacher. She shares with women the truths of Scripture, encouraging them to lean into the sufficiency of God. She has a background in psychology and biblical studies and urges women to cling to Christ in all seasons. She resides in the sunny state of Mississippi, where you’ll regularly find a cup of coffee nearby and a book in hand.
Cindy Singleton
Motherhood
A long-time Bible student and teacher, Cindy Singleton is a wife, best friend to three grown daughters, mother-in-law to two pastors, and “CeCe” to eight grandchildren. When she’s not flipping houses with her husband, visiting Disney theme parks, or planning her annual Camp CeCe, Cindy can be found hanging out at her blog, The Titus Woman. She’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Heather Wagner
Raising Girls
Heather Wagner is a wife, mom, and writer who is passionate about encouraging mothers in every season to escape the prison of perfectionism and embrace the peace and purpose found only in Jesus. Her adventures as a military spouse and middle school English teacher grew her faith and inspired her writing. She and her husband, James, have been married for 22 years and have three wonderful children. They live west of Ft. Worth, Texas, where you’ll find Heather driving the backroads, exploring locally-owned shops, and writing music with friends.
Lori Ann Wood
Parenting Adult Children
Lori Ann Wood lives in beautiful Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband, the love of her life whom she found in 9th grade. She is mom to three great young adults, one amazing son-in-law, and a miniature dachshund named Pearl. Lori Ann currently serves as founding leader of the Parenting Education Ministry at the church of Christ in Bentonville, and as WomenHeart Champion Community Educator for Arkansas. Her work has been published in numerous print and online venues, including The Christian Century magazine, Just Between Us Magazine, The Joyful Life Magazine, Bella Grace Magazine, Pepperdine University Press, and Kindred Mom. Having discovered a serious heart condition almost too late, Lori Ann writes to encourage others to find joy in the divine detours of life. Read more from her at loriannwood.com.