dreams

June 21, 2023 by Tricia Goyer 9 Comments

Follow Your Dreams, Mom

Follow Your Dreams, Mom

When I first started homeschooling my three kids (ages 6, 4, and 1) in 1995, I thought my life from that moment would always be about homeschooling. I pictured all of my time (or at least most of it) shaping my children’s education. I scheduled my day in 15-minute increments and did my best to stick to it. What I didn’t know was that over the years God would call me to follow my own dreams. What I also didn’t realize was my kids would benefit from that.

It all started when I attended the Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference with a friend. Being there with industry professionals made writing for publication seem possible. Classes taught me how to be published. The love, prayers and support of published authors and editors brought people into my life who believed in me and prodded me to follow God’s dreams. It didn’t matter to them that I was a young, homeschooling mom who hadn’t even finished college.

At first, I felt guilty following my dreams.

I’d homeschool in the morning and then in the afternoon, I’d set aside a few hours to write while my children played. In those early years, I wrote articles and ideas for novels as Barney played on television. At least a dozen times during those two hours my kids would ask me for milk, or a snack, or to play with them. I’d offer what I could but then remind them, “This is Mommy’s writing time.” Guilt weighed me down as if Barney the dinosaur sat on my shoulders, and I was sure I was the worst homeschooling mother there was. To combat my guilt I swung the other way and became overcommitted, making frequent library trips, signing my daughter up for dance lessons and my boys up for sports. It was my husband who urged me to stop the madness. Over the months to come we figured out our priorities:

To provide a godly education for our kids
To sign up each child for one extra-curricular activity a year
To have dinner time as a family
To train our children how to be part of the family unit and do chores
To connect and serve in our local church
To have reading time together as a family at night
To see what God was doing in our lives and follow Him

For me, this last one included following my writing dreams, and as the years passed I started getting published—first with articles and later with books.

When the kids were 11, 8, and 6, God called me to help start a crisis pregnancy center, too, and to start mentoring teen moms. During that same time, my husband started a dynamic children’s ministry at our church.

With each call from God, I argued. Lord, what about this homeschooling thing? Shouldn’t I focus more on that? Yes, I was still spending 3-4 hours homeschooling every day, but I’d look around and see my friends pouring 100% of their lives into their kids. I felt I was giving my kids the short end of the stick. Instead of sitting outside working on nature journals, my kids were with me at the pregnancy center folding baby clothes or babysitting for teen moms. Instead of taking those art classes at the museum, my kids were reading or building Lego forts while I worked at my computer. The more success I had in both arenas, the more I felt torn. Yet the more I prayed about it, I also saw God opening doors. Soon I was traveling out of town to research books and attend conferences, and sometimes I had to drag my kids along. (Poor kids!)

I can’t say when the “ah-ha” moment happened, but over time I began to see how following my dreams benefited my children in numerous ways.

For them, they’d say they realized having a mom who wrote books was cool when we got free tickets and backstage passes to a Newsboys concert through a writing friend. For me, I’d say it was when I saw my daughter’s compassion for teenage mothers or when I overheard my son telling someone he wanted to write screenplays. They met WWII veterans I was interviewing and traveled all over the US as I researched.

As a mom, I didn’t need to teach my kids that we should follow God’s dreams for us and work hard to share His truth with others. They saw that lived out on a daily basis. Being a servant of God was modeled … and I just thought I was being a slacker for not doing science projects or having them memorize enough spelling words! As time passed, I realized God asked me to follow my dreams not only for the people I served but also for my kids.

My first three kids are grown now.

Cory is married with four kids. He’s graduated college, working, and writing a novel on the side. Leslie has graduated from college, is married with two children, and is working in the Czech Republic. Nathan has graduated from college, is a published author, and is working. We’ve also adopted seven children, some of whom are grown now, as well. I plan on doing many things the same, including homeschooling, writing, and attending conferences… but this time I’m doing it without the guilt. I trust God more now. I trust that if He’s called me to something for Him, He understands how it’ll impact my kids. I trust He sees their futures too. I trust homeschooling isn’t just about books and learning, it’s about serving and following God with everything we have.

So what about you, Mom? Has God placed a dream in your heart or your spouse’s heart? Maybe like me, you’re thinking, “I’ll do that after these homeschooling years have passed.” I’d encourage you to reconsider that and go to God in prayer. After all, kids learn far more from our lives than from books. You are your child’s teacher … teach them with your life not just your lesson plan.

Additional Resources

Re-Awaken Your Dreams | Tricia Goyer

Are you struggling to balance your dreams and your life as a wife and mom? I understand! That’s exactly why I wrote

Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom

Are you a work-from-home mom that feels stressed, overwhelmed, and overextended? Working moms are simultaneously raising kids, juggling a career, and taking care of family responsibilities. Some days can feel like Groundhog Day or an endless list of to-dos. Believe it or not, it’s not supposed to be this way. It is possible to create an environment that includes priority, structure, and balance.

Bestselling author, homeschooling mom, and work-from-home expert Tricia Goyer isn’t perfect, but she’s developed a system that works, and she shares all of her knowledge in Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom. Inside you’ll find tips and strategies that actually work.

You’ll learn how to:

Create focus themes for your family
Prioritize your schedule
Use your job, so it also benefits your kids
Stop comparing yourself to other moms
Organize your home to fit your needs
Do the inner work, so you can truly understand what balance looks like

Balanced is perfect for Christian women of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new mom or a seasoned mom, women will discover a wealth of information in this resource.

If you’re looking for a simple how-to manual with outlines, or if you’re not willing to do the spiritual work to impact your life, then this book isn’t for you. But if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes, try a new balancing methodology, and trust in God, this self-help book will be a lifesaver for you!

June 19, 2023 by Tricia Goyer 3 Comments

In My Dreams: The Struggle with Comparing Ourselves to Others

As believers, we all know we are special creations, unique and precious to God. Yet why do we struggle with comparing our lives, our bodies, our kids, and our talents (or lack of talents) with others? In reality, we need to look past who we “dream” to be and consider God’s dreams instead.

In God’s word, we read: “God-of-the-Angel-Armies speaks: ‘Exactly as I planned, it will happen. Following my blueprints, it will take shape,” says Isaiah 14:24 (The Message).

The word “planned” here is translated as “compare.” [i] It’s as if God has weighed the different possibilities, looked at them from all angles, and then chose the best way. He makes the blueprints . . . then He constructs them into our reality.

This is the life the Lord has constructed for us. Not the life, body, health, or circumstances we wished we’d had. Or the perfect life we can never attain. But the blueprints and the form He is forming into reality.

“Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have—from the beginning telling you what the ending will be, all along letting you in on what is going to happen, amazing you,” we read in Isaiah 46:10-11. “I’m in this for the long haul, I’ll do exactly what I set out to do.” (The Message)

It’s okay to have longings.

But even before we worry about what we desire for our lives, the first step is to not let our dreams motivate us, but instead let His.

God has longings for us even greater than we imagine, and He’s willing to tell us these things as we seek Him out.

All of us have a problem with comparing. How do we deal with it? (Revised from Tricia’s book Generation NeXt Parenting.)

1. Discover your passion . . . and be okay with it.

“Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well,” says Galatians 6:4, “and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct” (NLT).

As long as I can stand before my Maker and see pleasure in His eyes, why do I wonder about what others think . . . or worry I don’t measure up? When I seek God, do what He asks, find joy where my passion lies, and feel His pleasure, then comparisons won’t matter.

2. Cultivate a Quiet, Happy Heart.

“God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans,” says Psalm 131:1-2. “I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content.” (The Message)

God’s arms are open to us, and He wants nothing more than for us to be content there. We don’t need to be king of the mountain, queen of the slim and beautiful, prince of the popular, or princess of grandiose plans. Through prayer and focus on God, our quiet hearts will remind us He is enough.

3. Conform to Christ.

“Conforming to the image of God is a long and steady process of internal change as we abide in Christ. People simply do not change overnight, nor can they be forced to do so,” write Neil Anderson and Robert Saucy, authors of The Common Made Holy. “Abiding in Christ is being yoked to the gentle Jesus (Matthew 11:29).” [ii][ii]

If we are connected with Jesus, have a quiet heart, and focused on our passions … what is there to compare? God has us just where He wants us … in His hands.

What can be better than that?

Additional Resources

Want to learn more about soul care and having a Happy Heart? Heart Happy: Staying Centered in God’s Love through Chaotic Circumstances will inspire you to stay tethered to the Lover of your soul. By taking time to make your heart happy in the Lord, you’ll grow closer to the Heavenly Father, fostering true transformation from the inside out. Peace and joy can be yours—no matter what life dishes up.

Have you ever wondered what can be gained by cheering each other on? On this episode of The Tricia Goyer Show, I chat about my book with Todd and Brooke Tilghman (Every Little Win), and how we can all use our gifts and talents to support each other. From homeschooling parent to homeschooling parent, I reached out to the Tilghmans and helped them by writing their book. But all throughout my life, I’ve benefited greatly by not comparing myself to others (I have a GREAT story about when I did, though). We can each use our gifts and talents to support each other! You’ll want to be sure to listen to the end of the episode because there is a fun surprise waiting! I know you are going to enjoy this episode.

June 13, 2022 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

Is it time to reawaken your dreams, Mom? You don’t have to sacrifice the dreams of your heart. You can pursue the things God placed in your heart while serving Him and your family. I know, because I’ve done it, and you can too!

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

What dreams did you have as a child? Did you want to be an astronaut? A doctor? A marine biologist? While some of those dreams may have been inspired by popular movies (hello Free Willy!), we can look back at our childhood to discover some of our hidden talents and design. Have you ever considered these questions: Who did God design you to be? How well are you living that design?

Is it time to reawaken God’s dreams for you?

Let’s start by considering what you enjoyed during your earliest years. Who were you like as a child? What did you like to do? I was a library nerd. In fact, I discovered going to the library could be dangerous. Once I had checked out so many books at the library that I crashed because the books on my handlebars were so heavy!

Think back to when you were between the ages of 10 and 12. What did you love doing? What brought you true joy?

Here are some things I loved:

• Drawing.

I loved drawing. specifically drawing and naming my future family. I wanted eight kids: two boys and six girls. (God gave me three boys and seven girls!)

• Watching other families.

I remember one moment when I saw a large family at the beach playing together. There were kids in their twenties down to toddlers. I was drawn to their joy and relationship.

• Reading.

I loved going to the library and reading piles of books. Especially drawn to Little House on the Prairie books and books on Helen Keller.

• Spending time at my grandparents’ house.

One of my favorite things was sitting next to my grandpa and watching Lawrence Welk. Seeing my grandma cooking delicious food. Enjoying meals around the dinner table with the television off. Enjoying their organized and peaceful house.

• Being at church and feeling part of the church body.

I love feeling like the older people at church were my extended family. I loved how my Sunday School teacher cared about me.

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

The funny thing is that when I took the time to think about what I loved, I realized the things I was drawn to then are things I love now. I write books. I have a large family. My grandma lives with me, and I love serving in church.

Also, 2020 re-awakened my love for art and cooking. Painting and drawing are relaxing and give me a chance to breathe. I also love keeping a comfortable home and trying new recipes. True joy is found when my family is sitting around the dinner table. I love family time, togetherness, and seeing all ages interact.

I’ve realized over time that focusing on the things that brought me joy from my earliest ages is what brings me joy now because that’s part of who God made me to be. What about you? Are you living who God designed us to be? If not, here are some ways to do that.

1. Delight in your design.

Too often we look at what we’re NOT, and we forget to focus on who we ARE. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago,” (NLT).

And Psalm 100:3 says, “Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture,” (NLT).

Look at this we see that God’s will for our lives is living out the person He designed you to be.

2. Nix the lies that hold us back.

Lies such as, “I’m not smart enough,” or “I don’t have enough time to focus on things I like.” We may have made mistakes and believe we aren’t allowed to try again. We may believe that God has dreams for everyone else, except us.

What lies have held you back from who God designed you to be? It’s time to reawaken your heart. Take time to write down lies, and then combat them with God’s truth. Don’t listen to the negative thoughts that hold you back.

3. Depend on God.

If God designed you for a purpose, then know He is there to help. Job 33:4 says, “For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Just as God gave you life, He will breathe His inspiration into you.

Today you can fulfill God’s will when you dare to become the person God made you to be. Turn your heart to God and place yourself in His hands. Ask Him to reawaken your heart to the things He put there. Place your design into His hands, and ask Him to guide His steps. He will be faithful to do it!

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

Are you struggling to balance your dreams and your life as a wife and mom? I understand! That’s exactly why I wrote

Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom

You’ll learn how to:

Create focus themes for your family
Prioritize your schedule
Use your job, so it also benefits your kids
Stop comparing yourself to other moms
Organize your home to fit your needs
Do the inner work, so you can truly understand what balance looks like

Balanced is perfect for Christian women of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new mom or a seasoned mom, women will discover a wealth of information in this resource.

This post originally appeared on The Better Mom.

October 15, 2019 by Pamela Black Leave a Comment

Don’t Despise The Wait

In my life, I don’t have any real enemies, but if there is one intangible thing that I always seem to be fighting against, it’s TIME. It robs me when I need him most. It turns little cares into big concerns when it hurries on and I still have no answer. Every tick-tick it takes me one step closer to “never getting all this done.”

I remember a time in my life when TIME was particularly frustrating. TIME ticked away on a house that we really needed to sell. TIME meant money, as we paid a house payment for an empty house. It meant being unsettled because over half of our stuff was in storage as we rented in our new location.

Don’t Despise The Wait

Of course, even though I’d like to place a dark cape and a mask on TIME, that’s not where the problem is. TIME … and the ticking down of it … isn’t something I need to fight against. Instead, as God’s been revealing to me lately, TIME is a tool in His hand that is used to reveal what is really in my heart. Mostly, misplaced security.

Time is a tool in His hand that is used to reveal what is really in my heart @TriciaGoyer

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I remember being frustrated because our house hadn’t sold in the TIME I wanted it to, and God showed me my lack of trust in Him … and my dependance on things of this world. He showed me that I look to homeownership as success and security. He pointed out my false heart-belief that when we bought a new home in our new location, only then we’d “arrived.”

God opened my eyes to this by leading me to Psalm 30:15. “My times are in your hands,” David said. God is in control of TIME. Of all the events that seem to take way too long. I needed to hear that.

Some lessons can only be learned over time … and discovering the truth that is in my heart is one of them. If our house had sold right away, and we’d moved into a nice place in our new city, I never would have realized how much trust I’m placing in things more than God.

God has also reminded me lately that He lives outside of TIME. What seems to take forever in my eyes is just a blink of an eye to Him. TIME may feel like it’s throwing me punches, but instead, it’s a tool that God’s using to mold and shape me.

So even though the clock is still ticking, I’m realizing more and more that God can be trusted all TIMES. He’s my security. And TIME isn’t an enemy when its in God’s hands. TIME is a tool.

Lord, mold me through the tick, tick, tock.

Time is not the enemy. God uses it to mold and shape us! @TriciaGoyer

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Don’t Despise The Wait

Steps You Can Take

When you catch yourself getting impatient, ask yourself “Why?”
Pinpoint what is at the root of your frustration with time. Is it money, the unknown, insecurity, lack of faith?
Surrender your requests to God, knowing he is in control of time.
Wait patiently for God’s time, remembering to look for what God is teaching you.

Daily Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I like to be in control and know what is going to happen next. Help me release that control to you and trust your perfect timing. May I catch myself in those moments when I start whining and complaining when it comes to waiting. Instead, help me take a deeper look at what you are teaching me. Continue to mold me and shape me into the person you made me to be … no matter how long that takes!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Don’t Despise (Or Grumble during) The Wait

One thing I found when we decided to go grumble free for a whole year ( I know!) was that I hate waiting. It makes me grumbly and discontent when I have to wait for my kids to obey or my husband to attend to my needs.

But what I’m really saying in my heart to God when I grumble is, “Lord I don’t trust you to provide for my needs in your timing.”

OUCH!

As hard as that is to say, it’s the truth. An ungrateful spirit is really just revealing the condition of our hearts and it’s a lightbulb moment that can alert us to some real discrepancies between what say we believe and what we are doing. Facing this reality can be hard. But only when we see ourselves as we truly are will we be motivated to change. And changing for the better is what we want, after all.

The Word says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Lets not just be hearers of the word, let’s be doers. And we can learn to do it with a grateful and thankful heart! That’s exactly what we learned during our Grumble Free Year. A year that wasn’t always easy…but it stretched us and grew us as a family and healed us in a million ways.

Are you ready to go Grumble Free? Join us on the journey we took through our Grumble Free Year here:

www.thegrumblefreeyear.com

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

September 2, 2019 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

5 Tips I Use To Stay Motivated as a Writer

These are 5 tips I use to stay motivated as a writer and to keep going when distraction or the business of life hit. I hope you find them helpful.

I first started writing in 1994, I was only 22 years old and pregnant with my third baby. While sitting in the church nursery one Sunday chatting with a friend, I got the epiphany that I wanted to become a Christian writer. Since that time I’ve written over 70 books. It’s been a long road, but I have been so blessed to be able to walk it with wonderful friends, family, and mentors along the way.

Having been this prolific you might think writing always comes easily for me. But the truth is I have to work to stay motivated just like anyone else. These are the top 5 tips I use to stay motivated as a writer:

1. Think of someone who needs advice or a word of hope and write just to that person.

Why are you writing? Usually, it’s because you feel called to share something. When I sit down to write I often envision one person and write as if I’m writing just to them. Sometimes I’ll ask my facebook friends questions and that always sparks my creativity. But other times, I will see that someone is struggling with something or feel they need a message of hope and I will write my book, blog, or message specifically to address that. I love encouraging others.

You can stay motivated with your writing.

2. Choose one thing to accomplish the next day with my writing.

Before I go to bed each night I focus on just one thing. Maybe I’ll research just one thing. Write 500 words. Schedule posts for social media. Often when I do one thing it gets me excited about one more thing … and before I know it I’ve marked a few things off my list. Worst-case scenario, I get one thing done … and those one things add up. By the end of the year, a lot of things have gotten done.

We all have lists and when the list is long it can be overwhelming. I like to allow myself to focus on just one thing at a time and that helps me to stay motivated to keep going and be successful.

3. Think about what I first wanted to write and what got me excited about that. Then foster that excitement again.

Sometimes the everyday work of a published author can get tedious and I forget why I really wanted to write in the first place. When that happens it’s really helpful for me to remember why I started writing. I might open up a file on writing ideas I’m thinking about or look back at some of my past work. Or maybe I’ll just take a moment to re-ignite that fire I felt when I was a young mom sitting at home reading a Brody Thoene novel thinking how fun it would be if I could write novels about World War II.

4. Connect with another writer and find a way to help each other.

Writing is such a solitary work and at times it can be very lonely. To overcome this I have chosen to write several books with other authors. It’s so encouraging to work with an author friend to produce a book together. Often all we need is a little comradery to help us stay motivated. I love connecting with my writer friends and it helps me stay motivated as an author.

It’s so wonderful to be in community with other writers because we can encourage each other in the job we love. I even started an online subscription group through Facebook to help connect writers, agents, and publishing professionals so we can all benefit and build each other up. One of the most wonderful things about the group is the support and accountability we provide for each other. If you’d like to find out more you can visit Write That Book.

5. Envision the future.

Imagine your finished project. Imagine yourself getting your word count done for the day. Imagine yourself figuring out that plot twist. Imagine YOUR book sitting on the shelf of a bookstore and someone picking it up, buying it and reading it.

Sometimes just the act of visualizing the things you want to achieve can help you to stay the course when the going gets tough and you want to quit and surf social media for an hour. Instead of giving in, close your eyes and allow yourself to dream about the future where you reach your goals and live those dreams.

For More Information or to Join Write That Book now CLICK HERE.

Or go to: https://triciagoyer.teachable.com/p/write-that-book

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July 31, 2019 by Tricia Goyer 4 Comments

Writer Wednesday with Jen Babakhan

Today on Writer Wednesday we welcome Jen Babakhan, author of Detoured.

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Detoured! Winner will be e-mailed.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Today on Writer Wednesday Jen Babakhan, author Detoured, shares what a typical day in her life looks like.

Writer Wednesday with Jen Babakhan: A Day in the Life

7am-9am: Most days I wake up about an hour before my boys (ages 5 and 7), and start the morning the way all the experts advise against: checking my email. As a freelance writer, most of those I work closely with are on the opposite coast, meaning that by the time I wake up in California, they’ve already been working awhile. I try to address any urgent emails from the comfort of bed, and then get ready for the day. I homeschool my boys, so during the school year our mornings look different than they currently do. We will have breakfast, I’ll spend some time reading the Bible while they eat and wake up, and then we begin our school day.

9am-1pm: While they’re working on any independent work, I’ll take a moment to check my email and social media, and try to mentally plan out the rest of the day. School usually lasts until lunch, when like any other stay-at-home mom, I’ll serve up only the healthiest of foods, organically grown from our garden, which my children will devour ravenously. JUST KIDDING. I make either chicken nuggets, or macaroni and cheese, or whatever they claim they will eat that day.

1pm-4pm: After lunch is usually when I’m able to carve out a chunk of time to promote my new book, Detoured:The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey From Working Professional to Stay-at-Home Mom, or to work on any freelance projects. If I’m working on freelance work, this usually includes lining up or conducting interviews with sources, or doing the actual work of writing (which, surprisingly, is a small part of the process).

While I work, my boys will either play together cooperatively, or hold a cage-fighting match in my living room, and most days it’s a mix of both. The life of a stay-at-home-mom-turned-writer means that I’ve had to learn to write during very brief uninterrupted moments of the day (these moments are the ten minutes here and there when I’m not fetching a snack—usually this is when they are eating said snack). This means that a lot of times my work never feels great, or even good enough— but it’s done, and I have to be satisfied with that. It’s during this chunk of the day that I often wind up playing super-heroes in the playroom or kicking a soccer ball, instead of putting the finishing touches on a piece, or researching.

4pm-8pm: At this point in the day, as afternoon fades into evening, I’ll step hesitantly away from the computer and wander into the kitchen to figure out what we will have for dinner. By the time my husband comes home, it feels as though we’ve lived a few days in the span of the ten hours he’s been gone, and we are all more than ready to settle in for the evening. After dinner, I’ll read or succumb to their pleas to play video games with them, and before long it’s glorious bedtime for all of us.

Each day is a little different than the next (just enough to keep my sanity), and though they’re all busy and chaotic, each one is blessed— and I am grateful.

If you would like to follow more of my adventures as a stay-at-home mom turned writer, you can find me at my website: www.jenbabakhan.com, on Instagram, @jenbabakhan, or Facebook, @jenbabakhanauthor.

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Jen Babakhan, author of book Detoured

Jen Babakhan is an author living in California with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of Detoured: The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey From Working Professional to Stay-at-Home Mom. Jen is also a contributor for Reader’s Digest, and her work has been featured various national news outlets.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

More about Detoured

Does having it all even exist?

Former marketing executive turned third-grade teacher, Jen Babakhan never expected her transition to stay-at-home mom would bring feelings of grief and loss. She felt God was calling her to be home with her newborn son, and she wanted to be with him—yet she felt conflicted about giving up her career.

Detoured chronicles the often-bumpy path Jen took to contentment and peace in her new role at home. She honestly shares the struggles and joys of being home, and the truth she uncovered about “having it all.” She invites you to walk beside her on this journey and find:

a new confidence and peace in your decision to place your career on hold
an invitation to discover your true identity that has nothing to do with your job title
a sense of community and the knowledge that you are not alone in your motherhood journey

Stay-at-home motherhood isn’t easy—but it can be the most beautiful detour you ever take.

Purchase a copy of Detoured
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | CBD

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July 21, 2019 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

25 Ways to Breathe Life Into Your Day

Do you go through your day drained and exhausted? As a mom of ten kids, I understand. There is always so much to do, it’s hard to slow down … let alone stop to catch a breath. But as moms we need that. We need refreshment. We need joy. We need to find ways to breathe life into our days.

Here are ways to do that:

Recharge

Recharging is taking our focus off of all the tasks and doing something that we enjoy. It’s filling up after being poured out. It’s engaging our bodies, our minds and our senses. Here are some ways to recharge:

1. Take a walk

2. Enjoy a cup of tea

3. Listen to your favorite soundtrack

4. Tend your garden

6. Take a nap

7. Listen to an inspiring podcast

8. Listen to a Psalm on the Bible App

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June 5, 2019 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

A Marvelous Journey with an Amazing God

Dear Montana, we’re coming for vacation soon … I can’t wait.

Seriously Montana is one of my favorite places on earth. We lived there for fifteen years, and I never took it for granted– its beauty, the people, the peace.

Ten years ago, I was a mom of three (nearly an empty nester), serving in church with my best friends, and writing books. I had no idea of the marvelous journey God had in store for us.

The Journey From Comfortable

The unsettling started in my husband first. He talked about moving somewhere warmer. (Montana winters are long. More snow is even forecasted for next week!) John also told me many times that he felt God had something in store for us–more for us to do. I nodded and smiled. I was perfectly CONTENT. I had a beautiful house in a beautiful place. I had my dream career. I was COMFORTABLE.

At the time I had no idea of this equation:

content + comfortable = complacent

I didn’t think I was complacent in life, or with my walk with God, but I was at the place where I didn’t seek Him much because I didn’t need him much.

Then, a series of events happened that changed everything. John and I heard about FamilyLife, and John was ready to move and serve. Around the same time we met a birth mom and were blessed with the opportunity to adopt her baby girl.

We left Montana behind. We left our home behind. We left our friends behind. We moved to a different place with a different culture. We joined an inner city church. And in the course of the next five years we adopted seven kids.

My peace was disturbed. My content life disrupted.

Montana is beautiful, and I’m excited to go back, but I’m thankful God moved me out of my complacency.

I’ve learned a new equation.

disturbed + disrupted = dependent

I need God more than ever now. I’m dependent on Him because I need Him
greatly. Friend, is God asking you to step outside of your comfort zone? It’s hard, I know, but don’t shy away from a marvelous journey with an amazing God. He’ll take you places you’ve never dreamed and your heart will be transformed along the way.

Do you ever wonder what God wants to do in your life? Walk through the story of how God moved in Tricia and John to adopt seven children and follow Him on the greatest journey ever!

Get Walk It Out on Amazon now!

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May 27, 2019 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Giving Your Children a Heart for the World {Guestpost}

Our Life

I felt like the worst homeschooling mom ever. While other parents were taking their kids on nature walks and art classes, I was dragging my three children along with me to the pregnancy resource center that I just helped to start. Cory, Leslie and Nathan—all in elementary school—helped me to fold baby clothes and sort diapers. As we remodeled the new center, they helped rip up carpet. They held babies while I talked with teen moms. They sat on the porch and read while I met with the other leaders to plan and to pray.

Our Impact

It wasn’t until years later that I realized the impact of this time. During the morning my kids and I read many books in our homeschool, including missionary stories. And in the afternoon my children were walking with me, learning how to serve. I just wish I would have realized one important truth sooner: I was giving my children a heart for the world by teaching them about it and serving others with them by my side.

The Result

Now those three kids are all adults and each of them loves God and serves Him in amazing ways. My oldest son is teaching his own kids about Jesus, and he also leads children’s church. My oldest daughter is a missionary and teaches college in Europe, and my third oldest child had his first Christian novel published. They are an amazing example for their seven younger adopted siblings.

So how do you give your children a heart for the world? Read the rest of this post on A Reason For Homeschool!

Homeschooling is more than just an educational choice, it’s an opportunity to instill your love for God and the ways you walk that out in serving the world for Him.

Would you like more help and advice for your homeschooling journey? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics. Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course. Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners and fully devoted followers of Christ.

Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschool can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.

Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer. Hope and refreshment await.

Find out more about Homeschool Basics and get your copy HERE.

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May 13, 2019 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

One Brave Step Started My Road to Publishing

24 years ago I took ONE brave step. I was at the Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference, and I’d taken a workshop on article writing. I’d attended the conference wanting to write a novel, but article writing intrigued me. I jotted down a few ideas for articles, but didn’t think much of it.

Then, the next day, as I was sitting on a bench out in the sunshine, one of those editors walked by. It was Jon Walker from HomeLife Magazine. I considered calling out to him, and before I could change my mind the words left my mouth:

“Mr. Walker, do you have a minute? I have a few ideas for magazine articles.”

Those two seconds of being brave opened up an amazing connection with an awesome magazine!

He sat down next to me with a smile. “Yes, of course.”

We probably talked for ten minutes. I shared some ideas, and Mr. Walker was interested in a few ideas. I promised to write those articles and email them to him. I followed through, and that started an amazing relationship. Over the years different editors have come and gone, but I’ve continued to write for HomeLife Magazine. My newest article is Mad Kids, Sad Moms is in the May Issue.

One Brave Step For You

Two seconds of brave CAN change everything. What do you need to be brave about today?

Maybe you’re interested in writing articles but you’re not sure where to start. Or maybe, you have a story inside that is just dying to be written? It’s so compelling but you just don’t know where to begin or what to do next.

Making your writing dreams become a reality is tough. You have ideas but you wonder if any of them are good. You have no idea how to connect with agents and editors, and what in the world is book proposal anyway? The truth is that almost anyone can write a novel . . . but (did you guess that was coming?) it takes a lot of time, persistence, and skill. Much more than I thought when I first started writing.

That’s why I created the Write That Book Club. This premier group provides education, inspiration, and connection with other writers and experts. It’s a place to learn all the tricks of the trade while getting your personal questions answered and finding friends who understand the struggle and are with you in the journey.

For More Information or to Join Write That Book now CLICK HERE!

Or from Facebook go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/writethatbook/

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April 18, 2019 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

A Podcast Launch Giveaway with Joanna Weaver

I’m so excited to be an upcoming guest on Joanna Weaver’s new podcast, THE LIVING ROOM and to share with you her Podcast Launch Giveaway!

In case you don’t know her, Joanna Weaver is the author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, which has sold over a million copies, Having a Mary Spirit, Lazarus Awakening, and a devotional, At the Feet of Jesus. In addition to being a gifted writer, she’s also a speaker, a teacher, and proud pastors wife. Her passion is to see women experience the incredible love and grace of God so that they can become all He created them to be.

THE LIVING ROOM is an extension of her calling to love God’s people well and to celebrate, she’s hosting a giant giveaway, and I thought I’d share it with you.

Look what you could win:

GRAND PRIZE – $150 Amazon Gift card & book from TLR 2019 guests (13 in all!)
SECOND PRIZE – $50 Amazon Gift card & set of Joanna Weaver books & studies
5 RUNNER-UP PRIZES – $10 Amazon Gift card & Susie Larson’s book, Fully Alive

(ENDS APRIL 30^th @ midnight – ENTER HERE: https://joannaweaverbooks.com/TLRgiveaway/ )