Hope for the Uprooted

Because of the nature of her husband’s career, Rachelen and her family have made a number of moves. From her wisdom and experience, she shares the insights she’s gained, the mistakes she’s made, and the three most important things to remember when you’ve been uprooted by a move.

Rachelen Varghese is a mother of two and married to wildly fun, intelligent and handsome Cyril, a pulmonology and critical care physician involved with research in artificial intelligence and the course director for the pulmonology block in the local medical school.

Rachelen is a chapter leader and Director of International Chapters with Side By Side, a Christian Medical and Dental Association ministry that focuses on spiritually supporting women in medical marriages. She enjoys hosting, humor, and the transformational power of faith in Jesus.

Learn more about Side-by-Side, a ministry of CMDA

Danielle Wurth is a professional organizer, a mom, and has gone through more than one move. She’s the Founder of Wurth Organizing. Danielle’s proven process helps clients become efficient and productive with their time, encouraging enriched relationships and a more peaceful and calm lifestyle.

Danielle shares her best methods for getting organized for a move and reveals how many of these ideas can be incorporated into everyday life. In this interview she offers ideas for simplifying a major task like a move. Go for small wins – one cabinet or drawer at a time. Create a system that works for you. Get the kids involved. Children can be empowered to be organized when you work with who they are and what motivates them.

Plus more! Being better organized will help you have the energy you need for everyday life!

Check out Danielle’s books: Ignite the Organizer in You and Ignite the Organizer in Your Child: Developing the Life Skills Required to Thrive at Home, School, and Beyond. Learn more at wurthorganizing.com.

Whether or not you are married to the military, you will be encouraged and inspired by Susan Miller’s interview with military spouse, Dr. Sharita Knobloch.

Married 11 years to Brandon and a mom to two children, Sharita has had plenty of opportunity to experience the joys and challenges of the “milspouse” life and the multiple moves they’ve been required to make.

Sharita began empowering military spouses early in her milspouse journey, serving as Soldier and Family Readiness Group Leader, then as the Protestant Women of the Chapel President. In 2019, she became the Owner and Commander of Army Wife Network, a leading source of quality, helpful information designed to engage, educate, encourage, and empower military spouses and service members across all military branches.

In 2020, she was named Armed Forces Insurance Fort Bliss Military Spouse of the Year. She holds her Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling: Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University. Sharita is also a writer, speaker, and spiritual leadership coach.

In this interview with Susan, Sharita shares her best advice for every woman making a move (check out the “No-plan Plan”), her favorite Scripture to cling to, the most important step to take to create connection in a new place, plus more.

Sharita also offers specific encouragement for those of us who are not in the military, but know someone who is.

Contact Sharita at [email protected]

Susan interviews Betsy Borseth, wife of a Lutheran pastor in Oklahoma and a mother of three.

In their 25 years of ministry Betsy and her husband have moved 7 times. Some of those moves were smooth and some were not so smooth.

Like any woman who has been uprooted, Betsy grieved each time she moved away from friends and family and she longed for friendship and connection in her new community and church.

In all these years and in all her moves, the biggest challenge for Betsy has been recreating a sense of community. Any invitation from a new acquaintance was always hoped for and appreciated. Even something as simple as getting together for a cup of coffee.

But more often than not, the phone didn’t ring and very few reached out. Eventually, Betsy realized that she had to initiate.

Initiating as a newcomer often feels risky. Will this person reject my invitation for coffee? As a pastor’s wife, it has also been imperative for Betsy to find a friend who would accept her for herself – warts and all. This is an added challenge because the pastor’s wife is often held to a higher standard.

Through all her moves, Betsy has learned to view moving as an opportunity for a new beginning. She has found encouragement in Susan’s book, After the Boxes Are Unpacked, Elisabeth Elliot’s book Loneliness, and in an online After the Boxes Are Unpacked study group.

Scripture Betsy shares: Proverbs 3:5,6

Read more input from pastors’ wives

It’s easy to get worn down by life. The bombardment of bad news, contention, and uncertainty can lead to discouragement.

Susan Miller has experienced all of that, but the start of a new year is an annual reminder to her to stay focused on and invest energy in the things that really matter. In this podcast she shares 15 ways she wants to live that reflect her priorities and how she feels God has called her to live. She’s not perfect in this endeavor, but time and again, these reminders bring her focus back to what’s important.

A few that have made the list:

* Stop and take a deep breath.

* Laugh more and play more.

* Don’t try to do it all in one day – prioritize.

* Teach kindness by example.

* Go one day without talking about Covid – God is in control.

* Have a purpose larger than yourself.

* Be open to change

Listen to the podcast for the rest of the list and to be encouraged! What would your list include? Email Susan at [email protected]

Susan interviews Stephanie Ward, the wife of a military chaplain and mom to two boys. Stephanie and her family have moved several times. One of their moves was particularly difficult when she was pregnant with their second child and her husband’s military duties took him away from the family for six months. They were reunited in a new town in time for the birth, but Stephanie struggled with postpartum depression and without friends and family for support.

Throughout this interview Stephanie offers wisdom and insight for others – military and civilian – who have been uprooted by a move. Plus, near the end of the podcast she shares three great tips for a smoother move.

Information and scripture in this podcast:

Planting Roots

Living Beyond Postpartum Depression: Help and Hope for the Hurting Mom and Those Around Her by Jerusha Clark

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs”( Zephaniah 3:17).

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:3-5).

“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you” (Exodus 23:20).

Susan Miller interviews Sharoya Ham, a Compassionate Parent Coach and Behavior Specialist with 25 years of experience. Sharoya is the Founder of Embrace Behavior Change and specializes in helping parents move from a state of overwhelm to a place of calm and confidence. She is also a mom to three sons.

All behavior is communication. The key is to determine what a specific behavior saying. Young kids may lash out. Teens and tweens may withdraw. Parents can be short-tempered and moody. All of these behaviors are often communicating fear and anxiety.

Sharoya will empower you with practical ways to create a space for expression and honest communication. Her steps to counter FEAR through the acronym Fun, Empathy, Assurance, Resolve, will boost your confidence as a parent and your compassion for yourself, your spouse, and your kids.

Learn more and contact Sharoya Ham: embracebehaviorchange.com

Email: [email protected]

Interview with author and therapist, Sandi Rae

Sandi Rae grew up working in her mom’s Mexican restaurant in a small town in southern Minnesota. Growing up, Sandi always knew she was loved, but felt somehow ‘not good enough’. Despite her training as a mental health professional and her faith in God, she eventually acknowledged her need for professional help in her battle with anxiety and depression and was admitted to a psychiatric unit. Her new book, On the Other Side, offers hope for those struggling with mental illness. Her goal in sharing her story is to help others to understand that they are not alone and that there is hope, calming, and God on the other side.

Contact Sandi Rae: Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.sandiraecoach.com/

Any big change in life can be hard. Change during a pandemic? Harder.

What have you done to encourage others? How has someone encouraged you? Like a cup of cool water in an arid wasteland, encouragement can make the difference between giving up and taking the next step.

To encourage is to inject with courage. To encourage and to be encouraged is to trust that you’re going to be ok and that God loves you and will never abandon you.

 

Imagine your mind and heart as a garden. What is the condition of your garden?

Is the path overgrown with weeds?

Is the gate of your heart closed and locked?

Is it surrounded by impenetrable walls?

Is there a bench, where you may have sat with a good friend, that’s now broken down and faded?

When life is hard it’s common to go into a mode of self-protection. Weeds can take over, the gate may be locked, and the walls made higher in an effort to keep others out. Someone who cares for you may be trying to enter your garden – to be a part of your life – but can find no way in.

Will you choose to open the gate to allow a caring friend or family member to walk with you through hardship and support you in tending your “garden?” Will you open the gate to God and allow Him to hold you as you lean your whole weight into his embrace?