I’m mom to five children (including a set of twins) and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My husband, John, and I have been married for almost 55 years. We live in Falls Church, Virginia, a Washington D.C. suburb where John served as the Senior Pastor of The Falls Church Anglican for 40 years before retirement.
I’ve written 16 books and speak on the subjects of marriage, parenting, faith issues, and women’s issues. My books include And Then I Had Kids: Encouragement for Mothers of Young Children; Raising Kids with Values That Last (with my husband John); and Barbara and Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest (with my friend Barbara Rainey). My latest books are Cousin Camp, Risky Faith, Becoming Brave Enough to Trust the God who is Bigger Than Your World and the One (Devotional) Book.
I blog twice a month on the theme of “Wisdom for Every Season”. I also send out a weekly One Word graphic (one character trait of God, one thought, and one verse to reflect on for your week) to my Substack subscribers. In addition, I am a Club31Women contributor. I have also written for other publications including, “Thriving Family,” a magazine published by Focus on the Family.
I’m a North Carolina Tarheel. I love Monday night football, ACC basketball, shooting hoops with my grandsons, hiking and riding horseback with my husband, running and talking with girlfriends. You are not likely to find me at the mall; I’d rather be at the farm. You won’t find me in the kitchen by choice; I’d rather be outdoors with my golden retriever. My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousin and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.
Meet Our Kids
Scott and Susy and the kids are into their 13th year in Nashville and Blaine (16), Hayes (14) and Sloan (12) are keeping things moving along. While the kids are busy in school at Lipscomb Academy, Susy teaches preschool to a beloved group of four-year-olds down the road. Scott continues to lead his screen printing company, Threadbird, through the ups and downs of the economy, and they try to travel together as a family as much as possible. They continue to call The Village Chapel home and are so thankful for the community their church provides. Come visit anytime!
Chris and Christy Yates,flock of hens, goats and rescue dog live by the mountains just outside Charlottesville, VA. Their oldest son Tobin is studying Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College and their second son, Cashel, will be attending Boston College in the Fall of 2024. They have two daughters, Linden and Saylor, who are in high school and middle school. Chris is working on a new book and teaching philosophy at James Madison University and is a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Christy does campus and community ministry through Theological Horizons and is a contemporary landscape painter. They love their church, All Souls Charlottesville.
Allison and Will Gaskins and their family live in Falls Church, VA, where Will works in residential real estate and Allison works as a writing coach and school librarian. Will Jr. and bride-to-be Harmony are working in the area, as are Callie and Ryan Goyer (Restoration Anglican). Tucker and Graham are at the University of Tennessee, and Davey is finishing high school. Their young adult children are rapidly flying the nest, while Will & Allison are wondering where all that time went, and trying to decide what their grandparent names are going to be!
John and Alysia Yates are happy to call Raleigh, NC home. John is following in his father’s footsteps as the rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church downtown. Alysia works as the project manager for Caritas Foundation International, and also as an editor for Eighth Day Prayer (look for volume 1, Advent and Epiphany in 2024!). Sylvie is a nursing student at Belmont University, and Isabel is studying (art?) history at Princeton. Jack and Xander keep their parents company and make up for the girls’ absence by playing lots of music (trumpet and saxophone), throwing things (not always at each other), and being generally rambunctious.
Libby and McLean Wilson have been in Memphis for about 17 years. Life is full to overflowing with four thirteen year olds (Mimi, Mac, Yates and Fitz) and one fifteen year old (Grey). McLean is a Principal at Kemmons Wilson Companies and is currently the CIO of Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners and its associated fund while overseeing the rest of KWC’s real estate activity. It is a gift to be in business with his brother and his cousins. Libby started her own company as a breath coach in the fall of 2022. Her company, RIA Breath Studio, came to life after her deep transformation with breath work and a desire to come along and help others re-order their breathing and experience the physical, mental and spiritual changes that come along side of it! The five teens are nonstop with every sport and activity you can imagine….working hard and playing hard! All are healthy and grateful..!
