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Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

Wisdom for Every Season

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Meet Susan

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 52 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. 

Susan Alexander Yates

I blog once a week on the theme of “Wisdom for Every Season”. I also write for Club31Women. For 11 years, I was the Parent Child Columnist for “Today’s Christian Women” magazine. I have also written for other publications including, “Thriving Family,” a magazine published by Focus on the Family.

Susan and John Yates

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 June 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

Susy and Scott Anderson

Susy and Scott Anderson have been in Nashville, TN for over ten years and are transitioning to life with a full blown teenager in the house. With their younger two following close behind, life remains full and happily chaotic most days. Scott continues love the challenges of running his company, Threadbird, a full service screen printing and merchandising company, based in Nashville and Orlando. Susy is teaching pre-school three days a week at St. Bartholomew’s while all other hours are full of sports, schoolwork, extra-curricular activities, travel and fellowship at their home church, The Village Chapel.

 

Chris & Christy Yates

Chris and Christy Yates, their four kids and flock of hens live by the mountains just outside Charlottesville, VA. Chris is working on a new book and teaching philosophy at James Madison University and a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Christy does campus and community ministry with Theological Horizons and is a contemporary landscape painter. They love their church, All Souls Charlottesville.

 

Allison and Will Gaskins

Allison and Will Gaskins and their family live in Falls Church, VA where Will works in residential real estate and Allison is working towards her MA in Literature while also working in management with Sara Groves Music. The kids think it’s great that Mom has homework too. More often than not, they have to help her navigate the technology necessary to hers. Their home is lively, often with extra people living with them, as well as more pets than the parents ever wanted! 

John and Alysia Yates are happy to call Raleigh NC home, and John is following in his father’s footsteps as a pastor. He is the Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church downtown. Alysia enjoys being at home with the kids and also works as a freelance editor and writer. Their four children span from college to middle school, and their home is a noisy, messy, happy place.

 

 

Libby and McLean Wilson live in Memphis, TN with their five children (13-year-old daughter and four eleven-year-olds!). During their fifteen years in Memphis, McLean has worked with his family business creating hotels as well as redeveloping historic spaces (The Crosstown Concourse) and using his creative energy with his business skills to keep the family legacy thriving. This is an adventurous crew that spends as much time as possible outside on trails and at beaches…traveling and exploring as a family as often as possible.  They took advantage of remote learning/working during the Covid year to move out West and off the grid while focusing on family, the Father and nature. There was a big shift in their family priorities five years ago when they almost lost a child due to a failed liver. The transplant brought a beautiful focus for them onto their crew of seven and God’s creation. If you want to reach them, you may not find them!

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Cousin Camp

Cousin Camp
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One Word: Warrior One Verse: “The Lord is a One Word:  Warrior 
 
One Verse:

“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name." Exodus 15:3
 
One Thought:

Lord, it is good for me to be reminded that you are a warrior. You are not a pushover, or weak. You are mighty. You fight for me. You defend me. You have my back. You are for me.
One morning recently I watched my dog, Charley, wa One morning recently I watched my dog, Charley, watch me. He noticed my every move. If I looked him in the eye he would hop up and come to me. If I moved he would follow me. He listens for my voice. His greatest joy is for me to communicate with him, to pay attention to him. He loves me unconditionally, even if I’m having a bad day, blown it with a family member or friend, or still have on my smelly sweats! Watching him watch me I think about how he reflects God. Our heavenly Father watches over me. He waits for me to notice Him. He takes great joy when I call out to Him. He loves me no matter what.

“Father thank you for Charley and for using him to remind me how much You rejoice when I pay attention to You. At this moment, You are waiting patiently for me.”
These are my two 8th grade granddaughters (cousins These are my two 8th grade granddaughters (cousins). Last time they were in town we went thrift shopping, and they found a single pair of pajamas that they could both fit into at one time, lol!⁣
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I've been thinking about them a lot lately as I just discovered my old 8th grade diary, which is hysterical. One of the main things I discovered is that even though so much has changed in the many years since I was in 8th grade, there are still lots of things that are the same.⁣
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Read some excerpts and get insights for parenting middle school kids in my blog, "Help for Parents of Middle School Kids: Insights From My 8th Grade Diary."⁣
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Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
One Word: Sustains One Verse: “Surely God is One Word: Sustains 
 
One Verse:

“Surely God is my help. The Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4
 
One Thought:

Father, you sustain me in the tediousness of drudgery or the extreme challenges of life. Whatever I fear - you are sustaining me, my friend, my child. It is your joy to do so!
Getting ready for Holy Week: One of my favorite re Getting ready for Holy Week: One of my favorite reads! I read this every couple of years to prepare for Easter.
Recently I found the most hilarious thing — a di Recently I found the most hilarious thing — a diary I kept when I was in 8th grade! (Swipe right to see a photo of me with my siblings from around that time.)⁣
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Here are a couple excerpts:⁣
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“I’m afraid I’m beginning to like Jimmy but I don’t want to because I really hate him.”⁣
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"Nothing much happened today. Linda and I are real pals now and don’t like Becky. She’s bossy and conceited.”⁣
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"I am a complete failure. I must remember that popularity isn’t everything.”⁣
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I'm still laughing as I read it. But it actually gave me some insights that are helpful with my two 8th grade granddaughters -- and insights you may appreciate if you're the parent of a middle schooler. ⁣
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Get the full scoop on my blog -- link in profile or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog
One Word: Understands One Verse: “Great is o One Word:  Understands
 
One Verse:

“Great is our Lord and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." Psalm 147:5
 
One Thought:

When no one else can understand me or my situation, you do completely, O Lord.
I had the best time recently with the Women from A I had the best time recently with the Women from Apostles Anglican Church in Houston! Our retreat was held at the lovely Hill House in the countryside. We were spoiled by incredible food, restored by the bucolic scenery, and spiritually fed by rich fellowship. Thank you Langley and these wonderful women!

 @apostleshouston  @historichillhouse
This is so important to remember when we're strugg This is so important to remember when we're struggling with our family relationships: God created family.⁣
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It was His idea. In the beginning He was part of a family -- Father God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. But that wasn’t enough, so they created man, Adam. Then God said it was not good for man to be alone, so He created Eve as a wife for Adam.⁣
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Through their disobedience sin entered family units. Even so God did not give up on family. Family has continued ever since.⁣
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Family has a broad meaning. We usually think of family as a dad, mom, and kids. But throughout both the Old and New Testaments we see family described as large tribes, small units, particularly the family of the church. A family might include singles as well as married people, young people, and old people.⁣
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God knows that we are not meant to be alone. We need one another. The big concept here can be summarized in a single word: together.⁣
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But that doesn't mean family is easy! It can be incredibly difficult at times. If you're looking for hope or help with your family relationships, check out my blog this week: "Family Can Be Hard: How to Handle Painful Family Relationships."⁣
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Link in bio or go to  susanalexanderyates.com/blog

Copyright © 2023 · Susan Alexander Yates · All Rights Reserved
Calligraphy by Jessica Blanchard · Paintings by Christen Yates
Blog and Ask Susan Photo by Natalie Puls Photography · Books Photo by Cambria Elizabeth