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Susan Alexander Yates

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John W. Yates

Character Matters: Raising Kids With Values That Last

How a Man Prays for His Family

Building a Home Full of Grace

A Home Full of Grace

Hello, I’m Susan.

I’m a wife (of more than 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

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Recent Posts

10 Questions to Ask Yourself When You Need to Make a Hard Decision
Celebrate! Your Recipe for a One-Day Summer Gratitude Extravaganza
Feeling Afraid? Remembering God’s Faithfulness Will Help
Our Weeping, Suffering Savior: Why This Matters to Me & You
How God’s Creation Comforts and Restores Me

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Cousin Camp

Cousin Camp

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Cousin Camp

Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure

Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure

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Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure

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Our Best Advice for Your Marriage: What We’ve…
What’s the big deal about a donkey?
How Do You Do It? (Questions for a Mom of Quads)

One Word: Saves One Verse: “The saying is tr

One Word: Saves

One Verse:

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." 1 Timothy 1:15

One Thought:

Father, I am a sinner. Thank you for saving me once and for all. Help ______ to come to realize that you want to save him (or her) as well. Your nature is to save. Your love compels it. You cannot help it. You sent Jesus to redeem each one of us.

On a walk the other day I noticed beautiful Iris p

On a walk the other day I noticed beautiful Iris plants beginning to bloom. They were surrounded by plants I didn't recognized except that I know some were weeds.

This metaphor came to mind: ‘Our lives have both beauty and weeds mixed together. It’s easy to focus on the weeds (illnesses, hurtful relationships, a difficult decision, a longing unfulfilled), however it’s healthier to focus on the beauty.

And if we don’t know what is a weed or a possible plant God knows. He will reveal them to us when we need to know and what we discover may surprise us. It helps to remember that HE is in the midst of whatever we are experiencing.

I have a gift for you this week! In my blog, I'm s

I have a gift for you this week! In my blog, I'm sharing 10 questions to ask yourself when you're trying to make a hard decision. ⁣
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We all struggle with decision-making! Especially when it's not a clear moral choice between right and wrong.⁣
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Some years ago, my pastor husband John came up with this list of 10 questions to help make decisions. I'm sharing them on the blog, and my friend, artist Jess Blanchard @jessblanchardstudio turned them into a gorgeous bookmark you can download for free.⁣
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You might want to laminate it and keep it in your Bible. I hope it's a blessing to you.⁣
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Read the blog and download the bookmark -- link in bio, or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog

One Word: Holds One Verse: “Nevertheless, I

One Word: Holds

One Verse:

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand." Psalm 73:23

One Thought:

Dear God, help me to remember all day today that you are holding my hand. You never let go.

I just got back from a quick trip to Chicago with

I just got back from a quick trip to Chicago with two friends (Barbara Rainey and Joanne Thompson) to hear poet Malcolm Guite @uitemalcolm3774 lecture and to visit the Lilias Trotter collection at Wheaton College. We got to read her journals and hold her precious art. She was an artist in the late 1800’s who gave up a promising career to go to Algeria for the next 20 years to minister to poor women. @laurawatershinson has produced a movie about her called Many Beautiful Things. (It's wonderful! Look it up if you haven't seen it.) #manybeautifulthingsmovie

We were inspired by both of these people. It was wonderfully refreshing to get out of our own worlds and away from ”our stuff” and focus on something completely “other!” We all need to do this😊

This verse from Psalm 105 speaks to me. How easy i

This verse from Psalm 105 speaks to me. How easy it is to forget -- rather than to remember -- what He has done. Or to focus on all the crises around me. It’s easy to lose perspective on life and on what God is doing. ⁣
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Setting aside a specific day this summer for celebrating God's faithfulness will restore our PERSPECTIVE.⁣
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I'm sharing ideas in my blog you might want to use to put together a summer gratitude extravaganza of your own! I hope you'll check it out.⁣
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Link in bio, or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog⁣
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Let us remember the wonders He has done!

One Word: Mighty One Verse: “O Lord God of h

One Word: Mighty

One Verse:

“O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?" Psalm 89:9

One Thought:

Father, too often I forget that you are mighty. I unknowingly assign to you my own weakness without even realizing it. Forgive me. I want to dwell on your mighty power today. Your might levels mountains, raises seas, heals diseases, changes hearts and creates a complex human body. When I focus on your might my perspective is restored.

@jodie_berndt’s new book, Praying the Scriptures

@jodie_berndt’s new book, Praying the Scriptures for your Marriage, is the #1 book I would recommend on marriage.

Written with her husband Robbie, it’s honest, funny and very practical. Her down to earth style will make you feel normal with the challenges we all face in marriage, but she doesn’t leave us there. She provides us with tips for communication, relevant scriptures, and samples of specific prayers to pray for your marriage. Get a copy for yourself and several for wedding gifts or anniversary presents!

We’ve been married 53 years and this book is so good for us!

Thank you Jodie!

A craft table at the farm with some of our budding

A craft table at the farm with some of our budding artists (grandchildren). ⁣
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I have an idea for you: Let's put on our calendars now a SUMMER CELEBRATION DAY!⁣
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The purpose? To set aside one whole day to recount God’s faithfulness with thanksgiving. This simple act can lead to a day of praise and worship and a closeness with others as we share His goodness together.⁣
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There are so many ways you can do this! On your own, on a day-long (or hour-long) retreat. With your immediate or extended family. With church friends. ⁣
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Out in a park or inside on a rainy day. With a craft table like ours or with music or food or sports -- or all of the above!⁣
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I'm sharing lots of ideas in this week's blog: Celebrate! Your Recipe for a One-Day Summer Gratitude Extravaganza Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog⁣
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I hope you'll plan something and I'd love to hear what you do!

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

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