Deanna Doss Shrodes

"You learn something new every day!" I wish I would have coined that phrase but of course I didn't -- it's an old one. Each day I look for opportunities to learn and usually learn more than three things. Yesterday was no exception as Larry and I spent the day at Joshua Tree National Park, taking in the sights. I had no idea what I was in for. I mean, I knew it was a desert, but oh my lands, it's the mother of all deserts! It's a desert on steroids. The first thing anyone needs to do is get yourself a Big Gulp before you go, because it will take you a minimum of two hours to drive through it. Don't let the word PARK fool you. This thing is the size of the state of Rhode Island. No, I'm not kidding. And it will take you two hours only if you don't stop at any of the exhibits along the way, which of course, we did. Speaking of a big gulp, the first thing I learned is this: 1) If you want to know where you should eat or drink, just watch where ...

  Dustin moved out on Sunday night. I always expected I would break down and sob when this happened. Instead, I was too preoccupied with the tasks at hand, to have a meltdown. I'm sure Dustin was grateful. Since there was only a day to get the room ready for Lexi and Brody to move in, I had to get busy. Everyone knows how much I adore Dustin. Not that I don't adore all my kids, for I do! However, everyone remarks about how much Dustin and I are alike and it's true.  We are both INFJ's. Musicians. Poets. Preachers. Writers. We both crave quiet spaces and places. Being away from noise. Out in the woods. Books. We are hard working people. (Neither of us can stand laziness.) We both go to the wall for what we believe. We'd die for it. We're both deeply introspective introverts. We interact with people when we need to in order to lead. Because we can't help but lead. It's in our blood. In our bones. We came out of the womb ...

Driving along on my journey to preach in Wauchula last week, I came upon this sign. As I often do when traveling and I pass something I want to capture, I stopped to take a photo. Mothers set the temperature in the home. We are the thermostat. Whatever our mood, it impacts the whole household like no other person in the house. While we set the tone, I believe we are also the person in the home who faces the most circumstances with the potential to affect our mood. No one cares about the state of the home more than we do. So, when everything falls apart or piles up, it impacts us like no one else.  None of my other family members seem to notice or care when this happens. But I personally experience a cloud of depression so real I can almost touch it when things aren't right at home.  It's even worse when I clean up the night before and after I go to bed someone messes it up.  I have found if I don't start playing worship music and begin to pray and seek the L...

The finances of our home have something in common with how I lead PF Women. If we don't have the money, we don't do it. Larry and I only have two things on credit -- our home, and our car. Aside from that we don't have any debt that isn't paid off at the end of each month. And, we're tithers who give generously on top of that. We have always been faithful in our giving, and have grown wiser with finances as our marriage has progressed.We are grateful to God for His provision and blessing. So, with these things established: I wanted to do a project in our yard. It wouldn't be a do-it-yourself project but one that we'd have to hire out. It would include a lot of things that are meaningful to me including multiple larger (more mature) dark pink crepe myrtle trees, rose bushes, hydrangeas, and a lot more. Plans were drawn up and we received an estimate. It would take at least six months to save up for the project. My favorite thing would be the area tha...

Savanna and I always go shopping very early on black Friday. We don't participate in any door busters. Quite frankly that seems stressful to me. It would be more fun to have dinner with Ann Coulter. It's our tradition to go to a few stores and then out to breakfast together, usually at Waffle House. (I like 'em scattered, smothered and covered.) After we've eaten a gloriously greasy breakfast we head to one or two more stores and go home. One of our favorite places to shop are thrift stores. We enjoy this all the time, black Friday being no exception especially since Salvation Army sells everything including furniture for 50% on that day. This year I was able to get new trees for our Celebration Church cafe for $5 each. I was over-the-moon to find the trees.  So, I also found this serving tray. You can't tell by the photo but it's not a dinner plate, it's a large serving tray. It caught my eye immediately, this little half-off-bargain. It's ce...

Finishing up in North Carolina today and flying home to my family later tonight. Actually I'll get home at about 1:00 AM. I can't wait. No matter how great conferences and trips go, there is nothing like being with my family. That's the ultimate! Today I'm going to finish this post with five ways our family stays close. 1) We are planted in the house of the Lord. The Bible says, "Planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish in the house of our God." (Psalm 92:13) If you wonder why some families are falling apart, take a look at whether they are planted or not. 2) We laugh together a lot. This is a really important part of health. We love sharing funny stories and moments together. 3) We love to share meals together. (Family favorite: my recipe for roast with gravy and mashed potatoes.) 4) We apologize. Forgiveness is important. Lots of it! 5) No secrets. See you in just a few more hours, family!

This is what my life feels like this upcoming week and it's not even started yet.  Not complaining! Just sayin'. Thought I'd share and ask for your prayers. I can always use them, but I could REALLY use them in a super-duper way over the coming 11 days. Pray my strength! I just got home from Idaho , and caught my breath and now...

I am often asked for Mom-advice, particularly the older my kids get. Of course, I've made a lot of mistakes, and readily admit that. I often share things I believe I've done right, too. Today I'm going to share something that I believe is important...

I can hardly believe my baby turns sixteen years old tomorrow. Her birthday is April 21 but we had her party this evening. I always wanted a daughter. And nothing compares to the blessing of her. So grateful for sixteen years, with Savanna Rose... Yeah, so...I'm a princess. My brother STILL enjoys making faces behind me when I'm taking a picture... Cupcakes, cupcakes and more cupcakes Friends of all ages came to celebrate  Ready to serenade me? Hanging out on the patio Yeah, so we had a few cupcakes. Alexa, Cheyenne and George stopped in to give their love and well wishes! Chillin...  Once it got dark Savanna and her friends gathered around a fire on the patio. Part time princess, part time ballerina...Multi-tasker Beautiful girl...we love you

When I sat down to blog tonight I thought, "this is a hodge podge of stuff that doesn't really go together...it's all over the place." But truthfully? That's what my life is like some days. It's a crazy conglomeration -- as I JUGGLE from church to home to job coaching to writing to drinking dark roast coffee and dreaming about changing the world.  There's still a lot to get ready for Easter at the church as well as in our home.  Larry and I still do Easter baskets for ALL of our kids. (Yes even the 22 and 23 year old). I tell him we will do this FOR LIFE and every year he gives me a lecture on the ridiculousness of doing Easter baskets for grown kids. This will be interesting when next year he will give me a lecture on the ridiculousness of doing a basket for a 23, 24 and 16 year old. Ha ha! Shhhhhh! What Larry doesn't know won't hurt him. Every year I can make him think this is the last year we're doing baskets. In other news:

So, here's all we had to concern ourselves with, here in the past 24 hours... I sat in front of the fireplace and wrote to my heart's content in the quiet, while occasionally glancing out the window. Love the change of scenery while I write. Jordan was king of the mountain. Savanna made snow angels. We stayed in this beautiful place. We watched two movies last night. Made dinner, did the dishes, tidied things up, sunk down into a bath. Slept. That's all folks...  

Today's our last day in Boston before we head to the Berkshires.  We had a fantastic day yesterday, painting the town with Lou and Nina Zinnanti. They've been showing us all the hot spots of this beautiful town, and been so gracious. Savanna found this necklace for me. Since this is what lots of my friends have called me for umpteen years, it was just perfect... Plus it was 50% off. How could I not justify wearing the wonder, at half the price? I want to point out that this is my first Wonder Woman purchase. All of the other stockpile of memorabilia  that fills my home and office comes from friends, co-workers, church members, etc. over the years. Shout out to all who have given me everything from WW pajamas to lunch boxes to mugs to you name it. Then, I also found a phone case, for me. I got a new phone back in August, when I was at Ormond Beach and forgot that my phone was tucked into my bathing suit top and spontaneously decided to run and jump in the waves. Y...

We began our time away together in Boston, being that the place we're staying in the Berkshires comes available Sunday night. We've never been here before, so this is super exciting. The hotel we're staying in is round. I think that's so cool. It was built in the 1800's and was used to house the lamp oil back then. It's so quaint -- I just love it. It also has small full size beds which I love even more because that means I sleep nice and close to Larry Shrodes. :) Especially in the chill. Oh my! I forgot how cold it is in other parts of the world. I have been wearing three layers on top, including a ski jacket, hat, scarf and gloves. It's been a long time. I'm a Floridian now. I can't remember the last time I wore panty hose, and most days I wear open toe shoes even in winter. We met up with a college friend, Pastor Lou Zinnanti, yesterday. He and his wife, Pastor Kris Zinnanti, are the co-pastors of Christ the Rock Church here in Boston. L...