Six Kids and a Widow

You are in for a real treat! Lori Streller was interviewed in early 2019. So much has happened since then! Tune in to hear her opinions on online dating, blending families, and moving to a small community. More of this interview can be found here: https://awidowsmight.org/womens-christian-devotional/where-are-they-now-lori.html If you have other suggestions for interviews, email me at ekcolvard@gmail.com

In part 1 we introduced you to Emily Lassiter of Birmingham, Alabama. We had some straight talk about finances as a widow. In part 2 we understood what God was doing while He had Emily benched for a season. In this final episode, we will learn how she practically lives out the concept of God as her husband, the first time she really laughed after losing her husband, and some great advice for new widows and those who walk with them. We tackle the doctrine of the sovereignty of God a little and give some book recommendations. Emily says this to her girls: God is in control. His plan is perfect. And He loves us.  www.wealthedit.com www.somersetadvisory.com Books: To Soar Again by Gracia Burnham; A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sitser; Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

In part 1 we ended with Emily realizing she had been benched by God. What did she discover as the purpose? In this episode you will find that answer and about finding her new identity after widowhood. What was the Lord directing her to do now? What does a financial planner do? Fact correction: average age of widows in the USA is 59. www.wealthedit.com www.somersetadvisory.com

You will love getting to know my new friend Emily Lassiter from Birmingham, Alabama in this 3-part interview. Part 1 includes getting to know a little about her husband Joe, straight talk about income needs, and her realization that she was benched by God!  www.wealthedit.com www.somersetadvisory.com  

This is season 2, episode 5; whose church do we attend? Blendind families can be challenging in many ways - and picking a church to attend as a family can be one of the hardest choices.  Do we go to my church? Do we go to his church? Do we choose some place new to start over? All of those are great options that I discuss in today's episode. Do you have blended family questions? Email me at ekcolvard@gmail.com

Today's episode is a very difficult one. I will be discussing some of the issues with adopting children from mama's who did not take care of them in-utero. Drugs, stress, alcohol, etc have huge effects on babies that often families don't understand when they adopt. Books mentioned: The Explosive Child by Ross Greene, When Love Isn't Enough by Nancy Thomas, The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis  Websites recommended: www.embracegrace.com www.golife.org www.gracehomeok.org  

This is episode 4 of season 2 - Life in the Blender. Sometimes when blending a family, you have to remember that even family trips will look different than they did with your first family or as a single parent family.  Listen as I tell about how our trips have changed in our new family. Email me at ekcolvard@gmail.com if you have ideas for future podcasts.

This is season 2 episode 3 - what is unique about our blended family? Ron Deal says there are 67 different combinations for blended families and we are one of those unique combinations. We are both widowed with kids still in the home.  Tune in to find out more about our blending process! Have questions? Email me at ekcolvard@gmail.com

This is a constant issue in blending a family - whose rules do we follow? I hope this podcast gives you some encouragement as you travel the journey of blending your families. Stop trying to control everything - I repeat that to myself often. What issues do you deal with when blending the rules for your families?  Subscribe to my podcasts and follow me on Facebook.

I'm BACK! Podcasting took a break for a while due to life. Here's what I have been up to! Season 2 is called Life in the Blender. This is our story of blending our families after grieving the loss of our spouses. This episode gives the details about our wedding and introduces you to the episode plans for the coming year. You can email questions or podcast ideas to ekcolvard@gmail.com  

Tune in for a great interview with Deanna Fisher. She has a ministry called Ron's Way, after her late husband, ministering to widows and widowers mostly with children still in the home www.ronsway.org and on facebook @RonsWay

This is actually podcast 32 and NOT 31. Sorry for the confusion. I quote from a book by Ron Deal on marriage and from Matthew 22:23-33 NLT.  Included is some very exciting news!! Elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com  

I can't wait for you to meet my long-time friend Wendy Jordan. She has such a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ and a love for others that is contagious.  If you know someone I should interview for future podcasts, email me at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com    

I can't wait for you to meet my friend Amy Woody/ She is a remarried widow and you will appreciate all she has to say about widowhood, parenting, and remarriage. Check out her work at Next Trip LLC  

Lori Reynolds Streller and I had a great time in this interview - it felt like we were chatting over a latte (gluten free, of course) and you all got to listen in.  Check out her facebook pages Lori Reynolds Streller and her other page Streller Family Support. She blogs at When Even If Evolves, where you will love her beautiful writings and biblical musings.  Widowhood is hard, even if you know it is coming. Lori shares her heart in a vulnerable and honest way today.  Remember to like and subscribe to the podcasts.  

Nothing like your own words to shake you up!  Philippians 4:6,7 Psalm 42 My hope is in God and I will praise Him! elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com www.awidowsmight.org 

This podcast is based on a story about a child and his boat. You will love it and totally see yourself in the story. It made me think of a quote by Charles Spurgeon; I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages. Have you learned that? I am a work in progress.   

Today I lay it all on the table in dating a widow. You will love the stories I'm going to tell.   

Grab your cup of hot something and settle in for a longer episode than usual.  mbcokc.org for contributions toward future Dyer ministry trips SHARE Education   

Why does my doctrine matter? Because it determines how I deal with hardship in my life. John 16:33 2 Timothy 3 2 Timothy 1:5, 2:13 Social media pages - Dyer Family Ministry Page on Facebook, Elizabeth Kay Dyer on Facebook and Instagram  

Show notes: elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com facebook: @elizabethdyerblogger facebook page : Dyer Family Ministry Trip 1 Timothy 5 is the passage covered inn this podcast  

My son sent me the link to this Shane and Shane song called "Though You Slay Me". I was honestly afraid to listen because I was afraid I would cry. But I share the words of this amazing song on today's podcast.  I also share some quotes from the C S Lewis book "A Grief Observed". He wrote this after he lost his bride to cancer. His writing is a challenge to read for me - lots of deep thought and big words! But I gleaned some really good things from it. Actually I say at the beginning of the podcast that it is #21 but it is actually #22. Sorry for that mistake! Please rate, review, or click the stars to get the word out about this podcast. It is the ONLY way people can search the topic and find me. I don't make the rules....I just attempt to follow them. Thanks. This is the day and the year the Lord has made - I will be glad and rejoice in it - Psalm 118:24

I read a great article and share the hightlights. You can read the article here: The Voice of the Widowed Mom  email me elizabethkaydyer@gmai.com    

Details about our Christmas traditions, how we fit all six kids into this house for the first time, attending a relative's wedding, and what we did on the 6th anniversary of my husband's passing away. Reflecting on the past year, I use this formula: 2018 20 people who were a blessing in my life this past year, 1 answered prayer, and 8 goals or prayer requests for the coming year. Looking forward to this season 2 with you! email me at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com

I joke that my "filter" died in 2012 but in actuality, we have all the filter we need in Scripture and the Holy Spirit. I found 5 Bible verse to help me filter what I do on social media. 1 Peter 2:12 Romans 12:18 1 Timothy 4:12 1 Timothy 4 :16 Colossians 4:6 **This is the last podcast until the new year. See you in 2019!

Sharing 20 tips to help your Solo parent friend thrive and survive the holidays from fall through the new year! Have ideas to add to my list? Email me elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com Also share the statistics of suicide, chemical dependency, and incarceration from solo parent families. How to deal with these frightening numbers?  Don't forget to take 2 seconds to rate the podcast and subscribe - it is the way the system helps get the recording out to more people. Thanks!

I have a sinus condition so forgive my stuffiness.  My first turkey had an issue I share about - turns out it is pretty common but I had never known of it before.  Memories of past Thanksgivings. Reflections on the most recent Thanksgiving.  I read an article by Julie Roys about the Mother of Thanksgiving.  elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com

I have found some great podcasts I want to share. You can share yours with me by emailing me elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com  Living in the Light by Anne Graham Lotz Precepts for Life by Kay Arthur Mama Bear Apologetics Alisa Childers Cross Examined by Frank Turek Sheologians The Busy Mom by Heidi St John Poddybreak by Tim Hawkins Solo Parent Society by Robert Beeson Social Media Church by Nils Smith The Gospel Coalition Uniquely Beautiful Stories by Heather McAnear Unsolved Murders:true crime stories The Holderness Family Hope that gives you some fun over the coming week - check them out!  

Here are some things I'm dealing with as I plan for our ministry trip to Hungary early 2019 and a story I wrote based on Mark 12 - the widow's mite. Please subscribe and rate the podcast - that is how the podcast business works. Thanks. Email me elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com

There was a time I needed help with issues and went to Celebrate Recovery. I highly recommend it! What makes a good father? Less than you think. I share my thoughts about being a great father. Father issues plague many folks - don't let it destroy you. Get help. Start with CR.  And parents listening, tell your kids you love them and that you are proud of them. Often. email me elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com Subscribe and leave a review please!

elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com This is one of my favorite last memories of my husband and our family. It was Halloween of 2012. Hope you enjoy. I struggled for many years dealing with how should Christians handle holidays that had pagan beginnings. Read where I landed. And who were the Bereans and what do they have to do with Halloween? Listen and find out!  

email me elizabethaydyer@gmail.com This episode talks about Bermuda grass, football games, cross country meets, and the independence of children in solo parent homes. I've also found that big families run out of babysitters eventually. I've hit that point.  But in the end, enjoy whatever season your children are in.  Please do me a huge favor! Rate this podcast! It is literally one click. One click. You can do it. It helps podcasts get shared and spread around. Thanks ever so much. Follow me on facebook and instagram - elizabethkaydyer  

Podcast 11 is where I give the wrapup of my speaking gig in SC and the catastrophe of what happened at home. I write and help run a ministry called A Widow's Might, inc. We do conferences and retreats, write articles, publish devotionals, and have over 40,000 followers on social media. There are a lot of hurting widows out there that we want to share the hope of Christ with! And we like to help churches and friends know how to minister to widows. I spoke at a church banquet and covered both topics - encouragement for the widow's heart AND for those who love her.  Sheryl, the president of AWM, accompanied me to SC and we had so much fun together. But what happened at home? Tune in to find out! If your church would like to minister to widows by having us come speak, please contact me elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast. You don't want to miss hearing about the party that goes on inside my head!

If you are a widow/widower or you love one, you won't want to miss this episode. I found some crazy statistics about widowhood that will blow your socks off. I was stunned.  email me elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com Don't forget to subscribe and review this podcast. It takes about 2.4 seconds. Really.  

This is episode 9.  We lost so much when we lost our spouses. We lost more than just a person. I have struggled with answering questions on forms - am I single or married? Neither! Am I a Mrs or a Ms?  We lost our companion, confidant, love, and provider. Is it possible to find all those in Christ? A quote I shared: "My undoing was a step in my becoming"  Verses referenced: Ruth 2:12, Ephesians 3:20 Event: Widow banquet at Concord Baptist Church, Anderson SC on October 5, 2018 Email them for more information and reservations The ministry I am representing is A Widow's Might, org.  At least the cat wasn't disruptive today!

Joshua called all the elders and leaders together to remind them of all God had done for the Israelites since their beginning. He wanted a commitment from the leaders saying who they would follow - either the false gods or the One True God. I am now the leader of my little tribe so how do we commit to following God?  And somehow that Cat finds me making podcasts  Enjoy his lovely sounds   Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast. And you can email me at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com You can also find me on facebook and instagram.       

Episode 7 is about my long relationship with the great state fair of OHHHklahom. It began when I was a child and has continued every year since. In 1987 I asked two cute boys from my sunday school class to go with me. Who were those boys?    I hope you enjoy the crazy cat sounds in this episode. He drives me crazy....   elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com   Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! And you will be happy to know, I figured out how to adjust the music!

This episode is about how I keep getting hit with the word RELEASE! I am learning to release my children from things that don't bring them joy any more - while cleaning out closets and looking at our schedules.  We love the Dreamworks movie The Croods about a prehistoric family learning to adapt to a new world. One of the phrases I say is: Release the Baby! The grandmother says that phrase as they release the baby as their defense against attack. I am trying to release the babies here in my house to be all that God wants them to be. I don't want to hold them back, but what about when I see potential for greatness? And they just don't care about it any more? Do I make them push through their apathy or let them walk away? Email me your stories at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com Psalm 146:9 NLT God takes care of the children who have no father  and the woman whose husband has died.  Don't forget to subscribe and share these podcasts with your solo parent friends!

Episode 5 is my journey in the education of my children. I have been a private school teacher and have sent my children to public school. I have even homeschooled some, one, or all of my children at various times. But as a solo parent, the options seem even more difficult. You will be encouraged to look to God as your husband ( Isaiah 54) and as the father to the fatherless (Psalm 68).  Another verse I mention is Psalm 146:9 (NLT) - God takes care of the children who have no father and the woman whose husband has died.  The book that started the whole journey for me was Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Lessons by  Engelmann. Best $20 I ever spent. I even had it spiral bound at the copy store. Twenty years later, it is still on my book shelf, waiting for the grandkids!  Email me at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com And don't forget to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review! Thanks! 

One time I thought God was telling me to get prepared to serve overseas with my kids for a year at a boarding school, but I misunderstood. This episode tells about what He really had planned and how we served together as a family.  Email me at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com  The ministry I served with was SHARE https://www.shareeducation.org/ Order your Hungarian Paprika here: https://www.amazon.com/SpiceCubed-Hungarian-Paprika-Tin/dp/B003X3YH3M/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1533939504&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=hungarian+paprika&psc=1

It is very difficult to parent alone but it adds a new dimension to parenting when the children begin to grow up and leave home. Within three weeks, half of my children moved away. Even though that is the goal of parenting, it is still challenging. If you are experiencing the empty nest as a widowed parent and want to email me about your experiences, you can at elizabethkaydyer@gmai.com

I have been asked often if I am my children's grandma, mostly since my youngest was born 10 years ago. Join in on the funny stories today! You can email me at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com

Elizabeth Dyer tells about the anniversaries of her wedding since the death of her husband. She has done different things to celebrate the date. She shares some of the memories she has of her wedding day and the years that followed. Email her at elizabethkaydyer@gmail.com