Threads of Grace
Life is messy
Welcome to Simply Susan, where I write honestly about faith, marriage, motherhood and the everyday threads of God's grace.
So grab a coffee.
Pull up a chair.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Walking humblythrough faith, family and life's adventures.
Come in, come in! Have a seat around the table so we can pause, pour a coffee, and discover God's grace woven through the threads of everyday life.
Life hasn't always been neat and tidy, None of my ducks are in a row. Like many women, I've known seasons of joy, disappointment, deep hurt, and unexpected adventure. As I look back over the years, I can see the threads of God’s grace woven through every season—through joy and heartbreak, marriage and motherhood, unanswered questions, quiet faithfulness, and even the unexpected adventures of later life.
Looking back over my life, I can see a thread.
Sometimes it disappeared beneath grief.
Sometimes it seemed tangled beyond repair.
Sometimes it was woven with unexpected joy.
But through every season, God never let go of the thread.
Simply Susan is where I share honest reflections on marriage, motherhood, faith, books, coffee, being a SAHM, working outside the home, motorcycles, and the everyday moments where God's grace quietly meets us.
Faith
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Learning to accept the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Trying to rebuild a relationship when there are two very different beliefs about the world, its Creator and therefore how we should live as well as how we see the current status of our relationship and everything surrounding it.
Confused by my Grief
It’s been 16 and a half years since Mum passed away. I visited my Mum’s grave last week. And as happened in the past I got angry and frustrated. With myself. I don’t believe she is in the grave. Her body is but her soul has crossed from this earth and this time to that of eternity. I don’t see why the burial plot should hold significance for me.
My Story with Depression
Having naturally been a positive person it was a shock to accept that I was depressed. I thought I was stronger than that. Little did I realise that I was delaying any healing or growth.
Marriage
True Woman
The way to true femininity, true masculinity, true womanhood, to wholeness is to know God and to love Him.
A Tip for Each Year of Marriage
Earlier this week, John and I celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Like any married couple, we have had ups and downs, times of plenty and been in need. Also like every other couple, we have fought and cried together. Here are 25 things that I have learned and am still learning to do.
Is It Harder to be a Wife or a Mum?
In which I share my thoughts on the harder role – being a wife or a mother.
Motherhood
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Learning to accept the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Trying to rebuild a relationship when there are two very different beliefs about the world, its Creator and therefore how we should live as well as how we see the current status of our relationship and everything surrounding it.
Just an Ordinary Day
Today was one of those days. Of not coping. As much as I love them I am so over The Wiggles. Do the Propeller, Do the propeller around and around, We’re going up and up and up and up”
Stop Susan, have a normal conversation for once!
Keeping In Touch When They've All Left Home
How do you keep up with your adult children? How frequently do you talk to your kids and by what means? Just as my relationship with each child was different when we homeschooled, so it is now that they are adults. And so we have different ways and times with each of them.
Homeschool
Five Necessary Gospel Points to Share
As parents we all want to raise our children in the ways of the Lord, to teach them His ways, to teach them His story. But there is so much to do, to read, to share. Where do we start? We start and end with the good news. But what exactly is this good news?
What Parenting Recipe Do you Use?
We believe that if we homeschool a certain way, then we will achieve parenting and homeschooling success. But we make a grave mistake if we attempt to use any kind of formula
Christian Homeschoolers Don’t Cut. Do They?
Ask an average homeschool parent about self harm and they will likely look at you with a quizzical look. Self harm is what other kids do. Right?
Health
Trim Healthy Mama as a Framework for Life (not a diet)
THM can be a framework, an educational tool. A template. Not a dietary restriction that one must abide by or ‘else’. Like most women, my life is busy, full, rich, too much of everything to be bound by more rules. Yet, without some sort of framework my health would deteriorate into something that leaves me with no functioning life. I need some sort of template in order to function and work towards health.
Deep S meals with THM
What is a Deep S meal? When should we eat them? Here is a brief rundown of what Deep S is and what it is good for.
THM… Finding Your Own Way
The sisters often encourage us to do THM our way. What does that mean? This is THM your way. And THM, unlike most other eating philosophies, has room for ALL types of people! Your home looks different to mine and they both look different to someone else’s. As they should be.
Home & Life
Entering the Workforce
A new season of change as this stay-at-home-&-homeschooling mum enters the workforce.
CatchUpdate
Catching up with family happenings after a treechange and interstate move. Including my Thermonator, front loader, websites and more.
Time for a TreeChange
Major lifestyle change on the road ahead. Where will we be? What will we do?