Today I’m going to do something different. I’m going to introduce you to several other bloggers. Each of them write for different reasons and has a unique style all their own. It’s called a blog hop. I don’t do much hopping these days, but ‘ll make an exception for this.  The purpose is to introduce you to other writers you might enjoy.

For this Blog Hop, I will answer four questions about why I write, then each of these featured writers will do the same on their own blogs in the near future. Please take a few minutes to “hop” on over and check out their blogs. After I answer the four questions, I will introduce you to them. I think you’ll enjoy their writing.

Here are the four questions about “why I write”:

1. What am I writing or working on?  For the past year my husband and I have been writing a Facilitator’s Manual for those who would like to start a Hope for Hurting Parents Support group. It’s been quite a challenging project, but it is the heart and soul of the vision for what we do. This is our way of fulfilling our ridiculous goal of a support group in every community across America. We hope that making  this manual available will help make this happen.

I’m also working on several other projects: A book telling my story of being the mom of an addicted daughter who also struggles with mental health issues (bipolar), self-injury, sexual trauma and more; and several devotionals for hurting parents.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?  I think my writing differs in that my story has gone around the world and impacted many lives. When my daughter’s story went viral and all the details of her struggles were public domain, it freed me up to be much more open about my journey than many other parents. I also try to be very authentic and real. I do not offer a magic formula to get desired results. Many Christians who write on similar topics tend to do this. Often their stories have resolved. So they’re speaking from past experiences. My story isn’t over yet. It’s still on-going. I’m on the journey with my readers. This keeps my writing fresh and current. My story also covers a broad range of issues that gives me a wider arena of experiences  than some other writers.

3. Why do I write what I do?  I do it for only one reason – to encourage other brokenhearted parents with the comfort and strength I myself have received from the Lord. To pass on the encouragement and hope. I couldn’t find much help when I needed it, so that moved me to write out of my experiences to share what I learned. I also want to share the resources I found – websites, books, rehab programs, local counselors and other help. They weren’t easy to find. I also want to offer support to hurting parents. It’s a very lonely journey they’re on. I want them to know they aren’t alone.

This Scripture, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says it perfectly:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

4. How does my writing process work?  My daily life events and past experiences give me ideas I begin to build on. Sometimes, like July 17, a news event will trigger an idea. I also journal a lot and keep files in my computer where I begin to let my blog ideas germinate and develop. I have about a dozen topics that are key issues to my audience, so I usually choose from them for my content. Some blogs come to me quickly and are written in one sitting. Other times I re-write an old blog to improve it or freshen it up, then re-post it. Since I try to post a blog every Sunday, and Wednesday I’ve started to include book reviews and inviting guest bloggers who speak to my readers, brokenhearted parents.

 Now let’s start hopping!

First, is Stephanie Reeves. She’s wanted to be a writer nearly all of her life. That desire was first fulfilled by writing for Cru’s magazine, Worldwide Challenge, for many years. She lives with her husband, David, and 3 kids—and a dog and bird and several fish—in Orlando, Florida. Her blog Compelled focuses mostly on lessons God shows her in everyday life, but she also shares parenting tips and occasionally writes about hot topics in today’s world. She recently started a new blog, That Senior Year, chronicling her journey with her first born through his senior year of high school.

I think you’ll enjoy Stephanie’s fun and truth-filled way of sharing everyday lessons.

 Second, is Terri Amos. She’s a Certified Professional Life Coach who loves to help women discover their unique design, pursue their God-inspired dreams, and live deeply satisfying, purposeful lives. She recognizes that women are most fulfilled when they are living life intentionally for God’s glory, hence the name of her website: IntentionaLife Coaching.

Terri’s blog is creative, thought provoking and practical. Her desire is that you will always walk away with fresh insight on how you can move forward in your life, your relationships, and your ministry.

She serves and travels with her husband. Together they launched Eurasia Partners, a ministry that helps to accelerate church planting in the countries of Eurasia. They have 3 young adult children and a brand new puppy.

I think you’ll enjoy gaining fresh insights from Terri’s blogs.

Here are the links for her two websites:
IntentionaLife Coaching
www.eurasiapartners.org

Third, meet Sharron Cosby. I’ve had Sharron as a guest blogger in the past. She’s a Southern Belle from Alabama, now residing in Florida. She and her childhood boyfriend, Dan, have been married forty years and have three children and five grandchildren.

The Cosbys found themselves on a journey for which they were unprepared: drug addiction. Their son, Joshua, has battled addiction for almost twenty years and now has over four years of clean time. His struggles led the Cosbys to enter recovery ministry; Dan, as an addictions counselor and pastor; Sharron, as a writer.

In her desperate search for books to help her understand what was happening in her home, she found nothing from a Christian perspective. To fill the void she wrote Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90. It’s a 90-day devotional for families in recovery, or those wanting to be. Sharron offers weekly encouragement through her blog at efamilyrecovery.com and a daily “Hope Hook” on facebook.com/FamilyRecovery.

I hope you will make the time to check out these writer’s blogs and share them with your friends. I believe it will be well worth your time!