Author: Linda Ann Crosby
Located in: Phoenix, AZ
Submitted: April 07, 2008
Tell us a little about yourself. I am an ordinary Christian wife, mom and home schooler. My mission in life is to spread joy through my writing and speaking. We live in sunny Arizona, but spent the first ten years of marriage in Northern Alberta, Canada. I've done minus forty degrees. I prefer a balmy eighty degrees. Flowers simply do better down here and so do I.
We have three kids at home and a daughter in Colombia whom we are going to adopt as soon as we get the referral phone call. I'm a hockey mom, a drama mom and can I just say that carpools are a good thing!?
Gardening, watercolor painting, blogging and scrapbooking consume my spare moments and help retain my sanity.
What was your motivation behind this project? Every mother has a list of the chaos created by their kids, yet mine seemed to be longer than most. A friend encouraged me to keep track of my childrens' antics and as I did, I began to realize that God was teaching me a Biblical or relational truth in each one. With my little notebook full of stories, the nudge that got me writing was the day my four-year-old poured a gallon of orange juice into the couch.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? My hope is that moms will relax, laugh and enjoy their days with their children. You are not alone and this devotional will help you see that God is in the midst of the laundry, scattered toys and messy faces. In this book moms will find practical parenting tips, ideas to incorporate fun into their lives and Godly advice as wives and moms.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? The truth that impacted me the greatest while working on this book was when I realized that it is entirely my choice how I respond to my life circumstances. I can cry and get angry, or I can laugh and choose joy. As the mom, my attitude is crucial to set the tone for my family.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? My mother is my greatest example of a lovingly devoted and entertaining mom. My husband, Rick, is also an inspiration to me as he my best friend and advisor, but also he is a party waiting to happen. His middle name should be FUN!
Anita Renfroe's books make me laugh; I loved The Purse Driven Life. For Biblical direction and organizational tips I have gained much from books by Beth Moore, Donna Otto and Judi Braddy. Judi's book It All Comes Out in the Wash helped me set straight my priorities in life.
My favorite music artist is Steven Curtis Chapman because he sings about life and the importance of making a difference.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: People have asked if any of the book is fiction. It is not. No names were changed and I lived through every story included in the book. I hope it will make you laugh.
