Blogger of the Week – Jean Stockdale

This week’s featured blogger is Jean Stockdale.

Tell me a little about yourself and your blog.

I am a Christian author, Bible teacher, and women’s conference speaker. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Craig Stockdale. Our marriage of 35 years (thus far) has produced two darling sons, Jason and Dawson. Both guys are married and have babies of their own. How grateful we are to watch our children build their own households of faith.

My passion is encouraging women in the fine art of Christian mothering. I blog to encourage and inspire mommas to stay at the holy occupation of mothering, despite the daily aggravation and irritations that accompany this divine calling. Mothering is a tough occupation. No sick days. No vacation. No paycheck. Little, if any, recognition. Hardly any affirmation. Few perks. I try to help mommies see that when they apply Biblical principles to mothering and walk in the ways of God… He is partnering with them to work holy things into the lives of their children. This heavenly view of mothering allows God to turn the mundane tasks of motherhood into the miraculous.

You’ve written several books and have been blogging for a long time; what do you find to the most challenging aspect about writing? And the most rewarding?

Deadlines. Since Dec. 2006, I have written and published 7 Bible studies and produced accompanying DVDS to create video-driven 10-week studies especially for MOMMAS. The workbooks can be used for personal study (without the DVDS) or in small group discussion in home or church ministries. Each book is approximately 200 pages and contains around 60,000 words! I have me some words! So to say that I love to teach and write practical studies to help mommas is an understatement. I write, study, and teach MOMS full- time. In addition I blog on a daily basis in the effort to engage MOMS on the blogosphere for encouragement and inspiration. Balancing the desire to use the medium of words to craft a message AND meet deadlines creates an internal tension that can be detrimental to the creative juices needed to write!

Moms (at least most of them) want to raise great kids. The overwhelming responsibility (most) moms feel from the moment baby arrives (either through childbirth, adoption, or a blended family) produces a sense of desperation. The ability to connect with moms who frantically want to raise great kids, and urge them to stay at the task is extremely rewarding. Exposing them to the profound truth of God’s Word and helping to make those truths practical for daily living equips and enables them to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6).

You participate in a lot of memes/blog carnivals, such as An Island Life’s Aloha Friday. Do you find that memes are a good way to direct more traffic to your blog?

Like all bloggers, I want to increase my reach in the blogosphere. I enjoy participating in memes and find them a great way to draw readers in and increase traffic to my blog. I am a regular participant of Aloha Friday. Because of the longevity of this particular carnival, I have been able to meet some great new bloggy friends through your weekly meme.

You said you’re on the “backside of mothering” – what do you miss most about having your kids at home?

I loved being in the active phase of mothering when the boys lived at home and I DO miss it. I miss the noise, the commotion, the loud music, the ringing phone, the huge meals I cooked and they consumed, the bear hugs, Friday night football games, the herd mentality of teens that caused large groups of guys to congregate in our house, and I miss the daily interaction with the guys.

I loved mothering. And I use the past tense, because I am no longer “actively mothering”. Grown children do not want to be mothered! When Craig and I released the boys into the adult world, we cut the apron string and allowed a new relationship to evolve. And it has been a blessing. But I miss having the guys at home. I treasured every season of mothering those little guys, from toddler hood to the teen years, from “diapers to diplomas”. I loved rocking and snuggling with newborns and training toddlers to mastered simple skills. I enjoyed watching the boys begin school and engage in the endless string of school activities and church functions. I loved the activity level our sons brought to our home. I miss it but “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven “ (Ecc. 3:1) and my season of active mothering is over. Thankfully, I find our adult relationship to be extremely satisfying. I am very proud of the godly men they have become and the husbands and fathers they are. But I miss that chapter of my life when the I would hear the back door slam and two muddy little boys tumbled into my kitchen with exuberant faces and sticky kisses!

What do you like to do in your free time, when you’re not spending time with family, teaching Bible studies, or blogging?

I love photography. My camera, a digital Canon Rebel EOS, is rarely outside my reach. This hobby allows me to hold my memories – not just in my heart, but also in my hand. Life is moving at warp speed, and photography forces me to slow down and view my world through my camera lens. Studying the faces of my family and the terrain of my life, allows me to maintain my spiritual equilibrium and love live and see good days ( Peter 3:10).

Thank you to Jean for sharing her story with us this week! Be sure to visit Jean’s blog to learn more about her ministry and check out her great photos!

If you have a blog and would like to possibly be featured here, please let us know by filling out the contact form above. We look forward to hearing from you!