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Welcome

Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates

March 25, 2008

Welcome! We are so glad you’ve logged on. We are on an exciting journey which began over 30 years ago when we began having children. And now they have slowly or maybe not so slowly left the nest, leaving us—with what? That is what we want to explore with you—this great adventure delightfully known as THE EMPTY NEST!

What will you find here? We want you to find a COMMUNITY of women so you don’t feel isolated and alone. We want this to be a COMMUNITY PAGE, not just Barbara and Susan’s page. We want to hear from you, hear your story, your struggles and joys. We will share ours as well.

Within this page you will find relevant articles on every topic possible. We cope with plenty in this season: from menopause to relationships with adult children, to aging parents to, "What do I do now?", to rekindling a relationship with that other person in my house—my husband, and a whole lot more.

We’ll include video clips of Barbara and Susan hosting seminars, Four-Session and One-Session Study Guides for Barbara and Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest, excerpts from the book, an option to receive weekly e-mail updates, and always the opportunity to comment and share your story. The comment section at the end of this post is for short remarks about today’s post. The “share your story" option in “Notes from the Nest” is the place for telling your empty nest story.

So come on in, grab a cup of coffee, and relax with friends. Take some time to discover new purpose, passion and your next great adventure.

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Showing 1 to 10 of 45   First | Prev | 1 2 3 4 5 | Next | Last 
Anonymous @ 11/12/2009 9:08:35 AM 
Susan,

The Women of the Church (WOC)at Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN are so excited about your plans to come speak to the women of our community at the Terrific Tuesday Luncheon, and again with Barbara Rainey that very evening, Tuesday, April 20, 2010! To assist anyone who would like to hear you speak, I've provided a link to the women's Outreach Opportunities page of our website. Please feel free to see why we're so excited about Susan & Barbara's visit at: http://www.2pc.org/get-involved/women-in-ministry/outreach-opportunities/
Anonymous @ 7/18/2009 11:40:41 AM 
I'm rereading a book entitled "A Woman's Book of Joyful Promises - Joy for the Journey." It has at least on entry in it from Susan Alexander Yates' book entitled "A House Full of Friends," on RECAPTURING JOY. That's so important to our family right now. We think we see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we've been in the tunnel for so long, we are going to have to learn all over how to celebrate. And yes, I do mean building friendships within the family -- most especially the family. I am encouraged by this short reading from the book.
Anonymous @ 1/22/2009 5:59:28 AM 
We would love for you to come to Mobile, AL and speak!! I know there are tons of people who would come listen!
Anonymous @ 7/31/2008 5:01:25 PM 
Hi Susan and John Yates:

My name is Jacqueline Jantz and I live near Tofield, Alberta,
Camada. My Pastor Cathy Harris who currently works with the Salvation Army in Fort McMurray recommended that I purchase your book called A Home Full of Grace. Unfortunately I have not had any success in finding your book here in Alberta. I called Inspiration Books in Sherwood Park, AB and Blessings Books in Edmonton, AB and they do not even show your book available from their suppliers. I then called Chapters and they told me that there are none available anywhere in Canada. Please let me know where I can purchase this book at j_jantz@telusnet.com God Bless

Jacquie Jantz
Anonymous @ 7/27/2008 6:19:56 PM 
Disappointing testimony on 'Family Life Today'... The FIRST mudball your child threw got him caught??? Is that the truth? Or is that the story that was given by the youngster? The 'softporn' picture wasn't his - it was given to him by another boy? Didn't your boy already know better than to accept such a thing? EVERYbody is innocent in prison. Seems I've heard a story like that in Genesis, about an apple and a woman. The truth is painful. It WILL set one free however...
Anonymous @ 7/27/2008 6:19:54 PM 
Disappointing testimony on 'Family Life Today'... The FIRST mudball your child threw got him caught??? Is that the truth? Or is that the story that was given by the youngster? The 'softporn' picture wasn't his - it was given to him by another boy? Didn't your boy already know better than to accept such a thing? EVERYbody is innocent in prison. Seems I've heard a story like that in Genesis, about an apple and a woman. The truth is painful. It WILL set one free however...
Anonymous @ 6/18/2008 1:38:42 PM 
I just picked up your book at the bookstore today--only read a few pages, but I KNOW it will bring much needed wisdom. Thank you so much for writing in depth on this issue and for your honesty! I think it will help other women feel free to express their feelings!! I really hope women will find out about this online community. Thanks again!!
Anonymous @ 5/8/2008 1:01:50 AM 
Great quote: "It feels like the life was sucked out of the house!" That's exactly how I feel. The day we said goodbye to our son in a small college town 2000 miles from home, I told my husband, "you'd better start talking to me, because that boy talks to me and I'm going to miss it so much!" When did I begin relying on my children to fill the need I have for conversation at home? While I spent 10 years homeschooling two kids? While my firefighter husband worked 24 hour shifts and I filled the gap by single parenting every third day? It's been 4-1/2 years since our son left home, and in that time our daughter married and, as with some of you, our dog died, too! That's so unfair! You'd think at least the dog would stick around awhile. And though we replaced the dog, the nest is out of business. Overnight I went from full time mom to full time . . . wondering what my purpose is. I'm still grievin
Anonymous @ 4/30/2008 11:40:45 AM 
My passion has always been being a mom and I can't imagine anything else being nearly as fulfilling. I have been asking the Lord (in anticipation of this time) for the last five years what He has for me in this second half of my life and He has been silent on this issue. I have been a stay-at-home mom for the last ten years and thankfully, don't have to work outside of the home and frankly, don't have a desire to. I don't want to find things to do just to be busy. I want to find something that I am passionate about, that will serve the Lord. The things that used to interest me are no longer interesting. The volunteer work that I have been involved with is not as satifying as I had hoped. I don't want to be one of those women who lives in the past, remembering how it used to be when my children were little...I know that I need to move forward, I just don't know how.
Anonymous @ 4/25/2008 8:59:49 AM 
I enjoyed the broadcast where you ladies talked about the empty nest. Thanks for your honesty and vulnerability! I just ordered your book on the topic and look forward to reading it. My oldest daughter is graduating in June and my youngest son is a sophomore. I'm starting to feel the mixed emotions of sadness about my daughter going off to college and also relief that the parenting responsiblities will hopefully be lessening. I don't work outside the home so wonder how I will fill my days. I trust God will give me some new goals once my kids are gone. Thanks again for your vulnerability about your struggles. That is what really ministers to people when we know you have been where we are and can relate. God bless you ladies! Oh, and Barbara, you look like a million bucks! You sure have aged VERY gracefully. :) Janine
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