by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Feb 3, 2023 | Adoptees, Adoption, Family, Grief, Loss, Relationships, Uncategorized
When Gus first died, I wanted to stay at home all the time. The reason was simple. I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to be sweet when others said or did annoying things, so I stayed to myself. There are people I encounter who love me very much but aren’t the...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Jan 12, 2023 | Adoptees, Adoption, Family, Relationships, Reunion, Trauma
What I am about to share has been difficult to come to terms with this past week. In my heart, I already knew it, but having proof hurts just the same. I have said several times that even though Gus (my bio father) is dead, our story isn’t over. It won’t be until...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Jan 2, 2023 | Leadership, Ministry, Women
Every year I choose a word of the year. My word for 2023 is STRONG. I’ve heard it said that some people are strong because they had no choice but to be. I don’t believe that. There is always a choice to be strong or weak, and some people make the wrong choice. Like...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Dec 26, 2022 | Leadership, Ministry
A few decades ago, my husband hired a youth pastor at the church where we were serving as the lead pastors at the time. We had known this couple for several years, adored their family then, and still do now. Bart and Jen (not their real names) had felt a call to the...
by Dr. Deanna Shrodes | Dec 14, 2022 | Adoptees, Leadership, Ministry, Relationships, Weight Loss
This is me, getting ready to delve into a place that’s one of the most vulnerable for me, but I think someone needs to go there and I’m picking myself for the job. If someone doesn’t say to you, “Hey, I’m fat and need to get in shape and I could use your help…”...
