Ganel-Lyn Condie's Blog, page 5

BOOK REVIEW: I Can Do Hard Things With God

Nearly two years ago, I met a beautiful lady who is a motivational speaker. In talking with her afterward, I knew we would truly be friends. She has that kind of personality- one that draws everyone to her, because each of is feel Light and Love radiating from her soul. She is a true follower of Christ. and I am grateful for the sisterhood she has offered me and the love she has brought into my life. … Read the entire review here. 

Jenny McKinney

Yesterday, months later, I finally picked up the beautiful book and began reading. A collection of essays from LDS women who have endured much affliction and somehow survived finally spoke to me. “Read me,” it called out. “It is time. You need this. You are ready. Read me now.” So, I did. I amreading. I am laughing. I am crying. I am relating. I am changed.

I read a review that said this book should be on every shelf along with Scriptures. At the time, I thought maybe it was a bit exaggerated. Now I can see, the comment was spot on. This book is inspired. It is a gift. It is uplifting and it has answers… perhaps not the exact ones that you need, but something that each one of us can relate to: financial stress, health issues, spiritual awakenings…. the list goes on. If you are needing a boost, trying to figure out where to go from here, what comes next, I urge you to get this book. LDS or not, we, as women, can all relate to these stories. They are real, raw, and beautiful….

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Daily Herald: STATUS, IT’S COMPLICATED Why you shouldn’t block those annoying Facebook friends

With recent Supreme Court rulings, another presidential election approaching coupled with a flood of social media access — we are constantly bombarded with Facebook posts and Instagram pics that can totally push our buttons!

Profile pics and status updates seem to have the power to offend and attack our core values and beliefs we hold most dear. What happens then?

The reality of today is that Facebook users have a false sense of knowing where friends stand. Back in the day, we would go to family reunions and not necessarily know where Uncle D. will vote on an issue or what Aunt C. feels about religion. Conversations about sensitive topics were avoided at the summer BBQs and holiday gatherings. Read more …

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Daily Herald: Look around, there’s love everywhere

HOW TO EXPERIENCE MORE LOVE IN LIFE?

“Look and you will find it — what is unsought will go undetected.” — Sophocles

Humans seem to have one thing in common: a desire to be loved.

So after an emotional and busy year of a job loss, my sister’s suicide, and a book release, I noticed that feelings of numbness and anxiety were as common as the flies that buzz all summer by my front door. Instead of waking up with enthusiasm and hope for the start of a new day, mornings commonly began with a bad case of foggy brain and worried heart. Read more here…. 

Daddy made apple pie with daughter.

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Deseret News Book Review: 6 books that highlight mothers, women

“I CAN DO HARD THINGS WITH GOD: Essays of Strength from Mormon Women” edited by Ganel-Lyn Condie, Covenant Communications

Seventeen women offer their experiences in dealing with struggles in their lives in “I Can Do Hard Things With God.” The experiences range from those with physical and mental health issues, financial and family struggles, and others under the category “Hard Times.”  Read more here…

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Daily Herald: Single and without children, my best motherhood mentor

Blog posts and a multitude of “mommy” articles flood the internet around Mother’s Day. Cards and flowers, poems and presents all play a traditional part in how we honor the mothers in our lives. What of the single and childless women in our lives? If you are blessed to know someone who fits this criteria, call her today! Betsy came into my life when my first child, Cameron, was only 18 months old. Little did I know that God had just given me one of the best motherhood mentors in the world. She had never married and had no children of her own but she truly has taught me in so many ways. None of us should be alone in this life. Women need other women yet we often put one another in categories. Labeling and separating ourselves from people we assume we don’t fit with may prevent the best relationships of our lives from ever happening. Read more….

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Book Review: I Love to Read and Review Books

Review

I knew this book would be good just by the title. However, I was not prepared for HOW AMAZING this book is! I went to bed early one night not feeling well and I took this book with me. As I started reading, MY burdens were lightened. Reading these heartbreaking stories of problems with health, finances, family, mental illness, and loneliness I found that with my tears for them I was healing. I am SO GRATEFUL these women felt brave enough to share their stories. For if they can do what they are doing…well, then, I can do what I am being asked to do. I couldn’t put the book down and stayed up very late reading about these women whom I wanted so badly to hug. They ARE doing hard things! But as they testify–they are able to do those hard things–with God. May we each turn to the Father who holds out His arms waiting for us to run to Him…for it is from Him that we gain our strength.

Visit Shauna Wheelwright’s BLOG to read a 10 FUN FACTS about Ganel-Lyn….

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Daily Herald: Bifocals: Faith is having the long and short view of life

Over the past few days, I have been adjusting to my new bifocal glasses. More specifically, it feels a bit strange to look in the distance, and then passing before my eyes is a small line signaling I am switching between the long view and the short view. Maybe this totally relates to both my life and faith in big ways.

When I am dealing with a difficulty, say a job loss, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the short view. The day-in, day-out of paying bills can become a struggle of faith if you lose hope that someday — in the long view — you will have employment again.

Faith is an exercise of switching between the “focals” — crossing the subtle line in your life lens view. Read more…..

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Daily Herald: Easter Sunday the medicine for mommy guilt syndrome

Last weekend I was hit with a bad case of “mommy guilt syndrome.”

As I was running to a book signing, my daughter and I argued. She was going too slow and I wanted to go faster. We were both tired. We were both in tears by the time we left the house. As I rushed to the book signing, I started to question my work as an author wondering if it was worth the balancing act as a wife and mother.

The symptoms of mommy guilt syndrome peaked after our mother/daughter tiff but it didn’t start there. I have been a mom for more than 17 years and have battled this illness at one level or another for more days than I care to admit.

Maybe you know the symptoms: Never feeling like you are enough; the kids seem to have more struggles than you have solutions for; you are overwhelmed by all the family responsibilities while juggling a career; and doing just enough to get by but not feeling like you are doing any of it very well.

Read more….

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Daily Herald: Spectrum of Struggle

Give it to Amazon.com — the online vendor is pretty user-friendly.

Take “I Can Do Hard Things with God: Essays of Strength from Mormon Women,” a new book by Lehi resident Ganel-Lyn Condie. For a while, the book’s Amazon page included Kleenex tissues in the section titled “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought.” Get through a few chapters and you start to understand why.

Each chapter of “I Can Do Hard Things with God” is written by a different woman, each sharing a particular trial they’ve had to face. These trials run the spectrum, from debilitating, degenerative chronic illness to deceased newborns to bankruptcy. Some have been overcome, and others will be handled for a lifetime. It’s a revealing, frequently heart-wrenching collection — these women, understandably, are brought to their breaking point. The book reveals not only the variety of challenges people face, but the myriad ways one can cope.

“I think it’s empowering when we watch each other try,” Condie said. “I hope this book doesn’t show that every day is easy. I hope it shows that sometimes you don’t want to keep trying … and you feel like you can’t do it.” Read more…

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LDS Living Magazine: 4 Lessons of Hope I Learned from My Sister’s Suicide

4 Lessons of Hope I Learned from My Sister’s Suicide

After the death of a loved one by suicide, we experience a different kind of grief. But we can hope to find healing in the gospel.

Grief is hard no matter the loss, and I do not minimize anyone’s pain, but suicide is a grief all its own. No matter how you try, you can’t hide from the monster web of emotions, the tangled knot of questions. It can’t be avoided, downplayed, or minimized. It knocks the wind, and sometimes even the faith, out of the strongest of God’s disciples. Read more here…

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