Did Not See That Coming

My hope for you, as you read this book, is that you will... *receive validation *know you are not alone *discover the things that won’t matter ten years from now, don’t matter today *offer yourself some of the grace you give others *learn you are enough, you do enough and you have enough *survive this find ways to make the most out of every challenging situation *find peace in asking for and receiving blessing from others. but most of all... that you can see the strength and beauty in yourself and know that being a single parent doesn’t define you. You have a wonderful and difficult journey ahead of you, but you are already equipped with everything you need for your travels.

Laurie's message to you... Even if you think your life is over, it isn't! "Where you are" means where you are NOW and it can change. It doesn't have to be the end; it can be the starting point for something new. Look, it really is okay to struggle sometimes. It's also okay to allow other people to help. If you're having a hard time, that doesn't mean you have nothing to contribute! Even if you don't believe it yet, you do have something valuable and precious to offer. We can give out of our nothingness - out of our despair - out of our loneliness, even if it seems the whole world is against you...even if it seems God has forgotten you, there's hope for you, too. That dream you have? It can still come to you, although it may change form. You don't have to be able to see the whole way right now. There are baby steps you can take every day to bring that dream closer to reality. Bottom line - this is a message of hope and healing for single parents. If you're struggling and alone right now, there is hope for you. If your church or community doesn't understand, know that there is still a place for you somewhere. If you know someone who's scrambling to hold it all together, there are some real-world things you can do to help. Live what you love, Laurie Hardie

Laurie Hardie is a genius at making something out of nothing.   She has a BA in Social Services, is a Certified Life Coach and Spiritual Director, and has 30 years of experience in broadcasting.  Along her journey, she's had to call on every single one of those skills to survive.  When life throws rocks, she builds castles.   Laurie raised three children and 89,542 animals on an island in the Pacific Northwest.  After coming out of the closet while the kids were young, her husband took all of her best tiara - and cemented her status as Single Mom.   This is when Laurie learned first-hand what it means to live in community.  While working for Big Brothers/ Big Sisters and other volunteer organizations, she developed her skills as a gardener, crafter, seamstress, writer, and speaker.   A noted author, speaker, and broadcast personality, Laurie now resides in Snohomish County, Washington.