Carla Anne Coroy - Married Mom, Solo Parent: Finding Gods Strength to Face the Challenge

This is a fantastic book! Not only is Carla Anne Coroy an engaging writer but also, in our book, she is the expert of experts in relating to all who have ever had an absentee husband. Buy one for yourself and give one to someone you love who is going at it alone.

DR. GARY AND BARB ROSBERG

President and Executive Vice-President,

Americas Family Coaches

Carla Anne Coroy doesnt mince words when she talks about how lonely being a married single mom is! But while acknowledging the bitterness, the fear, and the exhaustion, she also plots a road forward toward peace, a healthy family life, and even a thriving marriage. An honest, hopeful look at one of the loneliest jobs around!

SHEILA WRAY GREGOIRE

Christian speaker and author of

The Good Girls Guide to Great Sex

People learn more from our struggles than they do from our strengths. And thats why this book is an amazingly valuable resource for every mother; it is soul-piercingly vulnerable. I recommend this book to any mom because every mom will find an absolute treasure trove of wisdom and hope insidepractical wisdom and hope that works because it was bought in the fires of real-life stresses and pressures. You will be encouraged and helped if you read this book!

KRIS DUERKSEN

Associate Pastor of Southland Community Church,

Steinbach, Manitoba

From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology

Copyright 2011 by John Dyer

Published by Kregel Publications, a division of Kregel, Inc., P.O. Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NIrV are from the Holy Bible, New International Readers Version. NIrV. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked TLB are from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. Used by permission.

Statistics used in this book were taken from an online survey, conducted by the author, of women who considered themselves married single moms. The numbers were accurate as of publication. The current survey results are available at www.carlaanne.com.

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Some of the anecdotal illustrations in this book are included with the permission of the persons involved. All other illustrations are composites of real situations, and any resemblance to people living or dead is coincidental.

This book is dedicated to
the man who has given me the privilege
of living the life of a married mom and solo
parent, causing me to grow, learn,
and lean on Jesus. My husbands support,
prayers, and pursuit of godliness and
integrity have given me the space Ive needed
to share my heart and our story of Gods
hope and healing in our life. Not only has he
been my biggest cheerleader and deliverer
of cups of coffee and chocolate, hes faithfully
(and ruthlessly) edited my words to
help me say what I mean.

Trent, I love you.

I always read the acknowledgments in a book because I want to get a feel for the kind of person who wrote it. But sometimes I get bored of the endless litany and skip the last few paragraphs. Now I understand! Im trying to put my thanks down succinctly and accurately. I dont want to miss any of the amazing people who toiled in this project with me, but I just cant list them all. As it is, this is getting longer than Id anticipated. I hope what you see is not just a long list of names but a group of people who have come to love you, my reader, through their work on this project.

Trent, youve been more than supportive. Ive shared our secrets, our struggles, and so much of our lives, and youve cheered me on the whole way. When Ive been discouraged, you spoke just the right words. When I needed a proverbial kick in the pantswell, you obliged! You believed in me even before I thought I had it in me. Thanks doesnt quite cut it, but I have no other way to describe how my heart overflows with gratefulness to a man who is so willing to do what youve done for me in the publishing of this book. I love you.

Id like to thank my children for the back massages, foot rubs, cups of coffee, and encouragement. I doubt any other author has such an incredible troupe of believers cheering her on. You will always be my most favorite people in all the world.

Ahria, thank you for believing in me and giving me permission to share stories from your life. You are growing into a beautiful young lady.

Aethan, I love how you said the other day, Mom, just keep writing. We never wonder if you still love usdont worry!

McCaellen, you are the best popcorn maker in the world, and every bowl you brought to my desk while I was in my writing frenzy helped me remember that the most important things in life are enjoying the people around me. So thanks.

Myanna, you have grown into a little girl who can easily see the best things in life and choose to celebrate those even when the yucky parts of life are in full swing.

Thanks to my faithful prayer-team members, who have prayed diligently for this project and for every person who will read this book. You are more than friends. You are truly co-laborers in this book!

Thanks to Rebecca Sendall-King, who graciously went on holidays so I could use her beautiful home to rest, write, and rejuvenate.