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Lynnette Sheppard

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All About Me· Letters· Motherhood· Parenting

I have always been a writer. When I was in third grade, I wrote a story and won third place…
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Hi! I’m Lynnette. Welcome to my little corner of the Internet, where parenting with love, leadership, and common sense is the name of the game.

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A few weeks ago, my kids were involved in a trauma

A few weeks ago, my kids were involved in a traumatic situation. They watched as their good friend fell off his skateboard while riding down a hill. This was not just any fall. Things did not look good.

My daughter called me in hysterics. I could not even understand her.

Greg and I were with the injured boy’s parents. We quickly drove to the scene, unsure of what we would find.

Moments before we arrived, the kids (5 teenagers) gathered to say a prayer for their friend. As soon as they said “Amen,” a car pulled up.

It was an ER doctor on his way home from the gym.

He knew what to do. He talked to the 911 operator whom my daughter had just called, notified the hospital of his condition, and did his best to keep everyone calm.

Coincidence? Not a chance.

Many other miracles and tender mercies happened over the course of the next few days, and all is well with this kid.

But there, on a roadside, amid trauma and uncertainty, a group of terrified teens called for God’s help. He showed up in the form of an ER doctor who just happened to be driving by at the very moment these kids needed him.

God is in the details.

We can be His hands, even if we do not realize He is leading us.

We may simply be on our way home from the gym when we become the answer to a desperate prayer.

God can use us in His work.

And let’s not underestimate the power of a teenager’s (or any person’s) prayer.

#howtoraisegrownups #sharegoodness #godisinthedetails #becauseofhim #latterdaysaints #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #startingtoday #ldschurch

Today I did something I have never done: I helped

Today I did something I have never done: I helped dress a body for burial.

She was 88 years old. I met her only once a few weeks ago.

But, as part of my calling as a Relief Society President, I was the one for the job.

I was nervous because I don’t even like to go to pre-funeral viewings. I stay away from open caskets and gravitate to family members and friends instead.

Would my hours in the cadaver lab studying anatomy be adequate preparation to do this service for a grieving family whom I did not even know?

When I followed the mortician back to the room where I would be working, instead of nerves, I felt peace - a reassurance that death is merely a door to something beautiful.

When all was said and done, I was honored to help prepare this sweet sister for her next step into eternity.

The sun set on her life, but sunsets are spectacular.

Perhaps, God paints the sky every evening just before dark and again as the sun rises to remind us that there is always the promise of something great.

Did you know that problem-solving skills are in hi

I asked God, "How can I better serve others?" He a

I asked God, "How can I better serve others?" He answered, "Be yourself."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I asked, "What is the most important thing I can do for my spiritual health?" He answered, "See your divine self."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I asked how I could better help my audience. He answered, "Be yourself. Don't hide who you are. Stop trying to put yourself in a box."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It feels like God has put a flashing neon sign in front of my eyes that He directs me to almost daily. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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That has been the substance of my thoughts and prayers for the past several weeks. I am still unpacking it, but this I know: I am a rule-follower. And, as such, I have spent years *trying* (and often failing) to follow all the "rules" of blogging, social media, podcasting, and now entrepreneurship.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In trying to do things the "right" way, I have distanced myself from my core - who I am, what brings me joy, and how I can integrate those things into my work.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I think God is telling me that I need to toss away the "shoulds" and get in touch with who I am outside of all the boxes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In this space, that will look like a little less strategy and a little more life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The truth is, I am passionate about parenting because of how sound principles help me through daily challenges.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Who I am as a parent is directly tied to who I am as a person. They are the same.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It is time for me to stop hiding behind a title (parenting coach) and start showing up as a real, vulnerable person who is living by the principles I teach.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I hope you will stick around for the ride.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#howtoraisegrownups

It’s getting real around here! Also, my fourth

It’s getting real around here!

Also, my fourth child turns 16 next week. She told her friends that I was 48 years old and was shocked beyond measure when I informed her I was *only* 43. She literally held her ground for 10 minutes, convinced I did not know my own age.

It’s a downhill slide to the nursing home from here, folks. Let’s get this party started! 😂

#howtoraisegrownups #parentsofteens #classof2021 #momsofteens #teenagersareawesome

Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim has been on my

Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim has been on my "must do someday" list for a long time. It is now on the calendar for October. Wahoo!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Have you done this hike?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If so, what are your tips?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I hike several times per week, but not to the tune of 23.5 miles. I need all the help I can get :)

If the things you are trying to teach your kids do

If the things you are trying to teach your kids don’t sink in immediately, take heart. Some things take time. (Swipe to see my son’s a-ha moment that was 20 years in the making)

#howtoraisegrownups #parentingwin #parentsofteens #calledtoserve #missionarymom #missionarymonday #ldsmissionary

Do you kids know how to deposit or withdraw money

Do you kids know how to deposit or withdraw money from their bank account by going into the branch? Do they know what form to fill out, what to write in each section, and what to say to the teller?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This requires a different skill set than the ATM or the online deposit system (both of which are important).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, this week, try to get your teen down to your bank and teach them how to go through the deposit or withdrawal process.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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P.S. If you want a hard copy of 40 skills every teen needs to know in checklist format, you can print one using the link in my bio.

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