Hello there, dearheart!
I’m Kristen, and I’m so happy to meet you. I’m wife to a U.S. Air Force Veteran, mama to three beloved adult kiddos, and an author who wants to help you be the kind of friend you want to have. I love writing stories that help you make sense of your own and help you see your season with more expectation and less worry. Along the way, I’ve written a good deal about friendship, belonging, and loneliness, too. Here’s some ways I’d love to connect with you:
Weekly(ish) notes:
Once a week or so, I send articles relaying everything from helpful words for finding friends to thriving through difficult transitions to sharing a few of my favorite things. I tap these notes out for my website here before sharing them with you.
Once a month, I send a “Note from the Porch”–a newsletter of sorts sent straight to your inbox. That is–if you’re interested in signing up and receiving said notes! Since my newsletter goes to you, rather than to my website, I tend to share more personal life updates there. And if I have news, I share it with these readers first.
If you’re interested in signing up to receive my articles + newsletter, you can do so right here. What’s more, I have freebies you can receive! These include:
- 7 Ways to Be a Good Friend This Election Season
- 27 Ways to be the Kind of Friend You Want to Have
- Bonus Hidden Devotionals
Visit here to sign up and receive any of these listed above.
(in)courage community:
When you subscribe to my email communications, you’ll also receive articles I’ve written for my other online writing home, (in)courage.
My Books:
Desperate Woman Seeks Friends: Real Talk About Connection, Rejection, and Trying Again for the Friendships You Need
Research shows friends are as important for our overall welfare as healthy eating habits and a good night’s sleep, and Kristen gives you a game plan for getting your friendship groove back. Chapters include:
- Boundaries are our friends and our friends’ friends
- What you can expect will kill friendships
- I love my friend to pieces, but I don’t love her views on ____________
- When a friendship ends without your say-so
- Rejection sucks, but don’t let it suck you down
- What to know about your friendship fertilizer
- Your top-notch tool for building your friendships
- Making friends by opening up
- Your Friend who never fails in friendships
It’s not just you. Making friends is hard! But it’s not impossible. Through tell-it-like-it-is talk and vulnerable stories, Kristen Strong wants to help you be a good friend to yourself and others through principles and practices that give life to your friendships. And she wants to show you that while friends may fail you, your Friend Jesus never will. You’re meant to have lasting friendships that feed your heart and soul—you are not the exception.
Find the book on Amazon, B&N, Bookshop, Christianbook and more found here.
Praying Through Loneliness: A 90-Day Devotional for Women
With the current crisis of loneliness and lack of friendships in today’s culture, this 90-day devotional written by more than 40 women and compiled by me offers both lived perspective and attainable promise for how to find community and friends, especially within your difficult personal circumstances.
Praying Through Loneliness will let you know that you are:
- Not alone in your sadness, frustration, or sense of rejection
- Not alone when you feel jealous of other women’s friendships
- Not alone in the pain of a friendship breakup
- Not alone in your exhaustion from trying to make friends
- Not alone in your need to know that the Lord sees you in your loneliness, has a purpose for you during it, and won’t abandon you as you walk through it
Learn more about Praying Through Loneliness here. To see a list of booksellers, visit here!
Friends Are Family We Choose: And I’m So Thankful You’re Mine
If you struggle to tell your bestie or true-blue friend just what she means to you, I’ve written the words for you within this book! It’s poignant with a side of humor, and it’ll be just the thing to bless the friend you love like a member of your own family. Read more about it here, and order your bestie a copy from Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, Christianbook, or Amazon.
When Change Finds You: 31 Assurances to Settle Your Heart When Life Stirs You Up
If you would like to think and feel differently on the inside about the difficult change in your life so you can live and love differently on the outside, then this book is for you. Read more about it here, and find links to purchase at Amazon, B&N, and Baker Books.
Need help in finding your place and your people?
In a world of increasing technology, we are more connected today than any other generation. Then why do we feel lonely, as if we’re on the outside looking in? Or like we’re missing out on something? In Back Roads to Belonging, find your road map to your own place of belonging–no matter where you live.
Walk the slower pace with me and learn how to create an environment of connection within our culture of disconnection. Along the way, learn simple, doable actions that not only will help you feel and know that you belong but will welcome others in as well.
You can read more about the book here, read endorsements, as well as order it from your favorite retailer (Amazon here and B&N here). Some links are affiliate links.
My first book:
In 2015, my first book Girl Meets Change: Truths to Carry You Through Life’s Transitions was published by Revell (Baker Publishing Group). It is written for any woman who has or has had an adversarial relationship with change and would like to gather a more hopeful vision of her personal life change. It includes not only my history with change but also the change stories of other woman. It is for any person who needs regular reminders as to the reasons for the change in her life. I hope this book is the safe place where your anxiety over the change in your life meets God’s sense of purpose found within it. You can read more about the book at www.girlmeetschange.com, and you can order it from your favorite bookseller including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or DaySpring. (All Amazon links are affiliate links.)
Free Small Group Companion Guide
Want to lead a small group discussion about Girl Meets Change or dive a little deeper into how God is using change for you? Access your copy of the small group companion guide here for FREE.
Speaking
I do a limited number of speaking engagements each year where I currently speak on friendship, loneliness, and belonging. If you’re interested in requesting me for your group or event, visit right here.
Podcast Interviews
Here’s some podcasts where I’ve had the honor and privilege of being a guest on:
That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs
Fight for Your Marriage Podcast
Want to be insta-buddies?
I’d love to hang out with you on instagram, my favorite form of social media! Connect with me there!
More about Kristen
Born and raised under the wide-blue-skies of the Oklahoma prairies, I later attended Oklahoma State University before marrying my good military man, David, and finishing my degree in music education at Miami University of Ohio. David and I have been married for 26 years. We lived the US Air Force life until a few years ago when he retired from active duty after 26 years of service. But I still write about military life from time to time.
I loved teaching music in public schools to Kindergarteners through 5th graders till the frequent moves, my husband’s traveling, and having twin sons made that too tricky. So I became a stay-at-home mama who rediscovered my childhood friend of writing as a way to process my grown-up thoughts and experiences.
In 2009, I talked 3 friends into starting a blog with me because I was too scared to do it by myself. With much talent of their own, Cheryl, Jen and Rebecca graciously wrote alongside me till 2011 when I began blogging at my own space right here.
David and I have 3 beloved adult children, twin sons and a daughter. These kiddos are our favorite people on God’s green earth.
David’s last assignment in the USAF was at the U.S Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and we ended up staying here! So, we enjoy all the benefits that laying deeper roots in a community provides. While the kids have flown to places hither and yon, David and I hope to drink in the Colorado blue skies here as long as possible.
Other places you can find me:
Instagram (my fave!)
I am a monthly contributor for (in)courage, the blog of DaySpring.
I write to remind how Jesus fills every gap and need. I’m gonna be myself here, and I hope you feel this is a genuine place that encourages your soul, your relationships, and your faith. As you peruse this space, I pray you find authentic words and inspiring pictures that tell you of the fresh-air hope that is Jesus. You’re always welcome here!
You’re very welcome here! I pray it’s an inviting, relaxing place for you to experience a breath of fresh air by way of hopeful images and words. I’m so glad you’re here! Stay as long as you’d like.
Note: Many Amazon links in my posts are affiliate links. This means for every purchase you make through my affiliate link, I make a small percentage rate of earnings (at no additional cost to you). This just helps things keep on running here at this site!
