#15 Laura L. Smith [True Reflections]

My guest for episode #15 of Girls Talking Life is Laura L. Smith.  Laura is a best-selling author, sought after speaker, blogger and blessed mom of four incredible kids. She is married to the man of her dreams and lives in the college town of Oxford, Ohio. Laura loves Jesus, coffee, chocolate, music, and France. Laura and I start our conversation talking about how her identity was misinformed at a young age and how she grew up feeling like she wasn't enough.  Laura tells us that to make up for not being enough, she jumped on the performance treadmill where she strived to be better and do more.  She continued on this path into young adulthood when she was visited by a friend who God used to show her how valuable she was just the way she was.  That friend later become her husband, because who doesn't want to be married to someone who makes you feel so special!      We go on to discuss Laura's writing.  She shares why she wrote her first young adult fiction book on eating disorders, and how she went on to write other books for teenage girls and young adults that tackle lots of hard topics and reinforce that you can make it through these situations by trusting in God and who He has made you to be.    Laura and I admit that we're often parent fails, but she shares the things she believes are important for keeping us connected to our kiddos.  Things like open communication, honesty, modeling behavior, praying with our kids and just being present.  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Miami University For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:10 Laura's Books "We all need other people to fully become who God created us to be. Their stories help form our stories. Their triumphs inspire us. Their struggles expand our viewpoints, teach us lessons. Their ideas, experiences, and thoughts prompt and broaden ours. Hearing their hearts reinforces what we hold dear and helps us dispose of ideas we should have never let enter our minds in the first place."  Laura's Blog Post, An Introvert's Unlikely Sisterhood   LAURA'S FAVORITE 5 Lavender Lattes Jeans and Army Jackets The Voice – The Bundy's Bethel Music – Victory – Raise a Hallelujah Becoming Mrs. Lewis CONNECT WITH LAURA  Instagram | Facebook | Website CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Show Notes for this Episode | Instagram | Facebook