I know we are told to avoid the comparison trap in life, but it is hard to do when you meet the personality of Debi Stangeland. Debi keeps up two blogs and has written a book about blogging.
She loves helping bloggers succeed on her site Bright Ideas for Small Bloggers and shares her advice and love of a family at Real.Fun.Family. She is like the energizer blogger who keeps blogging and blogging.
Her vivacious smile and quirky humor draws you in and her common sense writing keeps you reading. I started following Debi more than three years ago. I am still trying master her lessons on landing pages and creating freebies.
I hope you will enjoy her profile below. Thanks Debi for being a part of my 31 Days Series!
Debi Stangeland: Biography Information
I’m Debi Stangeland (that’s STONG-eh-lond, it’s Norwegian) and the majority of people try to put an R in it because there is no English word that starts s-t-a-n-g. The mind is a funny thing that way.
I’m wife to Mark, a utility arborist and steelhead fishing guide. And I believe the family who fishes together stays together. I’d probably rather do that than anything else. But we also have two kids (9 & 11) who I homeschool so, I’m a bit busy right now. Someday though, my grandkids will have to come down to the river and yell at me to get out of the water.
I’m mom to two kids whose names I don’t share online. They are going to spend their lives online, and if they want to share who they are that’s up to them. If they want to stay anonymous I can respect that too. I’m of the tech-bridge generation, I’ve lived with no-tech and I’ve been seduced by high-tech. I want them to have a choice.
After high school, I paid oodles of money to institutions from California to Germany to become a political scientist. Believe it or not I actually used my degree for quite a while in Washington D.C. and then in the Oregon State Legislature.
I’ve also worked in for the private sector as a government contractor, arranged tours to the Holy Land for churches, managed shipping operations for an international manufacturer, and built a human resources department for a mega church with over 100 employees, from scratch. I’m a darn good problem solver.
My husband and I got married in our 30s. Before that I traveled, lived overseas, and got my ya-yas out. Now I’m just as content in an hotel as I am in my living room. I like to travel and I like to be home. And I love standing in the middle of a river with a fly rod.
Debi Stangeland: Gospel Story, How She Came to Know Christ as Her Savior.
I’m adopted and was very sick when I was born. The very first night I came to my forever home my dad lifted me up to the ceiling and asked the Lord to heal me. He did. Immediately. BAM!
I was then raised in a strong Christian home and became a Christ follower at age five at VBS and that was it. No drama. No trauma.
While my story of coming to follow Christ isn’t crazy and wild it is an astounding testimony of the unqualified faithfulness of God through a multitude of life challenges.
Today, I am in a relationship with God. Therefore, we love and laugh and spend every moment together. We also bicker and fight (well, I do) and I question, and He answers and He questions and I admit I’m a total dork and ask for forgiveness and He gives it to me.
Every. Single. Time.
Daily, I learn to accept His limitless grace without pretense or strings. Click To TweetSee, through His son Jesus, God adopted me. And though I was very sick when He took me in, to the point of death, He healed me. Immediately. BAM!
Her Favorite Verse and How It Became Important to Her
My north-star verse is Jeremiah 17: 7-8
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
And have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
With roots not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
And they never stop producing fruit.
On the outset it’s everything I love: trees. rivers. But it’s so much more. It’s a promise that binds our relationship together. I trust in Him and make Him my hope and confidence.
In return, He keeps me rooted, always within reach of the Living Water. And the heat of life, the tempests, the trials, and the long months of drought (of which there have been many, trust me) have no affect on me. On us. On our relationship.
I can be fully alive, all the time AND produce fruit in all circumstances.
DUDE!
What’s not to love about that?
Debi Stangeland: Blogging Story
I started blogging because no one else I knew was doing it. I love to try new stuff. Blogging popped up on my radar and I was like, “Sweet, I’m totally doing this.” Everyone around me was like, “Whaaaaaaat?”
Me and my pink iMac were a force to be reckoned with. (That tells you how long ago it was.)
Needless to say, I went in all left feet and stumbling over myself and it took me years to pull it together. But over those many years I turned into an expert. I learned first-hand the how and the why and the what.
Today, I am passionate about teaching others HOW to blog and aim to save them massive amounts of time with expert advice and real results so they don’t have to bumble like I did.
Her Blogging Mission
At DebiStangeland.com my mission is to help small bloggers find success. Because I love the small gal.
There are a kajillion courses and products out there to help bloggers try to make money. But not every blogger wants to make a million dollars.
Some want to use their unique stories and experiences to help others. Some want to build relationships. Some want to blog as a hobby or as a way to express themselves. Some are just getting started and need support and a network.
I am a champion for the small gals out there who love to write and share and teach and encourage. You go girl!
At RealFunFamily.com it’s to help families thrive at life.
The blog is focused on families with school-age kids. There are tons of baby and toddler sites out there and that’s not my mission field. But older kids are where it’s at for me.
I love helping families find balance and opportunities to grow, learn, and do life together. It makes my heart happy and is a place I can really share our faith and how we live it out in community.
Her Top Three Posts Based on Readership Statistics
- debistangeland.com/mastering-
mailchimp - debistangeland.com/how-to-actually-write-a-daring-blog-mission-statement/
- debistangeland.com//how-to-
choose-the-best-blog-theme- for-your-site/
- realfunfamily.com/proven-
homeschool-schedule - realfunfamily.com/fun-summer-
spectacular-fall - realfunfamily.com/simple-
craft-apron
Her Three Favorite Posts
- debistangeland.com/5-reasons-
not-to-throw-in-the-blogging- towel/ - debistangeland.com/do-you-
know-the-truth-about-your- blog-colors/ - realfunfamily.com/chasing-
super-balls-how-to-stop- striving-and-start-waiting-on- the-lord/
What Inspires Her to Write for Christ?
Her Favorite Song
Happy by Pharrell is my favorite song. It just makes my whole day better. When I hear it I love to get up and dance and pull my kids up to dance with me as they roll their eyes and say, “Mooooommm!”
I’ve got a whole Pinterest board of videos for it.
https://www.pinterest.com/
Authors Who Inspire Her or Motivate Her to Write
Stephen King’s book “On Writing” is a masterpiece of encouragement for writers.
As a blogger Greg McKeown’s book “Essentialism” is a must read.
I also love reading small bloggers. Not bloggers with tons of followers and a bit-time agenda but, writers with heart and honesty and personal experience. Those are the posts that move and inspire me.
A Personal Blogging Story
Her Blogging Tips
Ha. How much time do you have? I’d say my whole blog at DebiStangeland.com
But I tell my community in my FB group (facebook.com/groups/
“Your voice matters and keep moving forward. One step at a time. Share your words with the world because someone out there needs to hear them today. I believe in you so ROCK on!”
Many days I have to take my own advice.
Last Minute Thoughts On Inspiration and Uplifting
Every morning when I get up I look into the mirror and tell the woman staring back at me, “You ROCK!” I don’t say it because I think I’m all that but, to remind myself that I was made in the image of the Creator of the Universe. Wooo Weeee! He’s given me gifts and talents totally unique to me. I desire to steward them well each and every day.
Guess what? He’s done the same for you. So, don’t focus on what you don’t like about yourself but, accept the gifts you’ve been given.
I came across an excellent graphic recently on Instagram. It pretty much sums up how I feel about blogging and how I want other small bloggers to feel:
Find your people. Embrace them, love them, and let them love you in return. If some don’t, move on.
Social Media Links
You can find Debi Stangeland on her professional blog and family blog; Facebook groups BigIdeaBloggers, Instagram sites: for Professional Blogging and RealFunFamily and Pinterest for her professional blog and for Real Fun Family. Debi is also author of Delicious Blogging (affiliate link) available on Amazon.
Your turn: What inspires you most about Debi Stangeland, her testimony, and her blog. Please share in the comments.
Contributing to many linkup communities listed on my Linkup Parties page,
Be sure to check out my introduction post to see more features of inspirational Christian women bloggers.
Thanks for sharing this inspiration at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
Tina
Tina, You welcome. I appreciate your linkup and highly recommend it.
Debi is a hoot, no doubt! I just love her take on life. She has been a great help in my blogging life (such as it is), and I feel comfortable asking her my {stupid} questions.
Thank you. Mary, for showcasing this wonder(ful) women!
Gleniece Lytle recently posted…Smartphone-Only Blogging {it CAN be done!}
Thanks so much for featuring Debi! I have been following her for over a year, and have learned so much. She is gracious, kind, and so generous with all the knows…plus Debi is a delight and a lot of fun!
I’m disabled too, but not disheartened (love your description , Mary!). I blog about self-compassion and faith, as well as a new blog about living with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
So great to find you Mary!
Kim
Whoo Hoo!! Love your testimony, Debi!
Kate thanks so much for stopping by. I love Debi’s testimony too. It really touched my heart.
Mary Hill recently posted…Debi Stangeland : Helping Christian Women Thrive in Blogging Endeavors
Thanks for this wonderful introduction to Debi! Her enthusiasm is contagious! I’ll be visiting her blog for helping bloggers. Blessings to both of you!
Gayl Wright recently posted…You and I Need Each Other for a Healthy Life
Subscribing!
I’m that blogger who sort of wishes there was a way to blog without using a computer.
Thanks, Mary, for this introduction to Debi!
Michele Morin recently posted…A Culture with No Excuse