About

Phew . . . this is seriously outdated, but I’ll leave it here for now so you can get to know me a little. Stay tuned for an updated version coming soon!

My name is Andrea Stunz. I am a wife of one, mother of three, mother in law of two and Gimi to four! Being a grandmother is better than all the chocolate and wine in the universe!

As I write this, I am an empty nester. I didn’t fight it. It is what it is. But it does bring with it some necessary changes to keep from getting pulled under. In the beginning of 2015, I came to the realization that I would soon need to get a life, my life. I often say that being a mom was my best life’s work. I don’t feel like I lost anything in the process. I do not regret one single second of being a mom for all these years. Not one. But now that this phase of motherhood has crossed the finish line, it was time to begin thinking about who Andrea is and what she will be doing with the rest of her life. Besides being a wife, that is. With God’s grace and loving provision, I plan to keep that role forever.

God has clearly called me to write. I have words inside of me that I firmly believe He has given me to write. I’ve been writing since I was a little girl – poems, songs, etc. Then life with kids came and the only words I seemed to have were “no” and “I love you” and “please be careful”.

God confirmed my calling at a writer’s conference in July of 2015 where He, without mincing words, told me that if I didn’t write, if I didn’t fulfill my calling, that it would be an act of disobedience. He knew those were the words this rule follower needed to hear. I love the freedom that comes with knowing my calling. I don’t get to write simply because I want to, I write because I have to. I’ve been blogging since 2008, telling stories about our family and our travels, so starting a new blog seemed the natural thing to do.

The vision for this blog was clear. I wanted to encourage women by sharing stories. My stories, other’s stories, anyone’s stories. I also didn’t want it to just be my voice. I wanted different perspectives so I asked a few friends and family members to join me. And lucky for all of us, they said yes! I also love having friends over to guest post from time to time. My heart’s desire for EPFH is to be a community of encouragement. I want you to feel like we’re sitting in your living room with a cup of coffee or tea. Sharing our hearts. Sharing life. Because we really are better together.

So the purpose of this blog is to tell stories. Sharing our words, emptying our hearts so yours can be filled. Nothing will bring me more joy than the telling of a story that encourages someone else to take a few more steps in theirs.

Gather around the table with us, and be filled.

Click on the link below to read the first post and more of the story behind the start of EPFH.

The Story Behind Empty Plate . Full Heart.

Let me know how I can better connect with you and walk alongside you in your story.

To journey without being changed is to be a nomad.
To change without journeying is to be a chameleon.
To journey and be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim. ~Mark Nepo

~Your Fellow Pilgrim and forward stumbler, Andrea