Dionna Sanchez ~ Freelance Writer

I'm A Free Agent!

2011-11-20T14:51:00.001-08:00

Well, I've just gone through my first month of not having to put together a newsletter issue. After 14 years it feels a little odd - I don't think it's quite set in yet that I no longer have that responsibility.

But I'm very excited and happy at the 'wiggle room' this now gives me to consider any new freelance writing opportunities God should choose to bring my way.

Yes, I'm a free agent! It feels good. :)

My heart's desire is to focus on writing about my faith and/or family - but I'm open to fun new ideas as well. The window is open and it's very refreshing.

Releasing My Grip

2011-08-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we hold on tightly to things in our life. We do it because we value and hold those things (or people) so dearly to us. But there comes a time when God might ask us to let go of those things. He will either ask us to trust Him with them, or maybe to give them up altogether. That time has come for me.

It is with a very tender heart that I want to let you know that I am stepping down from my Emphasis On Moms Ministry. It has been such a blessing in my life. I have loved it dearly. I have loved my subscribers dearly. But as greatly as I have loved Emphasis On Moms, I love my Lord more. And with my whole heart, I feel that He is asking me to release my grip on that ministry.

Life is about change. Nothing stays the same. There is a time and a season for everything. I’m actually very excited about this season of change in my writing. I will be focusing more on my blog here at Beauty in the Storm and on my freelance writing. I hope to be given a platform at some point to reach many, many more moms and women with the hope and love of God.

I also am excited personally – because I can relax a little bit more as I throw myself into my two girls’ increasing social calendar. After all, I’ve always said that family comes first! And as I see my children growing up, I want to soak in every moment I can with them.

I remember the first day I mailed out my Emphasis On Moms Newsletter. I sent it through the mail at that time before it went online. And I remember as I put those newsletters in the mailbox, I prayed. I asked God to bless this ministry and to be in charge of it. Ultimately, it was HIS ministry – not mine. I tried so hard not to forget that along the way. What a thrill for me to be allowed to have it for as long as I did. Do you know that I started Emphasis On Moms in October of 1997?? That’s 14 years! What a blessing. What a part of my life it has become.

Now. Now I guess God is calling me to move on a little bit. To shift gears slightly.And I’m positive, hopeful, and excited. Mostly – just excited.

I will still be around. I will still be writing my blog and like I said - hopefully expand to more freelance opportunities. The Emphasis On Moms website and ministry will always be a part of my heart. And hopefully it will still live on – just a little differently.

To those of you who have been with me on this journey, thank you. I have treasured every moment of it.

Please continue to pray for me as I open myself up to new opportunities and make myself available for new ways God might see fit to use me in ministry for Him.

A Great Start to 2011

2011-02-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

Dionna has been blessed to be added to the blogging team for Everyday Christian and Devotional Christian. She is also still blogging for Hope Magazine.

If you are interested in purchasing reprints from Dionna - they are now available for $10 a piece. All kinds of articles are available on parenting, family traditions, faith, self esteem, media and the family, etc.

Contact Dionna at madetomom@yahoo.com for more information.

Hope Magazine

2010-08-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

Dionna is now a "faith" blogger for Hope For Women Magazine.

She is no longer writing for Extant Magazine as they have folded.

January 10 Writing Status

2010-01-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

I am happy to be contributing for Contempo Magazine and Extant Magazine monthly right now. I've also been added to the writing team for EverythingMom.com.

For my own ministry I've added on some wonderful writers in several areas that I had needs. I'm so thankful for God bringing these women my way!

Freelancing

2009-10-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

Some of my freelancing jobs have fallen through recently - such is the life of a writer! :) I am looking for 1 or 2 (depending on frequency and deadlines) columns or blogs to take on right now. If you need any family, parenting, faith, self esteem & beauty, devotional, family traditions, or lifestyle articles - send me an email - madetomom@yahoo.com.

MWLM Magazine - no more

2009-08-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

I am no longer writing for MWLM magazine. I felt it was time to part ways but am so thankful for the opportunity to write for them.

I have a few opportunities that may be in the works and am continuing to look for a steady (monthly?) freelance gig with a Christian ministry.

New Column!

2009-04-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

I will now be writing a new monthly column for Mommytalk.com! You can find each column around the 22nd of each month. Make sure you visit. :)

Bio

2009-01-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

Dionna Sanchez was born in Coos Bay, Oregon and grew up in Medford. She was blessed to grow up in a tight-knit Christian family, and developed a heart to encourage others early on in her life. From volunteering in nursing homes, to joining any kind of club that helped people - Dionna always wanted to impact lives for her Lord.

After high school Dionna moved to Las Vegas for two years where God strengthened and solidified her faith through her experiences and time there. She then moved to Salem, Oregon where she met her husband, Eliseo. They got married in 1994 and at the age of 23, she became a full-time custodial stepmom to her "son" Garrett. God taught her many things through those challenging years and grew in her heart a desire to encourage other moms; which resulted in the birth of the Emphasis On Moms newsletter.

In 1996 a daughter, Kamica, joined the family and about a year and a half after her birth, their family moved to Idaho for career reasons. Dionna's youngest daughter, Kayla Shaye, then joined her family in 1999. During this busy time as a mom, Dionna saw her newsletter grow and add on a website.

After a missions trip to Belgium with her husband in the summer of 2005, God began working on Dionna's heart in a new way by changing her focus and ambition with her writing. Dionna felt God call her to use her gift of writing more as a ministry and she started blogging. She only felt this calling of ministry grow after attending a Beth Moore conference in the Fall of 2006.

Dionna's deepest desire is to inspire women to embrace who God has created them to be as wives, mothers, and individual women. She wants women to let go of the world's expectations and just learn to love and see themselves as God does. She is passionate about sharing her faith and helping others grow through her writing and feels blessed that she can be used to make a difference and impact on others in this way.

Today, Dionna attends and is actively involved with her local church. She has been married for 14 1/2 years and along with raising her two daughters, she saw her stepson get married in 2006 and is now a proud mother-in-law.

Dionna loves writing - enjoys reading, walking, eating out, the rare volleyball game, photography, shopping, blaring and belting out her favorite music, socializing with friends, traveling, and just laughing and loving on her family.

In addition to her Emphasis On Moms Ministry and blogs, Dionna writes for MWLM magazine and blogs for Precious Moms.com