About Brenda

Brenda Garrison is an author and speaker who empowers women with the confidence to live their calling. Whether you’re a mom, working woman, single, or married, Brenda will help you:

• Bypass excuses and take the next step toward your calling.
• Break the urge to constantly please others.
• Enjoy drama-free, satisfying friendships.
• Regain order and peace in your home.
• Experience peace and confidence knowing you have God’s undivided attention.

Brenda is the author of Queen Mom: A Royal Plan for Restoring Order in Your Home and Princess Unaware: Finding the Fabulous in Every Day (July 2009). Her messages speak the truth of God’s Word to women, so they can live and be all God planned for them.

For years Brenda struggled to understand the stirring and uneasiness she experienced. She loved being a stay-at-home mom and wife, but deep in her was an itch that wouldn’t go away. She confided to her husband Gene, “I feel like a race car in the garage, revving my engine with no place to go.” Unintentionally, Brenda found herself agreeing to go to her friend’s Bible study. Brenda was intrigued in this study because it unearthed the deep truths in the Bible. For the first time she experienced the Word alive and speaking to the issues in her life, even to the stirring and frustration in her spirit. God began to pull together the pieces of who He made her to be and His plan for her, and it all made sense. This process turned her frustration into confidence as she began to live God’s truth about her.

Brenda’s involvement in women’s ministry started as prayer chairman for the Peoria Community Bible Study in 1998. For four years, she weekly encouraged the audience from God’s Word. Next, she served with Stonecroft Ministries’ Christian Women’s Club for seventeen months.

When Brenda’s first daughter was born, she had never heard of a “strong-willed” child. And, as two more daughters followed with different personalities, Brenda had to learn on the job how to nurture, discipline, and guide her daughters into becoming godly young women.

Brenda and her husband, Gene, have three daughters, ages 22, 20, and 15. They are a totally red-headed family including their golden retriever, Riley. They live near Metamora, IL.

What is Brenda Really Like?

Q. Brenda, your pics on the website look nice, but what do you really look like at home?
A. Pretty much the same! No, not really. In the winter I live in ribbed turtlenecks and jeans and in the summer tee shirts and shorts. I must be comfy and I make messes so I can’t keep nice clothes nice at home.

Q. What do you do to make messes?
A. The usual “mom” stuff—cooking, baking, taking care of the dog, drinking coffee.

Q. Hmm, that answer begs for follow-up. First, what do you cook and bake?
A. I cook food for my family. We all need to eat and my philosophy is I want to give my kids one more reason to keep coming back after they have left, so I love on them through food. I love to bake. My family and friends are crazy for my chocolate cake, hot fudge sundae dessert, and dinner rolls.

Q. You take care of your dog. What a woman!
A. She’s not “my dog.” She is Kerry’s dog, but as all moms know, pets don’t teach responsibility to kids. Pets are one more responsibility that the mom must remind the child about or the pet will die. Since I am the one home with the dog during the day, I get to take her out and clean her up when she comes in.

Q. And how is drinking coffee messy?
A. I don’t know, but somehow it drips on my slippers. Can I blame it on the dog?

Q. What are your hobbies?
A. I hate that question.

Q. Sorry.
A. It’s okay, but the question would be easier to answer if it was asked, What interests would you like to pursue? Because at this stage of my life, after my family and ministry, I don’t have much time to pursue hobbies.

Q. Okay, what interests would you like to pursue?
A. Someday I would like to learn to kayak. I love being outdoors—hiking, working in the yard, and sitting on the deck. I also like to sew and cross-stitch.

Q. What no reading?
A. I enjoy a really good book, but I’m not a voracious reader like Gene and Kerry.

Q. What books do you consider good?
A. I just read The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews and I loved it. I also thoroughly loved Barbara Bush: A Memoir by Barbara Bush, and Me, Myself, & Bob by Phil Vischer.

Q. What gives you your greatest pleasure?
A. First, my growing understanding of God’s love for me and the relationship we are developing. Next is my family. I love spending time with them. No one makes me laugh like they do or gives me more joy than they do. Next, is a great heart-to-heart-mind-to-mind conversation with a friend. I just love connecting with people. Finally, if I could ever get my vegetable and flower gardens to look like a photo spread in Better Homes and Gardens, I would be thrilled.

Q. One final question—If you weren’t doing what you do, what would you like to do?
A. Be a decorator on HGTV.