Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.  ~John 8:32

Hey, y’all! I’m Cindy Phiffer and you have arrived at the blog written with women in mind. Coming Unglued: Getting rid of those pesky masks! is a way for regular contributors Sarah Apa, Darlene Baker and myself along with guest contributors to talk with you about things that matter to women of all ages. In the spirit of transparency, which you will come to expect from us, we range in life from a mother of three young children to a mother of two adult children to a mother of two adult children and grandmother of two grandbeauties.

We have all chosen Jesus as our greater power, and we got to know each other through Celebrate Recovery, a Christian 12-step program. As we each introduce ourselves over the coming months, you will find out about our family and church lives, our involvement in the community and our relationships with other women. We are each at different places in our lives, and I’d love to tell you a little bit about where I’m coming from.

I’m married to my best friend Jim Phiffer, and on August 17, 2015, we will celebrate our 30th anniversary. God has seen us through physical challenges, financial devastation and psychological debilitation. We have survived my husband’s job losses, my own psychiatric hospitalization, his suicide attempt and the deaths of our parents, three to natural causes and one to suicide. We both enjoy reading good books and playing music–him on the guitar and me on the piano. He loves the blues and I sing in a folk/inspirational trio with my siblings, The Flatt Sisters. We appreciate the fact that our Lord equipped us with the ability to play with words and neither of us has ever met a pun we didn’t like.

I’ve spent the past 25 years developing an incredibly strong network of women who love me as I love them. We pray for each other, standing in the gap when necessary and celebrating each others’ joys as well as grieving over each others’ losses. Three years ago when my husband had been out of work for two years, I realized the need for me to get a 9-5 (or in my case, 8-4:30) job with benefits. This was a monumental change for me, as I had spent the previous 20 years working as an independent contractor, writing, editing, indexing, and tutoring in art, writing, music and reading.

One of the benefits of my current job at Middle Tennessee State University is continuing my education. I get to take one free three-hour class per semester and I’m using those classes to finally earn my master’s degree in administration and supervision of higher education. Although I wondered if I could hang in there with students a third my age (I received my bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Tennessee in 1978!), I have managed to juggle life with my studies and maintain an A average.

As we introduce ourselves, let us know who you are and what challenges you face as you gather the courage to unmask. Whatever you wrestle with, you can be assured of one thing—you are not alone.