Brenda Yoder didn’t grow up in an uncomplicated home. Despite living in an Amish and Mennonite community, life was more “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” than country calm.
Not much changed when she married her high school sweetheart, a Mennonite dairy farmer. They started a family, built their careers, and stayed active—until Brenda decided she wanted more than simply doing less. She started on a path to uncomplicate her life, and today she’s helping others find the same path and peace.
Brenda had always been active, even as a child. The youngest of four daughters in a half-Italian family, she was very involved in activities: serving on the student council, as a class officer, in the National Honor Society, and competing with a nationally ranked cheer squad. Her sophomore year, she started dating her future husband, a star athlete and dairy farmer from the same small town of Shipshewana, Indiana.
Marriage, Milking & Mayhem
The active couple dated throughout high school and college, marrying the summer before Brenda’s senior year at Purdue University. Marriage and kids didn’t slow them down. Brenda got acclimated to the busy dairy farming life. Cows must be milked twice a day, every day. Her husband taught high school math and ran the dairy farm, while she stayed home with their four kids until they were old enough for her to return to work full-time as a history teacher. They were also active in church and community leadership, coaching, youth groups, and Bible studies.
The Switch-Up
It wasn’t until their oldest child was a sophomore in high school—and Brenda was overwhelmed by teaching and parenting—that she knew she needed something different.
“Ron was teaching and managing the dairy farm while we had a growing family of four children who were also active in sports, youth groups, and community events. I taught 180 students daily, and we were stretched thin with responsibilities. I had only two years left with all four of my kids at home, and something needed to change—I needed to simplify my life.”
Brenda longed for a career with more flexibility. She made a bold move: resigning from her teaching job and pursuing a master’s degree in counseling. The shift gave her more time with her family—but it also sparked something deeper.
“The Mennonite faith and culture are a lifestyle where you live what you believe,” Brenda said. “Your decisions and values don’t change with every whim. I learned that when you live up to your values, you can trust God’s faithfulness in the process, even if it seems countercultural.”
The Uncomplicated Way
Uncomplicating life became more than just a goal—it became her calling. In her book Uncomplicated: Simple Secrets for a Compelling Life, Brenda outlines 10 essential mindsets and behaviors: contentment, resourcefulness, practicality, prudence, fidelity, forbearance and equanimity, stewardship, interdependence, groundedness and humility, foresight, heritage, and legacy.
As she modeled these values, others began to notice.
“As empty nesters, we currently host an Airbnb suite in our house,” she explained. “A few years ago, guests leaving remarked, ‘You’re so rich. I envy you.’”
“I was surprised at the comment because living in a rural setting in a small town in northern Indiana is not what most people aspire to. Growing up here, I envied people who lived in more diverse and vibrant communities. It was then that I realized the simpler, more grounded lifestyle I’d been living is something people crave and desire in their fast-paced lives.”
A Book—and a Movement
That moment of clarity inspired her to help others embrace the lifestyle she had come to love. Her book, which won the 2024 Golden Scroll Non-fiction Book of the Year, includes biblical insights, practical steps, and reflection questions to guide readers into a less chaotic way of living.
Though Brenda is a wife and working mother, Uncomplicated isn’t just for moms. It’s been embraced by college students, small business owners, and anyone looking for sustainable, peace-centered living.
Living in Slow Down Mode
When it comes to making the shift toward simplicity, Brenda offers one key piece of advice:
“I’d encourage everyone not to compromise their quiet time with God, to practice Bible reading and prayer, even journaling, and to do it consistently. God’s Word and conversation with Jesus Christ give peace, clarity, and wisdom for all areas of life.”
Better than Busy
Today, Brenda works part-time as an elementary school counselor and spends time speaking, writing, and enjoying her grandchildren. She’s living the simple, fulfilling life she once craved—and hopes her journey will inspire others to do the same.
“I’d love to see Uncomplicated snowball into a back-to-basics, common-sense movement that models a grounded, sustainable, balanced lifestyle for the current generation. I want people to be empowered to know how important and influential our ordinary lives can be.
“Researching for, applying the advice in, and writing this book has compelled me to live more intentionally, clarify my values for this season in life, and continue embodying each principle, especially as our culture seems to become increasingly chaotic. I am dedicated to focusing on what truly matters—people, relationships, and leaving a legacy that guides others toward Christ and intrinsic values.”
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