Welcome to day 1 of this blog’s grand re-opening/2 year anniversary party!!! (be sure to check back tomorrow for the HUGE blog-birthday giveaway!) As you may already know, I transitioned the blog to self-hosted wordpress at the first of the year. Along with that change came a new design (thanks Jessica at Southtown Creative!) and a new name! The blog used to be called Hopeful Future, and while I love that name, I thought Beauty Through Imperfection was a better reflection of the blog’s purpose, so I switched it up! Today I will be talking a little bit more about what the name means, and the reason why I blog.
I love to write, it’s been a passion of mine for a long time, so blogging has been a hobby for me since I was fifteen. I started this particular blog 2 years ago, in February of 2011. My son was 3 months old, and it was a perfect outlet for me as a stay at home mom. The blog has grown a lot over the past 2 years and is now much more than just an “outlet” for me. I do still write because I love to do it, but I also write to encourage. If there is one thing that I hope you walk away from my blog with it’s encouragement!
If you’ve been around for awhile, you know that I talk a lot about imperfection on this blog. I’ve even created an ongoing series called Confessions of an Imperfect Mother. I write a lot about my own shortcomings and mistakes as a mother, and I even have guest bloggers to come in and share theirs. Click the image below for more about that series.
Because of that “imperfections” focus, I’m guessing there aren’t a whole lot of questions about why I chose the blog name “Beauty Through Imperfection”, but I still wanted to take a little time and explain the full meaning of the title, and share a little bit of my heart in writing this blog.
So, why the name Beauty Through Imperfection? There are two reasons:
1. To show that there is no such thing as a perfect mama/wife/woman. I have struggled with insecurity a lot in my life because I felt like I needed to be perfect. There is nothing wrong with trying to improve yourself, and to fix your shortcomings, but when you are constantly feeling bad because you aren’t perfect, well, that’s just not healthy. As a new mom, I would get discouraged because I always looked around and saw people that seemed perfect, blogs I would read, people I would meet, every one was acting like they had it all together, and it made me feel inadequate. My hubby would constantly encourage me that there’s no such thing as a perfect mom, and that I was doing great because I love my kids and I take care of them, but I still felt unsure. Sometime in the past couple of years I just stopped worrying about it. I realized that we are all imperfect but that God’s grace is greater than our imperfections. Which brings me to the second reason for the name of this blog:
2. I chose the name Beauty Through Imperfection because I think it is an awe-inspiring thing when people stop for a moment, acknowledge their imperfections and are able to see the beauty of God’s grace through their own shortcomings, and mistakes; through their imperfections. It’s been incredible for me over the past year or so, as I’ve been learning more about God’s grace, and seeing Him work in my everyday life. Seeing the way He offers grace to me, and my family when I have a bad day. To see how He gives me peace in the middle of crazy hard times, to see the awesomeness of His love as evidenced by the very life he gives us every day. I have been amazed by it, and I want you to see it too. If that means I share my shortcomings and imperfections so that you can see His grace in it, so be it.
I pray that this blog encourages you. I pray that you might read it and not feel so alone, I pray that it inspires you to be an awesome mom, not a expert one; a loving person, not a perfect one.
I hope you feel the love with which these words are written, and I hope that they bring you peace and encouragement whether today is a good one or a hard one. I hope you find joy in Christ as you read these posts.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 1 Corinthians 12:9-10
Stephanie Hanes says
I love how you chose your blog name – how perfectly IMPERFECT. I love when moms are REAL, because it reminds me that there is no such thing as perfect and that I can only be the best ME there is. It’s so easy to put on a happy face, pretending that I have it all together, but I miss out on opportunities to encourage and love on other women when I don’t share my struggles too. I’ve been learning to embrace my imperfections, because they remind me how much I need Christ. My prayer for my own blog is that in sharing my mess, God would be glorified – because there are no perfect people, but there is a perfect and holy God who loves us just as we are, messes and all.
Paula says
that sounds “perfect” stephanie (pun intended lol).
I love your perspective on it, it’s hard to KEEP that perspective all the time, but writing about it has sure helped keep my mind where it needs to be more than ever before!!!
Faith @ Artistic31Mama says
The name of your blog is “perfect” :-) I think every mother experiences those feelings of inadequacy and trying to measure up. I did as well and like you I stopped caring. As I opened up to more mothers they expressed their short comings; people who I thought had it “all together.” Then they expressed that they looked at me as a super mom, etc. I laughed when they told me that and shared with them my struggles. By becoming open with other moms it helped me realize that there are no perfect wives, mothers, or people for that matter. We are all dependent on God’s grace and mercy to help us through each day. Thanks for sharing! I’m a new follower and look forward to reading more. :-)
Paula says
It’s amazing what happens when you stop caring <3 so many more opportunities to care for others!!! I love it! thanks for stopping by and following <3 looking forward to getting to know you more!!!
Amanda {A Royal Daughter} says
Well Jessica did an awesome job, of course! And I LOVE to see a vision + purpose – girl you can’t go wrong!!
Erica {let why lead} says
The twofold purpose behind your blog name is beautiful!
Jelli says
Hi Paula. This is my 1st visit to your site, so I have no idea what it looked like before, but your designer did a great job! Love that you’ve so thoroughly thought through your vision & name for the blog. I’m sure you’re going to really impact a lot of people here. So happy I found your little place on the web today.
Jennifer Dougan says
Hi Paula,
Congrats on the new site and layout. Nice to hear more about your passions and hopes for this blog too.
Have a great week,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Michele-Lyn says
I love your heart for your blog. I especially love how you encourage us to be honest with God about our imperfections. That’s when real change begins.
Visiting from Titus 2 Tuesdays
Alicia@the Overflow! says
Thanks for just laying it out there- the truth that we’re all flawed yet beautiful because of WHOSE we are. Love the look of your new site! Stopping over from SDG.
Shell says
Isn’t it funny how we put all this pressure on ourselves to be perfect… something that isn’t possible? It’s always so refreshing to hear others confess how they aren’t perfect.
Lynne says
You’ve hit on one of the drawbacks (at least for me) of facebook, pinterest, blog reading……it is very easy for me to see all the great meals and beautiful craft projects everyone is doing, hear about moms who are staying home with their kids (not an option that was available to me, and I think I would have enjoyed it), see neat trips that people take and either feel envious (not the right attitude, but usually doesn’t last long) OR become completely depressed, overwhelmed, etc….that I can’t manage to do all that………and if you really want to go further on down that path, it can take a nasty turn into “How come God doesn’t love me as much as he loves all those people who aren’t struggling…..” Most of the time I can recognize and avoid that kind of thinking, but it does creep up every once in awhile. I appreciate reading about other people’s struggles – not because I hope for hard lives for them, but it encourages me that I am not alone in my own struggles. Thanks!
Falen says
I adore this Paula!!! I think the name change is beautiful, your layout is beautiful. Your pictures are gorgeous!!! And your buttons are even adorable!! And this, “when people stop for a moment, acknowledge their imperfections and are able to see the beauty of God’s grace through their own shortcomings, and mistakes; through their imperfections.” Really Truly is an awe-inspiring thing!!! I love that!!! I’m so excited to see how God uses you through this blog in the next year! How exciting. Gonna go check out your giveaway now! :)
NJ @ A Cookie Before Dinner says
I love this post! I think that the more we can be real about motherhood the better off the next generations of mothers will be! Stopping by today from PHYO.
Amy says
Thanks for linking today, Paula! I appreciate your blogging transformation description. I was the same way, I’m just a lot older! :)
Pamela says
Congratulations on two years and a new look. What a change would take place in our hearts if we all would look at our imperfections as beauty.
Ashley Ditto says
Paula, you are just amazing. I love your heart, your writing, and your love for the Lord.
Joyce says
Stopping by from Company Girl Coffee
Happy 2-year blogiversary! That is so exciting, and I love the name of your blog too. :)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Judith at WholeHearted Home says
This is a beautiful post and I like that you shared your heart. You have a perfect name for your blog and we all need to be reminded that God’s grace is there when we are imperfect. His grace is sufficient.
Thanks for linking up over at WholeHearted Home this week as your posts are always such a blessing.
Stephanie E. says
I love that you chose to share your heart with others and not just the “perfect” parts. It is hard for moms to be real with each other at times but you seem very genuine in each post!
Thanks for linking up at Inspired Wednesdays!
Nancy Franson says
Stopping by from Laura Boggess’ place. I am a mom who is (mostly) finished with my years of active parenting and have now entered the loveliness of grandparenting. I just want to say, Yes! There is such a need for support and encouragement for imperfect moms. We struggle so with our weaknesses and imperfections and fear that we are seriously messing up our kids. And we need to hear that there is always grace–abundant grace.
laura says
Isn’t it amazing how God will use even our imperfections for His purposes? I love that you are celebrating that in this space. It’s just…perfect :)
Christy Joy says
I think there’s a lot of pressure to be a perfect mom but you’re right, it’s just not possible. Thanks for taking the pressure off:0 I hope you’ll link this post up on Marriage Mondays with HWC! I don’t think moms can hear this enough.
Christy Joy
#happywivesclub