I am so excited to be participating in my very first blog party! Check out the link above to go see what it is all about and join in the fun!
Hello there, and Welcome to my blog!
My name is Paula, I am 21 years old and a proud wifey and mommy.
I started this site in February of this year. I had been blogging for years, but in February I really started feeling like I wanted a fresh start. My past is filled with many adventures, and a lot of heartache. January of this year was when I really started to deal with and process through “my past”. I felt like my life was getting a fresh start, and I wanted a new blog to reflect the new stage of life that I was beginning.
My story – I was homeschooled and grew up in an extremely sheltered Christian home. When I was 14 my dad died unexpectedly in the middle of the night. He was extremely overweight (over 600 pounds at his heaviest and around 300 something when he died) and that ended up being the cause of death. 11 months later my mom married a man that she had only known for 6 weeks. He ended up being bad news, and I am still working on ridding myself of the “after effects” of the craziness we endured with him. When I was 16 I moved to the Philippines by myself to work in a ministry there. I loved it there, fell in love with the culture and the people and ended up staying there (on and off) for almost 3 years. I loved being a missionary, but definitely have a different perspective on it now, than I did when I was 16. I met my husband at church in the States when we were both 18. We eloped after knowing each other just a little more than a month. Every one thought we were crazy and that I was following in my mother’s footsteps so to speak, but my hubby is such a gift from God, and there is a long story behind why we got married so fast. (and no, it does not include a pregnancy.) Hubby and I went to the Philippines together for about 6 weeks, and then returned back to the States to get jobs and start our life in America together. the beginning of our life together was different than the norm, but I am glad for every moment of it. Even the hard times have taught us so much about each other and God, and have built our trust in one another. Hubby works and I stay home with the baby. When he is off work we like to play board games together and watch tv shows on DVD (we don’t have TV reception). I am completely obsessed with pictures and am slowly getting our home decorated all pretty ;) Hubby has recently taken an interest in computers, learning how they work etc. etc. (its so confusing to me!) He also studies Biblical Greek in his spare time and has learned the language really quickly! I think he’s a genius, but I may be just a bit biased ;) We had a baby almost 2 years after we got married and he has brought us so much joy!!! We love being parents together! Watching my husband interact with our little boy is one of the best feelings ever! Sometimes I think my heart cannot possibly contain any more love, but I love them both more every day and I know it will be the same for every new baby and child that we are blessed with.
Even though I had several “dark” years of life, I don’t like dwelling on that time. I am endeavoring to look back just enough so I can heal, and not let it negatively affect my life, or the lives of those around me. I try to keep my posts encouraging, uplifting and informational! with the occasional silly/just for fun post thrown in!
Things I blog about:
Marriage – My marriage is something I work on a lot, and always will! I have see so many bad marriages and so many sad ones, I don’t want to have either! I want to have a marriage that glorifies God, and is rooted in Him. Hubby and I got married young, and have so much left to learn… about marriage, parenting, and LIFE in general. But we are committed to each other, not to a feeling. And we are learning and growing together, sometimes hard sometimes easy, always by God’s grace!
Parenting – I , love being a mom, my son brings me so much joy and I am learning so much from him!! I share a lot of the things that I have chosen to do as a mom, but I don’t think other choices are wrong. I don’t like it when mom’s argue about one way being the only way etc, so I try to avoid the “mommy wars” that seem to be so commonplace in the blogging world.
I love taking care of people, and helping little ones (and big ones) who don’t know how to help themselves, I want to have a LOT of kids, but not necessarily all biological.
My hubby and my baby are two big stars of my blog! I know that I am very young to be a wife and a mommy, and I know that I have so much to learn still, but I enjoy sharing my journey here, and learning from other mom and wives, as we are all in this ‘together’ though many of us will probably never meet in person.
Hope – There was a long period of my life that I felt completely without hope. God is restoring my hope and pulling me out of the depression and fear that held me back for so long! I am so excited to be “myself” again, where once I could only see darkness and more pain in my future, I can now see hope! I am learning to trust God’s will and His plan and be confident that He will provide for me and protect me. And there is such peace in that!
God – Even though I grew up in a Christian home, I have struggled a lot with my faith. Not as much with “does God exist” but rather, “does He love me”. I have also struggled with trusting in His will and that He will take care of me.
One of the things my mom’s husband did that was so hurtful was twist scripture around for his own benefit. Instead of being the beautiful Word of God to me Scripture was twisted into chains that held me captive in his way of life. . . I am filled with joy that God saw me through that time of life and I am started to experience true freedom and joy in Him as the bad things from my past are healed and I move forward with God. I write about a lot of these struggles of faith after I have them, hoping that God may use them to help others. I also love writing because it helps me to process my thoughts and make sense of all the stray thoughts racing through my brain!
I mainly find time to blog during naptime or after my baby has gone to sleep, so you can tell that we are having sleep issues when I have not posted in awhile!
So that’s me, and my blog… thanks for stopping by, please ALWAYS feel free to leave comments, advice or just say “hey”. I love knowing who reads my blog, (don’t we all?) and being able to go take a peek at what every one else is writing!
Blessings!
Paula
Jacinda @ Growing Home says
Hello Paula,
I discovered you through Esther’s blog party. It sounds like you’ve had quite the ride! What a beautiful thing to come to and end of self though, isn’t it? God is so much bigger than all our problems and in Him there can be found lasting peace and joy!
My life experience has been just as long as yours (I’m 21 too!), but not nearly as dramatic. I also grew up homeschooled, and am a wife and mommy. I’ll be following your blog-I’m so excited to see how God will work through you!
Treasures of Faith says
Hi Paula I’m also stopping in from the blog party! So nice to “meet” you! Your life is a beautiful story of hope and faith! I look forward to reading more!
Many Blessings!
Sarah
{esther} says
Hi Paula,
Thanks for being so open and honest about your past. WHAT a testimony to be able to share with SO many other woman! It truly shows God’s power, and grace!
What a precious little family you have!
I’m looking forward to following your life, through your blog.
Much Love & Blessings,
ESTHER
Stefanie says
I’m visiting from the blog party – enjoyed reading your post!
Stefanie
Just A Work In Progress says
Hey Paula!
I’m visiting from your guest post on Kathryn’s site! Thanks so much for honesty! I was a young wife and mother at 20 and it was wonderful! It could be challenging at times, but as long as God has stayed the center of our lives there is nothing we can’t overcome. Loved this post!!
BTW…We’re now married 10 years with 5 kiddos : ) Ashley
Treasures Evermore says
I am visiting from the blog party…so glad to meet you. Will be honoured to follow your blog.
blessings,
Connie
Melissa says
Hey Paula,
What a Testimony. Wow. I can’t wait to hear more about what the Lord’s doing in your life, home and Family!