Welcome & Yahoo Shine Article

So today, an interview that I did for Babble last week, was featured on Yahoo shine. It’s bringing over more than a few visitors today and has received lots of colorful comments as well! I thought it would be nice to do a welcome post, for all the new readers to hear a bit more  of our story and a little about this blog.

Yes, my husband and I did get married 35 days after we met, but I didn’t already have kids. Our two kids were born years down the road after we got married. It seemed like that was a little bit confusing to some readers, so I thought that I would clear that up.

Several people mentioned abuse, and how it’s a good thing my husband wasn’t (and isn’t) abusive, because it could have been disastrous. I agree, and I’m very thankful for that as well. As a person who grew up enduring various types of abuse in my teen years, I am very grateful that my husband didn’t turn out to be some abusive jerk only pretending to be nice. He’s honestly one of the kindest people you will ever meet. That’s not my puppy-love talking, it’s true. Any one who knows him, would agree with that. I’m thankful to God for those things, because you are right, it could have ended very differently.

A few years after my husband and I got married I was diagnosed with depression and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). This had nothing to do with him, and everything to do with the abuse I endured as a teen. We worked through it with prayer, counseling and LOTS of patience (on his part, mainly) and came out stronger. I still struggle with symptoms of both at times, but I’m seeing growth every year and I’m so thankful! To read more of this story, check out my recent post “Not Ashamed of My Life” where I talk about my journey through these difficulties. If you are some one that struggles with depression or something similar, I hope my story encourages you! There IS light at the end of the tunnel, even when you can’t see it. I’m living proof of that!

A bit more about me. I lived over seas for several years as a teen working in an orphanage and a youth ministry in the Philippines. I absolutely loved it there, but now I’m a stay at home mom to my two kids. Some people have seen this as a “step down” in life or ministry but I don’t see it that way. I’m doing what I love, raising my kids and pursing my dreams!

I’m a professional blogger (on this blog and bloggingontheside.com). My dream is to be an author and write books to encourage people and make them laugh! I love, love LOVE to encourage other mamas specifically. I frequently write in my series “Confessions of an Imperfect Mother” sharing lots of imperfect parts of our day, because I think it’s so important for us to be real with each other. It brings us together, and it’s so encouraging. You can check out that series for things like “My hate/love relationship with breastfeeding” and confessions about how “sometimes I get tired of playing with my kids” or “that time I yelled at my kid“. I hope some (or all!) of those confessions encourage you! I think as moms we try to hard and wear ourselves out trying to be “perfect” when really, we can just focus on being awesome and loving mamas to our own kids, even when that looks different than what another mom might be doing.

Sometimes I go on rants. . . Like a few weeks ago with “Real Women, Postpartum Bellies and Caroline Berg Erikson” or the time we talked about the best birthing method.  I’m also pretty passionate about supporting unwed mamas and reminding you what a good mom you are.

I also wrote a piece sharing 8 reasons childbirth is easier than pregnancy, and it’s always been a fan-favorite.

So here, on this blog, you will find a lot of things. Tips for facing tantrums (because, BOY do we encounter lots of toddler-tantrusm these days…literally, there’s a whole category dedicated to tantrums on the blog!). Help in the transition of adding a new baby to the family. Encouragement when you are having a bad day. The reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to be the perfect mom for your kids. You’ll find real stories from my heart, even when they are hard to share.

Above all, I hope you see the love of Jesus shining through. I would not have made it this far, from the depths of depression, through years of traumatic abuse, and even through the messy days of motherhood and really rough pregnancies…I wouldn’t have made it through any of that if it weren’t for His loving kindness in my life. I couldn’t always see it, I didn’t always acknowledge it, but it was always there. He was always there. and I write to bring Him glory.

We laugh, we have fun, we learn and we grow here. I love having this little corner of the internet to share with you. If you want to join us on this journey, please feel free to like this page on Facebook, and introduce yourself. We have all kinds of fun connecting over there and sharing stories! I would love to hear yours! If Facebook is not your thing, you can also follow along on Twitter, or via email through the subscribe box on the right!