Let's Wear Our Real Skin

Women hurt. I am sure of that. I have a heart for women that hurt. Women do so much in the world around them and touch so many lives. They can have an amazing impact on people's lives. I have lived through, and have seen how the pain in a woman's heart can cause so much damage. If pain and disappointment are not dealt with, damaging behaviors and thought patterns can begin. The true source of help and comfort lies in the arms of Jesus, but too often we women try to fix things in our lives. Sometimes that could be called micro-managing, controlling...maybe. I know for me it was.

I have gone through my own junk in life, and have felt a lot of pain. I lived in blissful ignorance for a long time, trying to be perfect, tried to perfect my environment, and then depression came in. Following depression came eating disorders, and more followed that. I am aware that my story is not a lone event. There are others. There are other homeschool mothers, bread baking housewives, and passionate Christian women who fall under the deadly trap that pain can be. 

I desire to see women open up and share more about our life stories. Why do we always feel the need to show a perfect view of ourselves? Why do we not share from our hearts...always holding back? We are in this together...we are all in this world, facing sin and dealing with our own disappointments. I believe if we let down our pretenses and begin to be real, we could really make a lot of change. We mothers who are working so hard, trying to become perfect can be positively or negatively impacting our children to affect the next generation of believers. I truly desire that we live in our real skins, talk openly, and heal fully. I commit to being a part of that in other's lives, as well as my own.

How can we practically do this? I will blog more about this tomorrow with some of my own perspective's idea of how to heal.

~Melissa

Cinderella Christianity

I thought I was created for more. I am not sure if I had a fairy tale view of Christianity, or if it was blind faith and the zeal of youth. When I was young I wanted to be like Florence Nightingale, or Pollyanna. If I couldn't bandage people's wounds, then at least I could change their lives and make them smile. My dreams were nice. I truly wanted to be something great. A few years ago, we thought about working overseas somewhere as missionaries. I still want to be something great, but I have come to accept that whatever God has given me to do right here, right now...IS great. I may not feel great sitting in my jeans, t-shirt, and hair up in a pony tail. I may be crabby, frazzled and covered in laundry. This work is what God has called me to do. It IS doing the work of God, and it is great. I don't feel holy doing the dishes, though it would be nice. Maybe some day I will wake up and find myself somewhere wiping the brow of a wounded and dying soldier. Maybe instead, I will be skipping down the streets in pretty dresses, singing to the forlorn, and making them smile. I think that even then I would not "feel" like what I was doing was something great, or holy. I think that I can enjoy what I do each day, and know that God looks upon me with joy just for living and loving Him, and doing what I do to the very best of my ability. Maybe I am living out my happily ever after.

Avacados-a baby's first food

Not all people would enjoy reading an entry entirely based on babies eating mashed up, slimy food. But is my new journey right now with my 6 month old baby. So, I tried powdered rice cereal first mixed with apple juice. He liked that for the first two days. Then I tried some homemade applesauce. That was a no go. I am guessing it was too sour. Poor baby. Then I tried Gerber baby food applesauce, peaches and pears. Again, it was not liked. After trying several new items, he had learned the technique of batting the spoon away and barring the door to his mouth with his tongue. That was too funny, but I felt sorry for him. Back to the drawing board...bananas maybe? No, not really. Batting the spoon away became a game and "No, no" has now been a learned comment from Mommy. He is such a good boy. He listens so well. Tonight I tried avocado, mashed up really well. He seemed to like it better, even though bananas were in it too. The avocado being a first food for babies is something I read on the following website. http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/avocadobabyfoodrecipes.html
Now I am excited to try it again. So, for those looking for a good beginner baby food...hope this works for you too. No more sour faces and healthy baby here we come!!