My story
Hey Sista-friend! Let me tell you my journey has been nothing short of a miraculous story in of itself. I grew up in much turmoil within my family unit as my parents struggled to find the path of their story. Long story short as a female I was raised in much of my teen years by a single father due to biological mother being in a severely broken state emotionally and physically with on and off drug abuse. I was raised to be confident (actually a little overconfident at times), to be strong, to be focused, and to not wear my emotions on my sleeve. Although many of these traits can be seen as good if channeled in the right direction; for me I began building my life on a foundation that was untrue.
I had difficulty understanding my place as a woman, my value, and my true beauty. Although I internally struggled no one could see it on the outside. My fears became some of my greatest strengths during this time as I pushed through feelings of abandonment, shame for feeling confused about my identity as a woman, performance pleasing, and an unhealthy lifestyle with food. Others saw it as confidence , strength, discipline, and uninterested in meaningful relationships.
I continued to do the right things, so I thought, while inwardly I felt worse. Life just didn't make any sense. I finished college with two degrees, got married to my college sweetheart (who was fine, muscular, and headed to the NFL), and began our family not long after that. I was in for an eye opening awakening as I progressed through life unclear as to why I felt more miserable as time went on. What was missing? Why weren't these things creating happiness in my life?
One day having been married for 8 years, having a few children, and even having lived a "Christian life" I was done. I remember like it was yesterday driving home after an Easter service feeling like man I should have walked up to the alter to have an encounter with Christ. I envied watching some of the people looking so free afterwards. I felt weighed down by life, I felt unclear on why I was even still blessed with life at this point. I mean how was I using it in any special way? Life to me felt like groundhog day (I had no zeal or energy to get out of the bed most days). Although I confessed following Christ, for many years I did not have ANY real proof of it. I told my pastor husband that I was done! I was done with religion, done with the acting like I had it altogether, and done with being a fruitless Christian. I was done with looking the part with all the spandex: tucking, stuffing, taping, painting, gluing, sewing, and coloring. I had this deep knowing in my heart that there was a woman inside me that was treading water with great exhaustion to breath again. I knew there had to be more to life than this. This was my moment of surrender. My husband watched me cry my eyes out and walked with me through a verbal dedication of my life to Christ. True story is my life has never been the same since.
People ask was it an instantaneous change......yes is many ways it was. My life was different from what I had experienced before and my heart even felt different. That moment of surrender for me has created a life of amazement. I am amazed daily as I'm able to see life as a true gift with an opportunity I get to have. It wasn't until I laid it ALL down (expectations, ideas, stresses) could I pick up what was designed just for me from creation. I decided (after focusing for many years on external things that looked good to others) at this time to began my inward journey. This journey started with a decision to stop the comparison, the excuses, and hiding behind the shame of my past. Truth is that we all have an assignment that can't be excused or erased by what we think disqualifies us. As a matter of fact, the very things we think people will turn their faces at, many times are the very things God uses to set them free.
Our Mission is to inspire ALL WOMEN to boldly continue on her journey of becoming HER best self. We believe every woman is purposefully unique and handcrafted by a Great GOD. Once someone believes, they see, and then they act. To Inspire is to encourage, to give hope, and to breathe life into. We join journeys with our fellow sisters and allow encouragement to move them towards an urge, ability, or feeling of greatness within to take the next step! Our goal is to connect women to resources designed to support you on the journey, offer life changing/fun events that totally get you our of your comfort zone every chance we can, and to inspire/encourage All Women (especially you mommas in the trenches).
