Social Media Standards

Dear Friends on Social Media:

I’ve written this as a means of creating a standard  of etiquette for how I would like people to respond when you are on my social media feeds. This is not written towards any one person, rather this is written because I seem to run into the same problem on many social media sites, and I want to make myself very clear, so as not to be misunderstood in the future.

First, I am so thankful that I have so many friends and family who are different from me, who don't think like I do. Yes, I'm even thankful for those who disagree with me. I love the fact that I can discuss different things and not always get a thumbs up(though you who give me those thumbs up are also wonderful, and I absolutely need encouragement as well); but I love having people who challenge my thinking causing me to think through why I think, and believe the way I do. I'm thankful for each of you!

Second, the reason I'm writing this: with being my friend on any social media site there does come responsibility on your end. What you do on your social media feeds, I can not control, but when you come to my pages, posts, blogs etc... understand, I love hearing disagreement and engaging in conversation, I love chatting, challenging, and  encouraging,  each other, but I also expect that if you have disagreements that they will be made with respect. I expect that if you genuinely have a problem or concern that you will call me, message me, and talk to me instead of getting mad, yelling, cursing, or insulting myself or anyone else through these page/posts. If I see such behavior, your posts will be deleted(especially if I see insulting, even if it's passive aggressive, I do not condone any sort of intimidating/bullying). I will then email you, or call you, and try to work things out. If I am In The wrong, I will apologize and make things right. But If things can not be resolved in a healthy manner, I will not allow such things to go on, and will cut off any contact with you. I'm not doing this to be mean, but I want to ensure our friendships stay healthy, and that we can communicate in a healthy manner.

Third, I don't want anyone to question what I believe and stand for, so I will lay it out for you very clearly so as not to be misunderstood, I am a Bible believing, Christ following, Christian, and yes I do believe in Heaven and Hell.  When it comes to politics I am a conservative. I am 100% pro-life. I believe marriage is meant to be between one man and one women. I do not condone animal cruelty, but I do eat meat. I believe a wife is supposed to submit to the headship of her husband, and that this does not make her less than. I believe in freedom from all forms of slavery. I believe in respecting and honoring those who are older than me, even if I don't agree. And I believe many people will disagree with me on many of these topics.

I love and care for each of you, and thank you for your continued friendship. I desire that when you come to my social media feeds, that each of us feels safe to express our thoughts, opinions, and beliefs in a healthy manner, even if at the end of a conversation we all walk away disagreeing. I desire to give respect, and be given respect, even on ‘hot’ topics. Please feel free to ask questions or discuss further with me, anything I have mentioned.

Thank you!  

I Married a Superhero

I don't brag about my husband enough, and honestly, I should. Over the last several days everyone has been asking him and I, how Me and the baby have been, making sure We are ok. Im15 weeks pregnant and We found out after a long ordeal, during a week away for Gabes work, that we had a tear between the placenta and the uterus. Honestly, I'm in a bit of pain, I'm nervous about what the doctors will say, but ultimately I'm at peace with everything. But my wonderful husband has been going through the last several days with me, too, just in a different way. Weds he took me to the ER at 4am, and still woke up to work the next morning. Because I'm on bed rest, and not supposed to lift anything, including my son he has had to load and unload vehicles while we were out of town. He's done dishes, he's taken over the morning feeding shift with Caden, he's moved Caden to the floor from the couch, and anywhere else I need him to be so I don't lift our son, he's gotten me meals, glasses of water, and medication with out complaint, and with out hesitation, no matter the time. He listens to me crying, hugs me, prays over us, and comforts me as I deal with many emotional aspects of our situation. He's worked 8 hour days, and come home with a smile on his face as he transitions smoothly into changing diapers, feeding Caden, spending time on the floor with him, and putting him to bed for the night. Then, just because he can, he goes out and gets me chocolate due to a random craving, and he brings home chocolate and flowers.

You know, that's just how he is. He goes out of his way to make sure I feel loved 100% of the time. He doesn't complain, even when things are challenging, rather he asks what he can do to best help. He's selfless in his actions. And I couldn't handle this situation with out him. I'm thankful to have such a wonderful caring man by my side through everything, not just this past week. I know he's not perfect, but my husband is a superhero In more ways then one. I feel so incredibly blessed to have him in my life, and couldn't imagine going through life with out him to hold my hand.

So many faces

One of the most exciting aspects of being a parent, and believe me there are many, is seeing your little one develop a personality, likes and dislikes, reactions both positive and negative to things you are doing, engaging with different people on different levels. Watching the wheels turn as your baby begins to figure things out, from the movement of their hands to their mouth, to the very first steps. As I began looking through my photo album it became even more apparent at how quickly my baby is becoming his own person. Flipping from photo to photo watching his different expressions, and reactions. It brings such joy to my heart. 

I think these photos do an excellent job of capturing the many different aspects of my sons very fun personality. :)

 

Beauty

A couple days ago, As I was getting ready for my day, attempting to fit into pants that were just barely too small, I looked in the mirror, and for the final time, I cried at what I saw. Just a year ago, I was almost at my "ideal" weight, was able to fit into a size I never thought possible, I was working out religiously, and I felt confident in my own skin. So what happened?

I had my baby.

 

With my bundle of joy, has also come much heartache, as I strive to be "beautiful."

 

 

What is "beautiful?" Everywhere I look, I'm bombarded with the worlds idea of beautiful. You can't be over a certain weight, you can't be under a certain weight, you cant be too short, or too tall, you can't have curves, you can't be too skinny, and god forbid you have stretch marks, or birth marks, or some sort of deformity, that will not change. Everyone has an opinion. Even when they don't "say" anything. You can see the judgment, in the looks they give you, or when they point you out to their friends after you have walked pass. Even with all these videos and posts coming out, informing everyone that "no one looks like what the magazines have portrayed, not even the models in the cover, in real life" yet as a woman, I still strive to meet these unrealistic expectations of beauty. As a mother, I look at my stretch marks and view them as an awful marking, that I try and hide.

 

 

Each morning, my loving husband wakes up, kisses me and tells me I'm beautiful. Each afternoon, he texts me, and reminds me how much he loves me, and tells me I'm beautiful. Each evening, as he comes home, he hugs me, and tells me I'm beautiful. Each night as we are going to sleep, he wraps his arms around me, and whispers in my ear that I'm beautiful. Who am I trying to impress? The one man whose opinion matters the most to me, is constantly telling me I'm enough, He's constantly reminding me that I'm still beautiful, He's loving me with out cease just as I am, with out any expectations for me to change. So why does that not feel like enough? As he touches and kisses every stretch mark, as he wraps his arms around me, and tells me that he loves each and every curve, why do I so badly want to turn out the lights so no one can see what I consider "imperfection?"

 

So today, As I looked in the mirror, As I struggled into yet another pair of pants that just barely fit, I stopped myself. It's so easy to shame yourself when no one is looking; It's so easy to tell yourself you're not good enough, you're not pretty enough, you're not skinny enough, you'll never be perfect. Instead I looked at my self, and I said "Thank you God." This body worked to create a beautiful healthy boy. This body has energy to and the ability to play with and raise that boy. I am married to a man who loves this body as it is now. I'm eating right, I'm exercising, I'm working hard, and if that means this body will forever be 10 pounds heavier then when I first got pregnant, then so be it. I'm not being sitting around doing nothing; I'm living life, I'm keeping healthy, and this is where my body is landing itself. As for my stretch marks, they aren't some hideous monster I need to hide in the closet. They are my badge of honor. My body worked hard, and earned its right to share in this badge. More permanent then a tattoo, these marks represent the life that is now in this world, and I shouldn't be ashamed of them.

 

 Beauty isn't a number, or some obscene goal. Beauty is what I am choosing to see when I look in the mirror; it's what I see when I look around at people who are different from the standard and It's what I see when I'm in a room filled with unique people from all different backgrounds.

 

Today is the day, I choose to stop shaming myself. I choose to set the example for my children, to be confident in who I am, and how God has made me, "flaws" and all! 

Today is the day, I choose to see myself in a positive light. I choose to stop putting myself down, and embrace every difference.

Today, I choose to stop rolling my eyes at mu husband when he tells me I'm beautiful. I am beautiful.

 

I hope that you can see yourselves as beautiful too.

You are beautiful!

 

 

 





A Moment of Pride

Today is my only sisters birthday. As I sit here reflecting on her life, wondering what to send her, what to tell her, and how to inspire her as she celebrates 19 years of life. The only words that come to mind are: 

I'm so proud of her.

I'm proud of the person she has become.

In 19 years, she and I have gone on many adventures. 

We have  fought, cried, laughed, apologized and repeated.

She is a person I can depend on with out fail. 

She has stood by me, as only a sister can, holding my hand through all life has to offer. 

We have jumped many hurdles together, faced many challenges(including each other at times)

She is a product of much prayer, and I can not believe she is all grown up.

Although, I can't put into words how absolutely amazing she is:

I couldn't ask for a more amazing sister,

and I couldn't be any more proud of her if I tried. 

Although 19 years doesn't seem like a monumental occasion, after all it's not 16, it's not 18,and  its not 21, It marks 19 years of life for an amazing young woman. That in itself is monumental, and worth celebrating!

Kierra, I love you. Happy 19th Birthday. You have grown to be such an amazingly, beautiful woman, inside and out! I am so proud of the person you have become. I pray that as this next year comes you will be greatly blessed, and that you will be given wisdom and insight into what your next steps will be. This is a year that will bring many exciting changes, and growth, and I can't wait to see how that unfolds.

I am so proud of you!!

Your older, shorter sister,

Kelly

Bliss

I'm enjoying every moment of this:

Cuddling on the couch for hours

Dancing in the dining room

Rocking him slowly to sleep

Hearing his soft coos

Watching the smile on his face as he dreams

Dressing him in cute outfits 

Kissing his chubby cheeks

Looking into his grey eyes

Watching him splash around contently in the tub

Listening to him breath as he sleeps

I love every bit of this 

Baby Time

At 6:39pm on March 2nd, 2014 after being in the hospital for 15 hours, Caden Paul graced us with his presence.I admit, being so young, and having a baby was a nerve wracking thought. But by the end of my pregnancy, I was so ready to be done with that part of my life. I'm surprised how easy, and natural it has become to feed, change, hold, and cart around our precious little man.

Yes is has been taking me twice as long to get anywhere since he has been born. Yes, I have been running late to almost every appointment, and meeting. And Yes my schedule is being dictated by a person 1/4 my size with no reasoning ability. But it is such a wonderful change. Each day, I wake  up and look forward to what the day will bring. I look forward to the snuggling, smiles, and even the vast facial expressions I receive. I can't wait for the many adventures he will bring to our family in the next 18+ years.