Life is Not a Fairy Tale...

To all my Sisters in Blogland:

I have been absent for over a month, with good reason; however, I feel somewhat guilty about this. I know I don't have thousands of followers, but this blog is an extension of who I am...And I've lost who that girl is in the past few weeks.

Frankly, it has been devastatingly difficult to read your blogs, you lovely ladies. I've been going through a bit of a valley, so not even polka dotted mismatched chairs and recipes for peanut butter cups help me see the past the rocky dips and swirling, murky ponds.

Normally, these fanciful ideas make my heart smile, and I am inspired to beautify my own corner of the world. But I'm not walking through normal, and I'm definitely not walking through a fairy tale.

Life isn't a fairy tale, and we all realize that at some point along our own journey. I don't have pixie dust to scatter over my home that will make the sun shine brighter or my hips seem smaller. I don't have a magic wand that will turn me into a Princess and my husband into Prince Charming.

If you are still reading, blessings to you, for this post is about as depressing as they come. I'm in a valley, and I will probably be walking through this one for quite a while. That's the bleak truth, but it isn't the only truth.

The other truth, and the only important truth in this whole un-fairyish world is this....

I am not alone.
I am not a failure.
I am a Child of God, awakening to His new mercy every morning.
My joy doesn't lie in another person, nor is it dependent on my situation...
My joy comes in knowing the Giver of all Joy, the Father who is not surprised by anything, the Shepherd who knows my name...

Knowing this, truly believing this, is alot of the battle. My head knows this. My mouth speaks this. My heart is having a hard time truly trusting this.

Without a doubt, I am hurting. I am in a valley, and I don't really know where this path is going.

So that I don't completely lose who I am, I will keep blogging. I am in a new city, starting a new job in a week, and going back to school for the third time...I have a house that is brimming with projects to be undertaken, and I am itching to do some thrifting and antiquing. Don't worry, lovely ladies, all posts will not be this heavy. I do plan on sharing my adventures, but I know that as a community, we should share our hurt, too.

If you are hurting, it's ok to be honest. If you are just downright irritated and not feeling all "bloggy perfect", it's ok.

Let's be real with each other, shall we??

Love to all of you from my new home in Greensboro, NC!! Despite this difficult time, I do find a little encouragement in the wonderful shopping areas, antique stores, and beautiful golf course that I can see from my back porch.

Talk to you soon!!!