You may have noticed I’ve been less responsive or slower to respond over the past couple of weeks. Or you may notice I will be slow to respond over the next couple of weeks. If you’ve sent me an email or message that hasn’t yet gotten a response I’m sorry. I’m trying to catch up!
A couple of months ago I shared a little glimpse in my post I Want to See Redemption Win, which I actually edited after I received unsubscribes. I realized it went out on a Wednesday, which is when my weekly newsletter goes out, so it is typical to get more unsubscribes on that day than other days, but what can I say? I’m sensitive. Based on comments, I feared it was taken as a “woe is me” post, but the intention was to be a post a hope. To sum it up I was trying to say, “things are hard, but I know how far I’ve come, and I know God will get us through this. I can see redemption win every time I look in the mirror.”
I said this year I would work on word of 2014 – Refine. Trials are part of this process. I think worrying about how a post is received is actually the opposite of what my goal should be. I need to keep my eyes focused on Him. I wrote that post from my heart – both the hard parts (some of which I deleted) and the positive parts. If I don’t share it all, I’m robbing you of the experience. Not everybody is going to like what I write all of the time. That is just a fact of writing. I have favorite writers, and I don’t always like everything they write, either. Nobody is perfect, but I think they should be true to themselves.
I have continued to work on refining the content here on Pea of Sweetness, which has been more difficult than I imagined. I have redirected some reviews to Deals of Sweetness that I felt aren’t a good fit here, and I’ve just chosen not to include certain content I feel isn’t a good fit. Once I make it through this hard personal patch I also plan to keep a more specific calendar as well that I think you will enjoy! Please bear with me as I make a new transition in my life.
I know I have started (and stopped) various series, and I can’t guarantee that will change. I have SPD and Fibro. I can be a flake. It doesn’t mean I won’t add to the series randomly, though! 🙂 I do plan to keep a more regular calendar as I continue to work more on my time management, homemaking, homeschooling, etc. and share them with you. It’s going to be raw and real. I have a long way to go in my journey, but I want to share it with you anyway! I took away Weekly Wrap-Ups because the top part of the posts were a post of their own, and I’m going to post more like those, but without the wrap-up part below! If you like the wrap-up part, consider subscribing to my new Monthly Newsletter (if you’re already a subscriber you can update your options)! My “making a house a home series” never made it to the blog for a very serious reason – we never made this house a home (more on that below).
I think refinement here on Pea of Sweetness also means refinement in my life. Things ARE hard right now. Our family is going through a lot. I debated on even sharing this, and I eventually added a fundraiser I was having to my sidebar to raise money to get a new place because we are getting evicted. We tried so hard to make ends meet on my husband’s VA disability, the little I make on my blogs, and my freelance work as Social Security is still undecided for my husband. Sometimes I work through the night just to make extra money (much like tonight), and it just wasn’t enough. We reached out to Disabled Veteran organizations including the Veterans Homeless Prevention Program to no avail. We didn’t meet our goal in our fundraiser, so we were unable to get the rent to own home, but we were blessed that a friend is willing to let us rent their home while we help fix it up as well.
We are SO grateful for your donations, your support and prayers through this! We will be moving this week, so if I am even more distant or distracted, it’s because we are busy with the move and transition. I will still be posting both here and on social media, but my response times via email and social media may be slower, but I will try to get to them as soon as I can! I do appreciate your prayers! If you have children, you know how tricky it can be to move with children! Please pray it goes smoothly and we can get settled quickly!
So yes, I am going to share my heart. Life isn’t always easy, and I think there are people out there who feel discouraged and are seeking inspiration from someone who has “been there.” When everybody’s life looks “picture perfect” it can leave us wondering where we went wrong. There is no wrong answer. Everybody’s journey is different. Some journeys may be harder than others, but they’re our own – nobody else’s. If your journey feels like a struggle remember that with God, there is always hope.
How can I pray for YOU today?
I will be praying for you…not out of pity, but out of love. We are dealing with some similar situations in our family as well so I know that God is the only one who can truly see us through! God Bless!
Thank-you so much for your prayers. We really do appreciate them. I will pray for your family as well!
Emilee recently posted…Birthday Extravaganza Giveaway (ends 9/30)
I just have to say, I love your blog, your emails, all of it!! don’t be so hard on your self. we all go thru hard times, happy times, and I thought that is what this is about sharing? we share the good the bad, and the fun. Our books, our contests, everythings I will say some people are to sensative. If you get people leaving you because of this you should not freat I am sorry, but let me tell you I have to put my dog down of 15 years tommoro, have surgery on friday, and this is a excape for me, I get to read about other people’s happy and sad times, find reciepes, hope to win contests, and just comment with what I am thinking. So I hope you will keep being your self because that is what got you here in the first place, and will keep you going!! Good luck to you
Thank-you. I’m so sorry to hear about your dog. That is hard. I pray your surgery goes well!
Emilee recently posted…Birthday Extravaganza Giveaway (ends 9/30)
Thank you too this is a good exscape for me, and I hope you are feeling better too
When I read the good and especially the bad, it makes me realize we all have our ups and downs. I identify with a struggle and always have compassion for that. I wouldn’t be a good nurse if I didn’t. I think your blog is great.
Thank-you Deb. I appreciate your feedback. That is so true about compassion, and I know you must be a great nurse!
Emilee recently posted…Birthday Extravaganza Giveaway (ends 9/30)
I have no idea why people leave when they read something they may not like. People may not like what I have to say either. I feel bad that I was telling you about our home situation, when all along you were having your own! I know that everyone goes through good and bad times. Right now for both of us, is the bad. However, I believe that God will pull through for both of us and things will get better! I read some of the other comments and everyone is saying the same thing as far as This is what this is here for. We are here to enter contests & hope we will win. To talk about reviews and children and our hopes, fears, problems, etc. Don’t feel you need to apologize for anything! If these people only knew what it’s like, they would be a whole lot more sympathetic. I’ve read other bloggers reviews and there were things that I didn’t like or appreciate, however, I never stopped following them! You need to take whatever time you need to get your family situated, because they are the most important people in your life! Don’t worry about all of us, we’ll make it through. Take care of yourself & your family first and when things get more settled, then get back on that horse and ride it like never before! I will definitely keep you and your family in my prayers and maybe God will speed things up a bit???? Thanks for always being there for us – now, go be there for you! Good luck with everything and I sure do hope things work out for the better!!! Don’t feel bad anymore! Thanks, Michele 🙂
Michele Ash recently posted…Where Am I?
Thank-you Michele. I really appreciate all your feedback, and please, I’m here to pray for you as well, and I’m so glad you open up so I know how to pray for you! <3
Emilee recently posted…Where Am I?