New Direction - many changes to come :)

When I started this blog it was because I felt that God wanted me to share about the eating disorder I have been battling, because of the shame and secrecy that had shrouded it, to bring it into the light and pursue honesty and healing and hopefully even help someone else along the way. That was almost two years ago, and God still has me on a journey of hope and healing that I will be continuing to share. But lately I have been exploring so many new sides of myself, and feeling a yearning to share and record my experiences. Things as simple as new recipes I'm trying, ways I'm finding to save money for my family, and more complex topics such as what I'm learning about Motherhood, and where God is leading me in life. I kept thinking that I would love to blog about some of the things I'm learning and doing, but in my head I've been struggling with how I would do it; did I need to start a whole new blog since this one I currently have is about my eating disorder? And also, my Husband and I wanted to start a blog to share family photos and stories with friends and family (always looking for a way to kick the Facebook habit!), so what did that mean? Would I need THREE blogs!? Through all this ridiculous OCD thinking God spoke to me about my tendency to be a perfectionist and affinity to having things 'a certain way.' I'm realizing more and more that this is not how I want to be, and I am learning a lot about the value of simplicity (MUCH more to come on this topic soon...) God also showed me that I have tended to compartmentalize the struggles in my life (ie: my eating disorder). For the most part, I put on a happy, 'all-together' face, and go about my life as best I can, and only talk about my struggles in certain environments when it seems 'appropriate,' such as with my counsellor, at prayer groups, and in deep conversation with close friends. So of course it made sense to me that my 'Eating Disorder Blog' should not intermingle with any sort of 'Real Life Blog' that I might begin! Through this I realized it was time to adapt THIS blog into my 'Real Life Blog.' Of course I am only one person, and any blogging about my life should be able to be contained in one blog. It's good practice for me to step back from trying to overcomplicate something and just choose the route of simplicity. So instead of sitting here with negative self-defeating thoughts about how disorganized it's all going to be, I'm reminding myself that this blog is about ME. And I am not a clean cut, one dimensional perfect person. I am a mess of joys and insecurities, talents, passions and struggles. And so will be my blog.

"Live to Shine" is a reminder to me that everything I do, I do to the glory of God. Anything good about me points to the Father, and I pray that my life would be a living testimony of His power and beauty. "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and praise your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)