My story is one of a growing girl that finds her way through some winding paths, falls into a valley, comes to a cliff that she must take courage, strength, and endurance to climb above, and in the midst of that climbing has her world changed through family, friends, and love.
Let me start with where my life is now.. I’m a mom to my oh so sweet and strong willed 3 1/2 year old Liza, a newly wed to my amazing, knight and shining armor Teddy, and step mom to my super awesome 8 year old Lillie. We are in the middle of it all with moving in together, buying a new home just to move it all again, and figuring out how to blend our two families into one. And even with the overload of all of this, we are loving every minute of this blessed life we get to share together now as a family.
Taking a step back .. let me give you a short view into my past. From a very young age I have been a believer in God, and a woman of faith. But during my first marriage I let that passion and faith be pulled away from me, and after 13 years of what I thought was a happily secure marriage my life was shaken. I was 4 months pregnant when I realized the vows he had made to me so long ago were being broken. After fighting with dignity and everything I could to save my marriage, my sweet Liza Francine was born and 1 month later divorce was underway. My only hope was to turn to God and to my family.
I mean, talk about amazing family.. my parents parked their RV in my driveway for almost a year and a half when Liza was born to care for her (and me) while I went back to work with all my crazy retail hours. You know that saying that ‘God can turn a mess into something beautiful’.. well he did that with me. About a year after all the mess, I was able to quit my job, and rely on God’s provisions, thankfully provided to me through some amazing people and family that loved me and wanted to bless Liza and me, with some precious time while she was a baby. Part of this involved one of my sisters moving to Nashville with her family to start a farm and take me in under their roof while I processed and tried to recoup from it all.
As time passed on the farm, I grew a lot in knowing myself better in spirit, mind, and body. I know that sounds kind of cliche.. but it’s true. And when God knew I was ready, and only God knew, cause I had no idea it was coming.. God placed a man in my life. We met and began our, what seemed like, teenage romance.. seriously.. every time his name showed up on my phone I would get the most quirky little smile on my face. Navigating through a new dating relationship with us both having daughters of our own was not the easiest, I started a new job as well, started Liza in daycare, and moved out of the farm. But luckily he and I both knew what each was going through, and it wasn’t long before I fell in love with him and his amazing daughter.
I’m so thankful for that cliff God put in my way.. and really all the paths i’ve had to wind through. I know there are so many others out there facing these cliffs as well. My writing has always been my therapy.. but my hope through this blog is to somehow form a community to allow women to know that there are others going through the same challenges. Whether single, married, mom, step mom, single mom.. I hope to provide encouragement along with fun and laughs along the way.
I was inspired by one of my friends to post some of my healthier cleaner eating recipes. Now.. let me just say, I am not a super healthy clean eater.. I just ate Taco Bell yesterday! It’s my fast food weakness.. and my husband just went out of town so I thought I could get away with it without regretting it later:/
The Petticoat Farmer 