I've been posting here for several months and have been blessed in so many ways.  I have encountered many other blogs with inspiring and uplifting messages and have had many loving responses to my blog.  However, as time goes on, I've really started to wonder if many of the women are real.  We can all present a certain persona of being strong, wise, selfless, the mother of perfect children, spiritual giants and married to the perfect man.   But, are there any woman out there that struggle and stumble and sin and don't gush over their children all the time and don't even like their husband all the time?  Or like him some of the time?  I know we are called to seek after the Lord and to set ourselves apart, but how many woman are we pushing away by not letting our not so perfect selves shine through?  I've had several people comment on the pristine image that quite a few homesteaders portray and that they don't walk away feeling encouraged but discouraged.  How can they live up to what they are reading about?   Do we dab at our tears with a monogrammed hankie that has creases from our ironing them?  Or do we cry with mascara running down our faces and leave traces of our runny noses upon those who have been near enough to hold us?  Or, what about the women that cry themselves to sleep at night because they are alone and feeling lost?  Are there any moms out there that lose their temper with their kids and have to repent?  Are there any moms that stay in their jammies all day?  What about you moms that have hubby bring home some fast food for dinner because you are just too tired to even think about cooking?  Or, you just want to be selfish and not be responsible for the evening meal?  Or what about you moms that are scared about where your next meal is coming from because your husband has lost his job and you just want to scream at people who tell you that now is the time to learn how to be frugal?  Frugal only works when you actually have money to be frugal with.  Right?   What about you women that can't stand their mother in law and have struggled for years with being friends with her even though you  know it is "the right thing to do"?  What about those women that don't have the perfect house or the perfect life?  What about the women crying out to God and are feeling like He just isn't listening?  I know you are out there.  I personally would like to see more of you.  I wouldn't feel so all alone then.  I can only speak for myself, but I'm one of those Christian women that stumbles and has to ask for forgiveness.  I'm striving to grow and become stronger in my walk with God and my children and husband.  But there are days when my husband and I do fight, my kids drive me crazy, my friends frustrate and hurt me, my parents and in laws drive me nuts, my pajamas stay on and dinner is not going to be simmering on the stove when Dear Husband comes home.   I'm free and forgiven.  I am not perfect and pray that there are other women out there that will take comfort in knowing that I'm floating around in cyberspace and that they are not alone.  

I want my blog to be an encouragement to others and for those weary and beaten travellers along life's road to not feel like they don't belong because they aren't completely refined yet.   I'm hopeful, I'm growing, I'm free in the Lord and I'm not perfect.  Please feel free to come and sit with me for awhile, I'd love to share your journey with you, whether it truly is smooth or rocky and an uphill battle.   We are all sisters in Christ and I know that there are women out there that will find hope in knowing that they are not alone.  

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Posted by Anonymous

Giiiirl.... I am STILL in my jammies and I'm gettin' ready to heat up a good ol' Banquet frozen lasagna tonight!! Heck, if the kids ask for a snack, I point to the pantry. Haha! Need I mention the bad gas I have today? I could put an old man who just ate a pot o'beans to shame! Whew! I am here, and I am VERY real. Oh and I bit my husband's head off just this morning for grabbin' my rear end when I was SOOO not in the mood for that!! Why do men have to grope us like we're fruit in a supermarket?? Uuuggghh!! There's a time and place for that! Grrr! Hello there, I'm Rachael! Pleased to meet you!

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Posted by blessedmomof10

Hello. I have blogged here for years and yes I can asure you the women here are real. Some of my dearest friends blog here - they have prayed with me and cried with me and witnessed to me . ( I am new in my walk with the lord). Because this is a public forum, you will most likely not going to read the "dirty laundry" sort of speak and see it aired out for the world to read..... when I am struggling ( which is often enough) I am not going to air it here...
One thing you will notice about blogging is that it is public and because of that you will not encounter too much of the "bearing of one's heart" on a public forum, for obvious reasons. I have blogged on other forums and I find this wonderful community -- just that wonderful. :)

But "behind scenes" there are private emails and messages sent to one another of love and support and asking for prayer... it's just not going to be done publically.
Somethings are just better left for the private realm and some for the public realm.
Of course this is just my opinion and certainly others may feel differently:)
My family has gone thru many many trials this past year -- but I am not about to post it publically. Many of my precious friends here know of them, but again it's not dealt with publically.
I hope that makes sense.
Blessings,
gloria


Edited by blessedmomof10 on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 02:45

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Posted by gokings13

My blogs are very real.
Sometimes real encouraging.
Sometimes real grumpy.
Sometimes real helpful.
Sometime real and annoying.

I have been told via anonymous that I have no business raising girls, that I am not really a christian, that I am 'judgemental' and that I am mean............
That's what I get for being 'real'.
There is no fluff on my blog........

So I went through and 'purged' a lot of the stuff about me and my life.....because it made people angry.
It's hard to be real. A lot of people don't like it.

Laura

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Posted by Kitty

Let me tell, a while back I had decided that I was no longer going to post on HSB because I felt that I didn't fit in with some of "these" perfect ladies.
*My marriage is on the rocks.
*You can't eat off of my floors.
*I didn't have a garden this year.
*Each morning I have to get up and ask God for forgivness for the same things as the day before.
*And as for my mother in law, my mom taught me that if you can't something nice say nothing, so ................... .
Girl a lot of these ladies right about the good stuff and you will never hear about the bad stuff. They are only hurting themselves, living in a false world. Some days I have nothing to say and some days I have lots to post about, but nothing I say comes from someone who is perfect. Just today I had to go make arrangements for my moms funeral because she has Alzheimers and no longer can function on her own. Those who pretend it's all perfect, probably use this as an escape from their really unperfect lives. God bless them..............good post..........Kitty

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Posted by Sher

I agree, being real and writing real posts is not popular, often when "telling it like it is" we are left comments that aren't so nice or supportive. I once wrote about real life and was called a "whiner" and told to "count my blessings". It's hard to share aspects of life that aren't all rosy and wonderful, especially when others come along and knock you down further. Sadly for those like me who aren't perfect and don't live perfect lives it's just easier to write about the good things and try to forget the bad.

I agree with you, I enjoy the blogs that "tell it like it is" and don't sugar coat. I've come across a few blogs that are so very sickenly sweet it turns me away from visiting again.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, it's good to know that others can and do write about reality and not some made up rose colored glasses lifestyle. Your post was very refreshing to say the least!

Blessings, Sher

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Posted by bodkin

Dearest,

How lovely of you to drop by and leave me a note here at Honey Hill Farm. I hope you will visit soon and stay for tea!

Yours kindredly,
Shan

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