Dealing with the Whys of Step Parenting

       When you become a stepmom there are many times you ask the question-WHY? Why is being a stepmom so hard at times? Why can't a spouse and their ex get along for the childs sake? Why do people harbor so much resentment that it affects their health after a divorce? Why did my child not want to come to visit me on my weekend to have them? Why so many lies? Why do some people think stepmoms are wicked? Why did my stepdaughters biological mom die at this time of her life?
        As I was walking recently,I was asking God some WHY's and this is what I am learning. God allows all of us to be tested and when you are a step parent you are definitely tested and ask WHY many times. God knows about all of our "stuff" we have in our lives.He knows what is going to happen in our lives and what we are going through and will go through. .I am learning to try not to fix and solve everything in life.I am learning to quit asking God so many WHY questions and to let him be the ruler of my life in all my problems.God can handle all of our"stuff" if we just let go of our worries and WHY's and give them to him.Are you surrendered to give him all your stuff? Continuing the Journey!

Taking a Break

I am taking this week off from blogging. We are on SPRING BREAK!!!!! I will be back next week. I am also getting a few little changes to my site! Hope everyone enjoys your week. Continuing The Journey!

Special Occasions



HOPE AT SALON BLISS



BEAUTIFUL!!







HOPE AND HER PAPA













HOPE AND CHASE GETTING READY TO GO TO THE PROM



There are many special occasions in life. There are birthdays,graduations and holidays,to name a few.Our family had a SPECIAL OCCASION this past Friday. Hope went to the PROM!!!This was Hope's special day.It was special for the whole family though.I had the priveledge of helping her with all the pre prom activities that led up to the Big day. We shopped for the dress,shoes and jewelry.She got her nails and hair done.We had a BLAST doing all these things. Mike is so proud of the beautiful young lady she has become. It is times like this that help stepmoms and stepchildren to develop and grow relationships.You can create traditions that just the two of you can share together.All of this helps to bridge the gap as a stepfamily.Special events and times like this give meaning and direction to life together as a stepfamily. I love creating memories with my husband,children and stepchild! I am so grateful to GOD for being by my side as I try to be the wife,mom and stepmom that he wants me to be.Continuing The Journey!









MIKE,HOPE AND JACKIE























Be Content

I was sitting on my deck this morning looking at all the signs of spring.How beautiful and peaceful it is!We should give thanks everyday for all the blessings we have.I want to share something said at church that really made me think.

BE CONTENT IN YOUR STRUGGLES.YOU NEVER KNOW HOW GOD MAY USE YOU.

Many times ,I have complained about my trials and struggles in life. In the midst of my problems, God wants me to worship him.We should live to please God,not ourselves or others.God does not want to fix our problems-he wants to fix us.He wants to make us more like him. I pray for God to use me in my struggles to be the wife,mom and stepmom that he wants me to be.Continuing The Journey!

The Busy Life of Step Parenting

I have been so busy lately and have not been able to blog as much as I would like to.Blogging is very good therapy! Let me update you on things-Hope is going to the prom and we are having so much fun getting ready. We have the dress and shoes. BEAUTIFUL DRESS!!!! Now we are looking for jewelry and have appointment for hair and nails.If any of you know Hope, a few years ago you would have never thought she would even want to wear a dress,much less a prom dress.Photos of dress will be coming soon.She is certainly becoming a beautiful young woman. Hope and I are going to Extrordinary Women Conference in Greenville,SC this coming weekend. We are looking forward to a girls weekend. Driving lessons are continuing,with drivers ed class in April. Time is going so fast -Hope was 12 years old when she came to live with us fulltime and now she is almost 16. In giving you this update, I want to encourage stepmoms that a relationship with your stepchild does take time.I want to share a few tips I have learned along the way that helped me. There are certainly many more,but these helped me.

S-SPEND TIME WITH THEM DOING SOME THINGS THEY ENJOY-
T-TALK WITH THEM ABOUT SCHOOL,CHURCH,FRIENDS,FAMILY
E-EXPLAIN RULES AND EXPECTATIONS TO THEM
P-PATIENT-BE PATIENT WHILE YOU ARE BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR STEPCHILD-THIS CAN TAKE YEARS TO DEVELOP
C-COMFORT THEM WHEN NEEDED
H-HAVE FUN WITH THEM-GO SHOPPING,GO TO MOVIES-DO WHAT THEY ENJOY WHEN TIME ALLOWS
I-INVOLVE THEM IN THINGS THAT WILL HELP THEM TO GROW AND MATURE-GOOD CHURCH YOUTH GROUP IS GREAT
L-LISTEN TO THEM AND SHOW THEM LOVE
D-DISCIPLINE THEM AS NEEDED

Please be encouraged along the way in your step parent journey.I hope that your relationships will develop and grow with your stepchild.Years down the road , I hope we can both look back and remember all the many ups and yes sometimes difficult times that helped get us to where we are today.CONTINUING THE JOURNEY!!

Braces Off



BEFORE WITH BRACES



WITHOUT BRACES!!!

Today was a very exciting day for Hope-she got her braces off!! YOOHOO!!! Her smile is beautiful and what a difference this will make in her life.

Stepmoms Need Encouragement

As stepmoms our lives are so busy,hectic and full of turmoil at times.We have to deal with alot of different people and alot of different situations that "normal families" do not experience. These involve stepchildren, exwives,grandparents from both sides,aunts,uncles and cousins from all sides.My stepdaughter's mother is deceased but relatives and situations from the biological mother still impacts our lives and always will. We as stepmoms can try to reach across to the other side (ex's family) to keep family ties for stepchildren.Oh, the many things we do for our stepchildren,some noticed and some will forever be unnoticed. Most stepmoms do like some validation from others that they are doing a good job as a stepmom.I am so very thankful for a husband that appreciates the things I do to help raise his daughter as a full time stepmom. I am coming to realize and accept that very few people realize and give thanks to stepmoms outside of a spouse except of course my own mom.She has given me much encouragement. Despite all of our challenges and turmoils as stepmoms,I challenge you and myself to PERSEVERE. To persevere as a stepmom,at the top of the list for me is to PRAY. I realize that I am not on this journey alone but that God is by my side leading me every step of the way.So stepmoms,as the road gets rocky and rough at times, and it will,put your strenghth in the greatest encourager of all-OUR HEAVENLY FATHER! Continuing The Journey!