{Overcomers}

Rowhouse 14

Dear Family

In These Shoes

Absolute Mommy

Paisley Boulevard

Anywhere Is

Imprintalish

From City Corporate to Suburb Mama

Our Reflection

The Jack Chronicles

{With Thanks}

I wanted to take a minute to just say a big heartfelt 

"Thank You" 

to you for reading my blog, 

supporting me, 

encouraging me by commenting,

 and for reaching out to me just to say hello 

or share a thought!  

May has been such a difficult month for me, 

but in the midst of it all, 

I've discovered how even friends I have yet to meet in real life 

{YOU}

 are genuinely caring, 

warm-hearted and 

generously loving!

Thank you so much for your sweet comments this month, 

most of which I regret I have not had the time to respond to. 

 I read every single one of them, and they mean so much.  

I am so grateful for your friendship and support.  

If there is anything I can do for you, 

to help you, 

encourage you, 

even to pray for you, 

please let me know!

P.S.

Top Baby Blogs reset their votes today, 

and we need your help!  

Would you please give us a vote and help us stay ranked in the Top 25!

Just click this link and then Mr. Owl on the LEFT!! 

That's it.  

XO

{Broken}

It's been a hard month.

I don't even know if I'm sure how to begin this conversation,

but I have to open up my heart.

I need to release the tidal wave of emotion that is threatening to drown me.

I'm not very good at sharing this part of me.

I'm not good at dealing with pain.

I'm broken.

I'm so very broken.

Some of it is my fault…

I take full responsibility for the choices I've made 

that have brought with it the consequence of pain.  

But this is not the brokenness I'm speaking of today.

I'm talking about the brokenness that is a result of someone else's choice.

A choice to rob me of my innocence as a child.

A choice to violate the depths of my soul.

It is a wound that continually bleeds.

It is a pain that knows no limit.

As I sit here today, writing this, 

I am discouraged in my soul.

For as long as I can remember I've tried to control the pain,

to stop the bleeding,

but I have finally realized I cannot do it.

I've self-medicated, and I've run.

I've buried it and I've hid.

I've screamed, I've cried and I've rebelled.

Most of the time I smile through it, refusing to expose it.

And now, I've reached the end of my own efforts.

I am perplexed.

The one thing I haven't tried is to 

just be still 

and allow myself to actually 

feel the pain.

Allow myself to actually feel

 the emotions that are trapped

 in my mind and body's memories 

of what I've endured.

But today I'm doing that.

Today I'm just feeling what I feel.

Today I'm being authentic about how deep the wound is.

Today I'm trusting God that this is the way to freedom.

I may be broken,

but my faith is intact.

I may be broken,

but I am being restored.

I may be broken,

but God will not leave me here.

{Featured Lovely+Giveaway}Meet Michelle of Heartfelt Balance, Handmade Life

I was born and raised in Florida.  

I lived in Tallahassee, 

where I attended Florida State 

to earn my degree in 

fashion.  

I met my hubby on a cruise. 

Six years later, I moved to Ohio.  

I've been in Ohio for 12 years now and

my hubby and I will be celebrating our 

10 year anniversary 

this year.

I have a wonderful husband 

who is a carpenter.  

And 
I have two kids--

an 8 year old boy and 

a 5 year old girl.  

Logan, my 8 year old 

is into anything LEGO 

and has recently found out that he 

loves swimming.  

Jaycee is my funky little diva.  

She is one of the most active people I've ever met.  

It is sometimes a challenge keeping her busy!

Heartfelt Balance, Handmade Life is 

a Mish-Mash of mommy stuff.  

I float back and forth between different topics.  

Sometimes I focus on cooking and recipes.  

Sometimes I focus on crafts.  

Sometimes I might write heartfelt mommy thoughts 

or show you a little bit of the local fun. 

I've recently started doing a "Daily Fashion Post", 

where I create an outfit of the day.  

Since I earned my degree in fashion, 

I miss the clothes!  

It's a way for me to feel like I'm still involved.

I've recently started selling mark. cosmetics.  

It's another way I can stay in touch with the beauty/fashion world.  

It's been a lot of fun so far.  

I can't wait to see where it takes me!

***
Courtney here:
I "met" Michelle via the MayDay Follow Fest!
I really like her daily outfit posts 
and was happy to hear that she started a mark. business.  
They have such trendy and affordable cosmetics!  
Michelle recently mentioned that she is growing out her gray…
and I have to say…I'm super impressed by her choice!  
I hope that when my hair starts turning that I will look as stunning as she does!  
Doesn't she look amazing!?


You can connect more with Michelle here: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest.


Don't leave yet!  
Michelle is generously giving away some mark. goodies 
to one lovely Baxtron{Life} reader!


Enter via the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Meet&Tweet}

Today I'm thrilled to be co-hosting a twitter party with Laura from Our Reflection!  


I hope you'll join in on the fun - 
I have come to love meeting other bloggers through this party!  


And seriously…
now that I have my shiny new iPhone, 
I'm even more of a twitter-hollic!  


I can't wait to meet you and follow you via twitter, 
so if you are new, please say hello!

Here's how this Meet & Tweet works...

HOST

Laura @ Our Reflection

This week's co-hosts are:

Courtney from Baxtron Life

Jess from Jess Is More

L from All Glorious Within

Kendall from Songbirds and Buttons

Helen from Eat.Enjoy.Live.

Christine from The DIY Dreamer

Jennifer from Mommy Huh 

The Rules

1. Mandatory you follow your hosts

{They are the first 8 in the linky.}

2. Follow at least 5 new people via Twitter

{Or more! Introduce yourself... Its a great way to make new friends!}

3. Tweet about the Meet & Tweet!

You can use "Meet new friends & gain new followers! Join the Meet & Tweet at @_laurahernandez aka Our Reflection blog. I did! http://our-reflection.blogspot.com/"

4. Spread the word!

The more the merrier! Grab a button and add it to

your blog, Tweet or Facebook about the link up.

<div align="center"><a href="http://our-reflection.blogspot.com/" title="Our Reflection"><img src="http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/_laurahernandez/MeetTweet-2.jpg" alt="Our Reflection" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

One lucky link up person will WIN a FREE

solo guest post on Our Reflection blog!

Drum roll please....

Last weeks Meet & Tweet winner is Amanda from Royal Daughter Designs.

Congratulations!

Please link up your Twitter account, not your blog.

Want to be a future co-host?
Only requirement is your become an Our Reflection sponsor.
Email Laura at momsgonnasnap@gmail.com.