Hi.

Hey there,

So I feel like even though this little platform is very much still in beginning stages, we are slowly growing.  So, I want to share a bit about who I am and this space.

My name is Dawn.  I live in South Central Pennsylvania on our family farm.  I’ve been married for 21 years and we have 4 kids ranging in age from 14-20, boy boy girl boy. 

What should know about me?

Well…

I could very easily overshare because I’m like that…I love deep conversations about life and God mental health and whatever else makes me feel like I’m digging deeper.

I was thrilled today discovering a new color of egg from my chickens.  I tend to get overly excited about little things like this all the time.  Finding, seeing or creating something beautiful and lovely is kinda my thing I suppose.  So, I’m always taking pictures of little pieces of nature or creation or my home or food or whatever strikes me.

Last week, I ground wheat into flour with my grain mill (I bought 2 years ago and have never used yet) and made bread with it and now I’m basically Caroline Ingalls.  I’m into doing things homesteady when I can.  It’s pretty important to me to make things from scratch and use ingredients I feel good about.  I love anything old fashioned, and I can recite most lines from most episodes of Little House on the Prairie.  That being said, I also don’t think I could ever own another vehicle without heated seats, and I love sparkly jewelry, so…..balance.

I grew up going to church.  So, I have always known Jesus.  I can’t imagine a life without the hope I have in His existence and love and mercy.  My faith is precious to me, and I take it seriously.  I am not in charge of creating transformation in others, we are all on our own path.  My responsibility as someone who follows Jesus  is to praise and honor him with my life in grateful response to His gift of my life through His death.  I am called to love.  I am always seeking to understand that command and live it.  I may share things you agree with 100% and I may share things that make you question my thought process, and you may disagree.  I hope you choose to stay.

Also…I’m pretty sarcastic.  I curse sometimes.  My kids say rotten things that I think are pretty hilarious.  I mostly think that if “churchy folk” could see my real actual life they would think poorly of me.  Honestly.  I’m an Enneagram 4.  So basically, I have chronic issues with believing I’m worthy, or feeling like people understand me.  A work in progress for sure.  Like, after I share this, I will question whether I should have done it differently or shared more or less or what you might think.  (Welcome to my mind.)  Again, a work in progress.

I’m pretty sure I have had high functioning anxiety for most of my adult life and didn’t realize it until it all came to a breaking point several years ago, and I experienced a season of full blown anxiety for an extended period of time.  Even though it was so hard, I grew so much, and when I started a process of acceptance and understanding of what I was going through, I became increasingly aware that even though the conversation about mental health is improving, it’s not enough.  So many women are suffering in silence and shame and I’m over it.  Anything I can do to add a little tiny bit of compassion and normalcy to the mental health conversation is so important to me. 

I could go on and on and on….because, well…I warned you about the oversharing.

But basically, I felt led to create a place to hold space for all women (and men too) to feel seen and loved and understood.  I don’t know if I do that well here, but I’m committed to being as honest and authentic and faithful as I can.  And, I share my own life and thoughts with hope that it helps someone.  I know this is happening as many of you have told me, and I am so grateful.  I am not some social media pro that understands the algorithm or whatever.  I don’t have any degrees to justify anything I say or share, I’m totally self-taught through life, books, podcasts, conversations, etc. 

Oh, and to have fun too…laughter and joy and gratitude…ALL GOOD THINGS!

I’m so glad you are here.