Insecurity, anyone?

Yesterday was my first official "Lunch Bunch", a program I started for girls at my schools. 10 girls per grade will come and have lunch in the library with the me and the guidance counselor and we will talk about issues that they are likely dealing with. The first session was just introductions, but let me tell you....it was more challenging than I had expected! I am thanking the Lord that I am not in middle school these days. It was hard enough when I was frizzy headed and chubby back in the day...without the wonders of facebook, online bullying, sexting and who knows what new technology has became cool in the last five minutes that I don't know about. I know I sound like an old lady right now, but seriously. It is hard for these lovely, little ladies.

The introductions were:

1. My family is....(For me, big, combined, happy & crazy!)
2. I am really good at....(cooking and putting on make up!)
3. I really love to....(sing and play guitar and go on adventures with Bradley!)
4. The most difficult things I have ever overcome...(would probably involve changing my mind about something big....but I said it was Sarah being in the Peace Corps and never getting to talk...which is really hard, too.)
5. My most favorite thing about myself is....(my hair and that I'm so tender-hearted.)

You would have thought it was physically painful for these girls to say..." I like my eyes." or "I'm really nice." Bless their hearts! As a woman, it is amazing how easily it is to say, "I hate my thighs!" or "I have the ugliest nose." but admitting that we really like ourselves seems that we are being conceited. Geez, I'm over it.

I read a book by Beth Moore called, "So Long Insecurity" last winter and some points really stuck with me. The topics women choose to pick on others about are the ones they are most insecure about themselves. If a person talks about how much money so and so has and gets gossipy...they are insecure about money! If a person talks negatively about someone gaining/losing a little bit of weight...they are insecure about weight! This could go on forever, but it brought to my eyes what my insecurities were. The book also gave you a lot of help on getting over it and moving on...that's the part I didn't retain as well as I should have, but I know that the Lord knows your insecurities and would love to help you through them. I'm so glad that I have security in him even when I'm feeling frizzy headed and chubby.

Proverbs 31:30
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;              

but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”

I wish I had a more definite resolution to this rant of girls, women and insecurity but I don't. I'm going to just pray that the Lord shows these girls how precious and beautiful they are before they become women.   And until then I'm going to tell them they are cute and sweet everyday!

I will also not be ashamed to say that I really, really, really love my hair. (By the way, I also found a new hairdresser this week and I survived! So thank God for that too!)


Love and Blessings,

Sheldon Anne

To Blog Again...

I have started a blog before, but my computer inadequacy discouraged me from posting. Also, I only told my best friend Sarah that I was even blogging because I was kind of embarrassed. But for the past several weeks I have just been so inspired by some of the blogs I follow and I'm decided to give it another chance. A lot of changes have happened over the summer, so as we begin fall and this new blogging season...let me catch you up.

- I married my best friend Bradley McKinney! We had the wedding of my dreams and married life has been nothing short of awesome. I really feel like we are having a sleepover every night. Will it always feel like this? I sure hope so.

- I have changed professions! I am no longer teaching high school agriculture, but instead I am the Youth Service Center Coordinator for the middle school in Bradley's hometown. This job is really fun. I really feel like the Lord has put me here for a reason and he has given me such a tender heart for these kiddo's. Everyday, I deal with a lot of different things...some of the most interesting would be providing school supplies or clothing to students whose families cannot afford them, counseling students who may be depressed/upset/overwhelemed and providing really fun programs like Fitness Club and Lunch Bunch (a club I started to instill self esteem in these sweet, insecure girls...) Some not so interesting things would be, dealing with dress code and lunch duty! When I took this job I really was feeling kind of like a snob because I thought I was so over-qualified....and my pride was a little hurt. But actually doing this job has been quite the opposite! It has opened my eyes to the needs of my community and maybe kind of called me to a higher purpose...? A little deep, but I'm still figuring all this out.

- My BFF Sarah is now in Jamaica : ( but, I'm really happy for her. God has provided lots of great friends in Todd County for me and no cell phone reception hasn't put a damper on my other friendships I'm oh-so thankful for.

- After praying for a solid year that God would provide a church that we loved in Todd County, he has proven faithful (like always...why do I ever doubt?) It is called Pleasant Union and even though we are just getting started, I'm so excited I can't contain myself. I pray that we can have a huge impact there and that God has a huge impact in our lives and marriage in that church.

- I'm really going to try to blog. Seriously. A good faith effort is on it's way from this girl.

I have to go help my husband paint the sunroom now. He is looking a little more annoyed that I'm sitting here drinking coffee while he is working every time he walks through. Oh well....a girl can't neglect her goals : )

Love and Blessings,

Sheldon Anne