Humble beginnings

Hey Love's 

I hope that you guys like the new branding of this blog page, truthfully I couldn't stand looking at the previous one as I felt it was very amateurish; It by no means made me feel motivated to even visit the page myself let alone write on it. As you can tell by the title part of my new branding is because I have decided to take up the offer that God provided me to start again. 

I am entering this stage of life with new perspectives, understanding and experiences. I took the necessary time away, to truly identify who I was, where I was going, and what I wanted, at the same time as managing a family and facing some ugly truths about some of the relationships I had. 

Let's say there was a lot of self-reflection; which was very painful, and uncomfortable. 

Guys I went through a whole identity crisis and spent a lot of time crying. God took me through a stage of brokenness and now I'm in the process of being restored to more extraordinary things, renewed, and revived. 

Have I arrived? certainly not, but I finally have clarity in my calling, purpose in my process, and understanding of my direction. 

During this time of silence God spoke, I had to shut off all the noise, from people, social media and even myself, to the ladies specifically, imagine doing your nails, hair, lashes, toes, eyebrows and makeup regularly to only have to let that all go, Giiirlll I'm telling you the internal tantrum I was having was real. No doubt my husband will tell you my tantrums were not always internal no matter how much I like to believe so lol. 

When God wants to take you out of something to show you something new yet you refuse to let go, he will surely take you to a place where you have no choice and are nicely humbled lool. My encouragement to you all is 'Do as you are told when you are told to do it; trust me it's a lot easier than being humbled. 

My humbling process in letting go of my glam shields was being pregnant for the last 3 years straight, I think my longest break in that period of not being pregnant was 6 months lol. managing 3 teenagers, a pre-teen and two toddlers and a newborn and being pregnant again has left no room for unnecessary pampering. 

I quickly realised that a lot of it was impractical for my lifestyle.

Each one I had to let go of revealed a small part of the real me I have been hiding for 20 years.

I was officially exposed, to my flaws, my imperfection, my blemishes and my dark circles, I was left open and vulnerable. something I have been trying to avoid all my life. 

I met someone I have never seen before just by looking in my mirror, the reflection that stood before me was foreign and I didn't know how to accept her. Part of me felt a heavy form of pity for the woman who stood before me and part of me just wanted to love her, to hug her and tell her that she was beautiful as she was and there was no one out there like her. 

I must admit my husband made this process just a tad bit easier as he embraced me in all my natural beauty, anything I saw fault in he assured was what he loved the most. I cannot lie this helped build my confidence, I got to the point where I no longer cared what anyone thought of me as long as I was comfortable and my husband felt proud to walk beside I knew I was good.

In letting go of all the extra bits not only have I saved myself time loool, but I am learning to love and embrace myself in every form, getting dressed up has become a more appealing and meaningful experience. 

Being married has played its part in my shift, there was a quick reality check that I could not bring my old life, habits, behaviours, and thoughts into a new journey. I was no longer married to my late husband, I was no longer a widow, and I was no longer a single mum. stepping into a marriage with a man like none iv met before, was hard but refreshing. His purpose in my life was made very clear from early on and it became obvious that how I functioned previously was not going to work here. 

For a long time, I did not recognise myself, I didn't know who I was and to top it off, my body was not my own, as I was experiencing the miracle of forming and carrying another life. Among all of these changes, I had a shift in ministry and took a leap of faith alongside my family to follow the call of God, starting a small business amid a pandemic. 

The people closest to me left me. I had lost so many relationships because they could not understand my process, many left simply because they were not meant for the new season I was stepping into. Many dismissed themselves from my life simply because I refused to function according to their plans for me, but chose to honour God's will. 

Be mindful of people, some may say they want the best for you but truly their intentions are purely selfish, be very discerning because some may even unintentionally love you right out of your blessings. 

My reason for sharing my experiences with you, and being so open and transparent with my life is simply because it's a part of my call. 

God has called me to minister to the women who are out there struggling in many different areas of their life and can't seem to find hope or a way out. I have faced so much in my 32 years and God has brought me through, unscathed, unharmed and a new woman. 

Pain and struggles are not sent to kill you but sometimes are sent to get your attention, to wake you up to a shift that God is trying to do in you. 

to build you up and make you stronger, because many of us are out there functioning like chickens when we were called to be eagles, we behave like the tail, when we are the head, we would rather follow, when we were called to lead. 

Pain and discomfort are often used as stepping stools to your elevation. Change your perspective of your now season, actually step back and pay attention to what it is that God is trying to show you, or even say to you. 

Be strong and courageous, be bold and unapologetic about your process especially when you are walking in the will and call of the most-high God.

There is so much to discuss, uncover and unfold and I'm nervous yet excited to take this journey with those who wish to follow, My renewal process is so real that I scrapped my social media and started again. 

If you want to see this next journey through with me in  Ministry, Marriage, Kids and being a mother of 7 soon to be 8, Business, Finances, Self-awareness, Loss, Abuse, Growth and so much more, then watch this space. 

As my regular readers know, I do not blog unless moved by God, well he has a lot to share with you as my content folder already holds 20 titles for the blogs to come. 

I hope this blog is relatable to you, that somewhere in the text you can see yourself and receive the revelation you need to move forward in your process. We have only touched the surface. 

 

I'm also contemplating doing vlogs to expand on these blogs, let me know what you all think, and if it is something you will find beneficial. 

Thank you my loves for reading, and taking this time out of your busy day to ride this ride with me. 

If you have social media follow me at @shesimplyv for day to day updates, and lookout for the next blog. 

Love to all 

Psalms 71:21 

You will restore me to even greater honour, and comfort me once again. 

Psalms 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime!

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.