Just to Sum it all Up

Most of you know that I wrote another series starting last month and I think it went fairly well.

I got some wonderful responses and I thank everyone who gave me encouragement and said how much they loved the posts. This series was kind of difficult for me to write because some things I had never really written about. Some of it might have taken you by surprise, but I was so happy with the comments I received. :)

So if anyone missed my latest series or you are a brand new follower, I put the links down below with a  description. Or if you just want to skip it all and go to the tab above and click on 'My Blog Series', that's ok too!

Thank you all for being thoughtful and wonderful followers! Your comments make my day!

1. When I look in the Mirror...

In this post, I wrote about beauty. What I see in myself when I look in the mirror and how confidence isn't always what I see in my body. But you can be that radiant girl who believes in who she is.

2. Behind the Scenes of Adoption
So this one was especially hard. I've written on my family's blog about some difficulties that adoption has brought us. But to actually put full fledged, raw words and publish it here...that was a little nerve wracking. I know quite a few of you have adopted and everyone's journeys are different. If you want to read about it, feel free!

3. Wish I'd never Grown up.
This one was about growing up. How it's all innocence and free-spirit when you're little. I wrote about how puberty is natural and that responsibility is a lot of what maturing is. God created us all differently. But don't waste your teen years just becoming mature...make sure you have fun too!

4. Watch What You're Sayin'

Bad language. Swearing. We've all heard it. And it's something I wish my peers wouldn't do. And could erase from the mouths of adults that I look up to. But I can't. Because you're only responsible for you and what comes from your mouth. So make sure it's something that Jesus and your grandparents would want to hear. ;)

Hope you all have a wonderful day! 

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Watch What You're Sayin'

You look within the small crack of your bedroom door, down the hall, and into the kitchen where you hear their voices.

Arguing. Mad. Yelling. Then you hear those words they tell you not to say. The extra bad words.

But they're setting that example for you. And now you're 17 yelling those words back at them because they won't let you go to a party. And you just run back into that same room you were in those nights you heard them fighting.

So instead what are you going to do? Change? Fix it? Because you know they regret that decision for you to hear those words. You don't want your teachers, your grandparents, your mentors, or your God to hear those words anymore.

You set the example. The example that may or may not have been set for you in the past. Be the one who can show others what to say.

Whether they are swear words, mean words, rude words pointed to others, or hurtful words. Don't say them.

Say the kind words, encouraging words, thoughtful words, and good words to lift other people up.

Because I know the more you don't say bad words, the more it becomes a habit. And then you forget them. Sort of. You know that they are there but you choose to no longer spit them from your mouth. Because you made the decision to not say them.

Watch what you're sayin'. Make sure you would want to hear your own words spoken to you, before you say them.

~Michlyn

Wish I'd Never Grown Up.

You're sitting in your room...playing Barbies or Legos. Crashing cars together or combing your favorite doll's hair.

Laughing and playing like the world will never end. Running around in your superhero cape or dress-up clothes.

Looking at your mommy and wishing that you were as pretty as her. Dreaming to wear that red lipstick or bright nail polish. Watching your daddy shave and lift heavy stuff. Hoping to be as strong as him one day.

Just an innocent little kid waiting for the day when you're big enough to drive around a real car or do your own make-up.

Then 10 years passes by like the wind, and you're a teenager learning how to fit in and get through life's crazy stuff.

The reality is that growing up is way harder than we thought. It's more than just hanging out with friends, driving fast cars, looking pretty, or watching TV like a boss. No...it includes actually becoming responsible, paying for your cell phone bill, helping to grocery shop, watching your little siblings, working hard in school so you can graduate, and maturing into the person that God wants you to be.


And did I mention innocent above? Oh yeah I did...There are so many things that we don't know as little kids. We don't know what drugs or alcohol are, we don't know that bullying even exists in school, or what suicide even is. We think guns are things that cowboys use in the wild west not a common weapon, or that music in the world can be so obscene.

Yeah there's puberty to go through and good hygiene to learn but that's just natural and normal stuff. Of course there are those awkward and funny moments about that stuff, but it's just part of growing up.


And it's hard and frustrating, good and awkward, humorous and exciting. We just have to make wise decisions and live in the moment. Realize that no matter what we go through will pass and we will grow to become mature people.


And sometimes I pretend that I'm a little kid again with no internet access, playing Barbies in my room with my little sister, or swinging with the wind in my hair. But to live without pretending is to take the hard challenges straight on and crush them!



Deep down inside we're still that little kid...Just a bigger version wishing to go back in time.
~Michlyn

Adoption: Behind the Scenes

Most of you know that I have an adopted sister. She is 7yrs old, she was born in Ethiopia, Africa, and has now been home for about 3 years.

The first thing people see is a beautiful, spunky, & innocent little girl that is part of our family. If meeting someone for the first time, they ask her a lot of questions and just say how cute she is. The thing is...they don't know.

They don't know how hard our daily life can actually be.
They don't know how much trauma and hurt she's gone through.
They don't know how different everything was before.


Adoption is a miracle. It brings kids home from all over the world. And everyone who brings a child(ren) home always have different situations. Some are good, some are not so great, and others are rough.

Ours has been rough. Because behind that little girl with crazy curly hair, and a smile that could trick even the wisest person...Is a daughter of our King who is broken. Completely and utterly shattered into thousands of pieces.

The pieces of trust, love, connection, joy, security, and hope are missing. They were missing before we even laid our eyes on that very first picture of her.

And as I see the tantrums, tears, and hurt through her...I see more than just my broken sister. I see how she sees herself. I see how she thinks she should be treated. It's the hardest thing I've experienced.

Mostly I just want to cry at the hardship of it all and sometimes I want to laugh at the craziness God put into our lives.

The patience my parents have. The wisdom of therapists, friends, & prayer warriors. The protection and grace of our Savior.

It's all just a gigantic huge mess. Sometimes a bad mess. Sometimes a good mess.

When people don't understand our situation and chat and smile with my sister. I just want to scream. Because she barely does that with us. We should be the ones giving her the love, patience, and lessons of life and get a smile. But that's rare. And I just want to tell that person how they don't understand. How incredibly hard we try to make progress and teach her every. single. day.

1 yr. 2 yrs. 3 yrs.... Those walls around her heart have been falling a lot slower than we ever expected. Everything isn't hard of course. She's grown so much and learned quite a bit. But when survival kicks in from past memories or something triggers...we start sliding down instead of climbing up. And each step is going to be work & worth it.

This is exactly how we live without pretending. We show her the best we can and hope & pray that things will get better. I don't know who will truly understand this, but I hope it makes you think a little differently if anything at all.

I just needed to say this. And Jesus is faithful.

~Michlyn

When I Look in the Mirror...

Sometimes when I look in the mirror...

I see beauty. I see uniqueness. A daughter specially designed by our King. Flawless.

And other times...

I see scars. And bumps. I see the flaws. The imperfect skin and hair.

When really, all I want to see is that girl who is perfect in the eyes of her Father. The one who has no mistakes or flaws on her body. Who's hair is always in place. She doesn't need makeup to feel pretty. Who doesn't have to cover those spots of past breakouts to see the beauty.

That feeling isn't always there though. There is only that very seldom day where the mirror and I agree with each other. I know that Jesus is looking at me every morning when I get ready. When I add the color to my eyes and cream to my face. And I'm sure he is sometimes shaking his head and saying "You're perfect just the way I've made you". 

But's it's hard to grasp that concept. As girls we are pressured into wearing clothes that are "in style", to get that new nail polish color, or to be bold with a new hairstyle.

He sees the way I dress. He sees the frown on my face when I look at my stomach and legs. How I think they protrude more than they should. The self-consciousness that creeps up and is there to ruin my self-esteem.

Then I realize that this feeling can change. I can pray all I want for God to "make me skinnier" or "please let money fall out of the sky so I can go buy that new accessory". The thing is... it won't work without your effort. You have to start to make a change.

To get dressed and smile because you're happy in your own skin.

When you skip the concealer and accept your small scars.

To go for runs and give your body some motivation.

Look up to the sky and say "Thank you Jesus for making me who I am"!

And when you look in the mirror with that attitude...You're gonna see the girl you've been waiting to see. The happy, bold, and proud girl that's been dying to come out.


Because she's behind the mirror...I know she is...You've just got to search a little harder because she's beautiful no matter what!

Treat yourselves well girls! You're worth it.

~Michlyn

Another Start to a New Series!

It's been quite a while since I've done a series...and I just love them!! They're fun & creative.

So my new series is called........

Just like my In the Eyes of a Teenager series...I'll be taking real life stuff. Except it will be things that pertain to my life. Real. Raw. Hardcore. Stuff. 

Some might be inspiring, jaw-dropping, or thoughtful. But it's stuff that I've always wanted to write, but never have found the words to actually tell the story. My first post has already been written & you can see that right here.

Hope you enjoy this series and if you ever have a story that you think would be good for a series like this...go ahead and write it, use the button above (you can save it or copy it), contact me with your link post, and then I might just share it right here on my own blog.

Thanks to all my fabulous readers and followers! You guys keep me going and give me such positive and thoughtful feedback. I'm sooo close to 50 followers...I never even dreamed that would happen. My goal was never to have the most followers, but it's wonderful.

Hope you continue to follow along!

~Michlyn