When I began this blog one year ago on Christmas day, I had no idea where it would take me. It honestly began as this emotion inside me, watching my children on Christmas, cuddling with Matt on the couch, and laughing with my parents and brother. My feelings just seemed to spill out onto keys, and Perfectly Imperfect was born.
I began the blog more to share my experiences as a mother, but quickly I began writing to and for women…and you creative men out there. It just happened. Before I knew what was unfolding, I was even painting and selling furniture, doing small design consultations, and really writing.
Sharing the last year of my life with you has been unbelievable, and I am truly humbled at what God has done through it. The chance to meet and get to know all of you has been an incredible blessing and I thank you for encouraging comments and emails. I only hope the blog and I can be a blessing to you as well. Read to the bottom to see what small gift I’m giving you this year.
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So here I am. Sitting in my pj’s on the couch after the longest Christmas day I can remember. Up to my eyeballs in crumpled wrapping paper, dirty dishes, and new toys for the kids. Candy is strewn on the floor, my coffee table is shoved against the TV, and there is literally not an uncluttered surface in our living area. It’s terrible. It’s wonderful. It’s what I call life…
Here’s the thing: I love to read. I love to journal. Beginning a blog seemed to be a natural task to undertake. And it was. I love writing my other blog….you know, the one for family and friends to see what we’re up to and all the fun snapshots of us doing the fun activities. And while those moments ARE fun, they are typically insane. What you don’t see when my little guy is eating cake batter is the tantrum he throws right after due to a sudden shock of sugar to his system. You don’t see my baby girl spit up all over me as I’m walking out the door after snapping that precious picture of her.
So, this blog is for that life. The other part of life that needs recording….the “after Christmas” life. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m pretty ambitious, love to overdo, love the “Christmas” part of life, but I’m more than “Christmas mommy.” I’m more than cooking, cleaning, taking pictures of the kids. I’m crazy about my husband, love my free time (after the kids are in bed), have countless hopes and dreams, love my God and am trying to find that balance of serving Him and others and going about this life He purposed me for….
Truthfully, I commend the women who write about all the wonderful parts of their lives. There are a few who inspire me beyond belief. I by no means want this blog to be a sounding board for negativity. I’ve been purposed for a high calling…raising up my family….but, here’s the thing; that’s not always pretty. Or always easy. I want to be inspired, and I want to be challenged to be better. But you know what? I mostly want to look around and know that there’s someone out there, doing what I’m doing….and that they’re still figuring it all out, too.
Will this blog be inspiring? I sure hope so. Will it be honest? Definitely. But mostly, it will be me, it will be real….perfectly imperfect.
If you’re out there, let me know.
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In thankfulness of the last year, I wanted to re-post the very first post I wrote. And as my very small gift to you, because of the blessing you’ve been to me, I’d like to ask you a question. It may seem strange, but I just feel like I’m pulled to ask.
What could I pray about for you?
It could be small, or big, light or heavy. Just anything that I could pray over this holiday for you. I’m serious…I know not everyone who reads the blog even every day knows if I would really do that. But nothing would make me happier than to receive 1,000 prayer requests from you guys.
I have just seen a lot of tragedy this Christmas, this year, and again, it constantly reminds me we are all dealing with something. Big or small, we’re dealing with it. And sometimes it just helps knowing that someone out there is thinking of you, of being there.
I’ll ask you to pray that I am constantly open to growing as a woman, wife, and mother. To be more long-suffering with my children and to teach them to be so as well. To be slower to frustration, to love people first and ask questions later, to look around with fresh eyes.
So, let me do this thing for you if you want….just leave me a comment on this post or feel free to email me at
shaunna@harristire.com
Hope you guys are having some cuddly, Christmasy moments today!!
🙂
Hi Shaunna~ Thanks for blogging and . . . if you would, I'd appreciate prayers for Dr. Finger. He is the father/grandfather of our friends The Nusbaums of North Carolina. He is going through chemo for a very difficult cancer to treat. Also, prayers for my nieces grandfather Barnes of Livonia, MI. He recently had bypass surgery yet seems to be having difficulty with the healing process. Thanks so much – and a Wonderfully Blessed Christmas to you!
You are so amazing! We got our Christmas miracle already. My hubby got a job 🙂 I don't dare ask for more.
I am still praying for that family in your area who lost those two beautiful girls…Thanks for sharing that sad story….Great blog and I wish you continued success!
Very thoughtful! My prayer request is for my husband's co-worker who lost his child early Monday morning. I don't know the details at all but I do know she was under 3 years old. We are heartbroken for this family.
I love reading your first post, so true and real! I'm so glad your hubby is doing better!
Hey Shaunna, thanks for your post!
What a wonderful gift you are giving to everyone who reads your blog. Prayer is so important and so many don't realize the power in it. We have not because we ask not. God is so into every detail of our lives…big and small, and I wish everyone knew that.
Shaunna – you are an angel. I mean it. God sent you into blogland to bless us all with your sweet presence and your faithful prayer life. What a wonderful mission you have set out on, and I know that you will receive 100 fold in return for doing this. ♥
I love reading your beautiful blog. I have a prayer request. It is silly compared to some others who deal with tragedy, sickness and other horrible things but all I want is to be a stay at home mom. It hurts my heart watching my children grow and knowing that I am missing EVERYTHING while I work full time. right now this is not a financial possiblity for us. There is hope. Huby has a master's degree. DOnt think we havent been over the budget trillions of times. only prayers and a miracle can make this happen. Thank you for your prayer! Blessings to you and your family!!! ~tai
Your blog is awesome! Reading your first post gave me chills, we always want to know there are others out there. I think my main prayer would be for strength. The strength to continue to put one foot in front of the other each day and do the best I can do.
I really enjoy visiting your blog, although I know that I don't comment much.
Hi Shaunna! I absolutely love your blog! I stumbled upon it a couple of months ago & now I can't stay away for very long. I've gotta admit this is the first time I've commented. I think your blog is inspiring in so many ways, especially this last post.
Shaunna, you have blessed our lives in so many ways. You have been a wonderful friend to Lauren. The two of you are alike in so many ways, mainly love for family … love for God. He truly does bring people together. I will be joining you in prayer this Christmas for the families who lost their precious girls.
Thanks Shauanna for the time that you put into your blog I have just recently got hooked on looking at different blogs for crafting and decorating. I have thorougly enjoyed your blog and I appreciate your openness of your faith in Jesus Christ. I would really appreciate your prayers for me as I seek God's will for my life. In April I lost my job and I have enjoyed being home but it has put a big strain on our finances. I feel as though the Lord is leading down a different path than what I was doing before but I don't know where he is leading me. Could you please pray that I will be able to determine where God is leading me. I would really appreciate it. Once again I want to thank you for all you do. Thanks Jenny P.
I have been following many blogs for the past year or so. None have ever touched me as much as this one. Honestly, you wrote as if you were talking to me and me only. Thank you for this inspring and honest post. I just started a blog two days ago and I stopped by your site to get inspiration. Not only did I get inspired, I got prayer!
What a lovely gift. Please pray for a healthy baby for me! I'm due in March. Thanks so much. This is such a great idea. I'll be praying for you too!
Lovely post! I really enjoyed what you wrote last Christmas day for your first post too. Happy Anniversary.
This is just what I needed to hear this morning. Yesterday was a hard day with my three little one's, and I felt super overwhelmed….and almost ungrateful for the many wonderful blessings in my life. I feel a little silly asking for you to pray for ME. There are SO many people that really NEED a prayer….but today,I am going to ask for you to please pray that I will have patience and be GRATEFUL for the blessings in my life. I will pray for you, and all the others that have written you. What a wonderful gift to give and recieve this Christmas. Thank you.
Shaunna, what a beautiful first post, thank you for reposting! What a truly selfless gift you have offered to all of us, God bless you. I am so thankful for my life, my family and all my friends and I thank God everyday for my chance at life. However, I really would like to find the peace that is in me somewhere, a balance in my heart and mind that will help me become a better mother, wife, daughter and friend. God opens doors for us all the time and I feel that in the past year that I have become blinded to them. I want to "see" again and find the best within me. Thank you so much, you are truly inspirational on so many levels! May God bless you and your family always and Merry Christmas!
Shaunna, you are truly an inspiration. I love that we seem to share the same tastes, but FAR more importantly serve and love the same God.
Please pray for my husband. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer back in January and on the Monday after Thanksgiving we found out that it has traveled to his lungs. They have told us that the cancer is now incurable so although he will be receiving chemo beginning in January it is for control purposes rather than healing purposes.
http://storyoftim.blogspot.com/
Hey, Shaunna! There are no words adequate enough to thank you for sharing your heart so openly with so many of us. Your blog truly is the most inspiring blog I read.
I don't even know you and I am asking you this. A few years ago I was going through a very hard time. I lost my temper with my then 20 year old daughter during an argument, I said some things to her that I don't even know where they came from. I hurt her so badly and feel I will never ever have her believe that I did not mean them. People say that the truth comes out when you are angry but I have thought about that and think it was more my fears and truths about myself that I projected on her. She has struggled a bit in the past 2 years and I blame myself, thinking my words have scarred her. I ask that you pray, not for my guilt or forgiveness, but that she is free from the pain I caused her and one day sees that I did not mean it. It is the worst thing I have ever done as a mother. I want her to be happy and find love. I want her to find peace with what I said and not feel it is her. She is lovely and sweet and I am so ashamed.
you are incredibly inspiring. 🙂
ps can't believe i just bared my heart and secrets to a stranger via internet!!
Please pray for the Nygard family this Christmas. Their hearts are breaking from the recent loss of their 14 month old son, Andrew. http://nygardfamily.blogspot.com/
What a beautiful gift Shaunna! I am blessed to have recently found so many wonderful and talented women through blogging. My wish would be to combine our prayers for so many people that are going through challenging times. I will pray with you for Jenny's husband Tim. Also today I found this blog about little Jessica, let's prayer for her little body to come through her recent battle with cancer http://jessicasmiracle.blogspot.com/2010/12/email-update-3.html
I know I found you late, but your generous gift of prayer would mean so much to me.