Is it just me, or is it way too easy to struggle with something, work through it, and think you’re all done….only to have it come back around and bite you in the butt again? That’s been me with shame. It’s so easy to recognize shame, to name it and see it for what it is, when you have the...
Sometimes, God Changes Our Circumstances for a Purpose Due to a whole series of circumstances, we’ve started to explore new churches. Most recently, Honyay and I were discussing whether we should wait until after Christmas or start checking things out now. Last week, I felt a strong sense of urgency that we needed to start now. He agreed, and we...
My primary reason for starting #WeToo and sharing the story of our daughter’s sexual abuse is to help other families who are feeling the same sense of shame and isolation that I felt after Princess Milkface disclosed her abuse. When I think back to those days, I realize there are lessons I carried forward from that time. Here are 5 of...
When I started working at my most recent employer in 2001, I was 28 years old. I was living the single life and doing my best to enjoy every minute. I had some incredibly fun experiences, exercised much questionable judgment, and had some entertaining, albeit fuzzy, memories to carry forward as I tried to figure out adulthood.
As Tom Petty so eloquently stated, “The waiting is the hardest part.” It’s been about a month since we first met Lady M. It’s hard to even fathom our world 2 months ago before we knew anything about her. We all agree that she’s part of the family. Except for when she’s not. Not that we ever DON’T want her...
Dear Lady M, You’ve been on my mind so much over the past couple weeks. I can’t believe I’m going to meet you next weekend! I’m simultaneously excited and nervous. On one hand…I’m already creating a space for you…in my heart, in our home, with our family… It feels so strange that I could already be falling in love with...
Our Experience with Adopting from Foster Care After we had an approved home study, we spent a year wandering in the proverbial desert (yes, sadly, this post is “Desert Time,” not “Dessert Time”). Cheyenne was one of many kids we found on a Heart Gallery. Each time, we submitted an inquiry and got no answer, or a generic, “Thanks, but you’re...
Peaceful House…Was I Dreaming? I’m a MUCH better Morning Mom than Night Mom. This morning, Princess Milkface was ready for school and happily eating breakfast watching a little Disney Jr. when I came downstairs (thank you Captain Starburst for helping her get ready!). I grabbed our stuff, actually remembered to get my work laptop, and told her it was time...
It’s getting real. Finally some forward progress on adoption. We found a 14-year-old girl, Cheyenne, on the Heart Gallery who seems like she could be a fit for our family. Watching her video truly touched our hearts. So, we attempted to express interest and were told that our agency had to submit our approved home study. It’s No Secret that...
God Put Foster Care Adoption on My Heart 10 Years Earlier When you’re 35, single, and your mother’s only hope for grandchildren, you start to think outside the box. The good old biological clock was ticking, my mom kept reminding me I wasn’t getting any younger, and I was starting to feel desperate to have some sort of legacy to...
Welcome to Blessed and Blended…a community for people who read our story….to give that space to have a moment to exhale…to settle in….to feel that sense of relief that you’re not alone.
C.S. Lewis says, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You, too? I thought I was the only one.’” That is my prayer for this blog.
I’ve been married to my wonderful husband (Honyay) since 2011, and I’m mom-in-charge of a 19-year-old stepson (Captain Starburst), a 17-year-old adopted daughter (Lady M), and a 7-year-old biological daughter (Princess Milkface). Our blended family has been so blessed by God’s faithfulness in the midst of life’s trials, and I feel called to share these blessings through our stories.
There are sensitive topics that I plan to share, illustrating how God has blessed my family with our experiences and has been faithful in so many ways. For this reason, I will protect my children’s privacy by keeping this blog anonymous. It works out well because I’ve used these made up names within our home since, well….since we started our home in 2011!
I’m so thankful that you found me, and I pray that my testimony will give you moments of “What! You, too? I thought I was the only one,” that lead to a sense of connection, laughter, and hope in God’s blessings and faithfulness.
Grace and Peace,
Sharapu