My Story

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"Who am I?"  I've been asking myself that question for a while now. I used to say I'm so and so's wife. I'm a home-school teacher. I'm her daughter. I'm his mom. Or I'd tell about some other role or responsibility I had. But take those away and then tell you who I am? That I could not do.  

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When what you do defines who you are, and any of those roles gets shaken, so does your identity. Your foundation crumbles. You feel lost. 

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Can I now describe myself apart from my responsibilities? No, not yet. But I am learning.

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And although I'm terrified to do it, I've chosen to share my journey with you. 

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Over the last couple of years or so, I have realized my stress-filled, frazzled, reactionary lifestyle won't get better unless I change. 

 

I've lived with "Once this [whatever intensely stressful season of our life] is over we can finally [relax...slow down...be happy]. But before that season would end the newest project to complete, event to plan, or depression to conquer would seize my husband and we'd be off on the next leg of the journey striving for his fulfillment. 

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For almost three decades, I have worked to the best of my abilities to please my husband, thinking that was what a good wife was called to do. Willingly sacrificing myself to "help" him, I realized I have actually hurt myself and our children tremendously. (And not done him any good either.)

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With the urging of my medical doctor who gently yet firmly informed me that I was suffering unjustly at the whim of my husband, I began a new journey. A journey of boundaries, of self-care, of creating balance.

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This process of learning to heal has been the most difficult I have ever begun.  But now, as a 40-something year old woman, I am learning to live. ​

 

And somewhere along the way, Annie was born.

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Since beginning this journey of healing, I have met many ladies trapped in abusive relationships. They too long for peace. Some are choosing to crawl out from under bondage to experience freedom. Others are paralyzed by fear or waiting for a miracle.  

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If you have discovered yourself trapped in the lies of abuse, I pray you find encouragement, inspiration, and perhaps the courage you need to begin life anew within the pages of this site.

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Blessings on your journey,

Annie

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