These Are The Women....

Last August, on Women's Day in South Africa, I highlighted some of the amazing women who have touched my life over the years. You can read about that HERE. I love these women!

Today, in honor of International Women's Day, I wanted to highlight/feature/honor the women who impact/encourage/challenge me in this new world I joined almost one year ago - the blogosphere. I, actually, read every post that these women write...even if I miss it the day of the post, I always go back and catch up!

These are the women....

These are a snapshot of their stories....

{in no particular order}

Jen @ I Believe In Love

Jen and her husband have been on a sabbatical from the mission field for the past year and are currently living in Texas. We met because of our connection to South Africa and because of making mutual HARD decisions to take that time away. Her blog is filled with recipes, photos, book reviews, mama related topics and REAL open heart posts. She is getting to go to India in just a few short weeks to take pictures with a ministry close to her heart. I am proud to call Jen...a friend...and look forward to the day when we will meet face-to-face.

Stephanie @ Metropolitan Mama

In Stephanie, I have TRULY found a kindred spirit. We are at different places in life, but at the same place in heart. Steph & her beloved husband, Tim, are traveling all across the country with their two little girls to Give Every Day. They are both jacks-of-all-trades so the content of her personal blog as well as their Give Every Day blog are filled with variety and fun. What I love about both blogs is that they are short, sweet, to-the-point BUT content-packed, fun-filled, and personal. My favorite thing about Steph though, is her heart towards people. She has a lot of accolades in the blog world, but she REALLY takes time to answer every tweet, comment, etc. She really cares. REALLY. I can't wait to meet in person. I have a feeling that our husbands will have to MAKE us stop talking! ;)

Holley @ Heart-to-Heart With Holley

Holley is who I want to be when I grow up {next to my mommy, of course ;)}. She is an author, a blogger, a counselor, a DaySpring card writer, and so much more. Holley and her husband have also been TTC {trying to conceive} for a number of years. Her posts are SO real and SO encouraging. She speaks in a way that you can just picture her looking you in your eyes and reminding you of Jesus' words over you. She is LITERALLY His mouthpiece in such a REAL way. Her words are like a healing balm to a hurting soul. She is the kind of person you can imagine yourself letting down your guard with and crying on her shoulder.

Lisa-Jo @ The Gypsy Mama

Lisa-Jo is, well, SO MUCH FUN! Lisa-Jo is a South African, married to an American. {Sounds a little familiar, right? Well, sort of!} She writes about kids, travel, women, homesickness, family, and much more. Her writing style is one of my VERY FAVS. She visually makes a point in the way she writes -- the perfect combination of poetry and prose. She has two little boys that she adores and is getting ready to welcome her little girl into the world. She is the social media manager for DaySpring and the community manager for (in)courage. She is a #MUSTFOLLOW on Twitter - @thegypsymama. Just check her out...you'll see why and won't be sorry.

Anna @ Anna's Joy

Anna is a "real life" friend as well as a blogger friend. She and her husband, John, just welcomed baby Ayla into their lives after TTC for 3 years. Anna and I met at ORU, and she became an integral part of my story through her job in the chaplain's department. She "talked me up" to the women's pastor, and the next 3 years I had the opportunity to lead and to empower other young women on campus. I am forever grateful to her for her role in my story. Her blog is full of fun and variety. She pulls the ironic out of life and is lots of fun to dive into!

Paige @ Becoming Paige

Paige is another "real life" friend. We ALSO met at ORU. Paige is one of those people that just oozes kindness and compassion. When you meet her in "real" life you will see this about her, but you will also find this on her blog. Paige is a missions pastor in Texas as well as mentor to a number of college-aged girls. Her favorite people are her husband, Josh, and her sweet Selah, who just turned one. Paige's blog is filled with musings on motherhood, missions, & miscellaneous adventures. She is a TRUE story teller, and you don't want to miss her weekly blasts-from-the-past!!

Tara @ The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog

Tara is truly the whole reason that I decided to start a blog in the first place. She took her life and documented it on virtual pages filled with stories, prayers, hard stuff, fun stuff, photos, Scriptures, life lessons, and just plain raw Tara. Her & her husband, Troy's, legacy is captured in this blog for their 7....yes, 7....children to cherish for years to come. Tara and her family are missionaries to my beloved Haiti, and the while the way we met was not a pleasant one {earthquake in Haiti 2010}, the connections we have made in the past year have been so poignant in my life. I look forward to actually "seeing" them face-to-face one day. I mean how many people are willing to go search and rescue for someone else's parents when they don't even know you?? Their "presence" on the internet & in my life during that season will not be quickly forgotten.

I hope that you will stop by some or ALL of their pages. I just KNOW that you will be blessed as much as I have been.

Happy International Women's Day to ALL of you

beautiful women out there!