Blog Friend Feature: A Peaceful Diva

I have been reading this week's Blog Friend Feature since nearly the start of her blog. She impressed me right from the start as someone who had it all together. While she would probably laugh at this description- and honestly admits that this is not the case!- it's the impression that I got.


Meet Katina, from Peaceful Divas: Journeying Through Life's Mundane Tasks with Joy! Her faith inspires me. The way that she can admit to struggles that she has and yet can find ways to look at them in a positive light- she really lives up to her tagline! I know you'll love her, too!

When Shell emailed me and asked me to be the BFF this week, my heart skipped a beat! I was completely honored AND completely terrorized. I immediately emailed her back to say yes and express my fear! In her very own and totally “Shell” way, she politely instructed me to just be myself. Being Shell’s BFF is like having lunch with a famous person that you really look up to; your stomach cuts flips, your heart races and your mind goes blank on what to say.


Imagine that we are all sitting around a circle in those hard, metal, church fellowship hall chairs:

Hello everybody! My name is Katina and I write, journal, and basically work out my problems on a blog called Peaceful Divas. (Then you all say: Hello Katina). I have been blogging since May of this year. Although I am very new to blogging, I have already experienced some of the huge benefits of putting all your business on the internet! I have virtually met some of the coolest women from all over the world who totally get me!


Most days on Peaceful Divas I am working through my emotions or trying to be positive about housework when I would rather have a root canal than clean up. Occasionally, I like to post about being more efficient by listing different ways to (K.I.S.S)-keep it simple sista!


Ok so now, I am lying on the sofa in YOUR psychology office:

In all actuality, Peaceful Divas is my ministry and my way of FINALLY dealing with my true feelings. It has taken me 37 years to be able to identify and articulate how I REALLY feel. As a child growing up, I had loving parents who expected me to always make them proud.


Well meaning cliché’s were used daily in response to my hurts. {“Life’s not fair!” “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” “If you can run fast, someone can always run faster”. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. “If you can do something about it, do it; otherwise, don’t worry about it.”} Over time, I learned to ignore my feelings and “suck it up”.


In an effort to have me grow up to be an independent and strong woman, my mother lovingly told me that crying was a sign of weakness. When you suck it up and can’t express your sorrow by weeping, you have to find a way of dealing with life! Some people eat, abuse substances, surf the internet, talk on the phone, become workaholics… you fill in the blank.


For me, I get busy! In addition to working full time, being a mommy to two awesome girls, and a wife, I owned and operated a party studio for girls; I have done Amway, Mary Kay, Airbonne, Ardyss, and probably some other things I have forgotten! I am now on a quest to truly experience God’s Grace and through my experience, offer grace to myself and others by not being so rigid, not taking everything so seriously and not blaming myself for the world's troubles.


Since you really know me now, imagine that we are on a girlfriend getaway sitting around a table on a beautiful Tropical Island. The water is blue and our drinks are fruity and have umbrellas in them!!!

I am not one of those women who give off the perception that EVERYTHING IS GREAT. Most days ARE great, and EVERYDAY is a BLESSING, but some days I get started by yelling and then just about everything gets on my nerves. There are days when I pick up the girls from school with a positive attitude and then after five minutes in their presence my eye is twitching and I wonder what just happened. I have cleaned off my kitchen counters countless times only to have school papers, artwork, and mail pile up and MOCK ME!


I cook and clean ONLY because I love my family. Out of love, I am FINALLY living intentionally so that I can model what being “healthy” means. Am I successful all the time? NO ma’am and that is just part of the journey (see my post on the comparison queen).


Just like you, I want the best for my children. I want my girls to grow up to be whole, Godly women who are in touch with who they are and more importantly whose they are. It is my prayer that they grow up able to confidently say how they feel and process their feelings towards life’s hurts in a healthy way.


Finally, I want them to know that perfection is not attainable; but with God all things are possible.


Now let’s go have facials!

Please leave Katina some comment love here and then go follow her blog if you don't already!