(Piper and Shelby at the park last Sunday, taken with iPhone, processed with Instagram) I thought Piper had developed an eating disorder. She would go days without eating, turning her nose up at her food. Literally. It’d put it in the bowl, she’d go sniff it, turn her nose up, and walk away. Then, when...
I’m pretty sure all dogs have a bit of neurosis (but then again I think their owners probably do too)
Piper is adorable btw
I think the only possible solution to this is that YOU taste the dog food, old and new, to determine if the problem is with her or you. And don’t scoff…I know your dog food eating secrets….!
(via) In all the “work” I’ve been doing recently (I recently told a friend I feel like I’ve been scratching and clawing my way out of a hole), I’ve done a lot of reading and thinking and praying. I’ve found that I pray best while I’m working out. I went for a swim the other...
by shannon
6 comments
I really like that part about medication….
Life’s tough stuff. It sounds like you’re working through a lot. Smart girl. 
I’m setting this aside and coming back to every last one of these links when I have a couple uninterupted hours (or more!) to spare. Thanks for finding all these gems!!!
Ahh, Shannon, you’ve done it again, reached right inside my head and took out some of my thoughts. I’ve been feeling that way about running/working out for a long time. It clears my head (usually) makes me feel positive and I feel blessed to have a functioning body and mind. I also love, love love that picture about what I think I look like and what I actually look like. I know I look like a lame-o but it’s all good in the end. I’m definitely going to be reading some of those blogs. Thanks for sharing.
Oh and as soon as Annette and I get our girls back to school (mid April) we’ll be calling for a play date.
Awesome post per usual. With one exception…our yard is dead and the sprinklers are broken so the the grass is literally greener on the other side in my case 
I have been thinking of you and all this wonderful writing you’re doing here a lot lately… so much to think about. I discovered Momastery around the same time as everyone else who didn’t already read it and I’m also hooked : )
Love A Blog About Love. I wish I could learn and stop making the same mistakes over and over. Maybe one day it will sink in. Please don’t stop writing. I love reading your insights and learning from your journey.
This little guy. Such a sweet baby. His parents watched my four (grown older) babies while I went to Japan, so the least I could do was capture their little man! I took a break from shooting for a couple months, so it felt good to get back in the groove with such a sweet...
by shannon
no comments
Spirituality. I can’t get away from it. It seems to be everywhere I turn. And here it is again, in the 12 steps, and in Brene Brown’s research… it looks like it’s not just the Mormons I grew up with who think God is pretty important and that you need a spiritual anchor in your...
by shannon
14 comments
You, my dear, are a very strong person. I don’t think you even know it. <3
Shannon, I have been reading your posts the last little while and could no longer remain silent. Such moving and powerful words. Your analogies are wonderful and your strength and peace expressed beautifully. Truly, more than this little comment will ever be able to express!
I’m on that edge between crying and all-out sobbing (pull yourself together, Mindy!). These last few posts have been so beautiful, and have resonated with my own personal experiences on many levels. Can I print these posts out and attach them into my journal, next to those other entries we talked about the other day …or maybe in PLACE of my own entries ? Seriously, I plan to re-read these words often, and I will forever be grateful for your honest and thoughtful insights. And I thought I couldn’t love you more!
You did it again. Hit the nail right on the head. Thank you for sharing.
It is so important to me to comment on these posts, but I don’t even know how to express my thoughts. I’ll stick with thank you, thank you, thank you. Even though that isn’t enough. But it is what I have right now.
This post. This…..is kind of leaving me speechless.
While I have certainly related to so many of the things you have already said, this one is sort of a sucker punch to the face for me.
ETA–It’s a punch that took my breath away. Not only did you take words out of my mouth, you reached in and shone a light on some of my weakest, most vulnerable thoughts. It’s good though. I needed to hear this.
Thanks so much for sharing all this Shannon. I totally related to so much of what you have written. You are wonderful!
Shannon, thanks for sharing, (and you’re such a good writer–definitely an I CAN). I love this line: “True religion, true faith, doesn’t create hate (even self-hate).” Isn’t life better when we don’t hate each other or ourselves for failures OR successes?
I love the “realness” of this. So refreshing. Thanks Shannon.
this was perfect!!!!
I want my husband to read “I Can’t” then maybe he’d understand better what’s going on in my head that paralyzes me so much of the time. I see it happening in my daughter too. Both these posts were perfect for today and I thank my sister Stacy for pointing my in your direction. <3
hi shannon, i am a friend of your sisters and have been following your blog for a long time. thank you so much for sharing all of these things with us. i have been going through my own version of hell and your words have really encouraged me, part of which was to realize i am not alone in my struggles. thank you again, and please give andrea and family a hug from me next time you see them! (p.s. i LOVE your photography, and am hopeful i can hire you to take pictures of my family someday, especially if we are able to adopt again.)
Amen!
note: I am so sorry for the length and weight of this. I know I need to share, but I’ve been sitting on this post, afraid to actually publish. However, several conversations with people make me think it might be valuable to others, so I’m going to put it out there. I’ve been on quite...
by shannon
6 comments
Absolute wow. I wish I had a way to express how this made me feel. I don’t. Your writing is amazing, your thoughts are life changing, your bravery is incredible and this is just plain good stuff. Really good stuff. Thank you for taking the time to share and be real about it. I wish there was a way for everyone to read this post. Whether they have felt a small or large part of what you went through or not, everyone needs this. They just do. I’m so grateful I read it. Thanks Shannon.
I think you are the bomb. Just sayin.
I love seeing all these thoughts written down. I agree with Linn–it’s really good stuff. Keep at it.
love, this was beautiful!!!! i am so sorry for all of this…so sorry!!! i KNOW the heaviness and the sadness. i also am VERY aware of the ADD. i have never been diagnosed but after reserch for myself and my oldest son i have been able to really pinpoint what is really wrong with us. i have been luky enough to be able to really train and redirect myself so that i can be present in my own life and REALLY be a part of conversations with other people and get the heck out of my own head. as far as my boy is concerned he’s almost 13 and because he is not a problem at home we have chosen not to medicate just so that he can get good grades. i totally know that everyone has their own opinions on this but while i realize that school is very important i want my boy to be MY boy and not a shell of him (he’s just too much fun! ) i hope that you can get this all worked out. i just love you and i love the realness of all of this. you are far from alone and i can see that healing is on it’s way. you are going to be so much wiser and such an amazing and understanding friend and wife and leader.
I am right there with you. I have had the exact same thoughts. I can’t is pretty powerful. But luckily I can is too. It looks like you are on the right path…a hard, long, sometimes painful path, but right & good nonetheless. Keep writing, it inspires me.
This brought tears to my eyes. Tears for you, my dear and talented friend, struggling, and me… not being there for you. Tears for me because I have felt and said and stressed about those same exact things. And tears, because you have such a way with words. A definite talent and blessing. I want to share a quote that I randomly saved on my desktop while preparing a talk recently. I came across it yesterday after a particularly bad day of feeling inadequate and judged and beat down.
It’s from Pres. Uchtdorf
“God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect, and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.”
I immediately printed it out and hung it on my cupboard.
If I could squeeze into the ol’ cheerleading skirt (go ahead, picture it and laugh your head off) and do a little cheer for you I would! Love, love, LOVE this post!!! We all need to stop beating ourselves up for not being perfect. Nobody CAN do it all and if they say they CAN they’re liars. You know that Trevor and I have been dealing with the ADD thing for almost 4 years now. Preston we do medicate and although Trevor got a prescription as well, we never filled it. It was surreal sitting through all those parent meetings when they were describing it. Trevor and kept giving each other covert glances. They weren’t describing Preston; it was Trevor all over the place! And you’re right, it was a relief to figure out the problem but it brought with it a whole bucket full of new ones. I’ve never had the courage to write about it, or about Carson’s aspergers. You are so brave and I hope you know how much it means to know there’s someone who understands. I know everyone keeps saying this, but you really have such a beautiful way of expressing yourself. Thank you! You’re flippin’ amazing.
by shannon
2 comments