Caged No More
When I saw the movie Caged No More, I had no way of knowing the serious content this movie would bring to light. While I knew the movie was brought to us by the co-producers of God’s Not Dead and knew it would be moving, it wasn’t until the plot began to unfold that I realized this wasn’t just a movie. No, it happens every day – whether we like to think of the possibility of it or not. It’s out there; sex-trafficking.
I have two precious daughters that, due to their age and limited exposure to the world, think everyone is honest, true, and would not harm a hair on their head. That couldn’t be further from the truth in this cruel world. I’ve talked with them about how just because we’re good people does not mean that everyone around us is nor do they always have the best of intentions toward us. I’m honestly not trying to scare them or make them leery of everyone they come in contact with, but they need to know the dangers that are lurking in the dark shadows of this cold world. They are so innocent at this point in their lives, yet some where someone is seeking to harm young girls just like my daughters. This movie hit so close to home because I DO have two beautiful daughters who are my heart and soul, and I try with all my might to shelter and protect them.
In this movie, two young girls are taken and sold into sex-trafficking. The thought of it is purely sickening, yet the reality is this is someone’s life! How horrible to think of what they are enduring in dingy living spaces, dimly lit with hands of strangers touching their bodies violating them. Oh, dear God! Their innocence – stolen!
Several of my blogging friends have mentioned sex-trafficking on their blogs, in their Facebook messages, etc. in an effort to bring this topic that is only whispered about out into board daylight. It isn’t someone else’s problem. It’s OUR problem as a whole. We shouldn’t rest until every person that was forced into this form of slavery is freed!
Help us break the silence!
Please …
There are innocent victims that need you to be their voice. Help free them. You may think it doesn’t matter, you may not feel you have a big following to make this plea to, but every one that gets to talking HELPS bring light to this often avoided topic of conversation. We need your help, and we need you to be their voice.
If you haven’t seen the movie, I encourage you to stop into your local Family Christian and pick up a copy. Don’t let that be the only thing that you do, though. Remember, it isn’t “just” a movie. It is someone’s life!
If you suspect or know of someone that is involved in sex trafficking, please visit the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. You can report a tip, and you can even request services.
Help spread the word. Someone out there NEEDS your help!
Women are not objects to be lusted after, groped on, raped, beaten, used, abused, etc. We are not here for anyone’s pleasure, certainly not against our wishes!
Speak up and speak out about this!
While I did receive a copy of this movie in exchange for a review, I feel passionately about this. I hope you will see the urgency in this as well and vow to help do something about it!
Shame Game
One of my friends posted a bikini picture on Facebook today. It isn’t your ordinary picture, either. You see, she posted this picture because she’s struggled with her weight after having her son almost five years ago. A lot of men don’t understand what the problem is and why women can’t return to their pre-pregnancy weight, but women know the struggle. Your body truly changes when you carry another human being for nine months. It’s worth it and more though, but the struggle is real.
Along with her picture, my friend posted a very liberating status. She’s been working out, but she realized that she will never be skinny. She posted the picture anyway because she’s proud of the results she’s seen thus far and plans to stick with her workout routine to be the strongest, healthiest version of herself.
I can completely relate to her!
The below is what I commented back after seeing her post:
I’m actually glad you posted this – picture and your words. Why? Because we are all so critical and hard on ourselves. This past weekend when we were in Florida, I wore a two piece bathing suit – something I have not done in many years. I have never felt comfortable in one, even being “petite” as some people have called me. I worried over my stomach, although I do not have stretch marks from having my babies. It just wasn’t a six pack no matter how much I tried working out. I worried over my inner thighs. Believe me, I have done squats, jumping jacks, etc etc etc to try to trim them down. Finally I said you know what, I’ll be 45 this year, why NOT wear that two piece? Why be so critical of myself and shy away from form fitting clothing or two piece suits … so I wore it. I posted pictures, too, although I’m pretty sure others judged me because you’re not supposed to reveal so much skin and are to be modest. I was with my husband and my daughters, and I wanted to send a message to them, too. Love your bodies and stop shaming yourselves! Do the best that you can, work hard, and hold your head up high! I’m glad you’ve done the same.
She was so kind when she responded back and complimented me on my appearance in the bikini and showed so much support.
What if we all stopped playing the shame game?
What happens when we start shaming ourselves? We feel just awful about ourselves. Do you think God wants this for you? No, He doesn’t! Instead, what if we started all appreciating the bodies that God gave us? Our bodies are His temples, and it is our job to take good care of them.
If you’re working hard, giving it your all trying to get in shape, then I applaud you! Keep up the good work!
If you’re just getting started working on the healthier version of yourself, I have faith that you CAN do this!
Where ever you are, even if you are just thinking you need a change and might be examining your eating habits and considering implementing a workout routine – do it!
It’s not too late. You’re not too old. You’re not too out of shape for it to help. You aren’t any negative thing that could possibly come into your mind.
You can do anything you set your mind to!
This is me from this past weekend – the one in the middle with the hair tossed around, thrown up in a bun in the back, with the pink bikini top and black bikini bottoms. Me. The one that will be 45 years old in September. Me. The one that struggled to feel comfortable in her own skin for years even though people complimented me in the past on my figure. Me. The one that had a muffin top over her favorite jeans last year when getting together with one out-of-state friend and another out-of-country friend. Me. The one that decided to make a change in 2016! Me. The one that is embracing herself!
Today I can say that I love the skin I’m in!
Is my body perfect? Heck no! It’s far from it, actually. I know I’ll never be a stick figure super model, and that’s okay! I can be the best version of myself, though, and I can continue to work hard to encourage my children so they will stop doing the self shaming that we’ve ALL become too good at!
God formed you and I … and He does not make mistakes. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. That’s in a bible verse. I like to also say that we’re beautifully and wonderfully made. I truly believe that!
What have I done differently so I could proudly wear my bathing suits in Florida this past weekend?
First off, I started working out. I joined this free program, and I did really well working out six days a week … up until the third week. I started falling off the wagon. BUT, I was seeing results, so although I wasn’t necessarily doing “their” workouts, I started finding opportunities to incorporate some exercise into my day. Squats became my friend, and you could find me doing squats while cooking dinner, waiting on the final spin cycle on my washing machine, etc. Also, I love weights! While I am not one that lifts hundreds of pounds, I do enjoy hand weights while exercising. I started with three pound weights, then went up to five pound weights, and now I am proud to say that I am using eight pound weights without struggling! I can do lots of reps with these eight pound weights, and it feels GOOD! As I progress, I’ll increase the weights a little more. For now, though, I’m loving right where I am! I am stronger than when I first started, and I love the definition I’m beginning to see in my arms. I’m also swimming and using the pool for more workout opportunities – like doing jumping jacks, knee lifts, and running in place in the water so it’s low impact on my knees and other joints. I also go to the pool steps, turn around, and work my triceps by going up and down in the water lifting my body with my arms, hands planted firmly on the steps. Any opportunity I find, I use it!
Secondly, I changed the way I was eating. I used to think that as long as I was working out and getting some form of exercise that I could eat whatever I wanted. This is soooo not the case! I tried Weight Watchers, as I had great success with them many years ago even when I only wanted to lose 10 pounds. I was able to do so at that time. When you get a little older, your metabolism starts to change making it harder to lose weight! I thought for sure that I’d lose weight on Weight Watchers this time, too. However, they have changed their program, and it did not work that great for me this time around. I have since switched up and went back to the Adkins way with protein and vegetables. I have seen more results this way. I’m not advocating for either Weight Watchers nor Adkins, though. You do what is best for you and what works for your body! Once you start experimenting, it won’t take long for you to know what works and what doesn’t. I’ve learned recently that it’s actually 80 percent what you eat and 20 percent about exercise. Now isn’t that interesting! And we all know that our bodies need water – we’re supposed to drink half our body weight in ounces each day. It sounds like a lot, but it is something you can incorporate into your day. I have a jug that I fill up in the mornings and sip on throughout the day. I’ve been picked on about my jug, but it insures that I get my water in!
I had people approach me on diet supplements – pills and even drops. I decided not to go that route, though. There’s just something about it that I did not like.
But today, I can slip into a two piece bathing suit without cringing and feeling as if everyone around me – including myself – will judge me!
The third thing that I’ve changed is my attitude!! I’m no longer shaming myself. Even if I have a weak moment and give in to pimento cheese dip and corn chips, I will redeem myself by making better food choices the next time I reach for something! I will no longer play the shame game, and I will not allow anyone else to force their opinions upon me either. I love the body that God has given me and my petite frame! I will appreciate that God still has me on this earth and has blessed me with another day with my family. My girls are my entire life, and I thank God for every moment that He allows me to have with them. And, I will strive to lead by example – so they will no longer shame themselves either. All it takes is one person in a sea of thousands to say one negative thing about us, and it’s embedded in our minds and stings our hearts forever. We need to take back the power that these negative people have had over us all this time and realize that those lies these people have told us have come straight from the devil.
Kick the habit of downing yourself and allowing others to take you down with their hateful or snide remarks also.
Show yourself some love!
This is me – loving the skin I’m in and being proud of the body God gave me!
The shame game ends right here, right now!
Let’s Go RVing
“Let’s go camping!” my husband exclaimed as he showed me the typical camping gear involving tents and the like. My response was something along the lines of, “Ah, no! My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn!”
Fast forward many years later, add five horses, and we are now officially campers! Happy campers at that!
My husband just said over the weekend that he never would have imagined me … camping. Well, I had to have a purpose. While I enjoy sitting by a fire at night, my idea of fun is not going to sit in a tent in all different types of weather being miserable. I camped in my late teens at the beach – in a tent – in 100 degree weather. This was something I was talked into, and boy was I ever miserable. My earlier memories from my childhood camping experiences involved raccoons that got into our trash overnight in the mountains as we knew nothing about “bear bags” at that point in time. Then, when we tried “camping” at home in our backyard, my dad’s bull dogs got out and decided to fight right outside of our tent! Imagine four 10 year old girls getting woken up in the middle of the night by growling and snarling with dogs pushing themselves up against your tent, then causing it to collapse on you! Yes, this happened, and we screamed bloody murder until my dad woke up and ran outside to see what was going on. We all ended up okay, but the horror of that event lingered on!
So no, tent camping was out!
Then the tables turned as we started venturing out into the horse world. People camp with their horses all the time. Some have tents, some have living quarters in their trailers, and some take a stock trailer and make it to where they can sleep in it overnight. We considered this option, but with three of us, I knew that would not be comfortable. The living quarters in the trailers are really tight spaces. We looked into buying a new living quarters trailer at the beginning of the year. They were nice, but they were also super expensive. You had all the space in the world for your horses, it seemed, but what a tiny living area when you have two adults and a child camping with you! We knew that option just was not going to work. As one salesperson put it, “You have to REALLY love each other to be in that close quarters for any period of time.” We laughed when he said it, until we saw what he was talking about.
When I said earlier that the tables turned, they did because about two years ago, I stumbled upon a good deal on a used RV! My husband was so hesitant about this ole “fixer-upper.” I almost had to drag him kicking and screaming to look at it. We drove a little over two hours to look at this 1985 Georgie Boy RV. While we knew that it wasn’t the grandest of RVs, it was perfect for what we wanted to do – camp with our horses! I remember when we arrived how my husband reacted. He hesitantly got out of the vehicle just to wrinkle his nose. I asked him to just look at it and keep an open mind. He walked into the RV, looked around, and then let me know that he was not impressed at all. That is until the guy mentioned the 454 big block engine! My husband’s eyes widened, and he said, “Hey, we can always take this motor out and put it in my 69 Camaro.” We ended up buying this older model RV for little of nothing. Then we put a little bit of money into it to make us feel better about using it. After a while, we were ready for our first camping trip in it.
The results?
We found out that we absolutely LOVE camping with our horses!!
We enjoyed it so much, in fact, that we decided to explore other options of possibly getting a newer RV. When it was mentioned, I told my husband that if we did get another RV, I wanted one that we would be confident in taking on road trips even without the horses. My goal was to have a RV that we could travel the world with, if we so desired!
And so began our search!
We looked at so many different used RVs. From dealers to individuals selling their RVs themselves, we were just overwhelmed at the RVs and their prices! Yikes! To get a decent one, you had to spend a bunch of money, or you’d be stuck with a fixer-upper like we already had! Even those were outrageously priced! Finally we came upon an older couple that was looking to get out of camping. The couple was in their 70s, and the man had begun to have some health issues to where he did not feel he could continue with the RV lifestyle. His wife was emotional as she showed us the RV, spent time telling us all about it and demonstrating how the different controls worked within the RV itself, and the stories she told of their family trips together. They had an RV as long as they could remember and took their kids on many trips, and then they started taking their grandchildren on trips as well. The newest RV had provided lots of memories, and it was hard for her to part with it, I could tell. But, she and her husband gave us a really sweet deal on the RV, we sold our “fixer-upper” actually making a profit off of it, and paid cash for the new-to-us RV to begin our RVing lifestyle!
We had to pinch ourselves when the couple delivered the RV to our house. After they left, our children rushed into the RV where I fixed dinner and we ate in it the first night we had it! We could not believe this baby was ours!
Since that time, we have gone on numerous trips with and without the horses. I’ve discovered that although “roughing it” is part of camping at times, we do like having the amenities at the RV resorts. We have stayed where there has been full hookups, and we have stayed where we were standalone with our generator and on-board water supply. I do appreciate that we can have the comforts of home now in our RV! And some of the places are extremely nice! I have been impressed! It isn’t a bunch of red necks sitting around a fire chewing tobacco, spitting, and drinking. Not that there is anything wrong with this at all, if that is your thing. We have found such joy in camping in our newer RV that we planned back to back trips not too long after purchasing it! I’m sure some of our friends on Facebook tire of all our pictures that we share, while others have commented that they enjoy our pictures and look forward to them.
Our goal we set is to go on a trip in our RV at least once a month to justify having it. I told my husband when we were considering buying the RV that it would not just sit in the yard unused. And, it hasn’t! We’ve camped with our horses a few times at places like Kings Mountain State Park, Middleton Plantation, etc., but we have also gone to places like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Thomson, Georgia, Sevierville, Tennessee, and now we will soon be embarking on a trip to Crystal River, Florida! We are so excited!
Now we can hardly wait for the other to say, “Let’s go RVing!”
