At this stage in my life at 42 years of age, two children, one divorce and two marriages I have learned that God has made me a lifelong student and life, a constant teacher. I am a woman, who is also a wife and mother. It took time to fully except the realization that I was born to be a woman but the roles of marriage and parenthood is what has made me a wife and mother. Who I am as a woman and my relationship with myself is what dictates how I manage the roles of wife and mother.
I am entering a new stage of life where my children will be 18 and 21 and now I am blessed to come into the knowledge of me as a woman, again. It is so good to know there is so much more for me to learn about myself! I had lost my identity taking care of everyone else. Now I am finding that God never meant for me to solely identify myself as a wife and mother, but as an individual, a person, and a human-being with multiple purposes in life.
I love being a mother and wife, but I am now starting to love being Rebecca again. I am exercising and losing weight, seeking to try new things, such as cooking more vegetarian dishes, changing my style to best suit my shape, looking to take salsa dance classes and so many other things. I am alive and it feels so good! Along with myself renewal, came also the rekindling of my marriage. I had checked out of my marriage in addition to myself, but now that I have made myself a priority, my marriage is now more fulfilling. I am bringing more of me to the relationship and seeking fulfillment from myself in the things I do, instead of seeking it from my husband, which takes a weight of his shoulders and it has in return encouraged him to do the same. We have both benefited from the changes and it shows in how we love each other more intimately both in and out of the bedroom.  

At this stage in my life, I am learning God knew what He was doing when He created us, but when we lose our own sense of wonder, especially about ourselves as individuals, we lose the connection with the number one relationship that we are responsible for, and that is with ourselves. I have learned we can’t effectively and consistently do well for others and neglect ourselves in the process.

I am willing to put effort into EVERYTHING in my life and now I am profiting from those efforts. I am grateful to God for life. I am not religious but I know as sure as life is real, so is HE and now... I am even more, and loving it!