About The Paleo Mama
I can sometimes close my eyes and smell my childhood. It smells like freshly raked leaves, chlorine on my bathing suit, sweat that lingers on my skin, and freshly popped cheesy popcorn.
It tastes like Oatmeal Cream Pies, tacos on a Saturday night, and hose water.
I treasure the childhood I had. I spent summer days riding bikes with my sister, Dinah, to faraway lands and magical “secret” places that only we knew about. My sister treasured it too. Five days before the worst day of my life, she wrote a short story for college about a time when we were playing hide-and-seek as kids. She must have treasured it as much as me, for no one can ever take these moments in time away.
I am the middle child. I am the free spirt. My mom sings, “I Hope You Dance” over me because she says the words remind her of me. I’m my Daddy’s little girl. I hold his hand in mine even when my teenage friends could see. I walk with pride standing next to my big brother. He’s huge. Standing at over 6’6″, he stares into the eyes of boys and frightens them away. I smile at him because I’d rather hang out with him, then stupid boys. My sister was always my best friend. We loved hard and we fought even harder. Yet, at the end of the day when we layed down in our beds that shared a room, we always said:
“I’m sorry if I’ve done anything wrong.”
“I forgive you.”
” I’m sorry if I’ve done anything wrong too.”
Every. Single. Night. We didn’t want to die and go to hell for unforgiven sins.
Sometimes we had a line dividing up our bedroom. Other times we slept in the same bed when outside terrors scared us.
Eventually we grew up.
I started college, then became involved in church ministry. Soon, I left for Australia, then to Thailand for a year of missionary work. My passion became showing women how beautiful they are. Thailand changed me forever. I talked to prostitutes and taught them English. I helped a center that gave them a chance to come out of prostitution by choosing to learn a trade. I bought them out of bars for a night of fun and feasting.
Life became hard there by myself. I came home.
I went to massage school and became a licensed massage therapist and worked on completing my bachelors degree.
During this time I met and married the man of my dreams who I met in the most unique way…online! He, since, has given me two beautiful children and fulfilled my greatest purpose in life of being a mother.
Now I am reliving my childhood through my two children. Nothing could be better than the life I have now. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been easy. Some of you know the missing part of my testimony. One year ago I lost my best friend, my sister. She made the impulsive decision to end her life the day after her boyfriend was killed in an automobile accident. By just admitting this, I feel like I have to defend her honor. I wonder when that will go away?
Her death shattered my perfect, little world and questioned all I believed in God.
It’s been a year since her death and life is changing once again. We are eagerly anticipating getting out of the military and moving back home to establish our roots close to our families. Life is good for my little family. With each boo-boo that I kiss, each diaper that I change, and each word that I speak to my children, I remember how critical the present is.
I remember to kiss my husband deeply everyday.
I remember to tell my parents how much I love them.
I remember that life is too short to have fake friends.
I remember that no matter what God is still good and still my God.
I remember that if my kids adore me, then I have successfully been the mother that my mother was.
For this life is my story.
Hey – I was just doing a little research on my own blog and searched the word ‘cavemama’ and your blog came up. Seriously, I think you are living my life
I have just read your most recent posts… I have recently made most of the foods you listed there, I buy our beef in bulk like you, I have a whole chicken in the slow cooker to make stock as we speak… I could list many more similarities! Glad I found you… look forward to reading more!
Hey there! Glad you found me and, wow, sounds like we are very similar! I’m headed to check out your blog now!
Hi Jackie.
Just found your site and look forward to reading more. I think I’m going to start Paleo this week and going to dive into your site.
I too am a loving Mama of two and wife to a beautiful man. Lost my brother (he was my best friend too) almost eight years ago. As the tears fall, I’m thinking of you and just felt compelled to let you know. Sometimes there is comfort in knowing that other truly understand the depth of your feelings. I almost wrote a long post about what it’s like to lose a sibling in my blog today, but was too emotionally drained and just couldn’t. I look forward to reading you and getting myself on the Paleo.
This gets me through some of the rough moments:
“Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.”
— Rossiter Worthington Raymond
Take Care and thank you for sharing.
Chandra Gaspar Achberger
a post on his birthday earlier this month. http://photogher.com/5366-texx-the-light/
Chandra…thank you. I’m so sorry you lost your brother. I do understand the depth of your grief. Losing a sibling is unbearable at times and memories wash over intensely..all the time. I am so glad you found my blog and it helps you out starting out Paleo. Please let me know if I can do anything to help! Follow me on FB for more interaction: www.facebook.com/thepaleomama
Amen! thanks for sharing your testimony and you are right – God is good all the time, no matter what.
Hello
I just came across your site looking for some Paleo dinners for my family. I have recently lost 80+ pounds and have just go into personal training and Paleo. I have made my first Paelo Dinner tonight and it was amazing. Im excited to learn and explore the world of Paleo. I cant wait to go through your site more and see what you have to offer! Thanks!
Alysa.
Thank you Alysa and welcome to the Paleo world!!! Yes, it is very addicting!!!
I have been following your blog for a while now and somehow had not read your story until today (or maybe you changed it up recently)…must be my mom brain! My childhood smells exactly the same as yours, even taco saturday night
Wow, did this page get a few tears out of me though! You are amazing! Thanks for always putting out such great posts and recipes for foods that I am nourishing my family with. You do good work. You are in my prayers over the loss of your sister.
Kate
Thank you Kate! Mmmm love Taco night!
This is so beautiful Jackie! This made me tear up. God bless your beautiful family. I’m so happy that you are sharing and giving your talents in this blog.
I loved your srory. I’m a retired pastor and I appreciate your commitment to our Lord. I’m just starting on the Paleo diet and I know your website will be very helpful to me. Love and blessings to you and yours,
Dave