My Story

Vision

ENCOURAGING & EQUIPPING RURAL FAMILIES TO LIVE THRIVING LIVES.

Values

LOVE + FORGIVE
CREATE + REST
REPENT + HEAL

Scripture

Isaiah 58: 6-14

Hi! I’m Sierra Shea, so glad you’re here!

Losing myself, finding myself

I took a several year break from creativity in the online space after we had our second baby. My last post was titled, “How to be a happy mama”. I wrote it at work at 7 AM before I started the workday. I walked to work that summery day enjoying the breeze, determined to figure out how to balance motherhood and all-the-things. Subconsciously, I guess I thought, well — I still do not feel like a happy mom and I’m done blogging & creating online until I can figure that out.

It took nearly two years, but I’m finally back online and — surprise, surprise — I still don’t have it all figured out. No one does! But, thanks to prayer, close friendships, counseling, a ton of podcasts and a huge stack of books — I am so much closer. Now, I want to help you on the journey to recovering your creative, redemptive rural life instead of being a busy, worn out family.

It was hard to start creating online again. A strange sense of failure kept hovering and it took months to get that off my mind and back into it’s proper place — it’s was not catastrophic failure, but simply experience gained!

But, it was a painful experience for me because, losing my creativity meant losing too much of myself! Have you been there? Are you there now? I understand your pain my friend!

One of the first things we learn about God in the Bible is that He is the Creator. It’s never his will for us to stop being creative. He hasn’t stopped yet either!

The Long Way Back

In August of 2018, I was home on maternity leave after our third baby was born. Then, I began returning to my childhood attempts at poetry and painting. I came to understand that art, paired with prayer, can be a great catalyst for my healing journey. I knew it could help other women, too.

It was a really tender and joyful time. I started oh so slowly moving back toward creative projects outside of decorating our house, fixing supper, and decorating my bullet journal.

Risking Beginning

Then, along the way, I decided to paint with my children instead of watching them paint and cleaning up the mess. It looked so fun! How could I continually refuse to join?

I think we all know it’s quite that easy not to join into creative projects. It’s hard to jump into creative, redemptive living! Especially, if layers and layers of guilt and anxiety are hanging around.

I have tried and failed in so many projects over the years. Each time I fail I learn that I’m closer to understanding that God loves me regardless of my performance. Currently, I am working on my masters at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. I am also a teacher and tutor on campus part-time. I am also earning a Spiritual Direction Certificate in a two-year program from Sioux Falls Seminary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Enjoy!