Catching You Up

October 4, 2026

by Shelley

Okay, so I’ve been slacking on the blogs, but HEAR ME OUT: I have been WORKING.

And let me tell you something. I KNOW I’ve blogged about this before, but when you pray for something, God doesn’t just hand it to you wrapped in a cute little bow. We have to do the footwork, and I have been PUTTING IN FOOTWORK.

Listen, I’m the first to admit I’m not always consistent with this. I hope one day I get to a point where I am. But right now? I’m a single mom with a 17-year-old daughter I’m constantly checking up on because she thinks she’s 25.

I also have an almost-four-year-old superhero who is a Velcro baby and has an emotional support mole that just so happens to be attached to MY BODY.

Yes, you read that correctly. Some children have blankies. Some have a favorite stuffy. My son has a mole. And unfortunately for my personal space, I cannot leave it in his bed. 🤣

Here’s the kicker: I am NOT a touchy person. By 4 p.m. most days, I am crawling out of my skin because I’ve been touched, climbed on, and used as playground equipment all day. Obviously, I allow it because #MomLife and #Love, but have you ever heard colors?

Yeah. That’s where I’m at around 4 p.m.

Anyway, how did we get here?! Back to my story. I’m known to take a few detours while storytelling, so try to keep up. 🤣

I’ve been praying for some things, and I’ve shared with you that things were starting to happen. But boy, oh boy. This past week, some things I’ve been praying about for YEARS unfolded right before my eyes.

There have been so many moments in this particular situation when I wondered why God wasn’t doing more to protect what I was asking Him to protect.

But really, He was.

It just wasn’t happening MY WAY.

This week, things changed. I’m now able to protect a special loved one in ways I couldn’t always before. And without sharing too much of my personal life, when you’re acompassionate and loving person and someone in your loved one's life is capable of greatness but is s truggling and needs help, you want to protect your loved one from those struggles until that person gets the help they need.

And look, today I’m the first person to admit there was a time when my daughter needed protection from me, too. Not because I was hurting her, but because my mental health wasn’t great. I needed to work on myself so I could be better for her.

But here’s the thing: I was the LAST one to know. 🤣

Everyone around me knew. They kept telling me, but I wasn’t listening. Eventually, my parents stepped in and were able to care for her until I could.

I can acknowledge that today because I know what it looks like to need help and not be ready to recognize it. I’ve been that person.

So this week, I watched something happen that felt almost like a miracle—something that allows me to offer my special loved one a blessed opportunity they need. And that alone felt like a million pounds had been lifted off my shoulders. Weight I’ve been carrying for a few years.

But with that relief comes a great responsibility: to do what’s best for my loved ones, no matter how I personally feel about the situation.

I pray that I always move with the purest intentions. That my decisions come from love and a desire to what's best for them. That I stay within what God has laid out for me, even when my own emotions have plenty to say.

Because I know what it’s like to need time, help, and the opportunity to become a better person. And I also know that our family, friends and loved ones need care, guidance, love and protection while we do that work.

I’m grateful for answered prayers. Grateful for my parents, who stepped in when I needed them. Grateful that today, I’m able to show up differently for my own family, children, and loved ones.

And you already know, if I’m walking… it’s in a pair of my Leviticus boots. 💋

To support The Justice Project and the fight against human trafficking go to www.thejusticeproject.net

To purchase Leviticus Fashions boot designs go to www.leviticusfashions.com