The saying goes like this..."Every new beginning is some beginning's end".
And so it is with this chapter of "She Just Got Married".
I'll be taking the site down soon. It's been a wonderful ride. I've been so blessed to be a part of so many new beginnings. I've been a part of your wedding days, your anniversaries and even the births of some precious babies. All virtually, of course. That's the amazing gift of the internet. We can share so much of our lives with each other. And it's been simply magical - being a part of your story, sharing the journey of newlywed women across the world.
Thank you for being a part of it all.
So what's next? Well, I hope to have a new site up soon after the first of the year. No more trying to 'do it all'. I want to focus on what has been my heart's desire all along....encouraging newlywed women and being encouraged in return. We're in this together!
So... no more "She Just Got Married" Boutique.
No more Forum (there's just so much cyber chatting one can do!)
No more biting off more than I can chew! I know marriage - and that is where I'll center the new site.
Does that seem arrogant to say "I know marriage?" I don't think so. I do! I know the highs and I know the lows. And at the core I still believe that if you don't love yourself you can't love another. When you do and you have a partner who does as well (loves himself) then together you can take on whatever the world has to offer - those highs and lows I referred to. With that in mind, I will continue to use the concept of "Discovering YOU After 'I Do'". I like how it sounds but I love what it implies. There's a lot to learn as a newly married woman. A lot!
As many of you know I lost my sister in law this past summer. She took her own life. My world was shattered as she was my closest friend where I am living now. I grew up with only brothers and I always called her 'the sister I never wanted'. It was true - I never wanted a sister while I was growing up. But then I 'got' her. And she was, indeed, the sister I never had...the one I thought I never wanted.
Why would I share this with you? What does this have to do with saying 'good-bye' to a website?
I thought I was helping her through a very difficult part of her life....divorce. The end of a 30 year marriage. Her own biological sisters told me, at one time during the process, that there was no way she could get through this without me - that she had found a new strength in herself with me by her side.
It wasn't enough. It was years too late. And I felt guilty.
I don't share this with you to get sympathy. I'm moving past the sense of guilt and even the anger. I am still very sad. But I've had many days and nights to consider what, if anything, I have to share from this day on that would be of value to newlywed women. If I couldn't even help my 'sister' - how could I have anything worthwhile to share with women I don't even know personally? And my answer came through my husband and my own marriage. I see it in action every day and I truly believe learning and living who I am as a woman, a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter and friend is a life journey that begins with loving myself.
We'll never know what all led to the tragic decision to end her life. She had been involved in an accident 4 years ago where she incurred head trauma. I want, even need, to believe that was a big part of it. But I do know, because she shared intimately with me, that she was terrified at the thought of being alone. Not living on her own but living as a woman, separate and apart from the role of someone's wife.
Do I have all the answers? Of course not. So I hope you'll come along on this next chapter of the journey so together we can strengthen and empower each other to live love-centered lives.
There are some fabulous specialty sites out there that can help a bride to be. Here are a few of my favorites:
Emmaline Bride (the wedding guide for the handmade bride)
Recycled Bride (a free marketplace to recycle everything from wedding gowns to table decorations)
The Broke-ass Bride (the ultimate DIY inspiration)
Bravo Bride (buy or sell new and pre-owned wedding items)
Sharon Naylor Wedding Books (author of over 30 wedding planning books)
The Man Registry (hey...the groom has his list too!)
Style Me Pretty (beautiful luxurious wedding inspiration)
Southern Weddings (oh darlin'...it's just simply fabulous Southern inspiration)
Sweet Sensations (just because I love Sharon Alexander who has been a true encouragement to me by just being her sweet self).
Here's to happily ever after!
Love, Denee
P.S. I took away the ability to comment due to a flood of spam. But I'd love to hear from you with any suggestions you have so shoot me an email at Denee@shejustgotmarried.com
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