Lipstick & Literature with Leanne

I have reached 100 followers! Thank you for your continued support. I could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉

I found my golden at the end of a rainbow, and she turned out to be my angel🌈🕊️🙏🏻

Happy 2nd birthday my angel 🐾 Here’s to forever!

🥳We have a 👑birthday girl! is 2 years old today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY baby girl, we love you so much. 🖤🐾🖤

📖A new book? 🎄A Christmas gift? Shop the Faire for all ages! ☕️Sip free hot chocolate while you meander through this Pop-Up bookstore. 🫱🏻‍🫲🏾Meet the authors and get your new books autographed. 🎟Enter the raffle for a chance to win a free autographed book. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼Bring a friend - and delight in discovering over 40 authors.📚
Find more info here: https://www.bridgeway.church/book/

Featured authors:
•Susy Flory - New York Times best selling author or co-author of 16 books, founder of the online community Everything Memoir, a member of the Authors Guild, leader of West Coast Christian Writers (conference coming to Bridgeway church October 2023!), and working on her doctoral degree from Northern Seminary

•Shadia Hrichi - Bible teacher, award-winning author, and speaker, with a master’s in biblical and theological studies as well as a master’s in criminal justice

•Laura Lynn Hughes - author, teacher, board member and volunteer at Alpha clinic, cofounder of A Movement of Love post-abortion ministry, and an international Sanctity of Human Life speaker

Theme: 🌲🪵🕯A walk through the woods. Based on “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
—Psalm 119:105

https://www.bridgeway.church/book/

📣In case you haven’t heard…
Exactly one week ago, June became a permanent part of the family after she was released from her service dog training program. I am so thankful to be able to continue nurturing and enjoying this smart, affectionate, happy-go-lucky, well-behaved girl — hopefully for many years to come! ❤️🤍💙 This truly was an “Independence Day” for her, as she retired from her service job and got to come home to her adoring mommy (me).
🇺🇸To continue following June’s adventures, follow for her perspective on life.

🇺🇸Happy 4th! Loving my new 5 minute nails ❤️🤍💙

In 2011, I was a resident of Mercy Multiplied. I went into the program broken, desperate, and hopeless. 7 months later, I graduated with renewed hope for life and freedom from oppressive struggles. It was a transformative experience for me and launched me forward on my journey toward healing and thriving in this life.
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Tomorrow, on June 4th, I’m participating in the Run for Mercy 5K and Family Walk on behalf of Mercy Multiplied.
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Mercy’s residential and outpatient programs are offered completely free-of-charge and help women break free from life controlling issues and situations, including anxiety, depression, s*xual abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, addictions, unplanned pregnancy, and s*x trafficking. Please consider making a donation. Every dollar makes a real difference in a young woman's life, often saving her life, as Mercy Multiplied did for me.
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You can DONATE here: https://donate.mercymultiplied.com/fundraiser/hoperesurrected
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Please help me reach my goal to benefit this worthy cause. Together, we can help transform a woman’s life like mine has been.
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With hope,
⚓️Leanne

❤️I love you June. I know you will find the path you are meant to be on. All roads lead to somewhere good for you. Just know, behind my smile are tears of joy and great sadness. I miss you already. 💔

⏱Counting down the very few days and hours we have left together…I will miss you so much when you go.

We played musical BEDs yesterday and it was a blast! Guess who won…(hint: ) The Gold Rush Chapter Social was really fun, good luck to all the pups turning in next week!

New hair who’s this? 💇🏻‍♀️ I have missed short hair SO much! What a difference (and relief) it makes! Swipe 👉🏻 to see the before 📸

Trying to beat the heat by spending a bit of time at 🎯 and then I found When Twilight Breaks, by my friend ❤️ It’s her newest WWII novel, available at Targets across the nation, and on sale to boot?! 🙌🏻 Plus it was in the Club Picks section! Congratulations friend!

For those of us who experience more persistent or intense pain, it is completely ok to feel those emotions. Don’t let anyone label you by your pain. It is not your identity. Your story is still important and you are still valuable. You matter to me.
🖤🤍🖤

This adventurous girl did so well exploring the Dinosaur Caves and rocks at low tide! I’m so impressed with her curiosity, bravery, and s***k! We have an explorer on our hands 🌊🪨🦕

Something drool-worthy for your feed tonight🤤🍷🍣 Thanks for a fantastic baked fish Galley Restaurant!

Birthday beach vacay here we come! 🌊🏖☕️

❤️🤍💙 This is 30, and 6 months. ❤️🤍💙

🥃Cheers to the next 30 years…

💯Days with June.
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💌Dear Juney,
You are sweet, attentive, pretty, smart and soft. You are filled with endless energy and joy. You put infinite smiles on my face. The days have gone by so quickly, and I treasure every single one that I have the privilege to raise you.
I love you ❤️ always.

Seriously. 🛑 I’ve been apologizing since I was told I was “a burden,” “too negative,” “too much to handle” and to “go fix myself before I get involved.”
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These types of thoughts completely degrade your mental health because they stick for so long. Even one comment years ago can make an impact on someone where they constantly feel bad just for being alive. So here’s some advice:
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If you are the person saying you can’t handle someone else’s issues, change your language.
🖤Remember how powerful words are. Your comment can be taken as rejection, offense, and may make a lasting impact. Be careful what you say.
🖤It’s ok to not know what to do or say. You can take a step back in a kind way. Make it about you and not their struggles. You need some time to work through your thoughts. Take some time, do some research, and prepare your questions.
🖤Ask questions to start understanding. Don’t assume you can’t handle the hard stuff because you’ve never experienced it. Emotions are universal. Just because you haven’t done a specific thing doesn’t mean you can understand the feeling underneath that.
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If you’re the person hearing those comments, hold them loosely.
🖤One person’s opinion about your struggle does NOT define you. We are all complex humans with our own issues. Everybody has something they struggle with.
🖤Keep in mind it might be about them. Humans are so selfish. That person might be overwhelmed with their own junk, maybe they had a traumatic experience in the past, or is simply afraid to work through hard things. That is ok. If they don’t serve a positive role in your life, you don’t need them. Establish some good boundaries with people who can uplift and support you, even if they don’t understand.
🖤Remember: If you are alive, you deserve to be here, to be ok, and to take steps towards health and happiness. Stop apologizing and get this thought into your head instead:
YOU.ARE.WORTHY.OF.LOVE.AND.LIFE

Have you ever see scars on someone’s arm, and been terrified to ask about them because you don’t know what to say or how to bring it up? Have you noticed a friend covering up a little more in the warm months but you’re not sure if you should ask if something is wrong?
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If you’re struggling with these hurdles and you the talking about depression, mental health, and self-harm freak you out, you’re not alone! I have a hard time talking about it and I’ve lived through it! But we don’t have to be afraid and stuck in silence anymore. I’m writing a book to help you be a supportive friend, parent, ally to the self-harmer you know.
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Drop me your QUESTIONS and STRUGGLES in talking about this subject! What would you want to learn from a book to help you encourage the self-harmer you know? What are your biggest questions?

👉🏻Swipe to see June’s growth progression from in honor of National Puppy Day! 🦮

I know I should be grateful but...I need coffee.
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I wonder if you’ve ever experienced that sudden shift when one minute you had the time to check things off the list but anxiety held you back from doing anything and the next moment, your life is overflowing and there isn’t time for what you should have done before.
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I should be thankful for a steady stream of income and the security that entails. But my to-do list is a never ending story and my “should-haves” weigh heavily on my emotions. I forget to stop the hustle and just be thankful.
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Each of our hustles look different, but we all experience that “full to bursting” anxiety at some point in our lives. I think when our overwhelm meter skyrockets, we need to take a moment to indulge in something small that makes us smile and stay grateful for what we have. One tangible way for me is to buy a coffee.
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I know daily S*bucks run might be routine for a lot of you, but for me, it’s a luxury I rarely allow due to finances and my frugal nature. So despite the sudden change from a light to a heavy load, I decided to stop, drink this divine liquid, and smile that I have a job, an income, and a reason to keep going.
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What is one way you can take a moment for your sanity and be grateful you have the privilege to keep going in life today?

‼️Extra! Extra! BIG News‼️
On March 4th, I officially signed with my first literary agent! [Long post warning]
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As a new writer just coming on the scene about 5 years ago, I’ve had a lot to learn. Of course, I pitched my ideas at writing conferences and wanted to get traction with my dream of being published. But I certainly never expected it to happen this way. It started with a volunteer opportunity.
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At the end of 2020 I was unemployed, depressed, struggling to make it out of bed let alone through the day. I volunteered with because I craved community and needed to accomplish a daily task to gain a sense of productivity. What I received was so much more than I anticipated. The leadership team welcomed me with open arms into a group of smart, accomplished, generous Christian writers.
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Fast forward to February and I was attending my first virtual mega writing conference with WCCW. I took classes to hone my craft and ask questions of experience faculty members. I spoke my truth and released my vulnerable book idea into the world. I wasn’t expecting anything in return; it was a big step to even speak the idea to another living soul. I wasn’t striving to “get” anything. And suddenly, I was sitting down (virtually) with a spirited, kind agent who wanted to represent me and my book. Isn’t that how God works? When you’re least expecting the fulfillment of your desire, God steps in with perfect timing.
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I could not be more thrilled to work with you on this project and get this book into the hands of people who need it.
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Why was this so accurate for the month of February? Not just because I love peanuts. There’s a far deeper reason 👇🏻
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I lost my job in October 2020 and since then have been depressed and lethargic. I had no motivation to get up and do productive activities. I was forcing myself to go through the motions of the day and harshly critiquing myself at every step along the way — even when I had small “wins.”
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But on February 7th, June entered my life. She is the happiness in my life and it is my absolute joy to share my home and all my love with her 💗💖💝 I can’t wait to see what March brings.
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*Vulnerable post* Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
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I encounter this question all the time in job interviews and every time I wonder, who actually has an answer for that? My canned answer is “I see myself waking up each day happy, going to work in my fulfilling career, helping others and coming home to spend time with loved ones and enjoy life.” But that is not reality.
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We might wish for that happy-go-lucky life, but no one actually believes a “perfect” life is attainable. We are too imperfect; and that is where the beauty in life is found.
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The truth is, I am still figuring out what I want to do with my life, which is a pretty daunting task considering I’ve contemplated ending it before. At times I don’t see a future at all. Sometimes I’m figuring it out one day, hour or even one minute at a time! How can I know what I will be doing in 5 years? That is for God to know and me to trust in. The future is uncertain, but I can choose to focus on living right now.
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I’m making it up as I go along — how about you?
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