My name is Sweet JamieLee Joy on instagram because when I chose that name, I was baking at Washington Family Ranch for hundreds of campers every week and I had a dream to open my own bakery. I loved making hundreds of loaves of bread, frosting endless amounts of cupcakes and going in early to make sure the cinnamon rolls were done on time.
When we moved back to Bismarck, we opened Mighty Mo. Although we didn’t make many sweets, I loved preparing a place for people to gather and feel loved. I loved greeting people every morning with a smile and serving them their favorite coffee, knowing every regulars order and what was going on in their life.
Somewhere between Oregon life and coffee shop life, I had a shift in my heart to eat healthier. To care about what I was putting on and in my body. To actually limit my sugar intake and not make baked goods every week. Buttercream frosting is my weakness and I think God new that so now my body is sensitive to dairy to protect me. Lol. Just kidding. Kind of.
In the middle of the mess of those years of deepening my relationship with Jesus, healing from my past and learning how to give myself grace….a name I always heard Holy Spirit call me was His sweet JamieLee.
I looked at my instagram name this morning and thought of all this. The sequence of the dance we’ve been in. His grace that covered every hard decision, every tear, every step of the journey.
Now, I find myself in this season. Completely different then I pictured my life would be but beautiful just the same. A career where I can create, teach and encourage. Where I am able to create a safe space for women to gather and know how deeply they are loved and can do hard things. God is full of hidden mercies that we only get to witness if we loosen our grip and let Him lead us.
That’s the pattern I’ve been seeing. Every time I loosen my grip a little more, He has a surprise for me. I believe He has one for you, too.