Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ~ Romans 12:2a, NIV

My name is Cicely and I live in north Florida with my husband and five children. Yep – 5. For anyone who thinks, “That’s too many kids!”, let me just point out that reactions such as that are why I started this blog! 🙂 Although my life with a family of seven, an ever-evolving career, and a head of big, afro-textured natural hair isn’t the ideal for some (and trust me, I’ve experienced the negative reactions to prove it), it’s my idea of beautiful! And because it’s true that into every life some rain must fall, I’ve also learned to find joy in re-defining beautiful during and after a storm. So, a lot of what makes me the woman I am today doesn’t fit the generally accepted ideal – what’s wrong with that? It actually sounds a lot like what God had in mind for me, anyway! In this space I will discuss and celebrate all of the above – inspired by my life experiences and my observations of the lived experiences of others. I’ll also include a lot of other things about which I am passionate, like faith, culture, and social justice. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you join me on this journey of embracing The Other Beautiful!