Author: Adventures

Christina (Dombrowsky) Barnes Before I moved up to Georgia to work for Adventures, I was applying for a Rotary Fellowship to go pursue my 2nd Master’s degree in Australia. I had it all planned out: I was going to go study Community Development in Queensland, complete my field work on the Thai/Burma border, make a little spot for myself on the Gold Coast, and get to it. I was ready to just up and move across the globe. For a 2 year commitment. That might sound pretty scary to some of you — a little outlandish and extreme. But I was comfortable with that. I know how to do that. I...

In the Spring of 2011, I sat alone in my apartment binging on Netflix shows for weeks. I barely got out of bed. I only left when I had work or class and I hardly ever put any effort into maintaining my friendships. I slept most hours of the day and went through more rolls of toilet paper to wipe my tears than I can remember.When I was out in public, I did my best to put on my pretty smile and happy attitude so that nobody would know that I actually was far from okay.After all, I had always been the happy, out going, active type of girl so no one would ever assume that i was struggling. But...

I never did drugs. I never struggled with alcohol use or abuse. I never broke the rules or rebelled against my parents. Instead, I spent my life people-pleasing and performing for approval or affirmation, fueled by a childhood fraught with abuse and lacking in fatherly affection. It’s a different kind of beast, but challenging and traumatic just the same. I learned to adapt. I became anything and everything I could, shouldering far more than was healthy or appropriate, all in the hopes that I could prove I was worthy of love and attention. Having a wide variety of interests, I started...

We fumbled through our wedding ceremony, laughing as I mixed up which hand to place his ring on, and just like that we were married! My wedding was a blur. I’ve been married 3 months now and little bits and pieces are coming back to me. Fragments of rushing to get ready, my mom zipping up my dress, laughing with my bridesmaids, drawing shaky breaths in waiting for him to see me. I became a puddle on Justin’s shoulder when it began to rain right as the guests arrived. He knew I wanted the wedding outside,  so he convinced everyone sit in the misty Washington rain. When I walked...

Manipulation is a strange drug, and one I became addicted to around the age of 10. The mathematical equation of my life leading me to the answer, manipulation, was a ferocious design of type A personality, strong perfectionist ideation, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive tendencies, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and competitive gymnastics. I became skilled at listening to the lies my internal and external circumstances were roaring at me. I took ownership of everything I perceived and turned it into a manipulated truth. Quickly, I became so deceived by the self-manipulation...

Beauty for Ashes truly believes in the freedom and power that can be found in sharing your own story.  We believe when a woman shares her story healing will take place as the Holy Spirit sheds light on the dark places.     For this reason, we have created a platform for you to share your stories!  We want to open this up to anyone.  If you would like to step out, share your story, and empower other women to do the same, please email us your story at beautyforashes@adventures.org.       We will be featuring stories on our blog every week!  We...