First Post!

I have read all sorts of books, blogs, groups, stories and everything else about what a woman is and what is considered godly. I was raised in the self esteem generation. We were taught that all things are possible. We can accomplish anything that we put our mind too and even if our work was sub par or worse, we were told it was amazing, as not to affect our self esteem. I grew up in the Catholic church but I didn't know really who God was. I memorized sacraments and did all my years of CCD and was confirmed in the 11th grade. It wasn't until I was 21 that I found out who this Jesus was and how the Bible was personal to me. God has since led me on a wild ride that has brought me to my current life of raising 7 children while in the process of adopting our 8th. Yet something has eluded me, what it means to be a woman according to the Bible. I can go into any bookstore and find a whole section of books on women, from Christian to Secular to somewhere in between. I have been fed messages that tell me women can be anything a man can do, to women should always wear dresses, women shouldn't be in church leadership roles, or they should, women should be silent, women should be bold, women should be leaders, women should be submissive.....its enough to make your head spin. I have often wondered what God says, what does his Holy Word say about women? I am on a journey to find out. I plan to research as many references to women, wives and mothers in the bible and post them here. If I am going to say I serve the Lord, I should hope I know what He says!