Look Up, Child.

It's happening all around us, yet, we are blind to it as we turn our gaze inward.

Look up. 

Mamas are drowning... exhausted by the weight of motherhood and flooded schedules. There is no time for being a mom because life has handed us too much. The laundry is piled high, toys are everywhere, and frozen pizza and corn dogs is usually what's for dinner. Dance class, soccer practice, co-ops and events flood the calendar and there is no time to focus on what really matters.

I look around at my dearest friends: you know, the ones I am supposed to be doing life with..."my village"? They are exhausted, not sleeping because of screaming babies, grieving deeply because they have lost a child or loved one, juggling children and jobs because they can't afford to live without the extra income, battling health problems that affect daily life, struggling with self-worth, being eaten up by depression... the list goes on....

We bottle up our pain and OH, we Mamas...we march on.
We take one step at a time, exhausted by the battles we face. We struggle along quietly as we bridle our feelings and try "oh so hard" to stay strong and unwavering in our storms. We don't look up for help from our Creator and we don't look up to see that we are all in this together.
We hold ALL that weight and eventually we can no longer go on as it begins to crush who we are, what we believe, and how we love those around us.

Question. What happened to bearing one another's burdens? It has become a thing of the past. We have lost our trust and have been let down too many times to count. We have embraced the mindset of  independence to a level of absurdity.
There is no time for encouraging because we don't want to offend, no time for leaning on someone because we feel as if we are "expected" to keep it all together, and no time for trust because we don't want to get hurt or someone to think badly of us because of our struggle.
Do you know what this means? Satan is winning, girls. Don't let him win.

Oh sister, STOP. Break down those walls. Let your sister in but also be there for her too. Look up and look around... we have a village... we have a community.... we have a family.

First, give it to God... your Creator and your Maker. He knows the hairs on your head, the hours you slept last night, the pain you are feeling whether physical or emotional. He knows your financial status, the next bill you are about to receive, and the next blessing He will bestow.
Matthew 11:28 says: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 
I don't know about you, but that sounds magnificent. Rest and peace? And all we have to do is look to the Father?

I'm going to encourage you today. This is something I have challenged myself with.

Maybe you are harboring a grudge towards a sister who has hurt you before. Be gracious and give her another chance... she is struggling too... you may not know what she is struggling with because you haven't asked or tried but I CAN ASSURE you, she is. We all are. I didn't say you have to tell her your deepest darkest secrets... but don't ignore her. Love her. Relate to her. Be real.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 

Also, stop comparing your trials to others. What she is going through may not be as bad as what you are going through...... at the moment. But that's just it.... she's still struggling and you can either be there for her or judge her.... and I know what kind of friend I don't want/want to be.
2 Corinthians 8:13-14: For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 


Be real, be you.... This? This is life. This beautiful, messy and sometimes gross (I have a 1 year old boy....and there is regularly unidentifiable substances involved) chaos.... this is it. There is not the option of pausing or suspending the forward movement of life. Theres going to be trials. Grieving and heartache will never go away. It goes on... and you don't have to do it alone!
Look up, child.

Crazy Days

Oh my goodness.... this is totally one of those days. I got up, and since that moment life has NOT been easy....
The puppy keeps growling and biting me, the baby REFUSES to go down for a nap (I have been in her room about 10 times to correct her and put her back in bed), and I feel like this baby is about to fall out of me......  :/
Just a minute ago, I was thinking to myself, "I would REALLY like some peace and quiet right now, just so I can get a few things done around the house".... HAHAHA! YEAH RIGHT. Instead I am holding my little non-napping girl (who is singing loudly in my ear), listening to a puppy cry, and realizing in just a few weeks I am going to have ANOTHER little baby to care for... and you know what??!?!?!! I AM CONTENT with that... maybe feeling a bit unnerved, but completely content!! :)
THIS is what life is about: raising your children through both the easy and the hard times! Life should have nothing to do with me and everything to do with my family. :)
Even if it ends up being 4 o'clock when I finally get to get a shower.... then so be it! I guess I will look HORRIBLE when my Caleb comes home, but at least he will know I was loving on our girl all day. I am going to enjoy every minute I can with my little ones (and my so handsome husband), and by Jove we are going to make memories together! :)
Well, my lesson learned for the day has been shared with you... don't let the small things overwhelm you in life! Embrace those crazy moments and just laugh at them! :) They will be gone before you know it.
Love you guys!
Em

DROWNING

It is a feeling you cannot control, you are filled with panic but also with an acknowledgement of what is about to happen, and all you can do is hope that this is not the end.
There are times I feel like I am drowning in a big black hole, and I don't know which way to turn to get myself out of it. This is the moment it seems when I finally and completely turn to God for an answer (and not rely on my SELF like usual)... and then I get a HUGE slap in the face from what He says to me....
This is what I got TOLD this morning:
Emily,
Life here on earth is a whole lot of NOTHING unless you are living fully and completely for Me.
The things that you worry about... THEY are not important, and in the end they will pass away. I will provide you with what you need and you just need to trust that and live for what is important.
(I was reading in Ecclesiastes... ALL IS VANITY).......

After being slapped in the face, I remembered that my God has NEVER let me down. Sure, there are times that are very rough... but if life was perfect and easy then I would never fully rely on the Lord and follow His ways. God has given me sooooo much... a WONDERFUL (and absolutely drop dead handsome husband), a sweet and precious Caydence (eventhough she is a bit independent at times, like her mama), another precious little girl (who I will meet face to face in 8 weeks or so), a lovely home where we keep warm and safe, the cutest puppy ever, and amazing family and friends that surround me each day....
THANK YOU GOD for such amazing blessings. Help me to look at the positive everyday and not the negative. Help me to hope and rely on You and not let the things of this world consume (drown)my soul. I want to be consumed with love for You.

WoW!
What a week! Even when there are no plans for the week, things just EXPLODE into mayhem! ;)
The crazy decisions I made this week include, but are not limited to, getting a 6 week old puppy, potty training this new puppy, and putting my 16 month old daughter in a toddler bed.
On top of all this craziness, this week marks 30 weeks of pregnancy (and I am feeling about 52 weeks pregnant). Haha. People probably think I am STUPID making all these decisions at once, but I think I work WAY better when I am crazy busy and have a million things going on at once, than when I just have one thing to do.
Anyways, enough about my week... just wanted to drop in and give you guys some encouragement from my experiences.
Recently, I have felt the need to change some areas in my life, like mainly the ORGANIZATION part. Normally I am a bit of a procrastinator and completely unorganized.. I have started making little changes in my life and I am seeing a HUGE difference in every aspect of my life.
Just take little steps at a time and everything just seems to work out and become part of your daily life. DO NOT try and do it all at once, or you will just overwhelm yourself and then go back to your regular chaotic self.
There is a song that I used to sing when I was a kid, and I think it was written by Ron Hamilton (aka: Patch the Pirate), and it goes like this:
Little by little, inch by inch,
By the yard it's hard, by the inch what a cinch.
NEVER stare up the stairs just step up the steps,
Little by little, inch by inch!

My favorite verse (just for fun):

Growing in Christ takes work everyday,
Reading your Bible, learning to pray,
Build godly habits, seek help divine,
Great things are done one step at a time!

Growing, little by little,
Em

"Just Keep Swimming"

Overwhelmed... Yes, that is my "go-to" word for the day. I was trying to think of "when life gets you down" quotes, and the only one I can think of is from Finding Nemo: "When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming!" This is so so true.

I find myself on the internet a lot these days: trying to find coupons, working on my business, surfing the latest Pinterest pins, trying to find encourgaement from a blog, or even just information on a virus my daughter has... day in and day out my mind and heart are bombarded with these amazing mom-models that I see (you know; the ones that make amazing breakfast in the morning, have their houses completely organized and perfect, are super crafty, feed their family all organic food, are super cute and trendy, and have like four kids), and I think to myself about how far away from perfect I am!
Hi, my name is Emily and I am the "last-minute mom" who sometimes works on memory and my android calendar alone. I am the mom who rarely remembers to set the coffee-pot timer so my sweet husband can have a cup-a-joe in the morning, the mom who trys so hard to be organized but keeps finding that my house has exploded into a 16-month old's toy bomb, the mom who thinks that pulling out the glue-gun is getting crafty, the mom who feeds her kids non-organic veggies and meat, the mom who sometimes (shhh) wears work-out pants to Walmart (don't tell Stacy and Clinton), and the mom who only has one baby (another on the way) but seems not to be able to conquer the world like most.

Ok Emily, is this what life is really about? Being the perfect mom??? My mind wants to scream yes, but my heart knows the REAL answer. NO.
Ok then! What is the purpose of your life here on earth?
I hang my head in shame, because I know the answer and it is not what I always live by.
The answer is this, the purpose in life is to glorify, honor, and live wholeheartedly for my Savior... NOTHING hindering or in the way!

Right now, my desire to be the "perfect" mother/wife is in the way of what I really need to be doing.
I know that once I put my all my effort into the ONE thing that is important in life (my relationship with my Savior), that then EVERYTHING else will fall into place.
I may not EVER be the "perfect" mom or wife, but I will strive to fear the Lord and let my priorities fall into place from that point on. J-O-Y: Jesus and others and you... what a wonderful way to spell joy!!!!!

Oh my, a lesson that I continue to learn over and over and over again.
Sorry Lord, I am obviously a slow learner.... so just keep on teaching me!

And my advice to any one else that may be struggling with this same thing (sometimes I feel like the only one)... My dear friend and sister: JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!!!!

Love,
Emily

It is Christmas?!

I think I just blinked for one second and now it is December... a week away from Christmas to be exact. Working, doctor's visits, shopping, cleaning, wrapping, and traveling are all on the "to-do list" for the week. Sometimes I would like to just close my little eyes and wander off to a faraway place with warm breezy air, palm trees, and beautiful pool-blue waves........
Hmmmmmm

Well, not including the above list, I am working a full-time Mama job caring for my sweet 15 month old girl. She is my pride and joy! This week she has discovered the art of climbing ON EVERYTHING! I walked out of the room for one second, walked back in, and there she was.... STANDING on top of the dining room table and there was water all over the floor!!!!!!! When did that happen?!?! AHHHHHH! ;)

Today I finished some projects on the "soon-to-be's" room (including moving the changing table, swing, and rocking chair into place), and organized my Caydence's room (including moving the toddler bed into her room). Yes, I moved a toddler bed into my 15 month old's room! WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!!?? Ok.. here is what I am thinking.... I have one crib, I was given a toddler bed, and I want to save money and NOT buy another crib. Do you think it will work?!?!?!? I sure hope so... I know this is going to be a struggle for sure. NEED LOT'S OF PRAYER! :)

Well, I gotta go get "Punkin" ready for bed. We will try the toddler bed tomorrow at nap-time. I am not dealing with that tonight! Well, night-night! :)

Love,
Em

Monday Morning

Woke up @ 7am with a sudden realization that my baby slept through the night. The past couple nights have been rough because I finally stopped swaddling her...which makes her hate sleeping on her back. So, I put her on her belly to sleep last night... and it worked like magic!
Getting a good night sleep is a great start to your day, so I got up and celebrated with a fruit smoothie and some wholegrain waffles. MMMMM. :)

I am missing my husband today... every Monday is like a withdrawal when he goes back to work.... and every Friday is like a huge relief because you know he is back (except when you know that the weekend will be crazy busy, and you know you won't hardly see him at all).

Oh how I long for some warmth (the kind when you can wear shorts and tank tops)... I am looking forward to setting up a baby pool in our backyard and soaking in it with Caydence, sitting out on the back porch in the mornings with Caleb (drinking coffee), going for walks around the block with my family, letting Caydence sit around with just a diaper on, going to parks, and so much more.
It's funny how winter is just really depressing. In the spring and summer, I don't have a hard time getting up because I am so excited about my day... but winter is a completely different story. I guess I shall say that I suffer from sun deprivation.

Well, my little one is thinking she needs me, so I will go check on her, then do laundry, then wash dishes, then vacuum, then clean the rest of my house... bleh. :)
Have a wonderful day all!
<3 Em