Grace-filled home

Nowhere near a perfect friend, but this is what I always strive for. So grateful for the friendships in my life that fill my cup 🫶🏼☀️🍃

Tell me you were raised on hard alternative without telling me…. 🤪

Nothing gets me absolutely PUMPED like a breaking benjamin song but especially from Phobia album 🤭

I vividly remember many times hearing Pastors say “everyone has the same 24 hours in a day” and while technically true, not everyone has the ability to spend it the same way. We all have different careers, hobbies, family lifestyles. However, I did realize once we adjusting my priorities, it’s actually so much easier than I thought.

I was talking to a coworker about studying for my next certification test to become licensed. I remember her telling me to study 2 hours a day and I thought she was nuts, but since putting my phone down more, I have come to discover that its actually more attainable than I expected.

In a given day I can read my Bible for 20 minutes in the morning and take my time drinking coffee, make my toddler breakfast, clean up said breakfast, and study for at least an hour sometimes 2. I can work on sewing projects and clean the entire house, and I can take a nap before work. I can go to work for a few hours in the evening and still have the energy to go to the gym immediately after and give it 100%.

I thrive on routine and lately I’ve been so blown away at how much of an impact it really makes in my daily life when I truly commit to that routine. I can see my endurance building before my eyes. I’m crushing goals I thought were impossible to crush. All glory to the Lord for sustaining me through every moment of it. 💪🏼☀️

Since the day our daughter was born, I’ve always given her as many kisses as she’d allow. In the middle of the night, I’d nurse her to sleep and my husband would tease me say “can you stop kissing her now?” I didn’t even realize how much I did it. It was just instinct to give her love because she’s my proudest accomplishment.

She’s now a year and a half old and the sweetest and most tender little girl. She has more stuffed animals than I can count. Something I noticed a few months back is the mouth/ nose area on all of her stuffed animals being sort of matted and messy looking… even after we washed them.

Then one day when she’d woken up, she grabbed her favorite stuffy, her “Baba” sheep. She cuddled him and held him up in front of her and repeatedly gave him 5 or 6 kisses. She does this constantly now. When she drops him, she says, “I sorry” and gives him a hug and kiss. She shares her food with him by pretending to feed him whatever she has in front of her.

I’m certainly not mother of the year in the nurturing department, but I pray that if she has learned anything from me as her mom, it’s to show affection always and apologize when we hurt someone else, even unintentionally. She soaks up so much at this age and it’s so beautiful to watch her little heart grow and soften for others.

What a precious gift it is to be a mother 🤍

Two things I’ve been HEAVILY prioritizing this last week - faith and fitness

Both are kind of a sore subject at times. Mostly due to the guilt of being knowledgable in both but choosing not to excel in either. My husband and I had a very hard conversation this week. We talked about adjusting our priorities and doing it as a team.

So now every morning we wake up and start the day reading our Bibles. Sometimes together but sometimes not. But each day, I’m finding the Lord using what I read as a little nudge of hope to get through this really odd season of life.

When it comes to fitness, it’s much more challenging. I have a lot of knowledge but not a lot of motivation. I took this picture after my first workout. It’s my “before” if you will. A reminder of where I’m starting. Even though my mom pooch is hidden and you can’t see the cellulite in my thighs, it’s a good motivator. My body is a gift. It is strong. I am strong. I am capable. And I can reach my goals.

I’ve found faith and fitness go hand in hand. Two things that seemingly have no correlation. I can tell you honestly, that my faith is the reason I’m able to be sustained physically. With each day that I pour into these pieces of my life, I feel less drained, less mentally and spiritually exhausted and more grateful and optimistic about the circumstances of my life.

The goal is always progress not perfection.