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Category Archives: Mom Pride

Moms in Progress: Jen Moore

11 / 19 / 1911 / 20 / 19
Processed with VSCO with ih5 preset
Virginia

Thanks for chatting with us, Jen.

This is a beautiful and precious picture! Who is this handsome little guy?

Jen

This is one of my twin boys, my sweet Owen. He’s been through a lot of health challenges in his little life, so I cherish moments like these.
At least a few times a week you can find us at either a therapy appointment or specialist follow-up. I’m blessed that I can be fully present for all of his day-to-day care, though it certainly challenges me as well.

Virginia

It’s great that you can be there for him. Would you tell us what you’ve been learning through those challenges?

Jen

Lately, I’ve been reminded that perspective shapes everything. There are certainly days when I feel the frustration creep in and I’m running on fumes. Sometimes the last thing I want to do is go to another appointment, or I long to go back to the professional world with my former colleagues.

I’m learning not to push those feelings away when they pop up, but acknowledge what I’m experiencing, grow from it, and then look for the positive. Moreover, I’m learning to look for the lesson: What is it that God is trying to teach me?

Virginia

That’s a good way to handle those feelings – not dwell on them as much as find a reason for them. So how you apply that to your life?

Jen

Well, for example, our son’s combination of medical needs makes it so that I’m not able to work outside of the home right now. In a couple of years, my boys will be in all-day school and I’ll have the capacity to work or volunteer – to figure out what’s next. Some days that feels only a heartbeat away; other days it feels like an eternity. I’ve learned that I can either dwell in a place of sadness for the career I loved and lost, or I can praise God for allowing me the opportunity to be my child’s primary caregiver and number one cheerleader. I can thank Him for the thousands of ways my former teaching days have helped me navigate the special education process as a parent with confidence, or how it’s helped me address unique sensory challenges with creativity and craftsmanship.

Virginia

I love that you’re using your professional experience to help you with parenting. Talk about skills that translate! It’s reassuring to hear that God really does prepare us for the next big things in life. It is hard, though, to long for a life we no longer have. I bet many of our readers can relate to that.

Jen

Sometimes it feels like I’m stuck in my current situation and the rest of the world is moving on without me…and maybe that’s the point. Perhaps He’s teaching me to shift my perspective and where I place value, helping me to grow in patience, and find comfort in the waiting.

I was reading a blog post written by “Proverbs 31 Ministries” this morning, and author Chrystal Evans said this: “In a day when so many people are searching for significance and great purpose, perhaps the simplicity of Jesus’ instructions has been lost to us. There’s value in your ministry at home – whatever home is to you in this season.”

Virginia

I love that! …I can relate to that. Sometimes it’s hard to see past our mundane tasks but they’re not mundane to God. What does your new perspective look like now?

Jen

I find myself in this unique position. Our situation has forced me to take a step back personally and professionally – whether I wanted to or not. Caring for my twin boys and being their mom is the most incredible privilege. Our circumstances have allowed me the opportunity to meet people and experience things I would have never otherwise: I’ve grown in self-confidence as an advocate and knowledgeable caregiver for my child. I’ve had the privilege of meeting other families who navigate incredible medical journeys with grace and unequivocal strength each and every day. I’ve witnessed, time and time again, the passion, heart, and endless knowledge medical professionals and therapists bring to the table, and we’ve been fortunate to have a village behind us who now feel like an extension of our family. I’ve unearthed passions that had slowly been smothered by old priorities, and I’ve fallen into new passions for helping others that I might have never discovered otherwise.

I want to keep my heart open to where God is leading, but sometimes it feels like He’s given me too many passions! I’m feeling inspired by so much right now, but family life in this moment takes all of me. Living in the “grey area” can be scary and overwhelming, but it’s also exhilarating and, I know, ultimately purposeful when it comes to His plan for what comes next.

Virginia

How cool that you can look through the difficulties and see that wisdom.

So where do you go from here?

Jen

We just found out a couple of months ago that Owen needs bilateral hip correction surgery this February, which means 6 weeks of recovery in a full lower-body hip/leg brace. For a while, I struggled with the worry of what those 6 weeks would look like, and I felt all of the sadness. But as I’ve had time to reflect over these past 2 months, I’ve also been able to find the positives: we caught the problem early, thanks to constant monitoring and an incredible medical team. The surgery will, ultimately, improve his quality of life. And I’m reminded again that right here, right now, this is where I’m meant to be. I’ll wait, Lord. I’ll wait.

Virginia

Waiting is hard but the Lord makes it worth it.

Do you have any other advice for our readers out there?

Jen

Everyone is struggling with something. Problems both big and small come to us in waves. When we start to get swept off our feet, our first inclination is typically to turn inward and close out the rest of the world.
Don’t.

Look outward, look to others. How can you help? His plan is so much bigger than you or I. Connect with the people He brings into your life.

Keep perspective. You’ll almost always find a positive.

Trust, and be patient in the “grey areas” of your life. This season of motherhood you’re in? It’s chock-full of humility, grace, and lessons. Your worth is not attached to a title, profession, or the current chaos level in your household.

Do you keep showing up, Mama?

Then your “significance” and “greatness” in His eyes is already assured. You just need to see it, and believe in it, for yourself. ??

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Mom Win Wednesday: Melanie Keller

3 / 22 / 17

As a mom, you may not have qualified for the Rio Olympics, but you certainly deserve a spot on the podium in our eyes. There are no “perfect scores” in motherhood, but if you had a discipline breakthrough, managed a meltdown, or found time in your day to pursue a dream, then we want to take a moment and celebrate alongside you. Even the little “victories” add up to be big wins in the long run; so let’s champion each other. After all, we’re on the same team.

Laura
Laura

Today we are featuring Melanie Keller.

Laura
Melanie

Hello, I’m Melanie!  Here is my lovely family – my husband, Matthias, with our four year old, Sophie, and me with our 2 year old “pup,” Luke.

 I have to show two pictures because it is pretty much impossible to get a decent one of us all together.  Here is what we ended up with the last time we tried!  LOL

Laura
Laura

I can so relate to that!  But I kinda love the whole group of you! ?

So do you wear any other hats in addition to your [big, gigantic, hugely significant] Mom Hat?

Laura
Melanie

My husband and I have recently, and unexpectedly, started a business.  Our son, Luke, has a very rare and damaging seizure disorder, which has caused him to be globally developmentally delayed.  Luke has recently learned to use an adaptive switch to play with toys.  Adaptive switches look like buzzers with a cord coming out.  The cord gets plugged into a specially adapted toy, and when a child hits the switch, the toy is activated.  Most toys have small buttons and kids like Luke can’t activate them independently.  Switches and adapted toys make it possible for these kiddos to play.  Unfortunately these adapted devices are extremely expensive. My husband and I figured out that we could adapt toys ourselves and started making some for Luke.  Then I decided to offer a few toys in a special needs Facebook group.  The response was overwhelming!  Parents were so excited to have an affordable option for buying adapted toys. They encouraged us to create a page, offer more toys, and so on.  That is how LDK Adapted Toys LLC was born.  Now we have a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ldkadaptedtoysllc) and an online store that sells switches and adapted toys for reasonable prices.  We have the pleasure of knowing so many kiddos, like our son, now have access to fun toys.  Our current goal is to continue to spread the word so that ALL children with limited mobility have access to engaging toys.

Laura
Laura

Wow!  Thanks for sharing that story.  It’s so cool to see how you could use your new toy-maker skills to help others in need.  Dreams you didn’t know you had fulfilled because of your littles!  Speaking of which, tell us about your kids.

Laura
Melanie

I have two gorgeous kiddos that I love more than anything.  Sophie is four, smart and stubborn.  She knows what she wants and she goes for it – I love that about her!  Luke is two and is an easygoing, happy little guy, in spite of all the challenges life has tossed his way.  Many parents of children with special needs describe their children as little warriors, and Luke is no exception.  I couldn’t be more proud of these two!

Laura
Laura

Sounds like you have so much to be proud of!  What is a recent mom win you experienced that took time and perseverance to accomplish?

Laura
Melanie

Acceptance.  I have spent so much time hoping and praying and begging for Luke to get better.  I have gotten my hopes up at the start of each new medication and picked myself back up when each has failed to work.  There is a very fine line between hope and denial and I was riding it for a long time.  Over the past year I have slowly and painfully let go of the vision I had for Luke’s future.  I have learned to appreciate each small win – I no longer think about milestones, instead I celebrate “100-meter-dash-stones!”  I have come to realize that I have this incredible, beautiful, happy little guy and that he will be who he will be, and I’m okay with that.  I still have hopes and dreams; I have goals I want him to achieve, but whether he does or not, I’m okay with it.   Now I can focus all of that energy on loving Luke and enjoying who he is.  Acceptance was hard won and I am proud of it.

Laura
Laura

Oh, Melanie! I have tears in my eyes when I read this.  What a difficult battle to fight and come out on the other side with the incredible peace of that word-acceptance.  Good Job!  On a lighter note, what is a mom win that you would text your best friend?

Laura
Melanie

The kids and I got home from grocery shopping the other day.  Sophie walked in the door, opened the closet, took off and hung up her coat, and put her shoes away.  She then went and got her cup of milk out of the fridge, took it to her little table, and started coloring a picture.  I have been working so hard on helping her develop some independence….it was that incredible moment when I realized something has actually sunken in!  YAY!!!

Laura
Laura

So cute! Now, can she come and teach my boys this, please?! Do you have any words of encouragement for other moms in the trenches like you?

Laura
Melanie

Being the mom of a child with special needs is incredibly isolating.  In the midst of all the grief and uncertainty and exhaustion of this journey, I have discovered the joy of deep, genuine friendship.  Through Luke’s therapy class, I have met some absolutely amazing moms who are dealing with the same emotions and struggles.  They understand and that makes all the difference.  We are all so incredibly busy, but we get together for dinner once a month, and we talk and laugh until we cry!  They are my silver lining.  I want to encourage moms of children with special needs AND moms of typically developing children to take the time to cultivate those friendships – they are worth every second of time and effort invested!  Wearing that big, gigantic, hugely significant mom hat is exhausting – we all feel it and we all need someone to have our backs, even if it is just listening to us rant.  Life is crazy busy and as moms we tend to sacrifice our own needs – but believe me, making time for adult friendships gives us some much needed connection, and ultimately helps us be even better moms!!!

Laura
Laura

How right you are Melanie!  Thanks for that encouraging reminder to cultivate those friendships in my own life!

Laura

If you would like to be featured as a Gold Medal Mom or you know someone who would, please contact us here!

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We don’t claim to have motherhood figured out. Actually quite the opposite. We’re a group of women who first and foremost love the Lord and want to honor Him with our lives and talents. And we decided that what better way for us to sort out this beautiful and messy thing called motherhood but to process it together in text messages? Our prayer is that as we share our real-life stories and honest experiences, every mom who visits our blog will receive tangible truth and experience real grace.

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