Hi everyone! So, as you can imagine it is REALLY tough to find a picture of myself without little people wrapped around me. lol!  This is the best I’ve got for today! I’m modeling my Trades of Hope jewelry, made by talented artisans in Haiti and Thailand.  These little pieces of jewelry are empowering women out of poverty around the world, and I love wearing them as a reminder to support others and be thankful for all that we have been blessed with.

When I first became a mom I thought that meant I could sign-up and volunteer for anything and everything that came my way.  I was putting one hat on after the other (metaphorically speaking) until I felt like I was some kind of crazy circus juggler just seconds away from toppling over.  I’ve learned over the years to remove some of the hats and be more selective when choosing which ones to wear.  Currently, I am spending my extra energy (which is not much) 😉 working on this blog, teaching Sunday School, and working as a Compassionate Entrepreneur for Trades of Hope (as I talked about earlier).  Volunteer work and service in general are two things that make my heart full, so these are hats I always need to wear to feel balanced and re-energized.

I have two precious baby girls who are 19 months apart- Grace is 4 and Claire is 2 ½.  I get asked nearly every day if they are twins, because they look SO much alike but they are completely different personality wise.  Grace is my oldest and is sweet, cautious, inquisitive, imaginative, and tender hearted.  Claire is my youngest and is a total hoot! Other than making us laugh ALL the time, she is energetic, social, free spirited, joyful and empathetic.  I love how God hardwired them with such unique personalities, because they challenge me in such different ways but at the same time, I love soaking in those distinct characteristics that make them so special.  I’m still working on getting them to appreciate each other’s differences as much as I do. 😉

Taking my oldest to The Nutcracker over the weekend was a definite mom win.  Before I was a mom I envisioned motherhood as purely magical- I went straight to the “big fun stuff” like Disney World, piano recitals, soccer games, etc. and completely skimmed over the sleepless nights, diapers, tantrums, and mom worrying. Ha. This moment of sitting with my first born at The Nutcracker didn’t just happen, it took 4 years to get to this point- 4 years of really hard work.  But as I watched Grace’s little ankles crossed in her seat and her eyes light up as the Sugar Plum fairy twirled across the stage, I had this feeling of deep, deep gratitude.  Gratitude that I get to be this little person’s mom and that we get to share moments like this together.  

“You guys! Both my kids are fully dressed in the house at the SAME time!” 😁

But in all honesty, between the “naked stage” and the “dress up stage” there aren’t many moments in our house that everyone is fully clothed. Lol!  And while we’re on the topic of calling something a “stage”, is there a time limit on this because we may be transitioning into a “lifestyle”??  😉

My favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  This verse brings so much peace to my heart, just knowing that no matter what may be going on in our lives, the God of the Universe loves us and is working EVERYTHING out for our good.   I’ve really leaned into this while working through my health issues this last year.  Read More Here

 I pray that if you’re reading this, you can take a deep breathe and rest in those words today.