The Practice of Slowing Down
“The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4
I had a very hard day a few months ago. I’d been parenting on my own for a week while my husband was on a work trip and felt overwhelmed. It felt like my nervous system was running wild. After putting my kids down for their naps, I just collapsed on the couch and lost it.
After I calmed down, I realized something… All day I’d been rushing around for no reason at all. I felt hurried with every task I did and conversation I had with my son.
The main thing children are looking for from their parents is connection. They love when we slow down and lean into the things they say. How we show up for them, whether it’s in big or small ways. When we show excitement for the things that they’re excited about.
By simply slowing down, we’re showing our children that what they say and how they feel holds value - it actually matters.
How can you practice slowing down today and being intentional with those in front of you?
Creating Habits that Stick
What if I told you that something seemingly small is actually making a significant impact on your life?
As I embark on my new fitness journey, I want to share with you some things I’ve been stewing on.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tried the whole gym thing multiple times and gave up pretty quickly. My New Year’s resolutions were more like New Month - I never made it past February. Full of excitement, I’d drive over to the gym in a cute new workout set and water bottle. I’d give it my all for a few weeks, but by the time my motivation wore off, I would cold turkey stop. This hasn’t happened just once, but multiple times.
Recently, I discovered what I believe to be a big key to why this kept happening. It all starts with little daily decisions. Habits.
I want to encourage you to really press in here. I actually really desired a healthy lifestyle, but didn’t have the tools to help me get there. I had a vision, but no direction. That in turn kept me being led by motivation, but relying on that alone wont get you where you want to go.
Often, we look at the big picture of what we want, but don’t realize that it’s the little decisions we make daily that help us get there.
I’m very much still in the beginning stages of my journey, but as I continue moving forward I want to start sharing more with you about things I’m finding are making big impacts on my life. Here’s what I’m currently applying and I’m already finding good fruit with it:
Identify your goal. Without this, you will have no idea where you’re heading.
Create small habits that lead you closer to your goal.
Imagine these habits start stacking up over time - what could your life look like? How much closer would you be to your goal?
They say a book isn’t written in one day. It’s intentional time spent writing word by word until it’s complete.
Today, think of one habit you can add onto a habit you currently have. This evening after showering, I set out my workout clothes for the morning to make getting to the gym one step easier. What’s one thing you can do?
The little decisions you make daily can change your life.
With love,
Shelby
When The Season Doesn’t Seem To End
Have you ever found yourself asking, “Will this season ever end?” I’ve been there and I want to share with you some of my experience.
Riley and I packed our U-Haul, hitched it up to my dad’s dark blue Chevy truck and made our way to coastal North Carolina. Leaving everything behind that felt familiar, we embarked on the new. It was scary, yet thrilling thinking about the wonders of what God could do with this transition.
After adjusting to our life in the south and settling into new routines, we found ourselves in a season of great stretching. It seemed as if all our comfort had been stripped away. We found ourselves asking, “How much longer, Lord?”
If you’re anything like me, when things don’t happen in the timing or way I pictured it, it’s easy to lose heart. I want to share with you some of the most valuable lessons I’ve walked away with through seasons like this:
Self-reliance will not lead you to the life you really want, it will actually rob you of it. This has to be stripped away when following Christ because He loves you and wants to give you an abundant life.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Don’t lose hope - continue praying in faith and believing for breakthrough. (The Book of Psalms is my favorite to read and pray.)
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” Psalm 126:5 (ESV)
Don’t just pray for the season to end, but pray for His strength to endure. The most valuable lessons you’ll learn in life come out of seasons of great stretching. Ask Him, “What are you trying to teach me?”
I want to end with encouragement for those of you who are currently walking through this - it will eventually end. You’ll walk away with greater wisdom than you had entering it if you choose to walk it through with Jesus. Seasons come and go - allow Him to use each one to shape you into looking more and more like Him.
I pray the wisdom you walk away with will be so valuable and impacts generations.
With lots of love,
Shelby
7 Things I’ve Been Practicing To Make Motherhood Sweeter
Last night I was up late nursing my daughter and I got this download that I quickly wrote in my notes before falling back into a deep sleep. Lately, I’ve been applying different small ways in the day-to-day that help to bring more enjoyment and peace into motherhood and I felt led to share some of those with you. Now, I want to remind you that true joy will be found in Jesus and doing all things with Him. You’ve also probably already heard all these ideas by now, but if you’re seeing things that are repeated, you should pay attention, as there’s usually something to it and requires application.
Here are 7 different things I’ve applied into my own life I’m currently practicing:
(My non-negotiable) - time in the secret place. If you don’t know what the secret place is, it’s simply when you get alone with the Father and spend time with Him. It might look like being on your knees in worship, prayer, reading the Word, or simply listening.
SLOW DOWN. Ugh, so much easier said then done, I know. So, what do you do when your baby is crying, your toddler is throwing a tantrum because they didn’t like what you cooked for them, and you have yet to take a sip of water (not to mention it’s 9pm)? Slowing down is a game-changer for your nervous system. It’s helped me to not react to the situations around me, but able to calmly respond without my body being sent into fight or flight mode.
Getting dressed for the day. I love putting on a dress that makes me feel beautiful. Not only does it make my day feel more productive, but I know my husband loves it (they might not admit it, but husbands love when you put in effort!) Wearing dresses have felt more practical and comfortable. It also takes the effort out of needing to plan an outfit on top of all the other decisions needed to make throughout the day.
Praying for my family. Have you ever tried praying for someone you might be going through a hard time with and found your heart instantly soften? Not only does it do wonders for prepping your heart for the day, but something actually shifts as we pray. You’re communicating with the God who created the universe! Set a reminder to practice this at the same time daily (while folding clothes, washing dishes, or putting away toys) and watch what happens.
Focus on connection over cleaning. I want my children to remember me not by how hard I worked to maintain a clean home, but by stopping what I was doing to look them in the eye. Raising littles will always be prioritized over homemaking.
Not aiming for perfection. Wow did this burn me out quick, because it’s quite impossible to achieve. When you mess up, be quick to repent to your husband or children, and ask the Lord for ways every day you can grow! Make sure to journal it so you can watch your progress.
Spend time outside. Whether it’s daily prayer walks, going to the park, taking a hike, or a picnic. This is one I’m currently trying to be more disciplined in, as it can seem so much easier to stay inside having a toddler and an infant who needs to be fed every 2 hours, but the danger to that is isolation. It’s so much healthier mentally, emotionally and physically for you and the kids. Aim every day to get fresh air!
Whether you choose to practice these or not, I want to remind you that the work you’re doing as a mom is incredibly important, and it should also be enjoyable! Yes, it’s true it’s hard work, and there will be tough days, but focusing on little adjustments to your day can make the world of a difference in the long-run!
Scripture to meditate on this week:
Psalm 127:3, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
Welcome To My Blog!
Today is officially the day I start my blog journey and I am so excited! I can’t emphasize enough how passionate I am about all things motherhood - the beauty, joy, peace, creativity, sanctification and love that comes with being a wife, homemaker and raising littles. Before I begin explaining why I’m starting this in the first place, I wanted to thank you all for being here - for reading my posts and supporting my journey. Whether this impacts 1 person, or 1000 people, my prayer is that every post you read, every helpful tip you practice and every scripture shared that you would find yourself growing closer to Christ and being shaped into the incredible woman God has called you to be.
Why I’m starting this blog:
I became a mom for the first time in June of 2023 and quickly found that I adored motherhood. I find it absolutely incredible that we get to create eternal beings that are made in His image! I’m a 27 year old stay-at-home mom raising my (almost) 3 year old son named Micah and 4 month old daughter Rosalie. Being a mom is such a beautiful gift, but our journey hasn’t been easy. After experiencing an early pregnancy loss, we found out a few months later that I had a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks. While on the road to healing, I felt led to share my story online and was shocked to see how many messages I received of women who were going through something very similar. I’ve had the opportunity to pray for many others online, in my community and in the streets who struggled with infertility and loss.
Through facing hardship and seeing the Lord redeem it in such miraculous ways (more on that soon), my passion for motherhood grew even more and I began having this burning inside of me to help others by bringing them along this journey with me. Which leads me to today, starting this blog.
Wherever you’re at in your journey, my prayer is that this would be a place of encouragement, hope and growth.
One last note… As I get ready to hit publish, I wanted to share a quick insight to my day. After being up every two hours last night to breastfeed and an early wake up call, my toddler skipped his nap which then kept my daughter up all day. Getting both to bed tonight was brutal - two overly tired children who didn’t want to sleep. I debated if I was still going to launch this today because it’s late and it felt a bit incomplete and messy. Then, I realized something… isn’t that the point of this blog? Not aiming for perfection, but focusing on a little bit of progress each day?
Thanks for being here and excited for you to join the journey with me.
Sincerely, a tired mom with a very full heart.
Xo - Shelby