motheringinthemess happymothersday goodfriday interrupted beautiful beauty dontmindthemess family godbewiththem godblessthem godhealthem ilovethem lastnightssoak lukeliveson miscarriageawareness mothersday mothersday2019 neveralone nevergiveup passover proudmom proudmommabear theyareworthit theydeservebetter youareworthit noparking
Because motherhood is always unexpected and adventurous and being real is way better than faking perfection... Easter Sunday was adventurous and beautiful because my infant began to cry immediately when our pastor began teaching and I had to feed and change her diaper. I then leaked all through my Easter dress and had to change, which allowed us (baby and I) to arrive back to the service right as the teaching ended. Thank goodness I had a spare change of clothes. But we still had a perfect Easter picture and day. Why? Because it’s not about my perfectly crafted photo op. It’s about Jesus and His amazing grace in this crazy messy life. Thank you Jesus for your grace! O and high waisted mom jeans. Amen. @xorosamaria #easter
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#mama #motherhood #mom #baby #parenthood #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #reallife #jesus #church #raisingarrows #strongwomen #love #real #newborn #motheringinthemess #jenhatmaker #rachelhollis #women
Tis the season☀️⛱....almost
My annual photo of the first time (taken 3 days ago) I ventured to what will soon become my life and my nemesis.
The place I will refresh and recharge before I eventually regret. I will immerse myself in sunblock and all things coconut until early August when I’m ready to pack it back up for fall and football!
I love the cyclical seasons that restart our body clock and climb us out of what may have been a tough season. I’m so ready for summer, sleeping in (my deepest condolences for those that still don’t get this), and a schedule of my choosing...not Hays CISD or youth baseball league.
So as the warm sun sneaks in but before the scorching days of hit...I’m going to relax, renew and remember these decadent moments.
Where is your favorite summer spot?! ☀️ Tag your summer pool buddy!! #motheringinthemess
As a follower of Jesus, it would be so easy to just surround myself around like minded people. To only hang out with Christians and continue to bless the blessed. But I truly believe that would be a huge disservice to my faith and to my world.
To walk with Jesus means to walk like Jesus. He didn’t hang out in the temples all day with prophets and Rabbi’s, he ate with the tax collectors, prostitutes and leper’s. He displayed humility and grace to the least of them, to the broken, wounded.
He converted with love, not force.
Whether others come to Christ in my presence, is not my place to speak on. Only God can transform hearts, not humans.
We never know the seeds that are being planted through inclusion, acceptance and invitations. Without motive, without agenda.
Let’s stop being threatened by those who challenge and question our faith & start asking simple, open minded questions.
Les break the cycle of what the world “thinks” Christians are and start showing them who we were meant to be. Kind, loving, patient, peaceful, with joy, forgiving, gentle.... Tag someone you love ❤️ #motheringinthemess
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.””
Revelation 21:1-4 NLT
#motheringinthemess
#miscarriage #loss #hope
Uganda. This is the location of my Ugandan sister that made this beautiful bright yellow bracelet from paper beads. (Yes...PAPER!!) This is the location that she sits today, marginalized, possibly oppressed but strong. Courageous. Brave.
This is the location where a piece of hope stepped in and offered her an opportunity, a chance to see all her potential...utilize the very gifts God gave her. And share it.
Noonday is not just another jewelry outlet, it is a mission, it is a story. Serving our fellow sisters that have not been handed easy, not been handed privilege.
I am grateful to not only where this handmade piece but share its story. Thank you @dlanoonday for gifting me this piece of art ❤️ Thank you @jessicahonegger for creating the opportunity for her, and so many others, to do so. Thank you for serving our sisters in 14 countries so well
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#motheringinthemess
#noondaycollection
#uganda
#paperbeads
Today we rejoice.
Today we honor...we remember...we celebrate the lives of our angels gone too soon.
5 years ago, I would wake up from surgery after having to let go of my son to find a box. A box filled with love.....hope. This box would resemble everything I needed in a moment that I felt like I lost everything.
Luke Lives On is not just another nonprofit. It’s not just another organization asking for donations. It’s not just a “sweet” thing that one mom decided to do to honor her son. Luke Lives On is a movement. It’s an action. It’s discipleship at its finest. It’s a grieving mother, with a full time job and family of her own that pours out her heart and energy to serve a sisterhood that’s suffering, grieving.
Today I don’t go for the beautiful venue, amazing raffles or delicious food, I go to celebrate Corey Martin, baby Ortiz #5, Ava Grace & baby Ortiz #7. I go because this brings me joy among the tears. I go because we show up for one another.
@lisaren9 I couldn’t be more grateful that God crossed our paths. Thank YOU for giving me a place, a platform to remember...to rejoice in my suffering. You are one of the good ones sis “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:1-5 NIV #motheringinthemess
#miscarriageawareness
#angelbabies
Being seen is being held. Knowing that while your season of suffering hurts, you aren’t alone.
I’ve walked many dark seasons without sisters by my side and it’s hard. Dark thoughts of failure and fear take over, leaving you to actually start believing them. But with sisters, your people it’s life changing. It makes the unmanageable, manageable. The heaviness, lighter.
Let’s stop staring at our sisters in suffering and start ‘seeing’ them. See them with genuine questions and the time to listen. See them with love and the actions that follow. See them through prayer and the promise of new hope.
She may feel weak, depressed, hopeless...and that’s when we step in like Spartans at war and carry her across the hot coals. That’s when we show up.
I don’t know where I would be today with my sisters, my people these past 2 weeks. Y’all literally came out of the ashes and rose me up like a Phoenix. My spirit is forever grateful, my heart forever changed.
I love each and every one of you. You know who you are. I see you. ♥️ #motheringinthemess
A.MEN.
Sisters, mourning is a piece of our puzzle. It’s the source of pain that lets us know we are still alive, still here.
Mourning doesn’t break you, it humbles you. And the comfort, oh the comfort, that’s what holds you and reminds you that you are not alone.
I sit with you today sis and mourn with you, for you... everything will be ok. This too shall pass.... Xoxo,
#motheringinthemess
Where can we spread a little love in our marriage today?
A sweet text, a squeeze on the buns or a simple I’m sorry if we said some hurtful words?
The one thing I’ve learned in my marriage of 9 years and relationship of 14 is that men like to feel needed/wanted and respected. And for me that feeling is completely mutual! I tend to give respect when I feel respected!! (Preach sister! Ok, I’m preachin’ it to myself but whatevs ♀️) But for real, if we want to be respected, shouldn’t we show it first? Maybe that’s holding our tongue from a hurtful comment or simply thanking them for all they do for us and our family?
Husbands can be difficult, no doubt. But so can we. I’m a whole lotta lovely sprinkled with a little bit of crazy (or a whole lot but shhhh) I like to think it keeps my man on his toes but I also know it can be hurtful, dismissive and rejecting.
When’s the last time you got a sweet text, hot kiss or random little gift? Well...the best way we can get the affirmations we desire is to start handin’ em out for free!
Let’s love our men the way WE want to be loved and watch the dominoes fall... Marriage is not the fairytale we read as a child. It’s work, compromise and humility BUT when we do the work, make the compromise and humble ourselves to put their needs above our own (at times...this isn’t an all or nothing deal)... love is the end result.
Good luck ladies!!! We got this! Lets spread the love
#motheringinthemess