I'm not a Proverbs 31 woman and that's okay

Whoa! It feels good just writing that. I've been feeling pretty inadequate lately and today just pushed me over the hypothetical ledge.

This month has felt never ending and way too busy. Mostly because I overcommitted and made things priorities that should have just been options. Like most of us, I wanted Christmas to be perfect this year and for the most part it was but I'm not sure it was worth the added stress for me or my family. In fact, I know it wasn't.

This is so hard for me to admit. I am a typical Type A personality and not someone who enjoys making mistakes. {not that anyone really does but you know what I mean}

Replaying today's events brought me back to leaning on Jesus, the only one that can truly bring my spirit rest. It also leaves me kicking myself for not turning to Him sooner which starts a vicious cycle of self deprecation.

be the change

I'd like to start by saying thank you so much to everyone who participated in the survey.  Although the questions were basic, it gave me some perspective on where the majority lie in regards to feminism. You can check out the results yourself by clicking here: Survey Results  

I know I've left you all hanging for way too long on this post. Life has been cray to say the least. {MY BAD} I am actually really glad I didn't get to this post as quickly as I had planned because the more I thought about it the more my thoughts on the subject changed. More on this later but in the meantime, I'm sure at least a few of you are wondering where this topic came from to begin with so here we go...

Recently, my husband and I have been at odds about some of my feminist points of view. Our disagreement came as a surprise to me as we tend to agree on most things. In my frustration, I decided to do some research and organize my thoughts and opinions in a blog post. I wanted to prove my point to him and anyone else who doesn't see things my way. {I enjoy being right, I am often wrong and am usually quick to admit it but yes, I enjoy being right}

Over the past few weeks, I worked on a rough draft but I just never found the time or inspiration to finish it.  I found it difficult to put all of my thoughts into words and after a while I wasn't even sure I cared to finish the post. I sat on my thoughts for a few days and tried to pinpoint exactly how I felt. Here's what I came up with:

1. It's okay if everyone doesn't understand my point of view.
2. It's okay if people view feminism negatively. 
3. I can only change myself; I can't change others. 
4. God created men and women equally. {"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galations 3:28} *Side note-we were created equal but differently and one of the contacts I reached out to, Shannon Kirkpatrick, pointed this out to me and also that he believed these differences should be celebrated and not forced into oneness. Thank you for always giving me your informed perspective, Shannon. I took your thoughts to heart and was blown away with how something so simple could transform my perspective*
5. Proving my point doesn't solve anything. 

The last point I've listed really challenged me because I wanted to write about this on MY blog for ME but I kept coming back to whether or not my post would help solve anything. Then, while driving into work, I heard this passage being read on KSBJ, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

God has an awesome way of pointing things out to me when I least expect it. I've heard this verse a thousand times.  Normally I would have tuned it out but for some reason I listened closely and out of all the words in this passage these stood out, "...It does not insist on its own way..." These words were confirmation that proving my point wasn't important and that showing and giving love is what's important. I knew then that my old post was no longer the direction I wanted this discussion to go. 

Instead, I want to start a positive discussion with action behind it. All too often we as Christians and "keyboard warriors" have an opinion about everything and feel the need to tell people how to live their lives. For me, it's time to stop being that person and to start being the person that follows what Jesus said in Mark 12, "Love your neighbor as yourself..." Mark 12:31. 

So instead of "proving my point" and insisting on my own way, I'm going to try to be the change I'd like to see in the world. I want to use the platform of this blog {small as it may be} to help others. I thought a lot about what I could do to make a difference {insert blank stare emoticon here} and then I came across, of all things, a Facebook post that was like a flashing arrow from the BIG Guy upstairs. The post was from a friend of a friend, they were requesting baby items for a teen motherhood program for a local high school. I knew instantly that this was something that I not only have the ability to do but it is also something I really want to do. I want to show love to young mothers and mothers to be and help them be successful despite their difficult circumstances. {without judgement or any other strings attached}

I have a lot of research to do and this idea is still very new but I think with enough hard work it could be great. My first plan of action is to find a program or organization to get involved with. My second plan of action is to organize a baby item donation drive. If you know of an organization or program for young expectant mothers in the Pearland or Houston area please comment below. Also, if you're someone with baby items lying around don't give them away or sell them just yet. My goal is to get the donation drive organized before the end of the year. So set your items aside and save them for these mommies and mommies to be! {When I say baby items, I mean everything it takes to care for babies: clothes, diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, blankets...}

Thank you again for participating in the survey and being apart of God working in me. I hope you will join me on my quest to make a difference!

momspirational mondays: patience is a virtue

Unfortunately, I don't have a guest post for this Monday but there a few things in my head so I'm going to go ahead and write my own post. No need to worry, some of my favorite mommy inspirations are working away on their posts and we should have one of those ready next week! 

Patience is a virtue, not one that I possess but a virtue none the less. I am always working to improve in this area. More often than not, I end the day wishing I had been a little more patient with my husband, at my job and even with my sweet girl.

In my head I usually make everything more complicated than it really is.  Even as I write this I'm questioning if patience is always a good quality to have. Like most things, I think it just depends.  In my current circumstance, God is telling me to yet again be patient. The desires of my heart don't match with the desires of my pocketbook and man that can be hard to swallow.  (Especially while working full time with a great and expensive education to pay off) 

What do you do when you're at a crossroads in life? How do I keep my mind focused on the present when I just want to know what God has planned for my future?

For now, I'm just going to enjoy every second I get with this precious girl! (excuse the less than ideal iphone pic)

For your own adorable onesie or toddler t-shirt check out The Little Goose Shop

Amelia,

Sweet girl, mommy isn't going to be much help on this subject.  The best advice I have is to remember that life is a marathon and not a sprint.  Try to enjoy the here and now instead of always looking to the future. For a person with high aspirations and life goals like your mommy, all of this is easier said than done. God has a plan so put your faith in him and take on each day one at a time. 

momspirational mondays: Lauren Attaway

I'm so excited to introduce our next momspirational mondays contributor, Lauren Attaway. Lauren is my good friend and also my current hairstylist! She is not only a superstar with hair but she is an amazing friend, wife and mama! Lauren inspires me in so many ways but her soft spirit is what I find most inspiring.  In all situations she is calm and level headed which are qualities I strive for but don't always get quite right.  I'll let her takeover now and you all can see for yourself why I wanted to include her in this series. Enjoy!

P.S. Aren't these two stunning?!? Just wait until you scroll down and see their kiddos! 

 Photo Credit: Katie Lamb Photography https://www.facebook.com/katielambphotography

Hi! My name is Lauren, and I am delighted to be guest blogging for Mandy on this Momspirational Monday! Thanks for having me, Mandy!

            I am a 29 year old mom of two (more on them later!). I stay at home Sunday through Thursday with my kids, and I work part-time Friday and Saturday in a local upscale salon. I have been doing hair professionally for over seven years, and will celebrate six years at my current salon this fall!

            I love getting to spend the majority of the week with my littles, and love that I still get to enjoy doing something creative with people I have come to know as friends on the weekends. I regularly brag that I have the very best clients, only because it’s true!

            When I’m not at the salon, you can find me hanging out with my kids and husband, taking a million pictures with my not-so-professional iPhone, looking up recipes on Pinterest, roaming the aisles at Target, and singing at my church. Family is one of the greatest gifts I’ve been given, and I am lucky enough to live close to my parents, and my sister and her sweet family.

            Speaking of family, why don’t you meet mine? My husband, Kurt, and I have been married for 8 years. We first met when we were just four years old when our dad’s worked together at the church we attended. Kurt has been my forever crush! His family moved to Dallas when we were still kids, but we reconnected after graduating high school, then became friends again through long emails and nervous phone calls. We dated long distance for a year, and were married at 21! He is truly a gift. Kurt is genuine, always ready with a compliment & encouragement, and has been the very best Daddy to our kids. The. Very. Best!

            Now to my pride and joy... my babies!

            Canten Alan is our very first child, our son. He will be 4 this fall and can’t wait for his birthday. He is such a sweetheart, full of compassion. He loves super heroes, sports, his little buddies at church and pre-school, scrambled eggs, and chocolate milk! He has recently decided thats “girls and princesses are kinda gross”, but assures me that he still loves ME! What a relief! He absolutely loves to sing and to worship (and play air guitar! and play air drums!), and to pray. I am regularly in awe of his prayers... the overflow of his heart.

            Emersen Kate is our second-born and will be 2 in January. When Emersen was born she came out with the highest-pitched cry I had ever heard, and my exact thoughts were, “Here we go!”. That mentality has followed me as I’ve been raising her these last 20 months. She is an absolute joy and keeps me on my toes! Emersen loves her big brother (and everything he does!), saying “Hi!” to everyone we pass wherever we go, coloring (but only markers will do!), climbing everything, other babies, spaghetti, and fruit snacks! She has always been and excellent communicator and I am looking forward to continuing to watch her big personality grow as she grows.

            Family is definitely a huge priority for me, and I feel like the biggest building block for how we choose to parent is team work. Kurt and I from the start have given our best to being together in our approach. From diaper changes, baths, and bed time, to navigating discipline and emerging toddler opinions, neither of us expects the other to handle it all. I am so thankful I have, truly, a partner who I can share this amazing, but often challenging, journey with as we walk down this parenting road. At the end of a harder-than-usual day when I feel like I’ve given all that I’ve got and the countdown to bedtime is on, there is so much reassurance, for me as a mom, to know I have someone who loves my kids as much as I do, that’s going to walk through that door, have my back, and help me pick up the pieces I’m dropping.

There is so much I could leave here in a letter to these sweet kids of mine, but for now, I leave you, simply, with what’s on my heart.

Dear Canten and Emersen,

            I want you to know that it’s ok to not have it all together! There are going to be many seasons in your life where you’ll feel on top of the world, and you will be! Seasons will also come that are challenging, painful, and stretching.

           My desire for your lives is that you will grow to be confident in who God created and is calling you to be... That you can walk through this life with your eyes and hearts open, unintimidated to stand out in a crowd, allowing your light to shine. There are so many distractions and temptations to pull us every which way, and you will feel the tug. But as my dad always told me growing up, as I was walking out the door, “Remember who you are!”.

          I pray you can know who you are, that Daddy and I can help guide you in that discovery, so that as the seasons of life change, you will remember who you are and walk confidently through this life!

                                      

Love, 

Mommy