December Mommy Favorites

December Mommy Favorites

I consider myself to be a low maintenance woman because I don't wear makeup, and on the rare occasion that I do wear makeup I only wear mascara, I don't have time or money to get manicures and pedicures, let alone the patience to let my nails dry, and if I had to pick my favorite outfit, it would consist of leggings, wool socks, and an over-sized hoodie that I probably stole from my husband's closet. Basically, I don't have much time nor do I spend much time on my physical appearance. However, the mini-routine I do have time for consists of my favorite products!

TIGI Bed Head Masterpiece Hairspray

It's a 10 Miracle Shampoo plus Keratin

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF and CeraVe® PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

adidas Ultimate climalite Capri Workout Tights - Women's

adidas Superlite 6-pk. Women's Low-Cut Socks

Women's adidas Outdoor climaproof Storm Prime Hooded Jacket

Nike Flex Trainer 5 Women's Cross-Trainers

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Graham's 3 Month Recap

It's hard to believe my baby is 4 months old today! How did that happen? Graham's third month flew by, and it was probably because he seemed to hit milestone after milestone!

During Graham's 3rd month, he loved:

• trying to hold his own bottle
• sitting in his Fischer Price froggie seat
• sucking and holding onto his football
• attending storytime at the library
• watching other babies
• wearing his wearable blanket to sleep
• listening to and looking at his mobile
• rolling from his back onto his tummy
• looking at the pictures when Andrew and I read to him

During Graham's 3rd month, he accomplished the following milestones:

• at exactly 3 months old he rolled over from his tummy to his back
• started pushing up during tummy time
• at 13 weeks old he attended his first wedding 
• he started sleeping in his pack'n'play when we traveled and sleeping in his crib when we were at home
• his hair was long enough to be lathered with shampoo during bath time and have it styled afterwards
• he drink 4oz at a time of Gerber Soothe formula
• he has continued to sleep well during the night
• at 14 weeks old, he celebrated his first Halloween dressed as a Smurf (Daddy's favorite!) and he went trick'or'treating to most of his grandparents' houses
• hee started rolling onto his side very easily and likes sleeping on his side sometimes
• at 14 weeks and 4 days he rolled from his back onto his tummy
• he has been determined to try to crawl, but when he doesn't go anywhere he gets frustrated with himself
• at 16 weeks old he started bringing his knees up when trying to crawl but doesn't keep them up long
• this whole month he chewed on his fingers and drooled like crazy! Everyone says he must be teething
• He also started sitting in his high chair if he was awake at dinner time

During Graham's 3rd month, his measurements were: 

14lbs

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

The Perpetually Prayerful Vlog

If you enjoy some of the topics discussed here at the Perpetually Prayerful Blog, you can now hop on over to YouTube to follow the new Perpetually Prayerful Vlog! 

Perpetually Prayerful also has a new presence on Facebook! Click here to see the Perpetually Prayerful Facebook page.

Please follow and like the YouTube channel and Facebook page to see more information about Perpetually Prayerful!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Low Calorie Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Autumn is my favorite season. I love the leaves, the crisp air, wearing sweatshirts and jeans, and knowing that it is the beginning of the holiday season! Here's the tricky part though, the holidays are upon us, which means that, as Americans, we stuff our faces! How on earth am I supposed to enjoy the holidays, which generally revolve around food and family, if I'm counting calories?! By making some healthy dishes of my own! And how can you go through autumn without having pumpkin and apple everything? Or is that just me? Either way, I was given an AWESOME low calorie pumpkin spice muffin recipe that I am going to share with you! To determine the calories or my recipes, if the food isn't listed on my FitBit app, then I go on my laptop and plug my recipes into MyFitnessPal and it does all of the calorie counting and nutrition label information for me!

Low Calorie Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Calories - 87 per muffin
Prep Time - 10 minutes
Cook Time - Varies (it was 25 minutes/dozen for me)

Ingredients:
1 box of Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix
1 c. water
1 can of pure pumpkin (I used the Aldi brand)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven according to the instructions on the Spice Cake box (I preheated my oven to 325*)
2. Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl until there are no lumps in the batter (I used my hand mixer to make the consistency smooth)
3. Line a muffin tin with baking cups
4. Scoop batter into baking cups and fill them 3/4 of the way (I used an ice cream scooper and found that I filled them in about two scoops)
5. Place in oven for designed time according to the back of the Spice Cake box (My muffin tin makes 12 muffins so I left them in for 25 minutes)
6. Make sure the muffins are thoroughly cooked by sticking a toothpick into the middle of the muffins. If the toothpick comes out clean then they are thoroughly cooked, if not, then stick them back in the oven for a few more minutes.
7. Let them cool.
8. ENJOY!

You can't beat low calorie fall treats! Do you have a low calorie recipe to share? Please leave the link in the comments!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

A Glimpse Into My Stay-At-Home-Mom Life

I think most stay-at-home-mom's (SAHM) would agree that the worst question you could be asked is "What do you do all day?". This is often deemed as rude of offensive because the questions is usually asked under the assumption that we frivolously do nothing all day long, when in reality, most of us are doing chores around the house, cooking meals, grocery shopping, scheduling appointments and running our children, pets, cars, etc. to those appointments, all while feeding, educating and clothing our children in the midst of trying to take care of ourselves too. We are very busy. In fact, our job rarely has "breaks" or vacation time. An occasional afternoon where our child successfully naps for an extended period of time or sleeps soundly through the night can be far and few between. We treat silent car rides like an afternoon at the spa and we savor any outing by ourselves, until we remember why we're SAHM in the first place, to care for, love, and teach our children in the best way we know how, by being present.

Not all parents or families have the luxury of having a stay-at-home-parent. My husband and I have taken lots of steps to make sure I can stay home with our kids until Graham and our future children are in school full-time, and even so, we struggle at times to make sure this dream stays alive. We make financial, social and other sacrifices daily because we see the importance of having me home with our kids. We see the value in establishing a trusting, loving, and safe relationship from the moment our children are born and we see the power in the presence of a stay-at-home-parent. So if stay-at-home-parents don't frivolously do nothing all day long, then what does a semi-typical week look like? (I say semi-typical because let's be honest, there is some room for routine, and then the rest can go out the window really quick)

Key Points:
At this point, my schedule is primarily baby-led and based on my 3-month old's needs. I don't worry about doing things at specific times, but more aiming to carry out a predictable routine for both of us.

During the Day - When my son wakes up to eat, we always change his diaper, feed him, interact with him for an hour (play, sing songs, listen to music, read books, do tummy time, etc.) and then lay him down or rock him to sleep. Awake 1 hour + Nap 1 hour + repeat until around 6pm-7pm until the child is a bit older and can stay awake 2 hours and Nap 1 hour.

During the Night - When my son wakes up during the night to eat, we always change his diaper, feed him, and then immediately lay him down or rock him to sleep (always down in the dark or by night light).

• Sunday Church and family time

• Monday (Stay in or around the house)
• Wake up when baby wakes up (anywhere from 6am-9am)
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Mommy's workout + baby's floor exercises (kicking on a blanket and tummy time)
• Baby naps + Mom takes a shower and gets ready for the day + Mom eats breakfast
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom does chores + Mom eats lunch
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom makes dinner
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby + family dinner time
• Change baby's diaper
• Baby goes to bed for the night (anywhere from 6pm-9pm)
• Mom does chores + relaxes with Dad

• Tuesday (Stay in or around the house) 
• Wake up when baby wakes up (anywhere from 6am-9am)
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Stroller ride (Mommy's 30 minute workout) + Baby naps + Mom takes a shower and gets ready for the day + Mom eats breakfast
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom does chores + Mom eats lunch
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom makes dinner
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby + family dinner time
• Bath + Change baby's diaper
• Baby goes to bed for the night (anywhere from 6pm-9pm)
• Mom does chores + relaxes with Dad

• Wednesday (errand and appointment day)
• Wake up when baby wakes up (anywhere from 6am-9am)
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Mommy's workout + baby's floor exercises (kicking on a blanket and tummy time)
• Baby naps + Mom takes a shower and gets ready for the day + Mom eats breakfast
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom and baby run errands + Mom eats lunch
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom makes dinner
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby + family dinner time
• Change baby's diaper
• Baby goes to bed for the night (anywhere from 6pm-9pm)
• Mom does chores + relaxes with Dad

• Thursday (errand and appointment day)
• Wake up when baby wakes up (anywhere from 6am-9am)
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Stroller ride (Mommy's 30 minute workout) + Baby naps + Mom takes a shower and gets ready for the day + Mom eats breakfast
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Mommy & Baby Library Class
• Baby naps + Mom does chores + Mom eats lunch
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom makes dinner
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby + family dinner time
• Change baby's diaper
• Baby goes to bed for the night (anywhere from 6pm-9pm)
• Mom does chores + relaxes with Dad

• Friday (errand and appointment day OR stay in or around the house)
• Wake up when baby wakes up (anywhere from 6am-9am)
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Mommy's workout + baby's floor exercises (kicking on a blanket and tummy time)
• Baby naps + Mom takes a shower and gets ready for the day + Mom eats breakfast
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom does chores OR Mom and baby run errands+ Mom eats lunch
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby
• Baby naps + Mom makes dinner
• Baby wakes
• Change baby's diaper
• Feed and burp baby
• Interact with baby + family dinner time
• Bath + Change baby's diaper
• Baby goes to bed for the night (anywhere from 6pm-9pm)
• Mom does chores + relaxes with Dad

• Saturday Errands and family time

What kind of routine does your family use? Is it parent-led, baby-led, of a combination of the two? Leave a note in the comments!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Pins That Got Me Through My Second Year of Marriage

“Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” ― Harvey MacKay

It's hard to believe that my wonderful husband and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary at the end of September. This past year has been a blessing and God has shown His grace and mercy through the joy and birth of our son, Graham! Most of the second year of our marriage was consumed with my pregnancy and Graham's birth, so besides that major life change, we experienced everyday routines, strengthening friendship and love for one another and some bumps along the way. 

This post is meant to piggy-back off of my post written around our first wedding anniversary, found here, and you will notice that the pins that spoke to me mostly reflected our upcoming life change of having a baby and growing our family. I am propelled by quotes that inspire me, articles that push me, self-help books that teach me and of course the Bible that nurtures and guides me. At every point in my life I have searched for these things in the elements around me and have found the below resources to be the most helpful in assisting Andrew and I through our second year of marriage. 

Prayer(s) & Bible Verses

31 Days of Praying for Your Husband

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children

Marital Advice & Being a Better Wife

What does it mean to make my home from scratch?

Finding Time for God When You Can Hardly Find Time to Breathe

Words of Affirmation Every Relationship Needs to Hear

Budgeting

What to Buy.. and When: A Month by Month Breakdown of Sale Cycles!

Can I quit cable and still watch TV?

Mommyhood

All Things Baby! (My Pinterest Board)

10 Tips on Transitioning from the Workforce to Staying at Home

Find more great family and marriage pins by following me on Pinterest!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Stay-At-Home-Mom Tips & Tricks

I'm just about 3 months into being a full-time stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) and there are a few tips and tricks I feel somewhat qualified to share, but most of these are recent revelations.

Pick days to stay in, days to run errands - This idea just hit me, and I'm not quite sure why I hasn't thought of this idea before. Every time I needed to run an errand or decided that I wanted to take Graham to go visit a family member, we would just pick up and go, regardless of Graham's schedule, but then I always seemed perplexed when he wouldn't nap well or eat regularly the rest of the day. Duh mom! Since I drew this conclusion (yesterday), I have decided to run errands, visit family, schedule appointments, and sign up for mommy-baby activities on Wednesdays and Fridays (if at all possible). On Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, we will plan to stay in and play, read and do chores. This will make our lives a bit more predictable and will help to establish a routine for both Graham and I.

Join an activity - I looked up free activities at our local library and found this awesome mommy and baby class. It's only 30 minutes but we get to sing, play, move our bodies and meet other babies and moms. I love it! We may also consider taking mommy and baby swim lessons. Joining an activity helps to break up the monotony of the day and it also helps you and your baby grow socially. 

Pick days to give baths - I'm about to sound like a terrible mother, but until I ingeniously thought of this strategy, again, another duh moment, I would forget to bathe my child! Isn't that awful?! I can remember to bathe myself every day....but I couldn't remember of find to bathe my son but every week or so! So I came up with the solution to pick two days a week that he gets a bath. This will help us build a routine and help me set aside time to do it! I've chosen Tuesday and Friday nights.

Pick days to do certain chores (this isn't my thing but it might work for you) - Scheduling specific chores on specific days can be a great way to make sure that your tasks get completed and that you manage your time wisely. For example, it may work for you to schedule laundry on Mondays and Wednesdays. Personally, I'm a planner, but I think if I try to schedule which chores I accomplish which days, I may find myself being less efficient. The key to chore days is to be as efficient and productive as possible.

Meal Plan - Meal planning can really eliminate shopping guess work and spoiled food, over spending on groceries, and the whole "what's for dinner" question. Set aside 15 minutes to write out meals on your calendar, look through your pantry and fridge to assess what food/ingredients you have or need and then drafting your grocery list.

Volunteer - Before you look at your screen in confusion thinking, "When on earth do I have TIME to volunteer? Does this lady have any clue what I do all day long?" Yes! I'm a very busy mom too, however, I get a sense of accomplishment when I know I can take some time, when I have it, to help others. For instance, a friend of mine works at a local pregnancy care center and asked if I had any time throughout the week to hand address 180 envelopes (all in the comforts of my own home). I said yes and I finished the task in 3 days, spending about 15 minutes a day (during my son's naps) to get the task done. It is possible ladies! 

Small Group Bible Study - My husband and I recently joined a small group Bible study with two other couples. We meet once every two weeks, our study lasts for about an hour to an hour and a half, and we take turns hosting the Bible study in our homes. We are currently studying the book of Ephesians and since the chapters are shorter, we read the chapter aloud as a group. I find being part of a small group Bible study enhances my Biblical knowledge, gives my husband and I another common activity, encourages fellowship, it guarantees a time for me to spend in God's word and working on my relationship with Him (which I need help with on busy days!), and it gives my husband and I a great little group of friends who share similar values to hang out with.  

When you have tasks to get done around the house but your baby is awake... - Put baby on a blanket on the floor next to where you're working, put baby in a swing where he or she can see you, or put baby in the Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat! Check out my product review here!

Exercise when you wake up - I gained 35lbs when I was pregnant with Graham. Thankfully, 25lbs fell off on their own, but the extra 10lbs plus the extra 40lbs I had before I got pregnant needs to go! I find it easiest to exercise in the morning, after I change and feed my son and before I take a shower. I've fallen in LOVE with Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guides (BBG) along with calorie counting using my FitBit app and can I just confess that this is the only workout and eating plan that I have stuck to? EVER! It is soooo important to find a workout and eating life change that you like! If you don't like it, you will feel like you're punishing yourself and you will find every excuse to not follow through with it. Explore different exercise options, DVD's, YouTube, gym membership, yoga classes, CrossFit, you name it! EXPLORE! 

On an additional note, did you know that Mayo Clinic recommends a baby "3- to 4-month-old baby, some research suggests aiming for at least 20 minutes of tummy time a day"? Unfortunately, I was terrible about accomplishing this until I decided to incorporate Graham's tummy time workout into my own workout! Kayla Itsines (BBG) instructs you to do 4 circuits of her workouts on circuit days and they each last about 7 minutes. Since I keep Graham awake for one hour at a time, I lay him down on a blanket (on his back) while I do my first 7 minutes circuit, and then I break from my workout to flip him over and give him a few minutes of tummy time, repeating this until my 4 circuits are done. By the time I'm done working out, he's tired and just about ready to lay down again for his nap (then I squeeze in a quick shower!).

Wash your clothes with baby clothes to save time - Many families with little ones buy special baby laundry detergent, for sensitive baby skin, which means that they do separate laundry loads, one for baby's clothes, the other for everyone else. Our family decided to buy Tide Free and Gentle laundry detergent, which is hypoallergenic and free of dyes and perfumes, so that we could wash everyone clothes at once, saving us time and money! **side note: I don't even separate my white and dark clothes when I do laundry, I surely don't have the time nor the inclination to do so and shockingly, my family has survived! I do however take precautions if I'm washing a brightly colored clothing item for the first time so the colors don't bleed** 

Do you have great stay-at-home-mom tips & tricks? I would love to hear about them!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

October Baby Favorites

Now that my son is quickly approaching the 3 month mark, we have started using some baby products that we didn't need until now. Here are some of my favorite things that we've recently started using:

Fischer Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat - This has been the best $40 purchase of my son's life so far! LOVE LOVE LOVE this little seat! It collapses flat for easy storage or travel and he's been obsessed with sitting up and looking around lately, so this is a perfect way for him to sit up while mommy gets stuff done! He sits in this while I take a shower, cook dinner, etc. and as long as he has a toy with him, he's having a blast!

Fischer Price Space-Saver High Chair - This was something I considered returning and exchanging for the Ingenuity 2-in-1 Booster Seat but I'm glad that I didn't. I did buy the Ingenuity seat and we tried it for a few days but I just didn't see the practicality of that seat over the Fischer Price Space-Saver High Chair. We just started putting Graham in this if he's awake while we eat dinner. I want to try very hard to make family dinners at the kitchen table a pivotal point in our daily lives as our family grows. **Elephant strap covers did not come with the high chair, they were made separately by our awesome cousin Courtney**

Carter's Plastic Lined Bibs - We didn't start using bibs until a few weeks ago because now that my son eats more, he tends to spit up more and I find myself changing his outfits multiple times a day, so bibs have come in handy. My favorite bibs are Carter's brand (from Target) and they have a layer of plastic between the fabric, which prevents any drool and spit up from soaking through the bib onto my son's clothes.

9oz Tommee Tippee Bottles - My son has been on formula since he was a few days old and I'm very happy with the Tommee Tippee brand. We received three sets of the 5oz bottles for when he was younger, but since he's been eating 5oz at a time (about a month ago) we have started using our two sets of 9oz bottles. I originally chose Tommee Tippee because I read many reviews that said they made switching between breast and bottle easier, but they have worked out very well for a strictly formula-fed baby too!

Play Mat - Since we brought Graham home from the hospital, we have been laying him down on his play mat, but it wasn't until this past month that he started actually noticing the sound of the rustling, dangling cloud or seeing the light reflecting in the dangling sun mirror. He also has started swatting at the dangling toys, which is a 2 month milestone, so this product has become more useful as he has become more aware of his surroundings.

Upholstered Rocking Chair - We have been getting more use out of our upholstered rocker once we moved it into our bedroom, where Graham sleeps in his Rock'N'Play and where we feed him in the middle of the night. Once we move him into his room later this month, it will make sense for us to move the rocker again.

Infants' Tylenol - This has been a lifesaver after Graham's 1 month and 2 month doctor appointments! He is very fussy and warm the evening after his shots so this has been so helpful (and he likes the taste so it's easy for us to give it to him)!

Infant Bath Tub - Maybe I'm weird, but I only gave my son sponge baths until he was around the 2 month mark, even though our baby tub (pictures below) has a little seat to help infants stay propped up. He always liked getting a bath, but now he loves it even more! However, I do find it hard to wash the lower half of his body when he rests on the little green seat, so I end up washing the top half of his body and then playing with him before taking him out and finishing his bath with a wash cloth. 

Johnson's Hand & Face Wipes - In one of my earlier posts, I talked about how I found these wipes to be useless because they made Graham's face breakout in terrible baby acne, but now, I use them on his hands at least once a day, since he's in that phase where he constantly has his hands in his mouth (some mother's have said he may be teething already!?).

There you have it! Some of my October Baby Favorites! Have you discovered new products or brands that you absolutely love? Please share in the comments below!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Garlic and Herb Zucchini Noodles

I'm 50% Italian and 100% pasta lover. I would eat pasta for every meal if I could, but for obvious reasons, that wouldn't be the healthiest choice. In a quest to reshape my lifestyle and become healthier, I searched through hundreds of pins on hundreds of health themed Pinterest boards. I came across the idea of Zucchini Noodles and decided to make it my own.

Garlic and Herb Zucchini Noodles

Ingredients:

3 Medium Zucchini

2 Garlic and Herb Saute Expressions squares

1. Wash zucchini
2. Cut the bottom off of the zucchini, leaving the stem attached so you have something to hold onto while you peel the zucchini (they can get slippery, safety first)
3. Use a wide blade peeler, such as the orange one in this set
4. Peel all three zucchini as much as you can

5. Place the strips into a saute pan and set the burner to medium heat

 6. Add two Garlic and Herb Saute Expressions squares and stir occasionally

7. Cook until zucchini strips are soft like noodles - about 8 minutes or so

8. Enjoy! (I like eating this with grilled chicken)

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Becoming the Example I Want To Be

Some people think changing when you get married or have a baby is a bad thing, but I don't. I love that I've traded late nights drinking cheap beer in crappy bars for staying in, wearing pajamas, eating frozen pizza and drinking sweet red wine with my husband. I love that I've traded a full-time job and a nice salary for t-shirts dawning spit-up, doing chores and making priceless memories with my son. I think getting married and the birth of my son have helped me shape who I want to be and I'm okay with the person I'm changing into, but that doesn't come without noticing some of my own bad habits. 

Not all habits and behaviors stem from our upbringing, but I do think part of who we become stems from what we see. I don't have the best health habits, and not that I'm blaming my parents for my disregard of exercise most days {everyday}, but I think had my parents' health habits been different when I was growing up, then maybe mine would be too. With that in mind, having a child has made me want to be the best version of myself and set a good example for him. Here is just a small glimpse into the gamut of flaws I see within myself that I will continuously strive to improve upon, while remembering not to be too hard on myself because I am an imperfect and sinful human.

Health: 

I hope to eat healthy and make smart food choices

I hope to demonstrate portion control

I hope to teach safety and self control

Hygiene:

I hope to make timely and routine doctor appointments

I hope to teach proper hygiene routines

Fitness:

 I hope to exercise at least 3 times a week

I hope to teach the importance of exercise

Faith:

I hope to educate my son on the importance of faith in God

Prayer:

I hope to show him how to pray and why it's a necessity in life

Discipleship:

I hope to demonstrate discipleship through talking freely and openly about my faith and sharing the gospel with those around me

Love:

I hope to show my son what love looks like through the way I care for him, my husband, my family, my friends, and others around me

Generosity:

I hope to demonstrate generosity through serving others and volunteering

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Serving God Through Serving My Family

Sadly, one of the major reasons I was first excited to become a stay-at-home-mom was so that I could have me time. I thought that while my son slept I could blog, paint my nails, shop online, spend time of Facebook, catch up on my favorite shows and watch movies, but the last few weeks I've noticed myself getting frustrated when my son won't nap because sometimes it monopolizes my "me time" and the time I get to connect with my husband at the end of the day. In frustration and exhaustion, I took to the stay-at-home-mom discussion board on BabyCenter. I wrote a post asking for advice on generating good family balance and got a response that unintentionally put me in my place. A woman responded to my plea for guidance by explaining her schedule and that she uses two of her child's naps a week to do things for herself. WHAT!? Only two naps a week? Then it hit me. I'm not a stay-at-home-mom so that I can blog, paint my nails, shop online, spend time of Facebook, catch up on my favorite shows and watch movies. I'm a stay-at-home-mom so that I can serve God and my family by raising my son and taking care of our home and affairs. This was a total game changer. 

I then started thinking about all of the days since I became a stay-at-home-mom when I had felt unaccomplished, times when dishes had gone unwashed or my son had gone without tummy time or a bath in days, and realized that I was the reason I wasn't getting things done. I was trying to take too much time for myself. 

Please don't misunderstand me though, I do know that it's important as a parent to take time for yourself and it is very important to try to nap at least once a day while your child naps, but I found myself rushing through feedings, burping, and play time so that I could lay my son down for his nap so I could watch The Price is Right or look at the new clothes on Target's website. That wasn't the type of mom I wanted to become, and thankfully, the solution was easy to see. I decided that I would make my daily goals, which were very attainable, happen. I would use one of my sons naps a day to also lay down an take a nap, but I would put chores and my son first, and if I had a nap available after my daily goals had been met, then I would turn on a show or shop online. 

Since directing my attention away from myself and toward God and serving Him and my family, I feel so much happier and more fulfilled. I find myself enjoying the little moments with my son, feeling accomplished and relieved that I got chores done, and less stressed and angered at my husband (who wasn't doing anything wrong by the way). This also made me think and reflect upon a recent sermon at my church about the vocation of family. The whole sermon is awesome, but if you're trying to find the part that discusses how we serve God through taking care of our children, it's at about 14:30.

"Luther used to say that when a mother changes the dirty diapers of her infant child, she is at the same 

time serving God." - Pastor Teike

I hope to think about the words of this sermon as I change my son's diapers and as I take more time to enjoy as many moments with him as I possibly can. I also plan to continue directing my attention more onto serving God by working hard for my family.

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.