Faith

As a busy homemaker, homesteading mom and wife, it can be hard to find time to "just be".  Our days are filled with grocery shopping, housework, keeping things organized around the home, keeping the schedule straight for the family, making meals from scratch...the list seems endless.  So what can we, as moms, do when our days seem so overwhelming and we just have a hard time functioning and keeping up?

First and foremost, start your day with God.  This can be a prayer or meditation as you start your day.  It may be a quite study time as you have your first cup of coffee.  Whatever it is, always start your day with God.

Make a list of things that you need to get done.  Prioritize your list and choose your top 3 that HAVE to be done.  This helps clear your mind and free some space to help you manage your day.

But what if you have done these things and you still feel overwhelmed?  That's when I like to do a quick little mind reset using the Aroma Reset.  It's a branch of the Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT) that is super quick and very beneficial.  I keep a roller bottle with the Memory Release Blend of oils in it, ready to use at a moments notice.  When I feel overwhelmed or super stressed out, I grab the bottle and roll it on my wrists and the back of my neck.  I take a moment to breath it in and relax.  Seriously, it only takes about 60 seconds and my brain resets and I am able to better accomplish the task at hand.

Need to know more about this quick reset?  I offer a 30-minute one-on-one coaching call where I not only walk you through this reset, I also walk you through an extended version (also super quick to use!) so that you have the tools you need to do these techniques throughout your day as needed.  This session also includes a sample of the memory release blend that you can carry along with you and use as needed.

Trust me, your whole family will benefit from you taking a minute here and there throughout your day to reset your mind and let go of the stress and overwhelm.

If you want to know more about the Aroma Freedom Technique and how it works, check out these related blog posts:
The Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT)

#deepbreath
#inhalepeace
#exhaledoubt
#regainclarity

My mom, sister, and I did a thing over the past year.  We realized we all had the same devotional book, one that we had all had for years.  Each of us at one time or another had started to work through it, only to never finish it.  So we decided to do it together...well, or at least all do the same day every day.  

We live in 3 different places.  So each night we would send a devo reminder.  Sometimes we discussed it, sometimes it was just a simple "devo reminder" typed out into our group chat.  It was really all about the accountability to just get it done.

You know what?  It worked!!  Today we all 3 finished the devotional book.  We even have a few more lined up and ready to tackle.  

If you, like us, need some accountability in doing a little Bible study each day, I would like to encourage you to find a group of ladies and simply hold each other accountable.  If it turns into a full fledged Bible study, that's great!  But even if it's just a simple accountability partner, you have still succeeded.  The idea is simply that you get it done.

So, what is the book we finished?  Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler & Jean E. Syswerda.  It's an old copy, but good non the less.a

If you have done this study, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.  Did you enjoy it?  What did you like the most when going through the studies?  Did any particular woman stand out to you more than the others?

I've been married for 23 years.  When I was pregnant with our first, we moved across a few states and I haven't worked outside the home since.  That was right at 22 years ago this summer.  Our oldest was born that November.  Being a stay-at-home mom is what I always wanted to be.  Before my husband and I were married, we agreed that once we had kids I would stay home with them.  It hasn't always been easy.  We don't have extra finances for vacations, nights out...or anything really.  But it's a decision we have made and would make all over again.  I've had people frown upon me for not having a job, for choosing to homeschool, for working hard to homestead even though there isn't much money to be made in it (yet!).  My point is...I'm never going to please everyone.  The ONLY ones who matter are God and my family.

I'm a firm believer that God designed me to be a wife and mother.  To provide a loving home for my family.  I was blessed to be able to raise my own children and homeschool them for the past few years.  But I'm realizing that it's hard not to buy into the worldly thoughts and views about needing to have a bigger purpose in life.

Once all 3 of my kids started hitting the teenage years (yes, I had 3 teens at once and LOVED it!), I realized that it was time for me to get to know myself again.  I knew that once they all left home I would struggle to know my place.  I have loved being a mom.  It's hard to think of who/what I will be when the last one leaves the home.  So I started doing some trainings, coaching, courses, etc to help me on my journey.  Ultimately, I want to help other moms.  I want them to see the light at the end of the tunnel on those long, hard days with littles and know it's all going to be worth it in the end.  I want them to know and understand the importance of taking their kids to church services even though they feel they don't get a thing out of it because they are tending to the kids.  I want them to see that even in that situation, they are a great example not only to their kids, but to the congregation.  I want moms to know that the "job" they have as a stay-at-home mom is the most important job they could ever have.  Most importantly, I want them to see and know their worth in the eyes of God.  So I began my coaching journey with all of this in mind.  It has had it's ebb and flow.  My focus has changed along the way, but every time it's been about helping moms.

And where am I now on this journey?  Homesteading, cultivating a holistic lifestyle for my family and sharing our journey with others.  I've been learning more and more over the past 10 years about natural health & wellness, herbalism, decluttering the home, gardening, raising livestock, cooking from scratch, and all sorts of homestead related things.  So you'd think that with my kids getting older and not needing me as much that I'm all set and ready to go, right?

WRONG

My oldest is 21 years old and I have been blessed to still have him at home as a working member of our family (he's our main gardener!).  My daughter is 19 and just got married, so she is officially out of the house and on her own.  My youngest is now 16 years old and working on a horse ranch, learning every single thing he can.

Reality really hit me when wedding plans stopped, wedding company all left, my guys were all out working, and I was left home along.  Who am I?  What am I doing with my life?  Am I more than just the one my guys come home to?  The one who cooks and cleans, does the laundry, keeps schedules straight, runs errands?  Surely there's got to be more than that right?  Should I go out and get a job so that I can 1) contribute to our finances and 2) have a worth/value in this world?

STOP right there...read #2 again.  That right there is the worldly view creeping into my head.  Yes, we have talked about me getting a job outside the home.  But all 3 of my guys agree that I am best at home.  And I agree!  THEY understand my value as a wife and mom.  THEY get that if I were to work outside the home there is no one who can replace me.  THEY KNOW MY WORTH.  So, why don't I?

Now, back to the part about me being a life coach for moms and wanting them to understand their value and wondering where my place is now that my kids are all growing up...Here, right in my home, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, tending to the needs of others.  THIS is where I belong.  Why?  Because it's what I want...it doesn't matter what the world says.  And, yes, I can still help contribute to the finances in so many other ways.  Like the woman in Proverbs 31, I work with my hands, I sell goods, I am not afraid for I have prepared my household.

My worth is in God, in being here for my family, and in helping other moms on their journey. 💜

This week has been a whirlwind...no, make that a tornado.  Just as a brief overview, this is how it has gone:

We have been working on the wedding for a few months now, so I can't say that one is new to this week.  However, the other 2 both happened just this week.  Talk about sticker shock!  Life is happening super fast and coming at us head on.  And I know I'm not the only one it's happening to.  This economy is hard on us all.  Add in a few unexpected things and WHAM!

But here's the thing.  God always provides for our needs.  Blessings come in all shapes and sizes.  Even though we have a lot going on, it's super important to look at all the blessings we have.  This week I have spent a little extra time in prayer and thought just being aware of my many blessings.

These are the top blessings I have been reminding myself of this week.  When times are hard it's way too easy to see all of the negative things around.  The blessings mentioned above may seem a bit routine and obvious, but in times like this they are the biggest blessings that help me overcome.

It also helps to find scriptures to meditate on and help me remember who is in control.  This is one of my favorites when my life seems like a tornado:
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."