"God Gives Gifts and I Give Thanks and I Unwrap the Gift Given: Joy"

In celebration of Thanksgiving, I have been thinking about those things for which I’m most grateful from this past year. In many ways, it has been a tough year for me. Perhaps a better word is “challenging.” I had a difficult pregnancy that landed me in the hospital unexpectedly, and then a labor that felt like it was never going to end. I had a baby who cried and didn't sleep for what felt like weeks on end. I felt alone caring for her. So, we moved across the country to find our "village," and for the past couple of months, my husband has been out of town during the week at training, only home on the weekends.

It has not been easy, but even in spite of those challenges, I have been careful to not lose sight that there is much for me to appreciate. Even in our suffering, there are things to be grateful for. I think that is a lesson I definitely learned this year. For even that, I am grateful.

Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts posits that a life of joy and of a filling salvation comes when we learn to live a lifestyle of being grateful and thankful for every single thing God has gifted to us. Good, bad, big, little. We rejoice in it all.

Upon reading Philippians 4:11-12, where Paul writes, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation…”, Voskamp points readers to the fact that Paul had to learn these things. She realized that we must learn to live a life utterly thankful for all that God doles out. It does not come naturally.

So she decided to keep a list, to hone that sense of gratitude for the live that God has given. I love that idea, and while my efforts to keep my own running list have never made it more than a day or two, I still want to make an effort to see the beauty in this life of mine, the small acts of kindness God shows me, the redemption he brings to each and every one of those challenges.

“Gratitude for the seemingly insignificant—a seed—this plants the giant miracle," she writes. "The miracle of eucharisteo, like the Last Supper, is in the eating of crumbs, the swallowing down one mouthful. Do not disdain the small. The whole of the life—even the hard—is made up of the minute parts, and I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole. These are new language lessons, and I live them out.”

Learning to seek out an attitude of gratefulness in even the smallest of things matters. Because there are always small things for me to be thankful for, and I think that is one of the things that helped me through that season, that buoyed me and kept me afloat when it felt I was sinking. We need not wait for the big things to give thanks.

Today, I look at my life and, in contrast to where I've been, it seems so full. No, it is not ideal. But it is good, it is vibrant, it is beautiful. To me, at least. Even in its smallest places, even in the midst of the struggles.

So grateful, I am.

“Joy is always given, never grasped.
God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy.”

— Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

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Save On Your Shopping this Holiday Season: 3 of My Favorite Online Resources

I've shared a few tips before of little and easy ways I've found to save money, without having to make any real sacrifices. Today I wanted to introduce another tactic that you can use whenever you do any online shopping to get cash back for your purchases (which is especially timely if you prefer to do most of your Christmas shopping online like I do!).

Get cash back for online shopping

One of my favorite sites is Mr. Rebates, a completely free site that links to various online merchants that you'd normally shop at. When you are going to buy something online, log into Mr. Rebates first and see if they have any affiliations with the site you'll be shopping at. Then, all you have to do is click on the link from their site to the merchant of your choice and continue your purchase as usual. By clicking from their site to the merchant site, you'll actually get a percentage of your purchase back as a rebate. 

For example, if you were going to buy something from CafePress, they recently were running a special where you could get 22% of your purchase price back if you clicked through the Mr. Rebates link to the store and made your purchase. The thing I like especially with Mr. Rebates (as opposed to other cash-back shopping sites), is that the percentages they reward are often higher than those at other sites. Then, once you accumulate at least $10 in rebates, you can get the rebates sent to you via check or PayPal.

I've been using Mr. Rebates for a couple years now, and have cashed my rebates out (via PayPal) every couple of months, resulting in receiving more than $200 back over the lifetime of my account. And that's just with minimal shopping! Plus, if you sign up for Mr. Rebates, you'll get a $5 credit in your account to begin with.

Click here to sign up for Mr. Rebates (and get a $5 credit to your account). 

Find the best deals on Amazon

Another of my favorite shopping sites is Amazon.com. You can find almost anything there, and usually their prices are lower than what you'll find elsewhere. The thing is, though, that the prices often fluctuate. That's why I like the site CamelCamelCamel.com, which tracks Amazon prices and will let you know what the historical high and low prices are for an item and can alert you when a product hits any threshold you've set.

I've used this multiple times to make sure I'm getting the best deal possible. (And then, of course, I always make sure to pay my purchases with the Amazon gift codes I earn for free from Swagbucks, a search engine where you can earn points for the searches you do or for completing other tasks. Click here to learn more about Swagbucks and how to get started earning free gift cards from them.)

Plus, if you're going to do any shopping at Amazon, click through my affiliate link and Life Blessons will earn a small referral percentage back from any purchases you make--free for you, but it helps support everything that goes on here!

Use online coupons and free-shipping codes

Finally, another favorite shopping site in my online arsenal is RetailMeNot.com. It is like a search engine for coupon codes. You simply type in the store or website you want to shop at, and it will see if there are any available codes (for percent or dollars off your purchase or free shipping codes, which you sometimes can stack together in one purchase).

I like that you don't have to worry about signing up for store emails or anything to get the codes; they're all collected in one place (and they've collected codes for a ton of sites) so it really is a one-stop shopping. Combined with Mr. Rebates and any gift cards earned from Swagbucks, and your savings from online Christmas shopping this season will really add up!

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Redeeming Motherhood: Jordy's Story

Redeeming Motherhood is a series of posts where women open up about some of the struggles they've faced as mothers and how the Lord has redeemed those situations and brought beauty from them. Check out all the posts in the Redeeming Motherhood series here. (And if you want to share your own story of hope and healing, please check out the bottom of the post for instructions!)

Many thanks to Jordy of Jordy Liz Blogs for sharing her insights in today's Q&A! (And check out her son, who's the same age as Claire!)

Describe one of the hardships you’ve faced as a mother. What made this time so difficult?
One of the hardships I noticed right off the bat was the shift of priorities and losing myself.

The early days were long and monotonous, and the lack of sleep left me feeling blue. We had our round of visitors over the first few weeks, but after that time, it all slowed down. Around 4 to 6 weeks post-delivery, I was starting to feel like myself again and was so desperate to get out of the house with friends. But unfortunately, no one was calling. No one was checking in. No one was inviting me places. I realized that I had officially entered this new stage and friends thought I was too busy to get out. Busy, yes, but desperate for girl time, even moreso.

I started back at work about three months after Liam was born, and the overwhelming feelings came to a head. I realized I officially couldn't do it all. With working full-time, keeping up with housework, handling dinner, taking care of Liam, balancing appointments and schedules, I have had many moments of feeling shut down. And unfortunately, I get put on the backburner. I didn't have time for myself, my friendships or just the minute tasks on my to do list. The wants and needs I had kept building until I realized that it wasn't going to change itself.

What were some of the emotions you were feeling during this time?
Besides lonely, I felt abandoned and overwhelmed by this new stage of life. I was longing for acceptance again with my friends; I was longing for them to see that just because I was a new mom didn't mean I couldn't leave the house or get together like we used to; I was longing for an hour to do something I enjoyed - a hobby, a pedicure, anything.

How did the Lord speak to you during this time? How did he bring redemption or healing to you?
God is continuing to show me to how to rely on Him and be more intentional with myself and my relationships. I can't just sit back and expect people to come to me; I also need to let them know how much I need their friendship and time together.

He also showed me who I am in Him, and not necessarily as a wife, mother or employee. If I focus on who He created me to be, I still am myself.

Is there a Bible verse that you think speaks poignantly to this experience? It can be one you clung to during that time or that, looking back, seems particularly fitting.
There is a sign I have on the wall that quotes Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God." As simple as this is, it just reminded me to stay in the moment, to be still in God, and to trust His plan and will for my life.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Jordy is a born-and-raised Texan living in the desert of Arizona. She blogs about marriage, faith and life as a new mother over at Jordy Liz Blogs.

If you are interested in contributing to the Redeeming Motherhood series, contact me with your responses to the questions in this post. Include a short bio and a photograph, if you like. It's not necessary to have your own blog, just a heart and a story to share!
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Making This Thing Work: 5 Minutes of Motherhood

Right now, my daughter is sitting outside in her walker, watching her uncle blow the golden-hued leaves that have collected on the grass into a giant pile. The blower is whizzing loudly and she is watching in awe as the leaves flip and fly and tumble and fall down into place. She is squealing and playing happily by her lonesome.

And I have brought my laptop and sit perched on the edge of the driveway so that, while she’s entertained (and contained), I can get things done. It is one of the secrets I’ve developed already to make multitasking work.

I’m not sure there’s anything particularly deep or memorable about this moment, except that we are learning to make this parenting process work, with tricks up our sleeve and moments stolen here and there so that we’re all happy and healthy at the end of the day.

She throws her head back with a yip as she watches the leaves dance. I smile back at her and type a little more.

These days of motherhood are consuming and taking the time to blog can easily get lost in the hustle and bustle of it all. But these days of motherhood are also fleeting and I don’t want to let them slip by. And so this series of posts, Five Minutes of Motherhood, are my attempts to capture some of these moments—whether poignant or not—in the short spurts of time available to me these days: a time-limit of five minutes. That way the moment gets memorialized and then I can get back to life—back to motherhood. Click here to read all the posts in the Five Minutes of Motherhood series.

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Redeeming Motherhood: Tamara's Story

Redeeming Motherhood is a series of posts where women open up about some of the struggles they've faced as mothers and how the Lord has redeemed those situations and brought beauty from them. Check out all the posts in the Redeeming Motherhood series here. (And if you want to share your own story of hope and healing, please check out the bottom of the post for instructions!)

Many thanks to Tamara of Southern Grade for today's Q&A. She had her son, Wells, a couple of months after I had Claire. I thought I had a long labor at 37 hours, but I literally gasped out loud when I read in her birth story that her labor was 68 hours long. Oh my. Here she is to share more about that rough introduction to motherhood and how God is redeeming it...

Describe one of the hardships you’ve faced as a mother. What made this time so difficult?
My husband and I became parents after 68 hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing, and the hardest decision that started our journey as parents. We prepared for months for bringing our son into the world naturally. And after 71 hours, we decided it was time for a C-section. This was scary and beyond difficult for the both of us.

I couldn't wrap my brain around why God would lead us throughout the whole process and not be able to delivery vaginally. (You can read my birth story on my blog here.)

'Healthy momma and healthy baby' is what most people say, but to me it wasn't enough. To be honest, I was embarrassed I had to transfer from the birth center to the hospital to begin with. I lost control of all my emotions when I was being wheeled into the OR and even doubted God.

Days later I was still broken. My recovery went well physically but not emotionally.

What were some of the emotions you were feeling during this time?
I felt like I had failed natural birth. I wanted it and believed in it so much. My pride was ripping me apart. I was embarrassed to share my story before the Lord met me.

How did the Lord speak to you during this time? How did he bring redemption or healing to you?
The Lord really showed me that He was with us the whole labor and delivery. He lead us graciously through every decision. Once I acknowledged this, it made the world of difference. I was thankful for my long labor. The Lord met me and Ted not only in labor but the early weeks of parenthood. He met me. He showed me my sinful heart. Being the natural momma advocate, I had judged others for getting various interventions during labor. I was naive and judgmental. I repented. I saw a grace come over me that was so refreshing.

Is there a Bible verse that you think speaks poignantly to this experience? It can be one you clung to during that time or that, looking back, seems particularly fitting.
I held Psalm 42 close to my heart during the early weeks of parenthood especially as my questions lingered and I cried out to God. God is faithful and met me.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." - Psalm 42:1-5

ABOUT THE WRITER: Tamara started blogging at Southern Grade a few years go after marrying her best friend in New Orleans, Louisiana. Southern Grade is where she tucks away stories about being a wife, new mom, and the little things that make life so rich. Follow along at southerngrade.blogspot.com or on instagram: @tohman.

If you are interested in contributing to the Redeeming Motherhood series, contact me with your responses to the questions in this post. Include a short bio and a photograph, if you like. It's not necessary to have your own blog, just a heart and a story to share!

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Preparing Your Quiet Time Space (with a Giveaway!)

I’m a firm believer in positive reinforcement. I am in the throes of this right now with Claire, making an effort to praise her and encourage her when she does what I want (stay still on the changing table, obey me when I tell her to leave something alone, etc.). But I also do this with myself, as well.

Like when it comes to doing my own quiet times, I try to make them special. Usually that means curling up in a favorite spot where sunlight drenches in. It means bringing a treat with me, whether it’s hot chocolate or bowl of trail mix (with plenty of chocolate chips!). And a pretty notebook and nice pen help, too. (You can check out this post about how I made my own devotion journal for more inspiration, too.)

While all those things are not essential to a fruitful devotion time, I think they help make it into something I look forward to a little more, they make it feel special and not just a task on a to-do list but something enjoyable, something a bit luxurious.

Which is why I was excited when the folks at Treat (which is owned by Shutterfly) contacted me to try out one of their customize-your-own mugs and stationery. Some of my favorites from their collection that I think would be perfect for perking up your quiet time include:



Plus, they are offering a giveaway for one mug and one set of personal stationery to one Life Blessons reader, perfect for cheering up your quiet-time routine or for holiday gift-giving! To enter, please visit Treat’s holiday cards page and leave a comment here with your favorite card. Entries must be received by November 20. (Open to US addresses only.)

(Of course, you can always order your holiday cards through Treat, as well. You can even personalize them to each recipient through their one-to-one holiday card collection, and most of the cards also come with a digital option. There are also plenty of gift options available at Treat, as well. To find out more, join the #TreatCheer Twitter party on November 18 at 2PM ET with @ResourcefulMom.)

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Learning to Be Flexible: 5 Minutes of Motherhood

My mother has always said that God gives us the child we need. She says that I taught her patience. In the midst of my so-loud-they-thought-someone-would-call-child-protective-services cries, she learned patience. When I only wanted her, she held me; as she vacuumed, as she scrubbed floors, as she lived her life, it was intimately intertwined with my own. Through it, she says she learned patience.

As I look back on these first few months of life with Claire, I am beginning to see what God is teaching me. I am beginning to see where he is stripping me through this little girl's needs. For me, it is flexibility. He is teaching me to let loose my grip. To be nimble. To be willing to change my plans. To let go of what I want and do what someone else needs. To be selfless for someone else's sake.

I see it as I look back on all of my well-intentioned plans that flew out the window quickly. I wanted her to sleep in her crib in her own room from the beginning. But she wanted to be held. Flexibility was forced on me, so I held her. She snuggled with me. I learned to give her what she needed.

I see it now, as nap schedules and predictability still elude us. I have given up fighting to make her sleep when she's "supposed" to. Instead, I let her play until she's reached her fill and her own body tells her it's ready to rest. I schedule my errands and dates with friends loosely because I never know where we'll be when it comes to naptimes.

I see it in so many other decisions, from what and how she eats (she's had cake and Cheerios, popcorn and pretzels) to letting her play with magazines (I call her my little shredder). Everything I once thought was sacred in the realm of raising a child has now been pruned and preened by this little lesson of mine.

I see how, through it all, the Lord has softened my heart. How he has pried my grip from my love of routine and rigidity and is teaching me the value of flexibility, not only toward her but toward life and toward him.. He is teaching me the value of being laid-back, of letting life happen sometimes rather than always feel the need to force it into my own expectations. I am learning to trust that I won't mess everything up by going with the flow. He is teaching me to learn to trust someone other than myself, to trust that perhaps my daughter knows what might be best for her, just as He knows what is best for me. I am learning to trust him to fill in the gaps where I fail.

And so, I am learning to be grateful for this lesson he has seen fit to teach me. I am learning to open my hands and receive it with gladness, this lesson of learning flexibility. Someday I will tell Claire, "God gives us the child we need. And I needed you to teach me to be flexible."

These days of motherhood are consuming and taking the time to blog can easily get lost in the hustle and bustle of it all. But these days of motherhood are also fleeting and I don’t want to let them slip by. And so this series of posts, Five Minutes of Motherhood, are my attempts to capture some of these moments—whether poignant or not—in the short spurts of time available to me these days: a time-limit of five minutes. That way the moment gets memorialized and then I can get back to life—back to motherhood. Click here to read all the posts in the Five Minutes of Motherhood series.

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Redeeming Motherhood: Amanda's Story

 
Redeeming Motherhood is a series of posts where women open up about some of the struggles they've faced as mothers and how the Lord has redeemed those situations and brought beauty from them. Check out all the posts in the Redeeming Motherhood series here. (And if you want to share your own story of hope and healing, please check out the bottom of the post for instructions!)

Many thanks to Amanda of Our Trek and Core Spring Design for today's Q&A. She had her son, Evan, just a couple months before I had Claire, so I always enjoyed reading her insights and where they were in the process. Here she shares more about a big decision she struggled to make as a new mom and God's graciousness through it...

Describe one of the hardships you’ve faced as a mother. What made this time so difficult?

My biggest struggle so far in my nine months of motherhood has been wrestling with the decision of whether or not to continue working full time after my son was born. I know for some women, working after having a baby is a definite yes or no, a black and white decision, but that wasn’t the case for me. Although my husband and I knew it would be possible for us to make it with just his income, our plan was for me to keep working until the end of 2013, after which time we would be completely debt free with a substantial emergency fund. Our son Evan would be less than a year old and wouldn’t remember being in daycare. Getting a financial jump seemed like it would be the best thing for my family, but it just didn’t feel right to me.

I ended up going back to work when Evan was 9 weeks old. I wanted to at least try being a working mom before I decided it wasn’t for me. The week Evan started daycare, he ended up going through a growth spurt. By the time I arrived at the daycare at noon to nurse Evan, he’d already taken all three bottles and was hungry for more. Unable to feed him, the daycare workers had left him crying on the floor. It was undeniable at this point that the best place for my son was with me.

What were some of the emotions you were feeling during this time?
During my maternity leave, the thought of going back to work just made me depressed and pretty much sick. I took an extra three weeks of unpaid maternity leave rather than going back after six weeks, but during those last weeks I felt even worse. I was just avoiding the inevitable and I wanted to get it over with. The time I should have spent enjoying my baby was spent dreading returning to work. Once I was back at work, I felt emotionally and physically drained. I wasn’t giving the best of myself to my husband, to my son, or to my job. I didn’t want to keep working, but it still wasn’t easy to walk away from the job I’d had nearly four years and the benefits and security it gave our family. I spent a lot of time agonizing over pros and cons and making calculations.

How did the Lord speak to you during this time? How did he bring redemption or healing to you?
To be honest, continuing to work outside the home felt like I was disobeying God. I even told my husband at one point that I felt like Jonah. This is not because I think it’s unbiblical for women to work but because I really didn’t feel it was God’s plan for me. While I was still pregnant, I remember sitting in church and feeling very convicted that I needed to quit my job and stay home when Evan was born. But instead, I basically told God, “Well, you’re probably right, but just in case, let me try this anyway.” I don’t recommend ever trying to disobey God’s calling.

Just four weeks after returning from maternity leave, I finally felt at peace about leaving my job and gave my two week notice. A lot of it came down to this: At the end of my life, what will I regret? Will I be more likely to regret having less money during this time in our lives and being in debt a little longer, or missing out on the first year of Evan’s life? There’s a lot more to life than money, and I needed to be at home with my son.

Is there a Bible verse that you think speaks poignantly to this experience? It can be one you clung to during that time or that, looking back, seems particularly fitting.
Matthew 6:31 says “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” I know staying home isn’t the right choice for every mother, but if it’s possible for you to do and that’s the direction God is leading you, just do it. He’ll take care of you. Although my husband and I were prepared to live on just his income, God had other plans for us. Without doing much to promote my freelance graphic design business, I’ve already had more work than I expected to have this year. Rather than saying “But how, God?” I should have just let him show me how.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Amanda is a wife and new mom to a baby boy. She spends naptime running a freelance graphic design business, Core Spring Design, and blogging about her family's journey at Our Trek.

If you are interested in contributing to the Redeeming Motherhood series, contact me with your responses to the questions in this post. Include a short bio and a photograph, if you like. It's not necessary to have your own blog, just a heart and a story to share!
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Dear Claire: 8 Month Update

(I've been writing monthly updates to my daughter, Claire, documenting all the changes that come with the passing weeks. You can catch up on past letters here.)

Dear Claire,

Another month has passed, making you eight months old now!

Right now you:
- LOVE sucking your thumb; anything that crinkles (especially bags and wrappers); shoes (to chew on, of course); crawling into anything that's cave-like; opening and closing things (like the shower door) or turning things on and off (like the kitchen faucet); pulling up and standing on anything that can remotely support your weight (a trashcan will do in a pinch); brushing your teeth (we even have a song I made up to go along with it)
- HATE being restrained, whether it's getting dressed or buckled into your carseat; feeling like you've been left alone or don't have someone within your eyesight

As far as milestones go, this past one wasn't near as exciting as turning six and seven months, when you were learning new skills left and right. This month was more of honing and perfecting those skills. You're still working on the balance thing and bonking your head a few times a day, but we're making progress. I'm also waiting for you to learn more about gravity and edges; you have no fear of falling and so we're constantly on alert, whether it's while you're on the changing table or sitting on the couch.

Regardless of that, you do seem to have a little bit of daredevil in you, which is fun for me. You love to be thrown in the air, twirled around, pulled super fast along the floor, whizzing around. It gives you such a thrill. I can see you now, begging to go on the upside-down rollercoasters someday. And I can't wait to have a rollercoaster buddy!

I am pretty sure that you now are learning that your name is Claire. If I call it out, (about half the time) you will stop and look to me (almost always with a smile!). This has also made it a little easier for me to keep you from getting into things that you aren't supposed to. And I think you've also started to learn my name now, too! I swear you crawl up to me and say, "mama mama ma," when you really need something (food or sleep, usually).

Along with that, you're experimenting more and more with learning how to talk yourself. You've always been vocal (and loud!) but lately you've been playing with how to make lots of other sounds. You can roll your "R"s and "B"s and have been playing with how to make your lips making popping sounds. You love to be bounced and vibrated so that you can hear your voice trill; the other week we had a lunch at church and the pastor was holding you when he discovered this and subsequently was showing your impressive "party trick" off to everyone. If you end up beatboxing someday, I'll know where you got your start!

But you're a real delight and fun to play with. Your daddy can get you to laugh like nothing else. You're my little extrovert, loving to be out and about, making friends, earning smiles left and right. I try to take you out somewhere once a day, because I think you love the change of scenery and all the new sights and sounds fascinate you. Like your name stands for, you really do brighten up our lives. You love being with people and your enthusiasm brings such happiness. As an introvert, that is truly a beautiful trait to me. It's such a simple thing, really, but this world needs more of it. Which is why God made you. And I'm glad he did, and that he gave you to me to get to raise. Here's to another month of that!

Love,
Mom

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Redeeming Motherhood: Andrea's Story

Redeeming Motherhood is a series of posts where women open up about some of the struggles they've faced as mothers and how the Lord has redeemed those situations and brought beauty from them. Check out all the posts in the Redeeming Motherhood series here. (And if you want to share your own story of hope and healing, please check out the bottom of the post for instructions!)

Many thanks to Andrea Cooley of Ever After Blueprint for sharing her experiences in today's Q&A! (And, boy, does her story resonate with me. Particularly the impulse to beat yourself up over a baby not cooperating with schedules and napping and all that stuff that is such a rude awakening to motherhood!)

Describe one of the hardships you've faced as a mother. What made this time so difficult?

Andrea and Emerson

Everyone talks about being tired the first year and to sleep while you can. And that is true, but for me harder than losing sleep and not going back to work was managing my expectations. I am a first-born girl who likes to be in control. I have always considered my type-A personality to be a blessing. I set a plan, make a goal, and get things done. So imagine my surprise when my sweet and cuddly baby boy Emerson had other things in mind. Maybe he has a bit of my persistence in him!

Without even realizing it, I had high expectations of what his schedule would be. I figured we would have lots of play dates during the week and the weekends would be time to relax and play with dad home from work. In reality, there were several months (that also happened to be in the middle of winter) when it felt like every day was a never-ending battle with naps. There was such a small window of time each day when he was awake and happy that it was nearly impossible to ever get out of the house.

What were some of the emotions you were feeling during this time?
I spent a lot of time feeling discouraged and generally sorry for myself. Why wasn’t my baby like everyone else’s? Why didn’t he sleep better? Was it too much to ask to have a full night’s sleep?

Looking back, there were several weeks where I wish I could tell myself to stop worrying and obsessing over his schedule and feeling like it was impossible to get out of the house. One thing I’ve learned time and time again this year is that everything is a phase. Whether it’s a good phase or a bad phase, nothing lasts forever!

How did the Lord speak to you during this time? How did he bring redemption or healing to you?
Even before being a mom, I have always been highly critical of myself. I have high expectations for myself and even if they are unrealistic, I feel the need to meet them. When I feel like I have failed, I tend to beat up on myself. I know that the Lord loves and accepts me right where I am and isn’t keeping track of my achievements or failures, but it’s something I struggle to believe in my heart. So as I begin to lower or change my expectations as a mom, I am also learning that it is OK to do this with myself, too.

Is there a Bible verse that you think speaks poignantly to this experience?
At the end of a day of fighting naps following a night where more time was spent rocking and singing and feeding and shushing than sleeping, one of the truths I held on to was Lamentations 3:22-23:

“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”

Even when I could only hope for more than two consecutive hours of a sleep and an uninterrupted shower was a distant memory, I clung to the knowledge that every day was a new beginning. And not only was it a new chance to work on naps and nursing and laundry and tummy time, more importantly, it was a new day full of the Lord’s love and blessings. I learned to count the blessings of baby coos and giggles, and thanked God that I had a healthy baby, even if he didn’t sleep when I thought he should and sometimes made getting out of the house harder than it was worth.

Slowly, the days got easier, the nights got quieter, and instead of counting down the days and weeks until this phase was over, I started giving myself (and Emerson) grace. We were both figuring out this mommy/baby thing together. Some days are still hard, I’m not gonna lie! There are days when number of outfits we go through before 9am is more than I used to go through in a week. And we have both shed our fair share of tears, but as any mom knows, it is so worth it!

ABOUT ANDREA: In a few short weeks our firstborn son, Emerson, will be one year old. I’ve learned a lot this year and while there were some weeks that I thought would never end, looking back, it’s been an amazing year. So even though I’ve lost track of how many times I put away the dishes that he pulls out of the cupboard and how many Cheerios I’ve picked up off the kitchen floor, I can’t imagine life without his sweet smiles and little giggles! You can read more from Andrea at Ever After Blueprint.

If you are interested in contributing to the Redeeming Motherhood series, contact me with your responses to the questions in this post. Include a short bio and a photograph, if you like. It's not necessary to have your own blog, just a heart and a story to share!

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