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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / Having something to look forward to.

Having something to look forward to.

February 4, 2016 · 16 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, inspiration, mamahood

winter sky maggie whitley

The idea of “having something to look forward to” crossed my mind the other day. We have had some really beautiful weather in Michigan, which is totally abnormal for this time of year. I should be making tea every night and gathering all of my oven recipes to help our family stay warm. Instead, we are wearing our Spring coats and (gasp) even going barefoot inside.

The Winter season often makes me feel like I’m always looking ahead, but I remembered this week WHY it’s important to have a few things in life to look forward to. And this not in avoidance, but in hope. Here are some examples:

+ working out: in the moment it’s uncomfortable, but your goal is to get to the end of your workout — that’s where the reward lies. Keep this mindset for a couple of months, take photos of your progress, and journal “before” & “after” thoughts. When I began running last year I had to adopt the “something to look forward to” mindset. In the beginning, finishing even one mile, while pushing a double stroller, felt mountainous. But after a few months of practice, I was finishing 3 to 4 mile runs daily, and feeling very happy with my minutes/mile rate.

+ working through a difficult job/project: starting a handmade business, preparing to quit my day job, learning how to sew a quilt, co-authoring an eBook — none of these tasks were easy in the beginning. They all required me to keep my focus, to work in 20-minute increments if need be, to stay inspired through the difficult tasks. And because of how long I had to remember the why with each project, the satisfaction I received once finishing stayed with me a long, long, long while.

+ moving: I mean, there were times I wanted to curl into a ball and beg someone else to do all the hard work! Moving across the country with two toddlers and a dog, while 5 months pregnant, knowing it would be about 6 weeks before we’d move into our new home, was exhausting just to think about! But, it was exhaustingly fun. If we didn’t have really exciting things to look forward to, why would we make this large of a move? The reward for finishing strong far exceeded the tasks we needed to wrap up, and we kept ourselves focused on this.

+ raising children: this is probably the easiest to fall back on when I think about “having something to look forward to”. You know the infamous saying, “the days are long but the years are short.” So how do we get from A to B in motherhood with that kind of referral? We have to (no, we must) have something to look forward to. Even if it’s something as silly as baking cookies once naptime is over, we must keep our chins lifted up throughout it all. Motherhood is all consuming. It’s made up of teeny tiny moments of solidarity with our children, which later blossom into breathtaking beauty. Nursing, diaper changes, holiday crafts, naptime, laundry, meal preparation, sleepless nights, intimacy with your spouse, birthday parties, morning play dates, doctor appointments, and so on — there are endless things to be working on, working towards, and relishing over success. And my guess? You’re already doing a great job at mothering, so keep at it, friend.

+ cooking: preparing our meals each week isn’t my favorite past time, but having the week’s menu planned out & bought is so rewarding that I make myself power through the prep work. But in all honesty, friend to friend, having a good meal on the horizon is definitely something to look forward to ;)

+ gathering a collection: related to moving, setting up a new home takes a lot of patience and hope. There are many things I want to do (read: buy), but I have to slow down and consider the process the same way I would if I was gathering a collection. And, all good collections take time. I have a few ideas for what to hang on our walls in our new home, but I’m not rushing into anything just yet. Yes, nail holes can be filled, but I’m taking some time to make sure my visions are headed in the right direction. The thrill of finding exactly what you are looking for is your fuel to keep yourself moving forward.

+ reaching a financial goal: we are in the thick of paying off debt, which means we are constantly evaluating our purchases. Buying X now can easily delay our financial goals, so it’s common for Zack and I to create a spreadsheet to anticipate exactly how a purchase will affect our end goal. It’s a constant “look ahead to the big picture” kind of thing; it definitely keeps us focused on the here and now. I can also relate this to when I was working towards quitting my day job to focus on Gussy Sews full time. Before I made the jump, I wanted to save 3 months of living expenses as an emergency fund. And while it was discouraging at times knowing I needed to reach this financial goal, it was super rewarding to finally accomplish it. There’s no doubt, setting impactful financial goals gives me something to look forward to.

We need to practice good self-care by making sure we “zoom out” from time to time. It’s healthy to keep a few things in mind that allow us to exhale. And, we need to carry hope in our back pockets, as that’s often what the future holds.

Let’s try something new. In the comments, I want you to answer this phrase: “Having something to look forward to makes me feel ___________________.” 

I’ll start: Having something to look forward to makes me feel alive and inspired.

Your turn! xx

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16 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, inspiration, mamahood

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Comments

  1. Sam says

    February 4, 2016 at 7:00 am

    Having something to look forward to makes me feel hopeful. Sometimes the daily grind can be discouraging but looking forward to something can help me keep my head above water and remain hopeful for the future.

    Reply
  2. Cindy R says

    February 4, 2016 at 8:56 am

    Having something to look forward to makes me feel energetic and hopeful! Give me a goal to work towards and do something for myself too! :)

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 4, 2016 at 8:58 am

      ENERGETIC — that’s a great descriptor!

      Reply
  3. Shannon says

    February 4, 2016 at 9:39 am

    …that the mundane has value.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 4, 2016 at 3:07 pm

      …so good! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  4. Nicole Marie says

    February 4, 2016 at 10:13 am

    Having something to look forward to makes me feel alive with purpose and loved by God!

    Reply
  5. Ahsa says

    February 4, 2016 at 2:48 pm

    Having something to look forward to makes me feel…excited!

    And reading your blogs, Maggie, make me feel grateful. :) thank you for sharing your story, wisdom and insights with us. You are more inspirational than you know!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 4, 2016 at 3:08 pm

      oh, that is awesome! :) thank you for sharing, Ahsa!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply
  6. Christa Threlfall says

    February 4, 2016 at 11:01 pm

    …eternally focused!

    I was thinking through this post about how good God is to give us heaven to look forward to! Having things on earth to look forward to is just a little taste of what I want to feel every day as I think about Jesus and an eternity with Him! <3

    Reply
  7. Katie says

    February 5, 2016 at 9:47 am

    Having something to look forward to makes me feel excited & ready to go for it! If I’m working hard towards something, having that end goal makes me want to go all-in and work until midnight every night! I’m slowly getting back to my running, too, and seeing some baby weight {finally!} drop off is such an amazing feeling! Looking forward to that size 4 dress fitting is giving me some energy every time I go to the gym! :-D

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 6, 2016 at 9:09 am

      Yeah! Another fellow runner. I can’t wait to be running again… really, my chance will be here so soon :)

      Reply
  8. Laura says

    February 5, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Having something to look forward to that makes me feel ALIVE!

    A family hike in the mountains, dinner around the table with friends, date with the hubs…these things all make me feel alive. XO

    Reply
  9. Cindy says

    February 5, 2016 at 11:23 pm

    Makes me feel super energized and so thankful that God has a better plan for us than we could ever plan for ourselves. It is amazing how he closes one door and leads you through another that is bigger, better and brighter than anything you could have hoped for. There is so much to be learned by the wonderful practice of patiently waiting on Him. Thank you Maggie for yet another beautiful and inspiring message. Hugs to all of you.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      February 7, 2016 at 8:12 am

      It’s pretty neat to think back on all of the events and details since we started talking about moving back to Michigan, and how things have worked out in reality. God is pretty neat :) even the little things in life/home, like having a little “coffee nook” in our kitchen (space to keep our coffee pot without being in the way on the counter, and all our mugs nearby), He’s given that to us — and it’s something I’ve wanted for quite some time. Next up is getting Z back home. It’s sooooooooooo hard waiting for this to be answered, but God must have something really great planned for Z and his career. Right? Right! :)

      Reply
  10. Trisha says

    February 6, 2016 at 10:35 pm

    Like there’s hope for tomorrow.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Our first week in our new house! says:
    February 8, 2016 at 6:01 am

    […] me is totally fine with the slow process of unpacking and making this house our home. It’s so good to have something to look forward to, I am even more encouraged by this fact […]

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

✨ see #maggiewhitleydotcom for the full post ✨
I took off my “comparison / contemplation” gla I took off my “comparison / contemplation” glasses last month and it’s been soooooo good. See also: sooooo hard (because life is never and/or). I’ve been writing more, reading more, spending more time outside. Talking to friends faces and smelling their detergent. My heart feels lighter. I’m sharing a few updates on my blog if you’d like to read? 🌾🤓blog reading & writing is a much better pace for me. You too? Link in profile.
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
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