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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / guest bloggers / {guest blogger :: Coconut Robot}

{guest blogger :: Coconut Robot}

July 18, 2010 · 11 Comments
Filed Under: guest bloggers

Kacia is the lovely gal behind Coconut Robot, a fun blog + shop full of adventures and handmade items. Kacia has such an energetic personality and I just love chatting with her :]

She and her Ho. {hubby} run the Coconut Robot shop, home to some darling knit and sewn baby accessories & clothing.

Coconut Robot was a recent Featured Artist here, too. Did you catch it?

Follow her updates on Twitter?

The Coming Hour is a Fresh Start.

When I received a note from Maggie asking me to write a blog post, I responded with a “yes!” before really thinking about it.

Then I got nervous.

I wasn’t sure what I would write about, so I tried to undo my sent email [one of my favorite gmail features!], but gmail told me I was too late. Eeks!

My nervousness continued, but I got to thinking about the inspiration + encouragement that I receive. The encouragement that blesses me + pushes me to continue.

{photo credit}


Continue being me.
Continue doing what I love doing.

Who is it that covers us with these loving words?

Acquaintances?
Family?
Friends?
People we don’t know?

I love when strangers say something nice about me or the work I do. It feels good. It makes me blush. It humbles me. + I feel undeserving.


But there is a different kind of inspiration that stays with me through the ups + downs: the words from people close to me. People I’ve known forever.

My family.
My mentors.

Ever find yourself giving out the advice that was given to you in the past?

Maybe you find yourself coming back to it? Over + over?
Yes. Those words.

Would it be okay with you if I passed along some of my favorites? I hope you are as challenged, encouraged, inspired, + “wisdom-ized” as I am every time I talk to any of these fabulous people!

Meet Kelly.
Kelly became an amazing friend to me when I was in high school. She truly became one of my great friends, even though she was 10+ years my senior…but who’s counting?

Kelly has an incredible story, + now shares her story with women of all ages: encouraging them with her words. I have to say, she + I kicked some rear: back when “mafia” was all the rage.

One day, when I was talking to her about… well, what else do high school girls fret about? Boys. She said to me:

Never settle for anything less than what you can’t get.

She told me these words to me, so that I’d always remember to respect myself, be myself, + know that I’m someone special.

At that time, I was dealing with a lot of insecurities. What teenage girl doesn’t?

I had an opportunity to be a camp counselor at an amazing camp: Camp Barnabas.

No one can describe it better than they can:
Each summer we offer acceptance and love to more than 1,300 campers with special needs… They leave Camp Barnabas knowing they are uniquely created to live lives of ability.

I went that year for a week of camp having no idea what to expect. Little did I know how much I would learn…

Meet Sarah.
Sarah is 21.
She’s never walked.
She’s never talked.
She can’t feed herself.
She can’t paint her nails.
She can’t control the muscles in her mouth to smile, but you can see it in her eyes.
But Sarah is probably smarter than you + I combined.
But Sarah? She changes the life of every person she meets.
Sarah can flex one muscle in the bottom of her foot. Only one. Using that muscle, she taps Morse Code on a sensor, which communicates with a computer.
That computer is how she speaks. And using it was just one way that she impacted my life.

Sarah told us the story of her life. How she struggled with bouts of depression + tried starving herself at times just to end things. But then she told us about how she decided to quit focusing on her “small problems,” + focus on loving the people around her. She began doing things that so many people told her she would never be able to accomplish.

She did poetry readings.
She started a shuttle service for friends needing assistance.
She made people around her smile: she radiated joy in everything.
+ She thought boys were cute, and she wasn’t afraid to tell them.

Sarah blew my mind when she said to me one evening:

Don’t let the little things get in the way: dream big + make it happen.

I’ll never forget those words, or the girl who told them to me.

Meet Kelli.

Kelli was my camp counselor: lucky me! And when I was an awkward + zits-on-my-face teenager [haha, what’s changed?], Kelli believed in me.

She believed in me, when I didn’t have the strength to believe in myself.

Kelli told me a little saying the she aimed to live by. And let me tell you: she does. I pray that someday, I can live it out the way she lives her life.

I am third.

The rules of this life goal are simple:
God first.
Others second.
I am third.

Meet Elizabeth.

I often tell people about my little Elizabeth. Sometimes, I describe her as “A little Italian lady with the wisdom of a 90 year old.” I think that description fits her well. :]

I had the joy of rooming with this crazy-cat during college + life was never boring. Elizabeth never let me settle in life. She always challenges me: through her words + actions.

And it’s because Elizabeth does.
She isn’t someone who claims that she is going to do something and doesn’t.
She does it.
Elizabeth also doesn’t tell the world about the things she does for others.
She just does those things:

Elizabeth became friends with an 80+-year-old woman in Upland, Indiana named Millie. Elizabeth would go keep Millie company a few times each week.
And she never told anyone she was doing it.

{photo credit}


She learned how to basket weave.
She ate Millie’s cooking.
She met Millie’s friends.
She would sit + do nothing, if that was what Millie wanted to do.

Elizabeth put into practice placing others before herself, + she always challenges me to do the same. She goes out of her way to encourage + inspire others without ever drawing attention to herself.

She deflects attention instead of absorbing it.

:: :: ::

I want to live my life the way Kelly, Sarah, Kelli + Elizabeth are living theirs. I get frustrated when I fail, but I just remember that:


The next day is new.
The coming hour is a fresh start.
Minutes pass by quickly,
but they are slow enough for a starting breath.
And each second is a chance for me to take a breath.
And start living.

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11 Comments
Filed Under: guest bloggers

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Comments

  1. erika says

    July 18, 2010 at 9:32 am

    Terrific guest post! Very inspiring! I was dreading work today, but will have to remind myself that tomorrow is a new day. and every hour allows us a fresh start. You never know who you will meet you help out by just smiling.

    xoxo

    Reply
  2. courtney says

    July 18, 2010 at 11:16 am

    Awesome post Kacia. Really makes you think about life – and priorities (sp?) Awesome job.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth says

    July 18, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    Thanks for sharing Kacia…I can always use more words of wisdom…

    I REALLY love the “I am third” quote.

    Man, what a tough one, but so valuable.

    I appreciate you sharing what others have shared with you!

    -Elizabeth

    Reply
  4. Kirsten says

    July 18, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    I’m glad you did decide to do this – I really enjoyed reading it :-)

    Reply
  5. Cass says

    July 18, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    You are truly an inspiration!

    ♥ Cass

    Reply
  6. Renee Candy Stick Lane says

    July 18, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    Fantastic Guest Post! Thank you bunches!!! XO

    Reply
  7. Southern Gal says

    July 18, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    It’s amazing how the simplest thing can touch someone’s life and make it better. Thank you for sharing the people that touched yours.

    Reply
  8. alison says

    July 18, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    What a wonderful post! I especially loved “I am third”. I need to put that on my bathroom mirror so I can see that first thing every morning. I need that reminder :) So glad you did this guest post!

    Reply
  9. lynne tanzer says

    July 19, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    <3

    Reply
  10. Jenny says

    July 19, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    my son’s name is Gus. his little brother always calls him gussy! your blog is love at first sight :)

    Reply
  11. Megan Lane says

    July 19, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    what a beautiful, beautiful post. thank you for taking the time to share!! it sounds like God has blessed you with some incredible people in your life!

    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
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
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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
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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