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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / {a challenge for myself.}

{a challenge for myself.}

July 27, 2011 · 67 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration

i need to eat healthier. like a lot healthier. [insert scary face.] it’s so important for me as an indie biz owner to be productive and energetic — it’s important for me personally, but also for my business. i want to be even more of a go-getter instead of just an idea-maker. just a few minutes ago I sent this tweet:

so i decided it’s time to change things up. i don’t want to zip through life at this pace any more, and the fact that i’m craving healthier foods/longer meals with Zack, more sleep at night, a more peaceful day, and a greater sense of personal accomplishment are my signs. so ~ i’m proposing a challenge to myself, and i want to challenge YOU to follow along if you want, too :]

here’s my challenge: i want to try 5 new things for the next week, and i’m going to keep myself accountable by sharing them, and my experience, right here. by the way, this is sooooo not something i normally do, but i think it’ll be fun and a great way to make sure i follow through.

so here we go!

my list of 5 new things:
1. take a photo every day of something beautiful.
2. style my hair in a new way {hey ~ i’m in a rut, and besides, this will challenge my brain. {and my confidence/ not feeling like i don’t know how to style my hair.}}
3. NO. MORE. POP. — just water {with lemon!}, coffee {2 cups max per day} or wine {tee hehe.}
4. get in bed by 11pm, read for 30 minutes, then ZZZZZzzzz…
5. wake up every morning by 7:30. if i can wake up chipper, 5 extra points for me (right?). hah.

i’m really excited about this challenge, and i feel like it’ll help me to do MORE each day without feeling like i’m doing more each day – wink! one of my favorite blogs to be inspired by is cupcakes & cashmere, and while reading it tonight i really felt challenged to mix things up.

i’m off to the grocery store — i’ll check back in tomorrow and let you know how day 1 went.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MIX UP?
xo.

all photos are from the cupcakes & cashmere blog.

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67 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration

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Comments

  1. Mela Kamin says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    sounds like a plan – I’m with you on this – especially the bottom 2 … already don’t drink pop, but nibbling on cookie dough late at night after the kids are asleep probably is just as bad (hypothetically) – ;) xoxo

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:12 pm

      you do that?! how come you’ve never confessed that to me before? hah! :)

      Reply
    • Stacey says

      July 28, 2011 at 9:08 am

      Oh man, I am so totally like this too! Whether it’s a big bowl of ice cream with peanut butter and chocolate, or whatever sweet stuff I have lying around, I need to kick this habit! It’s almost like I feel I have to reward myself for making it through another day, lol.

      Reply
  2. e @ threddies says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    giving up pop (adorable) = a great idea. limiting coffee and wine = don’t be a sadist!!! ;)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:12 pm

      right?! ;D

      Reply
  3. Robin says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    Your decision to give up soda and drink more water is the single best choice you will make for your health all year!
    Making iced tea is also a good way to have a refreshing beverage with fewer calories and no gunk. :)

    Reply
  4. Melany Tenore says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    I like it. I think I will make my own list tomorrow…and maybe even give up pop too. GASP. Just typing it made me a bit shakey…but I’ll try. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:13 pm

      the feeling of all that sugar sitting in my stomach, and then the fuzzy teeth feeling, and then the feeling of not being quenched once i drink pop has done me in.

      wish me luck. seriously. i may struggle with this.
      xo.

      Reply
      • Alle says

        July 27, 2011 at 11:45 pm

        I hate the “fuzzy sweaters” my teeth get from too much Coke – ah, but the headaches I get without it…oh, boy. Not sure about that one.

        Reply
  5. Cindy says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Awesome. Really love this a lot. Way to take control and start fresh! Can’t wait to hear your updates!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:14 pm

      thanks for your comment and tweet :]

      PS. bauer misses your doggies.

      Reply
  6. Natassia says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Good luck!! Sounds like a great plan. I need to make my own list.

    Reply
  7. Angie P says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    Sunday it will be 3 weeks since my DCD. Diet Coke Divorce. I am currently in the coffee, water, wine category myself. :)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:14 pm

      cheers! we can do this!!!

      Reply
  8. heather says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    such a good idea! i am feeling the same way and like how you’ve broken it down into manageable, but still really important changes. very inspiring!

    Reply
  9. Lisa Crosby says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    Sweeten the tea with stevia for no calories too! I have spent the last two months eating 70 % vegetables 30% anything else and virtually no sugar or wheat products..I feel 100% better. Also , for me, sleep and water make a huge difference. Hope I can keep it up once the school year starts and I am back to full-time 4th grade teacher/mom/photographer. Good luck….a slower pace and healthy choices will make the life you live much better and balanced.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:15 pm

      do you feel full?! tell me how you got past/stuck with the 70% vegetables part — hah :]

      Reply
  10. Nicole says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    I’ve been thinking about things like that this past year. I definitely need to cut out the pop, eat better, and get more sleep. That last one is a real hard one though. I am such a night owl and much more productive at night. I wish I could style my hair different ways. Mine is either straight or curly.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:16 pm

      i drink pop and i swear i gain 2 lbs. the weeks where i don’t have any i feel the most fit. isn’t that weird!

      you can totally do this, too! :]

      Reply
  11. aleks says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    goodluck with the new lifestyle goals!
    i need to do the same things!

    Reply
  12. Saira says

    July 27, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    Hi Gussy! These are all great ideas! I’ve been drinking more water and instead of soda drinking tea or Crystal Light. And I have been cutting coffee to every other day! Yikes! But overall this week it’s been good! My next challenge will be more fruit and less sweets! After my dad passed away from liver and kidney failure a month ago I realized that I needed to start taking care of myself now, he was only 64! Way too young. I’ve cut way back on eating out and have been cooking more and eating more salads with my meals. Can’t say it isn’t a daily challenge but I feel better. I am also working out with my 10 year old to get him in shape for football so it’s been a great motivater! Best of luck with your challenge and I’ll continue mine! You can do it!

    Reply
  13. Saira says

    July 27, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    P.S Did you see Allora Handmade’s new pixie cut??? Talk about a change!!! She looks fab!!! Completely changed her look! Whippy Cake has some great hair tutorials!
    http://whippycake.com/blog/2011/02/tied-up-video-tutorial/

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 27, 2011 at 11:22 pm

      TOO CUTE!!!

      Reply
  14. Kristin Bommer says

    July 27, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    heck yes, sugar! i’m right there with ya :)

    Reply
  15. Dani says

    July 27, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    What a great idea!!! Good Luck!! I’m always looking for ways to change things up in my day….. even if its just shaving my legs for once tehe ;) Cant wait to hear about how it goes!

    Reply
  16. teresa says

    July 28, 2011 at 12:01 am

    Oh this is SO my cup of tea!
    I love to make list and changes and CHALLENGE myself to be the BEST and most HEALTHIEST ME I can be!
    These are the changes I promise myself I’m going to make…every week…and I still haven’t made them.
    Maybe I will now!
    ~Get up every weekday morning by 5:30 a.m.
    ~Get my workout done first thing. I do this when I’m at home at the farm with my mom…but when I’m here…and I have all day {on the days I don’t go to morning yoga} I put my workout off all day and then squeeze it in late in the afternoon. I feel SO much better when I get it over with first thing.
    ~Keep a good food journal. Give myself a STAR when I eat healthy that day! ;o)
    ~Be in the bed by 10:00 and to sleep by 11:00
    ~Cut out the processed foods~once in for all…cut em’ out! ;)
    Thanks for INSPIRING me Sweet Girl!
    You never cease to make me SMILE! ;o)
    xo

    Reply
  17. teresa says

    July 28, 2011 at 12:03 am

    Oh!
    I meant to tell you~
    DO NOT CHANGE YOUR HAIR!!!!
    DO YOU HEAR ME!
    DON”T!
    DON”T!
    DON”T CHANGE THAT adorable~GUSSY~FUN~SHINY hair!!!!
    xo

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 28, 2011 at 12:16 am

      haha! oh teresa, you are amazing yourself!!!

      i will not be cutting my hair, i’m just trying to style it differently. because i feel like i cannnnnnot style my hair any other way than how you see it.

      also — 5:30am? girl. you rock at that one!

      also again — may i borrow a star sticker? i went shopping tonight and bought so much fresh food. you’d be proud :] yeow!

      Reply
  18. Deborah @ Mississippi Southernlady says

    July 28, 2011 at 12:20 am

    What a wonderful challenge! May I join you? Think I will and add to only speak kind words for a full week with NO complaining! (See how long that one lasts!!!!! LOL!!)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 28, 2011 at 12:23 am

      YES, please do join me! that’s a great one to add, by the way. it’s so easy to complain here & there, but it would add so much positiveness to our lives if we stopped. XO

      Reply
  19. Nicole says

    July 28, 2011 at 12:46 am

    I feel awful after I drink it, so why do I keep doing it? :) I feel the same too when I don’t drink it. It isn’t weird. :) I will make this a goal to give up the pop and gain health, only in extra special cases {maybe} will I have one. This will be a good challenge for me. Because, sometimes teaching there are days where I can find myself having 2 or 3 in a day. This will be a great journey! Cheering you on Gussy. I’ll keep working towards the others too.

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      July 28, 2011 at 12:47 am

      Whoops, posted in the wrong place. haha.

      Reply
  20. Kristina says

    July 28, 2011 at 5:10 am

    Ugggh…the soda.
    My love hate relationship, but yes. I’m with you.
    I always need a kick in the pants from a friend {Brooke McGlothlin is a really awesome pants-kicker, too}
    So here we go…

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 28, 2011 at 10:00 am

      hehe — yes, she’s awesome! :)

      Reply
  21. Karri says

    July 28, 2011 at 5:13 am

    Good for you! YAY!!! I like your challenge!! I recently did Rooted Wellbeing’s 7 Day Cleanse and I felt amazing (after getting over the caffeine withdrawl headache).I felt so good that I am continuing to eat that way (although I added, ahem, alcohol back into my diet.) I’ve never been a soda drinker, but I never drank enough water. Now I mix it up and drink my water w/ lemon or I make up a batch of tea (red raspberry and lemon zinger and ginger-lemon probiotic are my faves and are all decaf) and toss it in the fridge and then serve it chilled w/ lemon and ice.

    If you get up the guts, try yourself a green smoothie. This is one of my faves: http://www.rootedwellbeing.com/2011/06/24/elvis-smoothie/ , but really, you can just toss 2 handfulls of spinach into your fave smoothie. You don’t taste the spinach and you’ve now had your leafy greens!

    Reply
  22. Stefanie says

    July 28, 2011 at 7:55 am

    We dont drink pop {ok, here in the south we dont say pop, it’a all called Coke} :-) but we do drink tons of coffee, water and wine :-) Two kids under three, business to run & a deployed hubby who just assumed command = I have a Keurig coffee pot in my bathroom. BIG FAT LoVe it!!! Also, if you’e looking for a nice substiute to “pop” try Le Croix waters. Theyre fizzy but have zero sodium, calories, etc… I drink them like theyre going out of style! Also really good to throw a few strawberries in the bottom of a glass and pour over top. My hubby calls it my “mom coctail” for when Im pregnant/nursing- which seems like always :) Good luck missy, how much more fabulous can you get?

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 28, 2011 at 10:11 am

      oh that’s so cute ~ “mom coctail”, i love that!

      something i’ve noticed… water is the only drink i can guzzle down. coffee, pop, tea — nothing else can i drink quickly. maybe others have noticed that, too? that’s one of my signs that i need more water in my life and that because it’s so smooth (and healthy) i can gulp it fast ;)

      Reply
  23. April Foss says

    July 28, 2011 at 8:41 am

    I know for me, exercise is the key. Eating good is part of it for sure. If I want to start the day off on a good foot I need to eat oatmeal and have 2 cups of coffe to get me going. Unfortuantly I can’t doi my exercising until after Matt gets home. I run upstairs after supper and do 45-60mins of sweating:/ But, I feel so good after and it helps me feel good for the next day. Guess what though:((( Matt went on vacation a month ago and I have not exercised since:/ I feel so TIRED!! Even though I have not gained weight my body is shifting and it is not pretty:// Time for me to get back on so I can function like I know I can:)))) Good luck to you and am looking forward to seeing the new hair:)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 28, 2011 at 10:12 am

      that E word scares me.

      Reply
  24. April Foss says

    July 28, 2011 at 8:48 am

    I used to drink diet pepsi like 2 times a day and have cut that for about a year now. I only have a little bit on Firday nights when we have our pizza and movie night:) I can’t even finish it!! I do need to drink more water though.

    Reply
  25. April Foss says

    July 28, 2011 at 8:50 am

    On days that I eat fruit and veggies for a lot of the day I feel sooooo good! I ALWAYS need my 3:00 coffee though. Especially when school starts and the kids come home right at that time!

    Reply
  26. Jamee @ A New Kind of Normal says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:12 am

    Love your challenge! I REALLY need to cut out pop. I just never seem to have enough willpower! Maybe knowing others are trying to cut it out too will help!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 28, 2011 at 10:13 am

      for me, if we don’t buy it it’s so much easier for me to not drink it. since i work at home, i have to leave the house to get it. and that’s hard to do. so instead, i keep the fridge stocked with lemon juice and coffee + creamer, and then it’s easier to ignore those pop thoughts.

      but i know everyone is different…

      but i know we’re all strong enough to fight it :)

      Reply
  27. Violet says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:38 am

    Gussy, I am also on a bit of a ‘health’ journey myself, and I even have a health + fitness blog that me and a couple of friends write:

    http://www.longlivefitness.com

    Aside from that, I’m now a fitness coach too ;) If you ever need some motivation or just want to chat, you know I’m always around. You’re going to feel so much better once you start eating healthy foods- I know I did!

    Reply
  28. Barb says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:42 am

    I got into a weird phase of drinking a Diet Coke in the afternoon at work, but I’ve switched to Iced Tea (the brewed kind, with no sugar, and lemon if i can find it). I feel so much better and more hydrated! Good luck to you, I’ll be following along right here :-)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 28, 2011 at 10:19 am

      diet pop scares me just as much as regular pop does. i’d rather have a margarita! hah.

      Reply
  29. Lisa Crosby says

    July 28, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    lucky for me I like veggies…I do tons of stir-fry and eat at least 1 salad a day. I cahnge up the greens I choose and the toppings…nuts dried cranberrieis…granny smith apples strawberries, blueberries…It makes it interesting. My protein is usually nuts, chicken, fish, or dairy…I try to stay away from my one major food love- cheese. I get a few slices a week. Mainly I MISS my wheat. Part of this was to see if it was causing my issues…and yep it was…so I guess I am wheat and gluten free…. :(

    Reply
  30. Lisa Crosby says

    July 28, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    Also I feel full most of the time and I have adjusted to eating less overall.

    Reply
  31. Lisa Crosby says

    July 28, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    I have had afternoon coffee..for 15 years straight…couldn’t give it up!

    Reply
  32. Heather says

    July 28, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I need to give up pop too. I love bubbles though :( Maybe you can inspire me :)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 30, 2011 at 6:34 pm

      i know — i love the fizzyness of pop. have you ever seen a photo of how much sugar is in a can of pop? YIKES!

      Reply
  33. Ashley | Domestic Fashionista says

    July 28, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    This is a great post Gussy! I feel like I can relate so much. I feel like the past six months…maybe even a year…like I have been trying to dig myself out of a rut. Less motivated to get things done, take care of myself, etc. It gets exhausting sometimes but I love your idea of a few small goals a week…and how even the little things make such a big difference. Inspiring post!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 30, 2011 at 6:35 pm

      hi ashley! i’m excited this post prompted you to pinpoint areas you want to work on in your own life. even the smallest changes can have the biggest results :) i hope you’re doing wel! you’re DARLING! xxoo

      Reply
  34. katy reitz (lil' alice) says

    July 28, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    i did a 21 day cleansing. fruit, veggies, water & protein shakes….. this was when i kicked the pop habit. i did this under a doctors care (chiropractic care), and there were a lot of pills involved (30 a day). i thought 10 pounds, i haven’t had pop since then, and it totally cleaned by body of toxins. i really felt great. this was in may/june of this year!

    Reply
  35. Alyssa says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    Maggie! I totally need to send you a case of this sparkling water I just got. I know you tried the other kind (the lemon one) and weren’t really a fan, but I just tried the grapefruit one (they actually call it pamplemousse, which is adorable) and it was SUPER delicious. Supercrazyyummy and it feels like you’re drinking pop and it’s just water and it’s the best ever.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      July 30, 2011 at 6:36 pm

      yes yes yessssss :)

      love you, lyss.

      Reply
  36. kirstie says

    July 29, 2011 at 10:50 am

    i’m with you on that!! hubby & i have just recently started a weight loss challenge – where we are is so unhealthy! so i’m blogging our progress to stay accountable AND motivate myself to not embarrass myself ;-) i think i’ll borrow one of your 5 things – it’s been nice to sleep in but school will be starting soon so might as well get back into the habit now!

    Reply
  37. Tiffanie Ferrel says

    July 29, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Tell me about that nail polish! Great color!

    Reply
  38. Cathy K says

    July 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    I’m a little behind…just read this (I was vacationing)….and I love this idea! I love the honesty of it! Putting it out there for the world to see and maybe even call you on it! I’ve been trying to come up with my own “list” if you will but it seems to be LONG :) Pop definitely needs to go but its so comforting on a stressful day at work :) PEPSI is my only addiction. Anyway, I have a friend who says if you wouldn’t bathe in it then you probably shouldn’t drink it! Thanks for always being inspiring!

    Reply
  39. Stephanie says

    July 30, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Oh my gosh, such a great post!! I love setting new goals and since I’m in the health industry it’s always so fun to hear about what health goals people set for themselves, and then even more so to watch them as they meet those goals!! You are so awesome for doing this! Keep up the great work!! :)

    Steph
    That’s Better: Improve Your Life Every Day!

    Reply
  40. Emine says

    March 19, 2014 at 1:50 am

    I know this if off topic but I’m looking into sintrtag my own blog and was curious what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100% positive. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. {day 1 of 7: my personal challenge} says:
    July 28, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    […] night I posted about my personal challenge and now today I’m here with a report from Day 1: SUCCESS! I went to bed a teeny bit late, but […]

    Reply
  2. {day 2 of 7: my personal challenge} says:
    July 30, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    […] 2 came & went and I’m feeling good! I’m almost feeling like I didn’t challenge myself with enough goals because not drinking pop hasn’t been an issue — mainly because we don’t even have […]

    Reply
  3. {day 3 of 7: my personal challenge} says:
    July 31, 2011 at 6:03 am

    […] it’s time for saturday’s update! but i’m in trouble ~ i had pop yesterday :{ oh no, oh no! zack’s cousin is in town […]

    Reply
  4. {day 4 of 7: my personal challenge} says:
    August 1, 2011 at 6:02 am

    […] there, and happy August 1st to you! my personal challenge is going really, really well. i have finally convinced myself {after wearing my hair straight(ish) […]

    Reply
  5. {days 5 – 7: my personal challenge + recap} says:
    August 10, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    […] About 2 weeks ago I challenged myself to do 5 “new” things for an entire week – > take a photo everyday of something beautiful > style my hair in a new way > no more pop (!) > go to bed by 11:30pm, and > wake up by 7:30am […]

    Reply
  6. {on stepping away from the busyness to get back on track.} says:
    November 9, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    […] over the summer I decided to challenge myself to eat better? I need to get back on that […]

    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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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

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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
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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