• mamahood
    • homeschool
    • Maxwell
    • Natalie
    • Marigold
    • Landon
    • baby things
  • faith
    • 23 identities PDF
    • Tanzania + Compassion
  • inspiration
    • our home
    • books
    • lifestyle
    • marriage
    • homeschool
    • simple living
    • we’re debt free!
    • book recommendations
  • homeschool
  • devotionals
    • (in)courage Devotional Bible
    • 31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer & Doer
  • new? start here

Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / family / Hello from Michigan!

Hello from Michigan!

January 1, 2014 · 16 Comments
Filed Under: family, holidays

…how are you doing? It’s been a few days since I’ve written on here and the little break has been refreshing :)

On Christmas Eve we packed our bags and flew from Los Angeles to Detroit. It was such an easy day of travel, and I’m sooooo thankful. We had a direct flight, and on the plane Maxwell napped and confettied a magazine. And you know what? I was even able to watch Home Alone (yes!).

We landed on time and then drove a couple hours north west to Zack’s grandma’s house. We had a very merry Christmas with his extended family before driving even further north to Petoskey. Michigan has blessed us with some gorgeous snowy weather… very cold, but gorgeous.

We then met my parents in Cadillac so we could continue downstate to Grand Rapids. My brother and nephews have been with us and my heart is so full. It’s a totally new experience being here now that Maxwell is here. Every time I think about my childhood home I now think about last summer when I told my family I was pregnant. Its a very sweet memory :)

20140101-144121.jpg

20140101-144127.jpg

20140101-142759.jpg

20140101-142811.jpg

20140101-142826.jpg

20140101-142840.jpg

20140101-142902.jpg

We were even able to sneek away for a Zack & Maggie coffee date… complete with pie. It was glorious! We talked about our family goals for 2014 including some business goals. Very exciting stuff! I’m really looking forward to sharing more about my new handmade shop, too :) After our coffee date it became clear that my focus for 2014 is to be more brave…

20140101-144028.jpg

20140101-144035.jpg

20140101-144042.jpg

20140101-144059.jpg

20140101-144107.jpg

20140101-144115.jpg

20140101-144134.jpg

20140101-145013.jpg

…I don’t want to beome too placid, ya know? I have a lot I want to try and accomplish this year.

Can you believe it’s the start of a new year? My goodness.

Well, I better get back to playing with my nephews and son. Happy New Year to you, and hello from Michigan. XO

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn


16 Comments
Filed Under: family, holidays

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

« How to order a custom Gussy tote/diaper bag.
How to be brave. »

Comments

  1. Andrea Worley says

    January 1, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    So awesome you were able to see family over the Holidays, looks like you had a great trip,

    Reply
    • gussy sews says

      January 2, 2014 at 9:41 am

      @Andrea Worley, we did and we are still here ;D happy new year!

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    January 2, 2014 at 4:04 am

    Thanks for sharing the family fun! I did some sparkly nail things too. My kids say that I have sprinkles on my nails :)

    Reply
    • gussy sews says

      January 2, 2014 at 9:42 am

      @Sarah, oh that is so cute! Sprinkles… perfect :)

      Reply
  3. Erica says

    January 2, 2014 at 10:06 am

    I love the socks on Maxwell’s hands! Also, is the striped carpeting in the 4th picture from the bottom neutral or multi-colored? We had the multi-colored version in my childhood home!

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      January 2, 2014 at 8:49 pm

      @Erica, it’s a neutral palette :) something my parents have had for a long time! Glad you like the sock mittens, snort.

      Reply
  4. leslie zimmerman says

    January 2, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Holy wow! I love how young you start them out sledding <3

    I was also curious about where you get the custom tags for your bags?

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      January 2, 2014 at 8:50 pm

      @leslie zimmerman, hehe — we love our winter sports!

      Reply
  5. Jenna Lou says

    January 2, 2014 at 2:20 pm

    Glad you got to spend some time with family back in the Midwest! Wishing you a Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      January 2, 2014 at 8:50 pm

      @Jenna Lou, happy new year!!! xxoo

      Reply
  6. Southern Gal says

    January 5, 2014 at 4:50 am

    It sounds lovely, Maggie. And goodness, I know I’ve said it before, buy you all have gorgeous eyes. Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 6, 2014 at 7:31 pm

      @Southern Gal, THANK YOU! :)

      Reply
  7. Laura says

    January 5, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    So glad you are having a nice visit home! And your pictures make the snow look beautiful! Here in Philadelphia it’s muddy and brown – love that fresh white stuff! Happy New Year to your little family! :-)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 6, 2014 at 7:31 pm

      @Laura, White snow is the best ;) Happy New Year, Laura!

      Reply
  8. {leah} says

    January 6, 2014 at 10:15 am

    So glad you enjoyed a great holiday with family and a good trip back home! ^_^

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm

      @{leah}, We certainly did — thank you :)

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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.
READ MORE >>
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

instagram

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.
.
.
.
.
.
#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. 📖✨🤍
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.