• 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 / inspiration / Wednesday notes…

Wednesday notes…

June 25, 2014 · 6 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration, mamahood, Maxwell

reading maxwell maggie whitley

we spend a lot of time reading together, which the bookworm in me loves

I know I type a lot of words about finding the good and happy and encouraging and humble moments of mamahood, but the reality is there are just as many hard moments (days?) as the good and happy and encouraging and humble. This mamahood thing is not for the weak, that’s for sure. It’s real and deep and I’m so so grateful for the title. Just recently I’ve begun feeling baby #2 kick, which feels like tiny bursts of popcorn popping — just like we’re told they’ll feel. Sometimes I nearly miss the tiny kicks because there’s just so much going on all the time, but I really love being able to stop time for a moment to bask in them.

*

Maxwell is down to just one nap each day, which is really my only time for true quiet ;) I’ve been coaxing myself to lay down and nap each day once he goes down. Often there’s a little list started in my mind of a few things I could/should do, but I usually ignore that list and lay down. I know I’ll feel better if I rest instead, so I listen to myself and grab a book (I’m currently re-reading this), turn on the fan and allow a long, slow exhale to happen. It’s lovely every time.

silly strip maggie whitley

you know you do this with your camera, too ;)

*

Once again we’re headed to the beach for the day, yahoo! I can’t wait to gather with other mamas and all our kids, and let the ocean waves cleanse our minds. It’s always worth it to gather every ounce of extra energy for our weekly beach days, especially because it’s only a few miles away. I remind myself it’s just a few extra minutes packing a picnic lunch, making sure we have our umbrella and quilt and plenty of sunscreen and water, but it’s hours of bliss to be blessed by other mamas.

*

A few days ago I organized my fabric stash. I recently listed (and sold, thank you!) a bunch of fabrics & materials, but I made sure to save a few things just for me. I desperately miss sewing. Can I just type that out and let my heart sit in the open air for a moment? I am so glad to be doing exactly what I’m doing with my days, currently, but I do miss sewing. Perhaps it’s because Zack’s been clocking hours and hours at work lately, so I’ve been solo-parenting like crazy during the week. And man, the days can feel long when they first start out. I put my feet on the hardwood floor and walk myself to the coffee pot and then I get Maxwell from his crib and he greets me like this, and instantly (truly instantly) I know the day won’t really be as long as I feel it to be. The days are always warm and wonderful. Not having a lot of Maggie time has been making me daydream about sewing, perhaps it’s time to start planning a new sewing project… :)

bauer maxwell maggie whitley

on the weekends we spend a ton of time together as a family, including lots of walks!

 *

Today welcomes week #22 of pregnancy. Hello, five months! Fingers crossed there will be some time to snap a few photos for a bump update. The Lord knows I’d love a few minutes with my photographer! ;)

*

What kind of life moments have you been taking note of? Wishing you a wonderful day, wherever you may be reading from… XO

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


6 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration, mamahood, Maxwell

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

 

Loading

« Where I’m supposed to be.
An incredibly freeing quote… »

Comments

  1. Lu says

    June 25, 2014 at 5:36 am

    You inspire me. Your words are so positive… even on the tough days. I’m currently pregnant {26 weeks} with our first child – a beautiful baby boy. I am so overwhelmed with life in general and then the added stress of bringing a new life into this world honestly sometimes terrifies me.

    Thanks for ‘keeping it real’ on the truths about raising a family in an already over-scheduled world. You look amazing and your attitude matches!

    *Lu

    Reply
    • maggie whitley says

      June 25, 2014 at 7:53 am

      I think more often than not it’s the world and “outside perspective” that gives us the most stress. Suggestions on how to be a mom are fantastic, but it’s important to always consider the uniqueness of our own families and what would work best for them. I’ll be praying for your stress and fear of raising a little one. Don’t let your mind get ahead of you. Know the true essentials and then take it day by day. If you’re calm your baby will be calm… truly. XO

      Reply
  2. Caitlin S. says

    June 25, 2014 at 5:54 am

    It’s so great to hear that other mommas out there feel the same way as I do sometimes. I feel so blessed to be staying at home with my daughter, and look forward to it every day, but there are just some days where I long for a little time to myself.

    I get caught up during nap times or after bed time cleaning and doing things around the house, when sometimes I just need to be for a little while. It’s just so hard to do!

    You also inspire me to live life fully, and give me hope that it won’t be too difficult when we decide to have another. I always look forward to your posts for that reason :)

    P.S. The baby kicks were always my favorite part of being pregnant!

    Reply
    • maggie whitley says

      June 25, 2014 at 7:57 am

      Thank you so much for your sweet words… seriously :)

      PS. I try to do a little housework while Max is awake. It helps me to not feel like there’s so much undone come end of day, but also shows him we work together around the house. Start small and see how it goes after a couple weeks? And of course remember a kitchen with dishes in it is a kichen that’s used :) — bonus!

      Reply
  3. Jessica @ The Mom Creative says

    June 25, 2014 at 7:50 am

    You are just the cutest! SO excited for baby #2!

    Reply
    • maggie whitley says

      June 25, 2014 at 7:57 am

      Thank you friend! XO

      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
“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.
.
.
.
.
.
#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
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.