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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / Tiny letters…

Tiny letters…

January 9, 2017 · 9 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, inspiration

Dear apron, I’m so glad we kept you around so I could wear you last night while I was making our new favorite soup for dinner. My counter tops may have been messy with food prep, but my evening lounge wear stayed nice & clean. I may need to add a ruffle or two, don’t snitch and tell Zack!

Dear delicious soup for dinner, practice makes perfect, amIright? It’s a really good thing I made a double batch, because you were soooo easy to make (link is above), and there’s hardly any leftovers.

Dear coffee, thank you for being so hot and creamy. You’re the best.

Dear plant collection, you make me really happy. Thanks for cleaning our air and providing me with simple joy. And thank you for growing so beautiful and tall. You’re doing a great job.

Dear sweatshirt, I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to wear you. All winter season I’ve been so hot, but perhaps that’s slowly fading? You are the perfect companion to this winter morning. Also, I really like your heather blue color.

Dear meal prep, you are so good! And you’re one of my best priorities! This week we are having meatloaf, chicken enchiladas, bacon/cheese quiche and honey garlic chicken with vegetables (crock pot).

Dear 52 LETTERS, you may be a tiny project, but my guess is you’ll yield grand results. It’s time to write my second letter, hooray! I’ll be back later this week to share more details…

Dear early morning popcorn party, you’re sooo fun. Marigold doesn’t know what she’s missing ;) Or does she?

Dear toxin-free cleaning kit, tomorrow I’ll share your goodness with my blog community. PS. Want a free bottle of Orange essential oil? I’ll give you all the details from Grove Collaborative in the morning, so stay tuned.

…..

We’re in the second week of January already, and so I wanted to take a moment to share with you the idea of priorities, not goals. Sometimes the word “goals” overwhelms me. It feels ambiguous and just outside my reach. When I make a “priority” I feel secure in my self. A priority is something I make time for. A priority is another way to say, Is this task benefiting me?

Stay focused on your priorities, and work them into your routine.

Happy Monday! xx

 

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9 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, inspiration

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Comments

  1. Mara says

    January 9, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    Happy Monday, thanks for the inspiration and happiness! Hope you’re staying warm :)

    Reply
  2. Kristen @Hope Abound says

    January 9, 2017 at 10:08 pm

    I tried making more gnocchi tonight and it was total success. So now I think I can graduate to attempting this soup you wrote about. I’m just a little excited. :)

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      January 10, 2017 at 8:24 am

      You should be excited, because it’s a super yummy soup (and so so so so easy to make)! Only 7 ingredients and nothing is too weird ;D Everyone will be so impressed! And it makes great leftovers! Haha.

      Reply
  3. Kristen @Hope Abound says

    January 9, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Heres a soup that is one of our favorites. We put zucchini in it though. You could even use the gnocchi in it as well.
    Tortellini Tomato and Sausage Soup
    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/234187249350546169/

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      January 10, 2017 at 8:25 am

      I was going to ask if you have a favorite recipe, and look, you already shared one — thanks girl! xx

      Reply
  4. April says

    January 10, 2017 at 5:35 am

    One thing I love about your blog is your gratitude for the every day things. I love how you find joy every day in things in your own household and routine. I need to improve on this.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      January 10, 2017 at 8:26 am

      Thank you April! It helps me in really big ways to think this way. Even if I have to give myself a pep talk, it’s a good practice for me. xx

      Reply
  5. Laura says

    January 10, 2017 at 11:28 pm

    I am definitely making that soup this weekend! Yum! I’ve recently heard a few people mention GimmeSomeOven, I can’t wait to check out some other recipes there!

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      January 11, 2017 at 7:03 am

      YES! I’ve made a few of her recipes, they’ve all been delicious — thanks for the nudge to try a few more! xx

      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
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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