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joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

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February 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

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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 northern Michigan. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

It’s time for me to leave social media. (I’

It’s time for me to leave social media.

(I’ll still write on my blog, more on that below.)

You see, this leave has been picking up momentum since 2013 when a plump baby boy was placed on my chest after an emergency c-section delivery. I was 10 days past my due date, and he was nearly 10 pounds. We needed (and found) a “not as expected” exit strategy.

At the time I was juggling a handmade business alongside motherhood, which included life in Los Angeles. It was a lot, y’all. Postpartum is a beautiful, tender process.

As the years passed and plump babies continued to be placed on my chest, I stepped back from Gussy Sews more and more. Then one day, writing became my “craft” and sewing was something of the past. It was gradual, and the right next thing.

Then one day, also “not as expected,” we made the decision to homeschool. At the time I had three children born in three fun years, and public school was not the best route for their education or our schedule.

All the while, social media continued to hurt my mental health. I didn’t know how to share that, and I kept so much of my stress inside. Here’s a PSA: don’t do that! 🤍

Setting a time limit for the App doesn’t help. Not using it on certain days doesn’t help. Deleting it on weekends doesn’t help. Only looking at it on the computer doesn’t help.

What does help?

Not using it at all.

I need to leave, so I am.

I enjoy writing and sharing encouragement, so I will continue to write on my blog. If you’d like to read my periodic updates, in a delivery format that is non-urgent or algorithm based, subscribe to my email newsletter or check maggiewhitley.com 🖥

Topics you’ll find on my blog:

+ motherhood
+ faith
+ inspiration
+ homeschool
+ Seminary / book recommendations
+ simple living

I’m still available to reach via email, maggie@maggiewhitley.com 💌

It’s time for me to turn off the excessive noise. I trust the Lord to quiet my fears and demolish this idol.

It’s time for me to flourish, not flounder, in life. I want to stop having so many negative emotions and behaviors.

This is new territory, but I’m ready for it.
💓🕯🫶🏻

PS. There’s more written on my blog 😉

If I never took the time to pray, I’d never see

If I never took the time to pray, I’d never see my prayers answered in such specific ways. ❤️

Friendships are crucial for our spiritual growth. Do you agree?

Thanks, Wendy, for the coffee / convo / Christocentric fun this weekend!!!!! ☕️💬🕊

Today felt hard. Underneath my fleshy impulses I k

Today felt hard. Underneath my fleshy impulses I know it was tiredness flaring up, but still: today felt hard. Many times I put my hands over my face and took a pause. After two recess breaks, we tumbled outside for read-aloud time. Everyone loved it. Three times I moved my chair to stay in the warm sun as I read… Quite enjoyed that! Reading outside solved a lot of today’s hard, but ultimately it is just good to call it like it is. Whether that’s hard, fun, warm, challenging, quiet, or just plain tired.
💛🌼⚠️🌕🔆📒

happy 8th birthday Natalie Rose 🎂🥳💓8️⃣ my pumpkin baby!

And a happy Halloween from my four 🎃 Boos :: dash, rainbow unicorn, miraculous lady bug, and the soldier.

“People all over the world – outside the churc

“People all over the world – outside the church and in - are looking for an escape, a way out from under the crushing weight of life this side of Eden. … That’s why Jesus doesn’t offer us an escape. He offers us something far better: “equipment.“ He offers his apprentices a whole new way to bear the weight of our humanity: with ease. At his side. Like two oxen in a field, tied shoulder to shoulder. With Jesus doing all the heavy lifting. At his pace. Slow, unhurried, present to the moment, full of love and joy and peace.”

from:
“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by @johnmarkcomer

NEW BLOG POST: (because memory keeping is good for

Bold colors and big adventures. Gentle weather and

Bold colors and big adventures. Gentle weather and exhaled prayers. Hours spent building forts, a dog who watches from afar, leaves blown in the side door. Mud smears on the door frame, a final mow, bright shadows and moody chlorophyll. Autumn in October in Michigan. My eyes notice it all…

By His grace, today has been even better than I im

By His grace, today has been even better than I imagined. We began by schooling differently: my oldest went outside and worked on his “firewood for sale” project. He was gone for 5 hours. My next oldest stayed inside and worked on her math and English. My younger two played around the property riding bikes, playing with blocks, and reading books with me. In between all of that I cozied up our living room by washing pillow covers and the couch cushions. And I washed windows;) It’s definitely cooling down here at night! 💨🍃🍂🍁After lunch my oldest came inside for some table work. 📝I’m grateful for the support of friends and Zack who know the real priority in life, and 🤭🫣it’s not making young kids sit still. There’s a lot to learn as we go about our day, just listen to what Deuteronomy 6:4–9 teaches.

🌿🌼🍂🍁Summer has given in to the new sea

🌿🌼🍂🍁Summer has given in to the new season with crispy florals and bright crimsons. The mornings are damp and cold, laden with dew and dropped leaves. My morning time includes a thick robe and the hottest coffee. When our morning basket begins, everyone picks a blanket. Not a protest is to be heard when I ask them to stay & snuggle while I read, before moving on to copywork. My toes are often cold. My jeans feel like comfort. My front door slams shut as children run eagerly to catch the last of this beloved weather. Soon the heavy jackets will appear, but for now we are all happy with the crispy florals and bright crimsons.

Last year 👉🏻this year. Twelve months and ood

Last year 👉🏻this year. Twelve months and oodles of memories and growth. Not just for my four children, but for me and my husband, too. // a peek in the past: https://www.maggiewhitley.com/2021/08/life-around-here-20/

Sunday sabbath. Reading and leaves rustling and sh

Sunday sabbath. Reading and leaves rustling and shade and sunshine. Nail polish and hammock sitting and Rubik’s cube solving. 🌳💜📖🧩☀️🍃

August 2022. We’ve had most of the month with Za

August 2022. We’ve had most of the month with Zack away producing two commercials, but who’s keeping track? 😅 we are enjoying these summer days with harmonica playing, baby caring, making bed forts, and wearing pretty dresses sewn by great grandma. Bauer was skunk’d (😱😤) but we survived. That’s slightly sarcastic. I’m drinking my coffee slowly as I study and listen to the birds 📖☕️🕊🐣🐤🪶🌳… glorious, beautiful, gentle August

My children have set up a fort in the kitchen & su

My children have set up a fort in the kitchen & sunroom and included are two of my plants, a toy basket converted to a playpen, and a “big sister” leading the pack. This is so precious to me. I love finding their candid photos on my phone. Their childhood is enriched when they engage in creative play and conversation, and I’m here as a witness to share that LESS TOYS is always better. I worked a major toy reduction yesterday and we’re all benefitting from this. ✨✨

Friends, do not underestimate the beautiful, trans

Friends, do not underestimate the beautiful, transforming power of friendship during challenging seasons. I met Joanna almost TEN years ago, shortly after we moved to Los Angeles. She is also a Midwest girl, so we had that in common (snort). I have so many transformative stories of how this woman influenced me with her love for Jesus. I was quite a mess emotionally when I met Joanna. But she held on to me. She pulled me in and we laughed and brought our babies to the beach and we made meals and cried and of course laughed some more. I started the outline for a memoir in early 2020 and many of my stories point back to Joanna’s friendship. My family drove to see her family for a long weekend together. I always cherish our time together. So friends, do not underestimate the beautiful, transforming power of friendship during challenging seasons. Maybe you’re the one in need, maybe you’re the transformer. But either way, you need each other. 💓🫶🏻👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏻🌤

July 5, 2022 👏🏻🎈🧁🥳💓

July 5, 2022 👏🏻🎈🧁🥳💓

H A P P Y 37th B I R T H D A Y to myself (yester

H A P P Y 37th B I R T H D A Y to myself (yesterday)! Here’s a fun progression of personality as I show Zack some of the art and bday cards received in the mail 😅 gosh I just love when he doesn’t quit on the photographs 😉 tbh I’m used to it

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