Maggie Whitley Designs

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

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January 15, 2015 · 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 metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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How we paid off over $65K in debt in 3 years
Gift wrap made from Real Simple magazine
Living with joy & refreshment
Having a TV detox & minimizing our toys
How we paid off $42K in debt in 2 years
How to style your wavy (or curly) hair
How to sew a zippered pouch
How to accurately price your handmade items
How we are getting out of debt
How to make a freedom change
What to focus on when you "stay at home"
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Having something to look forward to

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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

🤸🏼‍♀️💞📓Tuesday & Thursday are my

🤸🏼‍♀️💞📓Tuesday & Thursday are my writing days. As usual, I have much on my mind and the only way to clear the dust is to write it down. I love how Margaret Atwood says, “the trash can is your friend”. 🗑 Who cares if it takes a few takes for the story to come together, why demand perfection? I appreciate how Natalie Goldberg describes the story process as “composting”. 🌱Similar to how a life takes time to grow, good stories take time to develop. And of course I’d be amiss to not include the wisdom from my favorite Sally, Sally Clarkson, who encourages us to set aside 15 minutes of quiet each day to re-center ourselves around truth, goodness & beauty. ☕️ I depend on this slowness almost like I depend on air to breathe. // These three truths have been like candles for me, helping me to see there IS a right path to take, but experienced guidance makes for a wonderful companion... 🕯

#blackouttuesday

#blackouttuesday

What are you reading? What changes are you leaning

What are you reading? What changes are you leaning into? 🕯🖤I have a short but powerful list of things God has brought to light since Labor Day of last year, with many of them happening since March of this year.

To answer my question, I’m very close to finishing “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by @johnmarkcomer. Y’all said I’d love it when I mentioned it earlier this month. And, y’all were right! 👏🏻😭very good stuff, many sentences and chapters underlined and “!!!” in the margin.

In the moment, pain hurts, but I trust my Maker and the growth He is faithful to provide over & over & over again. He will prove this to be true, if only we can be patient. 📖Don’t forget to tell me: what are you reading???

This morning at breakfast, Zack shared with our ch

This morning at breakfast, Zack shared with our children our plans for the day. We’ve been so productive and are thisclose to settling in to Sabbath rest after dinner. We’ve done an entire page of chores in just a few hours, working together, just in time for the rain to pour down. We enjoyed it on our covered front porch. Landon couldn’t contain himself, he was squealing like a little piggie. So excited. 💦 I even filled up my outdoor watering can with the rain water. Now, everyone is on a bed with a stack of books. I have a cup of coffee and two books myself. I’m resting quickly before finishing preparing our Sabbath meals. Here’s our menu: take-out tonight, frittata with bacon & toast tomorrow, turkey & cheese roll ups with fruit and veggies for lunch, meatballs & sautéed green beans for dinner. 🌾happy Friday to you, friends. What are your weekend plans? PS. swipe to see my “before” bookshelf, isn’t she coming into herself nicely? :)

Capture the weeds, bring them in and give them a d

Capture the weeds, bring them in and give them a drink of water. The weeds are often just as colorful as the flowers, and what if instead of existing only to make you labor, you looked at them with fresh wonder —wow, look at the beautiful colors you posses? “Look how well you’re doing at causing my children to smile, causing me to smile? You’re doing a great job, and I love your pretty outfit.” 🌱🌾🌼 Weeds are lovely little pep-talk instigators.

We celebrated our first ever Sabbath Friday evenin

We celebrated our first ever Sabbath Friday evening. I am so 🤩🤩over all that the Lord is doing in our lives, our marriage, our ability to transform. For 24 hours we feasted as a family of six, walked in nature, napped, enjoyed fulfilling activities, resisted chores & stress. It was completely phenomenal. Friday was a random day we picked that felt like a good fit for our family. And boy oh boy, was it ever! I can’t believe Zack and I are gearing up for 12 years of marriage in June. When couples say, marriage gets better with time, I couldn’t exactly relate. But now? I am like yesssss, all the strength required to work through the hard stuff, it’s clicking. IT IS SO WORTH IT! We’ve experienced James 4:8 so many times in the last eight months. I’ve written it down in my journal, and so it’s confirmed: these smiles aren’t fake, these are the real deal. I am honored to be Zack’s wife. And ps. —Friday night, I’m counting down until you’re here! :) #sabbathrest

“If mothers could learn to do for themselves wha

“If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play!” — Charlotte Mason /// 🌤🎠💞one of the best things I can ever do for myself during these young, precious years, is go outside to play with my children.

This is exactly why I started getting up at 4:30am

This is exactly why I started getting up at 4:30am to start my day. There’s nothing wrong with me needing a slow start to my day, but to act frustrated over my family needing me was wrong. Now, when my children wake up, I’ve had ~2.5 hours to prepare at my own pace. I have read, studied my Bible, drank my coffee, listened to worship music, spend a lot of time writing. Honestly, I accomplish a lot. Waking up this early feels completely natural now. Instead of staying up late and accomplishing nothing worthwhile, I wake early. Instead of dullness, I experience beauty. And yes, I go to bed very early, between 8:30-9:30pm. This whole new routine is something my husband and I do together. ❤️

Last week I struggled to have inner peace. I could

Last week I struggled to have inner peace. I couldn’t get my mind and soul to connect.

I knew in my heart there was much to remember, I just needed an extra boost before my eyes. So I started listing out who God says I am, here’s a portion of what I found: -beloved
-a child of God
-delighted in
-free
-a new creation
-whole in Christ
-wonderfully made
-a masterpiece
-never alone
- a friend of Jesus
-precious
-known
-beautiful
-a branch of His vine
-chosen
-a light
-perfect
-redeemed
-forgiven
-zealous
-an overcomer! 💓💓I mean, talk about an inspiring pep talk! If we love God with our hearts, souls, minds then we are these things!!! Glory. ✨

My little loves. From youngest to oldest, four chi

My little loves. From youngest to oldest, four children in five years, more laughter than tears; each day with them is my favorite new day. 💙💕💕💙

Let’s file this under: Spring & Summer at the Wh

Let’s file this under: Spring & Summer at the Whitley house. ☀️🌷🧤🌀👏🏻

Struggling over the weight of another week? Tell m

Struggling over the weight of another week? Tell me: What are you thankful for?
I’m happy for a new day. Happy to see new blooms on the cherry tree. Happy for May! 🍒

Instead of giving in to a nap I’ve made some cof

Instead of giving in to a nap I’ve made some coffee and I’m going to start this book. ☕️📖Our neighborhood group w/ church is reading it. I’m eager to dig in and (hopefully) learn some new things. My bedtime is in 6 hours, I gotta hang on until then 🥴

This is how I’ve spent my (early) Saturday morni

This is how I’ve spent my (early) Saturday morning so far... mapping out the lineage from Adam to the 12 tribes of Isreal. I think I have it documented well?🕯💞Biblical history fascinates me, and with all the stories of relationship, weaving in mistake and righteousness, I can’t help but say, “WOW. Your grace comes from the deepest well.” Now, back to studying & coffee. 👏🏻☕️

Seven years ago, I began waking up at wee hours to

What is more fun than three to a swing? Nothing! N

What is more fun than three to a swing? Nothing! Nothing at all ☺️Except maybe all four of my children on here with me, lol

The colors of childhood are so vivid! I love incor

The colors of childhood are so vivid! I love incorporating color into my home, it reminds me of the freedom and creativity we have been given.

Little pops of color through green plants, flowers, the spines of books on a bookshelf, plump pillows on the couch, tea towels — there are so many fun ways to incorporate color.

Mothering isn’t supposed to be dull, don’t believe that lie. Take agency over your day, home, life, and exhale right now knowing Christ is for you.

This afternoon I did “a thing”: once lunch beg

This afternoon I did “a thing”: once lunch began I made the choice to NOT use my phone until my children were tucked in bed.

It’s way too easy to pick it up quickly, and I’ve noticed how much time that actually wastes.

It was WONDERFUL to step away from my phone and homeschool my older two children, read books on the couch, prep dinner at 3pm, begin baths at 4:30pm, and then enjoy the gentle pace of an evening together.

Parenting is hard. I love to find easy ways to dig in quickly to the JOY it offers.

And now, a photo of my dear neighbors tulip tree 👏🏻🌷🤣. Isn’t it beautiful?

PS. was your afternoon hard or easy?!

It moves me deeply that God meets women right wher

It moves me deeply that God meets women right where they are. Instead of needing to go up a mountain, like so many men had to do, to meet with God, God meets women right where they are. 〰️At home. In the garden. At a well. By a spring of water. He meets us at life-giving places. Imagine that, the Giver of Life meets us right where life happens. No fuss. No switching gears. No waiting for the right opportune. Just, here and now. 💕This deeply comforts me and reminds me WE ARE SEEN BY HIM DAILY⭐️📖🚰🌿🧺🧹🌸🍃🍽

Way too excited about this bowl of stove popped po

Way too excited about this bowl of stove popped popcorn, complete with butter and... lawry’s salt 🍿🤣. I mean, small things know how to pack themselves with joy, amiright?! lol

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devotionals written by Maggie:

the (in)courage Devotional Bible:
Proverbs 14:1 and Lamentations 5

31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer and Doer:
on Simplicity

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