Contentment doesn't equal complacency

 

It's been on my mind a lot lately so I thought I'd get it out here. My kids are now 5,4, and almost 3. We are in daily rhythms of school and sports and schedules. But once upon a time,  not too long ago, I was posting here about the difficulty of motherhood. Feeling like I was constantly disciplining, drowning in diapers, fighting kids to nap. I now miss those days of waking up whenever, making our own schedules all day. I asked God to feel near so much then, when I finally realized He was, I settled into contentment. I bought the lie that contentment had to equal complacency. 

I've been home with these littles for 5 years now, and a lot of changes have happened. Most of the days used to be hard, but I pressed in hard to Jesus and scripture. Today I find myself more at peace and comfortable in my role as a stay at home mom. I used to beg God to give me any job and I would do it for His glory, and I saw His lack of provision in that area as Him not hearing me - or me not being good enough. But now I know and feel confident that THIS is where He's wanted me all along. Surrendered, available, teachable. My kids don't seem near as stressful as they used to (side eye goes to Hattie Badger) and that may be because they aren't babies anymore, but I choose to think it's because I no longer walk reluctantly into the role God put me in every single day. 

I hear conversations and read posts from women who beg God for clarity, purpose, vision. I used to be that woman and some days I still am! There's nothing wrong with asking God to breathe life to your dreams, because He gets that glory. But what if we just hit pause? What if we woke up each day and said, "Ok God. You've put me here, show me what Your will is today, tomorrow, as long as you have me in this season. Just help me keep my eyes open to what You're doing with where I am right now." We could stop wishing to start a new season where we're doing more of what we want, and instead be with Jesus where He has put us (intentionally) today. 

So whether you're waiting for that perfect job, perfect calling on your life, perfect day with your kids, just remember that God has ordained all of us as His followers to love him and his people. That's the calling of every single person who has the salvation of Jesus. That's the main calling. That's freedom.

 

limping out of 2016

2016 kicked. my. tail.

I currently type this posted up on the couch unable to move. I fell in a hole chasing wyatt while playing ninja turtles in the yard the day before Christmas Eve and severely sprained my ankle. 

I'm willing to get raw and say that this was not my year. Thing after thing went wrong. Life started hard this year and snowballed the whole way to December. Sure we were able to see a lot of beauty in between, but there was a lot of junk. Tons of tears shed. A couple of huge good-byes. 

I prayed a lot this year to have a heart like David's. To choose to see God and cling to Him even in the midst of trial. At times i clung harder than others. I told God we needed some kind of win, and it hasn't really felt like we've gotten one. But, when I snap out of my pity party, I realize that no matter what.. HE is the ultimate win. Because this world is not our home. Our win was made in Jesus Christ.

I've been thinking a lot about Job. God allowed Satan to wreak havoc on his livelihood, his family, his health, but not his life. He lived in spite of trial. I love that when Job's wife told him to curse God he said "shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" and he did not sin in what he said (Job 2:10). I also love that he had friends come to encourage him and mourn his losses. His friend Elipaz speaks encouragement over him and reminds him that those who partake in evil will sow trouble and meet the wrath of God, but that Job has favor with God and that his "piety be his confidence and his blameless ways his hope" (4:6). His friend Bildad reminds Job that if you live life by God's statutes even in trouble He will rouse Himself on our behalf (8:6).

Now my ways are not blameless. My heart has felt selfish feelings. I have felt left out by God. I have felt forgotten. But those feelings are not of God. Those are lies Satan tosses into my mind to distract of God's goodness. If I'm forgetting about the kindness and love of God then I'm more likely to spend less time with Him. Time in His word. The bible is imperative to knowing and understanding the character of God. Each story teaches about how He is faithful to His people. How He shows up. The Word of God is how I know what His voice sounds like in my life. So if I'm distracted by selfishness, I miss His voice. I miss His goodness. I miss out on time spent loving Him.

Job and David both knew that loving God and being near Him was so much better than our best day of life on Earth. They knew He was/is miraculous. That's what I want my heart to look like.

One of our pastor's preached a couple of weeks ago about harboring bad feelings towards God because He doesn't answer our prayers the way or in the time that we want. I felt like the Holy Spirit gave him that message exactly for me. 

This entire year we watched my father-in-law suffer. We watched him dwindle physically and mentally. But never, ever spiritually. He was terrified to leave his life with us. Not because he didn't trust God, but now i know it's because he saw our family as such a blessing from God. He knew heaven was going to be good. He trusted he wouldn't have anymore pain. But I think he knew there would be no more being with us and that broke his heart. Blake and I prayed that God would be merciful to him. That he would take him quickly so he didn't have to keep suffering, struggling to breathing, aching in constant pain. And God never answered those prayers the way we hoped. I spent the last days of winfred's life sitting on his hospital bed beside my broken-hearted husband hearing about winfred's glimpses of heaven that will forever give me chills. He clung to Romans 8:38 reminding his spirit that nothing could separate him from the love of God. That's what I want my heart to look like. 

Instead, my heart numbed itself towards God a lot this year. I began to quit asking Him to do big things. I let my heart believe the lie that He "wouldn't" do the big things, because that's how He works for normal people like me. My heart hurts just thinking about feeling like that towards Him. 

I'm sorry, Lord.

Our pastor reminded us to pray persistently, but yield to the timing of God. It shook my heart awake again. I was reminded that the miracle is in Him. His timing. He doesn't need me to schedule when He shows up, much less me to choose what He shows up for. 

God asks for my heart to yield to his. To his character. To his knowledge. Because that's where the worship is!

So while I'm physically and spiritually limping across the finish line of 2016, I'm thankful to be ending it more in love with my people and my Jesus. I'm praying bold prayers for 2017, humbling submitting to His timing. He is for me, and you. 

a seat at the table

tap tap… is this thing on?

check? one, two. check?

Ok cool. Still works over here.

God urged me to get quiet and focus on Him. So I have been. Plus, life has been so incredibly full with my kids starting school, opening up my shop, and just other stuff i've taken on. But this has been sitting in the back of my heart, itching to get out.

I am in such a beautiful place with life right now. I enjoy my kids, for once I don't feel like I'm drowning. I still yell at them and they still forgive me, but for the most part we are in a good rhythm. Blake and I went through a tough spell this year which made me realize some sin in my heart that I'm still taking to Jesus. I've gotten to live out some dreams this year, and it's been really cool to see what God has done with me. But the best thing lately has just been how restful it all feels.

As far back as I can remember, I feel like I have fought to defend myself. I've fought for acceptance from people. I've grasped and clawed and talked way too loudly about things to seem like I was in a better, smarter, happier place than I may have actually been. I've fought to be understood or that I actually had ground to stand on, even when I may have not. I've fought so hard to fit in. Maybe I fought because I feel like God frequently calls me to something different than the people around me, where I don't have any desires. You can read any post from the last 3 years here and see how I struggled through my entrance into motherhood when I had no close friends who were there yet. Much less close friends, period. I felt like I was getting it all wrong and just trying so hard for a seat at the Mom Table.  As soon as I got comfortable into my place as a mom, God called me into standing in front of women once every other month at The Gather Project with red cheeks and sweaty pits feeling completely unqualified to be at the Ministry Table, but somehow so eager to talk about His goodness. While that still hasn't gotten any easier, I'm just so happy and thankful that God built a really beautiful and encouraging friendship with the two women I get to stand beside in that place of ministry.

I've found myself in this place lately where I'm asking Him "what's next God?" He knows how deeply I long for our family to grow some more. And that's something He hasn't given me any clarity on yet. So I choose rest in Jesus name. Peace he surely has given me. I know deep in my bones I can trust Him because He has never let me down. So when it's time for me to know the things I ask him about, he'll tell me.

Until then, I praise Him for not being in a place where for once I'm fighting for just a seat, any seat, at the table. The table where everyone has their own thing, their own "calling" or "gift". Instead just being grateful to love the God who built the table and being able to trust He has the perfect place for me.




Rambling in Jesus name.

when grass withers

I've had the privilege of going through Angie Smith's bible study Seamless with The Gather Project's Grow girls. So far we're sifting through the Old Testament and it's kind of blowing my mind. But there's this overarching theme I feel God stirring in me. Something He's really pressing into my heart.

I started this study by praying and asking God to show me He's trustworthy. That He's truly loving and kind, and that His word holds true in my soul. Which in turn, I prayed, would make me more confident in my approach of the Bible, in talking with people about His word. Going through Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Ruth… I'm slowly learning, and more importantly, trusting in this Word. So here's this theme again:

HE provides.

Every. Single. Time. HE provided. Sometimes they fully trusted (Abraham with Isaac, Noah with the Ark, Moses' whole journey to the Promised Land, Joshua marching with his people around Jericho), and sometimes they didn't and there were consequences (Lot's wife, Moses disobeying and not getting to go into the promised land after all that time, basically the entire history of the Israelites yo-yo relationship with God) but He provides for His people.

I've been in this period of time with God where I keep asking Him when certain things will happen for me. And you KNOW good and well you've probably asked Him those things too. When will I get to write for a living? Earn an income for the things I feel like you've gifted me in (my own selfish knot rise up in my flesh right there for some honesty), when will I get to take these business ventures, on and on and on. And when I (I won't say we for your conviction's sake ;) ) don't see things happening on my timeline, I [we] start to scramble to just MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, because, well, God isn't working on my schedule daggumit. That scramble is out of distrust. I'm not trusting that God will provide for His will. Just like Sarah wasn't trusting that God was going to give her a baby like Abraham said He would, so she scrambled and had him sleep with her maidservant (hey Ishmael). The Israelites chose not to trust that God would provide the promised land and had to wander around for 40 years as a consequence.

It's super easy to not see it as distrust. To see it from the standpoint of being "proactive". But let's just call it what we know it is. I believe things are not always instantaneous, and somethings take work on our part. But "when the grass withers and the flowers fall, the WORD of our God stands FOREVER" (Isaiah 40:8).

So back to that overarching theme. Provision.

Every time, provision. The Bible is this beautifully woven story that rings boldly true that He will, and does, provide. With Abraham's son, with a chunk of land He said He'd take His people of slavery and into, with the biggest and most beautiful gift of all time HIS OWN SON JESUS to take the place of our sickening sin which separates us from Him. He provides.

You may be thinking, but why? Why does He do that? And it is so dang simple.

Because He loves us. And He is always always always good. To show us we can TRUST Him. We can TRUST He is going to do what He said He would do.

Because, HE loved US first.






Man that felt good to get out.

Gratitude begets gentleness

It's forever amazing to me that God cares enough to give us the things we ask Him for. He doesn't have to, but He does. So when I notice it, I like to give Him that glory. He surely deserves it.

 

 

If you're used to reading here, you might remember that I pray for a purpose each year. I've prayed to be more merciful, more loving, and this year I have been begging God and seeking Him hard after gentleness. I've learned that these fruits are of His spirit, and that I cannot do these things, or be these things, apart from Him. I noticed a pattern of short temper, hot-headedness towards my babies and I HATED IT. Like kinda sorta started hating myself over it. I just felt like the worst mom and like I was constantly creating negative memories for my children. And that's when I realized I was making it about me. The more I made it about me- my time, my clean house, my well behaved quiet perfectly dressed kids, the more I was so quickly abandoning the grace I should be giving them when they fail. So I failed to accept any grace from God because.... I was trying to do it on my own. All I want as a mother is to love my kids deeply, know them deeply, and raise them to know God deeply. But if I'm not leaning into Him to show them those things? Que a whole lot of disappointment. 

 

 

 

I think I've struggled with being gentle towards people my whole life. And the older I've gotten, the clearer I feel like Jesus sinks it into me. When you're grateful for who you have, you tend to be more gentle towards the rest.

I mean this: I am so utterly, undeniably, humbly grateful for Jesus and what He did on the cross for me and everyone else. So when I make that my mindset, I tend to approach everyone else with gentleness. Including my kids.

 

 

 

I look at their beautiful, smiling faces from a stance of gratitude and how thankful I am to have them and raise them, that when things get hard (and they get hard OFTEN) I can seek God's gentleness for discipline and for gauging my reaction to whatever the situation might be. I can choose to be grateful to them instead of hateful. And I can choose that in Jesus name.

 

 

 

And for the times when I do lose my junk- because I'm human and not the best mom there ever has been or will be- then I repent and try to rest in His grace. Every day I'm glad to be their mom. 

when jumping feels more like sliding

I've always heard "where you sit is where you stand" and on this particular subject, I suppose I've sat (and stood) in the skeptic seat. I've said the words "I wouldn't. I couldn't. I'm sick of being asked." But then all of a sudden, I did. 

Two years ago I did an online internship with Ashley and that's when I first heard about Rodan and Fields. I looked up the products because I have horrible acne due to PCOS and uneven skin tone from pregnancies. They were not at all in my budget! I was super let down. I didn't want to sell, but I definitely wanted to try some products that I heard rave reviews about. 

Fast forward to current. I am asked probably twice a week by people I know, and people I don't, to join them in some kind of direct sales. And I always say no. But any time someone would ask me about R+F I would always email ashley with my questions and curiosities. But it always came down to budget. We're trying to get out of debt, I'm sure I've written about that here before. But we're really trying to make strides now. Having three kids so close in age puts me in a hard spot to look for a job because child care is so expensive. So I started praying for God to drop me something. And I am not saying this is how He answered, but I am saying that I am trusting Him with how this turns out for us.

Ashley introduced me to Lindsay and with a little help and birthday money…I am doing this with Lindsay as my coach! If you follow me on snapchat (hannahladd) then you probably already saw my story about all of this. Because y'all already know, IMMA KEEP IT REAL. Fo lyfe. I snapped my awful acne, fresh pimples and all. And because I spare myself nothing.. I took a couple of pics too. I want to give a full honest review, so that way, when(promise to overload) I talk about these products, you'll know you're getting the real deal.

You hear it all the time from people: JUMP IN! Take a risk! Just jump in full force! Live your dreams! 

Well here's where I sit. I am not a jumper. I am an over thinker. I like to weigh all my options and really think things through on practicality. So instead of calling this a "jump" in… I'm feeling it more as a slide in. I'm praying hard that God blesses my business venture, and that some women support it! I'm going to leave the link to my website for good measure. But feel free to email me with any questions!

This is super nerve-wracking for me!

http://hladd1.myrandf.biz

Parenting is Weird

I have a lot of friends embarking into parenthood for the first time right now. I also have a lot of friends jumping into multiple children territory. I get a lot of comments like "how do you do it with 3 kids so close in age?" and "how do you stay home with them all the time?" and "is it hard?" "I bet it's so fun having them so close together".

If you have ever read this blog at all, you likely know my answer to any of those questions. But just for fun, I'm gonna throw out some answers because I currently find myself able to type without Hattie pressing keys asking to watch 'BUPPIES'. That's toddler for Bubble Guppies, if you were wondering.

I will start by saying that my motherhood vibes do not typically dwell in Rainbowland. It's not all finger painting and handcrafted snacks. I don't always have my junk together. Coincidentally, I'm writing this beside a folded stack of laundry that I have yet to disperse of in 2 days… I don't say all of that to be like 'we're all drowning in the hot-mess sea!' 'survival mode for all!'. Because there are some moms that feel most like themselves when their homes are neat and tidy, and I don't think that makes them off-putting or judgmental. I feel like we feel like we can only accept people into our tribes if they're just like us, and the handle life like we do. And that isn't right. But we can save that conversation for another post, k?

Having 3 kids close in age is awesome and hard. It's constantly breaking up fights, and then witnessing the sweetest hugs given for no reason. It's not being able to hold everyone's hand or kiss every boo-boo. It's praying that you somehow didn't screw them up by getting knocked up so soon into their childhood. But it's also being so thankful they'll never remember life without each other. It's being proud that you survived the hard part, and happy they can keep each other company.

The question that I get most often, and never really know how to answer, is do I like staying home with my kids..? I went back to school and work when Emma was probably 5 months old. I worked part time until she was 18 months and I got put on bed rest while pregnant with Wyatt. Since then I've been a 'stay at home mom'. This wasn't because I believe it's the most effective way to mother. It wasn't because my husband always wanted a stay at home wife. It wasn't because this was a dream of mine. And for some people it is. DO YOU. I started staying home with our kids because I needed to. I didn't have a job where I would make enough to cover child care. I don't have a degree (GASP). When we got pregnant with Hattie, we were actually making plans for me to find something full time and put the kids in childcare. But that made zero sense once we knew we were having our third. So I settled in to mom life. And you can read my posts over the past couple of years of my emotional ride through all dat.

I love being able to be the one who gets to be with my kids all day. As hard as it is sometimes, I'm glad I'm the one who disciplines them and plays with them. But that's all we've ever really known, so I can form too huge of an opinion. I hate when people act like staying home with your kids is the hardest job in the world because I firmly disagree. It is hard. But it's hard emotionally. There's a difference. 

But the weirdest part of parenting? It's the crazy. Kids make you CRAZY. I should probably have some kind of certificate or something. There's a lot happening around here each day with hormones and feelings and fairness and ninja-ing out of naps. Some days I tell Blake "I CANNOT WAIT TIL BED TIME" and he's informed me on how awful that comes across, so feel free to spare me ;) 

You wanna know what happens when I get them all to bed though? I sit there and drool over their freaking pictures! "Babe look at this snap today when Wyatt did this… Here look at them playing in the tub… This is when we were planting…. " like a durn psycho! 

It is seriously the strangest thing they do to me. No wonder people laugh so hard when I say I want one more. I'm a wreck when it comes to these 3. They can make me want to hide in the pantry and eat mini reester bunnies, then make me want to kiss their faces right off. So odd. But I love it. And you, pregnant with your first kid- or maybe even your second? You will love it too. You will obsess over it from work (if that's what works for your family) or from your porch chair while you watch them soak each other with the water hose. You will definitely obsess over your tiny person that can also make you feel a type of crazy no one else ever has.

So hide yourself a snack for when you feel it bubbling up, and sneak it before you snap. Because being able to enjoy motherhood is so worth it. I'm praying for you, mamas and mamas-to-be. And you best believe I mean that with every fiber of my being. Parenting is weird, we gotta stick together!

All pictures were done by Jenn Johnson . Also check her out on instagram @jennjohnson0305

Why I Quit and If I'll Start Back

My husband tells me it's my biggest downfall. And I know he's right. When things don't go my way, or really when I don't get the results I want, I quit. I like immediate growth. Quick return. Which is the exact opposite of how life usually works. Things take time, experience, and work. None of which happen in the timeline of how I want them to. It's super selfish of me to think that all of my writing is even about me. Because I started it for Him, and for women like me.. who needed to read it like I did (and still do). But the content around here shifted from mainly motherhood, to something deeper. I will always love to keep it real. It's my biggest passion to connect with people and to know their hearts and for them to know mine. I never want all that I do to look like rainbows and butterflies. Because it's not. No one's life is, and that's a hard thing to remember on the internet where people are dressed cute with hip kids and complain about things like being fat when there are so many people who are starving. Real life is hard. And being real about real life stuff is awfully difficult sometimes because it puts you in such a vulnerable position. People do not spare their opinions too much in real life, and especially on the internet.

I felt like I was trying to hold myself to some impossible standard instead of His standard which is grace and not perfection. It's like comparison was strangling the passion out of me. There are so many women saying similar things in more eloquent ways. I will not amount. But thankfully, no one asks me to. Which I'm recently realizing. I like to write these blogs because I want any woman to be able to read it and take away some truth. And that absolute truth is that Jesus loves them and died for them, He wants them. I'm praying for God to direct my words, my purpose for this passion, and help me prioritize if all of this is His plan. Does any of that even make sense? Geez.

I don't know if this is a start or a close of a door. All I know is that God has shown me an immense amount of love through this time of silence. I feel like He is just nodding at me as I inch along in life, unsure but in faith. I love writing, whether people think I'm good at it or not. I love getting to be real about the good stuff and the hard stuff. Encouraging whoever actually reads this thing in their walk with Christ is my actual jam.

Sometimes I get bummed thinking about how much I'd love to have a cute lifestyle blog with recipes and DIY and outfit posts (writing this from my sweatpants). But then God reminds me of who I am, and what He's asked me to say, knowing all along that I'll say it no matter what. And I know that I'm in the right place. It might be an uncomfortable place, but He knows how this all turns out and I don't. So I'll keep trusting I'm in the right lane.







If you read this, would you mind commenting with what you would like to read? I'm considering doing writing series' and I'd love some feedback!

han does healthy

So first I'd like to throw out a formal apology to the internet. One of my best friends sent me a picture after my post and it said "I think I ovary acted" which is probably the best thing I have seen. Lotta truth there, folks.

Anyways, I'm learning that the problems and frustrations I have with the internet are often rooting from some unresolved feelings I've held back from the Lord. It's not about everyone else. So I'm back to staying in my own lane. SWERVE. (miiiight have just lost all of my 3 followers. it's cool)

My favorite thing about staying in my own lane? Room for improvement. If you follow me on instgram (@aquiverfullblog), you've probably seen my hashtag #handoeshealthy. I started it a little over a year ago maybe? It was a little way of tracking my milestones/changes. I want to do some longer Han Does Healthy posts here, for more in depth stuff like freedom from body image issues, easy healthy recipes, workouts I'm doing, etc. Mainly as a way of keeping myself accountable and seeing my progress.

My friend Courtney (@lifeashappycampers) asked me to help her out with a faith and fitness challenge this month. She gave me some shakeology (I'm hooked) and I'm doing t25. It's been tough but 25 minutes a day and workout complete? SOLD. Here's a fun recipe that I tried today! Let me just say.... DELICIOUS. Obviously I used chocolate chips because I didn't have dried cranberries (judge me), and I used soy milk and peanut butter instead of almond milk and almond butter. I could eat the whole batch... but I won't. That's poor stewardship ;)

Happy healthy thursday!

grace + peace,
han

Catch up and goals for 2016

I didn't realize how long I've neglected writing until just now! In full disclosure, I'm honestly not too terribly sure where I'm wanting to go with blogging anymore. I'm in a bit of a spat with the internet. I LOVE blogs. And instagram. I really really do. I just want everyday life to be celebrated a bit more. I want to see "perfect" people post grainy, non-curated photos just because it's one that makes them happy. I want to see more people celebrating their lives for what they are, not just for being hip or fancy. I, personally, really just want all of this for myself. I want to care less about what the internet might think or do. I want to be so content with the season God has me in. I want all aspects of my 2016 to feel worshipful. Maybe come January I'll write something about that. Who knows. Not me that's for dang sure.

So obviously I'm in a weird place. I'm just trying to lean in to the Lord and listen to where He wants me.

To catch up a little bit, I posted about The Gather Project last, and I am so proud (but not prideful) to say that we have had TWO gatherings since that post! I love that the women have coined the phrase calling them gatherings. It blesses me big time. The first one was in October, and when I tell you it was beautiful...my words could never do it justice. I truly feel like God blessed us with as much a piece of heaven as you can have on Earth. When I think about the sound of all those women's voices singing praise, it gives me chills. So then we got to do another one in December. It's just been such a huge honor for God to let us do this in our area. It will never get old! December was a hard month for me and Jesus. We've moved, which happened to be the week of The Gather Project. Terrible timing. Not sparing any shame, I truthfully just wasn't in the Word like I like to be. So my attitude and all-around life really reflected that. It was a tough month, and I'm looking forward to a fresh start. I had started, and put on hold, the Open Your Bible study by She Reads Truth (pretty ironic huh?). I'm really excited to pick that back up!

My prayers for 2016 are these:
Contentment- I just want to be thankful and at peace with where I am. I've written that a bunch, and I feel like I'm not wanting for more, I just love to stay in a place of gratitude. (Colossians 3:15-17)
Focus- I feel called to my husband and children before I'm called to serve elsewhere, and sometimes I get that mixed up a bit because everyday life doesn't always seem like service as much as it seems like necessity. But I want to focus on loving my family and serving them biblically and lovingly as much as God allows in 2016.
Gentleness- Bless. Just typing that I'm thinking "Lord are you sure You put gentleness on my prayer list?!" But alas, He did. I feel like I severely lack in gentleness. And those shortcomings are evident in my relationships. I'm not entirely sure how to be more gentle in speech and attitude? But I do know that My Father never lets me down when He calls me up to something. He provides every single time. (1 Peter 3:4)

I feel super thankful for all God has done for me and my family in 2015. It was a year of freedom for me! Which is really cool to see since I prayed for that at the beginning of the year! I want to hem into His Spirit more and more. I want to teach my children what it looks like to love Jesus and live without fear. I got see God give me a huge vision AND fulfill it! Here's to trusting Him to do abundantly more with this next year!



grace+peace,
han

some random thoughts for your tuesday

There happens to be a crap ton (yes i just internet-ed that) of randomness swirling around in my head, so what better place to dispose of them than my blog?! I'll preface all of them with…you're welcome. ;)

FIRST.

How is this the last week of august??? whaaaaaa. I love fall, because sweaters and jeans. But I have so enjoyed my summer with the kids. We've really gotten in a groove of just being together and adventuring every now and then, so I'll be sad to see it end when Emma goes back to school.

But even if it stays in the low 80's with this breeze, I'm good.

NEXT.

I really miss having a house. Just throwing that tiny bit of pity out there. Praying God works on my contentment issues.

We finished our Naptime Diaries Abide study and it was the jam. such a breath of fresh air! Now our women's ministry at church is about to start Breaking Free by my favorite woman, Beth Moore. SO looking forward to it!

Wyatt seems so grown to me lately. He's talking about all the things all the time. Someone else talking about all the thing all the time, to no exaggeration….Emma. BLESS. She also turned FOUR last week. I'm preparing that sappy post. Warn your tear ducts.

Hattie is teething fiercely and it's making her sick. Absolutely pitiful. Teething is of satan. It's got to be.

LASTLY.

The Gather Project is a total legitimate thing now. The date is october 8th. If you're reading this and planning on coming, PLEASE comment. I would really love to know! We have been in such deep prayer over this whole deal. And I struggle daily/hourly with whether or not I feel equipped to handle this. I'm leaning in so hard to Jesus and trusting it's all of Him. Nothing of me but my yes on the table. We have such good friends who have signed on to help and serve and pray in any way. I cannot even begin to describe how incredible it's been to see God orchestrate all of this.

Hope your Tuesday is not ruined by my ramblings!

the gather project

This is super nerve wracking to post because it's becoming more real with each passing day and moment.

About a year ago, I prayed a big prayer. I asked God to clarify His purpose in me, for me, and my words. I told Him I wanted to see Him do something big in me and know it was from Him. This blog has been a huge answer to that. But even bigger than this, I feel like God has called me to women. Whatever that is going to look like in the future, I don't know.. But right now he has given me clear vision for our area.

From what I've noticed across social media, bible study groups, and even in my own friend groups, is that women want and strongly desire community. To be heard, feel known, and grown deeper. A relationship with Jesus is the first step in that direction. But what next? I believe discipleship and community are the follow up. To be encouraged by women who are alongside you in circumstance AND faith. To be mentored by women who have walked those same paths before you. Enter, God.

The gather project is exactly that. The idea is for a (eventually) monthly meet up for women of our area (west Atlanta) to gather, dwell, and abide in Christ. Worship, fellowship, and encouragement for women who desire to know God deeper. Like an intimate conversation in the coziest of places in your home, surrounded by women who love Jesus and desperately want to make Him known.

If you're reading this, and you're in our area, you're probably thinking "isn't that like the grove at passion city?" my answer is... I don't know. I've never been to a grove service other than the summer party. But I'm cool with it being similar. Because our west Georgia area could benefit from women worshipping alongside women whom they run into at the grocery store, or on campus, or at church. We're praying for a unity of women from local churches to come together expectant on what God is going to bring to the table.

So don't be afraid to pray for the big stuff. He is good in all things. We aren't called to produce the fruit, we're called to abide and bear the fruit. I am so excited to see this season of saying yes to God and I'm praying you'll join me in support! Whether that's prayer, volunteering, giving, or being a part of this event! I love hearing that women are encouraged by real and honest biblical perspective. So lets get on a team, ladies.

"and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near"
hebrews 10:24-25




ROAR. and amen.

Also, any of my wonderful internet friends who are super talented...HELP in our logo struggle. The chalkboard image, but prettier. Comment or email me if you can be of assistance! Seriously, please. It's for Jesus ;)

it is for freedom

At the beginning of this year, I prayed for a purpose. Not anything super specific, but just that I would witness God move big, so big that I would know that it could only be Him. And also, I prayed for freedom.

God has done both. And it's July.

I'll wait on telling about the big things, because what I really want to talk about is freedom. God has pressed into me hard this year to abide. Abide in HIM because without Him, nothing happens. Lives don't get changed, roots don't grow deeper, vines don't bear fruits of the Holy Spirit. John 15:2 says "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be more fruitful". And lately, I have found such freedom in that.

I've been doing Jess Connolly's Naptime Diaries, Abide, study. And i jotted something down last week that has been sinking in deeper and deeper. It is absolutely not about us, or what we'll gain, or what we'll become. It's about God and the characteristics He portrays. To me, that speaks loads into my issues with freedom. Jesus does not say try harder. He simply says, rest here. I have laid down my struggles before The Lord, my body insecurities, my anxiety over persecution and failure and fear, my need to be heard, all of that has bound me in my walk with Christ. Because we all tend to think we have to try harder. Be more kind, be more patient with our children, be more loving towards our husbands, be more gentle. And the freedom in Jesus and salvation is, we don't produce those fruit! We are just called to bear it and be the branches. By staying deep in God's word, we rest. Rest in knowing we don't have to have it all together. We don't have to be more. We can't. The world cannot make you more patient, or a better person. There is so much peace in who I am right now because Jesus has made my yoke so light.

I, by nature, am a wary person. I don't usually just jump hard into things. But lately, I've felt God calling me to surrender. Just a gentle whisper that says "jump! I got you!" But I'm like, God…You know I like to wade out. Not jump. So I have cannonballed into freedom. Not caring what it looks like to other people. Freedom to be who God has called me to be, and what God has called me to do. I got made fun of recently because I sort of, kind of, want a van. Y'all. I'm 24. With 3 kids. And I want a van. But I don't care! It is what it is ;) haterz gonna hate. I really enjoy working out. And I wish I could make it more of a priority, but I go when I can and that's a couple times a week. I look nothing like the girls I work out with AND THAT IS OKAY. I struggled for a little while because I would compare myself and that is such a slippery slope. So I got real with God and asked Him to speak purpose into me. To free my heart in ways I haven't even thought of. And He sure enough did.

After a season of hardship in my heart, it feels so beautiful to be at rest. To know it's not my struggle. to be able to say YES GOD. And Him take care.

What's holding you back from freedom in Christ? Let us not be afraid to get real with God. Because He is big enough to handle our breakdowns. And sure enough is the only one ho can put us back together.

Best Job Ever

Mother's Day is here! And I wanted to take just a moment to say what every woman should hear and say on this day.

YOU. ARE. DOING. GOOD. WORK.

You heard that right? Because you really are. I truly believe every woman who has ever invested and cared for another person of younger life experience needs to hear that. I have known women who have never carried a baby in their own womb, but because they shared the deepest parts of their hearts, to me they have mothered. And they should be celebrated. 

I will be the first to tell you, that being a mom is hard-stinking-work. So just for one day, let's all put aside the mom war opinions and look at another woman and say straight into their souls, "sister, you have loved and you are so loved. I'm thankful for you. Happy Mother's Day!"

I believe in the hard, ugly parts of motherhood. Those times where you secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) just want a durn moment to be by yourself and finish a thought. Those times you want to finish unloading the dishwasher without some crazy kid climbing in and licking a freshly washed spoon. Those times where you tell your toddler "NO MORE TALKING." I can't be the only one right? Those times are hard. They don't always show the best parts of our attitudes, but they're important. Why? Because grace. Grace is the glorious realm where all parents dwell. It is the place where Christ holds us and whispers (sometimes shouts) "you cannot do this without Me." It is where I am humbled to repentance and used as an example right in front of my own children. And not long after always comes the sweet forgiveness from tiny faces with pure hearts. They invite me to cuddle, or ask to be held, or sneak in a kiss as they hurry by to play..and that's where the beauty is. On the other side of the hard stuff, which you might miss completely if you aren't careful. That kind of love makes me weepy, yall. Like putty in the hands of my babies.

Loving anyone is hard. Probably because we cannot control other people the way we'd like to. But whether you have loved a 3 week old, a 13 year old, or a 30 year old, I believe you have mothered in some way or another. There will always be hard parts. There will always be mom guilt. I have had 3 kids in 3 years and I have been told a different way was best each time. You cannot please everyone. And luckily you don't have to. I want to be the mom speaking life into the women entering this sweet season of motherhood. Not the one at the baby shower freaking out the new mom-to-be with horror stories of labor and up all night misery, or the you should blah blah blah or you aren't giving your baby the best... I try to tell all of my mama friends this: Your baby won't know any better than you do. You are learning together. Love them well, serve them well. Ask forgiveness when you know you need to. 

At the end of the day, you have done the best you could. You are awesome! You're doing a great job, sister! Whether with your baby, your niece you're helping take care of, or as a foster or adopted mother, you are making a difference! Your influence is a blessing. Be a builder, not a bulldozer. 

This Mother's Day, tell another mama (preferably one who may do things differently than you) that you love them and how they love their babies. Trust me when I say that women need to hear that from other women. And I think it blesses God's heart to see us encourage one another. 

So. Happy Mother's Day to all you ladies who have spoken life into a young person. You are impactful! You are so beautiful and so perfect for your babies! Swim in His grace today and every day. Kiss your babies, and squeeze them tight, because the responsibility might be hard, but it truly is the best job ever.

Little Ladd Adventure!

So this weekend we took our littles camping for the first time! Blake and I love being outside and trying fun things together, and since we're inching in on the one year mark for Hattie, I felt like we could brave camping! So we packed up and headed out Friday night! My parents came to visit and so did Blake's. Hattie has been suffering from a sinus infection so she went back home to sleep with my parents ;) and Emma heard that Blake's parents were staying at a nearby hotel so they could come back the next day, so she begged to stay there. Basically, Wyatt, Blake, and I camped and the others just visited during the day! Ha!

We honestly had so much fun. The kids got to go fishing with their very own poles (which they promptly broke so we rigged them up to let them feel like they were really fishing). We kayaked and Wyatt crashed out there with Blake after like five minutes. It was so cute. That bubba is boy after his daddy's own heart. They love the outdoors and water. 

I got to spend a lot of precious one on one time with Emma and it felt so good to my soul! She is so caring and thoughtful, and funny! Gosh that girl is so funny. I taught her how to skip rocks and she braved the water to her knees with NO FLOATIE! I couldn't believe it! I was so proud. 

I got to finally try out some smores with Reese's! Best thing ever. You have to try it. It's not so much a part of #handoeshealthy but I couldn't pass it up. I'm back on track this week.

We straight wore them out this weekend! They were EXHAUSTED by the time we loaded up. I barely made it to the exit of the campground before they passed out in the back! And our dog, Callie, in my passenger seat was conked out too. 

I'm so glad we decided to try this! And even though 2 of them kinda chickened out on the over night, next time they'll do it! It was so much fun and such a blessing to get to spend good time with our family!

Emmisms

The older Emma gets, the more hilarious she gets. I try to encourage her in conversation, because let's face it, we both like to talk. But I'm learning more and more that like me, she also needs her alone time to play pretend and just be in her own little world. I totally get that because I need my time in my own head too. 

Anyways, here are some of the funny things I've jotted down from her lately!

Talking to me about her wedding: 

Me- "who are you going to marry?"

E- "brother! And I will have long hair!"

Hattie's nickname is muffin, so while Emma was talking to her:

"Hattie! Hattie muffin! You're my little blueberry muffin because dats my favorite!"

Getting up for school after time change so it's still dark out, "um daddy I don't think it's time for school. The sky is still asleep"

"My hair boo-londe(blonde) like moo-lan(mulan)"

Emma what do you want to be when you grow up? "A queen! No, a princess! No...I want to pour the drinks in the cups. And I want to feed Callie all by myself!"

Blake- "so you wanna be like mommy?"

Emma- "YES!"

Leaving a friend's house, they have a one year old girl.. 

Emma- "guys wait! I think we got the wrong baby!"

TWO

My baby man turned two on the 28th of February. We celebrated at the beach visiting our in-laws. You can see our spider-man soiree on my instagram @aquiverfullblog. I never knew what people meant when they would say "just wait until you have a baby boy. there's just something about a boy and his mama" and man were they right. I don't know if it's because he's my middle child or because he's our only boy or may both.. But he sure has a way of skirting around trouble by just looking at me with his smirky smile and saying "uh mama? I kiss you". He's painfully shy in new settings, but at home he is a straight up wild man, talking non stop. He loves playing with Emma (which is not always well received by her) and repeats everything she says and does. He looooooves him some food. Which is pretty hilarious. If he's ever in a full on meltdown (which is often of lately) I just sit him down at the table with a snack. Usually clears the issue.. He's like a snickers commercial.

Loves ninja turtles and madagascar. Obsessed with the Frosty the Snowman song. It is seriously his favorite and if anyone is every singing he puts in that request real quick. He likes to wrestle, which Hattie is on the receiving end of most of the time. She loves it. He always wants to go outside even if it's freezing and raining. 

His current favorite phrase is "don't want to" which is frustrating and funny. Funny because that's how I got him to sleep last night, by going through all the things he didn't want to do.. and he fell asleep mid list. HA! He's completely obsessed with animals. We had a random dog come up to my parents house while we were visiting this weekend and it jumped all over Wyatt's head. Once he got over that initial shock, all he wanted was to go play with that puppy. He always has his hands full of dinosaurs, horses, or trucks. Or.....snacks. 

Wyatt Boone you have surely inherited your daddy's joy for life. It makes you so happy to make us laugh. It blesses me to see that in you because it's what I love most about your daddy. I could eat your face with a spoon I love you so much. Your kind heart will be blessing and I pray every day that you will grow up knowing the Lord and be a Godly man who loves and serves others. I'm so proud to be your mama! 

I love you so much, mister big muscles! Let's make year two so much fun!