Joy in the Journey

It’s strange when the words you need to hear come from your past self. I am mourning this week, and here is what I had to say about it last year…   https://www.joyhereinthejourney.com/2021/05/mourning.html

 Hey mamas, I’m still here. Sorry I have been a little M.I.A. lately. As I’ve said, I’ve been going through a rough patch. Postnatal hormones and some other things have really been hitting me hard.  I don’t want to be like this. I don’t want to be crying at the drop of a hat and feeling overwhelmed and lonely all the time, but it is something I am walking through. I’ve been trying to figure it all out and praying for guidance. I’ve been trying to worship and read my Bible every day. I’ve been trying to think the right thoughts. It’s all been such a deep, soul wrenching struggle.  It’s winter steelhead season here in the PNW and fishing on the river is one of my happy places so I’ve taken the kids out a few times this week. I love being out on the beautiful gravel bar with all the fresh air and the kids running around and playing, wild and free like my brother and I did when I was a child. We only got two days of schoolwork done this week but I really felt like that was all I could hand

  https://www.joyhereinthejourney.com/2021/04/not-my-burden.html

 Dear Mamas, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to write to you this week. I wish I could say it was because I've just been too busy with the holidays but I can't. While it's true that I have been busy, it's more than that. I don't think its just the post-birth hormones or the fact that I have a teething TWO-month-old, either.  It has not broken through the gums yet, but there is certainly a tooth there! That explains the drooling and fist gnawing. There are a lot of other challenging things going on in my life right now. I started writing a list but you don't really need to hear all of it.  All you need to know is that God is in your storms with you, Mamas. He loves you. He isn't surprised by the challenges you are facing. He is waiting for you to lean into Him. He may decide to miraculously calm the waves with a word, or He may want you to weather through it. Either way, lean on Him, Mama! And don't be down on yourself for having a hard time. I t

 It’s almost Christmas!!! Did you just read that with joy or panic?  My Christmas preparations this year look very different from what they have in the past. Usually I am scrambling to get all my homemade gifts done for the extended family, as well as doing many activities with my kids. But this year I have a newborn, so I decided early on that I was going to expect less of myself. I decided that I would focus on the gifts I really want to make for my own kids and if I get anything done beyond that, it would be a bonus.  It kind of feels selfish, but I’m glad I made this decision. I do miss making gifts for my loved ones (acts of service is my love language!), but I also know there is no way I could have gotten them all made in time. Not without sacrificing the little sleep I get and putting up with some stressful crying from the newborn. I bought this onesie for my daughter 13 years ago, and it’s a good reminder that the people in our life are the best gifts. I also made the decision

My thoughts to share today are nothing new. I’ve been thinking a lot about how privileged I am. Well, I’ve actually been catching myself complaining about how hard life is and then reminding myself how privileged I am. In case you are wondering if I’ve already written a blog about it, you are right, I have. And I don’t feel like I can say it any better now than I did then, so here’s the link. Please read it, you may need the reminder, too.  https://www.joyhereinthejourney.com/2020/10/privileged.html Love ya, mamas! Lee