Hey Momma, what a wild last week, huh? From funny jokes about toilet paper to all out panic and urgency. Kind of crazy how quickly things can escalate. 
I'll be totally honest with you, and let you know that I am not afraid. I think there is a divine work being done in the world, under the sovereign covering of God Almighty. I firmly believe that no matter what secrets, or lack of secrets, lies behind this pandemic, God is calling us, as wives, mothers, or simply Christian women, to stand in faith, trusting that He will never leave us or forsake us. Our stability, in unstable times, is a witness than words could not fully justify.

But that doesn't take away from the uneasiness of the uncertain times, or the legitimate struggles of navigating this period with peace and rational thought, all the while still making sure you have enough beans, rice, diapers, and toilet paper. It is this particular mindset that has been a driving force for me personally during the periods of time that I, daily, have been spending in prayer and the Word over the past two weeks. It's too easy to get sucked into the news, the catchy, and sometimes frightening, headlines, the conspiracy theories and their possible implications, and the panic that you see on many peoples faces.  It's easy to read a couple things and lose that rational part of your mind that is supposed to help you sort through the cryptic details being delivered by those you may or may not trust. 

It has caused me to search deep in scripture for God's words that will strengthen me when fear tries to take hold. I need His words when I don't know how to react from one moment to the next. I need His words to remind me that no matter how bad everything gets, no matter how this might effect me personally, He still wins in the end. I need His word to remind me that no outside circumstances could possibly separate me from Jesus' love. 

These are not new needs that I have thanks to Coronavirus. These are the needs of every believer, of every era, of every location. Because the Bible has always been clear that life is not void of pain. Life in fact, has much pain and much turmoil, and to believe any different is foolishness. But when we walk closely with Jesus, there is no reason to be disturbed, or uprooted. There is no reason for our faith to be shaken, or God's goodness to be questioned. 

It is easy, especially in crisis, to only see the world as it is now; trapped by time and space, filled with wickedness, hopelessness, and pandemics. Our world is not eternal, and our flesh most certainly is not. Scripture says that we are all like grass, here one day and withered and blown away the next (1 Peter 1:24). Yet, we feel like life is so long, and our troubles so intense. Yet, it is if we literally only exist for a moment on a much grander scale. So our suffering and worry is but for the smallest measurement of a second, and our life only a minute on the clock of humanity. Keeping our temporal humanity in mind is vital for us as Christians. Only then can we really look to eternity with deep expectancy. Expectancy, not fear of the unknown, but excitement of what really awaits us. 

Because of all these things, I really want to take this week and dedicate it to all the believing women out there who need a word from God in this interesting season. I want to share scriptures with you to lift up and encourage your heart. I want to remind you that no matter what your week looks like, no matter what the media says, no matter what the doctors and nurses on social media say, God still holds all things together, and we have a hope much deeper than any anti-malaria drug or bailout or stimulus package could deliver. 

I am praying for you, ladies. You are in my heart, and I pray you would walk out this week in boldness in strength, knowing when you walk with God there is no enemy that can pluck you out of His hand. If you need encouragement, reach out. If you want more scriptures to encourage you in your place of need, be sure to comment. We are in this together. You are not alone. Let this be a time that draws you into a place of deeper holiness and sincerity in your walk with Christ Jesus. 
XOXOX,
Shell

Hey mommas! Welcome to Friday. That amazing last day of the work week, where somehow, even if you're a SAHM it still feels like the start of some sort of gift.
In light of Wednesday's blog topic (if you missed my message on mom-guilt and daily routines, check it out here) I thought I would give you a little glimpse into my SAH day to day life. Two little men (3 1/2 & 1 1/2 years old), a husband who works a crazy schedule and a tired, and being eight months pregnant has led to this very simple, yet functional routine that has worked quite well for our family. It isn't very strict. There is lots of time for play and random activities, as well as errand-running. There are moms who run on a lot tighter schedule, and for me personally, I am always willing to change things up based on what is going on in this current season.
​But before we continue, I would be amiss if I forgot this very important disclaimer regarding any sort of routine you are attempting to establish....

Only the Lord can truly bring Peace into chaos, calm into your storm, and bring clarity into confusion. No routine, block schedule, or perfect day could ever really bring fullness to your life. Can those things help? Sure. But they were never meant to be your All-in-All. So as an encouragement, don't forget to always take time in the intimate place with Jesus. Every. Single. Day. Don't forget to encourage your kiddos to do the same, maybe even include them in your time. Let them pray with you, read them a portion of scripture, or get them their own devotional (this is our favorite, so far). Even make up cute songs for them to help them memorize simple scriptures, depending on their age. My 3 1/2 year old knows quite a few scriptures, and it's thanks to simple rhythms and repetition. THIS is what will truly give you the most productive days.
​Now, let's talk about our daily schedule:

I am not saying that you must follow this type of schedule to be productive and such. This is just what has worked for our family in this season of toddlerhood. So feel free to copy it, modify it, or not follow it at all. Do what is best for your family's well-being, least stressful to you, and most enjoyable for everyone. Schedules and routines are meant to bring harmony, so don't allow an unrealistic, or even a too lenient, routine throw your life into a vortex of suck. Take time with Jesus, trust Him for your peace, ask for His help, and keep moving forward.

God bless you Momma. Have a wonderful weekend!
Xoxox,
Shell

Please tell me, mommas, that I am not the only one being absolutely, but tastefully, bombarded with the millions of craft and schedule ideas that are floating around on social media right now? In light of the Coronavirus school closures, every momma who ever had a blog or an idea is making lists and tutorials on ways to keep your children entertained during the coming weeks, and possibly months, of this social-distancing season. I thought it was the best thing ever... that is, for the first few posts. But as I continued to see more and more ideas popping up everywhere, every hour, every waking minute of the day, I began to recognize the ever-familiar scent of mom-guilt. Just one little thought that told me I wasn't a good enough or a successful mom if I didn't have three art projects a day. Or if I wasn't running on a particular schedule then I was doing a disservice to my children. And that's when I felt compelled to write about this topic, and remind you mommas, whether this is your first time staying home with your kids, or this has been your life for years, it's okay to not do what everyone else says.

Now before you go freaking out and thinking that I just let my kids run wild all day, or that I don't have some sort of schedule, or that I don't invest in motherhood, let me clarify.

I am not crafty. I don't like mud. I don't like cold weather. I don't like hot weather. I am not a huge lover of trains and cars. I don't have Pinterest boards full of fun toddler activities. And I typically avoid momma blogs because I don't like to play the comparison game.

...And you're over there reading this going, "O-kayyyyy? And?"

It's vitally important for me, as a fellow momma to remind you, that it's okay if you aren't the most creative. It's okay if you don't have a lot of art supplies and buckets of expensive Montessori toys! It's okay if your kids play room looks like a hurricane came, ate some cookies, drank some tea, and left the dishes in the sink. It's okay if you decide that you want to just let them play, on their own, alone with their imagination, and not have every fifteen minutes scheduled out for a new activity! It's okay if you feel overwhelmed and just want to chill on the couch with them while you enjoy a movie and popcorn... at 10am. It's okay to not have this season down to a science!

Do I think you should be lazy butts all the time?
​Nope.

Do I think we mommas need to make an effort and step out of our comfort zones for our children's benefit?
Absolutely.

Do I think that we should give our kids a solid routine to benefit boundaries and self-control?
Yes! All day, yes!

But I don't think you're doing it wrong if you don't follow all the plans and procedures of moms on social media. I don't think you are screwing up your children if you have self-proclaimed, "Jammie Days" where you lay around and watch movies.

What I do believe is wrong, is when one mom sits in judgement of other moms who are just trying to figure out what works for them.

Personally, I love reading to my kiddos, so we do that often. My boys love playing outside, so when the weather is nice, which it has been, we spend substantial time in the back yard. My kids love Bible Stories, so when I feel too tired or emotionally worn-out we spend 30 min to an hour watching The Beginners Bible episodes on Youtube. My oldest absolutely loves drawing on a dry erase board, so instead of setting up tons of craft items for him, his expo marker and board get lots of use. I keep toys to a minimum, so they only have a select few toys to choose from at any given time. With most children, the fewer toys they have, the more they play.

I am, by no means, poopooing any of you mommas who want to spend your days crafting away! Or maybe you're trying out a new schedule type to improve your day to day life. Maybe you're just getting new ideas that you've never thought about! All of that is 100% fine! In fact, I encourage that! But please be aware, that if you start to feel like you aren't good enough because you aren't the craftiest, or aren't the smartest, or aren't the most organized...that doesn't mean you aren't doing a good job at motherhood.

None of us moms are perfect! We don't have our mess together 24/7. We still screw stuff up! We still waste time. We still act selfish. And it is in those failures that God has designed it for you discover your great need for His grace. And as you discover that, then you can share, first hand, with your littles, what it means to walk with Jesus. Why we need forgiveness. Why we need His help to do anything truly right and successful. Seek God for the keys to your children's heart. Search out His will, and search out your babe's thoughts to discover what would be most beneficial to your baby, toddler, child, or teenager. Don't let discouragement and mom-guilt overwhelm you. Embrace God's most enduring grace, and get ready to learn. Motherhood is one of God's greatest teaching tools.

Have a good week, Momma. With the Lord's help, you've got this!
Xoxox,
Shell