Encouragement for my friends

Let's sit on the metaphorical couch and drink our pretend cup of coffee and discuss things deep in our heart for a second. Here's what's in mine. It's something I articulated a long time ago on Facebook, but I've been wanting to shout from the rooftops lately:

So ... dear friends young and old, married/"partnered", single, and all the other categories my colorful friends' may include ;-) (and particularly moms of older children):

You'd be surprised how deeply uplifting it is for a mom of young kids to hear SINCERE encouragement/positive feedback from you. Things like "You are doing an awesome job" and "They are not going to grow up to be serial killers, I can tell!" and "You are the perfect mom for these type of kids!" etc. The"young kids/babies season" is tough on a woman's identity, marriage, and life in general. One sincere/helpful comment just to let her know "Everything's gonna be alright, just breathe" can turn a suffocatingly dark day into a bright, hope-filled one. 

Your words can help frame her inadequacies with grace. 

Just sayin'.

What's in your heart pertaining to motherhood today?

Heavenly Protection

On April 2, 2012 at 8:29 PM Amina Celeste Gahagan was born. Her name means Heavenly protection, safety and refuge.

We are so in love.....

 Sleepy smiles make my day.

The three sisters!

We found out we were pregnant last year during a very high pressure, stressful, and emotional season in our lives. (Hence the lack of posts too.) Having a constant awareness of a life forming inside of me was my accountability to not internalize stress, take on more than I could handle, and enjoy the process. Her little life protected me from damaging my health because of my martyr tendencies. Her birth was wonderful and even at 1 month old, I find that my obligation to her (simply love, nursing and regular newborn care) is keeping my life "manageable" in what could be another crazy season.

Thank you, God for this heavenly gift of protection.