As a small child it is the little things that made you happy.
Going to the park
As a small child, it is the little things that made you happy.
Going to the park
Playing at the beach
Skipping rocks
Going on a nature walk
Walking barefoot in the grass or in a cow pie (yes, we did this)
Throwing a snowball
Sledding
Playing on the swings
Spending time with friends and family
Watching a movie
Going fishing
It wasn’t about how long you spent doing these things or who you were with in particular, it was just the simplicity of having fun and enjoying the day. Doing something fun!
I remember doing special things with my parents, siblings, grandparents and neighbors throughout my childhood. We could be working in the garden or chopping wood in the neighbors pasture, it didn’t matter, we were together and we made it fun. Such simple things that didn’t cost a dime were so much fun. Yes, we worked hard most days but we also played just as hard.
What I have come to realize as I experience being a mother of 4 beautiful children is that it is a million little things that matter. It is the hugs, the smiles, the I am proud of you and most importantly the simple words I love you that make the biggest impact.
Do you appreciate the million little things?
The smiles, the giggles, and the time spent together with family and friends. Do you recognize those little things?
In our busy lives we sometimes forget that we are not the only ones giving a million little things to everyone around us. If we look deeper and with more patience we can see the million little things others do for us as well.
The opportunity to comfort others during challenging times – a million little things.
The endless hours of giggles and chatting with a group of friends – a million little things.
There is nothing better than this because each moment is made up of a million little things!
I have come to realize that a million little things has turned into a million very important things that I never took the time to see.
If I started making a list, I am pretty sure I would never stop because I think the list becomes endless once you start. Bless others with a million little things, recognize and appreciate the million little things others do for you.
I hope you take the time to count your million little things!
What is taking up space in your heart and in your life that it is time to let go of?
I have been cleaning & throwing things out both physically and emotionally.
Physically it has been every drawer, closet and cabinet in this house.
Emotionally it has been letting things go and being the best version of me that I can be right now. I am learning and growing every day! So, I stopped holding a grudge on myself for past mistakes.
Are you holding a grudge? On yourself or on others? Or both? Let it go.
Here is a funny item I found in my drawer. An old pair of glasses. What the heck do I still have them for? I have no ideas?♀️. I cannot even see when I put them on. I had Laser eye surgery more than 15 years ago. ? With amazing success. Now I wear reading glasses for on my computer because I turned 40 ? but these can be thrown!
Goodbye glasses ? ?
What are you getting rid of today? Start somewhere with something, anything!!
As I watch our 4 little miracles swim today on a fun Monday off from school the words I survived come to mind. The challenge of getting pregnant for my husband and I was huge. It involved lots of rounds of fertility medications and several rounds of in vitro fertilization. So when the kids were born we were absolutely thrilled but there was also a very high level of uncertainty that came along with their birth.
Am I going to be a good mom?
Am I going to be able to teach them all the things that they need to know and learn in their life.
As I watch them giggle, swim, and play together I realize we did a pretty good job.
We got through the middle of the night feedings, potty training, riding a bike without training wheels and thousands of other amazing milestones that we will cherish forever.
With all the milestones as a parent along comes many many challenges that a lot of people don’t talk about. What I love about the challenges is it offers growth for me personally, as a mother and growth for my kids.
There are so many life lessons I cannot teach them, they have to learn on their own and I just have to be there to love them and support them no matter what happens.
The “I survive” idea comes into play when you realize that they are happy, educated and fun little people that soon, honestly before we know it, will leave our house and venture out into the world. We will not be their guiding force anymore but their sidekick.
I survived the late nights, I survived babies pooping up their backs. I survived their first illness, their first major injury even though I was scared out of my mind, and their first surgery. But did I enjoy the ride? I can honestly say, yes I did. I am enjoying every stage with our kids.
As they continue to get older I get filled with more and more excitement as they experience different milestones and learn more life lessons. We have worked so hard to protect them, keep them safe and teach them all they need to know that now we get to see how well they learned some of those life lessons.
Parenting is a blessing, it is challenging and amazing all at the same time. I just hope you are cherishing the experience as much as we are.
Defeated and depleted. Emotions can become a complete mess and a crazy rollercoaster when you are on the fertility journey. I remember as we started our fertility journey, I was strong, hopeful and felt like I could handle it all. After a few appointments, medications and disappointments later I quickly went to defeat and anger. I was so angry at everyone including God. I would ask in waves of anger and tears, why he was doing this to us. We were good people. We were loving people and I knew we would make great parents.
I witnessed people act as if they didn’t want their kids, I listened to a lot of people say that their kids were an inconvenience and saw some people even downright neglected them. I witnessed it all and it was so gut wrenching. I just didn’t understand.
There was no talking that was going to help me to logically understand why we were going through this. I honestly thought for a while that I had done something wrong and that God hated me for some reason. I just didn’t understand it. I came to realize that I didn’t need to understand, I needed to trust. I needed to feel the wave of emotions, ride the waves and let them pass. I didn’t know how to do that on my own so I used the best tool that I had. Essential oils were my saving grace.
I used lots of oils to help with the emotional wreckage that was slowly destroying me. Forgiveness was a big oil for me. I need to forgive God, forgive myself, friends and family. See, people didn’t know what to say or how to help us through this journey but they would still try and often times say the wrong thing in the process. I didn’t want to hear that I would get pregnant in God’s timing or that he had a plan. I didn’t give a shit about his plan to be honest. We were also told that if you would stop trying and concentrating on it so much, it would happen on its own. People were trying to help but their words cut like a knife. Forgiveness essential oil helped me to forgive everyone even though they didn’t intentionally do anything wrong.
I also used the oil Release. It helped to truly release the terrible emotions that were consuming me. I grew bitter and resentful quickly and I didn’t like who I was becoming. Release helped me to push through those emotions. Other oils that became a huge part of my daily routine were Joy, Believe and Acceptance. What a great combination these three were and extremely powerful.
Without these oils I think I would have really struggled emotionally. I still had times where I felt defeated but much less and for shorter durations if I stayed consistent with my routine.
Through our fertility journey we realized our purpose. We realized that we traveled this road so that we could help others. I am very grateful and feel so blessed that I am now able to help women all over the world.
I understand how you feel and I have been through it as well. Now let’s work together to help you with the emotional wreckage that this journey has left behind.
