Busy Mama Blogging

“What Do I Get Out of Being a Christian?”

“To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.”

– George Mueller

When I was in college, one of my professors said something that stuck with me even to this day.

“If you don’t have the ability to tell someone ‘I love you, but you’re wrong’, then you should never become a parent.”

As I come even closer to welcoming our…

Spare the Rod; Spoil the Child

“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”

Proverbs 13:24

I am going to spank my kids. I will not, nor will I ever apologize for that.

Before people start getting all sensitive and riled up, let me address one of the most irritating misconceptions I can think of. In recent years, culture has decided that physically…

Patience is a Virtue (That I Don’t Have…)

“I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when you let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy in your life. And when you trust God, you’re able to be more patient. Patience is not just about waiting for something … it’s about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting.”

-Joyce Meyer

I don’t know if this is a little known fact about me or not…

Easy Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him… the people who give you their food give you their heart.”

– Cesar Chavez

One of my favorite things to do with my mom when I was growing up was helping her cook. I used to love getting my hands dirty, whether that meant mashing up ground beef with my little fingers to mix with the spices and sauces to create a…

To the Girl Who Has Never Been “Great”

“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

-Unknown

I’m the girl who has never been “great” at anything.

I can sing, but I’ll never be good enough to get paid for it.

I can play a few instruments well enough, but not spectacularly.

I got average grades in school. Enough to pass, but not enough for a scholarship.

I was always adequate…

Unexpected, unplanned, and unbelievably happy.

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart.”

-Jeremiah 1:5

Today I am 11 weeks pregnant. According to my pregnancy app, our baby is the size of a strawberry. A fitting comparison for such a sweet blessing! Today I want to share with you what makes this pregnancy so uniquely special.

You see, my whole life I’ve feared that I would never…

Sometimes the most precious things in life are the unexpected.

“To be pregnant is to be vitally alive, thoroughly woman, and distressingly inhabited. Soul and spirit are stretched — along with body — making pregnancy a time of transition, growth, and profound beginnings.”

— Anne Christian Buchanan

Three weeks ago I began a journey I didn't know I was already on.  

I'll just come right out and say it: my pregnancy was an absolute surprise. Not an unwelcome one, but a surprise nonetheless.

My husband and I had formed this grand plan where we would be married for at least 3-5 years, and we would both be working and saving money during that time, before we even started trying. (Spoiler alert: we've been married for all of 9 months now.) But the funny thing about plans is they can change, and in one instant, your entire world with it.

Being pregnant is a magical experience, but it certainly doesn't feel magical at times — especially for my sweet husband, who, for example, has had to do dishes for the last month because every time I try to, I throw up. Most mornings I wake up extremely nauseous with no appetite, but if I don't eat something I get even more sick. I'm always slightly uncomfortable, and as my body prepares for this child I ache in places I'm not used to. I have strange food and smell aversions, and my cravings make me feel like a seven year old boy — pizza rolls, taquitos, chicken nuggets — all the things I definitely shouldn't be eating. But along with the not-so-fun parts comes the knowledge that I am experiencing the most precious gift God has given women. I am bringing a life into this world.

I often lie awake wondering who this child will be and what he/she will accomplish. It still feels surreal to me that there is a tiny human being growing inside of me. It's altogether weird and awe-inspiring. Though I only just learned of this baby's existence, I am already so in love, and six-and-a-half months feels like it couldn't be further away.