Parenting is hard work, amen? It's both hard work and heart work. It's long days, short days, good days and bad days. I've been mom-ing for over 22 years now. Through many stages and phases, I can tell you one thing for sure: God loves mothers. He loves mamas because He created them. He loves mamas because He uses them. He must love mamas because He gave one to Jesus. Think about that! And … [Read more...] about A Prayer to Empower Moms
Family
Letters to Taylor: On Heavenly Kisses
Letters to Taylor: On Heavenly Kisses Dearest Taylor, I’m sitting with Daddy by the ocean this week and the sound of the waves soothe my soul. I would wish that you were here, only the beach was such a strange place for you. The one and only time we brought you by the ocean, you could not stay standing in the shifting sand. I can see your squinting eyes as you struggled to understand why the … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Heavenly Kisses
Letters to Taylor: On Miracles
Letters to Taylor: On Miracles Sweetest Taylor, Tonight my arms are aching to hold you. The longing to feel you breathing is taking my breath captive and my mama’s heart can hardly beat. The pains that I thought were beginning to ease up have returned with a vengeance and I imagine they are like the phantom pains of an amputee, rattling nerves due to something missing. You feel … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Miracles
Letters to Taylor: On Singing Again
Letters to Taylor: On Singing Again My sweet girl, I am getting accustomed to the barren space in my world without you here. It’s strange how the pain still feels vast and deep, yet a numbness surrounds it. I don’t know how to compartmentalize the grief of losing you because you came from me and are a part of me. But the new routines of daily living are beginning to take shape and actually … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Singing Again
Letters to Taylor: On Anguish
Letters to Taylor: On Anguish Sweet Taylor, I can hardly believe 3 months have passed since I have held you in my arms. The ache seems impossible for time to heal. The wound feels as gaping as the day you were diagnosed with MPS almost 18 years ago and as I've written to you before, I’ve come to realize that only heaven will fill that hole. Last week your buddies aka siblings were out of … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Anguish
Letters to Taylor: On Growth
Letters to Taylor: On Growth My sweetest Taylor, This morning as I was folding laundry, I found one of your socks in the corner of a fitted bedsheet. Something that might have previously slightly annoyed me was a beautiful gift instead. It’s amazing how my perspective has been turned upside down. As I held your little sock in my hand, I thought about how your feet had stopped growing and … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Growth
5 Simple Ways to Encourage Yourself as a Mom
Parenting is 24/7 365 days a year. Day and night, weekday and weekend. Meals and laundry. Schedules and appointments. Routines and exceptions. School and church. You get it. I get it. We all get it. The Mom life can be exhausting! Right? As mom to the Wojo tribe, I've walked through many stages of motherhood over 22 years. I've experienced parenting through infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, … [Read more...] about 5 Simple Ways to Encourage Yourself as a Mom
Letters to Taylor On Reminders
Letters to Taylor: On Reminders My Sweet Girl, I miss you. Oh, how I miss you. If I could measure the volume of water in the oceans deep, I know it wouldn’t come near the amount I miss you. I know, it’s quite selfish of me considering your last days on earth. You were extremely sick and suffered so much. Your body was done, and you fought to the end. For your sake, I don’t miss your … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor On Reminders