Hi dear readers! Please forgive me for not posting in September! I have one more Big Life Change to tell you about, but first, let me tell you about a book I have been reading that is being released today!
It’s called “Fertile Ground: a pilgrimage through pregnancy.” It’s written by Laura S. Jansson and published by Ancient Faith. It’s the first book to be published for pregnant Orthodox women! Laura contacted me and asked me to be part of her launch team. And you guys… this book is amazing! For each week of pregnancy, from week six to 37, there is a chapter to read and reflect on. The chapters are several pages and always leave me deep in thought. Here’s the review I wrote for Amazon:
“Fertile Ground is an essential read for pregnant women who want to experience the fullness, wonder, and spirituality of pregnancy. Laura weaves together engaging stories, fascinating scientific facts, and deep philosophical truths to create chapters that leave you thinking for days. I highly recommend this for any child-bearing woman, whether pregnant or past having children. It is a labor of love full of wisdom and insight that is truly a gem and the first of its kind!”
So head over to Ancient Faith or Amazon and get a copy for yourself or as a gift!
And speaking of pregnancy, can you guess what my Big Life Change is? Yes, I’m pregnant! If you’ve listened to my podcast, “All These Things,” then you already know this. But what you may not know yet is that we are having a BOY! We found out just over a week ago. We are naming him Josiah. I am 22 weeks today and due in February. Please pray for us!
So, go check out “Fertile Ground” and I’ll be in touch!
In past posts, I’ve hinted that there are big changes in my life. I’m finally ready to start sharing about those changes! This is the first in a series I’m calling “Big Changes.” Each month I’ll share one of the changes happening, starting from smallest to biggest. Okay, ready for the first one?
I’m selling doTERRA!
Now don’t worry, I’m not going to give you a big sales pitch here. I’m just sharing my experience and vision.
I signed up for doTERRA in May of 2018 after attending a class. I had used essential oils for 10 years, but I had always bought inexpensive ones. I didn’t understand how important it is to get the purest, but I think I knew deep down because I rarely used them on me or the children. I just used them in my cleaners. Once I signed up with doTERRA, I started using the oils in all the ways: defusing, topically, and internally. I finally felt empowered as a mother to take care of my children’s scrapes, bumps, rashes, and allergies (to name a few) without turning to medicines. Not only that, I started taking doTERRA’s supplements and I really started to feel like super-mom. I had more energy and was much more emotionally stable.
During the class I specifically thought, “I could never sell these.” But after a few months, I wanted to! I felt so changed and inspired. Also, there is a lot of potential and I was inspired to help my husband come home so we would work together on the flower business and being self-sufficient. So I signed up!
I wasn’t ready to do big classes and for a long, long time, I didn’t do anything. But I was learning and praying. Just last month, I signed up my first customer! It was my sister-in-law and it was a very natural process. She asked me about things and I answered. She was looking for products to help her and doTERRA had them! It was exactly what I’d been praying for – a situation where it comes up naturally and I have the courage to share. I’m praying for more situations like that.
I certainly don’t want to be “in your face” about my doTERRA obsession, but I will be sharing more on here about how I use their oils and hopefully share a recipe here and there. And, of course, if you are interested in essential oils or looking for the absolute best supplements out there, please consider me your girl and reach out!
I’ll be back next month to share another big change! Thank you so much for following along here.
As we move swiftly into June, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the past few months. We’ve had a lot going on, and the kids are growing and changing so much. I don’t do this often enough. It’s not really for you, it’s for me, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!
A couple housekeeping notes:
I am slightly changing the direction of this blog. Maybe it’s more in my mind and how I think about what to write. It’s going to be much more about what’s going on in our life as a family, and less thoughtful on spirituality and faith, although that will still be mixed in.
Also, I’m officially done with Instagram and I’m very happy to have some new followers to the blog! Thank you and welcome!! I’m really honored that you took the time to follow along.
Moving on…
March started out strong with the beginning of Lent and lots of energy and focus toward that. We had some sickness, but nothing too terrible thankfully. My husband wasn’t traveling for work and that always makes life so much smoother. It brings normalcy! We celebrated Ella being potty trained just a week before her third birthday. I saw such a growth in her leading up to her birthday. There’s such a difference between 2 and 3! She’s very much into baby dolls, the doll house, and talking about when she grows up and is a mommy. She’s such a joy!
Ella helped make her birthday cake!
April began calmly, but the schedule got way crazy toward the end! In the middle of the month, I took Theo to the cardiologist for a follow up appointment. When he was born, they found an ASD (that’s what I had repaired in my heart a few years ago). Often they close on their own so they wanted to see him again when he was older. Praise God, it was closed!! It certainly wouldn’t have been a life threatening or even huge health risk if it wasn’t, but now we don’t have to worry about it.
Then there was Holy Week. Oh, Holy Week. So much going on. But, of course, it was so, so good. So full of grace and then so much joy at the Pascha service! I barely was able to catch my breath before we packed up and headed to my in-laws the weekend after. All the children had planned a surprise birthday party for my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday. It was a success!
The weekend after that my husband and I went on a trip with some friends, just couples! It was such a treat and a lot of fun. I thought I’d be more rested after being away from the kids for so long, but it was a pretty rough adjustment coming back for all of us. Finally, by the third weekend of May, we were home with no major plans! It was so glorious and finally reset things for the whole family. The last weekend of May, my husband reroofed our house with the help of some friends. I basically cooked and cleaned all weekend long to keep everyone fed! We finished school the week after then moved into our summer rhythm, which is basically a lighter version of school.
Throughout April and May Michael had baseball practices and games. For most of his practices, I took him and spent the time in the car, so it was a break for me. A lot of his practices got rained out though. I was very resistive to doing baseball this year, and it started out being stressful for me. But then I just decided to pack picnic suppers for us (and forget about trying to be healthy!), and that meant no mess to clean up and no eating then rushing out the door. Michael eats a sandwich before we go and the rest of us eat during the game. So. Much. Simpler!
Mia continues to be the best big sister ever (most of the time!). She is very attentive and engaging with all the other children. She’s constantly reading and writing. Soon she’ll start going to the ranch near us for weekly horsemanship sessions. She cannot wait!
At times I can feel like I’m losing connection with my older kids. They don’t need my actual physical care much anymore. They play so well together – they are best friends! But from January to April, we connected over a book series. It’s called the Wingfeather Saga, and if you guys haven’t read it, you must! If your kids are younger, just read them yourself! They are written by Andrew Peterson, who is also a singer-songwriter. Look up his music – it is so soothing and beautiful! (I really love “Be Kind to Yourself” as well as “We Will Survive.”) Anyway, I was able to get these books on audio through our library’s online source. As many evenings as possible, after the little ones were in bed, we’d listen together for as long as I’d let them. Often, we’d all fold laundry together while we listened. It was such a special time. I hope we can find something just as compelling to listen to next winter. Any suggestions?
In May, I hired a teenage girl we know to come once a week to watch the little ones while I have focused time with the big kids. She’s come twice and both times there’s an adjustment time for the littles, but by the time I come out of my bedroom (where Mia, Michael, and I are during that time), they are so content and don’t even stop what they’re doing to great me. I’m really thankful for this time to teach uninterrupted and be fully present to Mia and Michael.
For Christmas I got an Instant Pot. This has really changed the way I cook and meal plan! I try to use it as much as I can. I won’t go on and on about why I love it so much, but I had to mention it because it’s truly been a game changer in my homemaking. I plan to use it even more in the summer months since it doesn’t heat up the house!
Overall, I feel like this season solidified our routines and our rhythms. Chores got done for the most part, I didn’t have big projects, and we grew closer as a family. While there was a lot on the schedule, we (mostly) took it all in stride, getting back on track pretty quickly. I’m feeling less like a “young mother” and a bit seasoned now. Toddler tantrums hardly phase me most days, although they can still annoy me. I’m enjoying watching the littles grow and become more independent, while knowing each hard thing is just a phase. I find myself thinking about how to talk about puberty with my older daughter, and to remind myself to welcome the cuddles of my older son because they won’t last much longer. Motherhood never stops growing you, and what a beautiful thing!
So obviously, I wasn’t able to keep up with my Lenten series! Oh well, Christ is Risen!
Lent was a very edifying time overall. Full of challenges, grace, and clarity. One thing that was clarified for me, that I can share now, is that I am not returning to Instagram. I wrote some about how freeing it felt to not be on there. To me, being immersed on Instagram (and, really, any social media) is like being in a room light by artificial lights. I can see, I can function. It’s fine. But not being on Instagram is like having the curtain opened and natural lighting flooding the room. It’s bright, clear, and joyful. That’s how my mind and soul feel. I do miss it and the people I was able to connect with, but I’ve made a bigger effort to spend face to face time with the friends right around me. My true needs are being met through those interactions, needs that cannot be met through social media.
And now, it’s time to look toward summer!
I’m tweaking our schedule to transition from more structured to a bit more relaxed. We will be doing less school, but still do our Morning Time with oral math added. I want to take time each day to read to the older kids, the younger kids, and tend to the garden outside. Instead of thinking about the garden tasks as picking and weeding, I’m thinking of them as harvesting and nourishing. Each time I go out I hope to harvest a little and do something to nourish some plants, even if that’s pulling weeds nearby. We also have various summer activities planned throughout the week. I feel good about it all!
Personally, I have a big project on my plate, but I’m not quite ready to announce. You can be sure I will once I’m able though! (You can subscribe to get my posts automatically, so you won’t miss it!) Our family also has a big change coming up in the future. I’m eager to write about it, but it’s just not time. And no, it’s not a baby, although that may come up in the future!
So, there’s a little update on me! I hope your summer is getting off to a beautiful start!
Today I went to the dentist. Anyone else consider that a brave act?
I’ve been thinking about bravery this week. I’m anticipating the need for it in my future, and so it’s been on my mind.
It started with feeling the urge to introduce myself to someone, but not doing it out of fear. I realized later how much that urge was correct when I met her after my husband introduced himself to her husband.
That’s when I realized I need to be practice my courage muscle. And I said a brief prayer and made a mental note to pray for that more.
Since then I have complimented a lady on her sweater when I checked out books at the library. I asked the hygienist about herself today. I started reading Let’s All Be Brave by Annie Downs. Key lesson so far: Every person and opportunity allows us to prepare for what is next even when we don’t know what it is.
For me, my biggest challenge is initiating conversations with new people. It’s mostly about self-preservation. I don’t want to get embarrassed or rejected. Some of it is simply not knowing what to say. Or also, feeling so mentally drained from mothering, etc.
With the first, I need to just get over myself. So what if someone snubs me. At least I tried. As for not knowing what to say, it’s a matter of being prepared. People love to talk about themselves, so I just need to have a few generic questions up my sleeve, at be prepared to use them. After those questions, I just keep asking more. My husband is a great example of this. And when I feel drained… really, I just need to stretch and access a different part of my brain – the part that craves talking to another adult!
Of course, there are other ways to be brave. These days it can be ignoring the mess and being present with my children. The mess waits patiently until my kids are ready to play independently. In the past it was going through births, a procedure, and a c-section. It was starting a business. Today it’s actually posting these words, when so many words I’ve written I’ve left unpublished after feeling they weren’t worth sharing.
I know many people must do much braver things. These are my humble tries. I don’t know all that God has planned for me. I can just do what’s right in front of me. My challenge to myself is to do it, even if I’m scared.
Being two months postpartum is a good time for a new season. I feel like I can think clearly and I’ve been able to find the time to plan accordingly. Life is just getting filled back up to our normal activities, and I feel prepared for a shift in focus.
Spiritually I am ready too. I am actually ready to fast, in my own small way, which will be no sugar and no cheese. I’m tired of just eating whatever and how ever much I want, which I’ve been doing the whole year now. It’s time for me to take back control of my appetite. I know that even though I feel up to the challenge, it will be hard and frustrating.
I’m also looking planning on reading “The Winter Pascha” by Fr. Thomas Hopko, of blessed memory. It’s also been a while since I’ve read a spiritual book (unless you count the Bible and “Parenting Toward the Kingdom…). I want to add in an akathist a week as well.
For alms, I’m hoping to set up a times to sing at nursing homes. Or rather, I’m hoping my dad will and we can go along. He has the connections, and there’s no way I’m comfortable going without him. Not a strength of mine, for sure. My hope, though, is that over the years, it will be familiar to my children (and me!) and something we do year round, not just at Christmas. But, we’ll start at Christmas.
Another thing I want to do is use more of our gift money for charities. Instead of buying gifts (that I’m not even sure people like or want!), I want to make gifts. Some will still take money, maybe just as much, but others I can use things I have, or will cost less. Along with the homemade gift, I want to give a donation to a charity in honor of that person, even if it’s just $5. We all have so much stuff, and so few needs. Plus, just buying something doesn’t seem to really express my love for someone. I’m going to be helping and encouraging the kids to do the same. I’m really excited about this, but it’s still to be seen how it works out.
I’m trying a new way of planning for Advent. I made a chart for each week, with different categories. Each week I’ll have tasks related to gift making/buying, decorating, and food. I knew I’d have to break up all the tasks for gifts and food, but I also wanted to gradually decorate. I envision the anticipation and festivity building up each week as we add more and more decorations to our home. One example is that one week we will buy our tree and set it up, but only add a string of lights. The next week we’ll add ornaments, the next we’ll make ornaments, etc. Again, we’ll see how it all works out!
This is only partially filled in! There’s more planning to do.
This first week, or few days rather, I’ve kept it very simple. We will start Jesse Tree and the readings for our Advent “wreath.” I’m going to keep planning the gifts we’ll make and buy, as well as food for the fasting and the feasting.
With all these thoughts and plans, I’m hoping to create an atmosphere of simplicity, love, and joyful anticipation. I want there to be activities, but not so much that we don’t enjoy them, but rather they point us toward the joy of the birth of Christ our Savior.
On New Year’s Eve, I left the house at 7:00 am and headed to our one local coffee shop. I spent the next six hours organizing all the ideas that had trickled in as 2016 came to a close. I had lists and lists. I did a massive brain dump, and then slowly organized ideas onto lists until all the lists made sense.
We are only three weeks into the new year, but it feels like forever to me. And indeed, so far the year has not gone how I envisioned. (Imagine that!) For one, getting sick after a trip was not in my plans. (Although, I should have expected it!)
It’s easy to look at my grand plans and feel a little defeated that I haven’t gotten more done. But in reality, for the most part, I have stuck to the priorities I laid out, and that is what is important. Two priorities in particular have been getting ingrained in our every day: keep the home tidy and clean (clean being my current standard, which is not the highest, but realistic) and have more together time. I’ve accomplished that by tweaking our routines and adding some things here and there.
Morning
I’ve given up trying to start school as quickly as possible, or by a certain time. It’s simply a part of our day now and so it still happens, even if it’s not the first thing. Instead, after breakfast we do what I call “Daily Tasks.” For me this is cleaning up after breakfast, wiping the table, putting away any laundry that hung to dry that night, take care of the chickens, get Ella ready, start laundry, and direct the kids with their morning tasks. For them this is getting dressed, making their bed, tidying their room, emptying the dishwasher, and wiping the bathroom (Mia) and sweeping under the table (Michael). Also, one of them will help prep food for supper while the other plays with (or keeps and eye on) Ella. Sometimes this is putting a crock pot together, sometimes it is just chopping veggies. In a way, I prioritize these things over the school lessons. These are life lessons. They are learning to care for a home and contribute as a member of the family. Once these things are done, we start school.
Afternoon
One thing that was lacking in our days was time for me to be with the kids that wasn’t school. Fun time. I’m a firm believer in having a Quiet Time, but I used to let it linger on and on (at least for me) until I’d finally come out and start supper. This meant they’d eventually be playing together and I’d just keep doing “my thing,” be it Quiet Time or cooking, and we didn’t spend time together. I wasn’t reading anything fun to the kids and I missed that. I realized I just needed to buckle down and stop Quiet Time when the time was up. The hour after Quiet Time is now “Together Time.” The kids put their Legos away, we all have a snack together, and I’ll read. If we have time, we’ll do a craft, play a game, or make art. Most days, it’s just the snack and reading, but it’s leisurely and not rushed.
The hour after Together Time, is EHAP. This stands for Everything Has A Place, and I got it from Mystie Winckler, who is my current mama/homeschool/organizing inspiration. This is when we put the house back together. It’s also a time for vacuuming, as needed, watering the plants (a little every day), folding laundry, gathering the eggs, and general straightening up. The kids actually (usually) enjoy it and are excited about it. After it’s done, it’s time to finish up supper and then Papi’s home.
It feels so good to have these structures in our day. It enables me to make my priorities a reality. I feel our days are more about being a family together and less of me doing the homemaker things, and them just playing all day. Of course, they do play, and I do some of my own things too. But there is much more togetherness, and that is one thing I really want more of this year.
I share all this because maybe there is something important to you, that is not happening in your day to day. Take some time to think about what it is you want to happen, what that would look like in your day (when, how long,etc.), and then what you can do to make it happen. For most of us, we determine how our days go. Be intentional and make that priority a reality!
What is something you would add or have added to your days?
Recently Mia, our oldest, said at supper, “I don’t want to grow up.” I immediately asked why, this question both making me sad and glad at the same time. But, I had nothing to worry about because her reply was simply, “I want to read.” I chuckled.
I’m sure to young ones it may appear that adults don’t get to read. I rarely read while they are around because my reading time is while I’m alone, by design. But, I assured her that she would have time to read as an adult, if she really wanted it.
I love knowing what other people are reading or have read, and I’m pretty excited by some of the books I read this year, so I wanted to sharing with you all! These were my favorites this year.
I started this series while I was still pregnant, read some in the hospital, and finished the last few books in the wee hours of the night while nursing my babe. Such a lovely series!
This is a big book and I had to practically binge read it because the library needed it back for the many other people who had requested it! I was disappointed with the ending, but the writing is phenomenal.
I have to include this one even though I haven’t finished it yet because I read 700 of the 800 pages (!) in 2016. It was hard to get into, but then hard to forget about. The story line isn’t adventurous, but the characters lives are so intriguingly interwoven. I know there’s a lot of depth I’m not even grasping this time around. It will definitely be a re-read in in the future.
The author takes you on her personal journey through improving her habits and explains what she discovers along the way. Very interesting and rich, but also easy reading.
I used our digital library to listen on audio, then took notes from the ebook, but I want to own a hard copy eventually! I know this book will shape my mothering and homemaking for years to come.
This is another book on my to-buy list as it defined many of my dreams and philosophy about homesteading and has inspired Will and I further in the direction of homesteading.
This book completely shifted the way I looked at setting up and decorating our home. It is full of practical advice, no matter what your style is – even if you don’t know your style!
Although it’s a fading practice, I love sending out Christmas letters. This is my Christmas and thank you letter to all of you. I may not post all that often these days, but thank you for reading when I do. And, Merry Christmas!
As I think about the past year, there are many reasons I didn’t write much this year. Number one being I had a baby! What a wonderful reason to put aside, for a time, something I truly love. I really did miss writing and sharing, but I know baby cuddles only last so long.
Another reason for not writing was starting homeschooling. It’s been quite an adjustment making it truly a part of our days. I’ve learned a lot these past few months and I’m grateful for all the lessons. I also spent much of my time sewing and reading – two things that restore me so much.
Every time I started to wish I had more time to write, I would realize that it wasn’t that I didn’t have time, but that I chose to spend my time on other things. I’ve thought a lot about prioritizes this year. And about intention. About what it means to live faithfully and just how do we do that. I’ve given a lot of thought to what is it I’m called to be faithful to. Sometimes I’ll get big ideas, or feel I should be out saving the world in one way or another. Usually I am always brought back home: my husband, children, and house. These are the areas I am called to be faithful and diligent. To attend to these people and tasks deeply. It means I can’t do everything, but I can do a few things very well.
As a new year is right around the corner, planning thoughts are forming. I already have a planning day set! Last year, I didn’t do much because I had no idea what life would be like after having Ella. I had planned thoroughly through the due date, but not too much after that. 2017 feels like a clean slate and I get happy bubbles thinking about it. Still, you never can predict what life will bring. So I will try to plan and dream with open hands and an open heart.
My plans and hopes for 2017 aren’t big, really, but mostly building on the momentum that has been building up the past few months. I am now able to get up early and have a good chunk of time to myself, plus I have time during Quiet Time. Working on a project or reading a book bit by bit during these times really adds up. Now that I am (mostly) adjusted to a third child and school every day, I can put some energy into other things. That’s exciting!
I truly thank God for this phase of our lives. When I think back to just a couple years ago, when we were so broken after losing Elijah, I can see all the growth and blessings He has bestowed upon us since then. At that time, I leaned in close to Him because of my pain. Right now, I lean in close to Him with humbled thankfulness. I do not deserve all the good He has given me. Sometimes I feel guilty or even ashamed, but I know all I need to be is grateful and faithful. Grateful for the good and faithful either way.
As I said earlier, I am so very grateful for each of you who choose to read my words.
If you enjoy my posts, sign up to get them via email. That way you won’t miss anything, which is easy to do when they are as sporadic as mine are! Plus, I will be sending out a seasonal letter just to subscribers. (Note: I can’t send it even if you’re subscribed through WordPress because I need your email address.)
I hope you’ve had a blessed year. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! And I hope we all can grow closer to Christ through Christmas and the year to come. What is a hope you have for 2017? I’d love to hear!
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Love,
Hannah
P.S. How do you like the site’s new look? I’m so excited about it! I’ll be posting more about why I chose the title (again) and my thoughts on the subtitle.
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Hannah E Vazquez 