Begin, Again

Posted on by rootedmama

These last couple of years, I let go of “Words for the Year”. Those statements and values to help you decide what kind of life you’re going to live that year. . . Typically, at the beginning of a New Year.

I felt like something different was needed. Looking back, maybe there was a word/phrase that I lived by. But, I definitely didn’t give it a “stamp of approval”. I kind of, just did it.

Looking back, I’d say my phrase for the last two years has been: “Just Be”. That looked like loving myself and loving the moment I’m at, finding a space to accept ‘what is’, and just living in the moment. Not forcing anything, and letting life just happen.

As we have been inching closer to the end of the year, I have felt like I wanted words to live by this year. But, I didn’t want to force it. So, I waited on God.

And today, it hit me. I felt a small whisper.

Begin, again. Outdoors More. Intentional.

And while, I have a feeling that I know what that means. . . I’m going to incorporate these words to live by, with what I have learned over the past few years.

Begin, again. Outdoors more. Intentional.

While I’m living life this way- I’ll also “Just Be” and allow life to happen in the moment.

Just a little reminder. . .

Posted on by rootedmama

We all have that someone we look up to. When we think of that person, we think “ahhh! They are living the dream!”

Today, is your reminder that even if it looks like their daily life is rainbows and kittens. It’s not.

Everyone has hard days. And that is ok.

So, if you’re having a day when you feel like you’re the only one. You’re not. We are all out here just trying to figure life out, sometimes, one day at a time.

So. Take a deep breath. Get yourself centered. And keep going.

Waiting

Posted on by rootedmama

Waiting 

Have you ever been waiting? Waiting on a promise of God? You can see right behind you, the old is gone, yet, in the same breadth, the new is just out of reach. Your fingertips are touching it, but you can’t quite grasp it, yet. Oh, that place is such a hard place to be. 

In Isaiah 43, the Bible says: “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. see! I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams In the wasteland.” ( v 18-19). 

(V 25-26) 

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.”

We hold onto the past, and still hold onto hope for the future. But..we can’t have both. We must come to God with open hands and say: Father, I lay down who I was. I have sinned. I repent, and I choose to walk with you. I choose your ways over my ways, Lord. 

Challenge: 

This week, thank God for who He is. Thank Him that He blots out your transgressions. Thank Him that He remembers your sin no more. 

Repent to Him. Repent for the ways you have sinned, known and unknown. Lay it all down at his feet, with open hands. Don’t pick it back up. He’s already forgiven you. And if you do pick it back up…because we’re human. Repent again, and put it right back down. 

Now, look up. Look for the new things He is doing. When you see it, jot it down in your journal. Or save it on your phone to jot it down later. 

Talk with Him about it: God, give me wisdom. What is my role in your plan? 

Thank Him, again. 

Thank you God that your promises are true. Thank you, God that you are faithful.

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When You’re Not In The Holiday Spirit: That’s Ok!

Posted on by rootedmama

It’s almost December. Like, tomorrow. I really truly want to be in the Holiday spirit, but today. . . I’m not feeling it.

My husband is out of town.

I’m tired.

I miss my family.

I miss my friends.

We’ve had 6 different illnesses run through the family in one month, and it’s looking like this winter is going to be a rough one.

And, I’m just weary from waiting on God. I’ve been processing this waiting period, and it just doesn’t make sense. Maybe it never will?

So, you know what? I’m just going to let myself feel all the feels.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in life, it’s this: Feel All the Feels.

Let yourself think about the frustrating things. Be sad that life doesn’t look the way you planned. Feel hopeful for the future. Laugh at the funny things in life, and allow yourself to have fun. Feel happy, when you find joy in something. . .

It’s when you hold those things back, that you’re not being your true self.

And, just remember to not camp out in one space for too long. If you’re mad or angry for too long, you run the risk of only thinking negative. And, if you pretend to be happy, when you’re not- and you shove those feelings down. . . They’ll find a way out.

That doesn’t mean you have to display every emotion, publicly.

But, allow yourself, and love yourself enough, to process those feelings, privately- or with a trusted person!

If you’re also not feeling the Holiday spirit, today. . . I’m sending you love. Know that you’re not alone. This world needs you.

Car Convos

Posted on by rootedmama

When my oldest son started PreK4, it was the first time that he was at a school where I would not also be there.

It was harder on me than it was on him.

By this time, our bedtime routine was also getting harder. Making sure that I tucked in both boys, and listen to their stories from the day…or whatever they wanted to tell me…on top of bathtime, and brushing teeth…made for a verrry long bedtime routine. So, I was looking for ways to make our routine shorter. I started singing to them and stopped asking about their day at bedtime…and started asking about their day in the car.

For 2-3 years, it got increasingly harder to get my oldest to talk to me…about anything. This little 4-7 year old.

Then, I remembered an article I had read a couple of years before.

It talked about instead of asking “How was your day? What did you learn today?”

To ask this list of other questions.

So…I did that. For months, it felt like pulling teeth, getting him to talk to me.

He is a car rider, so every day, when he got in the car, I’d ask him “What was your favorite part of your day?”

Then, one day…I purposefully didn’t ask. He would screech, cry, not want to answer…so, one day…I just let it be…

(In a whiny voice) “Mom. You forgot to ask me about my day!”

We were half way home.

“No, son. Every day, you get upset with me when I ask…so, today I decided to take a break. Do you want to tell me about your day?”

“Yes”

“Ok. What was your favorite part of your day?”

That day unlocked a little piece of his heart.

He needed to know that I cared about his day, and he had grown accustomed to me asking.

So, for three years, every day, in the car, I’d ask. Some days, I’d get an answer. Some days, I’d get the dreaded screeches and whining. But, most days our car convos would branch into other things he would want to talk to me about.

Then we moved schools. And that felt like another unlocking moment. He loved where he was at, and he was a completely different kid.

Now, I greet him and his brother, every afternoon with “What was your favorite part of today?”

They love it. It’s something that has brought them closer. And it even gets them talking about their day to each other…

I just have to make sure they have a snack, first….because, you know….#hangry runs in the family.

Helping Our Kids Find Their Calm

Posted on by rootedmama

Today, my kids are cranky and fighting like crazy.

On days like these, their emotions tend to run high.

Recently, we’ve talked about them creating healthy boundaries with each other. When one of them is upset or bothered by something one of the others did, they need to be able to communicate without blowing up at each other.

So, we decided that we are going to read a book about healthy boundaries, together .

I’m confident, that this will be a helpful resource for them to find their journey to calm and peace.

Some other things we have practiced are:

*Me working on being a better example for them. First, they need to see their parents setting a good example of having healthy boundaries and communicating well.

* When they can’t be around each other without arguing, or if they are needing to calm down: we go to natural lights only. We turn as many lights off as possible, open up windows, and playing calming music. Give them their own space to calm down in.

*Calming smells- we use calming essential oils to help them with their emotions and to relax.

*Talk it through- sometimes, they just need to talk through what’s been bothering them. So, we talk one-on-one, and then as a group to work through the problem. This has really helped them to lighten the mood, resolve, and move on from whatever was bothering them.

*One-on-one time: sometimes, they act out and fight with each other, simply because they need some one-on-one time.

Helping our kids with their own mental health and emotions is important. How do you help your kids with their calm?!

Our Journey Through Life May Look Different Than We Plan

Posted on by rootedmama

Today, my younger son asked me for “oils”.

We were reading a story, and his arm was itching on a scab on his arm. I asked him what he needed, and he told me he wanted oils.

It’s funny.

5 years ago, I stopped buying essential oils for our family. My husband and I were in Discipleship School at our church. At the time, I felt like I need to stop buying them, to make room in our budget to help pay for D-school, our trip that was associated with that, and our daughter would be arriving shortly after.

I had a huge inventory for our home, so I was ok with setting aside purchasing any more for a short amount of time.

Well- that short amount of time ended up being five whole years. We are finally nearing the bottom of our inventory. . . and it’s made me reflective of the past five years.

From 2014-2017, I was consistently using essential oils and natural remedies to support my family’s wellness.

But, when I set them aside, so to speak, I have noticed that my family asks for them more when I ask them “what do you need?”

This really made me think. . .

Because, I’ve noticed that a lot of things that I thought were going to “breakthrough” for our family while we were traveling- I didn’t actually see progress on until these past few months, since we have been home.

My kids encouraging each other. My oldest taking responsibility for chores, without being asked. My kids being excited about Church and open to bible stories.

Time and time again, since February, all the things I thought would happen ( because I planned it that way, so of course it’s going to happen that way) while we were traveling, only started happening all this time later. . .

After two years of consistency and space.

I know that some of these things may seem very small or trivial.

However, it just really highlighted for me- that we are all on our own time table in our journeys through life. No matter what that looks like.

We can’t expect things to happen a certain way, on our journey, let alone other people’s.

Life happens, there are ups and downs, curve-balls are thrown.

No matter what it is that you are waiting on, things will come together in due time- whether it looks like you thought it would, or not.

Getting Outdoors

Posted on by rootedmama

As a young mom, I wanted to get my family outdoors more. I was tired, anxious and just didn’t have the energy or follow through to nurture a love of nature.

I remember hoping, dreaming and wanting for this love of nature for my kids.

It wasn’t until we started traveling full-time that this dream started to come to fruition.

When we were traveling, we were outdoors so much. Hiking. Exploring. Just playing and being outdoors.

The other day, my younger son told me “mom, I miss playing in the Forest and trees”.

And, I miss it too.

Being a country that is “stuck inside”- it can be hard to change your mindset and habits.

But, once you get your family outdoors, it’s a refreshing level of peace and contentment.

My kids started off complaining about having to go outside to play. It was like pulling teeth.

Now, my kids ask me and bug me to go outside.

How do you get your family outdoors more?

Homeschool is what you make it

Posted on by rootedmama

A few months ago, I felt like I was grieving the end of our homeschooling era. But, to be honest. . .homeschooling started way before we actually started traveling and bought curriculum. And it’ll keep going whether my kids are in public, private, or homeschool.

I’ve learned that homeschooling can be a heart posture. It’s those moments that pop-up out of no where. The teachable moments. The trips that involve learning. The vacations with the history lessons. The practicing reading night after night. The life lessons every day. All the silly games your kids make up to practice the math they see in every day life.

Wherever you are in your journey with schooling your children, remember that it starts with where you are right now.

Take those moments, and see where they go! They can be pretty magical!