MomVision

Hello mom who just might feel frustrated and guilty for feeling that way… Today I'm talking to Jodi Kinasewitz about her story “Peace on Purpose” in our devotional book Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World. Jodi is one of four co-authors, along with Jess Carey, Michelle Wilbert, and myself.Jodi lives in Mason, Ohio, with her husband of 20 years Matt, their four children, and their yellow lab, Max. She is a reading specialist and certified yoga instructor, passionate about leading Christian-inspired yoga classes, reading, and writing. She loves to travel with her family, and spends any time she can outdoors. Jodi has had several articles published with various Christian platforms including gritandvirtue.com, mommentor.org, makemeavailable.com, and she was published in Milk & Honey Women Devotional Journal, Volume 1. She started picking up more books and writing during the COVID shutdown. Find Jodi Kinasewitz on social media. Particularly during May, she is sharing posts that relate to mental health. Her desire is to end the stigma around mental health issues, raise the awareness, start talking about it. Like we pick up our phones. And we Jodi's hope is by sharing her story of struggle through a season of anxiety and depression her writing will shine a light on the importance of mental health while pointing others to Jesus. Find out more about Jodi on Instagram @jkinasewitz, Facebook – Jodi Kinasewitz, and read more of her writing on her blog Living to Learn (jkinasewitz.wixsite.com/website).- Encouragement for writers or those thinking about writing - Jodi shares that she came through a pretty significant storm in 2017 and is now on the other side of it. So that was the basis of a lot of her writing. She shared it with friends and in social media posts. People said, “This is really good. Thanks for sharing. You should write a book.” She waved it off, then decided she loved to write and had a passion for it. So she joined Called Creatives with Lisa Whittle and Alli Worthington. That's how we met. We were meeting regularly on zoom, talking, sharing life stories, and decided to do a devo on peace. She's really excited about the book and I join her in being grateful for all the support we've gotten.  - Jodi shared her devotional Peace on Purpose – Underscoring Jodi's encouragement to be intentional about seeking God. The anchor verse is Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” When Jodi greeted her coworker cheerfully, though dripping wet from the pouring rain, the coworker asked, “How are you always so happy? Only you could come bouncing in here on a cold rainy Monday all smiles and chatty.” A little off guard, Jodi reflects, “What do I have working in my favor that my coworker or others I know don't have?” And she realizes, her morning routine benefits her in so many ways, along with exercise, plus giving herself enough time to ease into her day by not hitting the ground running. She has intentional quiet time with God. Prays, meditates, reads her Bible, and journals every single morning. She shares with her coworker the next morning, who mumbles, “Maybe I should give that a try.”Reflection Questions based on Jodi' story Peace on Purpose1. How will you take the time to be present with God?2. When and where in your day will you plan to pursue Him and His peace with purpose? 4. What kind of peace have you experienced in your life when you have actively sought out Jesus? 5. What are some fears you currently have that need to be displaced with His peace? 

Hello mama who just might feel like she's a little sick of not getting help around the house. I've written the devotional book called Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World with three other co-authors. Jess Carey, Michelle Wilbert, and Jodi Kinasewitz. Today, Jess is with me.Jess Carey is an author. The book we co-wrote together is her second book. The first one is Chart a Course - Taking a Journey with God at the Helm. Jess is a wife of almost 16 years and has two middle schoolers - a 14-year-old and almost 13-year-old. She has a Golden Doodle Pearl and her mother-in- law lives with them - a new event. Jess says she has  all the interesting things you can pile into one home.One of the things I love about Jess is her clarity. I find it refreshing the way she talks about anger, which you'll hear more about in our interview. Jess chose to share her story Disarming Discontent.  As she puts it, “It's a story about sort of disarming a bomb internally in your own mindset. It's like a stick of dynamite has a long fuse. But boy, when you get to it, there's nothing you can do other than deconstruct the bomb or just let it go off. When we let the bomb go off, that actually stands to do some pretty good damage to our marriages, our kids. I have failed at this enough to know there is an alternative. Moms are going to fail. You are going to blow up sometimes. This is a personal story where it did go a different way. It gave me a little bit of a runway to build up until the next time I had to have this conversation.”- What it feels like as a working mom with kids capable of pitching in who comes home from a long day and everything is just as you left in the morning - dirty dishes in the sink, 1000 pairs of shoes kicked off haphazardly, clean clothes unfolded in their baskets. - You're tempted to lash out, but you know you have a choice. Jess calls to mind 2 Corinthians 13:11, “Finally, brothers, rejoice, aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace.” - Rather than blowing up, Jess wept (don't we blow up at times when we really want to cry?), “I actually was hurt by my family. It felt like they were so uncaring, entitled, even though that clearly wasn't their intention.” She continued, “Hey, you know, I just worked a really long day, I'm tired. You guys are sitting on the couch, playing video games, having leisure time, but I'm not afforded any of that.” - Jess chose a sort of confession, transparency. The passage of Scripture came to pass, the God of peace was there, restoration came. My kids agreed to help me,  my husband aligned, and encouraged all of us to work as a team. - It was a beautiful example of that Scripture coming to pass and also making that choice, to say I feel overwhelmed. - As a family, other members of the family may have a 40-hour work schedule. Mom doesn't,. There's no end date. There's no vacation time. It's ongoing all the time. “I need more help is essentially what I was telling them. I can't work 24 hours a day. Without assistance. Disarming Discontent Reflection Questions1. Is there someone you need to pursue restoration or peace with? 2. How would your situation change if you were able to freely express yourself calmly? 3. What would restoration with them look like? 4. What do you stand to lose if you don't reconcile?

Hello mama - today I'm going to be talking about our new devotional Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World with my friend and co-author Michelle Wilbert.Each story in our devotional journal starts with an anchor verse. Then we have the actual devotional story, reflection questions, a prayer, some journal pages, and some coloring pages, too. Michele Wilbert has been married for almost 15 years to Brad. They have one son, live in California, and Michele and her husband run a business together. Michele is a writer and a Bible teacher. She's really passionate about sharing with moms that you can use your gifts, no matter what season you're in. There's a way to use the gifts that God has given you right where you are. Here's Michele's story starting with the anchor verse. Philippians 4:7And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. were startled out of our pool-floating dreams. The flashing lights and piercing sounds chirped so loud in the store I couldn't hear the cashier's instructions.I looked around and everyone was holding their ears. The manager ran to the panel near the exit to shut it off, only she couldn't. I looked over and suddenly the watermelon my son held now had become an anchor and weighed him down.I met his big blue eyes and looked straight in them and said, “You are okay. We are safe.” I waited for the watermelon to drop and shatter. His fingers were tightly clenched around it, his body shaking, and he began to breathe faster with each second. The alarm didn't stop. I grabbed the tomatoes and chips and guided him out of the store. At last, inside the car, he desperately gasped for more air. As I loosened his fingers from his tight grasp on the watermelon, it only made the breathing worse and full panic set in. He needed something to hold onto to steady his breathing.What's Stealing Your Peace?We placed two red ripe tomatoes, one large watermelon, and a bag of chips on the grocery store conveyor. We had all of our final ingredients for our first-day-of-summer picnic. As the cashier scanned the barcode and we heard the blip, it was music to our ears. The sound of summer beginning.The cashier handed me the receipt, and said, “Have a great day!” My son shouted, “BEST SUMMER EVER! Right, Mom?”We were ready to float all our cares away in the pool from the longest Covid, distance-learning, hybrid, back-to-school, part-time school year. All of a sudden, the fire alarm went off in the store, and we Have you been ready to celebrate the really good things in your life when all of a sudden something threatens to steal your peace? Christ's peace is contrary to anything this world offers. However, sometimes fear and lies can rob us of true peace. Oftentimes, the world will get us to believe our peace is at risk.Philippians 4:7 teaches us that the peace of God surpasses our understanding. It is deeper and richer than anything we can comprehend. This verse assures us that the insurmountable peace of God guards our hearts and minds. Not only is the Lord's peace a prescription for our worries, fears, and troubled hearts, but it gives us hope that He is with us.Right there in the back of the car, we asked God for His help. He answered. I slowly began to unpeel the now looser gripped fingers. My boy released the watermelon into my hands and exhaled. He smiled the peaceful smile of a child who knows they are safe.Reflection QuestionsWhat is something stealing your peace currently? What steps can you take today to guard your heart and mind and remember Christ is with you? What is something you can hold onto to steady you? How can you ask God to help you let go of whatever it is that has a grip on you?

Hello mama who just might feel like you're overwhelmed with all the things on your to do list. I've just recently written a devotional book Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World with three co-authors, Michelle Wilbert, Jodi Kinasewitz, and Jess Carey. I'm sharing with you one of my devotional stories about finding peace that as a mom, I think you're really going to relate to. Each devotional includes a Scripture, story, reflection questions, prayer, along with journaling and coloring pages. In the next few weeks, I'll be bringing my co-authors on MomVision to share their stories too. I hope they bring you a sense of peace, that you're not alone, and help you know where you can go for peace. The story I'm sharing today is called When Your No Leads to Peace. Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being;    you knit me together in my mother's womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well.I was scurrying...running from activity to activity. Because of my schedule, I felt nearly breathless and a little hysterical much of the time. I brushed it off as “just a busy season,” knowing I couldn't keep up this pace. My kids, husband, church, ministry, kids' teachers, friends needed me. I needed to put my head down, plow through, and just keep going...I didn't really feel present no matter where I was.I couldn't say no...could I? I mean this was all good stuff. I was showing up where I was needed, fulfilling my commitments. I was trying to be a good friend, be there for my kids and husband, and have some fun too. “I'm too busy. I'm doing so much. I'm frazzled most of the time. But I'm doing good things. What can I possibly not do? I just don't see a way out.”And she said, “Well, the good robs from the best.” (She was loosely quoting Oswald Chambers, who said, “The good is always the enemy of the best.”)Huh? What did that mean?As we discussed, I understood. If you're a people-pleaser and you'd like to feel valuable, worthy, and approved of, you'll likely say one (or two or three or more) too many yesses.I said way too many yesses, and they were robbing me of peace and joy. I was drained and depleted. It was time to learn to say no. Was this easy? No! Why? Because I had an underlying, unidentified problem. I was desperate to feel valuable.Deep down in the core of my being, I believed I had to earn love and approval by “doing.” I didn't believe I was of value just because I existed...just because I was fearfully and wonderfully made by our good God, the creator Himself, though this is what He says. We are human beings...not human doings!Old habits ingrained in unhealthy beliefs die hard. It took me a long time – many cycles of overcommitting before I learned to say no. Now, when I am asked to do something new, commit to a project, invited somewhere, I am in the habit of saying, “I'll get back to you.” I must consider this one yes in the context of all my other yesses. I now often say, “No.” I am much more peaceful place than ever before. And guess what? I am still loved!Reflection Questions:1. Do you say yes to too many commitments and end up feeling depleted? 2. If you struggle with believing you are fearfully and wonderfully made, why do you think that is? 3. What is at the root of saying yes too much...and lacking peace? 4. What is a no you need to consider?

Hey Mom who may not use the word peace to define family life…The first word that comes to my mind when thinking about the momlife is definitely not peace. Maybe chaos is a better word to describe momming. I was a bit surprised. I now know, it's okay. It's a fact of life with children and with family life. On this episode of MomVision, I'm introducing you to my three co-authors on our recently released book Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World. Through this interview, we're going to share some peace nuggets learned from life.Meet the AuthorsJess CareyI live in Phoenix, with my husband of 16 years and two almost teenagers. The message I feel God often presses into my spirit is to encourage moms to realize their dreams and hopes are not put on hold in lieu of their children's. I'm about a sacrificial life for your kids for sure, but not at the expense of God's plans and purposes for your life. Michele WilberI live in California with my husband and I have one son who's 12. I'm a former foster parent. I'm truly passionate about seeing moms use their giftings exactly where they are. Trying to be the best schoolroom mom, sports mom, everything mom, causes a lot of stress. As we use our giftings and find comfort in doing that, we will have more peaceful homes. When I am not peaceful or things don't go the way I've planned, that sets the tone for the rest of the house.Jodi KinasewitzI live in Ohio, with my husband of 21 years, Matt. We have four kids. Our oldest is a freshman at the University of Tennessee, our son is a junior in high school, another daughter is a freshman, and another daughter is in seventh grade. I am a teacher. I did special education for 21 years and now am an elementary reading specialist. I'm a certified Christian-inspired yoga teacher. My message is the importance of moms keeping their mental health front of mind. I believe in sacrificing for our kids, but not white knuckling, controlling, managing the perfect schedule, the perfect birthday party, the guilt of being a working mom and not being able to do as much as I had hoped for my kids. All of that built up. I went through a difficult season of anxiety and depression. My message is God first, then family, and everything else will fall into place. And if things aren't in place, that's okay. Life will go on.Elise Daly ParkerI've been married for 37 years to Chris Parker. We have four adult children. Lauren is 44, married with two our two grandbabies. Farrell is 33. Catie is 32 and married. And Amelia is 27. Grown and flown, they're all over the place. I thought it was a lot simpler than it was to raise humans. I wasn't as good as it as I imagined. I tried to do it all. Of course, I failed, because we all know you can't do it all. I was the Yes mom. I'm also a MOPS mentor mom. My mission is called MomVision - savoring and not just surviving motherhood. When you get too busy, saying yes to things you're not good at to please others, you end up scurrying and just trying to make it from one end of the day to the next. That is no way to live. So what is something that has really shaken your peace? Connect with usJess Carey – JessicaCary.co, @Jess_CareyAZMichele L Wilbert – MicheleLWilbert.com (coming soon), @MicheleLWilbertJodi Kinasewitz - @Jkinasewitz, Website coming soonElise Daly Parker – Elise Daly Parker, @EliseDalyParker

Do you ever think you're not a good enough as a mom? Or maybe you even think you're messing up your kids? There's a name for this – it's called Mom Guilt. Pretty much every mom suffers from this to some degree. How could we not? There is no playbook. Maybe as the kids have gotten older you sometimes lose it, yelling and screaming…Or your five-year-old's separation anxiety has you thinking there is some kind of bonding issue you've caused. Or maybe you get overwhelmed by all the things you have to juggle. I'll stop there. But I can assure you, there are lots more opportunities for you to embrace mom guilt ahead. Did you ever hear the term “monkey on your back”? It often refers to a burdensome problem or issue you just can't shake…like if you had a monkey clinging to your back. Imagine this monkey on your back that you can't shake, whispering things in your ear like, “You're a terrible mom!”“What's wrong with you? Why can't you get it together?”“See…You say you want to stop screaming, but you blew it again today when Rebecca had her fit. You'll never change!”Or the all encompassing“You've ruined your kids for life!”Yeah – that monkey on your back – it's you. Maybe that was never you. Or maybe you've overcome this trash talking to yourself. But I'm going to challenge you to pay attention to what you say to yourself when you feel like you've responded the wrong way, or you think your kids should be doing what their kids are doing, or you look at that insta post and wonder why your family isn't always happy and stress-free? What's at the root of all this Mom Guilt? You may be shoulding all over yourself. You should be or do this or that and you're not. Comparison, perfectionism, people-pleasing. Lies, Stinkin' Thinkin', Fear, Doubts, Overwhelm, Dashed Expectations, Absolutes – never and always. All of these contribute to Mom Guilt. And can I tell you – Mom Guilt is a waste of time. You can waste precious energy stuck in the past, lamenting what you've done wrong, when you could put that limited store of energy toward the future and the changes you want to make. So what can you do about Mom Guilt? 1. Pay Attention What are you saying to yourself? What triggers your mom guilt? Fill in the blank – I feel like I'm not a good mom or I'm going to damage my kids when I _____________ because _________________.Make a list of your Mom Guilt triggers. 2. Determine What Matters Most to YouOnce you've got your list, determine what's most important to you. What one thing will you choose to work on? Is a neat home a high priority? Look around, what's the situation you deem a mess? How can you simplify the cleanup process or make it part of your day or even let it go a bit? 3. Trust Yourself! There is no one-size-fits-all momming. And there is only one you. Be you. Use your gifts, values, beliefs to guide you to parent in a way that works for you. 4. Use Good BoundariesYou can't please everyone. Determine who's most important, like your husband. Consider limiting exposure to those who make you doubt yourself. And speaking of limiting exposure, if social media is a trigger. Stop scrolling! You won't miss a thing and you may be a lot happier. 5. Have a Trusted Circle of FriendsFind a friend or two who is kind and encouraging. And be the friend you want to have. If you can't shake the mom guilt, get an accountability partner, consider a counselor, or hire a coach – there is absolutely no shame in this. We are not meant to navigate this momlife alone!

Hey Mama who wants to grow her friendships but doesn't quite know how…Welcome to Part 4 of a Vision for Your Friendships. Today I'm sharing with you some of the ways I've been able to cultivate the relationships I truly want. Friendship begins in the mind. When I first became a stay-at-home mom, I imagined I would be automatically connected to all those moms I saw out for a stroll with each other and their kids. But it wasn't that easy. Even back then, before I knew what mindfulness was, I knew this line of thinking wasn't going to get me anywhere. Another way to get thoughts out of our minds is to journal. Just write down some of the thoughts you're having about friendship.I had to shift my thinking so I was open to opportunities that didn't fit my original picture of what I thought my mom friend life would look like.I started chatting with one mom who happened to show up at the park around the time I did. I invited her to my house that very first day! We became friends. This wasn't the gaggle of moms I imagined. But she was my first mom friend. I also pushed myself out of my rhythm and got to the park earlier a day or two a week. A couple of conversations led to a group of moms inviting me to their weekly playdates. We have pictures of what the seasons of motherhood are going to look like. And in order to live a more satisfying life, to savor the season we're in, we may have to adjust our picture. Friendship gives us a sense of belonging, allows us to have adult conversations, support, wisdom, knowledge, chats that are honest, vulnerable, and authentic. I've talked about what you can do to make connections when they're not just happening organically in Episode 22. Listen to that episode for more details, but here's a few ideas. MOPSIf you've got a child – from infant to preschooler, walk don't run to the nearest MOPS group. MOMS IN PRAYERIf you're a mom with school-age and beyond kids, this is an international group with local groups that pray for an hour a week for our children and their schools. A life-changer for me.There's also MeetUps groups, Music Together, Mocha Moms, YMCA/YWCA, churches, synagogues, yoga studios, and more local groups. Google Mom Groups in my area. If you have a group of friends or even acquaintances you can gather with, consider meeting regularly over a shared interest like a book or study or area in which you'd like to grow. I met with my Friday group for 20 years. Here are the elements of this kind of group.1. Commitment of One - Our group started because one woman felt called to host and make space in her home and calendar to host women every week for spiritual growth. 2. Commitment of at Least Some – Gather a core group of five or so women who are committed to meeting. We met most Fridays, from 1:00-3:00 pm before our school-age kids got home. 3. Agreed Upon Topic – Our group wanted Christian spiritual fellowship and growth.  Together, we decided what book or study we would dive into. 4. KISS Principle – Keep It Simple Sweetheart – Our hostess put out a setup for tea. There was no pressure to feed people. Brown bag lunches were welcome. 5. Community Mentality – All were welcome. All gatherings were strictly confidential. Most attendees were Christian, seekers were welcome. If the idea of starting this kind of group is intimidating but you'd love to do it, reach out to me using the Contact Form in the show notes. I'd love to help. 

Hey Mama who desires to have more friends…or deeper, richer friendships…but is having a hard time with this right now.  What's stopping you? Well, of course, COVID, and the patterns of life that have changed as a result have been stopping us, right? It's been two years – that's significant!We've lived differently than we were accustomed to. That's over 730 days to adopt new habits, including NOT making plans with friends, NOT getting dressed, NOT putting on lipstick, and NOT feeling good when we walk out the door – maybe even feeling a little scared or fearful. It feels like a lot of effort. But we really do need one another. Friendship, connection, support, discussion, laughter – all the elements of friendship – lead to a greater sense of well-being. Take that first step and send the text or make the phone call. Once you've taken that step, take the next, and the next until you're with a friend. Even if it feels a little uncomfortable at first, you'll settle in and enjoy yourself. In addition to COVID, there are other things that stop us from having the friendships we desire. One thing is a Lack of Self-Confidence.We self-proclaim, “I don't initiate friendship.” I held this belief for many years. Behind it was insecurity. The truth is I lacked the confidence to make the first move. Loneliness resulted. I had to initiate friendship, because I couldn't stand the feeling of isolation. I invited an acquaintance for coffee. It worked out really well! She was delighted I asked, and we struck became friends. Another friendship-stopper is ComparisonWhen we believe “she's” got it altogether – dresses well, is a calm mom, her house is neat as a pin, she's a great cook, her marriage appears perfect – then we feel inadequate, not enough, and therefore unable to be hospitable. Whether it's a full meal, a pot of soup, or a pizza night, have that gathering and use the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Sweetheart. Do what you do well…You be you!!The third thing that stops us from having the friendships we desire is ShameI loved my friends and I'm a pretty social being. Definitely an extrovert who finds connecting with people energizing. But I hesitated to have anyone over because I felt ashamed of my home. I had a little conversation with God about this. That still small voice whispered, “How about a little gratitude? I have given you all that you need and more. Be thankful!” I found myself thinking, “Yeah, but…” I caught myself and it was a bit of a lightning bolt moment. I turned my complaints into gratitude. And this really did “open the door” to spontaneously invite friends over more readily. So what's your vision for friendship? Are you just looking to reconnect to one friend? Have a post-shutdown gathering at your home with couples? Or go out to dinner with your girlfriends? If self-confidence stops you from initiating, look in the mirror and say out loud, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” or even “I am a friendship initiator!” Do it afraid if you have to. If comparison stops you, catch yourself and stop yourself. Figure out how to be authentically you and gather in a way that uses your gifts and makes you feel comfortable.And if shame is stopping you from being the welcoming host you want to be, look around you. What are you grateful for? Turn your complaints into thanks. Your warm smile will be the first thing your friends see when they walk in your door. Friendship stuff can be challenging. Give yourself some grace and at the same time give yourself a little push to connect. You'll be glad you did and so will the friends you've connected with. 

Hey Mama who may believe you're the only lonely mom on the planet.If you're a lonely mom, you're not alone. 51% of moms report feeling lonely. The truth is, you have lots of company. Many moms feel just like you. Before we dig into what you can do about Mom Loneliness, let's explore Why you need mom friends. Your “why” will help you make adjustments in your life. Your why will help you take action steps even when you've got more than enough on your mom plate and might just feel like giving up.  Here are 5 Reasons Why You Need Good Mom Friends1.  The MomLife can feel all consuming. Mom friends can help you feel like you again, like you have an identity beyond being a mom. 2.  When we have a mom friend or two, we have a sense of belonging. 3.  Other moms are a source of knowledge and support – whether we are caring for our firstborn baby or kids who have left the nest.4.  Fellow moms help us get out of our own heads. When we gather, we have an opportunity to air out our thoughts, be honest, vulnerable, and authentic. 5. Mom friends infuse a little fun into our busy lives. And by the way, all the whys above are not only why YOU need mom friends, but why THEY need you too. So How can you make mom friends? Well I suggest you start with a vision for what you want. What do you need?Are you looking for a group? Just one friend you can have coffee with? Do you need some inspiration or motivation, something in common to share with other moms? Take a few minutes to really imagine what you want. Visualize – we can't move toward something we can't see or articulate. Close your eyes for a couple of minutes and imagine a friend scene or two. Who are you with? What are you doing? Are you in a coffee shop? Library? Class? Use your senses – breathe in the atmosphere. Notice the feelings, colors, scenes. When you finish your visualization, write down what you observed.Want to take it one step further? Do a friend vision board. Put together words and pictures digitally that depict what you imagine as your ideal friend situation on Google Jamboard. Print it out and keep it in front of you. Of course, you don't have to do a visualization or vision board in order to make friends. But it is really important for us to know what it is we truly desire so when we fulfill that desire, we know it. Once you've come up with an idea of what you'd like your friendships to look like, it's time to talk about action. What can you actually do to make new friends? Well, here are some ideas. 1.  Look around you - Maybe there's a neighbor, mom at drop-off, fellow churchgoer you see and wave to from time to time that could be a friend. Strike up a conversation. 2.  Check out local community bulletin boards online or in local libraries, churches, schools, gyms. Once you start looking, you'll find there are events and happenings in your community you didn't know about. 3.  Take a class or join a special interest group - running, pickleball, tennis, crafts, painting, writing. Once you're involved, engage. Look for a friendly face and start up a conversation. 4.  Join a Moms In Prayer group (if you're a prayer…or would like to be). This was a life-changer for me. This is a worldwide organization, with groups run locally by mothers who gather once a week for an hour of prayer for their children and schools. 5.  Be the mom you're looking for and start a group of your own. 

Hey Mama who is tired of feeling lonely…One Harvard study reports 51% of moms with young children feel lonely. Because I was a young mom once and regularly talk to moms of young children, I know this season can be a lonely one. Moms feel lonely for lots of valid reasonsThey are consumed with their children, which takes a lot of time and energy. It can feel awkward, scary, shameful, exhausting, embarrassing, needy - the list goes on – to be the one looking for friends.Developing relationships takes effort and our brains are wired (scientific fact) to seek safety and comfort – so we resist stepping out of our comfort zones. I hope you feel validated – if you feel lonely, you are not alone! Here's a little story about how I overcame the hurdles of making friends when I became a mom. Up until the time I became a mother, I always had situations – classrooms, ballfields, choir groups, workplaces – that naturally gathered me together with other people. But then, suddenly, I was a stay-at-home mom. The first couple of months with a new baby, I stayed pretty close to home. But eventually, I was ready to go to the park each day. Rumor had it that's where all the moms were. And I was starting to feel isolated and lonely. When I imagined mothering, part of my mental picture was to have a community of mom friends. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I had a really tough time getting out the door “on time.” Many moms got to the park between 8 – 9 am and by about 10 am were headed home for their baby's first nap. As I entered the park, the moms would smile and wave as they exited the park. And then it happened, I noticed one other mom was entering the park about the same time I was! Eureka – I had found her. A mom who was not a morning person just like me!! We became fast friends. Even our husbands liked one another. But, I had to both change some of what I pictured and work on making my visions a reality. Changing my vision meant I had to accept I wasn't a perky morning mom and wasn't the mom who had her baby on a strict 10 am nap schedule. But I was a mom who needed a friend and I wasn't alone. Thank God for Andrea!!Making my vision of motherhood friendship a reality meant I had to work to develop what I really wanted. So, when I could, I got to the park a little earlier. I pushed out of my comfort zone and chatted with moms I didn't know. And when a mom asked me to come to her house for coffee, I responded with a resounding, “yes!”What's your vision for mom friendship? Think back to when you imagined what motherhood friendships would look like. Are your friendships what you imagined? Are you lonely? Would you like more friends, less? Closer friends, or maybe you'd like to pull back from a friend or two? On a scale of 1-10, one is a high level of satisfaction and 10 is low, what number would you give your current friendships? What one step can you take to move closer to your ideal picture of friendship? Invite a friend over for coffeeCall a friend to chat Attend a Bible study, book group, lecture to connect with new peopleGo to a park with the kids and meet the mom pushing her child on the swing next to youHow can you adjust your vision of friendships so you're not feeling frustrated or disappointed? What can you let go of so you can appreciate what you have? If you're feeling lonely, remember you're not alone. There's another equally lonely mom looking to connect with you. 

Want to dramatically change your marriage for good? It takes just one word...Hey Mama who just may find this one word has miraculous powers…There is tremendous power in our words. The Bible has plenty to say about this. Here is just one example. Proverbs 18:21 in The Message says,“Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.”In my 37 years of marriage, I have used my words to build up my husband, to express my love, to soothe, understand, clarify, build our relationship. But I have also used my words as weapons of destruction. I have used my words to hurt my husband. I have used my words to accuse my husband. And that's where this one little word comes in. With this one word shift you can:Go from feeling dismissed to being heardStop shutting down conversations between you and your husband through blame and shame and open up better lines of communicationTake more ownership and feel more empowered through clearer communicationWhat's this one word? “I”!Often, throughout the course of a day, we communicate by using “you” statements, especially with our husbands. The person on the receiving end of these “you” statements often feels accused and defensive because we are putting the blame on them for both the actions they've taken and the feelings we have as a result. When we use “I” statements, we instead take responsibility for our feelings and make room for compassion and understanding from the person we're talking to.One morning recently, my husband got out of bed very early. He flung back the covers, leaving me without the cocoon of my blanket. When I got downstairs, I blurted out, “Hon, why do you always fling the covers off our bed every morning when I'm still sleeping? You woke me up before my alarm went off!”His response? He looked up a little wide-eyed at my early morning intensity. “Yeah…sorry. I don't do it every day.”“Well actually you do. You've done it every day this week. You throw off the covers and because I'm freezing, it wakes me up…and then I can't get back to sleep.”“Oh…okay. Sorry. I'll try to remember that.”There's a bit of a chill in the air, because Chris has shut down. He doesn't want to deal with my accusations and his defense is minimal response. Now if I decide instead to use “I” instead of “you,” this conversation could go in a whole different direction. “Hon, I woke up to a cold blast of air this morning because the covers came off me when you got out of bed. My alarm doesn't go off till 7 am and I really feel better with that extra hour of sleep.”“Oh…really? I'm sorry – I didn't mean to wake you up.”“Yeah, it's okay. You know me and my sleep…can you just make sure the covers are still on as you slip out of bed?”“Of course. I'll be more careful. Sorry – I'm sure that wasn't the best way to wake up.”“Thanks!”That simple shift in communication went from dividing us to building a bridge of understanding and willingness to do better. This wasn't a critical situation, but it was a good opportunity to practice “I” statements. I've got another example on the MomVision podcast. Remember, we can't experience the romance, love, and sex we desire, if we don't have an idea or vision of what that means. Most of us want better, more loving communication. “I” statements are one specific step we can take to move toward that goal. As we improve our communication, intimacy builds, and sex is one essential element of intimacy. 

Hey Mama who may be delighted that we're going to talk about sex…or may want to avoid the topic entirely…Happy Month of Love continues. We've been talking about love, romance, and sex – I suppose we could refer to these as spicy topics as my dear friend calls them!!Episode 17 was about Why Accepting, Knowing, and Loving Yourself Is the Place to Start. Then in Episode 18, we talked about what it means to have an intentional marriage. Having a vision for our sex life stems from having an idea, a mental picture, clarity about what it is we desire for our relationship with our spouse. And if you determine how, meaning what action you will take to move toward your ideal love, romance, and sex life, then you have an intentional marriage. Today, I'm talking about some more practical steps that will help you have the marriage you desire - love, romance, and sex are all a part of that. There's so much talk about how often is often enough, for example. Well, here are my suggestions on how to determine the answer to that question and a few more related to intimacy in your marriage1. Have an honest conversation. Ask questions like, “How are we feeling about our sex life? Is there something we need to do or do more of in or out of the bedroom to make our sexual life more fulfilling? What are our needs? How can we communicate more clearly about sex? Is intimacy frequent enough (often one partner has a need for more frequency and, contrary to popular belief, it's not always the man!)?2. Set some mutually agreeable ground rules. Through your conversations about sex discussed above, explore preferences. Determine together how often is often enough, how you can make sure sex happen, what you are comfortable and not comfortable with. 3. Put sex on the calendar. Many couples experience such levels of exhaustion and depletion in the middle of raising little ones, they need this agreed-upon method of ensuring an active sex life. When we started putting sex on the calendar, it seemed so unromantic. As we got more into a sexual rhythm that worked for both of us, the calendar became a sign of anticipation. 4. Your sex life is YOUR sex life. No statistics, what others are doing, comparisons, myths, or ideas about “the right way to have a good healthy sex life” determine your levels of fulfillment and satisfaction. This is about you and your partner. 5. Ever hear “Sex begins in the kitchen”? Well what that means is sex, attraction, romance does not just happen as soon as you close the bedroom door. Foreplay is action or behavior that precedes an event. It can be kindness, doing the dishes, having a nice family meal, a gentle touch, a knowing look, flowers. Foreplay can be a cuddle on the couch, laughter, date night. Oh and here's a BONUS – Get a lock on your bedroom door!! I really didn't want our kids walking in on me and my husband. A simple solution, put a hook and eye latch on the inside of your door. You're welcome:)For many of us, just starting the conversation around sex and intimacy will make all the difference. Those conversations will help you formulate an idea, a vision, a picture of what your ideal sex life looks like. Remember, if we aim for nothing, we'll hit it every time. A conversation about your sex life will be the first step in moving toward the love, romance, and sex life of your dreams. 

Hey Mama who has a hard time being intentional about anything these days…This week, I'm talking about what it means to have an intentional marriage. Remember, having a vision for our sex life stems from having an idea, a mental picture, clarity about what it is we desire for our relationship with our spouse. You cannot move towards something if you haven't defined what that something is. However, if you have a picture of your ideal love, romance, and sex life (the three are intertwined), you can move toward it. And if you determine how, meaning what action you will take to move toward your ideal love, romance, and sex life, then you have an intentional marriage. So, the question is, do you have an intentional marriage? Are you nurturing your relationship on purpose? Are you doing things that keep you feeling emotionally connected to each other? Are you making sure you keep your sexual connection going even if it means putting sex on the calendar? Having the marriage of my dreams – the one with frequent fabulous sex, flowers galore, chocolates (the kind I love, not just any old), snuggling on the couch, holding hands – turns out wasn't going to just happen naturally. First, I had to adjust my vision. We were often too tired from work and life stress to make a meal, engage in meaningful conversation, and make wild passionate love. And so I found myself feeling disillusioned and disappointed…and guilty because I felt this way. What I realized was I was comparing the reality of my marriage to the marriage of my dreams…and reality was coming up short! Once I adjusted my vision to the reality of real-life marriage, I realized this marriage thing was going to take work. And then adding kids to the mix adds a whole lot more complication. Life gets in the way of making our blissful imaginings, reality. We had the wedding day of our dreams, a fabulous honeymoon, and a wonderful little apartment in a charming city. We also had weekend custody of Chris' at-the-time seven-year-old daughter. Then, within a few months of marriage, we went in on a gourmet cheese and coffee shop, even with full-time jobs. Then a baby, my by-then tween stepdaughter moved in, and then another baby. We pulled out some of the tools we had gained from our Marriage Prep weekend. We recalled one of the big principles was “Love Is a Decision.” There are days when we weren't feeling it, but we could still decide to love, to show love, to commit to caring for each other. Another tool we had was called dialoguing. You formulate a question you both agree to answer. What is it like being married to me today?  What do you need from me to feel loved? You write your answers to one another in a letter form for 10 minutes. Then you exchange your letters and go over them verbally for about 10 minutes. In addition to the tools I've shared, we started having date nights. Attended conferences for a few hours or a weekend. We read books and listened to audio series together. Sometimes we do devotionals together…and pray together too. So you see, having a vision for your sex life comes from having a more realistic vision of what marriage is really like and being intentional about building connection that leads to intimacy. How do you have an intentional marriage? 1. Start with a vision for your marriage – What is it you desire for your relationship with your spouse? 2. In light of your real-life circumstances, how can you move toward your ideal marriage? What one step can you take? 3. Commit to love – on the days you feel it and the days you don't. 4. Find marriage tools to keep you connected. 5. Take advantage of opportunities to grow. 

Hey mama who may not actually be thinking much about sex these days…Did you know that The Hallmark Channel refers to February as Loveuary? That's because February is also known as the month of love! No huge surprise if you consider what a big holiday Valentine's Day has become. And so I'm joining the crowd this month and celebrating “the month of love” by talking about Love, Romance, and Sex in Marriage. Today, I'm going to hone in on Why Accepting, Knowing, and Loving Yourself Is the Place to Start. As the month goes on, we will explore What an Intentional Marriage Is, The Power of “I,” and Why If You Want Something, It's Essential to Ask for It.You might think your marriage will get better when you - fill in the blank - get healthier and therefore feel more energized and sexy, have more rest so you can think more clearly, or have date nights every two weeks because you finally have time. There's nothing wrong with having those goals in mind. But don't wait! You can be you just as you are today…and move toward the marriage of your dreams that includes intimate connection. In this case, aka, sex. How? 1. Accept yourself – And I'd add your circumstances. Accepting who you are and where you are today, what small thing can you do to stay connected to your husband? Here's an example, when my husband and I were so busy raising four kids, juggling jobs, and my husband was also going to school, we had a partnership, but I felt terribly disconnected. We committed to spending five minutes talking and being listened to every day. Just that little investment of time really helped! 2. Know yourself!It can be really hard to stop and take a moment to think this through. It's our responsibility to know what we need in our marriage from our spouse. For instance, I knew I wanted sexual intimacy to be a bigger part of our marriage. We agreed to get a little calendar and determined that we would have sex at least once a week. Not so romantic, but it worked! It revved up our sex life…and it was a fun little secret between me and Chris. Eventually, we no longer needed that calendar☺3. Love yourself! I know you're busy and for some it is really hard to imagine caring for yourself, but it is essential. You can't pour from an empty cup! The second commandment is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” So we are to love others, including our husbands, as ourselves. How are you doing with loving yourself so you can love others?Here are some ways you can love yourselfSelf-care is one of those things we must find time for, even if it's just five minutes a day. I've got a free download, 28 Ways to Show Love to Yourself, that will give you one simple idea for every day this month. Here's just a sampling of ideas. Make a list of 5 things you like about yourself.Check your negative thinking. Research says we say negative things to ourselves 80% of the time. True of you?Be kind to you. Once you realize some of the things you're saying to yourself, stop it!! Not only will you feel better about you, you will feel better about your loved ones too. Sex is an expression of love, intimacy, and connection. When you care more for you, you naturally become more able to connect with your spouse. When you feel more connected to your spouse, sex is a natural extension of that connection. 

How The Powerful Serenity Prayer Can Bring More Peace to a Busy Mom's Life Hey Mama who right about now just might need to post the Serenity Prayer in several places around her home…How would you like to experience more peace, more serenity in your day-to-day MomLife? You may be familiar with the words to the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold NiebuhrGod grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,Courage to change the things I can,and Wisdom to know the difference.I was in Vermont recently, already enjoying the beauty of a cabin in the woods, all cozy inside with a roaring fire, when a snowstorm added to the perfect winter scene. And I thought back to my mom days and snow days. Generally speaking, we loved snow days in my home. And, especially as I look back, they were so magical. The kids would have an unanticipated day off from school! There would be extra pajama-time. I would cook up a nice hearty breakfast. And we'd get the kids dressed up in snow attire, open the door, and out we'd go to build a snowman, make snow angels, run around the backyard with Bailey the dog…and within an hour, we'd head back in a little cold and wet, ready for hot cocoa. A few hours later, we'd head out to the local park for sledding. A couple of blocks away, the street was closed off so we could sled all the way to the bottom of the hill, without any concern of car traffic. After a couple of hours or maybe less, we trudged home for more hot cocoa and fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies. I've talked here a lot about what we picture and the scenario I've just told you is all true at one time or another. But there are some other moments within those scenes I haven't shared. Here are a couple of other scenarios mixed into the snowy, blurry flurry. - One of those snowy mornings, one child was feverish, sad, and needed me at the same time my two other young ones were begging to go outside!! What's a mom to do? - Another one of those snow days, I didn't want to go to the sledding hill. It was still freezing and  snow was still falling hard. My kids and I wrangled over this for a few hours until they wore me down. We got to the hill…and it was too cold and wet. I may have stomped home in a hissy fit. The list goes on. I have four kids. They span 12 years, so there were lots of snow day scenarios. Going back to the Serenity Prayer…There were things I couldn't change or couldn't be helped. For example, there was a snow day. A child was sick. I had a deadline and children awaiting a wonderful snow day. These were unchangeable facts. Acceptance was in order. There were things I could change or alter. I could explain to my kids that I had to tend to my sick child and we would have to map out a different type of snow day. I could've said, “No!” to my kids because the conditions were just not conducive to fun sledding. These adjustments required some level of courage and a certain level of strength and conviction. But how do we gain the wisdom, the insight to know the difference? 1. Take a few deep breaths and allow ourselves a moment to think.2. Ask ourselves a couple of questions.What about this circumstance is truly out of my control that I need to accept? What do I have the courage to alter, change, or adjust so I feel less frustrated, upset, or stressed?3. Train and not just try to experience some level of serenity as we apply this reality and prayer to our daily stressful situations. (If you want to know about training versus trying, listen to Episode 15 of the MomVision podcast.)

Hey mom who may not be getting back into the swing of things after Christmas as quickly as she had hoped. For many of us savoring motherhood requires us to make changes. And change is always challenging because our brains are wired to resist change. But it can be done. It takes training not just trying. Think of yourself as an athlete. If you wanted to participate in a 5K walk or run, you'd likely train. You wouldn't try to walk or run in order to prepare. You'd train. You'd be intentional about taking action in order to prepare for the big race. As part of training, - You'd make specific walking and running goals.- You might picture yourself walking or running over the finish line. - You'd be intentional about nourishing and hydrating your body so it's fit for the race. It's the same with momming. You set some goals to make it to the finish line…and you think about what it will take to get there. You train. You don't give up. You have good days and bad days, but you're progressing. You're becoming the mom you want to be. I'll use the example of screaming at our kids because truth be told, a lot of moms struggle with screaming. If a mom is trying to stop screaming with no plan in mind, she'll likely find herself screaming before too long. Here are a couple of examples of training to stop screaming. Maybe you scream because you haven't taken the time to eat a nourishing meal, and you're hangry (that's hungry and angry all rolled into one potential screaming fit – and yes, it's a thing). So you decide you're going to make sure you eat before you get to the point of being hangry. And you don't give up until you establish this goal and become less hangry. Maybe you scream because you haven't established a routine of getting everyone out the door to school in the morning. And the scene is utter chaos. Everyone is screaming. You determine you are going to make a plan for having more calm in the mornings…and you don't give up training till the new routine replaces the old. These steps apply to the training involved in any change you want to make. Managing your time better. Not giving into the kids when they whine. Saying no or at least I'll have to think about it before you say yes to a new commitment. Having a meal plan. Self-care. Less screen time. Here's how to train to make a change. 1. Identify one change we want to make.2. Focus on just one change. 3. Clarify the problem. 4. Imagine what it looks like to have accomplished your goal. 5. Choose one action and repeat it over and over again until the new behavior or habit replaces the old. This is training yourself to change something that will make you a happier, healthier mom. And just like athletic training, it is not easy, but it is worth it so you get to your finish line – savoring more and not just surviving motherhood. Dear Lord, Change can be so hard…and it seems like everything in us resists. I pray for this mom to be able to identify one aspect of her momlife that is frustrating her. Give her clarity on what one thing she can change through training that will help her savor and not just survive motherhood. And in the meantime, Lord, would you show this mom she is loved right here, right now, fully and completely by you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Hey Mama who is possibly still knee deep in the messiness of the holidays, but ready for a New Year…Just in case there is any question about it, I want to firmly state here and now I LOVE VISION BOARDS!Along the lines of One Word for the New Year, Vision Boards have been a life-changer for me. This little journey of mine started back in 2011, which I can hardly believe. It started with the discovery of One Word for the New Year. If you'd like to know more about One Word for the New Year, I'll put a link here to my One Word for the New Year worksheet and I'll also include a link to the live One Word for the New Year Instagram workshop I did.In discovering the One Word for the New Year concept I found freedom. Suddenly, I was no longer entrapped by a list of resolutions I knew I wouldn't keep or even keep track of.  Instead, I was inspired by One Word that would guide me like a rudder on my personal journey, or raise my awareness, or help me grow. I remember my first One Word was Now. Some of my subsequent words have been Change, God, Metanoia (that was such a fun one!), and in 2021, my Word was Initiate. My new word for 2022 is FREE.Within a few of years of discovering the One Word concept, I came across Vision Boards. I was hesitant at first. They seemed a little too new-agey and creative for me. Yet I was intrigued. I got myself a piece of posterboard, a stack of magazines, glue sticks, and scissors. I thought about what I wanted more of in my life. How I wanted to improve myself – habits, fitness, finance, faith, marriage, relationships with my kids, family members, friends. And I thought about what I wanted less of – overcommitment, overwhelm, fear, FOMO (fear of missing out), codependency. And I made my first Vision Board. My good husband laminated it for me so I could keep it right on my desk in front of me. It wasn't the prettiest board I've ever seen…But, it was mine and I loved it!!From there my passion grew. My enthusiasm was contagious. I was invited to run workshops for lots of groups – women's ministries, business and entrepreneur groups, college groups, and now I've run my own workshops, including virtually (because of…well…you know). It's been exciting!!Vision Boards are a tool for realizing our dreams.Just like SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, and Timely – they are a method of going from where we are to where we want to be. When we map out our Vision Boards - whether digitally through Google Jamboard, Canva, and the like, or with a physical board – powerful things happen. As with so many other approaches to growing and changing, a layer of accountability is a powerful addition that will make a vision board work harder for you. So gather some friends and the necessary materials, and get to making a Vision Board that uniquely reflects you – where you are and where you want to be, your hopes, dreams, and visions. And check in with one another over the next year. Eventbrite Link to 2022 Virtual Vision Board Workshop One Word for the New Year Instagram WorkshopOne Word for the New Year WorksheetHere's to 2022!!Lord, I pray for the Mama listening to this podcast today. The holidays take a lot of work and focus. Would you help her carve out a little time to think about this past year and what she'd like for this next year? Give her a little space to think and hear from you. Remind her of your plans and purposes for her. And bless this Mom and her family with good health and joy throughout this next year. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Hey Mama who after a whole lot of restrictions and a very-family Christmas just may be needing a sense of community connection…Have you ever heard the phrase, “We were made for community?”This is actually based on Biblical truthsThe Creation story of Adam and EveThe Second Commandment to love others as we love ourselvesThe list goes on. Regardless of how we prefer to engage in community - whether one-on-one relationships, group settings, or lots of time alone – we all share a need to love and be loved, have a sense of belonging and connection. Because as busy moms our time is limited, we have to pick and choose carefully how we will use our time and energy to engage in community. And that's where vision comes in. If you aren't intentional about your community pursuits, you may find yourself over-committed, unable, and frustrated with the things and people you've said yes to. And having to say no to the more important things because you've simply run out of time. I have said yes to many things not always for the right reasons. In short, here are five reasons I've said yes, when I should've at least considered no.1. FOMO – fear of missing out. 2. Fun – Drifting over the line of too much fun and not enough discipline. 3. People-Pleasing - I have said yes because I didn't want to disappoint someone. 4. Approval of Man – I have said yes because I want “you” to like me. 5. Human Doing vs. Human Being – Believing what we do is what gives us our true value. I have said yes when I should've said no a few times and lived with the consequences. I share one of those times on the podcast. Maybe you've experienced something like this too? Your vision, what you picture for your life and in this case, specifically what you envision for your life as it relates to community, is powerful. It becomes a sort of plumbline or standard for what you say yes and no to. That's why it's so important to choose your vision. And even more important to choose it, write it down, and keep some kind of visual representation in front of you so you're reminded of what you want your community to be. That's it…you have one precious life. What will you do with it? How will you engage in community? Click here for five questions to help you paint a picture of how to choose your community involvement, so you have time to say yes to the most important things. Lord, sometimes motherhood can feel very lonely. We're so busy trying to be perfect moms, we forget that we also need community. You made us for community – friendship, fellowship, extended family relationships. Show this mama how to cultivate the community she needs in this season of life. Show her that group or friend or membership she can say yes to…and help her say no or not now to something that will clear the way if necessary. I lift this mama up this week and ask you to give her peace and joy in the aftermath of Christmas. In Jesus' name amen.  

Hey Mama who is likely putting all the finishing touches on Christmas right now…and maybe wondering how on earth you'll pull it all off…Can I just assure you…Christmas will come and you'll be ready enough. If you're like most of us, it will likely not be perfect. Oh well! Things that feel like mess-ups, they're actually just real life. Real life is full of mistakes, forgets, miscommunication, oopsies, and oh nos!!! The big problem lies in setting ourselves up with perfect imaginings that are destined to leave us disappointed and feeling like we've failed. And this is why we need a vision for our momming. Listen to Episode 2 of the MomVision podcast for an understanding of Fantasy versus Reality Momming. I realized my fantasy, idealized version of what I thought motherhood was supposed to look, feel, and be like was wreaking havoc. It had me believing lies, like:I was a failure.I didn't measure up.I couldn't get this mothering thing right.I was devastated when I found I didn't enjoy every waking moment of motherhood, disappointed that motherhood wasn't the fulfillment of my deepest yearnings. I felt guilty that at times I needed me-time. What kind of a blissful blessed new mom wants time away from her babies? Oh yeah, normal moms! And then of course, we go from having babies to raising children. Turns out, that can be a setup for failure too. Or at least a dashing of perfectionistic dreams. A vision for our parenting helps us dismantle the shoulds, unrealistic expectations, too high bars, false beliefs about the journey of motherhood. It helps us think about our journey. How each one of us can uniquely be the best mom to the children we've been given.  A Vision Board is one of the ways you can articulate a vision of your motherhood. Here's a How To Make a Vision Board link.Too busy? Try reflecting on the questions below – (also available as a Fantasy vs. Reality Reflection download.) They'll help you shift your ideal vision of motherhood to a more realistic view of what your motherhood actually looks like, along with some of the things you'd like to improve upon. Remember, small changes add up!Here are the questions for you to consider. 1. What did you imagine your life would look like today (fantasy/ideal vision)?2. What does your real life actually look like?3. How does your fantasy differ from your reality?4. What is one thing from your ideal momlife you can incorporate into your real mom life?And now here's a blessing for you…May you know, Mama, that where you are today is good enough. May you also see that through some intentionality and with the help of God, you can move toward a momlife that uniquely reflects who you are…and who your children are. May you have a new vision, one that reflects both joy in what is and in what can be. And may you experience peace despite all the busyness of this extra-busy season. May you sense God with you – Emmanuel – as we near Christmas Day. I pray in Jesus' name, amen! 

Why You Need a Vision for Your MarriageHey Mama who just might be feeling disconnected from her husband during this busy holiday season…or even this busy season of life.  I have said and thought many times in my life, “This is just not how I pictured it.” I've said this in moments of utmost joy, confusion, and even disappointment about Momming, my career, friendships, and ministry work. They've all been different than I imagined. And how about MARRIAGE!! This was an area where I had wild imaginings of perfection. Name who you think is the perfect couple. That's what I pictured for me.Well enter life…enter reality. The truth is marriage has been one of the most difficult undertakings in my life. You too? Most of us come into marriage (just as we do parenting, and life for that matter) imagining a glorified picture of what marriage will truly be like. Here's the thing – most of us have pictures of our marriages that have us longing for what no one really has. Complete understanding, endless dating, on-fire intimacy, unending forgiveness, no harsh words, full agreement on how to raise our kids. These old pictures lead to lots of shoulds, comparisons with those couples we perceive as ideal, disappointment in who we're married actually married to, unmet expectations, sadness even grief over what we believe is supposed to be. We need a new vision for our marriage. This vision comes from assessing where we are, so we can see where we want it to be. In-between what is and what could be, there are action steps we can to take. Having a vision, ideally written down, and even more ideally put together on a vision board, keeps this new vision in front of us. The scientific evidence is clear – what we keep in front of us, in our minds and visually – we move toward. Ask yourself these three questions to formulate a vision for your marriage - one you can enjoy today…and even more tomorrow as you work toward the more realistic picture of what you'd like for your relationship. 1. What is the greatest area of satisfaction in my marriage? What works well…and is maybe even better than I imagined? 2. What is an area that feels lacking in my relationship with my spouse? (Examples – intimacy (physical or emotional), forgiveness, even just five minutes a day where we intentionally talk without interruption, humor…)3. What one step can I take today to bridge what is with what I'd like it to be? Imagine your answer, print out a picture of it, write a note about it, post it somewhere you can remember this one thing you can work on now. Last week, I talked about a vision for you, Mama, as an individual. This week I've talked about a vision for your marriage. Next week, I'll talk about a vision for your parenting. Just in case you're ready for more, here's a link to my Vision Board Instructions, complete with a Materials list. It's my gift to you. Free Vision Board Instructions here!Dear Lord, Will you please give this Mama peace in this busiest of seasons? Give her an opportunity to experience your light and love. Help her to breathe deeply. And Lord, would you give her an appreciation for the good things in her marriage right here, right now…while you also plant a new vision in her mind for what small and easy changes she can make to have the marriage of her dreams? Thank you Lord that you meet us right where we are…and love us completely as we are. Help this Mama to believe this truth today, to know she is enough!  In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Hello Mama who likely doesn't have a lot of margin right now in the middle of the holiday season…Today I'm talking about why you, mama, even in the midst of your busy life, need a vision. Have you ever heard the expression “If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time”? It's a quote by Zig Ziglar – one of the world's most-renowned motivational speakers. Zig's last book was Born to Win: Find Your Success. One thing he talks about is how to achieve balance in 7 key areas of life - mental, spiritual, physical, family, financial, personal, and career – in order to become a more complete person. And this is why I believe every mama needs a vision. Because more than likely, if you're like most of the moms I talk to, you are not living a balanced life in at least one of those key areas. Here's how it relates to each one of us. If I feel like I'd like to improve in certain areas of my life…but I haven't gotten a specific picture of what that means, then I've got a lot of thoughts floating around in my head in the form of words or pictures. They're not being put to use. And, in fact, all these unbridled thoughts could even be wreaking havoc in my life. I may have pictures of what I think this season of my life should look like that are unrealistic, yet I'm shoulding all over myself because of these thoughts. I may be feeling stressed about something that is happening or isn't happening in my life but I haven't put my finger on what it is. Well here's the thing, mama, you're a person with needs, thoughts, desires, visions, dreams. And while you may not get to them today or tomorrow or even in the next few years, these are worth identifying, articulating, and recording in some way. Once you do that, you move toward them. Enter the vision that I believe you need. Not just a vision of you as a mom, but a vision of you as a whole person, a woman who plays many roles, among them spouse, mom, sister, community member, entrepreneur, professional woman, writer…the list goes on.You can't envision your ideal life and work towards it if you don't know what it is. Right?One of the most effective and fun ways I know to do this work is through vision boarding. It feels like play, but it's actually very powerful work. Just as one might choose Pilates as a method of exercise, Vision Boarding is a method of identifying, articulating, and formulating clear words and pictures that clarify your hopes, dreams, goals. I've done a lot of vision boarding workshops with moms, couples, ministry groups, teachers, and entrepreneurs. These workshops buzz with a wonderful celebration of life and dreams!We do a visualization exercise as part of the workshop. I instruct people to imagine their ideal life, in their ideal place, with their ideal people. Then I lead them to explore the scene with all their senses. I have them think about what mattered most in the scene they pictured? What ideal could actually become real? And that's how you start to form a vision that's powerful. If you'd like to go through this visualization exercise, I have a free download and video for you. Lord, thank you that you are the author and revealer of our dreams. Help this mama to remember that even on challenging days, you have a purpose for her life. Allow her a few minutes to envision what you have for her this next year. Fill her heart and mind with your best for her. Remind her of her unique gifts and talents. Help her replace thoughts that drain her with thoughts, dreams, and hopes that energize and excite her. Bless this mama today with a sense of hope. In Jesus name, Amen. Free How to Be a Happier Mom Visualization Mini-Course.

Hello Mama who can't quite believe the Christmas season is actually here…or can't believe that it isn't already over?Whether you're welcoming this Christmas season, dreading it, or somewhere in-between, it's here. I pray you can enjoy this season…even though it adds an extra layer of To-Dos to your already busy schedule. The best way to do this is by keeping things pretty simple. At the beginning of Advent in the thick of raising four kids, with all good intentions and perhaps too high hopes, I had many things I was trying to add to Advent to make sure I didn't miss the blessings…to make sure I honored Jesus as the center of this sacred season.I remember one year, ordering a few new Advent devotionals – one for me, one for us as a family, and one for my husband and me to do alone together during the quiet evenings that frankly didn't exist. We started off well, doing lots of Advent activities, and within about a week we had to abandon them all because they had become too overwhelming…too much added stress…and just too much. Don't do that to yourself. Choose one thing. We loved our Advent wreath tradition and, if we do nothing else, this is one tradition that has proved sustainable throughout the four weeks of Advent. Plus, the kids loved it because they each got a chance to light the candles through the four weeks, assisted by an adult of course. A little bonus is that candlelight tends to bring a little awe into the midst of a usually noisy dinner time, creating a hush in the room, a sense of wonder, at least for a few minutes. We accompanied this lighting with a very simple scripture reading. You can find those by googling Advent Scripture Readings if you'd like to do this. Your one thing can be anything! It can be a pageant your kids participate in. Or a carol sing-along. It can be a nativity scene of clay figurines. Or a lovely picture of the same scene on your bulletin board or fridge. It can be something you do or something you observe. Use the KISS principle – Keep It Simple Sweetheart. Blessed Advent to you and yours. A MomVision Prayer for AdventOh Lord, please be with this mama today. Give her blessed assurance that no matter what she does or doesn't do this holiday season, she is loved wholly and completely by you.Whether it's a quiet moment by the fire…a gathering around an Advent Wreath…a moment warmed by a hot cup of something cozy…or a whispered prayer in the middle of this busy season, allow her to sense your presence. Prepare her heart to receive the beauty of the Christ child come to live among us and remaining in Spirit to this very day. I pray in Jesus name, amen.

Hello Mama who may have had her share of disappointing Christmases…Welcome to the 3rd episode in a series called Cultivating Christmas Calm – How to Have a Holiday Season You Actually Enjoy. You might want to go back and listen to Episode 6 and 7 – two under 15-minute episodes that will help you navigate a calmer and happier holiday season. I'm the mom who worked way too hard to make everyone in my family's Christmas wishes come true. Anybody else? In a nutshellI bought way too many gifts and collapsed into bed at about 4 am Christmas morning. I did “all the things” – class parties, baking, baked for them, assemblies, services, events, and activities.I bedecked every inch of my home. I loved most of it. The problem was I believed if I didn't do it all, Christmas would be disappointing, to me or someone I loved. As a result, Christmas was exhausting and depleting. And no matter what lengths I went to, Christmas was disappointing to someone. In previous episodes, I've asked questions to help you determine your highest holiday priorities.  And hopefully you've discovered the one word that can make this your happiest holiday season yet – NO! I want to return to the topic of disappointment. Often our disappointments in life are based on dashed expectations. We have something in mind, and we may not even know it. But when our reality doesn't match up with that picture in our minds, we feel disappointed. I'd like to suggest a few things you can do this Christmas to manage expectations so they don't lead to disappointment. 1. Make a plan for gift-giving. Adopt a Gift Rule for your kids…and spouse. Determine a budget.Opt for a family gift exchange. A gift-giving plan means you, your kids, spouse, and other family members have clear expectations of what they're getting for Christmas. It helps you with decision-making. And it keeps gift-giving from spiraling out of control. 2. Another idea for managing expectations and avoiding disappointment is to have a little Celebrating the Holidays family meeting. Keep this meeting to 15 to 30 minutes at the most. Invite each family member to talk about what Christmas celebrations and activities matter most to them.Write down (on a calendar ideally) one activity, event, tradition for each person.   3. Don't forget the Reason for the Season. Have an Advent Wreath Give each child a Jesus-themed Advent Calendar Choose an Advent Family Devotional or Book Just Google to find all the above. I know it can be hard to slow down enough to be intentional about Christmas, but I promise it's worth the effort. Your Christmas will be more calm and bright!Lord, I lift up this precious mama today. Will you free her up to have a happy Christmas this year? Help her to find the space to do the things that bring her and her family joy. Give her clarity and confidence to make decisions and plans that guide her to a calm and beautiful holiday season. Please Lord, meet this mom right where she is in the middle of her busy life. Show this mama you hear the cries of her heart. In Jesus name amen!

Hello Mama who is already dreading the overwhelm that comes with the holidays…Welcome to Episode 7 of MomVision. This is the second episode in a three-week series called Cultivating Calm this Christmas I'm going to talk about how to cultivate calm throughout this season so you can have a Christmas you actually enjoy. Let me tell you a story…Several years ago, two of my four daughters were home for the Thanksgiving holiday. The days of everyone being home under one cozy roof were over. I was holding on tight to whatever I could, including our beloved time-honored non-negotiable Christmas traditions. One of those traditions was cutting down our own Christmas tree. “Hon, are you sure this is the right thing? It's awfully early…the tree will be dead before Christmas…and the weather is getting pretty bad,” my husband had the nerve to utter. “What are you talking about? If you think I'm giving up cutting down the tree this year, you're wrong. We are cutting down the tree TODAY!” I responded. My husband continued his campaign to stop this nonsense. I dug in my heels further. There was a lot of emotion, spoken or not, swirling around that minivan as we drove toward the tree farm. There was also a little problem…and it was unnerving even to dogged and determined me. It was getting dark. And the weather was rainy and even a little icy. But we had come too far to turn back now. “Mom, I have to get back home soon. I have a paper due on Monday and my ride is leaving early tomorrow.” “Yeah, hon, the weather's getting worse. I think we need to turn around.” Said my husband.Maybe it was time to turn back. It was actually sleeting as we continued on this pitch-dark road.“Oh wait, right there, on the left.” There was no farmer or sales clerk or tree tie-er upper. It was a pretty bleak little tree farm. With a quick phone call we were told we could leave our money for the tree in a mailbox outside the barn. The rain turned to driving sleet, the wind whipped through the tree farm, it was dark, freezing…it was ridiculous. My husband insisted I stay in the warm car, while my family trudged through the icy field holding a flashlight. After about 15 minutes, my family returned cold, drenched, and in surprisingly good spirits. They were laughing as they sputtered,“Mom, you don't want one of those trees! They're way too small and we're way too cold. We can't see a thing!”So what's the moral of this little story? Say no! Say no to the unnecessary extras during the holidays that add stress. And you'll be saying yes to a happier holiday season!I've got a challenge for you mama. What will you say no to this year? Take inventory of all you do to make Christmas perfect. Write down a list of “all the things.” Then choose one or more things you won't be doing this year. Come join me over on Instagram @elisedalyparker and let me know your no. Oh Lord, thank you that you never tire of teaching us even in the midst of our stubbornness. Help us Lord to keep our priorities straight. Christmas really is about you, Jesus, and your humble birth. Show us how to let go of the traditions and to-dos that we believe are essential but really aren't. Give each mama praying this prayer an idea of a no that she can say that will bring her greater joy and peace this holiday season. I ask this in Jesus' name amen!

Holidays or Holidaze? 3 Ways to Actually Enjoy the Christmas Season. Today I'm starting the three-week series Cultivating Christmas Calm.Which is it for you? HOLIDAYS or the HOLIDAZE? Is this season more like The Most Wonderful Time of the Year or A Nightmare Before Christmas? Do you want the holidays to be merry and magical, bright and beautiful…but all too often they feel like a long season of added stress? Well you can take control of this holiday season. It's like the classic line, Life can either happen to you or for you! Same with the holiday season. The holidays can either happen to you or for you!!You can choose to attend every beautiful church service available throughout your town. And you will likely experience too much of a good thing.You can refuse to compromise and say yes to every single holiday opportunity and you will indeed experience the H O L I D A Z E. Your head may spin. The kids will be cranky and possibly sick (don't they just get sick at the most inconvenient times?). Your marriage may be stretched. And you may actually disappoint someone despite the fact that you have tried your very best to be everywhere for everyone. Or you can say No! Over the course of the next few weeks, we're going to be talking about the many things you can do or NOT do to make sure you have happy holidays this year – to Cultivate Christmas Calm. Let's talk about a Christmas that checks the most important boxes for you.Click here to get a download to help you choose One Word for the Christmas Season and 3 Questions to further guide you to Christmas Happiness. You matter, Mama! And that's why what you imagine for Christmas matters too. Remember to get your free download.Next week I'll be sharing more ways to Cultivate Christmas Calm in our families so we can have a very merry holiday season. I'd love to pray for you. May you experience the beauty of Christmas as we head into this most wonderful and busiest of seasons. May you sense the Lord's presence as you navigate the holidays. May His peace, love, and grace settle upon you and your household. And may you have moments of both the glory and simplicity of Christ come to live among us, a mere baby who would forever change our world. I lift you up in prayer, Mama. In Jesus' name, amen. One more very important announcement. I am preparing a Christmas Calendar of Prayers for a Mother – a short, simple Scripture-based prayer for each day of December. I know it will bless you. Coming soon...Bless you Mama!Here's a link to some information about One Word for the New Year

Hello Mama who may or may not have put the Halloween decorations away yet. I know the in-person and online stores are way ahead of me, but before I take a deep dive into how you can have a Christmas season you actually enjoy (coming next week!) – I think Thanksgiving deserves a minute. You with me? So, in honor of this holiday, I want to talk to you about how you can raise grateful kids. Here are some compelling reasons why you want to instill gratitude in your kids and embrace this as part of who you are as a family:1. People who are thankful are happier2. Gratitude is good for our health, emotional and physical3. Thankfulness leads to a greater sense of well-beingHow can we cultivate gratitude in our kids and as a family? 1. One of the simplest ways is saying grace definitely at dinner, and why not every meal? Grace comes with a built-in reminder…every time we sit down for a meal. 2. Make gratitude a part of your daily routine. During school pickups, around the dinner table, before bedtime, prompt your kids, “Name one thing you're grateful for today.” “What was the best thing that happened to you today?” “Who is someone you appreciate today?” “Describe something that made you happy today?” 3. Model gratitude. Just as we want our kids to say please and thank you, which are markers of gratitude, we should be saying the same. I believe this has a ripple effect and makes the world a kinder gentler place.4. Have a gratitude jar. We had a jar in our kitchen with little slips of paper next to it and a marker nearby. 5. Have some fun with gratitude – make a Thanksgiving Tree! Draw a gratitude tree on poster board or get some branches from the backyard and decorate it with paper leaves.  Don't miss the opportunity Thanksgiving brings. Involve your kids in some way of giving thanks.Happy November, Mama! Don't forget to breathe!My blessing for you today is…May you remember as the holidays get under way that God is a God of peace who offers you relief in the midst of your most stressful seasons. May you feel His peace settle over you even now as you hear this blessing. May you remember to breathe intentionally throughout your day and trust that God is your supply. He is enough when you feel depleted. He extends grace and mercy when you blow it. He loves you abundantly and without limit. Bless you, Mama. In Jesus' name, amen. 

Hello mama who is ready for a new MomVision…or the mom who is wondering what the heck MomVision means…Welcome to the 4th Episode of MomVision!Listen to the first three episodes if you can to understand what MomVision is all about. Plus, there are some awesome free downloads.Today, I'm very excited to talk about one of the more powerful ways we can start to form a new vision for our lives. It's called visualization.We likely had a picture of what we imagined this stage of life would be like.My ideal momlife vision was a glossed over version of motherhood, marriage, career, homelife, everything. A vague sunny somewhat fuzzy picture of what it would all be like. This image was tested within the first days of having my firstborn. My image was me quietly rocking in my glider, gazing at my beautiful baby blissfully asleep in my arms after a satisfying nursing session. This was what I saw when my sister brought home her newborn. But my experience turned out to be extremely different.I did not picture a baby losing too much weight. I did not picture a diaper with bricking, evidence of dehydration. I did not picture my baby in a metal crib in the hospital for five days, while I slept steeped in hormones in a reclining chair next to her, always ready to nurse her on demand. However, that was the reality.I found myself “visualizing” nursing my baby as I struggled to get my baby thriving. Once home from the hospital, when my husband returned from work each day, I handed off my daughter so they could bond and I could relax. I went up to my bed and supported myself with all the right pillows, took a few deep breaths, and pictured Farrell and me having a good strong nursing session. And each day, when my husband brought her upstairs, Farrell would nurse vigorously, after a day of frustration and pumping to make sure she got enough milk. One of the ideas behind MomVision is to help you paint a new picture, a new vision, intentionally of what you'd like your life to look like. Because those old pictures can wreak havoc on our lives. We experience the disappointment of unmet expectations based on false perceptions.So my challenge to you today is in the next week take a few minutes to visualize what you really want your momlife to look like. Then jot down a few notes or draw a picture so you can remember your vision.Want more? Here is a link to a free mini workshop with a video and playbook. This takes you through visualizing, along with questions that will help you articulate your vision more clearly…and help you keep a record of them.Grab your MomVision Visualization Exercise Video and Playbook. You can do this alone, but you could also grab a few friends and make an evening of it. Lord, I lift up these moms to you. I pray particularly for the mom who is feeling ready for a new MomVision. Would you please show her the way? Your Word says you are doing a new thing. Will you show this mama the new thing you're up to in her life? Come Holy Spirit, counselor, advocate and give this mom a fresh vision of the life she is meant to live starting today. Bless this mom and show her you love her, you've made her, and you have good plans for her. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Hey Mama who feels like she's lost herself and wonders if she'll ever find herself again…Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”As I've thought about what I mean when I use the term MomVision, this scripture came to mind with a twist. Without a vision, the mamas perish.Of course, not literally. You'll live, but you might not live fully. You might not feel alive! You may not recognize the mama in the mirror…because she looks nothing like what you imagined. And you're not even sure you can remember what she, and by that I mean you, actually envisioned before you led a mom life. Nurturing a marriage, raising a family, running a household, juggling careers, side gigs, investing in passions – and how about taking care of you? - can be extremely hard to juggle. Whether we know it or not, we may be saying to ourselves, “Oh forget it. I'll get back to my life after I raise my kids.”Or“I feel so disconnected from my husband…I guess we'll be okay as long as we get through this crazy season.”Or“Dreams, visions, goals? Ha – I'm just trying to make it through one end of the day to the next.”Instead of living with energy and joy, we get stuck in automatic mode.We feel disappointed, disillusioned, ashamed, maybe even a little depressed. Not all of the time, no. But sometimes.  We find ourselves overcome with To-Dos and To-Bes, shoulds, coulds, comparison, overwhelm, false beliefs, even envy. We are sure others are navigating this stress-filled life better. How do they do it?We just do the next thing. We've become “accidental” moms instead of “Intentional” moms. We're surviving, not thriving…and certainly not savoring this busy mom life. That's why I'm here. I'm the mom who was there, where you are. I'm the mom who messed up. I'm the mom who was on the treadmill. And I'm using my hindsight, the lessons I learned on my journey, to help ease yours. Change is possible. It isn't easy, but it is for the most part simple. This is not an overnight transformation. It takes time and commitment. We can have the life we want. But it is a step-by-step process. Through this episode, we'll talk about several areas of your life and determine where you are on the scale of dissatisfied to satisfied, surviving to savoring. Download the MomVision Surviving or Savoring Survey to assess where you are so you can take concrete steps forward to where you want to be.Let's PrayOh Lord, life can be so very overwhelming, especially when we add kids to the mix. We want so desperately to be balanced people. To feel good about ourselves, to be well-connected to our partners, to love our children well. We desire to be good friends and good citizens. Will you please help us today to see one small area where we can make an adjustment, invite you into that area, and start to see a little light? Your word says you have given us all we need for life and godliness. Show my sister today that she is loved and accepted completely just as she is. And equip her to make the change that will give her hope and have lasting impact. Bless her today. In Jesus' name, amen. Don't forget to Download Your Free Printable - 5 Scriptures to Help You Savor Not Just Survive Motherhood

Hey Mama, who feels like she's not sure who she is anymore… Welcome to MomVision. Today we're talking about Real versus Fantasy motherhood. But we're not going to just talk, we're going to take action. I believe with all my heart that you can savor this season of motherhood and not just survive it. As I look back over my momming years – those years when my life was really all about raising unique and always changing humans – I can so clearly see the pitfalls and traps I fell into. And one of the first ones was dashed expectations. I had this very clear picture of what I imagined momming would be like. I imagined I would get pregnant easily and all would go smoothly and perfectly. But my first pregnancy was with twin girls. If that wasn't shocking enough, it was even more shocking when I lost them at five-months gestation. I was devastated, heartbroken, and truth be told felt like a failure. Then, I was desperate to get pregnant again, and terrified I would lose another baby. Thank God, within seven months of losing my babies, I was pregnant again. Nine months later, welcome to the world Farrell Amarie Parker. I had a midwife birth-center delivery – natural childbirth - that went without a hitch. We were home in 24 hours, BUT, Farrell lost so much weight within 3 days of birth that we had to go to the hospital, where the next five days were spent getting my baby to thrive. Wow - this was not what I expected. Then, being a mom…my vision was full of fantasies like rocking in a chair nursing while older children played at my feet. Sipping on warm tea, making quilts, classical music playing, chocolate chip cookies baking. And then I woke up! On most days, my real life looked nothing like the picture of momming I had painted in my mind. I rarely sat anywhere. I struggled with nursing. My girls squabbled. And hot tea? Hot coffee? Hot anything? Thank God for microwaves and Yetis! I didn't know how to quilt and now I'm sure I never will. How about you? Is motherhood just as you pictured it? Likely not. This is why it's so essential for a mom to have a vision…a new vision. A vision that takes into account what your life is really like. I have a download with two questions for reflection that can help you go from fantasy mom frustration to reality mom satisfaction.  Download your reflection questions here. To recap…As moms we get quickly bogged down by the busy, ever-changing chaos of family life.We've had thoughts, visions, ideals in our minds that cause us to compare what is with what we imagined. We get frustrated.If we make a conscious decision to recognize the difference between our idealized life and the one we're living, we can choose one thing in the idealized life that we want to actualize in our real lives. Choose one thing!And so begins the journey of MomVision, because you can savor and not just survive motherhood! Today, I have a few affirmations I want you to repeat as you go on this journey of being a more intentional less frustrated Mom. Download a printable of Momfirmations here. - I am the best mom for my children and their unique needs. - I am creating a calm and nurturing environment for my family. - I am at peace with growing as a mom one step at a time. Here's a prayer of blessing for you… Lord, you have chosen each one of these women to be the mother of their particular family. Give them your peace as they charter new territory every day. Bless them with clarity about the one thing they can do that will lessen the stress of raising their kids. Let them know you are

MomVision is a movement to help moms savor not just survive motherhood. We are meant to enjoy this wild and crazy journey called momming. I'm here to help you. Here are 10 Things MomVision IsIt starts with knowing, loving, and accepting you.It's about seizing this moment.MomVision is about having a fresh new vision for you and your relationships and roles.It's a reflection of who you uniquely are.It's about having boundaries that fit your perfectly imperfect family.MomVision is about aligning your life with your priorities and values.It's about nurturing you and your relationships with your closest people and your community.It's having goals, dreams, and visions for your future, while being satisfied where you are.It's about stepping out of the frustrating autopilot cycle and stepping into the dynamic life waiting for you.MomVision is about realizing dreams and visions through little tiny steps that add up to the life you truly want and can have. 5 Things MomVision Is Not MomVision is not a movement that heaps on more mom shame, guilt, and regret.It's not about holding you up to higher and more impossible standards.It's not about adding more performance stress, if onlys, and unrealistic shoulds or shouldn'ts.It's not about lies, fear, self-doubt, limiting beliefs, people-pleasing, codependence, comparison (it's about helping you navigate and overcome all that).MomVision is not about setting yourself up with unrealistic expectations you can't possibly meet. Why MomVisionWe may start out with a clear picture of what we think motherhood will look like. But we often lose sight of that picture. We can become disappointed because our reality fails to measure up to our imaginings. The solution to this is finding a new vision. My goal is to help you see and appreciate your life as it is, while still having dreams, visions, and desires that excite and energize you. How Do You Get a MomVision?Through this podcast, we'll explore where you are and where you want to be. We'll talk honestly about some of the hurdles you face in living the life you desire. And we'll work on changing the things that frustrate you. We'll go step by step, using worksheets to help guide you. One of the most powerful tools I've discovered to keep my vision in front of me is Vision Boards. I have a fabulous freebie that walks you through how to do a MomVision Board for yourself. It's a visual reminder of what you envision for you, your marriage, family, and the bigger picture. Need more guidance? I also offer group and one-to-one coaching. And I'm putting together a Vision Board eCourse. Stay tuned! Who Am I?My name is Elise Daly Parker. I've got a psychology degree and certification in life coaching. I have four grown daughters and have been married for 37 years. I'm the mom who's gone before you. I open up my life to share the lessons I've learned along this 63+ year journey in an effort to help you navigate what lies ahead. I hope this is the beginning of a long relationship. I'm here to help you in any way I can. Reach out to me at elise@elisedalyparker.com if you have any questions. I'd love to connect. And don't forget to download my Free Worksheet – How to make a MomVision Board.

Moms – If you've ever felt like motherhood:·       Is not quite what you pictured - a little less calm and a little more chaotic·       Means your To-Do list grows longer every day with very little getting done·       Moves your marriage to the back burner, in hopes that you'll pick up where you left off when life is less busy·       Makes the woman in the mirror seem like a stranger The MomVision podcast is for you.  Inspiration, empowerment, and action await! The freedom to be fully you lies ahead as we journey together through this podcast. We're going to uncover the buried hopes and dreams of your very own unique and personal momlife, so you can savor, not just survive motherhood. The MomVision podcast launches on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Will you help me celebrate and spread the word?  ·      Follow or Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen.·      Share about the podcast on Social Media and tag me ·      Visit  my website to subscribe to my newsletter and get insider info on MomVision, free tools and resources, discounted coaching offerings, and updates straight to your inbox.