I've been trying to decide if I wanted to do a post about my story. It's not always fun to talk about and I've been trying to think if I even wanted to share it or what parts I wanted to share, etc. I have decided, for personal reasons, to only share the basics of my story, but I feel a calling to share what little I can anyways.
I do feel that if anyone can learn something, or be inspired by a story than it is worth telling. I think that my story may be one that someone needs to hear and maybe, possibly, they will see it here.
I got saved when I was very young. I was raised in church and went almost every Sunday. When I got into middle school however, my priorities changed. I of course believed in God, but pushed him to the side and focused more on friends, finding my "niche", and boys (like most middle school girls). I hid most of these things from my family and church family. I lived two different lives for the most part and they barely intermingled. God tried to get my attention a few times back then with big things that occurred in my life, but I wasn't listening, I wanted to live my life MY way and do what I wanted to do.
When I was in high school I was living my life for me. I was doing anything and everything to make ME happy, or what I thought was happiness. I got into a lot of awful things, did a lot of awful things, and probably hurt a lot of people along the way. It seemed like I was in a horrible downward spiral that I was too far into to get out of. As the years progressed, I got deeper and deeper into the hole I had dug for myself. Every so often I would get a sign that God was trying to help me out, but I ignored them and just kept going under. In October of 2010, I got into a pretty scary car accident. It was just me, no other cars, and I could have been seriously injured, but God protected me. I knew he was trying to tell me that he wasn't going to let me keep doing these things to myself and my family. I knew that my family and church family could help me through whatever it was I was going though, but I just couldn't give up the life I was living. I was way too far away from God at this point. There were a few more signs that happened in the next two months where I knew God was really pulling at me, but it still wasn't enough for me. I just kept going on my own path.
In January of 2011 I found out I was pregnant. I was in shock, disbelief even. There was no way I could be pregnant! People like me don't get pregnant! How could I let this happen? Those were the things I was thinking at this point. There were a lot of tears, a lot of fights, and a lot of "ah ha" moments before the biggest "Ah ha" moment God has ever let me experience. The birth of my daughter.
When Harper was born, my whole world turned upside down. God showed me a love I had never experienced before, the love of a mother for her child. I couldn't go back to how I was living before, how could I? I had this new precious life to care for, nurture, and love unconditionally, just as God had loved me though it all. Could I ever forgive myself for what I had put everyone through all of those years? I'm still not so sure, however I know who can forgive me and who already has and that is God. He has ALWAYS been there for me, no matter if I wanted to see him or not. I am thankful that God kept pulling at me, because without him, I wouldn't be the mother I am to Harper today. I know this is the path I was meant to walk, and I do not regret my past because it has made me who I am today. God knew what he was doing all along, doesn't he always?
My hope is that people will turn to him before they have to go though all of the things I have been through. I wish that my story can help someone know that there is someone who is out there wanting to save you from it all and can help you through anything! This blog may be about my life with Harper and the parenting decisions that I feel strongly about, but without God I wouldn't even be writing this blog, I would still be lost.
Hebrews 4:16 says
"Let us therefore come boldly into the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
My wish is that if you find yourself in a situation where you feel you are too far away from God, that you will come BOLDLY into the throne of grace. God is always there for you, no matter what your circumstances. He is on your side! He will help you through the darkest times in your life, as he did mine, and show you something much greater than anything you can imagine, his love for you.
I hope that reading this post for you has not been in vain. That you can take some small piece of what I have said and apply it to your own life.
I am always open to talk to anyone who ever wants to talk. My email is mallorybeth_1@yahoo.com, please feel free to send me an email or message me on Facebook HERE
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog, I hope you have enjoyed it. :)
Friday, February 15, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
19 Things to do with your Toddler!
I thought I would do a really fun and helpful post for all you moms of 12-18 month olds or any age in between! This is a list of all the activities we do (with pictures)! I've gotten some ideas off of other blogs and pinterest and some I came up with on my own. Also, some are just obvious, but still need to be mentioned. Enjoy!
1. Paint with water
2. Blow Bubbles (HERE are the best bubbles!)
3. Dance!
4. Play with sprinkles! (No she did not eat them, haha)
5. Play with Christmas lights
6. Color in a box with crayons
7. Play with dry rice and beans
8. Go outside
9. Pull all the DVDs out of the cabinet
10. Dye dry rice different colors with Koolaid!
(mix Koolaid with a little water and pour over rice in a zip lock bag and shake till all of the rice is colored, put on wax paper for a night to dry!)
11. Pom Pom balls through a hole in a shoe box
12. Pull all the books off the shelf and then put them back
13. Make and play with a "squishy!"
(hair gel from the Dollar Tree mixed with blue food coloring and glitter in a large freezer bag)
14. READ!
15. Play dress up
16. Do puzzles
17. Play in the sink!
18. Play with water beads!
(HERE is where to get them...)
19. Make your own play dough and play with it!
(1 cup flour, 1/4 cup salt, 2 tablespoons Cream of TarTar (found with the spices), 1 packet of Koolaid, 1 cup warm water, and 2 table spoons of vegetable oil. Cook in a small pot for 3-5 minutes on medium stirring continuously. Put on the counter to cool then play! Keep it in the frigerator to last for weeks!)
More to come! Hope these will inspire you :)
1. Paint with water
2. Blow Bubbles (HERE are the best bubbles!)
3. Dance!
4. Play with sprinkles! (No she did not eat them, haha)
5. Play with Christmas lights
6. Color in a box with crayons
7. Play with dry rice and beans
8. Go outside
9. Pull all the DVDs out of the cabinet
10. Dye dry rice different colors with Koolaid!
(mix Koolaid with a little water and pour over rice in a zip lock bag and shake till all of the rice is colored, put on wax paper for a night to dry!)
11. Pom Pom balls through a hole in a shoe box
12. Pull all the books off the shelf and then put them back
13. Make and play with a "squishy!"
(hair gel from the Dollar Tree mixed with blue food coloring and glitter in a large freezer bag)
14. READ!
15. Play dress up
16. Do puzzles
17. Play in the sink!
18. Play with water beads!
(HERE is where to get them...)
19. Make your own play dough and play with it!
(1 cup flour, 1/4 cup salt, 2 tablespoons Cream of TarTar (found with the spices), 1 packet of Koolaid, 1 cup warm water, and 2 table spoons of vegetable oil. Cook in a small pot for 3-5 minutes on medium stirring continuously. Put on the counter to cool then play! Keep it in the frigerator to last for weeks!)
More to come! Hope these will inspire you :)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
An Update on our Breastfeeding and BLW journey
Harper is now 15 1/2 months old (crazy right??) and we are still breastfeeding and BLWing :)
Harper would still rather breastfeed than anything, she still nurses around 8-10 times a day (maybe even more I do not keep count) and nurses in the middle of the night between 2-5 times a night.
Her favorite foods as of now are chicken, pretzels, carrots, yogurt, spaghetti, oatmeal, and any fruits. Of course she eats MANY other things, but these are her favorites.
As far as "meals" go, she normally has something for each meal, however she never eats much and either nurses before or after eating.
For breakfast most days she will have oatmeal or yogurt and sometimes eggs. On the weekends she might have pancakes and definitely eggs. She now uses a fork pretty well and she gets these things in her hair chair on most days to eat while I clean the kitchen or eat beside her.
For lunch we usually eat leftovers from the night before such as spaghetti, chicken, stir fry, or just whatever we had the night before. Sometimes we will have soup and sandwiches, however Harper does not like sandwiches so she will just have soup :)
Dinner is just whatever we are having and most days she doesn't eat whole lot at dinner time, then she has her bath around 7 or 7:30 and bed around 8
As far as breastfeeding goes we have no plans on stopping anytime soon as I have said before I plan to let her self wean when she is ready.
Oh and yes, she can ask to nurse on her own now (I know that freaks a lot of people out!) but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Nursing has created the greatest bond between us and I wouldn't change that for the world!
Ah and on a side note, we are paci free! Harper used to take a nap and sleep with her paci at night and as of a few weeks ago, we are officially done with the paci! Yay! :)
Harper would still rather breastfeed than anything, she still nurses around 8-10 times a day (maybe even more I do not keep count) and nurses in the middle of the night between 2-5 times a night.
Her favorite foods as of now are chicken, pretzels, carrots, yogurt, spaghetti, oatmeal, and any fruits. Of course she eats MANY other things, but these are her favorites.
As far as "meals" go, she normally has something for each meal, however she never eats much and either nurses before or after eating.
For breakfast most days she will have oatmeal or yogurt and sometimes eggs. On the weekends she might have pancakes and definitely eggs. She now uses a fork pretty well and she gets these things in her hair chair on most days to eat while I clean the kitchen or eat beside her.
For lunch we usually eat leftovers from the night before such as spaghetti, chicken, stir fry, or just whatever we had the night before. Sometimes we will have soup and sandwiches, however Harper does not like sandwiches so she will just have soup :)
Dinner is just whatever we are having and most days she doesn't eat whole lot at dinner time, then she has her bath around 7 or 7:30 and bed around 8
As far as breastfeeding goes we have no plans on stopping anytime soon as I have said before I plan to let her self wean when she is ready.
Oh and yes, she can ask to nurse on her own now (I know that freaks a lot of people out!) but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Nursing has created the greatest bond between us and I wouldn't change that for the world!
Ah and on a side note, we are paci free! Harper used to take a nap and sleep with her paci at night and as of a few weeks ago, we are officially done with the paci! Yay! :)
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