I'm in this with you, girl

Today is my 23rd birthday, and I thought it would be fun to share a post on what I’ve learned in the 23 years I have been on this earth. The last time I did this I was 18, so it’s been 5 years since I reflected on what I’ve learned over the years in a blog post! You can read the post from my 18th birthday here if you’re interested. And now let’s get to this year’s post! These things aren’t in any particular order; I just listed them as I thought of them.

1. Grace, not perfection. Let’s start with one that I’m learning right now. I am such a perfectionist, and especially in this season of being a young mom, I struggle with wanting everything, from my baby’s schedule to my postpartum body, to be perfect. But we live in a fallen world and that just isn’t the case, and that’s okay. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, I can give grace.
2. Give yourself the same grace you give others. Piggybacking off of the last one, I need to give myself the same grace that I give to other people. I hold myself to a standard of perfection and am so hard on myself when I mess up. But again, Jesus’ sacrifice makes grace possible, and I need to extend it to myself, too.
3. It’s okay to be the one who reaches out. I am a planner and very organized, so I am normally the one in my friendships that reaches out and plans the next hang out, and that’s totally okay. We all have different strengths to bring to the table. As long as they are contributing to the friendship in other ways, it’s more than okay if you normally reach out.
4. Salads actually aren’t that good for you. I have learned so much in the past year about what foods are the most nourishing, and I’ve honestly been shocked by what I’ve found. Salads and many raw, cruciferous veggies are not good for you. Grassfed meat (especially organ meat like beef liver), root veggies, raw dairy, eggs, and fruit are the best for you. My husband and I try to follow the animal based “diet.” I don’t do this perfectly, but I feel so much better when I do eat these foods. Cassidy Woelfel is one of my favorite accounts to follow on this and hormones!
5. Don’t try to discuss anything or make decisions if you’re not well fed. When I’m hungry, I’m cranky. I try hard not to be, but the best course of action is to just eat a nourishing meal and then resume the conservation.
6. Also don’t discuss anything past 9pm (or really 8pm). I’m also pretty cranky when I’m tired, so I try not to bring up any big topics when I’m tired. For some reason I still do sometimes, and it never goes very well.
7. Protein!!! Kind of going off of number 4, I feel so much better when I eat enough protein. I aim for about 30 grams of protein per meal!
8. Hard is not the same thing as bad. God doesn’t always take away hard things, but he uses them to sanctify us, which is the goal. I’ve learned a lot about this from Abby from M is for Mama.
9. Fed is best BUT putting in hard work is worth it to breastfeed. Let me be clear, I still use some formula. But I’ve been working hard to increase my milk supply and I’ve been able to nurse more than ever. I didn’t think this was possible for us, so I’m so thankful! I just want to give others hope that breastfeeding can be possible if it seems out of reach. I think this applies to so much more than just breastfeeding though – good things take hard work and it’s so worth it.
10. Comparison is the thief of joy. Whatever season I’ve been in, I have struggled with comparing myself or even my baby to others’. This steals the joy and beauty of the current season. I’ve gotten better at this, but it can still be a struggle.
11. Buy clothes that make you feel great; don’t wait until you can fit into your old clothes. This is especially true for me postpartum. Even if I lose all of the weight I gained when pregnant, my body has changed and many of the clothes I used to wear just won’t fit well. So I’ve been buying clothes here and there that make me feel good, especially clothes on sale or sometimes secondhand. These $6 Target tees are my favorite right now!
12. You can do harder things than you give yourself credit for. Giving birth truly taught me that, and I’ve tried to remind myself of that lately through long nights and other difficult situations. You know how we can do these hard things? Through God’s strength. When we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).
13. It really doesn’t matter what others think of you (except God and godly mentors). I’ve spent so much of my life worrying about what others would think of me or my decisions, and I’ve realized this: if I wouldn’t go to them for advice, why would I accept their criticism?
14. Worship can turn any situation around. Or it may not change your situation, but it will change your heart and mindset. Oh, and prayer!!!
15. Just because it’s true for them doesn’t mean it’s true for you, and that’s okay. For example, I’ve heard and read countless times that breastfeeding helps you lose the baby weight. That hasn’t been true for me whatsoever, and that’s been hard for me to accept. In fact, I can’t even “diet” without my milk supply dropping. But this has helped me learn that I have to do what’s best for me and not worry about what works for others or even what others think about what I need to do.
16. If the community you’re looking for doesn’t exist, create it. I’ve always wanted to be a part of a Bible study with other Christian girls/women, but that really wasn’t available to me. So a friend and I decided to start our own. I’ve been trying to do something about what I don’t have instead of complaining about it.
17. My husband can’t read my mind. I know that’s pretty obvious, but it’s something I’ve had to learn how to deal with through open communication, even when I feel like it’s obvious. To him, it’s not. So I need to tell him and explain my feelings to him.
18. God is faithful. This was my word of the year in 2018, and God truly showed me how faithful He is. And He has continued to show me.
19. Digize really works. This was the first essential oil that truly sold me and showed me how well oils work. I’m so thankful to have them to help my family and I!
20. Oil cleansing and beef tallow is the best skincare routine (for me). This is the oil cleanser I use and this is the beef tallow I use. My skin has never been better, and this is coming from somebody who had terrible acne until I was like 19 or 20.
21. Jesus loves me more than I love my baby, and that blows my mind.  He truly wants what is best for me, just as I want what is best for Levi. I will not hesitate to discipline Levi if that is what is best for him, and Jesus does the same for us (Hebrews 12:10). It’s all out of love.
22. Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). Contentment makes life so much more fulfilling.
23. Jesus gives us the strength we need when we need it and we don’t have to worry about the future. This is one of my favorite quotes/stories by Corrie ten Boom: “Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. “Corrie,” he began gently, “when you and I go to Amsterdam-when do I give you your ticket?” I sniffed a few times, considering this. “Why, just before we get on the train.” “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need-just in time.”” I think this applies to any situation, not just death. We don’t need to worry about what we will do in a moment that may or may not ever happen. God will give us what we need when we need it.

I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe something in here even encouraged you!

In this with you,

Tags : lifestyle