The Motherhood Journey Newsletter - Week 22

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17

Hello sweet Mummas,

Happy Monday! Who is ready for a great week with our legends? Ready to learn, ready to surrender and ready to choose to have a fun day with what we have been given. The blank sheet is yours, get creative and let’s smash this thing! I am your friendly reminder that whatever challenge you’re facing with your kiddos right now is something that you CAN handle, you were made for this. It will soon pass and it isnt worth loosing your peace over. Turn to the ONE who gives strength, know you are seen and keep going mumma. The fruit will be glorious after all.

—— Today’s email is a little special as its Brad and I’s 8 year wedding anniversary!! The start of our amazing family and we couldn’t be more thankful for what God has done in our lives and for the journey we still have. Because of that we have done a special little anniversary podcast where I (finally) get Brad onto the podcast to share some of his wisdom!! wahooooo ❤️ . Coming out during this week!

Real Life in the motherhood journey:

A little glimpse from our week!

This last week has been fun! We have had windy day and glimpses of summer heat shining through on these spring days! We have bought our seedling to plant (which has not occurred yet almost 2 weeks later!) Enjoyed some organic homeschool learning times, had new friends over and special times with family. My husband fixed up our broken deck this week and we have been loving the moments we get to enjoy in the sun on it, has been very blissful! Otherwise normal life goes on with big emotions in our one year old as she teeths, some sleepless nights, lots of dishes and laundry always, playing in the mud, falling off bikes, collecting flowers, family walks and so on!

Get some ideas!

Laundry…. who feels sometimes (or all the time) swamped in laundry…. does it ever end?!?

Here is a new system I use for laundry that really blesses our household and not only makes laundry feel doable it also kicks me in the butt to get it done because it happens at a routine time and involves the kids. so there is accountability.

Firstly, I put a load of washing on every day except Sundays. Every day after my shower in the morning before breaky I pop a load on (this is just our clothing. If I need to do sheets, towels they are extra upon this!). Now since I have this routine, getting things washed isn’t my issue. I then hang them on the line sometimes before or after midday. My issue is packing away all the clean clothes once I bring them off the line. And so then we have a pile of 1, 2 or 3 days worth of washing sitting there. MY NEW WAY….

Introducing the NO FOLD METHOD!!

Okay okay this doesn’t work for everyone… but for me once I heard this method it took a huge burden off my shoulders to release expectations, get my kids involved and simplify this part of my life. Kinda gave me permission to not have to do it perfectly. Getting it done is more important then it being perfect!

My kiddos do their chore time at 4/4:30 every afternoon. Now instead of me needing to find a time in the day to sit down and fold and sort (what feels like 100 clothing pieces) I now try to each day before this time sit down and just chuck each clothing item into the persons pile. This honestly takes around 5 mins. And then first thing for the kids to do starting their chores is grab their own pile and put it in the correct drawer. I just put away my husbands, mine and the babies. All done in 10 mins or less! yay!

Now I know it can feel hard for some mums to not fold their clothes. However if you are like me and really wana prioritise independence in your children this enables them to help and be responsible at a much earlier age and reduces the stress of folding perfectly. ALSO i found my kids clothes where all stuffed up after I would fold them in their drawers as they dress themselves and put clothes in and out. So really in this method we all win and for me its worth the sacrifice of neat clothing. Doesn’t work for all, but for its a relief.

Walking in His truth:
Ill tell you whats powerful about todays bible verse… is that the opposite of this wisdom (which is from the world) is said to be demonic and causes strife, disorder and every vile practice!! wooowzers thats strong. This is referring to jealousy and selfish ambition, saying that these practices are not from the wisdom that is from God and heaven.

Then James clearly lay out what is wisdom from God (and its very beautiful & counter cultural!).

PURE . PEACEABLE . GENTLE . OPEN TO REASON . FULL OF MERCY . GOOD FRUITS . IMPARTIAL . SINCERE.

Ahhhhh that sounds nice…. and also very humbling, empowering and just full of goodness. This is how I want to function in my marriage, motherhood and the way I respond to God. I want this to produce in me a harvest of righteousness that comes out of me sowing in peace.

As women it is so so so easy to allow comparison, jealousy and our own self ambitions (wants and desires) to rule us and cause us to control people and things. This is something I have been convicted of just recently and its been SUCH a joy to be shown that so that I can press in to contentment and the joy that comes when I do.
Let us ask God as mothers and women for wisdom (as James 1 says He will give without holding back if we do not doubt) for this motherhood. And be expectant that He will give!!!! I am so excited when I remember to think like this because I know the Father wants to give and so I can gain over time insight into sleep, creating babies, my role, how to discipline and the list goes on.

He is so willing! Let’s turn to Him, ask for wisdom and put our focus on the wisdom that comes from above, breaking off every lie that tries to entangle us in jealousy and selfish ambition!

Love always
Ellie from - The Motherhood Journey x

p.s Im always here for a chat! My heart is to go deeper with you mummas in these emails. So if anything stands out to you or you wana chat more, shoot me back a reply! I love journeying alongside you.