If you have children, you know that the moment they come into your life you come to know love like you never have. You know that your whole world changes on so many levels that you wonder how you could even be the same person. Having children makes you so much more aware of how you envision life should be. You want what's best for them. You think about how you can show them how to learn and grow and live that will help bring some sort of ease to the lives they cultivate. You want to take away their pains and you want to give them everything, all the while knowing you can do neither. It will be up to them how they handle the path laid before them.
There will be times you have a certain thought you want to share that they may not be in a place in their lives where that thought will be understood. There will be times you have conversations you wish you had recorded so that they might be able to reflect on it someday when you are not around. Maybe that's a morbid thought, that you won't be around someday. It's a truth of life, though, and I hope that you take every opportunity to tell your children how you feel and what you have learned throughout your own lessons that could help them with theirs. Say it out loud. Say it with a song. Pen it in a letter. Make sure they know.
I trust God and the fact that life is his plan. The lives we are each meant to lead will happen, whether we try to control it or not. I love my life and the beauty that I've been so fortunate to be surrounded by every day. I've loved and been loved in many ways and on many levels. I've been able to be the only thing I was ever certain I wanted to be and that's a mom. Everything else has just been icing. I've gotten to learn to do many things, being creative, being reliable....I've gotten to meet and impact many people through the fitness industry which is so fun and rewarding. There are a few things that I have learned and continue to discover though, that I want to make sure my kids know as they go through life. I talk to them about things and I want them to be able to rest in some of these when they reflect as adults.
My Dear Babies,
You are absolutely the most precious gift I have ever been given. From the moment of even the thought of you becoming you, I have adored and loved you with all my heart. You are each so special and so important in your very own unique ways and I hope that as you grow you see those very things that make you unique and embrace them. I hope that I have taught you to find joy at every turn....even when you're sad or mad. I hope that you remember to forgive...forgive everything. You may not be able to forget the things you will need to forgive, and that's okay because that is how you learn...but just forgive. God takes care of the rest. Forgiveness is what will give you peace and allow you to continue to be happy. For me, it has been one of God's special gifts he has provided as I make my way through my life...I have needed to be forgiving and God has made that easy for me to do. I hope you find it easy too, because there are plenty of hard things we have to do in life. It's always nice when something can be a bit easier. Remember that life doesn't owe you anything. You are born to learn and face challenges. The world doesn't owe anyone anything. Make the best of what you have always, always and don't compare your lot to someone else's. None of it matters anyway. Everyone has problems, but sometimes it feels like your own are so big and unfair...look at it as God's way of making you strong and wise. He created you for something great and greatness doesn't come from sitting around thinking someone else's is better. Handle yourselves with grace and compassion. Sometimes that is really hard because people will make you mad. When that happens, just be still and let time pass. Time heals things. God heals things. Be quiet and let go.
Look around and find the good. Find the beauty in every day. We only get so many days here on Earth and there is so much to be in awe of. If you take even a moment to be still and notice, you will be filled up even when you feel empty. Nothing of the world is touching you when you are in the quiet still moment feeling the breeze on your skin, the sun on your face (or the rain), hearing the trees move, taking in a pretty, perfect sky... all the bad that goes on in the world everyday can't touch you while you take that moment. Don't ever stop noticing.
Be happy. Life is too short to spend dwelling on things that make us upset. Worrying makes us weary. Give it to God and go out and do what makes you smile. You can have a job that makes you smile, you can have a hobby that makes you smile, you can have friends you like to spend time with that make you smile...whatever it is....figure that out and do it....a lot.
Let yourselves love. It's messy, there's no doubt. And no, it doesn't always go as you think it will, but it is worth it every time. Love is a great teacher. You will learn who you are and who you are not. You will learn what you like and what you don't. You will learn to fight and to compromise. You will learn the effect you can have on another being and what effects they can have on you. You will learn how far you can fall without breaking and you will also learn how high you can fly without ever leaving the ground. BUT, before you love someone else, try to be sure you love yourself first. You will never be able to give your heart to another person if you haven't figured it out first and no one can ever fill you up... it has to come from within...again, the rest is icing. I can't promise you won't get your heart broken and wonder if it was even worth it. You will. But, get up and heal and discover that each time you experience, it's new and amazing in its own way. And one day when you find the one....the one that makes you feel like being even better than you already are, the one that makes your heart skip beats even after you've spent way too much time with them to still feel butterflies, the one that you can't imagine life without and yet you feel like if you died tomorrow you will die happy knowing they were it....grab hold of that one and go on that crazy ride. It'll be work and it'll be hard, but I want you to feel all of it. Be loved. Give love. It's the ultimate teacher and always worth the sacrifices. My biggest lessons have been from my relationships. Follow your heart and don't try to protect it so much that you miss out on some great experiences. I know that it will be tough sometimes and you might feel like it's not worth the effort, but don't give up, just let go. God will lead you.
I need you to know that I love you more than my own life and want you to be happy and content. Be the person you were each created to become. Do things that would make Jesus and your momma proud ;o) Make mistakes. Learn from them. Don't ever hurt someone on purpose. Live simply and within your means. You are the best things I've ever done. Be strong, be smart, be responsible but be adventurous, be proud but humble. Be uniquely you and make no apologies for who you are because it's your life and as long as you are doing it your very best, that's all I can ask for.
I wish you all the love and strength you will need as you make your way. I'll always be watching.
Love and hugs,
Mom xoxoxo
There will be times you have a certain thought you want to share that they may not be in a place in their lives where that thought will be understood. There will be times you have conversations you wish you had recorded so that they might be able to reflect on it someday when you are not around. Maybe that's a morbid thought, that you won't be around someday. It's a truth of life, though, and I hope that you take every opportunity to tell your children how you feel and what you have learned throughout your own lessons that could help them with theirs. Say it out loud. Say it with a song. Pen it in a letter. Make sure they know.
I trust God and the fact that life is his plan. The lives we are each meant to lead will happen, whether we try to control it or not. I love my life and the beauty that I've been so fortunate to be surrounded by every day. I've loved and been loved in many ways and on many levels. I've been able to be the only thing I was ever certain I wanted to be and that's a mom. Everything else has just been icing. I've gotten to learn to do many things, being creative, being reliable....I've gotten to meet and impact many people through the fitness industry which is so fun and rewarding. There are a few things that I have learned and continue to discover though, that I want to make sure my kids know as they go through life. I talk to them about things and I want them to be able to rest in some of these when they reflect as adults.
My Dear Babies,
You are absolutely the most precious gift I have ever been given. From the moment of even the thought of you becoming you, I have adored and loved you with all my heart. You are each so special and so important in your very own unique ways and I hope that as you grow you see those very things that make you unique and embrace them. I hope that I have taught you to find joy at every turn....even when you're sad or mad. I hope that you remember to forgive...forgive everything. You may not be able to forget the things you will need to forgive, and that's okay because that is how you learn...but just forgive. God takes care of the rest. Forgiveness is what will give you peace and allow you to continue to be happy. For me, it has been one of God's special gifts he has provided as I make my way through my life...I have needed to be forgiving and God has made that easy for me to do. I hope you find it easy too, because there are plenty of hard things we have to do in life. It's always nice when something can be a bit easier. Remember that life doesn't owe you anything. You are born to learn and face challenges. The world doesn't owe anyone anything. Make the best of what you have always, always and don't compare your lot to someone else's. None of it matters anyway. Everyone has problems, but sometimes it feels like your own are so big and unfair...look at it as God's way of making you strong and wise. He created you for something great and greatness doesn't come from sitting around thinking someone else's is better. Handle yourselves with grace and compassion. Sometimes that is really hard because people will make you mad. When that happens, just be still and let time pass. Time heals things. God heals things. Be quiet and let go.
Look around and find the good. Find the beauty in every day. We only get so many days here on Earth and there is so much to be in awe of. If you take even a moment to be still and notice, you will be filled up even when you feel empty. Nothing of the world is touching you when you are in the quiet still moment feeling the breeze on your skin, the sun on your face (or the rain), hearing the trees move, taking in a pretty, perfect sky... all the bad that goes on in the world everyday can't touch you while you take that moment. Don't ever stop noticing.
Be happy. Life is too short to spend dwelling on things that make us upset. Worrying makes us weary. Give it to God and go out and do what makes you smile. You can have a job that makes you smile, you can have a hobby that makes you smile, you can have friends you like to spend time with that make you smile...whatever it is....figure that out and do it....a lot.
Let yourselves love. It's messy, there's no doubt. And no, it doesn't always go as you think it will, but it is worth it every time. Love is a great teacher. You will learn who you are and who you are not. You will learn what you like and what you don't. You will learn to fight and to compromise. You will learn the effect you can have on another being and what effects they can have on you. You will learn how far you can fall without breaking and you will also learn how high you can fly without ever leaving the ground. BUT, before you love someone else, try to be sure you love yourself first. You will never be able to give your heart to another person if you haven't figured it out first and no one can ever fill you up... it has to come from within...again, the rest is icing. I can't promise you won't get your heart broken and wonder if it was even worth it. You will. But, get up and heal and discover that each time you experience, it's new and amazing in its own way. And one day when you find the one....the one that makes you feel like being even better than you already are, the one that makes your heart skip beats even after you've spent way too much time with them to still feel butterflies, the one that you can't imagine life without and yet you feel like if you died tomorrow you will die happy knowing they were it....grab hold of that one and go on that crazy ride. It'll be work and it'll be hard, but I want you to feel all of it. Be loved. Give love. It's the ultimate teacher and always worth the sacrifices. My biggest lessons have been from my relationships. Follow your heart and don't try to protect it so much that you miss out on some great experiences. I know that it will be tough sometimes and you might feel like it's not worth the effort, but don't give up, just let go. God will lead you.
I need you to know that I love you more than my own life and want you to be happy and content. Be the person you were each created to become. Do things that would make Jesus and your momma proud ;o) Make mistakes. Learn from them. Don't ever hurt someone on purpose. Live simply and within your means. You are the best things I've ever done. Be strong, be smart, be responsible but be adventurous, be proud but humble. Be uniquely you and make no apologies for who you are because it's your life and as long as you are doing it your very best, that's all I can ask for.
I wish you all the love and strength you will need as you make your way. I'll always be watching.
Love and hugs,
Mom xoxoxo