To tell you honestly, my original choice for the letter J (the next letter in my encouraging words for moms series) was “joy”. But I found it hard to write about. Don’t get me wrong, I am one blessed mommy with two precious boys and a loving hubbby so I have lots of joy in my life, but something about the word seemed unbalanced…  I delayed writing because I was looking for the right word.

I wanted to write and share a bit about what our family has been thorough, and “journey” reflects the highs and the lows and the everything-in-betweens that I’m certain we can all relate to.  This is part of my one-word devotional series for moms to meditate on one word and be inspired and encouraged.

1. a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; trip: a six-day journey acrossthe desert.

2. a distance, course, or area traveled or suitable for traveling: a desert journey.

3. a period of travel: a week’s journey.

4. passage or progress from one stage to another: the journey to success.

5. to make a journey; travel.

Encouraging Moms on their Journey

As I mature as a wife and mother I come into greater realization that everything takes time. I’ve had to step back, stop trying to rush things (potty training, a full night’s sleep, good manners for my kids) and just breathe.

Sometimes I just need to pause, and drink in deep the moment.

Like the time my two-year old discovered his shadow and said, “That’s me!”.

Or watching my four-year old hug my crying two year-old in an effort to comfort him {so sweet!}. 

As the definition states, journey usually takes a rather long time and is progress from one stage to another. Life is not a dress-rehersal and I need to be present in the moment.

Journey also reminds me that I need to mindful of time – sometimes it passes by all too quickly…

Our family has had ups and downs, I’ll share a few of the highs and lows with you from the past four and half years or so.

My overwhelming take-aways are these:

• begin with the end in mind
• be thinking of the big picture
• and this truth: part of the process of growth – is the journey itself

This is me and my firstborn, 30 week-old preemie infant, only days after he was born, he was tiny – just over 3 lbs. My little one’s eyes may be closed but trust me, that is sheer joy for both mommy and baby!

Only a year after his birth, my husband and I bought our first house together.  My husband is holding the key to our new home and I’m holding a yellow rubber ducky given to us as a baby gift from our realtor.  Purchasing our “fixer-upper” out in the woods was definitely a “high” for us.

We were in our new home just under a year when baby #2 arrived.  We were elated to have yet another miracle baby!

Unfortunately, not long after his birth my husband’s father passed away after barely surviving a brain injury.  Those were difficult days to walk through. I’ve written about it before, but when my husband and I have journeyed through heartache, it is our faith that gets us through.

In the past two years we’ve lost some precious relatives. Pictured here are my husband’s aunt Jessica and uncle Ted who are no longer with us.

We almost lost our home to a forest fire that burned for over two weeks in our area.  Over 500 homes were lost.  Thankfully we were mercifully spared, and we’re so thankful for the firefighters, police officers, and other service workers who saved our neighborhood from the blaze.

We’ve enjoyed mountaintop highs with family members – here my husband’s nephew married his beautiful wife.

We’ve trekked 1,500 miles cross-country in our mini-van touring the lower half of the United States to visit family far away. Here we are with my dad and step-mother and grandmother.

And you’ll never have to ask me twice if I want to see my family or visit the beach – you’ll always get a resounding “Yes” from me. My mom is on the left, Nannie, and one of my two beautiful sisters, aunt Isi, is on the right.

I’m never in a state of simply one emotion – like” joy”.  I’m always in a state of “journey”.

I’m in the process of maturing and growing as a wife, a mom, a friend, a sister, a daughter, and a blogger and writer.

As I think on what journey means to me, I am reminded that I need to pace myself,  make new friends who’ll come alongside me and help me along the way, and that I need to stay focused on my end-goal and not be put off by small setbacks as I travel along this road.

I hope these words are an encouargment to you. When you have a minute, think and reflect upon your journey. I’m amazed by how far I’ve come even in the last five years. How about you?  How is your journey? I pray it’s filled with joy, laughter, memory-making fun, and growth too.  Let’s spur each other on as moms and friends shall we?

Glad you’re following along at Happy and Blessed Home.

In His Grip,

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