Mama of the Wild Crew Podcast
Mama of the Wild Crew Podcast
Hosted by Alexis Schmoker – wife, mama of two, nurse, and Jesus lover. This podcast is all about embracing the beautiful chaos of motherhood, finding joy in the messy moments, and leaning into faith through it all. Whether you're navigating sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, or the everyday miracles of raising little ones, you're not alone. Join Alexis as she shares real-life stories, heartfelt conversations, and encouragement to help mamas everywhere find grace, laughter, and purpose in the wild adventure of motherhood.
Let’s find the joy in the chaos—together!
Mama of the Wild Crew Podcast
Together is my favorite place to be: Marriage, Community and Mom Life with Jessica Drummond
What happens when life takes you from speech pathology to stay-at-home mom with two energetic boys? Jessica Drummond knows this journey intimately, and she's here to share her heart about embracing the beautiful chaos of motherhood with intentionality and joy.
From the moment she begins speaking, Jessica's warmth radiates as she introduces us to her world as a boy mom to Wade (3) and baby Cal with his surprising red hair. Her stories of finding Hot Wheels in the washing machine, dealing with toy snakes in unexpected places, and witnessing those heart-melting moments when her boys look at her with pure love will resonate with any parent who's navigated the wild terrain of raising children.
What makes this conversation truly special is Jessica's refreshing perspective on presence. In a culture obsessed with productivity and forward movement, she's learned the gift of being fully where she is. "To be present is a gift to the people that I'm with," she reflects, offering wisdom for anyone struggling to stay grounded amid life's constant demands. This intentionality extends to her marriage, ministry work with teenage girls, and even how she's navigated difficult seasons and joyful times!
Jessica speaks with disarming honesty about identity shifts that come with motherhood, especially when transitioning from career to stay-at-home parenting. Having worked hard for her speech pathology degree, she initially felt guilt stepping away from her profession. Yet she's found profound purpose in this season: "I get to shape character right now in a way that I just don't feel like I could with multiple things on my plate." Her perspective offers freedom to women wrestling with similar identity questions.
The conversation weaves through faith, community-building, and creating meaningful traditions with your children. Drawing from her experience of being "a Buick kid" (brought up in church), Jessica shares how her parents' approach to faith shaped her own parenting philosophy.
Whether you're in the trenches of early motherhood, navigating a career transition, or seeking to build a stronger faith foundation for your family, Jessica's story reminds us that each season holds purpose, even when it feels messy or invisible. Join us for this heartfelt conversation about finding joy in the wild, beautiful journey of raising little humans.
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XO, Alexis Schmoker
Mama of the Wild Crew
📸: A heartfelt thank you to Jordan Allen of Cr00ked Teeth Photography for capturing this stunning cover photo.
Welcome to Mama of the Wild Crew podcast, the podcast where we embrace the messy, wild, beautiful journey of motherhood together. I'm your host, alexa Schmoker, mama of two beautiful kiddos, wife, nurse and lover of Jesus. Motherhood is full of hard moments, unexpected chaos and those days where you just really don't have it all together. But in the midst of it all, there is so much joy. On this podcast, we're diving into the real, honest conversations about motherhood the challenges, the triumphs and everything in between. We'll hear the stories of incredible moms from all walks of life, share wisdom, laughter and let's be real probably a few tears, and we're going to discover how to embrace the joy in this chaos.
Alexis Schmoker:So, whether you're rocking a baby to sleep, folding that never-ending pile of laundry or sneaking away for a quiet moment with your coffee, welcome mama. You're not alone here. Hit, subscribe and join me on this wild adventure of motherhood. I can't wait to do this journey with you. Good morning guys. We're already starting just dying laughing. And then we were like why are we not recording? Because we need to be recording, because we're dying. We were just talking about peppa pig, because jess is saying that she snorts and crew has been watching peppa pig and she's a snorty girl. Um, so anyway, anyone else snort with peppa pig and crew. All of our nephews have what are they called Like sidekick animals, spirit animals or something.
Jessica Drummond :Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:And my husband asked Crew what her spirit animal was and this has been like a year and she said a pig. So whenever we pretend to race or something, she'll make Jordan commentate the race and normally in her, you know, she rollerblades hard. Yes, in her rollerblading races.
Alexis Schmoker:I'm very impressed by that too, like I'm like. She's pretty good, it's crazy, but she practices all the time. So every night she has rollerblade races like against Diego and Dora, and Boots and Jaguar and Jordan will like commentate for it. Like, here comes Crew Pearl around the bend, you know Like. And then here's Dora Like oh no, dora fell. And Crew's pig is always like her sidekick that has to like fend off. Yes, diego and Swiper.
Jessica Drummond :Oh, yes, and all the things. Yeah, I forget about the Dora.
Alexis Schmoker:Oh hi, we Dora hard yeah In our house. I love that she loves Dora. But anyway, guys, happy Tuesday and welcome to Mama the Wild Crew podcast. As you can tell, I'm so excited for today's guest. It is such a sweet friend. She's an incredible woman friend, mom, all the things Jessica Drummond is. A mama of two precious boys, the heart behind a call to create a speech language language pathologist.
Alexis Schmoker:maybe I need to go to a speech language language pathologist, I can't even say it by trade, a stay-at-home mama in this season and a woman filled with so much beauty, grace and contagious joy. You're going to fall in love with her heart as we talk about everything from boy-mom chaos to calling marriage, faith, grief, identity and those beautiful messy moments in between that truly shape us. Jess is the kind of girl who just reminds you that you're not alone in this wild ride of motherhood, and she does it all with such intentionality and love. So without further ado.
Alexis Schmoker:welcome my sweet friend, jess Drummond. We're here. We're here. We've been wanting to do this for so long. I know I'm so excited and for those of you guys that don't know, jess is such a crucial part to the podcast because you're my listener, like my first listener. Auditor editor girly.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, the other day I was listening to it in the kitchen and trice was like what are you listening to? And I was like mom of the wild group broadcast yeah, he's like do you listen to those? And I said, well, yeah I'm on staff yeah, and he said so are you like an executive producer?
Alexis Schmoker:and I was like basically, basically basically I am, you need a hat. Yeah, that says like executive executive producer or like or like maybe not executive, but like producer.
Jessica Drummond :I don't know that yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:I mean, I feel like you're the only person I have, I'm the only staff, so I feel like you're the executive we get. Jordan, I know Well, it's given him time because it's soccer season. So he's like are you still doing the podcast? I'm like, yes, every Monday.
Jessica Drummond :Have you not been? Where have you been?
Alexis Schmoker:Where have you been? I know he's like well, I haven't had to listen to any. I'm like well, because I have Jess, my executive producer. My executive producer and she gives me honest feedback. He'll just be like that was great. Yeah, that was great. Well, anyway, Jess, tell us about your little family and your baby boys.
Jessica Drummond :So I am married to Trace. We actually celebrated eight years. I saw that yesterday. Yes, yeah, so we've been married eight years, which I'm like what that's almost a decade yeah, two more years and it's like 10 years, um, so we've been married eight years. We got married like right out of grad school, so I graduated grad school and then two weeks later we got married and then I moved to tulsa and then I like entered into a marriage and then I started a new job. So it was just like it's a lot of chaos.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, um, I was actually a really hard time Like, just like all that stuff at once, it's a busy season. Yeah, but um so, yeah, I'm married to trace. He's wonderful, um, he works in construction so he's kind of like a fix it all kind of guy handyman of all sorts. Yes, he can. He knows that. I love him because he knows a little bit about a lot and he just, he's just wonderful.
Jessica Drummond :Um, we have two boys. I could not. If you told me that I was going to have boys growing up, I would have been like, no, I'm sure there'll be a girl in the mix.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :That's not the case. Um, so we have Wade, and Wade is cruise age. Yeah, yeah.
Jessica Drummond :So three yeah, three and a half, um, he'll be four in November and he is all boy. He's so wild, um, he's so curious about everything. He he's like in his why, why, why, yes, and he has a lot of opinions too. Has a lot of opinions about a lot, um, but he is just so full of joy, he's so happy. Um, just a big personality, just big spirit, just a big presence. He's just, he's amazing. And then Cal is our new guy. He's cute, yeah, he's so cute. He's got bright red hair and I'm like wait, where'd that come from? And then it's me, because I had red hair when I was little. Did you really Well?
Alexis Schmoker:like when I was born.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, and then it changed to blonde, and then it just stuck.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, and then it changed to blonde and then it just stuck. Yeah, blonde, but you have very light blonde hair. For those who can't see, you.
Jessica Drummond :Also, whenever we first started recording, jess was like I can't hear myself, so they can't see you either. Any picture, I don't know, um. So anyways, he came out with like bright red hair and we were like what, um? But he is so sweet, like he is the most chill, easygoing kid. He's so happy until he's not like yeah, he's either like zero or 100. And then when he is 100, it's like who are you?
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, you almost don't know what to do with my precious child Like.
Jessica Drummond :And then he like we'll get over his 100, and it's like what was that? Yeah, um, but he is so happy, he's so social, charismatic, charming like so charming. I feel like he's just going to be this like I don't know, like this smooth talking flirty suave, suave like redheaded guy. I don't know Like he's, just I'm a little nervous about that Because I'm like I feel like you're just going to be able to talk your way into like anything, so I feel like I'm going to have to watch out for that when.
Jessica Drummond :Wade will just tell you like this is what I want and I'm serious.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah. But Cal will be more sneaky about it, yeah. And they just have a way with like mom hearts, that's what I've said before, but you just don't realize what being a boy mom is Like. I had boy mom friends before I had a boy and then obviously, like my sister has a son and it's just, it's a different feeling. Yeah, I don't know how to explain it. They're built different. They're built different.
Jessica Drummond :And it's just like but the way that they look at you, yeah, oof, it was so sweet. Sometimes wade will wake up in the morning. He's kind of grumpy and then other times he's like so sweet. But like this morning, he came out of his room and ran to me and hugged me and that was like the first encounter of the day and I was like oh, today's gonna be so sweet with you wait day but he, they're just sweet on their mamas.
Jessica Drummond :They love us so much, and I mean they're rough and tough, but like they just love their mamas and Cal's so obsessed with me. I mean I know it's because, like I'm feeding him, nope You're like he's so obsessed with me he is. He looks at me and he's like I love you, mom, and I'm like I love you too. Don't ever not love me.
Alexis Schmoker:I know I already pray so hard just like for their future spouses. Obviously Cruz too, but like you know, they always say like girls are your girls and they're going to be there and, like boys, they're going to get married, I know, and they're going to have like a new best friend and I mean obviously you want that and you want like the most awesome person. So, whoever you are out there and whoever is your mama parenting you right now, just know like I pray for you all the time, because I cannot even imagine. Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :I feel like my, I don't know. I feel like if I raise really good boys that became really good men they're going to attract like really wonderful women.
Jessica Drummond :boys that become really good men they're going to attract like really wonderful women and like by golly, that woman that they bring home is going to want to be like sitting in my lap and I will be French, braiding their hair because I'm like, give me some girl, like like you're going to love me, love me, you know, I just, I don't know, I'm not too worried about it yet but it's like you know you have the boys and you're like, oh, I'm the boy mom. Like, yeah, I'm not in the hospital room when you have your first child. Like, yeah, Like Christmas, you know, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:Like it's like, come home, come home to me, I don't know so um no, I know that my husband's the youngest of four boys, but my mother-in-law, you know, they just live right here and they're so ingrained in our life and she does like such a great job of like letting us still be like mother, but then also she's such a present grandmother and say they don't ever feel. I don't know like intimidated by that relationship.
Alexis Schmoker:You know you always like grow up thinking like oh, in-laws are this and this, and like our experience has been so different. Yeah, and like so just at home, you know, yes, yeah, and so I just hope that.
Jessica Drummond :I cultivate that as well.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, yeah, Because it can be like I don't know, you just hear these horror stories. Yes, and that's not how it is. So.
Jessica Drummond :I guess. Pray for myself to be a good mother-in-law monster in the law. Yes, jennifer Lopez.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, no, I know exactly what you mean. That's so funny. Yes, I love that. Okay, so you know the podcast question. So the mom failed question. Literally as you walked in, though, you brought a bottle in, I'm assuming, did you like off?
Jessica Drummond :where was it? It was in my front yard and I passed over it. You know I was like oh, that's funny. And then, like I passed over, I was like no, go pick that up. So I turned back around and I picked it up and I'm like this is such like a mom thing. Literally I like thought this is a mom thing, like just bottles, just stuff falling out of cars and rolling down the driveway.
Alexis Schmoker:I'm like what? So there you go, there's a mom fill for me. Obviously, my bottle's literally in the driveway, but it's good, I'm running coffee's water, I know. Thank you too, she brought coffee, and that's another thing too. I texted you like, by the way, I'm like a little lactose sensitive and you're like is that a thing? No, like, why is that? Is it like?
Jessica Drummond :once you turn a certain age, all of a sudden you can't like chug a gallon of milk, or I love milk, but like it does not love me and sometimes I'm like it's worth it.
Alexis Schmoker:But then and sometimes I'm like it's worth it.
Jessica Drummond :But then other times I'm like that wasn't worth it. Yeah, oh my gosh Not to get too personal, too deep, but like, yeah, sometimes it hurts your tum-tum it hurts your tum-tum and you can't like.
Alexis Schmoker:You got to also mom and do the things, so anyway, coconut, a mocha vanilla latte and a mocha. I love that you were like what do you prefer, and I'm not picky when it comes to my caffeine, so yeah well, I tried to order pistachio, and he was like I could make you, but you're not gonna like it.
Alexis Schmoker:And I was like, oh, thank you for the honesty though no, kelsey helm um said that she drinks pistachio lattes, and so I got it for her whenever she came over. I think I got it from evergreen um when she came over record and it was so good.
Jessica Drummond :Okay, and so now I've been like hooked on them. Okay, but you'll have to try them. They're wonderful. No, he was like. I can make you one. You won't like it.
Alexis Schmoker:I was like okay, hey, I appreciate the honesty, but anyway, jess, hit us with the most recent mom fail or any mom fail.
Jessica Drummond :Oh, okay, fail every day, but one that like super comes to mind. When Wade was, he was probably like I mean he was sitting up and kind of like scooting around like on the floor, um, but I was doing my hair one morning, like getting ready for work, and so I had my curling iron out and homeboy, like scooted over to like the cord of the corner and like pulled it down and I was like I mean, my reaction was so quick Like I swiped up that curling and I, by the grace of God I didn't catch the hot part, um, but it fell on the ground and I was like I don't think it got him, like I really think he's okay, and so I like checked him out. I was like okay, there's no like burns, cause I'm like that was hot.
Jessica Drummond :Like if that fell on my kid like mom fail like Whoa.
Alexis Schmoker:Now we're all going to be like checking our cords, no, yeah.
Jessica Drummond :And so literally I tell people like, yeah, it happens, but like, put your cords up, like, and tell your kids like don't pull, like it's hot, you know. So, anyways, um, I check him out, I'm like, you're fine, it's okay. Um, he didn't cry like I mean, I think in the moment I was like, oh, it just scared him. Yeah, um, so we get ready, I drop him off at daycare and like two hours later, daycare's calling me and they're like, hey, um, we like just filled out an incident report like we don't know what happened, but he's got like this whelp on his like that's like blistering up, but we don't's like blistering up but we don't know what.
Jessica Drummond :like we've been watching, like we don't know what happened, and I was like, oh my gosh, it had not like shown up until like I got him to daycare and I dropped him off, and I didn't even mention like oh, by the way, you might like watch him. He pulled down a curtain. Yes, like he pulled down a curtain iron yes. So, anyways, yeah, I feel like I sent my kids a daycare without knowing that the iron had actually like fallen on his leg.
Alexis Schmoker:Poor baby yeah.
Jessica Drummond :Poor you that's like so rough I felt so bad yeah so bad. Oh, that was kind of intense.
Alexis Schmoker:That is intense.
Jessica Drummond :For a mom fail. I would have like straight to 100 with that.
Alexis Schmoker:That's so real, though, and stuff like that happens, and it's just something that happens in daily life. That can happen to anyone.
Jessica Drummond :And I'm sure has happened to multiple people. So if you're listening to this, watch out for your current ignorance. If it hasn't happened to you, or if it has happened to you, know you're not alone.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, something similar happened to my middle sister, addie. Yeah, she was whenever she was a kid, uh-huh. So she had pulled off like the cord of the actual iron, like an ironing board iron.
Jessica Drummond :And it fell like right on her chest. Oh, oh, and I like we that's like burn. Like you go to the burn place, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:Thank goodness she ended up being fine. And I don't know if she even remembers it, because we had talked about it not too long ago and she was like no, I don't remember. I'm like no, they don't, I'm like I remember because I was traumatized and I was like just the other kid, you know, yes, yeah, so it happens, hot stuff, man. It really happens, I know, and now we have steamers and I always freak out like with my kids, because I hang my clothes like on the door frame.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, and I want your steamed.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, and then they're hot. Yeah, I'm always afraid that someone's gonna come around the corner. So, yeah, no, I'm sorry that happened to you. Yeah, you're definitely not alone in that. Thanks for sharing.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, golly okay well we'll keep it light, we're gonna lighten the mood because I'm gonna tell everyone our meet cute, okay, yeah, okay. So jess and I have our own meet cute, yeah, yeah, it could be a movie, probably, um, so, summer of 2023, it would have been right. Yeah, two crew Pearl and Wade would have been a little over one one and a half. Yeah, we both started ISR swim lessons, which I know can be like a hot button topic, so personally I found it very helpful and my daughter can swim and we're comfortable and we're around water all the time.
Alexis Schmoker:So it yeah, it can be like kind of scary, because it is the one where they throw your kids in the pool and blah blah blah.
Alexis Schmoker:But you know, not to get too like controversial, but it ended up being great for us, yeah, um, so everyone do your own thing. But we were looking for like two wins because we wanted her to swim and we were having trouble with sleep, so we scheduled her at like the seven o'clock time slot, the very first one. So I'm like we don't have a choice but to wake her up at six 30 every morning to get there, to get there, yeah. So I'm like this will be good, cause she'll learn how to swim and we'll get on a schedule. But anyway, you and Wade were the slot right after.
Jessica Drummond :So you go for 10 minutes every day, like 7, 10 or whatever it was.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah 10 minutes every day for like six weeks. How long was it? Six weeks, every single day, so every day. Like I would be part. I would be like getting her out of the pool and you'd be coming in with Wade. We would like chat just for a moment and then go along our way and I would tell Jordan there's this mom, wade's mom you know, after crew Pearl.
Alexis Schmoker:And I didn't know your name just Wade's mom after crew Pearl and I really like her Like, I feel like we could be friends, you know, and I was going to be like oh, we should like exchange numbers after you talk for every day for three weeks, and then it's like how do you then transition to like oh, by the way, what is your?
Alexis Schmoker:name, yeah, so anyway, then all of a sudden you weren't there because you guys had to pause some lessons and I felt like it was like a Craigslist, missed connections, yeah yeah. And I felt like a weirdo asking the swim instructor like hey, by the way, where did what's her name?
Jessica Drummond :Where did Wade's mom go swim instructor like hey, by the way, where?
Alexis Schmoker:did? What's her name? Where did wade's mom go? Uh, because I was really feeling like we had something there. It was a spark, um, and then it was probably what? Like a year later, I saw you at church and I was like jordan, that's her, like that's wade's mom, you know. But then life still happens. We were both busy with the kids and then circle back, like God just had a plan, because I had the opportunity to step in as a small group leader for a mom that was going on maternity leave, and so I Ding, ding, ding it's me, it's you, knock, knock, jessica.
Jessica Drummond :It's me, I'm here.
Alexis Schmoker:Jessica, I hope everyone gets that reference. Yeah, because I love that movie so much Um, but yeah, so it was you. And now we just have this friendship and it's so beautiful and I just love that. God like connected that in our time and now we get to like continue our motherhood journey together. So anyway, not to like gush too much about our story, but I know you said that you and your husband have your own little meet. Cute, I guess, probably cute like ours, but tell, us a little about that.
Jessica Drummond :Um so, teresa, we both went to OSU uh in Stillwater, oklahoma, the best place ever. I just I know you're a sooner, sooner girl, but you know um, still, water is just such a special place. I'm a third generation cowgirl, so like my grandpa like actually played basketball for the. Uh, I bet like Henry Abbott.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :Um, and then my dad, and, like all of my aunts and uncles, went and then I. I mean I had a choice but I was like I'm going, yeah, so anyways I go and I'm like I'm going to meet a rancher. I'm going to meet a country boy because that's like my background, like agriculture, sounds like my youngest sister. Yeah, I'm like I am going to meet a ranchy boy and do ranch, ranchy things.
Alexis Schmoker:You know horse around.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, that's a funny joke. Um, so, anyways, I meet trace actually at the tumbleweed. Cause the tumbleweed? Um, you could get in when you were 18 and I loved to dance, like I loved to stepping, and so my friends and I would go like every Thursday night to like go dance.
Jessica Drummond :And so trace and his like fraternity brothers were there and I was there with my three sisters and so, um, my good friend from high school, um, and like just from childhood, we like kind of went to college together. She was a year older than me but she actually danced with Trace first and she was like hey, you need to dance with Jessica. Like he's a good dancer, she's going to have a great time. Cause I didn't care who I danced with, I just loved it.
Alexis Schmoker:Yes, and have a great time, because I didn't care who I danced with.
Jessica Drummond :I just loved it. Yes, and so Trace and I danced and he could not remember my name. He called me darling. He was like hi, darling, hey, sweetheart, I'm like you, suave, suave dude. You don't even know what's my name. It's me, jessica, I'm in here. Um so, anyways, we had a great time that night, like our groups just kind of like mingled and hung out, and so that was really special. But he actually invited me to a date party like the following, or maybe it was a couple of weeks later what fraternity was it?
Alexis Schmoker:It was a week-long SIGEP, sigep. Okay, and what were?
Jessica Drummond :you Gamma Phi. Okay, cute, okay, gamma Phi Um. But he invited me to like a week long date party called safari, and so I went and so there were like different themes every night, so like he did like different stuff every night and like he dressed up and stuff. It was so fun, but he was a little wild.
Alexis Schmoker:Um, back in his day and I was a little not.
Jessica Drummond :Um, so I just decided at that time I was like I think we're just going to be like good friends. Yeah, like cause he's so nice, like he's so like he really liked the darling sweetheart thing he's so charming.
Jessica Drummond :I just he's just such a fun dude, like he really is just such a fun dude. And so, um, we I just decided I was like no, like you know I'm, it would be friends. Yeah, and we were true friends, like we. After that we were just like we're like true friends, yeah, so we would like see each other hang out Like we still like kind of dated other people and but still hung out.
Alexis Schmoker:It was kind of like I don't know.
Jessica Drummond :He was just like a good friend, yeah, um, and we're still good friends. Like I feel like we were good friends. And then we were like should we eventually? Like it was a couple of years, it was our beginning of like our junior year. We started kind of like dating and exploring that and I don't know. Like it just turned into something more and he's just like I didn't know it was him, but I like knew I didn't want to do life without him.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :And so here we are. Yeah, here we are, and, holy cow, it's so different now than it was like I did not marry the same which you could probably say the same thing, but like the trace today is not the man that I married. No, and like hindsight, I would do it. So I would do it over and over and over, like I just I love him. Yeah, I love him, I love that.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, and it just you just grow together and watching them go through that transition too, of like husband to father.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, which is like a big transition too.
Alexis Schmoker:Yes and I feel like with Jordan, I always knew he was going to be a good husband, but like I saw in him from so early like I feel like he's going to be the best dad, like that's something that really attracted me to him and he is, I mean, just like he's just above and beyond, like when it comes to dad role. So I feel like that's. I feel like I'm getting teary.
Jessica Drummond :It really matters Like. I tell everybody young um, even like as an adult, like I'm like, no, it matters. It matters it matters to you, mary, like it, so matters Like other than like choosing. I feel like choosing Jesus Christ is like your Lord and savior. Like the next biggest decision you could like make for the trajectory like for the rest of your life is like who you marry.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, so I'm like it's so matters, like it you have to be intentional with, like, who you pick and who you choose to do life with and you have to choose it, like you have to choose marriage every day every day yeah, and you don't always like think like intentionally about like I'm choosing, I'm choosing, I'm choosing, but like, yeah, you do like it's it's hard like there's some like good parts about it, but like there's some like gritty parts too, where you just like it's just hard.
Alexis Schmoker:It is hard, and in those moments, too, you have to know that the other person on the other side is just as committed as you are. Yeah, because that's when, when you're talking about like it, it truly matters. Like who you choose there, it does like you have to be able to trust them. Yeah, full-heartedly that even like hard times or busy seasons with newborns and like times when you're just not feeling yourself.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, like postpartum and just the season of motherhood, pregnancy, like you have to just know that that person is also choosing it every day and just have trust in that.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, so, if not, you'll drive yourself crazy. No, yeah Well, if you're like putting in effort, but like the other person's like what. That's just. It's just a hard thing.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :It's just a hard thing. So like I will preach to like the end of the age, like who you marry matters. So, like, make it matter to you.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, absolutely. And I don't think that means that, like you can't date yeah, you know, like you were saying, like you can date intentionally and um, try and you know, see who else is out there, because like you said you had like this picture in your head of who you're going to marry. And that's kind of how my youngest sister she's just graduated college She'll always say like, oh, I just want to marry a cowboy, or I just want to get.
Jessica Drummond :I'm like, I love that for you, but also give everyone a chance, like you just don't know yeah, I don't know who else is and like God, will surprise you, like God will surprise you, trace. German was like a curveball, and like anybody who was in college with us too, they'd be like that. That's kind of that doesn't make less. You know like right, we were just so different. I mean, we're both like very like morally grounded, but like it came from like different, like spurts of like motivation to be like just good-hearted people Does that make sense.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, so we have like so much in common, but like also, he's just not who I ever like anticipated being with. But like, oh my gosh, god knew so much better than like what I wanted for myself. Like I just like have to check myself on that all the time.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, and how did you guys kind of transition into? Well, we get into this a little bit later, yeah, so I'm going to pause. I'm going to pause there and we're going to go into it a little bit later, okay. So, boy, mom, energy, okay, in presence, goodness. Your Instagram boy mom content is just iconic. One day it's literally like Hot Wheels in your pockets, in the washing machine, everywhere you post, like fake snakes on your couch.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:Oh yeah, or like in my bed. Sometimes they want to be in my bed.
Jessica Drummond :I'm not a snake girl or in the laundry.
Alexis Schmoker:No, and Crew like had a snake incident and she's gone so far left field with it that she loves snakes right yeah, oh yeah, because I feel like we tried to be so like oh, snakes are fine, you know, because I was so freaked out like I was even afraid to go on walks or walk outside. Yeah, I was scared of snakes after that and so we had to just like completely talk about it all the time yes to like, to like, yeah, and ease it down and now she loves snakes.
Alexis Schmoker:She'll watch like snake videos on YouTube and I'm like we are not watching that.
Jessica Drummond :No, I don't like they like can define they can like crawl up walls and trees and stuff. I'm like don't sign me up for that.
Alexis Schmoker:No, I'm cringing. I love that you. You will like embrace the snakes in your house, but what gets me in the most is just how present you are and you say, like that's something, that you're intentional about being is just very present.
Alexis Schmoker:You're on the ground, you're laughing, you're crying, you're surviving like you're in it. Um, you've got Wade and now Cal, two incredible little boys, and I know being a boy mom, like you said, wasn't always what you pictured. What has surprised you the most about this season of chaos, dirt and the sweetness, and how has it shaped who you are, not just as a mom, but as a woman, learning to stay present in this beautiful mess?
Jessica Drummond :Oh, gosh, like it's so fun, like that's been. Gosh like it's so fun, like that's been. I don't know. It's so fun in a way that like I never really saw coming and I mean I'm a girl, so like I know how to be a girl.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, I'm not a boy, I don't know how to be a boy but I feel like I'm learning more about like just how boys see the world, how they like function, just like their energy. It's just so different, different, and so I feel like I'm learning more just about like boys in general and like how boys grow up to be like men too. Um, so that's been just like it's kind of surprising but I love it like boy, mom stuff is so fun.
Jessica Drummond :I mean like the dirt and you know, Wade's kind of like sensitive to dirt, like he doesn't like super love, like he loves to get dirty, but after he's done I'm like he's like cleaning he's ready to get clean yeah, yeah.
Jessica Drummond :so, um, I don't know, I love it and I do try to stay present. Like I try not to look too far into like the future, and I don't really like sit too far in my past either, and I think that I'm not a super like goal oriented person, which is kind of like a turnoff. I feel like kind of a con, I don't know, but like I'm just so like in what I am in in the moment that like I just don't like look too far ahead, look too far back. But I also think that's a gift too.
Alexis Schmoker:Like I feel like just to be present is a gift to like the people that I'm with or like my family, like during this season. That is such a gift, cause I feel like that's something that I really struggle with is like being very in the moment, like I always got to like be thinking about what we're doing next, or where we're going on vacation, or what would be like a next fun activity or something. So I feel like I have a really hard time being like just so in the moment and in the present. Yeah, and like when things are up in the air, like you know, like right now, like still in our house, yes, and where are we going to go? Like those things can kind of like just overwhelm you, yeah, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:Where I just go with the flow, where Jordan is like kind of how you're explaining, like he can be so present and in the moment all the time. Yeah, and like he can just turn out off everything else, even if there's a million things going on. Yeah, like he is where he is.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah and I've had to learn how to do that, though, and I still struggle, like with turning off like the what are we going to do next? Like this I could be doing this instead of this, like right, but it's hard because, like as women, I feel like we just have so much like that we think we have to do. Otherwise our world would fall apart, you know, like the world of our family would fall apart. Oh yeah, the whole world would fall apart if we didn't do everything we needed to do which like is not the case at all.
Jessica Drummond :But when you kind of like can take things off of your plate and just like sit like in your presence. It's just a beautiful thing, it is.
Alexis Schmoker:Even even yesterday. We were getting ready to go to the lake for Memorial day and I got it in me that I had to clean the house but I have to do that when I leave the house too. Like I do that I, and then I got grumpy cause.
Jessica Drummond :I was like, yes, get everything clean. Yes, because I want to come home to like not chaos. No, I like. It's like a, like a rage, like a rage clean. Yes, yeah, like leaving is so hard for me. Yeah, so maybe I'm not like super. You know we can take Listen.
Alexis Schmoker:We are all still evolving and figuring this out, yeah.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:But I mean just the being in the moment, I think is great and I'm going to be. I'm going to be better. I'm going to be better about that. Okay. So the ministry side so you are deeply involved in community Bible study, leading a small group, you're discipling young women Such a beautiful outpouring of both time and your heart. Can you share what that journey or how that journey began for you? What nudged you to say yes, and what would you say to the women who feels like they're they're pulled to do something, or being called to get more involved, but maybe don't feel equipped enough to do so, or feeling like I don't I don't know enough about the Bible.
Alexis Schmoker:I don't know enough enough to do so, or feeling like well, I don't. I don't know enough about the Bible. I don't know enough about this or that to lead or to feel like I can disciple someone.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, what would you say? Do we ever feel equipped to like? Do you like? No, I never feel fully equipped and I'm somebody that like unless I know I'm going to be good at it. I really don't want to try and Trace and I have had so many conversations about that and I'm like I don't, I'm not going to get that. I don't want to try, like I don't know. But, um, as far as like, how we got into it, I honestly I don't remember.
Jessica Drummond :Like it's just, it just happened and it was like, oh, but I remember thinking um, I wanted to like get involved at church, Like I wanted to serve, but I was like in the thick of like little kids stuff.
Jessica Drummond :And I also was working at the time. So like I was in the thick of like pouring into like grade school kids work and I love, I love kids. Like I always knew I wanted to work in like pediatric kind of stuff for my job. So I just felt like I cannot add another avenue of life that like involves small littles, because I will be like so drained because I'm in it at home, I'm in it at work and I really didn't want to like be in it in another aspect of my life. So senior high it was, or junior high, I guess, it at work, and I really didn't want to like be in it in another aspect of my life. So, um, senior high it was, or junior high, I guess.
Jessica Drummond :So I'm like okay that's enough different, but it's still kid and it still matters.
Jessica Drummond :And I remember, like um, after they told me, hey, we have a spot for eighth grade girls, and I, like the light went on in my head, um and I think it was just like a little God winkers, like smile, because like eighth grade for me was like when everything kind of like started shifting from like what are we 14 in eighth grade or so? But like it was around 14, that like I started navigating like relationships and like you know, like your body's changing and like you're just going through like hormone, I don't know, just like all the things, all this stuff. But I remember eighth grade being like, I don't want to say a detrimental year, but like a significant year for me. So like when God was like eighth grade and I was like okay, like that's good, um, but I just have like a love for, like my love for kids. But then I've just like fallen in love with teenage girls.
Jessica Drummond :I just think it's so hard to be a girl, um, it's hard to be a woman, but like in this day and age it's so hard to be a girl and so just to have, just to be able to facilitate a space for them, to have a sense of community, um, but also like have an adult, like role model kind of, because I I mean, we all know like when we're teenagers, did we want to listen to our parents? No, but were we more apt to like listen to somebody who we like admired and loved too and like I don't know, like looked up to like, yeah, um, so, um, I just kind of wanted, I just felt kind of called to like enter that space.
Jessica Drummond :I don't't know, it's been so good just to like build relationships and I mean, you know, like these girls are going through like stuff that I cannot even like comprehend, right, and I don't know if it was the same when we were younger, like I feel like the world's so different now and like the things that they're anxious about or worried about is so like it's just different than and I don't know if I was just in this bubble as a teen and my parents did a good job of like kind of keeping me not like in a negative way in a bubble, but like. These girls are just different than what. I expect like what I'm experiencing now as an adult, and like looking into the lives of like young people.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, no, I think I completely agree it. It's. It's so different and I feel like every generation probably feels this way, but there's just different problems that they face, and for us, I think, a big one social media yeah like we. Well, we had myspace right yeah, myspace.
Jessica Drummond :Or did you ever have bibo? I didn't, nobody, nobody what Bebo is but. Bebo was like my jam.
Alexis Schmoker:I don't know, I don't even know, I remember people had Zanga, but I was allowed to have Zanga Um, so I was always jealous of that.
Jessica Drummond :But you had a MySpace and then I got a MySpace. Okay, I never had a MySpace. I went from Bebo, which must've been just like a small B E B O.
Alexis Schmoker:Like if my friends from high school are like listening to this.
Jessica Drummond :You know what?
Alexis Schmoker:B-O is.
Jessica Drummond :But um, and then I went straight to Facebook when I was like 14 or 15.
Alexis Schmoker:Then I had Facebook, but still like our. Our computer was like in our kitchen.
Jessica Drummond :I had dial up?
Alexis Schmoker:We had dial up, yes, and like you weren't doing anything, that your mom or dad was literally sitting right there watching or monitoring or something, and now they have access to everything, and I mean even as grown women. It can be hard to navigate, like comparison and pressures with social media. Yeah, nonetheless, being a 14 year old girl, thank you, lord, that we did not have to go through that.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, I don't know.
Alexis Schmoker:Like I don't know.
Jessica Drummond :And I don't know how I'm going to. I have boys, so it's a little different. I feel like that with kids, yeah, but like navigating like that with children, but I feel like, um, we're kind of millennials. So I feel like we're in this sweet spot of a generation where, like we know what it's like I don't know Like I feel like we've just skipped, like we can see, like the effects of the things, so like it's we, we know better, so we do better.
Alexis Schmoker:Does that make sense? Absolutely. We're not removed from it, but we're still ingrained in it.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, or like even like technology, like we know what it's like to be without it and then we know what it's like to be with it and like to see, like what it kind of does.
Alexis Schmoker:And it's not all bad.
Jessica Drummond :No, no, I think if you use it as a tool like it's great, or to stay connected, like.
Alexis Schmoker:I don't know, but it's trying to navigate that.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:And who knows, I mean it's going to be so different too Whenever we start to navigate that with our own kids. Yeah, I mean, I've just seen that being a hard part with the teenage girls, but also, I think not being around 14 year old girls and then being around 14 year old girls gives you like I guess I was. I saw them on social media, right Like that's where I saw 14 year old girls, and then I go into a room of 14 year old girls and it was so nice to see that they are still 14 year old girls.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:You know what I mean. Like you see them as some different I don't you know what I'm trying to say. Like you see it differently on social media and I'd always tell Jordan and he's like cause he?
Jessica Drummond :teaches high school. Yeah, he's like.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, he's like no, no, no, like these kids are kids, Like they might look grown or something, but you talk to them like they're still kids, like they still have that kid in them, like they're still kids and they're still fun. And it's not like what you expect, because I was scared yeah, it's very intimidating.
Jessica Drummond :I was nervous like teenage girls, like they're kind of ruthless. They can be like ruthless or perceived like that, but once you like kind of break that ice and they're like girls, yeah, they are and they, they have so much love. Yes, and they love, they love. Do they come up to?
Alexis Schmoker:your church, yes, yes, and it makes me feel so good.
Jessica Drummond :I know.
Alexis Schmoker:I'm like oh baby. Like I know, I know and you really do just like get so invested in them and you can see like their heart. But, like you said to some of them, do go through things that I think we just luckily didn't, or weren't supposed to.
Alexis Schmoker:And you know, my sister is also a counselor at a high school and she's like there's just things that even go on at school that had to have been same issues that were going on when we were in school. It's just we as kids don't see that stuff. Yeah, you know so and like looking back, I can see.
Jessica Drummond :looking back, you can see it, I can see it. I'm like oh my gosh like say they had it hard Like and you never know in the moment but like I don't know. So again, like in my little bubble. But so I know that there was stuff that like was going on around me, but I don't know, it's just different.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, they deal with adult problems sometimes that you just hate for them to have to even deal with, and so I always remember you know, I'm sure your mom was the same way Like be kind to everyone you don't know what they're going through. You never know what they're going through and it's like man, that's so true.
Alexis Schmoker:Like in adulthood, but even more so like with kids because, adulthood, you're an adult and you can handle it, but, like these kids sometimes go through things that are not theirs to go through. Yeah, I guess it's heavy, yeah, and yeah, it can be hard to navigate. Um, but I also wanted to talk to you about like you and trace navigating ministry as a couple. So like go back a little bit. You said that he was a little while you know everyone was different.
Alexis Schmoker:I was, I was wild in college and everything and um, like, what did it look like when you guys first started dating? I know you grew up like in a very strong Christian household and I'm not sure what his background was, but, like, whenever you started dating, was he full in, like full swing Christian. Did that you? Did you see that involve in him? Like, did it evolve with you guys as a couple? And whenever you stepped into this like time of deciding, like okay, we're going all in at church as a family.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, what did that look like? Cause, like we said, that is sacrifice with time. I mean, it takes a commitment from both of you to decide to do something like this whether it's just you serving, him serving, you guys serving together. Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :It's a commitment as a family. Yeah, um. So when we first started dating, we definitely like we're not on the same page, like our faith was, like not. I mean he, he had faith but like it just wasn't necessarily like the same.
Jessica Drummond :So, like navigating that, while dating was kind of challenging, like it was hard, um, because like here I was and I'm like this is what I believe, this is what I stand for, and um, it was just different, like, but over time, like, and I I remember thinking like, if God is not in this, like I cannot continue, like to date him. And we've had, like we had conversations like about that, um, which were really hard, but um, I don't know Like I truly feel, like I just like turned it over like to God, like I just like sat in it and I was like I see all these amazing qualities like in this person, but like I cannot change him, like I cannot make him want faith.
Jessica Drummond :I cannot make him want a true relationship with Jesus. Like it is like God will have to do that and he did. Like he. I'm telling you like it's amazing to see like where Trace has started and I mean nobody's perfect but like, or even like where I started and where I was back then and like where we are together now.
Jessica Drummond :I mean it's like polar opposite and that's it's just been amazing. It's like a slow transition over time. It's it's amazing, like to see how transformative, like god can be when you just like give it to him and like let him do it. I mean, we are called to like be disciples, you know, and to, like you know, kind of help people in like their walks of faith, but we can't choose it for them, um, and as a little bit of a control freak, that is hard.
Jessica Drummond :It's hard Um, but I think as far as like us both getting into like senior high ministry kind of stuff, um, he actually led I think it was sixth grade like a sixth grade group in college and so he kind of had a little bit of experience with, like you know, teens and stuff like that. Um and I wanted to do senior high and he was like, yeah, I could like do that.
Jessica Drummond :I feel like that's important, I feel like I could kind of contribute in that way and so we both jumped on it and he actually he has the grade. So we did freshman girls this year he has 10th grade.
Jessica Drummond :Oh cool, yeah, okay, so, um, but it's, and it's hard to like make it work as a family together because, like, we both have kids and obviously like your kids come first, but, um, we just had to like figure out like what was important to us, like as a family, and like we want our kids to know that investing in other people and in other like kids is important to our family. Like we're not just like so wrapped up in like what we're doing, but like we care about others and we care about like our impact on others in the world.
Jessica Drummond :So they don't understand that yet. But like I hope that they look back and be like oh yeah, like mom and dad were really intentional about doing that. Yeah, and it's been a little bit different, like with Cal, because like I've been kind of in and out, because sometimes it's like I can't go tonight.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, you've got a newborn.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, I've got a newborn Um so that's been a little challenging and tricky to figure out. But you know we still try to be like really intentional. Trace has been really consistent and going but just being intentional about like still reaching out to the girls, still having relationship with them, even if I'm not showing up every Wednesday night to kind of help, but yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, I mean, and I feel like your voice will fill, and probably already do fill the outpouring of that Like Cruz favorite time is to go to church, like she loves to go to church, so those people that pour into her there, I mean you can see it, you can see what they have done, like for my daughter. So it's not, it's not only us going and you know pouring into other kids, but they're getting poured into too, and then the girls turn around and love on them as well.
Jessica Drummond :Like our girls love them.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, it's amazing yeah it is, so it's really like a community, but I love like that. You're talking about that. You, it's important for us to invest in other people. Yeah, yeah.
Jessica Drummond :And I want it for my kids Like I want. I want, like good hearted people to invest in my kids. So, like you give and like hopefully you get, you know, and I think it's really important. I just think it's so important.
Alexis Schmoker:So what would you say to like maybe a wife that is feeling a little bit of the tug to try and ingrain their family, maybe a little deeper into the church or serve, and you're like feeling maybe I don't know, we've just never been those people or we've never like taken that step, and I mean your husband's your best friend.
Alexis Schmoker:You talk to him about everything, but sometimes bringing up faith in the beginning, like if it's not a normal conversation, can be a little intimidating, yeah, even to your person. So what do you think is a good way for maybe a mom, a wife, to open up that conversation with their husband?
Jessica Drummond :I think, just um, honestly I think, sticking to your like, sticking to what you think, or even um, like you know, going to church, even if I mean I would go to church like in college, for example, I would go to church like consistently, but Tracy would always come with me.
Jessica Drummond :But, like I still, I still went, I still modeled, like my faith, I talked about it openly, like I wasn't afraid to like, not like I wanted to talk about it. And so I think that, truly like, I think he could see, like, oh, this is what a person of faith does. And like yeah, it's not all that hard to do, um, but I think, just being like a model and example of what is important to you and like sticking with it, like if you want to go to church, like take your kids and go.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, um, and just say, maybe, like I would, we're, I'm going to do this with the kids.
Jessica Drummond :I would love for you yeah to join like have the in, have the open invite, but like you can't like tell somebody like we're going or we're you know, like that doesn't feel good.
Jessica Drummond :It's not like inviting it's, but I think it, as long as you're like, if they can see it, then they know, oh, like that's important to her, that's important to our kids, like that's important to our, that's important to our kids, like that's important to our family, so like I want to be part of that too. Yeah, so I don't know. I think just leaving like living is like a model and example of maybe like a good way to do it. I don't know yeah.
Jessica Drummond :I'm just like like I truly trust Trace, or I trust God with Trace, Like from the beginning, I always trust. I'm like we we need to trust God with, like the things that are most important to us, and so just like giving it, just like giving it.
Alexis Schmoker:And pray. I think praying for your husband like coming to God. Like God, I'm feeling, like this way. I want to have this conversation. Please give me the words and lead me to be able to say things correctly and give him a heart of openness yes, and reception yeah, and.
Alexis Schmoker:I think it's okay to even start the conversation like hey, I know this feels weird, maybe or like I'm a little nervous to even say this or I know this like isn't me always but I'm kind of feeling like maybe we should do this or I should do this, or I want to do this and I'd love for our kids and you yeah to do it with me.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, yeah and it's hard for it, like I saw this Instagram reel the other day and it was like if a man gets involved in, like, yes, have you seen.
Alexis Schmoker:I saw that where it's like.
Jessica Drummond :If a man like gets involved with like the church his family is like likely to follow, whereas, like if a woman like initiates that like it's always it's not as like effective. Like men are like born into, natural like leadership in a way, not that a woman can't, but like it's just kind of how like I feel like God designed it and, um, I can totally see that, like I, I can totally see it like trace, like wanting, like it is so easy to follow him.
Jessica Drummond :It is so easy, yeah, it's so easy to jump on with, like what he wants to do. When, like it aligns, I'm just.
Alexis Schmoker:I don't know if it like works the other way around as well, but yeah, oh, if Trace is in, I'm like yeah, babe, let's do it Like I can be kind of on the fence about something and if Jordan's like, no, I think that's a good idea.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, I feel like it is yes, I don't know how to explain it, I don't know it's so affirming. I feel like, as women, we just kind of look for that. Maybe not everybody, but like I don't know, just to be, I don't know, hurt in your decisions.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah by the person that you, that you love and yeah, trust and respect and admire so much, yeah, yeah, well, I do love that's great.
Jessica Drummond :That's a good conversation.
Alexis Schmoker:I know I feel like I could go on and on about that, yeah, okay, hey there, wild crew mamas, some super exciting news. If you're like me, these days any day is a hat day. Literally probably every day is a hat day, and we have two new hats for Mama of the Wild Crew podcast. I am so excited, and huge shout out to my sister-in-law, brie, over at Schmokey Designs, for taking these ideas and bringing them to life. We have Mama of the Wild Crew podcast hat and we also have the cutest hat. It says motherhood is my ministry, and ain't that the truth? Guys, head on over to our Instagram at mama of the wild crew underscore podcast, dn me or comment on one of the posts and let us know that you want your hat today.
Alexis Schmoker:Growing up, our parents had a super special tradition. We kept this big stork in our garage and whenever someone, either in town or one of our friends, had a baby, we would all load up and go over to their house and put this stork in their yard to help them celebrate. It was one of my favorite childhood memories and my sister, addison Sewell, has carried on that tradition. She is the proud owner of Owosso Storks, offering personalized stork deliveries to families celebrating the arrival of a new baby. Deliveries to families celebrating the arrival of a new baby Whether it's a baby announcement, a baby shower or to celebrate the birth of a little one Owasso Storks is the perfect, thoughtful, sentimental gift. There are even options to celebrate proud big siblings and even those furry little family members.
Alexis Schmoker:For a sweet, memorable gift, reach out to Owasso Storks. Check them out on Instagram. That's at Owasso Storks, at O-W-A-S-S-O-S-T-O-R-K-S, and you can find their contact info in the show notes. Guys, this is just the sweetest gift. I have personally been blessed by a stork from Owasso Storks. Before Owasso Storks was a thing and it was just the sweetest thing. So definitely reach out to a loss of storks Newlywed life, to becoming parents, to grieving loss and now raising two boys. In the middle of it all you've shared so honestly that your marriage has changed in big ways. What have those shifts looked like for you and Trace, both through heartbreaking seasons and joyful ones, and what has helped you guys both stay rooted, connected in your love for each other, even when life's moving fast and the margins filled in?
Jessica Drummond :um, you know, as far as like heartbreaking kind of stuff goes, I feel like when like hard stuff hits us, like either hits him or me or us together, like I, I feel like we now like we just run to jesus, like we run to g, like um we. So we had wade and we actually had a miscarriage in between Wade and Cal which was like the hardest thing I have ever like been through, like that was just rock bottom. And so now we look at each other and we're like we have a threshold for hard like all this, like little stuff that's so hard, it's like it is.
Jessica Drummond :it's you don't sweat the small stuff as much anymore when you go through something that is just so hard. But like when we fell, we were at like our lowest, both of us. But like I feel like we just ran to Jesus, like truly, and you kind of wonder, like when something hard hits you, I mean like there's been hard stuff like throughout my whole life but where do you like? Do you make? Do you let like? Do you make? Do you let it make you or do do you let let it break you?
Jessica Drummond :like truly, and like where, when you fall, are you landing, like in a say in, like the safe embrace of your like heavenly father, or are you like on the polar end, where you're like, why is this happening? Like? What purpose is it like if there's a god who loves me? Like, why is this happening? So, when something hit us so hard, like as a married couple, we just like nestled into jesus. I mean they were, and it was weird because, like during like such a hard thing, it didn't seem as heavy and hard, like it was gut-wrench, heartbreaking, but like we just felt like this overwhelming sense of peace and connection. It was so.
Alexis Schmoker:That peace, that makes no sense.
Jessica Drummond :And to have experienced it, I feel like, is truly a gift in itself. Like to experience this sense of peace that you don't know where it has come from, and for him to like, as a woman, like who's losing something. Yeah, like you experienced that, but like for your husband to empathize and feel it in a similar way. It's so connective. Like it is so connective. It was like a hard time for us, but it was almost like a really good thing for our marriage yes like there was such purpose in it all.
Jessica Drummond :Um, so yeah, that was just hard, but like even going through transitions and like growing pains of like right now, for example, we're transitioning from one kid to two kids yeah, and this has been good. Like the experience of adding another member to our family has been like easy. It's like I don't know Like this has been meant to be, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :Like it's been very different than it was. Going from like zero one, Like I feel like one to two was like oh, like we're already in this, this is what we do. There's like a newfound, like confidence that you didn't have the first time and you don't worry about things the way that you did the first time. But something that super caught me off guard was like oh, with Wade going from zero to one, we were doing so much of the work together, like bath time together, cooking dinner together, like all this stuff. But now we are tag teaming and together is my favorite place to be. Like together is my favorite place to be.
Jessica Drummond :I don't care who I'm with. Like the togetherness, like right now. This is so cup filling for me just like being with people, um, and like being with my family or being with trace, and so to have this feeling of like we are tag teaming our children Like I've got baby, you've got to do your thing.
Alexis Schmoker:Yes.
Jessica Drummond :Like we do, we do things like so, like together, but like so separately, and I it's getting better, but like I miss trace, like I miss him, I miss and I miss way too you know, like I miss our togetherness. Um, so we're kind of like transitioning and it's like I said, it's getting better, like it's not in the same place. It was like even a month or six weeks ago Like it gets better. But nobody wants to do like hard stuff, but when you can come out on the other side of it and like feel like proud that you stuck to it and it got better, I just think it can be so building for your marriage and relationship and your family.
Alexis Schmoker:No, I can relate so much, like the whole time, because I feel the same, like Wilder is a dream baby and he just fits so perfectly. But we've like had to, like I said, like assign kids. Like he takes crew and I take Wilder, and I mean there was multiple nights in a row where he was sleeping with crew and I was sleeping with Wilder, and like we weren't even in the same room and I'm like this yeah, you just get to where you miss each other so much and like you're not having that time because then during the day he's at work, I'm at work, like the kids are doing their thing and, like you said too, like I just missed crew and you're so used to being a family of three all three of you, you know, and it's you love having that additional part. But yeah, it can be hard to like split that and, like you said, it does not last forever.
Alexis Schmoker:Like yeah, it's just always a short time, and I think already doing it once gives you that perspective though, because, like the first time with crew, how she did not sleep too, like I truly felt like that would never, never sleep, we will never get through this, like this will never end and like, looking back, that that was horrible. But it's a short time, like these seasons are so short, yeah, and so I think just being intentional of like finding connectivity where you can is so important. Like even this weekend, we've got to go do something in dallas, like for whatever, and jordan's gonna tag along, like just so we can have some time yeah, alone, yeah, so it's important, like it really is important.
Jessica Drummond :And I mean, it doesn't look like a vacation to Cabo right now, because that's not what we're in, it's not, it's truly. I'm like man, I would love that. But if I can go to Texas Roadhouse with Trace and eat my dinner rolls with my cinnamon butter you know what I'm saying I'm like okay, I'll take it right now.
Alexis Schmoker:You'll take it where you can get it, cause I'm like even the four hour car ride. I hate being in the car, but I'm like even the four hour car ride to Dallas, like just the two of us. You're excited, I'm excited.
Jessica Drummond :I'm like I can't wait.
Alexis Schmoker:I'm like Friday night we're going to drop the kids off at after work. Stuck with me for four hours, yeah, four hours, and then four hours home, baby Eight hours. Oh, I know, I know it's going to be real romantic.
Jessica Drummond :And I've got continuing education. They're literally watching this right now, being like I hated that eight hour?
Alexis Schmoker:I don't know that was rough.
Jessica Drummond :That was rough. I know you're excited about that oh.
Alexis Schmoker:Oh my goodness, Men are built different too. I know Like they just like what we crave?
Jessica Drummond :they don't necessarily, and I'm like you don't want that too.
Alexis Schmoker:You don't want that quality time. Yeah, Come on Well. I know and it's hard and to get not to get like too personal, personal stuff too, but it can just be hard like being intimate together whenever you're going crazy.
Alexis Schmoker:Like this is real. I feel like y'all, we're, we're real talk on here and I know we're all kind of going through that, like there are kids around You're not always feeling cute, like it can just be hard to find like those times to connect more deeply, to like and again, y'all, it's a phase and you're exhausted too, you're exhausted.
Jessica Drummond :exhausted you don't always. And like postpartum too.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah.
Jessica Drummond :You don't feel like your best well you don't feel like your best self, but you don't even feel like yourself, sometimes no, like some days I'm like I'm back baby, but like other days I'm like what I haven't showered in two days.
Alexis Schmoker:Like who, who am I? You're like, remember I used to be? Yes, yeah, I used to do like fun, cool things, yeah, and I still am. But yeah, sometimes you don't feel that way. So if you are feeling alone, even on that front too, like, I hope you don't feel alone, though.
Jessica Drummond :Because people just don't talk about it.
Alexis Schmoker:People don't talk about it, and even right now I feel awkward even saying it, but it's, it's real. So, guys, it's going to pass.
Jessica Drummond :It's just a season. But you have to know that, like it's, it's a seat, like it literally is just a short time, and if you're so aware of that, like if you, as long as you're not letting it like just, become your new normal?
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, absolutely. You have to be like, so intentional and like keep yourself in check, Like yeah this.
Jessica Drummond :This is like the way it is right now, but like we got to get back or we need to like, move on to something different and like grow and figure it out.
Alexis Schmoker:And it's okay to like, get babysitters or take, you know, have them go over to grandparents to go out on a date, like you said, texas roadhouse like two hours or whatever. Yeah Like you have to be intentional about having that time too, cause, like you said, it is a season, but you, you can't let it become your new normal. Exactly yeah, for you or him, it's just not.
Jessica Drummond :You also have to prioritize your yeah, you don't want it to slip.
Alexis Schmoker:You always have to prioritize your marriage, but also you're not alone in feeling like it's hard right now. It's hard right now. Yeah, because it is yeah and it's going to be okay.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, it through.
Alexis Schmoker:And eventually we're all going to go to Cabo. Yes, we are Okay, we're all going to go on a trip Like soak up the sunshine, yeah.
Jessica Drummond :Like I'm going to wear my um motherhood's, my ministry hat.
Alexis Schmoker:So like I protect my skin.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, after we put on our sunscreen. Yes, because we are pale blonde people. Yes, and that is a thing.
Alexis Schmoker:That is a thing. So much so Okay, so going into something else, that can kind of feel hard sometimes, like your calling of the season. So I love that you said that a calling doesn't have to be a job title. You know it isn't forever. This idea is so freeing in a world that glorifies that hustle and the labels of everything. What does a calling mean to you, and how did you learn to trust God that your calling might look different in different things in different seasons, from speech path to stay at home, mom, and you even have your creative business? So what would you say to the moms who are wrestling with the idea that what she's doing right now, even if it's quiet, unseen or messy, might be her exact calling for this time?
Jessica Drummond :I think it's just so beautiful that we can move in and out of like seasons and be like different people in and out of seasons, Like right now in my stay at home mom era. Like I don't put, I put on makeup for you today.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, you look beautiful.
Jessica Drummond :But, um, I don't know, like it's just there's a time and place for every season. There truly is. And so, um, I don't know, like it's just there's a time and place for every season. There truly is. And so, um, I don't think we should be nervous to like shift in it. I mean, we all are easier said than done, but like shifting in and out of seasons doesn't have to be like scary. And just because, like like when I, um, when we decided like it was going to be better for me just to be at home right now and like to kind of walk away from the speech path thing, I worked my booty off.
Jessica Drummond :I worked my booty off for my degree, and my parents sacrificed so much for that degree, and so I've had this sense of like man, like this is, I feel kind of guilty about this and, um, I really love what I do and I feel like I was decent, I mean, I'm, I'm decent at it, like I um. So it was kind of hard to walk away because, like your career, like your professional career, kind of becomes like an identity marker. Like if you think about it like, hey, well, like, my name is Jessica marker.
Alexis Schmoker:Like, if you think about, it like hey, well, like my name is.
Jessica Drummond :Jessica, what do you do, yes, and what do you say? You always, you always say your job. Like you always say your job. So, like even meeting new people, I'm like, oh, like I'm a speech path by trade, but right now I'm doing like the stay at home mom thing and I'm you know, it's just like what we're doing right now.
Jessica Drummond :Um, so like leaving and like kind of letting that part of me just like lay low for a little bit.
Jessica Drummond :The idea of that was hard, but like once I got past past it and like kind of into this new, like this is just what I'm doing right now, like I can get.
Jessica Drummond :I can pick that back up later and I will, like I, I love it, like I love it. I've done central ward in it, but like right now I feel like this is just where my family needs me most right now and it's just you just kind of go with it, like and know that it's a short time and like this is such a sweet time, like to be at home, like with babies. It's such a sweet time. Like it is hard, like it's it's hard to be at home with babies, but like it won't be like this forever but I just I get to see so much I get to shape character right now, um, in a way that like I just don't feel like I could have just having, uh, multiple kind of things on my plate and like you can do, it all, like people do it all, and I am like my jaw just hits the floor when I just see like moms rocking so many roles.
Jessica Drummond :But also like, if you just really want to focus on something like, you can do it too, Like, and you can pick up other things later. Yeah, you can do it too, like and you can pick up other things later. Um, even like my a call to create kind of stuff that I do on this side. It's kind of taken a back burner right now. Like I was super into it for a little bit, um, but we've recently moved, um, it's summer breaks and I have like weighed all the time, um, so I just don't have as much time and that's okay. Like I can, like I'm getting the older, I get the better I am at just like leaving things Right and like knowing I can pick them back up when it becomes. It's not?
Alexis Schmoker:over, Like those things aren't over and we're. We're kind of like the total flip side of that because I'm working full time. Yeah, um, my husband is a teacher, so you know we have the option of, during the summer, like, does he supplement and get a summer job or does he stay home? Yeah, and so he stays home. So that's like kind of that sacrifice that he makes, like and he loves it Like I say sacrifice, he, he like, thrives in it you know, and even our first year of doing that, I was nervous because crew was five months whenever it came summer.
Alexis Schmoker:And so I'm going from like being on maternity leave and he was in soccer season. So he was gone, like he was busy in soccer season when I was on maternity leave, and then all of a sudden, like it's my time to go to work, and I'm like already, yeah, I'm going to work and I get ready to like step out and I'm like, ugh, yeah, but wait, I'm like are you sure? Do you know you can do this? Like just questioning, and of course he like thrived at it.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, and they don't yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:And even though, like sometimes I'm like what do you mean? But like they he does excellent and just fine, and like that's his time to like connect and so kind of the same thing this summer, I'm like, okay, there's two of them now. Yeah, like are you sure? Yeah, you've got this, cause I know it can be hard, like it can be hard being at home with them by yourself all day long.
Jessica Drummond :Like you got to feed them.
Alexis Schmoker:You got to do all the things and I think just he stresses less about like they'll go to air Topia, the jump park. I've never taken crew and wild or both to air Topia by myself at the jump park because that overwhelms me. I can't do that.
Jessica Drummond :Lots of movement. Man Movement is so triggering to me I don't know what it is.
Alexis Schmoker:Overstimulated Like to him it's no big deal. And they go and they have a blast and they come home tired, yeah, and. I'm like it is true, sometimes she just she's a different beast, but I don't know, like it's just, there is seriously like a calling and a season for everyone, though Like and I never thought I would want to be a stay at home mom until I had kids, and then like, yeah, I've wanted to you know, but it's just not in our thing right now. You just like it'll come around.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, make whatever works and like, even if you don't stay at home, like you can still be just as intentional when you get home, yeah, absolutely. I mean, I went back to work after I had weighed and it was so good for like it was so good.
Alexis Schmoker:I mean, it was good for our family for me to like have a minute, yeah, because I kind of grieved like who I was before and who I would became in a way, and so I like needed this like identity kind of right speech path like yeah, like I'm a mom now, but like I needed a little bit of my like old self to help me feel kind of normal. Yeah, if that makes sense. No, I do.
Jessica Drummond :Um, so it's just, I don't know, I've been flow, but it was different this time.
Alexis Schmoker:I don't know.
Jessica Drummond :Like you're already kind of a mom and it and it I don't know Like it just yeah, this is who you are now. Fully embraced.
Alexis Schmoker:This is who you are now fully embraced. Yeah, this is who you are. So I can definitely I relate to that because I think it was like an identity thing too for my husband, like he's Mr stay-at-home dad, yeah, like he's full-time dad. And I feel like whenever people are like, oh, who keeps your kids or do your kids go to daycare, I'm like my husband and they're like what?
Jessica Drummond :yes, and I'm like no, yeah, he does yes, but like men are so good for kids yes, like they are so good for kids and I have to remember like Trace on his own is so good for our kids. Oh, it's different.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, and like you know, they get a lot of me on my own right now, but like Trace on his own, yeah, I mean he he may feel like a little like overwhelmed. I mean he's a wonderful dad, like he is the best, but like I hope he knows how good he is for our boys Like and I I hope that I'm going to tear up thinking about saying this but like he's such, he's such a good man that like I hope that our boys grow up to be a lot like him. And that's another reason I'm like God gave me boys, because he gave me Trace, and like we're just going to raise, like there's a responsibility to like raise good men that are good for the world that are leaders in their homes, that love their families, love their wives, love Jesus, and just are good, like or just good.
Jessica Drummond :good, because the world is so full of like. Not good, but I'm like, no, I'm putting out good product.
Alexis Schmoker:Like.
Jessica Drummond :I, with the help of Jesus Christ, like by golly, I'm putting out like good humans.
Alexis Schmoker:What is it like? The song, a song of Solomon, where at the end he says like children, a blessing, like they are an arrow yes, warrior, yes and that's how I I feel of it, like god has given you, like these arrows like to shoot straight and you are putting out like just a little army of god you know, crew always sings like I'm in the lord's army.
Alexis Schmoker:That song, yes, and I'm like, but that is like. So such a picture, though, like you are, given these little people that you can put out for the Lord's army, yes, yeah, like, and go out to raise them to be disciples themselves. And I know I feel like I hear so many people who will say like I just want, like my kids, to be exposed and like be able to choose whatever makes them happy with their faith like whatever faith, and I, I don't know.
Alexis Schmoker:It's hard. It's so hard too because you have to trust that they will choose Jesus, but it's like right now, when they're in my house and I have the ability to teach them like I feel such a responsibility. It.
Jessica Drummond :It's heavy, Like it could be heavy, it could be heavy. It's like this is like my purpose, like purpose whether you work or not.
Alexis Schmoker:Absolutely, that's your purpose. Yeah, like is to make a disciple.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, and that I mean that's hard Like that's intimidating a lot when you kind of think about it, it is.
Alexis Schmoker:It's a big thing to think about. Yeah, yeah, and so I don't know, and I think maybe people just haven't like sat in it. Yeah, maybe, whenever you're saying that. So I just encourage you maybe to sit in it, cause I have probably too much and it can be a lot, just because it's a big responsibility, for sure.
Jessica Drummond :We're equipped to do it because we're called to do it. And like God equips us, he gives us, like, what we need to be able to do that Like in I don't know like it's. That's that makes it like less intimidating and less scary. And you, literally there was a um, who was it? It was the last one I listened to, um, when she was talking about, like, doing the next right thing. Oh, kristen, Kristen, yes, so good, um. But you just, I mean like, if you sit in your present I was talking about earlier, and then just have that mentality of like, okay, god, like what's next? What do you want today?
Alexis Schmoker:What do you?
Jessica Drummond :want for like us, like next week, like just day by day, trusting that he's just gonna like pave the way. And then you just like keep doing the next right thing? Like you just such a? It doesn't have to be overwhelming and like yeah, yeah, it doesn't have to be overwhelming and intimidating Like it can be that simple.
Alexis Schmoker:It can be that simple. Yeah, and that's all you have to do. Yeah, yeah.
Jessica Drummond :Oh, so good, she was so good, she's so good I know.
Alexis Schmoker:She's so, so beautiful inside. Yeah, like, oh, I love her. Okay, so you said that you're a proud Buick kid. That made me laugh because you know Chad will see that it's so funny. So a Buick is a brought up in church kid and that your story has always been, you know, a steady pursuit. Honestly, that's the dream, just like we were talking about as moms, like that's our dream for our kids is that they'll grow up knowing and loving Jesus just from the start, and you credit your parents for helping build that foundation for you and your brother. So what is something that they did that really impacted your faith journey, and how are you carrying that legacy forward with Wade and Cal, hoping their stories with Jesus will feel steady and rooted on their own?
Jessica Drummond :I don't think I could have answered this question before I had kids. Yeah, like, truly, I think having kids just changes so much of the way that you think or even like, look at your parents, your perspective is so different.
Alexis Schmoker:Yes, um, you can't conceptualize it before.
Jessica Drummond :No, you have no idea, um. But now, looking back, I like looking back at my parents. I think my parents did a beautiful job of knowing in their gut that we were never theirs Like we. We were never theirs and they, to this day, I mean they'll still say we trust, we trust that God's got you, like as an adult child. But I think something that they did really well was just like clinging to the thought of like these aren't our kids, to like um, and you know, they've never like come out and said that. But I can look and say, like man, like they really see how they did. Yeah, I can see how they did that. And it's something that, like I want to do and need to do, like for for my family, because, like I mean we were kind of talking a while ago like our kids are not, they're not ours, I mean, they're made for us and us for them, which I think is so beautiful. Like that Wade and Cal were always in the cards for me, always like God's so good.
Alexis Schmoker:Everything growing up, everything has prepared you for this.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, from the time I was like Wade's age, like he was always made to be mine. From the time I was like a newborn, like cal, like he was always made to be mine and it's chill, yeah, it's chilling.
Jessica Drummond :But, um, I think that as long as you like keep that in mind and like truly give your children or your husband like over to jesus, like daily, and you know I'm not like waking up saying like I give my children and husband to you, god but, like, as long as you keep that in your in your heart, in your heart, and like know, like when times get hard, like no, like I know who has me and I know who has my husband and who has my kids, like I know, know who holds all of us, um, but I think that's something that they did really well at without like I don't know, like looking back on that, and it's something I want to do for my kids, yeah, Do you think they, like intentionally had these conversations behind the scenes?
Alexis Schmoker:I don't know, like, probably.
Jessica Drummond :My peers are great.
Jessica Drummond :I like to ask them yeah, hi mom, hi guys, I know I love you so much and I appreciate them so much more now as like a mom, then I don't know but, and they would say, like they're, like we messed up so much, jessica, I'm like did you like Look at, look at where you are. Yeah, Like I like I think he did okay and I can look back and be like, yeah, that was a hard season. Or like they joke about we listened to like K-Love growing up, or like contemporary Christian music I never had. I wanted a Shania Twain CD.
Jessica Drummond :so bad when I was young Like I want a Shania Twain CD, so bad.
Alexis Schmoker:And I never had a Shania Twain. Now you're a Shania girl.
Jessica Drummond :Oh, I love Shania. Like you can't keep me from her yeah. Jesus loves Shania too.
Alexis Schmoker:The Lord has connected us. Jesus loves Shania too.
Jessica Drummond :But they like to this day. They were like we should have just gotten you the Shania Twain CD. We're messed up so much and I'm like good grief, you just do what you can they? Good grief, you just do what you can Like, that's a joke at this point. Like you, you did what you thought was best.
Alexis Schmoker:Like you were filling my head with, like all this wholesome stuff. Not that Shania is not wholesome.
Jessica Drummond :But like I mean, you just do what you think is best, and like it's hard to draw that line. Yes, and there will be things that I look back on. I'm like why did I care so much about?
Alexis Schmoker:that Like. Why did I not?
Jessica Drummond :like you know, but in the moment it feels really big and feels really important.
Jessica Drummond :And I mean I see it like I see it now, um, so yeah, but also I think, too, like making community around your kids that's going to like pour into them is so important to you. Like you get to choose who, who helps who, who is part of your village. Does that make sense, like, and you want just like wholesome kids, wholesome parents like around, because it does take a village, but I think it's really important to surround yourself and your kids and your family with people that like are like minded, um, are people of faith, who are like pushing and pursuing you to like keep up the good work, like raising humans. That like it's really it really matters and um, so I just feel like giving your kids over to God and then like making sure that like your community around you is solid yeah, it's just so important and like children are a gift from God, but like so is community. Absolutely, your village is a gift. It's a gift.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, Um, my parents did such a good job at that too, because some of our like best friends to this day are like our parents best friends and their kids, and so it's they're the cooks. They went to OSU. Maybe you know them, Um, but they have a daughter my age, a daughter um Addie's age and then a son Avery's age and I mean even like Avery and Eli, best friends through college.
Alexis Schmoker:They both just graduated Like they were at Avery's um graduation party, like Kelsey does my hair, like they are still so ingrained in our life and they've even, like, moved away, moved back, like we've been separated. But my parents did such a good job like grounding us and building community around good people, you know, and just having good people pour into us and you know we were always in the VBS school, you know, and doing all the things. And then whenever we got bigger, like even our soccer community, whenever your kids are playing sports, like we still have even people through our soccer community that our parents chose to be friends with in that, within that group, that are still our friends to this day you know like just good people, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:So I think, yeah, just who you surround your kids with matters.
Jessica Drummond :so much, but that can also be hard to find.
Alexis Schmoker:It can be so hard to find. You have to be intentional about seeking it out. I feel so blessed, so blessed.
Jessica Drummond :Yes, I feel so blessed that, like it just kind of like found us, and I'm not from here.
Alexis Schmoker:Like I don't.
Jessica Drummond :I didn't grow up here and live here, but like I feel community like it would be it'd be so hard to leave where we are because of, just like the way that God has just provided, like so much community around us. But that can be really hard for people, like for some people, to find.
Alexis Schmoker:Um, yeah. And it's okay to like invite, like even next week, okay. So for example, we're having tacos and yeah, like you're coming over, katie from our small group leaders coming over, and then a couple of other girls and husbands and families that I met at a coffee shop. Like one of the girls, amy is a small group leader. I met her, we went to coffee, we met, like her friend and her husband, at the coffee shop.
Jessica Drummond :Like one of the girls amy is a small group leader. I met her. We went to coffee, we met like her friend and her husband at the coffee shop and I was just that instant, like I was like these are good people. Yeah, like I like that. You know, you know in your gut you're like, yeah, they're good people.
Alexis Schmoker:It takes like being intentional, of being like hey, I know this is like kind of weird, but do you guys all want to come over and have dinner together and let our kids play and they're like, yeah, people want to be invited too yes you know. So, just as much as yeah, you like want community, other people want community too, yeah, and so maybe taking that step, like it's easy, I guess, to wait for it to come to you but you can also take that step to be like hey, let's all like go get coffee or come over for dinner and it with kids.
Alexis Schmoker:We know a big show is not always the way to go like. Sometimes it is just like gosh everyone show up. Yeah, whatever happens happens, yeah come up like you bring the beans, I'll bring the taco meat, bring a towel for the kids and, like it's nothing fancy, yeah come hang and I mean just building, building that community.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, we got people over our house last night and everybody that showed up had like babies. Yeah, um, because my husband's birthday is tomorrow.
Alexis Schmoker:So we kind of celebrate, we celebrate on our anniversary. It was so weird.
Jessica Drummond :Um, but all these people like kind of um, it came and babies, and babies and babies. It was so funny because people were like hey, do you have a changing mat?
Alexis Schmoker:I'm like yeah, Do you have an extra?
Jessica Drummond :we forgot a bottle Like do you have like formula on hand? I'm like, yeah, like what do? You need Um. Hey, can I go feed? Maybe I'm like go to my room. There's a chair, it's cozy. Do you want um a boppy or do you want the um mommy or the mom cozy?
Alexis Schmoker:Like whatever you know yeah.
Jessica Drummond :We're all in it. It's just it feels a little less alone. It feels a little I mean it's chaotic, but like, yeah, everybody else is in chaos too and you don't have to feel bad about like this feels chaotic in my world, but like it's the same in everybody else's too, it's awesome it's awesome it won't be like this forever it won't the chaos is not forever no, you're gonna go through it like.
Alexis Schmoker:We went to the lake yesterday with our friends and they have two boys and then a newborn too, and I mean, yeah, she was having to go feed. We were like changing off nap time schedules, like and it just it's. It's, everyone is in chaos and it's easier to be together. Yes, like you're, you're in chaos whether you're at your house, yeah, or you're at someone else's house, whether you're at the zoo, whatever.
Jessica Drummond :Like, it's just easier, like you said, together yeah, togetherness is so and, like I, have sets of friends that we joke like we're like well, bring the chaos. Yeah, Like, truly Like, we just show up and you know, I may be watching somebody else's kid for a second while they're watching mine. Yeah, and it's like you help my kid, I help your kid. It's just like we, even if it's chaos.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, or even if you don't actually get to sit down and talk to each other.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, which is kind of sad right now in this season, but again it won't be like this forever.
Alexis Schmoker:You'll like make some passing conversations in the midst of it, but I just I love that, yeah, okay. Well, jess, I love this so much. Yeah, this is so fun. Thank you so much for being more than just a guest. You're such a true gift and you do such a crucial part in the podcast of being my executive producer editor Thanks.
Alexis Schmoker:Extraordinaire. So she is just the one encouraging in the background and offering that honest feedback and speaking just beauty and clarity into every single episode. So thank you so much and guys make sure to follow Jess at A Culture Create. We didn't even talk about A Culture Create, really, because you kind of said that.
Jessica Drummond :Listen, I'll come back. Yeah, we'll have to do it another time.
Alexis Schmoker:Yeah, this is something. I didn't even know about you until we started?
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, a lot of people don't. They're like wait, this is you.
Alexis Schmoker:And I'm like, yeah, it's a a dot call dot to dot create. On instagram, just how instagram liked it, yeah, and on your website, a culture createco. So I will link them in the show notes. But guys check it out, it's so beautiful and it's so meaningful and joy-filled just the art that you create. So, whether it's a custom piece or a live event, that was so cool.
Jessica Drummond :I love that I have a wedding this weekend, do you really? Yeah, oh well, fun. I'm doing like live sketches of the event.
Alexis Schmoker:Oh well, guys, go follow her, that way you can watch it. Except for this probably won't come out before. Well she'll do another wedding and then you guys can watch it or you need like a baby gift or wedding shower gift.
Jessica Drummond :Yeah, these are perfect engagement gifts, yeah.
Alexis Schmoker:Yes, this is the place to go, guys. You just got a super great recommendation, so check her out. She captures just the most heartfelt, intentional ways and moments. Okay, so thank you to all of you guys listening. Thanks for joining us today. Wherever you are in your motherhood journey, just know you are seen, you are loved and you are doing that sacred work, mama. So just keep it up. We love you, we're praying for you. We'll see you next time.
Alexis Schmoker:Mama, I'm so grateful that you took time out of your busy schedule today to listen to mama of the wild crew podcast. I'm alexa schmoker and I hope you love this conversation and that it resonated with you. Thank you so much for opening up your circle and letting us in. As we walk through this wild ride of motherhood together, remember, remember, in the chaos of motherhood, there is always joy to be found, so keep looking in those little moments that make it all worth it. Be sure to follow along on Instagram at mamaofthewildcrew underscore podcast. Please don't forget to like, subscribe and share our podcast. I'd love to hear from you. So comment, tag me, dm me, let me know what you think and let me know what you'd love to hear from you. So comment, tag me, dm me, let me know what you think and let me know what you'd like to hear next. Mama, I am praying for you, I love you and I cannot wait to see you next time.
