Entry 12 Welcome To Season Two

Welcome back to Motherhood Diaries 🤎

Season two feels softer. Slower. More honest.

In this episode, I’m sharing where my heart has been lately — slowing down motherhood, being more present, my walk with Jesus & sharing the news on a big change happening for our family  

This season, we’re diving into the real parts of motherhood:

the mental load, healing, gratitude, faith, identity shifts, and the cozy moments that somehow hold everything together.

So whether you’re listening while folding laundry, driving with the kids, soaking in a slow morning, or crying in the car after a hard day… you’re welcome here.

This season feels like coming home. 🤎

Transcript

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Welcome back to Motherhood Diaries and welcome to season two. I am so stoked to be back, and I can't believe we're here for another season, and I literally cannot wait for all that this season holds and all that's to come. I am bringing kind of a different feel into this season. I'm really slowing things down, being more intentional, more honest, less rushed, and just bringing more so the stage of motherhood that I'm in to this space. I'm also so excited to bring on incredible moms this season. I have so many moms that I'm going to go talk to and hang out with and get to know and just connections that are being made that I can't wait to share with all of you. And I think that these moms are going to impact you in so many ways. So stay tuned for that because that is a big part of what I'm bringing to this space. But overall, I'm just so glad that you're here. I'm glad that you're back. I'm glad that you're ready to walk season two with me. Like I said, it feels different, but in the best way. I know kind of what I'm doing with this whole podcast thing. And life just feels, I don't know, it feels a little slower, a little more grounded, less rushed lately, and a lot more honest. I'm learning to show up in ways that actually feel sustainable instead of constantly trying to keep up with everything around me. So I wanted to dive into some things on where I'm at right now, give you all an update of what motherhood looks like for me going into season two, and just kind of chit-chat with you guys about it. And then we'll dive into all the fun topics, all the fun guest episodes, and all the fun projects that we have coming. So to start, a little update. Since season one ended, I continued my social media break. I still do not have my own personal social media account. I just have the podcast account, and that has been so refreshing. Such a nice break. Just being able to pour into my motherhood diary space and connect with moms and just be able to show up in that space in the stage that I'm in right now without the pressure of everything that for some reason my personal page brought. I don't know why it did, but it did. It just seemed to be a space that was heavy and distracting, and it just didn't fill my cup anymore. So being able to pour fully into this Motherhood Diaries journey has been healing in more ways than I can say, and making connections that I otherwise wouldn't have. So that has been wonderful. We've really slowed down, also just in our household. Um, just a slower pace of life lately, trying not to rush through things so much, trying to be more present with my boys, be more aware of where they're at and what they need and showing up for them in the way that they need me. Diving into kind of what slower days have looked like for us. It's just less overscheduling. I think before I was constantly scheduling out my days, stacking my to-do list way too long, and putting so much pressure on every single minute, being productive. So I'm stopping that. I'm working on it. It's a work in progress. I still feel, you know, that mom guilt creeps in where I feel like, oh my gosh, I'm not doing enough today. We're working on it. Um, I used to think a good day meant I got so much done. And now I'm really learning that a good day can also be quiet. So laundry on the couch, whatever, kids playing without a strict agenda, cool. Sitting in the moment instead of constantly moving through it, wonderful. So there is peace in that. And I didn't used to let myself have that. So that has been growth that I'm really excited about. I've also really been leaning into my homemaking era. Um, I think it started with us kind of one of our goals this year as a couple and as a family is being more budget aware, being more frugal. We all know that the day and age that we're in right now is insane. Inflation is real, and it's easy to really get behind on things when you're not being intentional with your budget and with your finances. And for a minute there, I honestly felt like, oh my gosh, my husband is out there working his butt off, providing for us. What am I doing? Like, I'm not I'm not contributing to the finances at all. I have switched my mindset on that, and I'm hoping that I can bring more tips and tricks and thoughts on this topic specifically, because I think it's so important as moms to view this. But guys, we are contributing to that, like a hundred percent. I know it's easy to feel like we're not, but I have switched my mindset on that, and stepping into this homemaking era that I'm in means cooking more at home instead of you know that instant reaction of what's easiest, let's just do takeout tonight, or let's do this because this activity is quick and easy and the kids are gonna love it, or let's do this. And before we know it, like money's going out everywhere. So being more aware of that, being okay with speaking up and being like, we'll do dinner at home tonight, and it's gonna be wonderful, and just encouraging that more, and as you know, that mom at home and that supporting wife role, being able to switch my mindset and be like, no, like I want to support my family, and if this is how I can do it, then let's do it. Like, let's make homemade bread, let's make cookies every week, let's make muffins and prep breakfast and honestly are way more better than the store-bought. So I'm leaning into that and I've loved it. Not only has it affected our finances, which has been so cool to watch, it has also affected me personally. Being able to see what I can make with what we have, being able to use my hands and feel like I took something and made this incredible meal or this fun snack for the kids, and see them enjoy it and see that joy in their eyes, see Austin come home and be stoked to have a homemade meal. Like that has been so fulfilling for me. So if you're kind of in that stage of life where you're like, okay, I'm at home, but I don't feel like I don't know, you feel like you're missing something. Because that's what I felt. I was like, okay, I'm doing the day-to-day, I'm doing these things, I'm doing my, you know, laundry, keeping up with the boys, keeping up with the dishes, but I just feel like something's missing. Pour your heart into some cooking. Start learning, you know, learn a new recipe. Start meal prepping, whatever that looks like. Pour your heart into it and see what happens. For me, it has been a game changer and has brought so much joy into motherhood for me. Another thing that I've been navigating in this season, and I was really starting to lean into this last season, is self-love. I'm doing the things that fill my cup so that I can show up better in motherhood. I don't have it all figured out. I'm still very much still figuring out what that looks like and how I can do that and still be present with my boys, but also fill my cup so that I know that I'm showing up the best I can. Um, lately that has looked like I still have my one night a week that I get out, I leave, I do my thing, I fill my cup, I have some alone time. That is still so, so helpful. But I've also been like trying to do like small things, make it less like the big things. So I've been reading my Bible every day, and that has been a game changer. I've been journaling again, and that has brought so much joy and reflection. And then on top of that, I have been really trying to be intentional with myself, and lately that has looked like getting myself ready for the day every day. I started this really fun challenge with it going into the summer and being warm and us being out a lot. I was like, okay, I am in a slump and I need to do something about it. So every day I've been getting ready. And sometimes that looks like comfy joggers and just washing my face and putting on a fresh set of makeup instead of wearing yesterday's makeup, and that's a win. And other days I dress up a little bit more because I'm feeling it. But either way, just being intentional about it and being intentional with giving myself that time and putting that effort into myself has changed my mood immensely every day. Like I have felt like I can show up, I have felt like I can be social, and it has been a huge change in my mental health. So finding these things that just pour self-love into myself as a mom, as a wife, as just a person has been such a fun journey to navigate, and I'll continue to kind of share some things that I have found that help. And I would love to hear things that you guys do. I'm always looking for new things. So, whatever that looks like for you, make sure to message me or comment because I want to hear about it. Next, and this is something that I'm really bringing in this season. Coming into the first season, I went back and forth on how I wanted to show up in this space, how much I wanted to share of my personal life, how much I wanted to, I don't know, it was kind of still scary to be vulnerable, to be honest. So, this season of Motherhood Diaries, I'm bringing Jesus into it, guys. Like it's where I'm at in motherhood, and I can't hide that. I don't want to be ashamed of it. It's it's where I'm at. And I have stopped feeling like my faith has to look a certain way to be valid. I don't always have the right words, or I don't have the picture perfect, whatever, right? Some days I am it's a day full of prayer, and I'm feeling on top of the world, I'm feeling connected, and I'm feeling like my spirit is just on fire. And other days, it's literally just me saying, Jesus, I need you right now, and it's a prayer in my heart while I'm folding laundry or sitting in the driveway or whatever that looks like. But I'm learning it all counts, and I'm learning that we all are probably walking similar journeys with Jesus, and I don't want to be ashamed to share about my journey because honestly, if you guys are walking your motherhood journey alongside Jesus, I want to hear about it because that lights my soul. That literally I couldn't do motherhood without my relationship with God and without my knowledge of Him. So I'm gonna bring more of that into the season and I'm excited about that, and I'm hopeful that you guys are excited about that and that we can connect over that. Um, I'm also letting go of that shame that I used to feel about showing that part of me. I used to kind of keep it to myself, like I have to separate my faith from my everyday life to make people feel comfortable or to keep it quieter so that I didn't feel like too much or like I was pushing anything on anyone. But like I said, this is me. And it's a part of my motherhood and my healing and my grounding. And honestly, I feel more myself when I let God into all of it. When I talk about him, when I talk about my relationship with him, because it's a part of this whole journey I'm walking. I mean, he's a part of the slow days, the overwhelming days, the beautiful moments, the hard moments, and I want to share all of it. So I'm not hiding it anymore. I'm building my relationship with God, and I'm in the middle of it currently. Like I said, I don't have this biblical, perfect knowledge, incredible everything figured out. I don't. I am literally in the middle of it, walking my journey with my relationship with Jesus, and I want to share about it. So my prayer is that bringing my walk with Jesus and my journey of bringing God into my motherhood and what that looks like and sharing my faith with all of you, that we can also connect over that. Because there's something about connecting over a mutual love of the gospel and of God that I just feel like brings so much power into relationships and into this motherhood journey. Okay, now that we've covered kind of where I'm currently at in my motherhood journey, in my personal life, kind of what it's like in our home currently since season one ended, and what I want to bring to this space. I think it's only fair that I give you guys kind of like the biggest life update ever. We have some changes coming for our family, and that currently includes moving back to Utah. So, for those that don't know, me and Austin were born and raised in Utah. That's where we met, that's where we grew up, and we moved to Idaho for Austin's job, and we love Idaho, we will always love Idaho, we love our home here, and there's been so many memories and so much growth. But Austin's job is moving us back to Utah and was super unexpected and came out of nowhere, and so we're just following it and trusting it, and the shift it's brought up a lot of reflection for me just about home and and what I want our days to feel like and what actually matters in this season, and just leaning into this change and all that it's gonna bring. It is a big change, but along with that, it kind of feels like returning in some way. It kind of feels like we're realigning with where we need to be right now, and I see God's hand in all of it, and we're just so excited. So we're kind of in a transition phase right now, which I'm sure you'll hear more about in the upcoming episodes because life's a little cray cray. Um, Austin's going back and forth from Utah to Idaho for the next while. He's kind of working both, kind of getting some things figured out during the transition. We're trying to sell our house in Idaho so that we can fully move me and the boys there with Austin as soon as possible. Um, ideally, we just want to get there, get settled, and be fully there. So any prayers would be appreciated. Just that our house can sell and that we can be reunited as a family and fully be in Utah and just start our life there would be so, so appreciated. Um, because we all know in-between is hard, transitions are hard, limbo is so hard, and I'm trying to lean into faith that there's a plan and that it's gonna be so worth it. But the next little while is gonna be it's gonna test me, guys. It's gonna test me. I'm gonna have to have a lot of solo mom days, and I'm gonna need a lot of patience. So all the prayers and good vibes would be appreciated. But, anyways, overall, couldn't wait to share with you guys, especially because I know I have so many of my Utah mamas and besties that I just couldn't wait to tell about this. Um, so in the next few months, we will be returning home to Utah, and we cannot wait. Alright, so I just dumped on all of you. We just had a great chit-chat, a great catch-up. I just felt like that's what I needed to start this season. I mean, last season was so beautiful. We've covered so many incredible topics, and I took a good break that was so needed. I know I kind of abruptly ended season one, and I apologize that it kind of came out of nowhere, but I honestly had hit a really low point personally where I was burnt out, exhausted, and I needed to just reset. So I kind of disconnected, took some time to reflect and really pray and think about what I want for this space and what I want to bring to this space because it is so meaningful to me, and I feel I really do see God's hand in it. I feel like there's a purpose for this, and I feel beautiful connections being made. Um, so I took the time to really think about it and ponder on it, and as well as just fill my cup again, rejuvenate myself, spend time with my family, my boys, process all the change that's happening in our life, and now I'm back and I'm here. I just felt like it was only fair that we just sat down for the first episode and had ourselves a little catch-up chit-chat and talked all the things that's been going on, what to expect with the sex season, and just get you guys hopefully so excited. So in closing, if I had to sum up the season in one feeling, it would be coming home. Coming home to slower days, coming home to myself, coming home to what really matters. And I hope if you're listening that you feel a little less pressure to rest through your own life, to be able to come home and rest and just whatever that looks like for you, be able to come to this space and just be, and just be present and just listen and connect and connect on all these different journeys that we're walking. And honestly, I just feel like it's the perfect time to start this season because it's a fresh start, and this is Motherhood Diary season two. So thank you for being here, and thank you for showing up in any way that you could today. And I cannot wait to walk this journey together. We'll talk to you next week.