Good bye blog

Just a quick, last post to say goodbye. I have LOVED my blogging experience and treasure the friendships I have made over the past couple of years. Thank you all! But, I've done some inward reflection over the weekend and I realize that I'm blogging for the wrong reason. This is embarrassing to admit, but honestly, I blog to persuade others, and myself, that I'm awesome. That I'm more than the mistakes I've made, that I'm more than a clueless young mom, that I- a Mormom- believe in and accept Jesus Christ as my savior, and that because of this belief I am filled with hope and therefore cannot pause to be sad, or scared, or missing my mom (which I often am and do!) With every post I type, I feel like I'm persuading people (friends, family, and even strangers) that I have it all together. I feel like I am arguing my beliefs and justifying my parenting and trying to be more talented than I really am. It's ridiculous! This passive aggressive approach to relationships with everyone is delusional and self destructive! I'm so concerned with trying to be great that I am always tearing myself down and often don't let me just be me. Slowly, without me even knowing it, I've set exhausting expectations for myself and I'm ready to let them go. If this quote rings true (and I apologize for not knowing who originally said it) then I'm ready to be silent. Silent and happy and content, with my focus on my children and my husband and a heart guided quietly by my loving Lord.

CONFIDENCE

is silent

INSECURITIES

are loud

It's like what Oz learned at the end of the film Oz Great and Powerful, there is something even better than greatness: goodness. Fixing my priorities starting today. So, good bye friends!

Jesus Christ Created the World for Me

  

We were having a really rough week. We all had colds and baby brother was the sickest. I was exhausted from being sick myself, from taking care of sick children, and only getting a few hours of sleep each night. To say I was feeling overwhelmed would be an understatement. Just when I thought things couldn't possibly get worse, the exterminator showed up (our apartment has a terrible spider problem). His presence didn't make things worse, what he told us did: We needed to leave for at least an hour because the chemicals weren't safe for the children. The sky was grey, we were still in our pajamas, my sinuses hurt, my husband had our only car with him at work... Where could we go? What could we do? I burst into tears and got the kids ready for a long walk... and it started to rain. Discouraged and defeated, I set out with my two babies prepared to suffer through a long, weepy hour. But, do you know what happened? The motion of the stroller lulled our sweet baby to sleep- his first restful sleep in days, and without me having to hold his heavy little self. The rain gave way to a mist and the grey clouds blocked what would have been a sweltering glare from the sun. While we walked, my ever curious toddler pointed out the bunnies, the rocks, the stream, the sounds of birds and insects; everything around her fascinated her! The wonderment in her voice refocused me and I looked up to the heavens with a thankful heart. I started speaking out loud as if to tell my daughter that those bunnies, those rocks, that stream, those incredible chirping, buzzing sounds were made by God- because He loves us, but the words were really for my own benefit. For the first time in a long time I saw the world through wondering eyes in all it's beauty, with all it's mystery and I felt such balance and such joy! I felt so blessed to have this safe and lovely walking path available to us; so blessed to breathe in fresh air and enjoy the vivid colors of the world around us. 

This experience goes so well with the lesson we were focusing on this week! I'm really grateful that we had this lesson on our minds, otherwise I may not have realized how great a world I am a part of and could have gone without the comfort I felt from acknowledging Gods creation this week. 

The Bringing our Children Unto Christ series continues: 

 30 Weeks to bringing our children unto Christ using the nursery manual found on lds.org.

Each morning, we begin our day with breakfast at the dining room table. 

Before we start our hectic day, we take some time to be still...

We pray together and we learn of Him.

In just a few moments a day, we plan to complete one lesson each week. 
I do not claim these lessons as my own, but I can testify of their goodness. 
Studying these truths together as a family has brought us all closer together,
and closer to our loving Heavenly Father. 
The atmosphere in our home when we start our day with a nursery lesson is one of peace and love.

Lesson seven is:

Jesus Christ Created the World for Me

How we learned about this, this week:

1. Sing about it: My Heavenly Father Loves Me (Music and lyrics here: Children’s Songbook

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by, 

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heavenly Father created for me.

:

2. Read about it: Genesis 1:1,  Moses 2:1,  Moses 6:63, Abraham 3:24–25

3. Personalize it: Inspired by a suggestion in the nursery lesson, we created a book together this week. It is a 5 page book. Each page had a simple image of something God created and that our daughter is really interested in right now. She loves stars, animals, trees... Our daughter colored the pictures, one page each day, while baby brother looked on. Soon he'll be old enough to join in! 

 This lesson can be viewed in its entirety here: lds.org

Heal an ear infection, naturally!

Little girl got sick and gave her germs to daddy, 

who passed them on to mom and baby. 

I guess the family that shares together... 

suffers together? Not any more! 

I never want to catch a cold, suffer a sinus infection, or endure a fever without doTERRA essential oils again! We all battled those awful symptoms this week, but poor baby boy had it the worst of all of us. Our little nine month old screamed all day and all night. It wasn't until after fervent prayer that my husband caught on and suggested the poor dear had an ear infection! Of course! Babies are so susceptible to those and he was tugging on his little ears so miserably! I frantically called neighbors for doctor recommendations, and called members from our church to help drive us as our only car was in the shop- but we didn't even have our car seats, so never mind that idea. And just when the whole situation seemed too much to bare I decided to give my essential oils (EOs) a try. Following the advice of EO experts, I applied melaleuca and lavender to his ears. Within 5 minutes his desperate screams gave way to happy smiles! The first smiles we'd seen in three days! I did the treatment twice that first day, and once the second day and he's been fine ever since! What a blessing doTERRA is to our family! The funny thing is now whenever this cutie pie sees a cotton ball his eyes kind of glaze over all hypnotized like and he leans in to run his head and face on the little white poof. Kids are smart! He knows what makes him feel better. :)

By clicking on the above image, you can view it larger.
Send me a message if you'd like to learn more about doTERRA,
and how it is literally changing lives every day!

Another Used- to- be- Maternity Skirt

Here's a little number that went from this:

Maternity Friendly Circle Skirt; Tutorial [here.]

to this: 

I started by removing the maternity waist band and opening up the side seam. I basically cut a panel out of this circle skirt to make a smaller, less full circle. I needed to add a zipper and finish off the top but was able to leave the original hem.

Becoming Who I Want to Be

Original Source Unknown

I love my kids because they love me even when I stay in my pajamas ALL day. I love my husband because he loves me even when he comes home to a messy apartment and a cold dinner, despite my best efforts. I love that the soundtrack playing on repeat in my mind all day includes Wheels on the Bus and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. I love that I become a jungle gym every time I flop down on the floor to relax, that I always have a spit up spot (or two) on my right shoulder, and that my toe nail polish is always selected by my two year old. I love it all, I really do.

But, sometimes I remember the old me. Not because I'm not happy with the current me! I love my life! I'm just saying that sometimes I remember that girl that actually got 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. The girl that wore the cute shoes and fake eye lashes. The girl that liked to travel the world and socialize. And, sometimes I wonder about the future me. Will I reconnect with who I was? Will I somehow disappear into the piles of laundry and little league/ dance recital audiences? Have I just put myself on hold for the next 18 ish years, and will I try to pick up where I left off when the kids have grown? I don't really think the stilettos and glitter of my twenty year old self will have the same affect on the 38 year old, saggier, more maternal me... Will I be best friends with my husband? Or will he have grown and accomplished so much in his corporate world career, while I stayed at home forming play doh, that we won't even have anything to talk about? 

You know who I'd like to be in the future? I'd like to be just like Leigh Anne Tuohy as represented by Sandra Bullock in the movie The Blindside. Fit, beautiful, professional, involved mother, happily married, and not ignorant to those in need of a little family love. I'd like the future me to have been there, at home, for my children while still having set an example to them in such things as forming friendships, achieving goals, continually learning and enjoying life. 

So, I started something new. I didn't give it a lot of thought. An opportunity presented itself, I got the 'go- ahead' from my always supportive husband, and I jumped. I took that leap of faith. It may not have been the best time. (Waiting to close on a house is generally not the right time for any sort of additional investment.) But, if not now- then when? Is there ever actually a wrong time to start being who we want to be? I know that my efforts to learn, share and inspire through doTERRA will spark new friendships and opportunities to socialize, maybe even give me a reason to bust out those cute shoes again. Maybe what it comes down to is having a reason to hold myself to a higher standard than the all day pajama mama!

I am first and foremost a mom. Nothing is more important than raising the next generation. I am now also an Independent Product Consultant for the company doTERRA. Last week I learned about the company and products during nap times and became doTERRA University Certified! Ok, it's seriously not a big deal; just a matter of completing a few online quizzes, but I'm not going to lie: It feels good to have accomplished something that came with a certificate! I am hopeful that this new journey will include many more accomplishments down the road. In the meantime, I am so excited to be part of this life changing company and I love how my family is already benefiting from doTERRA essential oils! 

If you are looking for an opportunity to enrich the lives of your family members through natural, pure products used in holistic health care, cleaning and spa products- and/ or if you are looking for an opportunity to make friends, work your own hours, determine your own goals and expectations, and even bring in some additional income, then this company is probably perfect for you, too! Find out more by visiting mydoterra.com/jessicamyers or even easier, send me an e-mail! doterraipc.jessica@gmail.com