It’s early morning and I’m in my kitchen, trudging from the coffee pot (where I pour a fresh cup of life)
to the pantry to get out breakfast (cereal & fruit today, because homemade pancakes are reserved for slow Saturday mornings).

After the kids eat and they’re washed up and playing, I’ll dust the living room and then answer some emails in between wiping bottoms, filling sippy cups, and getting down on the floor to read a board book (for the thousandth time) to my fair-faced baby-girl or join the land of make believe pushing cars and tractors around with my creative little guy.

Sometimes there’s a break for mindless social scrolling... and on occassion, there’s the need to put out a fire (figuratively speaking of course, well there was that one time - but that’s a story for another day).  Checking my watch I see it’s almost lunch time, so there I head, back to the kitchen to prepare another meal.

Pulling out leftovers I notice the feeling of emptiness, and my mind wanders... there has to be something else to focus on, something more than just going through these motions, just making it through the day.  Eww, mom’s aren’t supposed to think like that, are they?  My mom-guilt kicks in shaming me, can’t you just be grateful you have these precious little people to take care of.  Yes mom-guilt... of course I am grateful, 1,000% I am.  After giving myself a talking to I try to ignore the pull that won’t leave.  Now so strong it’s echoing in my mind, that maybe there is something more.  Could I be made for something more than this?

I know there are some of you reading this saying YES, yes, I know those feelings!  I have been torn like this before.   Maybe, you’re torn right now.  Maybe you’ve been there and shoved it back down, buried under the discomfort of said mom-guilt.  Or perhaps, you went with it; saw it as a sign, that yes, your purpose was even bigger than this.  Yet, you find yourself still struggling with that heavy motherly burden, that has been instilled in us (not even subconsciously, but often times like a bat to the face - that this isn’t what a “good mom” does).

Still with me?  It's about to get really GOOD!​

An island of calm... ohhhh... how lovely does that sound? Do you instantly create a vision of what that looks like? I do. I imagine bright blue skies over an expanse of powdery sand that meets warm turquoise water... there’s a salty breeze that carries the distinct smell of the ocean, and a rhythmic sound of waves softly lapping on the shore. {Sit with that a moment}​

Then boom! Flashback to reality, let me share with you the chaos I’m *actually* sitting in: outside it’s dark, dreary, and the threat of rain has forced us inside, the living room floor is littered with an overabundance of brightly colored toys making sounds and music atop my kids’ giggles and tromping noises (with an occasional fuss and argument thrown in for good measure), and the scent... well, that’s still distinct, but not quite like the ocean... it’s the scent of my oil diffuser being overtaken by a new dirty diaper. #MomLife Where’s that island again?

Curious yet, why I’m having you swoon over an island dream when I know that’s clearly not most of our realities? {It’s definitely not mine}

Because I want you to feel that relaxed calm feeling at some point in your day. I don’t want it to be all noise and dirty diapers (or whatever your chaos is), and I know you don’t either. You deserve to relax. {Say that with me and breathe it in “I deserve to relax”}

That leads us to the question, how can we get more of those good feels in the middle of our real life moments? How do we create our own version of an island of calm amidst the chaos?

My front window is forever smudged with fingerprints because the kids *love* looking out at the squirrels and birds playing in our yard, the cars (broom-brooms) driving by, and at the farm across the road (trust me, when you’re 1, the cows are highly entertaining).​

I clean it (occasionally; have I mentioned the 3 kids?)… but it never stays clean for long.  Even though the “circumstances” aren’t perfect I still enjoy looking through it… and appreciating the view outside (like this beautiful sunrise).  What a missed opportunity it would be to only see the smudges (and yes, I know there are a lot of them).

Today, I invite you to look past your circumstances to appreciate the beauty around you - whatever that looks like for you… your family, friends, health, anything, even your actual view.

Leave me a comment & share what you’re grateful for, even if there is a *smudge*… maybe more importantly, because there IS a smudge - all the more reason to find the beauty.

As I mentioned way back in the Intentional Living Series intro, one of the ways I live my life with intention is starting each morning with prayer and devotions.  It’s such a powerful way to set the tone of your day!​

First, know that there are many ways to connect to God, and they are unique to you.  Think of the things that bring you contentment, joy, appreciation, awe, gratitude, fulfillment, delight, connection, belonging, or love.  In those moments you are connecting to God.

The entire idea of living intentionally can be prefaced with that one question.  I invite you to pause for a moment to consider it.  What would you do if you were the bravest version of yourself living into your highest purpose?  After all, you were put here on purpose for a purpose.

Would you make better choices about what goes into (and onto) your body?  Would you make purposeful movement an important part of your daily routine? Would you have a different relationship with your husband or children or friends?  Would you pursue a new career?  Would you finally take actions towards a long held dream?  Maybe you’d simply put yourself on the list of priorities for once.  Or perhaps it’s something else entirely.  What sets your soul on fire?

I believe when you allow yourself to answer these questions honestly and then make small changes daily towards creating your best life, you will find a new rhythm to your days… this thing called life will be a more positive and fulfilling experience.  Your daily routine won’t seem quite so mundane anymore.  You’ll begin to see things open up for you that you never imagined possible.​

That’s what intentional living is for me.  And I’d like to share it with you.  I’d love to help you on your journey and help you become the highest version of yourself.  I’ll be taking you through my journey and invite you to come along… be inspired, be amused, and grow with me.