Author Archives: Heidi St. John

About Heidi St. John

Heidi has been married to her husband Jay since 1989. Together they have seven children and three grandchildren! The St. Johns homeschooled their kids all the way through high school. Heidi is the the author of seven books, host of the popular podcast "Off the Bench," and the founder of MomStrong International, an online community of women learning God's Word and how to apply it to every day life. She and her husband Jay are also the founders of Firmly Planted Family and the Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center, located in Vancouver, Washington.

The Busy Mom’s Fall Menu and Planning PRINTABLE!

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SO, it’s here. School has started. Time for routine, time for a new schedule, time to get.this.train.moving.

Every year, I make a different printable to motivate my houseful of—ummm—eager helpers.

This year, I’ve switched things up a bit by including three smaller sections on my printable planner. I’ve also added a space for you to assign laundry to different people on different days. As our kids get older, I’ve given them their own days to do their own laundry. If your kids are little, it might be a place for you to assign a room or something like “bedding” on a particular day. Do what works for you. Be creative! Stress down.

Also, while the menu thing is a big deal—try not to overcomplicate it. There’s a line there… just one—because that’s all you need to write the word “spaghetti” or “chili” or “cereal.” Here’s the thing: just knowing that you’ve got what you need in the fridge and have a plan in place will save you tons of time and emotional energy.

Hey. The life you save might be your own! Honestly! When I I have a meal plan, my life is a whole lot less stress-filled. I use my crockpot religiously, too. 🙂 Just in case you’re wondering.

You can do this, busy moms! Feel the rush of routine. And then, buckle up! We’re off to a new school year!

Download your Menu/Shopping/Laundry printable here!

In case you missed it, here’s my complete menu printable from last year, too!

BONUS: THE BUSY MOM’S CHORE CHART!

Yep. I’m “that mom.”

Onward, brave mother!

Thank you, Robin

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There’s an awful lot of noise on the Internet today about yesterday’s news.

You know: yesterday’s news. Killings in Syria. Riots in Missouri. Iraqi children dying because their parents profess faith in Jesus. Political battles. Broken marriages. Starving children. More rockets in Gaza. And then, it came. A “push notification” on my phone from a news outlet that Robin Williams was dead at the age of 63.

I blinked and read it again before going downstairs to our office to read the news to my husband and daughter. No one said anything. It was hard to believe. Surely not the Robin Williams. Not Mrs. Doubtfire, surely. Not the man who made us laugh until our sides hurt and reduced us to tears in Patch. It was almost like hearing a good friend was gone. And indeed a good friend was gone. The world lost a friend yesterday.

Celebrities are like that. We feel that we know them… but we don’t. Not really. It made me think of all the people I “know” from their books and blogs and TV shows and churches. We judge and talk and speculate and write. But we don’t really “know.” Not really.

Yesterday is over now, and I’m already tired of the navel-gazing about Mr. Williams’ death. All this talk of battles with depression from people who have never actually experienced it at that level will tell you it was a “choice” as if Robin went to the store to choose what he wanted for dinner. Where is the grace? I don’t think Robin was trying to be the poster child for depression—I think he was in a pit so deep that he could not see his way out. And when he finally gave up, the world lost a man who brought joy to millions by his transparency and desire to see us laugh with—and even at—him.

So thank you, Robin. Thank you for smiling when you felt like crying. Thank you for trying so hard. Thank you for making us laugh. I never knew you, but I, like millions of others, will miss your gentle smile and contagious laughter. My heart is breaking for your sweet wife.

As we get back to today’s news, we’ll remember the day Robin’s light went out. I will tuck this away in my heart as a reminder that people need Jesus. We live in a nation who elected our President because we needed “Hope and Change.” We all need it, don’t we? Hope that the war in Iraq will stop. Hope that people will see the unborn for the precious lives they are. Change of heart, change of direction… and yet … hope and change will never be found apart from Jesus.

Sounds a little silly I know, but I wish I could have told Robin how infinitely loved by his Creator he was. You see, until we see ourselves through the eyes of the one who loves us best, we never really know what love looks like. And we need to know. Every single one of us.

You.Are.
Loved.

What Husbands Wish Their Wives Understood About Their Own Bodies

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A man designed my bathroom. I know it. How do I know this? Because a woman would never think to put a massive mirror right outside the shower door. I caught myself glancing in the mirror yesterday as I stepped out of the shower. I stopped for a moment and took in my reflection—something I don’t often do. I won’t lie—seven children and 44 years has taken a toll on my body. A wave of insecurity washed over me as looked in the mirror. I didn’t like what I saw.

Stretch marks. A lot of them. My legs show signs of aging. My tummy. Ugh. Don’t get me started. Things aren’t where they used to be. No doubt about it: I won’t be a cover girl for “Shape” magazine anytime soon.

God’s word echoed in my heart. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

In its time. (“My time has come and gone,” I thought.)

Believe me when I say I’ve had this conversation many times with my husband over our nearly twenty-five years of marriage. I’ve told him how embarrassed I feel at the sight of “me” and it’s turned into a classic “he said/she said,” because I’m here to tell you, Jay says that on this issue, he speaks for men in general—and he thinks we women have it wrong.

I’ve had the opportunity to talk with many men on this topic, as my husband and I often do marriage workshops together, and almost across the board, in healthy marriages (where porn, especially, is not an issue) women are grappling with a lot more than men wish we would.

The way we see ourselves as wives is a big deal to our husbands. We may see dimples on our thighs or sagging breasts—but they see thighs and breasts! It’s true!

Most husbands we’ve asked say that they don’t even notice the flaws in their wife’s body. They just want to be wanted! Women don’t have to be overweight to struggle with their self-esteem in this area, either. Some of the most beautiful women I know struggle to be intimate with their husbands because of—you guessed it—body image.

It’s a sensitive topic, isn’t it? I would venture to guess that I’m not alone in my struggle with the full-length mirror—but I’m learning something: It’s an intimacy robbing, joy-stealing lie, this belief that our husbands want us to look like the women we see gracing the covers of magazines.

Why why why is our culture so obsessed with being skinny? I’ll tell you why: because on some level, we believe it. We believe being skinny is the ideal, too.

I thank God for the perspective my husband brings to this tender topic, because he always brings me back to reality. He recently said, “Since when has it been unattractive to have hips? Since when does ‘attractive’ only fit inside a size 6 pair of pants?” God’s original intent was that we would be one flesh with our husband—without that shame and embarrassment that the world has put upon us.

The flip side of this, of course, is the woman who feels too skinny, too flat-chested or too “boyish” to be beautiful. Here’s a secret: a good husband doesn’t want you to be flawless; he wants you to want him. It’s true! Ask.

Are you enjoying the body God has given you? Are you finding joy, delight—and pleasure in your body when you are with your husband? If not, you’re missing out on something amazing.

Be encouraged today as you’re thinking about your relationship with your husband— especially if you struggle in this area. God’s design and intent for marriage is that the sexual relationship between a husband and wife would be a fulfilling one—not just for him, but for YOU!

I’ve written about this before and I’ll say it again— sex is about more than just making babies. Herbert Miles said, “God created the one flesh experience to be the most intense height of physical intimacy and the most profound depth of spiritual oneness between a husband and wife.” The sexual relationship that you have with your husband is precious.

Don’t allow the world to define it for you.

If you’re struggling in this area, here are five very simple, practical things you can do right now to begin to enjoy your body, flaws and all:

Communicate with your husband about how you’re feeling. Ask him for his perspective and let him know exactly what you are struggling with.

Be real with your girlfriends. My husband sometimes cringes when I tell him I’ve talked to my best girlfriends about intimate issues. “You talked to her about that?” My answer? “YES I DID! And she helped me gain a right perspective!”

Take care of your body. You only have one. Take care of it. You are worth 30 minutes of exercise a day. If you need to, get up earlier—but make this a priority. Eat right. You’ll feel better about your body when you like what you see.

Stop comparing yourself to others. We are all different. Different body shapes. Different figures. Be the best YOU that you can be.

Take a risk in the bedroom. Every woman’s idea of “risky” is different—but if you’re hiding under a flannel nightgown every night, it might be time to stop doing that. My hunch is that if you’ve got a good man, he’s going to love the idea of you… naked and unashamed … passionately in pursuit of his affections.

Enjoy your body! Love your husband—and let him love you.

You’re beautiful, busy mom—inside and out.

Teaching Our Kids About Honor

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Yesterday, I was in a grocery store with my daughter. She was glancing at magazine covers as we unloaded our cart contents onto the conveyor belt. Aside from the usual gossip magazine covers, I noticed that several major magazines had lead stories about young people (and a few not-so-young people) who were making the most of their celebrity status—by behaving foolishly.

A magazine cover indicates a certain sort of honor, doesn’t it? That’s what my young daughter assumes.

Have you ever wondered why it’s important that we use wisdom in giving honor? You don’t have to look much farther than the newspaper and national media to figure out that we’re not exercising much discernment in bestowing honor these days. Here’s who we are currently elevating to “celebrity” status:

Athletes whose lives off the field are a wreck
Pastors who have a “following” but lack personal integrity
Reality TV personalities
Bloggers (hello!)
Actors
Musicians

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying that these people are not worth of honor. But honestly? It’s not hard to see we have a problem where honor is concerned in our culture. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of bestowing honor.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

In Romans 13:7, Paul instructs us to give honor to whom honor is due. When we honor people such as athletes simply based on their skill and ignore their personal lives, we do everyone a disservice. When we honor celebrities who clearly have huge moral deficits, what message are we sending to our children?

I believe the message is clear: we’re telling our kids that as long as they can produce something that other people want (like a winning touchdown), all bets regarding their behavior are off. There’s no clear solution on the horizon, either. As a culture, we need to do a better job of honoring those to whom honor is due. Christian or not, behavior matters.

As parents, this translates into everyday life with our children. When we praise our children for their achievements regardless of their behavior, we’re not doing them any favors. Praise them for their integrity, courage, kindness, respect and honesty. Let’s help our children to make wise choices by making wise choices ourselves. When we honor the wise choices they make, we are teaching our children what is worthy of praise.

The Busy Mom’s Gift Guide for HIM: Gifts for Every Busy Dad

HANDY MAN DAD:

DEWALT DCK385C2 20V MAX Lithium 3-Tool Combo Kit with Hammer Drill and Impact Driver

Stanley 65-PIECE homeowners tool kit – The neighbors will have nothin’ on your man!

Ok. This. This is the ultimate tool for every dad. My dad and his dad both love their Leatherman tools! It’s the ultimate gift that turns ordinary men into MR FIXIT! Check out this Leatherman Wingman Multi Tool . The Wingman Multi Tool is is a mid sized, fully functional, affordable Leatherman tool tha’ts project ready whether it’s used at the campsite, on the job or around the house.
Go, Go, GADGET! Clean our windows! WINBOT W710, the Window Cleaning Robot, for Framed Windows ONLY WINBOT is Today’s Solution to Window Cleaning! No more dangerous ladders. No more moving furniture. No more spraying, dripping or mess. Leave all that behind and let WINBOT do the work!

FOR THE TRAVELIN’ MAN

Dual USB & 12V Heated Mug – BLUE Plugs into your USB port or 12V auto adapter… keeps your coffee steaming while you work or drive! Cool, eh?

“Best Dad Ever” Mug – because every dad needs a great mug that says he’s great.

BOOKS HE”LL LOVE

If dad doesn’t have a Kindle yet, he’s missing out. Really. I mean it. Here’s what other folks are saying about the awesome Kindle:
“Amazon Paperwhite Is The Best Digital Reading Experience Money Can Buy” — Mashable
“Not only is it a great ebook reader, it’s the only one even worth considering—great hardware and Amazon’s spectacular ecosystem are an untouchable combination” — The Verge

Star Wars: Vader’s Little Princess In this irresistibly funny follow-up to the breakout bestseller Darth Vader and Son, Vader—Sith Lord and leader of the Galactic Empire—now faces the trials, joys, and mood swings of raising his daughter Leia.

Made by Dad: 67 Blueprints for Making Cool Stuff No screens, no hi-tech gadgetry. Made by Dad combines the rough-edged, handmade ethos of a Boy Scout manual or The Dangerous Book for Boys with a sly sense of humor that kids love.

The One Year New Testament for Busy Dads
You KNOW I love this! In as little as 5 minutes a day, a busy dad can connect with God and read through the New Testament within a year. This One Year New Testament is a handy trim size that is convenient for busy dads. The New Testament is divided into 365 daily readings with a quick intro and a concluding thought for each daily passage. Application questions focus on the felt needs of busy dads.

FOR THE DAD WHO LOVES HIS MUSIC

Bose “SoundLink” Mini Blue Tooth speaker – This is what my husband was drooling over last week. Bose is one of the best and this baby has great reviews. Shh. Don’t tell Jay.

SOUL by Ludacris SL99 High-Def Sound Isolation In-Ear Headphones Hubby found these and bought them for our 15,000 mile road trip. He says they are some of the best he’s ever had. Just thought I’d share that fact.

iHome Stereo FM Clock Radio with Lightning Dock for iPhone and iPod Charge and play lightning-capable iPhone and iPod models via flexible Lightning dock. The iPL8BN is a great looking, space-saving speaker system for listening to all your music. Wake or sleep to your favorite iPhone or iPod tunes or FM radio stations through high fidelity drivers in a specially designed Reson8 speaker chamber with EXB expanded bass circuitry. Auto sync feature instantly sets clock to iPhone or iPod time.

THE NEW DAD

For snapshots with rich color from a camera that’s easy to use, the Canon PowerShot SD790IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom is an outstanding compact 10 MP point-and-shoot. So easy, even a sleep-deprived parent can use it!

Infant Optics DXR-5 2.4 GHz Digital Video Baby Monitor with Night Vision is the perfect gift for the guy who wants to keep a watchful eye out for his little one. Might even use it for date night, (you know the kind where you all stay home but baby sleeps in another room.) 🙂

The Baby Owner’s Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year Maintenance is the perfect mix of wit and wisdom for new dads. We first saw this when our son-in-law brought it to the hospital after their son was born. Priceless!

The New Dad’s Survival Guide: Man-to-Man Advice for First-Time Fathers: FATHERHOOD DEMYSTIFIED! Finally-a manual for new dads that deciphers the immensely confusing world of fatherhood and gives crucial tips and advice from a man’s point of view. No psychobabble, no warm fuzzies-just a hilarious (and surprisingly practical) military-style guide to surviving and thriving through even the queasiest moments of pregnancy, birth, and babyhood.

FOR THE FOODIE FATHER

Mr. Good Lookin’ Is Cookin – the must-have apron for every busy dad who loves to cook! I got one for my husband. Tell that man of yours how hot you think he makes the kitchen!

“Best Dad Ever” grilling and BBQ apron

Home Run Baseball Glove Style Single Oven Mitt This 100 percent cotton mitt was made for wearing while flipping burgers, but you might be tempted to play ball instead!

The Grilling Book: The Definitive Guide from Bon Appetit “Indispensable. Chock-full of recipes tested and approved by the trusted editors of Bon Appétit, it’s sure to make you a master of all things grilling.”

Barbecue! Bible Sauces, Rubs, and Marinades, Bastes, Butters, and Glazes Here are fiery spice mixtures for massaging into food, sensuous bastes to be brushed on like lacquer, killer marinades, sugary glazes, tangy mops from award-winning barbecue teams, and dozens of sauces, from the classic tomato-based American Sweet and Smoky to a bold Moroccan Charmoula with its medley of fresh herbs and spices.

Bundle – 4 Items: World Harbors Marinade Sauces – Mexican Style Fajita, Maui Mountain Teriyaki, Jamaican Style Jerk, Maui Mountain Sweet ‘n Sour This four-pack of World Harbors flavor is a great sampling of robust taste from local cultures. Each sauce, wildly popular in their own right, comes together to give you a zest to be paired with any of your favorite dishes. Use them as a marinade or side dip!

THE COFFEE-LOVIN-CAFFEINATED-SUPER-HERO-DAD

Keurig! It’s the key to really simple coffee making. Busy dads who need their coffee in a hurry love this ingenious machine. We use ours all the time for teas, coffees and even hot water. Keurig is just another way to say, “I love you.” (not really.) The Special Edition Brewing System is Keurig’s mid-luxury home brewing system. Yeah. It’s cool like that.

Two Rivers Coffee Flavored Coffee Pods Variety Pack Sampler, Compatible with 2.0 Keurig K Cup Brewers, 40 Count – 40 Assorted Flavor Box – No Duplicates. Contains maple, chocolate, cinnamon, Chocolate Vanilla, vanilla, Hazelnut and other flavored coffees. Individual flavor may vary!

ATHLETE

Muscle Roller Stick – Gives instant relief to sore muscles, leg cramps, or knots! And as much as we love to give massages, sometimes it’s nice to have a break. 😉

Clothes and accessories of their favorite teams – I don’t know any guy who tires of a comfy shirt with his favorite sports team on it. This link has a huge variety of options and teams!

ACCUSPLIT Pro Survivor Stopwatch – Need a stopwatch to settle arguments over who won the race in the backyard? (Just don’t tell Dad it really wasn’t him!)

Reebok Adjustable Ankle Weight – These are an easy way to make a workout just a little bit more challenging. They’re adjustable and comfortable.

Ladder Toss Game – A fun game for the whole family to enjoy in the backyard on these cool summer nights.

CAR ENTHUSIAST

Road and Track Magazine Subscription – From a reader, “I have subscribed to Road & Track for three decades. If I could only get one car magazine, this would be the one. It is the least biased, and unlike most car mags, it still has a “test summary” at the end so you can quickly compare with other models from past issues.”

Car and Driver Magazine Subscription – Car and Driver is for the auto enthusiasts and in-market car buyers, providing thorough evaluations and road tests across all segments of vehicles, as well as information on technology, motorsports, gear and industry news.

Meguiar’s Car Care Kit – Perfect for taking care of his favorite ride! Meguiar’s has put together a kit that will keep your car looking its best. Kit comes complete with the following Meguiars products: ultimate liquid wax, ultimate compound, ultimate polish, ultimate wash and wax, ultimate protectant (with trigger), ultimate black, ultimate quik detailer for those times in between waxes, one microfiber wash mitt, six microfiber towels, four yellow foam applicator pads, and water magnet.

Schumacher SC-1200A/CA SpeedCharge 3/6/12 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Tester – The Schumacher SC-1200A/CA SpeedCharge is a fully automatic battery charger that uses advanced technology to charge up to twice as fast as conventional chargers. Automatically adjusts the amperage rate to charge and maintain batteries efficiently. The 50-amp clamps are compatible with both top and side-mounted battery posts. Its easy-to-read LED indicators show battery charge status at a glance. Quickly charge and maintain conventional automotive batteries, deep-cycle, AGM, and gel cell batteries.

Craftsman Digital Tire Gauge with Bright LED Light – For your gadget loving guy, make checking tire pressure quicker and easier!

THINGS YOU MIGHT NEVER THINK OF – BUT THEY’RE STILL AWESOME

Parker Urban Black Matte GT Medium Point Fountain Pen Kit (1760841) – a friend introduced us to the world of fountain pens this year. Hubby and I have had a lot of fun with different inks and styles of pens. This is a great starter kit. If you know your husband would love a fountain pen, here are a few other options that are a little more cosmo. You know. Because he’s cool like that:

My husband’s personal fave is the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen.
P.S. Don’t forget ink!

Lamy Studio Fountain Pen – One of our faves. Fountain pens are bringing the art of writing back with flair. Check these out! Your man will look even more manly sporting one of these!

Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player – Chromecast is the easy way to enjoy online video and anything from the web on your TV. Plug it into any HDTV and control it with your existing smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Send your favorites from HBO GO, Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Crackle, Rdio, MLB.TV, Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music, and Chrome to your TV with the press of a button. No more huddling around small screens and tiny speakers. Chromecast automatically updates to work with a growing number of apps. We love this at our house!

Where Is the “Easy” Button for Parenting?

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Did you ever sing The Bear Hunt song at school? I remember it well. See if this brings back any memories:

(Leader)
We’re going on a bear hunt!
(Group)
We’re going on a bear hunt!

We’re gonna catch a big one!
We’re gonna catch a big one!
I’m not afraid!
I’m not afraid!

As a third grader, I loved this form of adventure. It was a way to get the wiggles out while pretending to be brave for that cute boy with the messy hair and big blue eyes who sat two desks behind me.

The other day, I was talking with my friend about mothering. We were laughing about the ups and downs of every day life when the conversation turned to the difficulties of homeschooling. Eventually, we landed on the topic of raising children. So many of us spend money and time looking for that perfect solution for raising kids. Surely there must be an easier way. Last night when I was reflecting on our conversation, it came back to me. “This journey of parenting is a little like going on that bear hunt,” I thought. I couldn’t remember the whole thing, but after a little time on Google, I found it. I recalled repeating after my teacher as she said:

Oh, no! ” ”
It’s a big puddle of mud ” ”
Can’t go around it ” ”
Gotta go right thru it ” ”
Yeuk! ” ”
Well, let’s go.
Squish, Sqwish, Blaaahh.

Squish. Blaaaaaah. Are you struggling a strong-willed child? Maybe you are at odds with your teen. Squish. Plod. Can’t go around it. Can’t go over it. Can’t go under it. Gotta go through it. Sound familiar? It’s easy to think that if we just put our kids in school, our lives would be easier. Maybe, if we had more money or if our child was more obedient—or maybe less strong willed—life would be easier.

Precious mom, don’t think for a moment that this journey you’re on as a mother is only about the children you’re raising. I assure you; it’s as much about you as it is about your children. Parenting is the hardest, best thing that most of us will ever do. It’s not easy.

If you’re struggling today, don’t lose hope! Parenting isn’t supposed to be easy! It’s the struggle that’s teaching us! The journey is filled with challenges, both big and small: not unlike that Bear Hunt from so long ago …

We’re coming to a wide river ” ” (my child is strong-willed)
And there’s no bridge going over it ” ” (no book is going to fix it)
No tunnel going under it ” ” (there’s no way to ignore it)

If you feel overwhelmed by the many responsibilities and pressures of parenting, , know that you don’t have to go it alone. Those who love you won’t feel burdened by listening to you and helping you along in your journey. I can almost hear my friend Margaret talking to me as we dealt with our first fevers, fussy toddlers, school, adolescence, and finally adult children. I’m a “Mamsi” now—and I can’t wait to hold my grown daughter’s hand as she begins to cross the wide, wide river …

It’s just plain old water ” ”
And we’re gonna have to swim ” ”
All right, dive in!
Start swimming
Do the back stroke
Do the side stroke
Do the doggie paddle
Try the little cat paddle
OK Jump out, shake yourself off

Parenting is hard. There is no “easy button” for it—and that’s okay. It’s one of the reasons we need each other. It’s one of the reasons we crave relationship. We were created for relationship. We need to know we’re not alone.

Shhh, it’s a cave ” ”
Looks like the kind of cave that B-bears live in ” ”
I don’t know if I want to go in there
You think we oughta go in?
Are you nuts?
There’s probably a bear in there

Parenting requires both perseverance and authenticity. We need each other. As we go through the struggles of parenting, hopefully, we’re growing too. Are you helping that new mom or the mom who is struggling through a problem you have faced?

All right I’ll go in, You stay here,
And if I find a bear, I’ll come out and get you
And we’ll all go in and grab him together

The next time you see an exhausted mom sleeping through “Mommy and Me” class or posting about having too much laundry to do, encourage her! Since there is no “Easy Button” for this journey, we had better stick together.

I’ll come out and get you—we’ll all go in and do this thing … together.

Group hug,

When You Can’t Get It “All” Done: Confessions of a Recovering Perfectionist

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The other day, a sweet mom in Harrisburg asked me, “What does your day look like?” In other words, “HOW DO YOU GET IT ALL DONE?” I love this question, because it allows me to be totally transparent with whomever I’m talking to, and hopefully, speak a little freedom at the same time.

Basically, I have two answers for that particular Busy Mom FAQ:

1) I have a book (and a workshop on CD) about that called, The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight! Really, you should check it out … it’s full of ideas and encouragement for busy moms like you! 🙂

2) While there are many practical tips for getting things done, I hesitate to tell you how I do it ALL. Why? Because the reality is that I don’t do “it all.” Not even close. No one does.

I am a recovering perfectionist. “Type A” at my core. It’s easy for me to judge the inside of my life by the outside of someone else’s. I see “that mom” who’s blogging and homeschooling and pinning her latest frugal fashion finds and I think, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I be like that?” Can you relate?

If you can, be encouraged, because no one is doing it all. They’re really not. Pictures only tell a nano-second of the real story; the rest goes unseen—and the rest of the story is this: Pinterest Perfect Mom isn’t getting it all done either, because she doesn’t exist.

Of course, it’s important to get things done—but how these things get done will look different in each family, each year, each season, and likely even for each child. And that’s okay. You don’t have to try and be SuperMom. You just need to be surrendered.

Only God knows exactly the plans He has for you – and the best way to find out what that plan is… is to listen.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Don’t you love that? I do, because it means I’m free to seek God’s heart for my family—free to stop comparing my life to that woman I think is “super mom” and free to be all that God has created me to be.

Are you listening to that “still, small voice?” It’s so hard to be still, but it is a requirement if we’re going to hear from God in this bustling, busy world.

Shhh. He’s still speaking.