Overcoming overwhelm, finding rest in Jesus. Get guidance and encouragement in my weekly newsletter and printable resources. I’m a wife and mom of five, with kids ages toddler to teenager—created in the image of God, made whole in Jesus.
The Wind is Changing (What's Next)
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Hi Reader, I'm sitting in my office, alone on a Saturday morning while my daughter is at volleyball practice. Perhaps ironically, I've been coming to work to rest during practice times. My home is too noisy, too chaotic, and here I know that no one will interrupt me. It has given me the space I've needed to reflect and pray... I've been blogging in some form since 2012 (more seriously since 2017). I've written many articles and newsletters, created journals and eCourses, and shared a little of my life with thousands of strangers online. Whether you've been here since the beginning, or if you're new, I thank you for your time and attention. I struggled immensely as a young stay-at-home parent in the 2010s. My blog was an outlet to share my struggles, and I was able to walk alongside others as I learned how to rest, how to live with purpose, and how to grow in faith. For a time, the blog's tagline was "Wiping Noses for Jesus Is Legit." I continued to create for this platform--albeit somewhat inconsistently--when we adopted our fourth child in 2020, stumbled through the pandemic like everyone else, and had a surprise pregnancy (he's almost 4 now!). A year ago, we decided to stop homeschooling after 10 years. My oldest son had started going to a private school and was thriving there. For a variety of reasons, it made sense to have all 5 kids go there and so we took the leap. In April 2024 I started working with my husband at our family staffing agency. It's a job I've grown to love, and our kids are all doing well in their new arrangement as well. In the meantime, I've been struggling with what to do with this "blog thing" I made (I'm not sure we even call them blogs anymore). I still love to write and create. But there are a lot of other things I am pouring myself into now, leaving me minimal margin. Do I just leave my website up and let it slowly die? Do I post new content when I have free time? While I would love to send a weekly email newsletter in real time, I see that I've averaged about every other month since last summer. So that's all the output I can manage at the moment. However, I have tons and tons and tons of material that most readers have never seen. I may have written it years ago, but it's fresh and new to many of you. I've decided to flex this magical tool called automation and resurrect my weekly newsletter with recycled content. If you've been around for a long time, you may recognize it. But chances are, you probably won't because I don't even remember a lot of it! Starting next week, we'll begin the journey through much of what I've created over the years, with some polish here and there. I don't know how it will land--maybe you'll love it, or maybe you'll discover that your season has shifted too and it's not as relevant to you. It's all okay with me! Unsubscribe at any time if you're ready to be done, or sit back and enjoy the rerun. I'm not sure how far this thing will go, but I know I have enough content to run a weekly newsletter for at least a year or two. And who knows? Perhaps the break will give me the space I need to create something new again. And I can send a live newsletter whenever feel like it! As always, I appreciate your time and attention and hope I bring a small bit of encouragement to wherever you are. Love always,
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Peace, Patience, Purpose
Overcoming overwhelm, finding rest in Jesus. Get guidance and encouragement in my weekly newsletter and printable resources. I’m a wife and mom of five, with kids ages toddler to teenager—created in the image of God, made whole in Jesus.
Hi Reader, A few nights ago, sitting around the dinner table, someone made the light-hearted comment, "Nobody's perfect." My 7-year-old daughter, who doesn't speak a lick of sarcasm, dead-panned, "I am." The rest of us chuckled, because, well, that's funny right? But she continued to look dead serious. We confirmed, "Niki, you're really perfect?" She didn't hesitate but nodded assertively. We didn't correct her. Because who's to say she isn't? She's already battled a lot in her short life...
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Hi Reader, I dropped my 3-year-old off at his first day of preschool last week. I prepared myself for some clinging to my leg and tears. Or at least a little resistance. Instead, he hardly looked back. I was the one with tears. I was reminded yet again how I hold on to my kiddos with an "open hand" posture as they grow and mature. I love them. I guide them. But I can't grasp them (well at least not figuratively; I still hold pretty tight when we cross the street). Open-handedness is not just...