7 Months Postparum: Thankfulness, Joy, & Loving Yourself!

7 Months Postpartum: Thankfulness, Joy, & Loving Yourself!

Weight lifting/Strength training 1-2 times a week. My favorite class 

 Walks with my little guy & my man are the best kind of work out though.

He gives me the greatest joy... i would have 1,000,000 kids if it were possible. Being his mama has made living so rewarding, so fulfilling, and so joy-filled!

Hikes w/ these two

Not sure if my uterus will ever be back to how it use to be, I definitely have to tighten my tummy to hold it in. I think thats just what might happen after babies though. My moms had 5 kids and she always talks about how it never went back. Its so worth wakling around looking 4 months prego though! (;

I thought it would be interesting to see a side by side of 4 weeks pregnant (basically prebaby) and of me 7 months postpartum. You can definitely tell im still exclusively breast feeding lol! My ribs are wider (i think) and I have a little more skin below my belly button. My belly button has changed its shape a tiny bit too! 

Heres what I had to say this month:

Hey ladies, I reached that 7 month postpartum mark last month and have been meaning to post but wasn't sure about what I wanted to write this month. I try to use these posts as a platform to talk about something important, not just share about fitness, or exercise, but to be really honest, to reach other woman who are right here on this journey with me.

This month I recieved a lot of emails from some of you. Most of the emails were about you guys struggling either currently or in the past with body image and your self worth.  My heart broke as I read every word you shared. I want to thank you again for your courage and for sharing a part of your story and your lives with me. You are so inspiring.  I hope its okay that i share just a piece of what one of you ladies sent me, i'll be sure to keep it annonymous..

One reader shared with me how my blog has reminded her of another blogger she use to read years ago..she shared with me how this blogger was simply thankful for life and how that helped her break free from the bondage of the shame she felt for her body. Heres what she said,

" to be thankful for all those small things that her life was filled with... Those pictures and articles made me want to be thankful, made me want to heal.

When I found your blog, it made me remember that girl. How without knowing it, she saved my life. Following your blog is like reminding me how far I came and most importantly how happy I am. 

......




Our live's are filled with miracle babies, wonderful life partners and precious moments. And the thing I realize is that you've got to love yourself if you want to be able to see all that!"







Her words inspired me so much. She pointed out the importance of how loving yourself can free you in so many ways. It helps open your eyes up to see the beauty in the world around us. If we have shame, hatred, or disgust for our bodies, we stop loving ourselves. We start bashing ourselves. We begin to look in the mirror and make agreements with all sorts of lies the enemy whispers to us.."you're ugly, you're fat, you aren't good enough, you'll always be like this, who will ever want you or love you, you have to be thin to be loved". The list goes on.  When that is your focus, when that becomes the way you see yourself how can you see clearly when you are believing lies about yourself?




If we develop an attitude of gratitude, if we  begin to "TRY" to just accept and love ourselve on the inside and outside.. our hearts change. We become thankful. And then we can fully appreciate all that God has given us. We can begin to really live this life abundantly as He calls us to. 




Choose Joy today. Choose to be thankful.






The Winner of the iphone Case giveaway with the Psalm 139 verse is "K-Photography", comment on here leaving your email so I can make sure to get your address for shipping. Congratulations love, and thanks to all who entered! 




What would you guys like to see offered for a giveway in the future? What do you think about this post?

Products We Love: Lil Stinker Design + A Discount + GIVEAWAY

Products We Love: Lil Stiker Design + A Discount + GIVEAWAY

I am OBSESSED with this beautiful and meaningful phone case that I was able to custom design with Lil Stinker Design.  The owner Cheri is SO wonderful and her and I share a deep faith in Jesus so we decided to collaborate and create a phone case that is encouraging and uplifting with a verse that was personal to my story. One of my favorite bible verses is, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,  I know that full well" Psalm 139:14.  I knew I wanted to put that verse on the back as a reminder to not only myself but to all of the people I get to meet day to day at my work as a therapist, all of the friends I am blessed to spend time with each week, and of course, my family.  I wanted a cover that is a conversation starter.  I have shared how I struggled with my self worth and body image as a teen and how I now help other teens and young adults find value in themselves and discover how to love and embrace themselves.  One of the greatest perks about my job is that I get to be a part of witnessing God work on peoples hearts and break down lies and agreements they've made that just arent true about who they are.  I then get to experience the Lord show them TRUTH.  And witnessing that is one of the most incredible joys I've ever been a part of.  This verse has so much meaning and truth to it for young women who don't see their worth, who feel invaluable, who beat themselves down daily on the inside and outside.  This verse helps us discover who we really are, who God created us to be. It takes the dark veil off of our eyes and shines light on our true beauty that was there along.  

I told Cheri I loved some of her antique frames that she had up in  her online shop.  I wanted to take one of the frames and sort of make it look like an antique mirror and put the verse inside. This is symbolic of looking yourself straight in the mirror and seeing truth (the scripture).  Its a reminder to love yourself, to see yourself as Jesus does. Blemish free. Perfectly made by God Himself to be just the way you are.  

 We can take comfort knowning God has created us exactly how He wanted us to be. He didn't make you like anyone else, you are special, unique, and exactly how He wants you, from head to toe, all of your strengths and weaknesses, every part of you. 'Wonderfully' means you are unique..God made you special and has a purpose and plan for you.  (Isaiah 44:24) He formed you and created you as His own masterpiece for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10).

To explain what it means to be 'Fearfully' made i thought it might be easier to share from an online journal (link here) that explains it clearly, 

"Psalm 139 describes some of God’s attributes. He knows everything (v.1-6), His Spirit is present throughout the universe (v.7-12) and each person is created by Him (v.13-16). The verse before and after Psalm 139:14 describe the development of a baby from conception. 

This caused David to praise God for His power and skill and exclaim that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14NIV). The Hebrew word that is translated “fearfully” is yare. In Vine’s Dictionary it means “to be afraid, stand in awe, fear”. When used of an exalted person it means “standing in awe”. This implies honor, reverence and respect for the person. To be “fearfully” made means to be “awesomely” made."

I know there are a lot of you that have shared with me your struggles with body image, insecurity, woundedness, and my hope is that today you find comfort in His truth. I pray that you would know you are important and significant. There is freedom from the belief that you have to be perfect to be loved, or be more than you are.. you are enough. You are exactly how you are supposed to be.  

Scroll down the bottom of this post for details for the GIVEAWAY and the COUPON CODE for a GREAT DISCOUNT! 

Check out Lil Stinker Design's Shop HERE

Lil Stinker Design is offering a 10% Off Discount off all orders

(they have SO many designs to choose from, you can also create your own design, she does custom work!!)

Use Coupon Code: BLOG10

Enter GIVEAWAY for My Custom Phone Case Above:

Also Lil Stinker Design is offerring to do a giveaway of this same exact iphone 5 cell phone case that we collaborated on. If you want to win it all you have to do is:

1) Be a follower of this blog (You click follow on the right hand side and enter in your email..its that simple)

2) Let me know you are interested in the giveaway by commenting on this post (you can say anything you want! Even if you just write "ENTER ME" or "DONE" or "FOLLOWING".  

(Rules on instagram for additional submission for the giveway)

Giveaway ends next Friday March 7th!

Love you all in this sweet little community, I hope today is a blessed day for all of you!