Tag: life

Fall Update

~ Modern Living with Donna ~ Leave a comment

Happy Fall everyone!! I hope you are all excited for Fall as I. I believe we are out of triple digits weather because Arizona summers sure are brutal. So while I have a moment free (which has been rare lately), I just wanted to share an update with you all on what’s going on with our lives since I’ve taken a short hiatus from blogging. Ella started Kindergarten in August. My hubby graduated in May and passed the boards at the end of August. Everly our youngest turned 1. I have taken a more active role in homeschooling our 3 year old. It’s truly amazing how being a stay at home mom has shaped me. I find myself getting up around quite early around 5am (reminds me of the working fulltime days, except it was a 4am wake up) and much more ahead of household chores these days which I absolutely love. A clean, organized house truly does makes this mommy a happy camper 😄 Dropping off and picking up our oldest sure does require more time then I would like. Although it’s nice to have some relaxing time listening to some good old country or some soft rock while planning dinner on my phone while the younger 2 are home with dad and I wait to pick up. This year as I get closer to my birthday, I surprisingly don’t feel the dreadful feeling of “oh my I am aging” but am reflecting on how much I’ve grown intrinsically as a wife, a mother and a individual. My patience has slowly grown as being a domestic housewife and mother comes with endless possibilities. To be entirely honest I still need a lot of improvement in that area but slowly but surely I hope it will grow. The zealous taskmaster in me is still quite active even more so as I continue to add to my to-do list. Does it ever end?! But what would I do with myself if I didn’t keep busy. So I have been in deep thought and decided that my time is going to be devoted to the “more meaningful aspects” of my life first and then will come all other constants.

Time with our children

We hear it ever so often, time flies, yet how do we manage to soak up all those sweet moments with our little ones? What has allowed me to cherish and spend more quality time with our girls, is getting my cleaning and chores done early so I get to provide more mommy time when it’s family time. I was taught early on that work comes first then play. This really works for our family. I will admit I am quite meticulous about keeping our home clean. Though messes still happen, I know if I get it clean now, I will be able to dedicate ALL of ME to my children after. Keeping arts and crafts and activities readily available for them also helps keep them from “mommy I’m bored.” Giving hugs are my best way to show them I care and comfort them. Our middle child is a great example of tender love as she will be saying “mommy I love you” throughout the day. It’s one of the sweetest moments I live for.

Visit family & friends

I have to admit I am very fortunate to live in the same state as most of my family however I was lousy at visiting my parents, grandparents and family in general. This fall I plan to make time to visit my love ones because it’s dear to my heart to be there and let them know I care for them and just being able to spend that time together is priceless. I mean compared to being a fulltimer in the workforce, I now have the availability to visit with them. Which reminds me I need to get going on my Visiting teaching too. The joy I saw in my grandmothers eyes and we surprise visited her this past week was truly touching. She saw a minivan pull up and immediately threw on her slippers and walked out and didn’t want us to leave. It reminded me that we all should put more of an role in visiting with people we love and care for. The companionship, conversation and or just seeing great grandkids can bring about such great joy in a person 😊

Embracing the now

Life really feels like it passes me by when I am always thinking about what is next. So these days I have a cherish and embrace the “now.” Watching my children play and interact with each other, engulfing myself into whatever we are doing and most importantly putting down the phone is so key. Asking about how someone’s day was and listening more has enabled me to be more engaged in our life. My calendar is a great way to keep me on speed with upcoming events, holidays, trips, special occasions so I am not caught off guard with anything. I look at my calendar on a daily basis. All over the world, there seems to be unrest with natural disasters such as hurricanes destroying homes and political unrest with rallies and marches, we need to be thankful of all the good we have and do our best to pray, lend a hand and support the ones in need to hopefully curb the negativity and promote peace and togetherness. Who knows what is to come, but what I know is that I will spend each quality moment now loving my children and teaching them to be kind so they do the same.

Reassurance in “MYSELF”

We are have been there, we carry so many responsibilities that many times we get burnt out and forget that we are important too. Many times we do things with no recognition, we seek no reward but we do it because it’s innate. We do SO much, yet rarely there is a thank you. Here is where you can appreciate yourself and know that you are an amazing mother/father/caregiver, homemaker, breadwinner, comforter. So many roles that we hold, that make a HUGE difference even though they may seem small. We all have a purpose in life and it’s the journey we go throughly we learn and grow that enables us to do our best to fulfill that purpose. Each and everyone can also help lift others up, but don’t be discouraged and most importantly know that you are worth it. As we do something for another, we show our love for them. Beginning with loving thyself allows us to open our hearts to love others. So start each day with a positive thought and a compliment to yourself and then spread the love to the ones around you 💞

I plan to get back into blogging at least once a week and would love suggestions on topics, so feel free to drop a comment or even a hello and let me know where you are from. Let us be each other’s wind in our sails ⛵️

Mother’s Day Reflection

~ Modern Living with Donna ~ Leave a comment

I always had a sentimental regard for my mother and maternal and paternal grandmother, however not until I became a mother of three vibrant little girls did I fully experience the most incredible sense of joyful sacrifice.  We are all familiar with the act of sacrificing some thing, some situation or something tangible and how it makes me feel bereaved and even slightly depressed.  For me the sacrifices I made to become a mother were true blessings in disguise.  I was raised with education being a key element to success and a rewarding career.  That was my aspiration early in my childhood and I know my parents had sincere intentions.  We rarely talked about dating let alone finding love.  It seemed to be a scary topic to discuss dating with my parents so I never did.  I just remember being told to focus and stay in track, I never even thought to veer off track. So fast forward to college, a unhealthy relationship, then landing a great position before I graduated ASU and then graduating, I found I had achieved my life goals! Suddenly, I had completed my B.S. and was working in corporate America.  So was this it?!  I felt something was missing.

Post Motherhood

Fast forward 2 years later and I meet a timid, soft-spoken, 6’5 handsome fellow that opened up my eyes to what I had been missing.  With all the hustle and bustles of chasing after that college degree and climbing up that ladder of never ending workforce, I hadn’t thought about my role as a wife and mother or whether finding Mr Right-for-me was possible.  Yet it was!  We both knew how central family was on this journey we lived.  We got married and soonafter our first was born.

Motherhood

Her I am now a mother of 3, a family of 5.  Am I telling you being a mother is cakewalk? No. Am I telling you to go out there and get married and have kids?  No.  What I am telling you is that Motherhood changes your WHOLE being.  For me even with those difficult days where you seemed to have done nothing but play with your children, it’s worth it!  It’s worth every second!  Motherhood comes with frustration, impatience and exhaustion.  Just ask any mom, working or stay-at-home (I have done both).  Yet the moments you realize, “What is my purpose in this life?”  This is not a question I can answer for you but for me, I have no question why Motherhood chose me.

Support One Another

In this modern age, we must all let go of the divide between us.  Yes we all are in different situations, but as mother’s we need to realize that supporting one another in this ride is what enables each other to grow and become our best possible self.  Our world needs kindness, we need compassion and great examples for charity. Mothers are the epitome of selflessness. For those who are not mothers, think about how your mother or a motherly figure has shaped your life.  We as women, have endless opportunities to reach out and help someone in need.  May we show appreciation for our mothers, grandmothers and women in our lives.  Christlike love can allow us to love unconditionally and spread positivity and kindness to those who need it.  I have a testimony that motherhood has truly brought out a kind of unconditional love that has no boundaries.  The moment a child says “I love you” is the moment you realize what life is about.  Mothers need to unite and lift each other up.  Many mothers rarely get anytime to themselves.

Here are some ways to help a fellow mother:

  1. Visit with them – Sometimes adult conversation is a great change of pace
  2. Offer to babysit for a few hours
  3. Bring a gift for just mom
  4. Offer to come over and help around the house (chores are never ending)
  5. Be kind and offer compliments

As Mother’s Day is approaching let us remind ourselves all the sacrifices mothers make and appreciate them for all they do for us.

Motherhood

~ Modern Living with Donna ~ Leave a comment

MothersMotherhood has been the utmost refining life change I could’ve asked for.  As I reflect back on the moment I became a mother for the first time, I realized that my purpose in this life was ever more essential.  Our eldest daughter, Ella was born on Father’s Day.  Seeing the silent joy as my husband laid eyes on our beautiful daughter gave me such a feeling of overwhelming joy and gratitude.  He reminded me that there is more to this life then climbing up the corporate ladder and chasing after the never ending dream of a extravagant lifestyle.  Becoming a mother, a nurturer, a soother, and a teacher is the most humbling journey I have been honored with.  Each day comes with the unexpected and oh how my patience has been tested and grown.  As my husband and I commenced into parenthood, I ask myself each day, how will I better myself as a mother and wife?  In our household someone is always singing, whether it be a nursing rhyme, a Frozen sing-along, a made-up song =P (I enjoy these very much)  or most of the time an LDS children’s song.  One night both our eldest age 3 and age 4 were were singing “I am a Child of God” and oh how sweet and yet powerful this song is to me.  We are all the Lord’s children and we all have the free agency to choose and listen to our hearts and live a virtuous life.  I have no doubt that my role as a mother is essential for my personal and spiritual growth.  This has enabled me to fine tune my time-management, organizational skills and most importantly my ability to nurture and love unconditionally.  Before becoming a mother, I seemed to have a long to-do list of what’s next.  I love this LDS Living article “Mothering One Moment at a Time” it speaks to me and reminded me that although it’s nice to get to “that point,” I must not get ahead of myself (I tend to do that a lot), I must enjoy and cherish the “now.”   Those “little” moments of playing that game or reading a book to your little seedlings make a WORLD of a difference to them.  May we all learn to enjoy the little moments whenever possible.  May we teach our children to be righteous, virtuous and reverent in all they may do.  Mothering is vital to the future success of their offspring. The family proclamation  says that “successful marriage and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.  I am so proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ I am so glad I decided to start this blog, it has been quite exhilarating and humbling at the same time.

Here are ways  to keep your day GREAT:

  1. Be of good CHEER
  2. Work hard
  3. Go to bed early and wake up early (I am working on the first part :|)
  4. Prepare yourself (write ideas down, make lists,organize your thoughts)
  5. Love & encourage and support one another ❤

I love the scriptures and if you are interested, request a FREE copy HERE.  HE loves us all and wants to know YOU.

What are some ways that help you become a better mother?  If you are not a mother yet, what do you look forward to when becoming a mother?