Getting back to the basics

Back Story: BELIEVE IN FREEDOM started in 2016. What was I doing back in 2016? Well, my life sure did look a lot different! I was newly married and navigating life as a wife. I was an elementary teacher who was doing all I could to keep up with lesson planning all while trying to navigate what the purpose of life was supposed to be.

Believe and Freedom have been extremely impactful words in my life. Long story short, it took me a long time to BELIEVE in truth and to allow it to set me free, while experiencing the FREEDOM Christ has to offer me.

Thankfully we have an extremely persistent Lord with a whole lot of GRACE! Because I sure do need it day in and day out!

So what's been happening since 2016? Well, these pictures explain it all. We grew from a newly married couple to a family of FIVE! Which literally seems like a blink of an eye, but let me tell you ... some days felt like months!!! But looking back at the past five years, I can't believe how fast time has gone.

I'm the type of person that truly doesn't understand something until it happens to me. Good or bad, this is how I roll. So let me tell you - we're about to celebrate our last babies FIRST birthday this week, and I have all the emotions over here. Knowing he's our last has really made me cherish all the moments with him. There have been moments these past five years where I've literally just been surviving each day! If the kids were alive and belly's were full - I considered it a good day! I strive on routine, but when you throw three kids under three years old into the mix, routine becomes a foreign word.

Just within the past few months have I felt like I can begin to settle into a routine myself. This is the first time I haven't been pregnant with a one year old. And if you've ever had a child, running after a toddler is no easy task. Throw your first trimester in there and sleep is your new best friend.

With this new season and newly developed routine, I've has such a desire to get back to the basics!

What's this mean for me?

Faith - Family - Fitness

This totally sounds cliche but it's so true.

FAITH

I havn't found a set rhythm with spending time with the lord since having my daughter. Every time I thought I did, the seasons would change and I would get out of routine and let spending time in the word get shoved aside. It was almost as if when I was desperate I would set aside time to be in His word, but it wasn't a daily thing.

Don't get me wrong, the Lord SHOWED UP!! He never left me, he always provided for me - but my relationship with Him needed growth. It's almost like a best friend whose moved away and you talk on the phone every now and then to keep up, but it's not the same as seeing each other everyday and knowing everything about one another.

FAMILY Let me just say to start this off, I have the most amazing husband. He pushes me towards Christ, strives for our marriage to be based on truth, and loves me unconditionally and with a whole lot of grace (sound familiar?).

Knowing our family is complete is honestly a weird feeling. All my people are here! I will never experience pregnancy again or hold my child for the first time. Part of my heart is honestly sad about this, but knowing how much I've been blessed with three healthy babies is beyond what I could ask for. So now, this season of motherhood, just looks a little different.

Caring for my babies has changed from changing diapers, to developing character - from getting through teething, to teaching them to care for one another - from navigating their first steps to teaching them right from wrong.

My biggest prayer is that my children grow to know Christ and except Him into their lives. I pray I can be an example to them of what being a child of God looks like. How there's so much freedom in Christ and it's literally the only way to experience life to the fullest.

So they are my full time job & I'm thankful I have my husband to be along this journey of parenthood with me and a Father who is the best example of what a parent is.

FITNESS

Oh man guys. This one. I've been literally "getting by" in between being pregnant and my postpartum body. Getting into a fitness routine during the last four years and an ever changing body has been near impossible for me.

I live with a man who is the most consistent person I've ever met in the world of fitness. So his example has been helpful and encouraging, but I have definitely not made this a priority.

I've realized how important fitness is these last few years. With a body that has grown three babies, trying to get back in shape has not been an easy gig. Set aside the whole aesthetic part of it all - maintaining a healthy lifestyle is so important to me. Being able to interact with my kids on the daily with energy and a clear mind is so important to me. I would love to get back to running double digit weekly miles, but the peloton is currently my best friend. Pushing a triple jogger is just not in the cards for me.

SO ..... here I am. Ready to document the journey. Can't promise I'll be frequently posting, but I can promise that I'm excited to intentionally live this life with purpose for Him.

Freely,

Jenny