Hi! I'm Ashley, a Christian stay-at-home mama and wife to an awesomely supportive and loving husband.
For the longest time I thought that my journey was set in community planning, public service - a life in government. I also thought that I was destined (more determined) to run a home-based online business selling products that didn't hold my belief. That was until January of 2016 when my husband and I made the united decision that I needed to become a stay-at-home mom. After that everything started to change within me.
I will not lie to you - it was rough in the beginning. I fought my new path. I kept looking for a new job, pursuit of business, something, in order to help "contribute" to my family. What I kept neglecting to realize was that I was contributing - more than I knew. I had that mindset that it wasn't enough, that being a mom and a wife was not enough in this now career-woman society. What I couldn't see then (and am only now seeing it more and more clearly) is just how much I was valued by the One and only - Jesus Christ.
Women are thrown such guilt when it comes to parenting from friends, family, co-workers, etc. Constant comments about being a stay-at-home mom or not, breast-feeding is best or not, when to start foods, organic foods or not, cloth diapers or not, cry-it-out or not, and so-on and so-forth. It's exhausting, and at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is that we provide our children with a love filled family life.
My point is - we're all mamas. We all are doing the best that we can, but we need to follow the calling of our soul, spirit, and heart. We must listen to that small voice inside of us - the voice of Jesus Christ, to be still, and love ourselves so that we can love others deeply and genuinely. We must learn to let go of those criticisms to Jesus, because in the end He is all that matters in this earthly life and after. We must learn to be flexible and to listen to the Holy Spirit which calls to us from deep within.
That path that we think is the one we are supposed to be on, may not be the right one. Sometimes it takes a little flexing to welcome and be open to a new "wine skin", the Way, the truth, and the life in Christ.