Birmingham
My love for Birmingham started at a young age, probably around 6 years old. I grew up in South Carolina but spent my summers in the Magic City. My earliest memories of Birmingham were that it was very hilly–much more so than South Carolina, amazing church camp, great shopping, sweet friendships, and good people. After graduating from Clemson University (Go Tigers!) 11 years ago, I decided to move to Birmingham to be closer to part of my family and for a job.
There are many reasons why I love this city, but the people and community are what I love most. The people are hospitable, loving, and kind. Birmingham is a big city, but it’s funny how it has a small town feel too! I love my neighborhood, my church, the fabulous food scene, and the weather! My church is a huge part of why I love this city.
Birmingham is a great place to be a mom. This city is very family-oriented, and there is so much to do. I have connected with some awesome moms, and we meet regularly and talk through the joys and challenges of motherhood! It is a gift to be walking alongside other moms during this age and stage of life.
Moms
I am privileged to have a son, JB (5), and a daughter, Annie (2). I love motherhood because it brings so much joy and laughter to my life! It is joyful to watch them grow and hit milestones and to learn their personalities. It is amazing to watch them start to enjoy friendships and sports. It is encouraging to watch my son and daughter play together and enjoy being brother and sister. It is fun to watch them love the things that my husband and I love. My husband loves basketball and I love to dance. Our son is starting to really gravitate toward basketball and learning to play. I love to dance, so we have dance parties a few nights a week and our kids love it. Playing the song “Can’t Stop the Feeling” would make anyone move her hips and let loose.
There are so many joys with parenthood, but on the flip side, there are many challenges. It is challenging because I am selfish and my children are selfish. We all want our own way. But … there is joy in the midst of challenges. I am trying my best to teach and train them to know and love Jesus and to love others. To put others first, before themselves. How hard is that for an adult? Hard. So, it is hard to teach your children. But I do think the rewards outweigh the challenges! Another challenge I face is having mom guilt. For example, I feel like I am not disciplining them the way I should, or not feeding them healthy enough food, or not giving them enough attention, or not being organized enough. Mommy guilt is real, and I struggle with it!
Blog
Being a mom is amazing yet very challenging. My hope in sharing some of my stories on this blog is to encourage other moms during this time of life and not to take it for granted. I keep hearing, “The days are long, but the years are short.” I have already witnessed this to be true in my five short years as a mom. I want to cherish these little people that God has entrusted to my husband and me. I want to enjoy these moments with them because I know when they get older I will miss this time when they were little! I also want to be open and vulnerable about how hard it is to raise children. I don’t want it to ever seem like it’s a breeze. If you were to look at my Facebook profile pictures or most of my Instagram pics, it may seem like I have it all together and my kids are adorable and so well-behaved… Let me burst your bubble. We are so far from perfect! Parenting is messy and hard. Thankful to make mistakes and learn from them, I want to share with you praises as a mom and the mom fails! I want to be a real mom and share real-life stories that will hopefully encourage other moms. Most of all, I want to share how God is transforming my life and how that overflows into me as a mom! I’m thankful for the Bible, that it is truth and I can cling to God’s Word. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3
