Tag: motherhood

#mycurrentsituation

#mycurrentsituation

Have you ever read this hashtag; #mycurrentsituation on a friends social media sight under one of their pictures?

#mycurrentsituation Her Daddy is about to have a heart attack in his new truck!
#mycurrentsituation Her Daddy is about to have a heart attack in his new truck!

I always get a good laugh out of the ones that pop up in my news feeds because like myself, most of my friends are mothers and so their #mycurrentsituation pictures usually consists of a humongous mess that they are left to clean up! It’s a sympathetic laugh not a mean laugh!!

For instance, you may see a picture of an adorable little girl who looks like she is auditioning to be a clown after playing in Mommy’s makeup while Mommy was busy cleaning house. How about the one with Walls and baby covered in black sharpie? Sometimes there are even photos of big boo boos, and broken or spranged bones.

#mycurrentsituation SUNBURN
#mycurrentsituation SUNBURN

Maybe it is a bigger situation that requires Immediate Medical Attention, Or maybe it’s so personal, so upsetting, so emotionally damaging and deep you would never hash tag and post a picture of it.

#mycurrentsituation Sick baby girl day before vacation!!
#mycurrentsituation Sick baby girl day before vacation!!

 

If you are having a #mycurrentsituation that seems to be lingering into what feels like a #mylifesituation, cheer up my friend! Let me encourage you with some words of #TRUTH!! 🙂

 

Remember time is fleeting! Psalm 89:47

Seasons in life are temporary. 2 Corinthians 4:18

This, whatever you are going through, will soon just be a distant memory.

Human feelings and emotions are fickle.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Our desire to want is way more then our desire to be content with what we have, leaving us unstatisfied and incomplete.

Hold on, trust God, believe in hope, and have a little faith in whatever your #currentsituation may be.

Excuse yourself from being the Healer, Fixer, Mender, Doctor and take your #mycurrentsituation to God. He can clean up any mess that we or anyone else for that matter may have gotten ourselves in today!

Ephesians 3 v 20

 

xoXO

-Leigh Leigh

Like me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter so we can stay  connected! http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks http://www.twitter.com/ash_leighharris

 

 

The Flower child

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Kenna, my four year old daughter, is a complete joy and blessing. She has been a go get her since birth. She is my baby out of the bunch and she has just always had this way about her that oozes free spirit. You would find her shoulder deep in side walk chalk and candy as a toddler, and now her favorite past time is collecting bugs, dead or alive, she doesn’t mind.

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She enjoys the earth and all its dirt and glory, but she still loves to dress up in her princess dresses and put on make up with Momma’s high Heels.

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She may be a “Classy” Flower girl, if there was ever such a thing! She has recently asked me if she could sleep in just her shorts like her brother does! Which I followed up with , “When you are an adult living on your own, you may wear whatever you would like to sleep in, but for now let’s keep the jammies on!”

I promised the kids I would take them swimming when we returned home today from Mommies work out time at the Gym. When we stepped foot in our home, I hurried to make lunches and they scrambled to find their bathing suits. Handling typical Momma pre pool responsibilities, I was the last to get my gym clothes off and get changed, and just like clock where right as I am changing my shirt, Kenna bursts into my room unannounced to announce some nonsense none the less. I really think kids just have this six sense that tells them when Mom is not available and would prefer to remain unavailable to them, you know, bathroom breaks and other sorts! 😉

“Mom!” She blurts out!

I replied with a silent, “What?”

“YOU HAVE BRAS ON?” (Not to confuse you, I am not a freak of nature that requires two, as in plural, bras on at one time, she has always called a bra a bras!)

“WHY MOM!?”

I answered calmly, ” Well of course I do, it’s a sports bra Kenna, Mommies wear those when they work out.”

“WELL I DON’T LIKE THAT MOM, I DON’T LIKE IT WHEN YOU WEAR BRAS!”

At this moment, I am completely puzzled.

“Why Kenna, Why does this bother your or concern you that I have a sports bra on? Remember I told you before all women wear them.”

I almost couldn’t contain my laughter when she responded with such horror in her voice and shock on her face.

“I DON’T WANT YOU TO BE THE CRAZY MOM WHO WEARS BRAS!”

That was the completion of that conversation. I didn’t even have the words to respond!

I have to say I still sit here giggling just as dumbfounded as I was when the words first jumped off her lips trying to figure out why on earth wearing a “bras” would make me “The Crazy Mom!”

Wasn’t the “The Crazy Mom” the Lady who goes out in public with no bra on!? 🙂

So this concludes my suspicions as to why there isn’t a shadow of the doubt, that I am absolutely raising the next Flower Child.  I sure hope this mind set of hers changes before we hit middle school, or we may just have some bumping of the heads! I have decided it is not a bad ideal to pray for grace now for the days to come with Miss Kenna!

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I love that little girl to pieces! ❤

xoxo

-Leigh Leigh

Stay up to date follow Leigh Leigh Speaks on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks or Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ash_leighharris

The scale is a LIAR

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Being female, and utilizing the Women’s locker room at my gym a great deal, I am always bound to walk in a see a beautiful lady on the scale. Every time I pass by I want to whisper,” That scale is a liar!” Sometimes I do, and we giggle, but most of the times I just keep quiet.

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For YEARS the scale was not my friend but my enemy! I literally let what those numbers told me each morning dictate how I would feel about myself for the rest of that day. It consumed my thoughts, exposed my fears, and deceived me. It told me I was ugly, fat, not good enough, not skinny enough, that I didn’t try hard enough, it often made me feel like a failure.

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Until I got a hold of the cold hard facts that I am loved, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, I am Special, I was thought of way before my existence became known, I am included in the ALL of God’s grace, love, mercy, redemption to whom He gives it to. I was created in my creators image, and that He has a good plan for my life. I couldn’t get past my own insecurities to see me through the eyes of my creator, how he see’s what he has created.

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I let my identity stem from how I felt about myself and the harsh criticism and opinions of others. This is dangerous as we may feel all kinds of things about our selves from a day by day basis. Jesus is the Truth and therefore all Truth comes from him. What’s so different now? What was that pentacle moment for me to realize the scale had no control over me anymore? I learned my identity is no longer of myself, but rather who I am in Christ Jesus. What is so awesome about this is what he feels about me or thinks about me, never changes! He doesn’t deceive me, rather he is very upfront about how he feels about me along with all of his creation!

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If you have a love hate relationship with your scale like I use to have, can I just tell you that there is hope in Jesus? THERE IS! You don’t have to be a slave to those numbers you are so desperate to read one day. There is freedom were there is no bondage. Don’t allow yourself get deceived into thinking that scale dictates any happiness in your life. Instead let your happiness develop through your relationship with Christ!

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Give what ever you are struggling with, body issues wise, to Jesus and ask him to change your thinking about yourself. Ask him to give you more desire to take good care of your body. Let him guide you through your eating choices with self control, which is a gift of the spirit. If you are not happy with your weight, then by all means change your habits but don’t ever just be stuck in the same place, doing the same thing, getting the same results!!

When I stopped focusing on my failures and my disappointments the scale brought me each day, I began to focus on me through Jesus’s eyes. I created good habits and started thinking more positive thoughts about my body. This caused a rippling effect of positive results all around, and now when I step on the scale I show HIM WHO IS BOSS! I know now I control those numbers by my own actions. The SCALE DOESN’T CONTROL ME ……AND….IT DOESN’T CONTROL YOU!!! You are more then a conqueror in Christ Jesus, and you can do all things in Christ who gives your strength. But the key ingredient in this equation is JESUS! 😉

HE is > then me

 

xOxO

-Leigh Leigh

Follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

 

Swimsuit Season

I have always been obsessed with swimsuit season. I have no clue why, but it has always been a MAJOR thing to me. Clothes can be very forgiving, however swimsuits are not! In the past 10 summers I have aggressively searched for the perfect swimsuit that would bring compliment and grace to my girlish figure. Well take in account two of those summers I was carrying my two children in my tummy, therefore those years really didn’t count! 😉

I have gone to the extremes of finding the perfect swim suit. I have spent Hours upon hours spent online shopping, Victoria Secrets, Venus, to name a few. There have been countless hours trying on swimsuits in local department stores, with small children! Which you know is as successful as making your children sit down and eat their lunch at a place that provides a children’s playscape! It’s more of a struggle then an accomplishment. Not to mention to all the dollars spent on these expensive swimsuits! Why? Because if it holds everything in place, really good, its going to cost some extra dough! I’m sure my husband never really minded this process though, after all, I wanted to share with him my favorites and get his opinion on which suit he liked the best. 😉 It’s a hard job to have to check out all these gorgeous swimsuit models, but someone had to do it!

This year I dared to do something different. I can honestly say that I didn’tt window shop, online shop, or catalog shop one time this preswimsuit season.

I actually fell in love with the look the little Lifeguards were pulling off at our local YMCA. Sporty and Modest. I thought to myself, I work out, why not!?

With Birthday cash in hand, we made our way over to Academy and as dear husband took the kids to check out all the sales the store had to offer, I shopped alone. I went straight for the ” lifeguard swimsuit area” and fell in love with a super cute, super sporty one piece swimsuit. I tried it on, in hopes I would only have to try one swimsuit on this year, and too my surprise felt happiness in the eye picking choice I made. It fit my body and it was comfortable. No room for the girls slipping out or having to stay completely sucked in for the entire duration of swim. I felt confident in my choice and made my purchase! Oh and I have to add that it is reversible. One side is a safari print, the other black with hot pink trim! (The picture below shows like and blue because I couldn’t find the black and pink!) The price tag of $60 in my opinion was a steal. I had to hurry up and buy it before the company realized they were selling an awesome suit, two really for the price of one!!
I have to note, this is the cheapest amount I have spent on a swimsuit in the past 10 years as well!

My older swimsuits, to their defense are cute, but they were premediated, and searched for through out all ends of the retail world, haha just kidding, although at the time it did feel like it! Keep this in mind for what I am about to share with you!

I get home from Academy and try my swimsuit on for my husband, to my surprise, he loves it!

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Fast forward to a few days later. We were going over the plans for the next day and I had mentioned taking our kids to the pool to go swimming. His remark was, ” Your wearing your hot little swimsuit to the pool?”
I don’t know why it tickled me so but it did. AT LAST, after 10 years, He finally compliments my swim appearal on his on, with out any baiting on my part! SUCCESS!

The moral of this story is to chill out about your swimsuit! Don’t over think it, and put too much pressure on finding the perfect swimsuit. When we give up the pressures of perfection, there is beauty in what happens when we just let things be, accept our mom bodies, love them, and adapt to them as we need fit.

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It is noting fancy, but it is something that makes me feel good when I am in it. With the added bonus of knowing that if I move a certain way or bend over, I don’t lose everything I got! My kids are finally at the age where we can play and engage each other in a wide variety of water activities. I am all set to just have fun, and not focus on if my suit is in place!

 

xOxO

-Leigh Leigh

Follow Leigh Leigh Speaks on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

Transitioning into summer break with the littles

Tomorrow signifies my first day back at my old J O B. Yes, my teaching duties are over until August and I am back to being a full time stay at home Momma! It always seems like a tense transition. This transition will be more difficult then the past because I had the privilege of having my husband home for the past six weeks!

We are foster parents and his job allows him up to six weeks fmla to help when we have a new child in our home. It was a HUGE blessing to us ALL! I can’t brag enough on him for what all he did for our family. I was working three days a week but was involved with things that kept me out of the house for technically four days out of the five. He cooked, baked, folded clothes, washed the dishes, straightened the house, took kids to the all the intake appointments, completed honey dos, and even grocery shopped! Seriously, he was a ROCK STAR and tonight I am sad because I am going to miss him being here helping me out so much!

MY MAN BAKES AND WASHES DISHES!!

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This week I will concentrate on getting the house cleaned, laundry caught up, a meal plan made, groceries bought, all while juggling a doctors appointment for my daughter and involvement in the activities the last week of school brings! I am excited that I do at least have a few more days to accomplish most of this while my older children are still in school.

I am promising myself that I will not stress on the mess summer brings with the littles home. This will be a peaceful transition as I find my SAHM groove back. This summer I don’t want to concentrate on completing all the lists of things that need to be completed upon the Pinterest SAHM standards, no I want this to be a summer that my kids remember how much fun there Momma was. We will play, we will swim, we will bake, we will go out for play dates, we will makes messes, we will be lazy on some days, we will have fun, all while I am teaching them still to become responsible clean young people.

Saying goodbye to the pressures of being the PERFECT stay at home mom makes you beautiful and free to get what your family needs accomplished first. These needs will change with the seasons of your life. My babies are not going to be little forever and I acknowledge this sad, sad truth.

How are you feeling with summer break days away? How will you transition into having the babies home for summer?

xOxO

-Leigh Leigh

Leigh Leigh Speaks joins Facebook

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It’s official, my blog has joined Facebook!

I hope that we can stay connected and feel like a community there.

Womanhood, Motherhood, it is ALL Challenging, tasking, exciting, scary, exhausting, fun, sad, happy, funny, etc.. Let’s face it, it’s just flat out a roller coaster ride as we are learning more and more about ourselves every step of the way. Please like my page, share my page, and share any blogs that are encouraging to you that you would like to share with others.

Journey with me as I share my life as His Wife, Their Mother, My best friend, working out, staying healthy, growing in faith, and following Jesus.

https://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

Be Beautiful,
Leigh Leigh

Overwhelmed Much?

 

I am OVERWHELMED!

I have exactly one week until I turn 29 years old. This number has been a cruel reminder that I have one more year left of my 20s. Why does this freak me out so much? I mean its only 29! Shouldn’t I be going through these motions as a 29 year old fixing to turn 30? Oh well, guess I am a crazy person!?

“Do I suffer from Attention Deficient Disorder or am I just discontent?” I asked my husband late last night while we were talking about hobbies and things we enjoy doing. For giggles, I like to make fun of myselfso I started to go through the list out loud of all the crazy things I have done over the past few years. The joke really was on me when I started actually counting up my silly escapades of things we call “Hobby’s, talents, time fillers.” I laughed it off and dropped it.

The short car ride each morning to take my son to school has become my self reflection outlet. I love to get in the car and drive off into the beautiful sun rise knowing this is the start of a new day. The bright Sunshine brings warmth to my face as I sit at the four way stop waiting on my turn to take a left. I am almost home and whatever I do that day will not begin until the ignition is turned off and I make my way back into my favorite place I call home.

This mornings car ride sparked questions; what is it? Am I discontent Lord, or do I just have a super bad attention problem? I keep searching for that one thing that sets me apart that I love doing. Did you really create us to be good at one thing? I mean there are singers who sing, athletes who play professional sports, artists who paint, teachers who teach, dancers who dance, authors who write best sellers. Why can’t I just find that one thing I find joy in and confidence in?

I have to figure things out, when I can’t it drives me insane. So I did the only thing I know to do when I just can’t seem to put my finger on it I journal. I love how God knows what we are going to ask and when we are going to ask it. My journal time usually becomes a super divine conversation with my maker.

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I titled todays entry ADD OR DISCONTENTMENT and then I made a list of everything new I have tried in the last four to five years. I will just stop and say, I am a little embarrassed to share this with you because you will really think I am a CRAZY if you don’t already! 😉 Each item listed was going to be “MY THING,” you know that one thing you do all the time because you love it and you are good at it! I have only stuck with two of them which are in italics. I do however hope that the blogging becomes permanent!

  • Working out
  • Hair bows
  • Handmade get well cards/birthday box
  • Crochet (self taught by YouTube videos)
  • Journaling
  • Blogging
  • Mums
  • Hand made jewelry
  • Organizer binds for house chores
  • Flower Garden
  • Fondant cake making

 

 

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I then brainstormed what I loved to do when I was younger. I use to love making collages out of magazine clippings. I would love to redecorate and rearrange my room over and over and over again. I was beginning to make a connection. My 20s looks a lot like a collage of things I would have made when I was a teenager. I had collaged and collected all my interests and all I had left was a big mess of everything running together to create a blob of massive proportions: dollars lost, over flowing bags of ribbon, cardstock, glue sticks, and yarn taking over a closet in my house!

It wasn’t until ran out of lines to see the scripture that was printed on my journal page at the bottom.

The journal I am currently using was a Mother’s Day gift from my Husband and children a year ago. I LOVE this journal because on every other page there is a scripture posted at the bottom.  It is no surprise to me that the answer I was looking for would be starring right at me on todays blank sheet!

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Colossians 3:17

OH MY WORD!!!!” Whatever you do,” it didn’t say the “ONE thing you do.” I was instantly hooked and reeled in on the word “whatever.” I knew if I dug a little deeper in scripture I would find what I was searching for. I proceeded to grab for my LIFE Handbook, my Bible, and I read over Colossians and 1 Timothy 6.

I kept staring at my list, there were so many things on this list in such a short amount of time in my life. Why so many? I then remembered how creative our Creator is. I mean stop and think about the variety we have on this planet; people, food, animals, plants, the colors each night of the sky as the sun is setting. He has created so many things and they all bring glory back to himself. I began to ponder if God has so much variety with us here on planet earth what is really the matter with having so many things on this paper? Maybe he doesn’t want us to limit ourselves to just one thing!? I closed my journal and read some more. 1 Timothy 6:6 says that” Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I knew I had let my imagination run off course and I was brought back with this truth.

I should not be too concerned about what makes me happy or wasting time comparing myself to other women’s talents, hobbies, gifts.

 I should be more concerned about how the desires, talents , and gifts God has given to me bring benefits to others not myself.

After all, My life really isn’t my own.

When you put verses 23 and 24 together in Colossians 3 you will realize that it all comes back to being a servant of Christ.

23″ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

If your suffer from crazy ADD or DS (discontentment disorder), such as myself, make a list of all your crazy endeavors and then examine the motives behind each one and label that motive beside the item. Do they benefit just you, just others, or both? My motive list included attention, pride, and ways to make money. (Ouch) These things I can mark off. I can come back to them later in life when my motives are no longer one of the three previously stated. 😉 What brings joy or encouragement to others? Those things, you should keep!

This morning I found contentment in this truth; I am a servant of the Lord, and “whatever” I choose to do with my free time be it a hobby or just for fun, I should focus on my motives behind it, and if it doesn’t give thanks to the Lord and it doesn’t benefit others, I am wasting my time, energy, and focus on it. I need to drop it and let it go. This gives me freedom from being OVERWHELMED!!!!

Being mindful to be a blessing to others will bless you as well.

I have a new outlook on my hobby list and my condition. I do not suffer from ADD, but I do suffer from discontentment because nothing Godly was gained in my pathetic attempts to chase after things that did not bring any satisfaction to anyone else but myself.

I feel confident that I can now bring my focus back on to others while I am enjoying things that I love to do! Contentment is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

Be Beautiful-

Leigh Leigh

 

 

My secret formula to a healtheir You

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It’s Monday! The children are back in school, your husband back at work and the promises of a new start to a new work week is now your current reality. The only person that will get in the way today of your goals will be You!

5:45am my alarm clock welcomes the new day as I rub the sleepies out of my eyes and grab for my phone. My alarm clock happens to be on my phone so, therefore, I have to grab my phone first thing to quiet the annoying sound that interrupts such beauty sleep. I am definitely a creature of habit, by default I press snooze, in fear I might accidently fall back to sleep, then I open my bible app and read what the verse of the day is. I have been dealing with a little bit of anxiety lately so when I scrolled down and read anxiety in Psalm 94, I decided I would just check the whole chapter out. There it was in bold print the words I needed to hear on this beautiful Monday…..”Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord…….” I was super encouraged. I roll out of bed and head to the kitchen to prepare my children’s lunches for school. I kept repeating to myself blessed is the one who is disciplined, yes blessed is the one you discipline, Lord! How great this would be for me to just post all over my food pantry, my refrigerator, my car, my bathroom mirror. If I was going to start this Monday back on track with my eating habits then I would have to plug into the promises of God’s word. Discipline is something that does not come easy for me. In fact, I am the silly girl who will make up weird challenges and with hold certain things in my life for a month at a time just to practice self control.

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I lift weights with my husband on average of five days a week. This is something I have enjoyed participating with him for about five years now. You never really have to beg me to go work out. I LOVE putting on the work out clothes and heading to the gym to pump some iron. I actually look forward to this during my day. If only I could be as excited about my diet and motivated about my food choices. Once I get momentum I can eventually do well with my eating habits, it is always that first initial kick start that is very daunting! I love CARBS and I love CHOCOLATE. Saying no to a warm gooey brownie may be nothing for you to, but it just about KILLS my me to say NO! My love for chocolate and brownies is that deep! It reminds me of a poem I read in grade school about a little girl named Abigail who told her parents that if they didn’t buy her the pony she wanted she would die. Okay, maybe not to death extremes, but you get the picture I am trying to paint here! When I focus on weight loss I don’t concentrate too hard on the numbers on the scale, I like to actually focus on inches lost. The scale can be a big discourager for me as I may have gained muscle mass and lost body fat that week, but because it tattle tails that I went up two pounds, here ushers thoughts of defeat and all other sorts of nonsense I could really live with out in that moment of  my vulnerability to give up.

I am no fitness pro or nutritionist, but this is my secret formula I like to live by when I get serious about changing my body.

Cardio 30-60 minuets a day + weight lifting targeted on one body part a day; post work out protein shake +  3 low carb/high protein meal choices + 2 “good- fats”, low carb snacks +1 awesome cardio music play list + water, water, water + patience and time (a good month) +hard work + self control+ lots of discipline= positive body change results and healthier me; aka, one Happy Gal!

 

Today is Monday and my mind is made up! I will not let this day disappear into the night with feelings of regret. My goal is to stay on track with clean eating food choices. I would also like to drop body fat to appear more lean and cut.

This is how I reach my goals:

  • I will seek the Lord’s help through prayer in all areas of my life that I need help with discipline, including self control and resisting temptation.
  • I will post my cute notes I have hand written to remind me that I am blessed when I am disciplined as a reminder to keep asking for his strength when temptation of bad food choices or laziness comes my way.
  • I will say no to the junk I have been eating for a month now and yes to better food choices!
  • I will ask my husband to help keep me accountable of my food choices while dinning in or eating out.
  • I will make my way to the gym and give it my all during my work out while enjoying my time with my favorite hot work out partner, my husband!
  • I will invite my girlfriends to zumba classes for cardio.
  • I will run/walk 30 minuets, 5 days a week.
  • I will give thanks to the Lord for all my success along the way.
  • I will rest my head each night on my pillow with feelings of excitement, success, and satisfaction of my good choices made; no regrets!!
  • I will extend grace, love, and forgiveness to myself on days that I fall short of my own expectations.
  • I will repeat the steps above each day following, knowing that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!

 

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“You were not meant to do what’s easy, you were designed to challenge yourself!”– Justin Timberlake

My challenge will be to starve this monster called “My cycle of self defeat.”

How will you challenge yourself on this Monday!?

What does your formula for a healthier body look like? Please comment below and share!

xOxO

Leigh Leigh

 

 

Like me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

 

 

Confession of a tattoo sleeved Mom

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I confess that I was really afraid to become a sleeved Momma!

I would like to think that when you have your first child your identity of yourself transforms into one huge bubble that separates itself into two halves, the identity of yourself and the identity of their Mother.

Deciding on a tattoo sleeve took me a good two years. First I had to come up with a design , and second I had to really be for sure I really wanted to commit to permanent skin art for the rest of my life.

I remember all the areas of judgment I would struggle with every time I seriously thought about the consequences of my decision. My first initial struggle was what will my family think? I grew up in a small town in Texas where any tattoo any where was looked upon in a negative manner. I quickly put aside this fear. After all I was a grown woman! The Harsh judgments of other women, men, friends, people I knew, and strangers. I worried about my witness to others in my walk of faith. I read through my bible and discovered a few scriptures that gave me peace. I know in my heart that God doesn’t judge the outward appearance but the heart of a man/woman. I prayed about my wants and desires several times. I began to believe that if the art itself wasn’t leading someone to the evil dark side, then it would just be beautiful art on my body. Obviously being  mature in my faith and getting a pitchfork and the words “born to raise hell” tattooed on my body would definitely be a stumbling long block to a new believer. It would also go against every fiber of my character as a woman after God’s on heart. ❤

For me the most difficult struggle that seemed to be the hardest to just overcome was my children.
What would they think?
Would I be an embarrassment to them?
Would their friends parents misjudge me and then not allow their kids to hang out with mine?
This was a hard pill to swallow and I really tried to patiently deal and come to grips with all these insecurities I had about becoming a sleeved Mom.  (Now I do have to interject here that my husband has a sleeve on his right arm and has had it since our son was about 3 years old.)

More months went by and more time was spent on making a decision. I finally realized that I really did want this tattoo sleeve for me. I had my reasons and meaning behind the sleeve design, which is of a beautiful peacock. I knew I had to do this now or I would regret it later in life. So I talked it over with my children. I wanted to hear their thoughts and let them know that their opinions did mater to me. The decision was finally made and the first appointment was booked!

For me personally this sleeve represents the beauty of FREEDOM! More importantly for me, the freedom I receive in Christ by his abundant mercy, grace, and love. I am free to be me and you are free to be you. I also like to think of it as being an example to my children to be free and be strong, stand up for what you believe in, and just simply be who you are. Don’t settle, don’t mock, don’t be a copy, BE AN ORIGINAL!

It may not be as drastic as a huge tattoo for you, but whatever piece of you that is just screaming to come out of inside the MOM shell you hold together so well, embrace it and let it shine through the Mom shell. Trust me you are doing yourself, your children, your spouse no favor by holding back who you are in the other half of that identity bubble. You are cheating them out of a wonderful, creative, fun MOM and wife!! We are all way too harsh and critical of ourselves. We hide behind those FEARS of cruel and harsh judgments we think other woman are thinking about us. I bet you that there are a lot of women out there who hold back just because of these fears, which are just false evidence appearing real. Who cares anyways what others think?

What better day, then on Mother’s Day to reflect on your MOM bubble and figure out how to pop the line of separation of being you, and being their mom! BE you, Be BEAUTIFUL!

Peacock sleeve tattoo

*I did explain to my children after each ink session how much it hurts and that they really do not need to consider getting ink until they are almost 30 ;0) if that is something they choose to do!!!

Peacock sleeve

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
xOxO

LeighLeigh

She doesn’t know why she doesn’t love herself

She is driving a minivan full of children to school, sorting laundry, filing reports behind a desk, listening to mindless chatter from her girlfriends, taking orders, reading food labels as she grocery shops. She is behind the voice you hear on the phone, she is in the cosmetics department glancing at all the beauty products on the shelf, reading all the promises the product will make her feel if she uses it. But, she is empty inside and she doesn’t know why? You see her everyday, you both make small talk and continue about your way. She has a dirty little secret, the same one a lot of us hide. She doesn’t really love herself and she doesn’t even know why.

Maybe it’s that she has always been told she has a wide bottom, her legs are too short, chest too flat, nose is too long, and that beauty mole that came from grandma does not make her feel beautiful at all. It has to be the dimples in her thunder thighs, her super stringy hair, acne on her checks, forehead wrinkles that are growing ever deeper. Surely she must know that this is all outward appearance stuff that pertains nothing to her heart, her soul!  But she hasn’t the faintest clue. That’s because she hasn’t discovered what true love really is.

Think of it like this. For me, growing up what my Mother said was pretty on me, I believed. She was my very first beauty and fashion expert. Even to this day as a 29 year old woman I still call my Mother and ask her what hair color looks best on me. Why do I do this? Because she is my Mom, the woman who nurtured and raised me, and the only one who will tell me the brutal truth when I ask of her opinion or advise without crushing my ego. Mother always knows best and I trust that she would never tell anything to make me, her baby girl, look or feel ugly!!

I truly believe this is how I should look to my heavenly father as well. If you think your Mother favors you, can you imagine how much God favors and adores you?! After all, He is my creator who knows me better then dear mom or myself. I know that he would never want me, his perfect creation, to feel ugly, unworthy, and unloved, just like my Mom.

1 John 4:19

“We love because he first loved us.”

God loved you so much that he gave his one and only son that whoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. We also know that that there is no greater love then to lay down ones life for one’s friend. John 15:13 ( I know he calls me friend see John 15:15) Jesus came into the world to save his people who where separated from God because of their sin. He sacrificed his life for me. He died so that I may be forgiven of my sin, free from the slavery of my sin, and made me holy and righteous by his blood! He loved me before I was conceived in my mothers womb, and he will never stop loving me. His love never fails, it never gives up, and it never runs out on me. His mercy and grace are new to me every morning. He thinks I am precious in his sight, worth saving, worth dying for, worth rescuing, worth healing, worth forgiving on a second by second daily basis.

When I keep my eyes fixed upon him and his love for me, I can love myself. Why? Because I know he first loved me!

We gain confidence when we believe someone does love us and accepts us flaws and all, we can start to embrace that security and love and accept ourselves. We can do this with the power of the holy spirit’s help through our prayers. We can always ask God to let us see ourselves the way he sees us. We can ask for help with self control, you know one of the fruits of the spirit we have as believer in him. Start soul searching, praying, asking God to reveal how beautiful and perfect you are in his sight. Meditate on his words and scriptures about his love for you daily.  If  you are really struggling with inward or outward beauty right now, I urge you to write down on sticky notes these scriptures you find and post them on your bathroom mirror, or stuff them in your purse. Sometimes we just need to be reminded a little more then others! These words that you mediate on are called words of truth. God can not lie and he will not lie to you. Words of criticism and negativity are just whisper’s of Satan.

God loves you so much, he created the beautiful Woman you are inside and out. He loves you on your worst days, he loves you on your best days. He never stops loving us. Even on our ugliest days he is here patiently waiting for us to seek him for his love and assurance. I am sure the last thing he wants is to see you, his child, walking around not loving yourself so Knock it OFF!! 🙂

Love yourself because HE first loved you….and he still loves you!

She doesn’t know why she doesn’t love herself …………..because she doesn’t know how loved she is.

What are the lies that Satan whispers to you about yourself? What encourages you to love yourself more? Please share, I would love to know!

xOxO

Leigh Leigh

Body after baby…

Motherhood came quickly for me. I was 20 years old when I said, “I do” to my dear husband almost 9 years ago.  I became instamom and we became an instafamily. Being that young and entering into the whole momma role I decided I didn’t want to wait to have our children. I was 21 when we welcomed my now 7 year old son, and I was 24 when we welcomed my now 4 year old daughter.

In high school I could not gain weight to save my life. I was extremely skinny. Would I give anything now to have that metabolism. My husband says it all the time, “Youth is wasted on the young!” Ha Boy is he never lying. I never was one to work out or even consider myself a gym person. In high school I participated in the athletics program. So whatever the coaches had planned for our daily regimen, I did. That was the extent of my athleticism. Looking back now at old pictures, it’s hard to remember who I was back then. I had gained a lot of weight with each one of my babies. I was the nerd who believed you should eat for two and so I did. I went from 135-170lbs! Nursing them both always sucked the weight off very quickly after my pregnancies, but my body would never be the same in my eyes, and I became depressed.

Here is ME about to pop November 2009.

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My dear husband joined a local gym when we moved and got settled into our new town. He worked out during both of my pregnancies. So as I got bigger, he got buffer! :0) I am not sure how exactly he talked me into going to the  gym with him, but he did. I started working out, (weight training) religiously after my baby girl turned 6 months old. I will most definitely blog about the benefits of working out with your spouse another time. I haven’t looked back since then, and I don’t ever plan on it. I  began to discover who I wanted to be through working out and making healthy eating choices. I was taking back my identity and I happened to really enjoy myself. We should all strive to be our own best friend because lets just face it, we can never escape ourselves. There is no other self gratifying feeling then to watch your body change because of the hard work , healthy choices, time, dedication, You invested in yourself.

I’m not suggesting that you take this to the extreme and become obsessed with yourself or start thinking all high and mighty about how you are better then others. Absolutely not! But taking the time to love yourself for who you are, the person whom God created , and what you want to become will challenge you. It will shape you and it will mold you into a better person.

Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27

I think this is a huge piece of the puzzle to that very important command. (as you love yourself)

How much you love yourself will reflect on how much you love others! WOW I believe having a positive and healthy self image is extremely important as well. Just on that point alone I could blog for a hours, but I wont today. I will save all these other important beliefs in upcoming blogs.

Instead, I will leave you with this question, how are you loving yourself today?

Are you saying kind things about yourself or constantly tearing yourself down with your own ugly words of criticism? Remember how you are loving yourself should be the same way you are loving others! I lost sight of loving myself after raising my small babies. Don’t let motherhood hold you back from working out and reaching personal goals. You don’t have to do it by yourself either. Include your spouse and your littles!

xOxO

Leigh Leigh

 

Like me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

*gotta love those bathroom selfies 😉

photo 1 (2) photo (5)

Leigh Leigh Speaks

Nothing screams “Vulnerable” more then creating your very on blog about your life. As I sit here writing this very first blog post butterflies race about fluttering extremely fast as the letters appear on the screen. I guess this whole concept started with an email I received a few short weeks ago from a woman who was starting up a sports bottle customization company. It would appear that she had maybe got in a little over her head. I simply asked a few questions and the response that I received back rocked me. “Hi this is ######. I am a mother of four but I am running a fundraiser.” She then continued with saying that she would love to talk and see if we could together come up with some of the answers to my questions.

The passion for starting a blog has been growing for a little over a year now. I journal the old fashion way with a pen and a pretty decorative blank paged journal. If you are like me, we do all of our soul searching in the shower. As I am scrubbing my floral shampoo in my hair, day dreaming of what my blog would consist of, I heard those words come back, but they weren’t hers they were mine. Why would my blog matter? I am just a Mother of four. I immediately stopped right there in my thought and begin to cry. I had felt that inadequacy the woman had expressed in her email. That same insecurity every mom feels as she dreams up, and aspires to be something more then just their mom. It was in that moment I knew I had to bust out of my comfort shell of that silly little title “Mom of four.” Yes, it may be just a title, but it is being used in a negative manner and not the way it was intended. How many times have we thought about putting in a job application, starting a company, joining a new gym, entering into any type of competition, (cooking, sewing, crafting, painting, etc..).. all to be drowned out by the bulling of that phrase.. why would you do that your JUST a mom of 4? This bully phrase is the whisper of Satan holding us back and keeping us right were we are, in the sea of our own insecurities and comparisons.

If you are a mother of one child, you my friend are IMPORTANT. You have learned to be loving, kind, forgiving, patient, selfless, nurturing, compassionate, and wise beyond your years. You are inspiring, empowering, special, unique, quirky, one of a kind. You’ve got it! Anything you dare dream, think, hope, you can do! I have a voice and so do you! So let’s speak up sister and share the things that make us all connect and relate with one another.

Here is to stepping out of FEAR and stepping into FAITH.

Journey with me as I share my life as HIS Wife, Their Mother, My best friend, working out, staying healthy, growing in faith, and following Jesus.

xOxO
Leigh Leigh