blogs to live by [naptime diaries]

blogs changed the way i live. they changed me. i am who i am today because of the grace and mercy of jesus, my parents AND BLOGS.

i'm not even kidding. as a young adult i was scared to death to have children. i thought it sounded exhausting and difficult (it is). but oh man, it is so much more than that!

 i'm not really sure how it happened, but somehow, when i was just dating derek, i found a whole "network" of blogging women who were moms. i saw how they raised their children, i saw how they ENJOYED it, i saw how they loved their families and taking care of them (even the hard, messy parts). and it clicked IMMEDIATELY. i was like, "oh, i can do that. i can be that mom/wife."

for some reason i grew up thinking that kids were bratty, and that moms got together to gripe about their children. disclaimer: my mom didn't do that, but somewhere i came away with that impression.

Now that I see how fulfilling and sanctifying being a mom and wife can be, I feel the need to share my wealth of blog mom knowledge and inspiration. I mean, DAILY I find myself encouraged by these moms, and I’m always wanting to share my list of daily reads with fellow moms or moms to be. in the future I can look back here to my blog and also send friends here who are needing some encouragement.

so the first one i want to highlight: NAPTIME DIARIES

i would describe this blog as light-hearted, inspirational, and full of christ-centered encouragement. 

here is her ABOUT ME from her blog ENJOY!:  

WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE

Naptime Diaries is my little home on the internet that is about Spirit, Truth, Family, Community, and Color. This is me telling my story as I endeavor to grow in all of the things. I pray that it reads like more of a coffee date and less of a trophy case. 

FILLING MY DAYS

I'm a wife to a handsome man planting a church in downtown Charleston. 

I'm the mom to four of the potentially loudest and cutest children on earth. 

I tell my stories here on the blog, I design prints for our family business - a scripture print shop, and I believe in the community that we are building here - on The Influence Network. 

WHO I’M WRITING TO

Even though I've been blogging since 2006, I started writing Naptime Diaries intentionally in 2009 for women like me who had small children, big dreams, and scarce contact with the outside world. Though most of my children have gone off to school and my naptimes are now filled with online work, I keep writing to her - the mama who craves freedom, passion, and intimacy with the Lord. I don't write only about motherhood and all are welcome here, but she will always have my heart.