Christmas is almost literally right around the corner. I say this with joy and excitement because I LOVE this time of year. I love giving gifts, I love shopping for the right gift, and I enjoy the expectant excitement of the preparation of the season.  I love celebrating Jesus’ birth and the season of Advent is even more fun with little children. Their excitement and innocence is yet untainted by the commercialism of our culture.

I have been stumbling unapologetically upon a lot of really awesome resources for teaching my children, lately. I’ve been sharing them with our church’s Mothers Ministry, and blasting them from the rooftops to whoever will listen. I’ve found so many that I finally decided a page to compile things into one consolidated place is best for everyone!

“Fake It Til You Make It.” Have you ever heard that before? I used to think I was independent and could handle anything. Now as a Mama Bear of 2 young kids, I’m starting to think that might’ve been an act.

The last several months have been challenging for me emotionally in ways I didn’t see coming. If you’ve been following along, I’m sure you’ve noticed. I’m trying to find my voice, theme, style, as a blogger. I’m trying to make it as a mom. I’m reading different parenting books but I can’t finish any of them because, hello, 2 kids, and I’m trying to find my style of parenting while being overwhelmed by my little blessings. It’s exhausting and I realized today I kind of feel like a fraud.

Do you have a community? They don’t all have to be exactly like you (in fact I find it’s richer when they’re not), but do you have a village?

I ask because I know what it’s like to live in a different town, far from family and have to raise kids without help, with sometimes tense relations, at a church I didn’t grow up attending, with only half of my family supporting our spiritual beliefs or parenting styles. Some of our family doesn’t even talk to us.

Can you believe that? I can, because it’s real life! It sucks and it’s messy sometimes, and no I don’t always handle it well. But since not everyone knows what it’s like, I’ve found it to be helpful as I work hard to “build my village” when people can relate to some of our story. I know how valuable a check-in here and there from a well-meaning friend can be, no matter how involved or connected we might seem.