virginiagrownblog

Forever ❤️

Blurry but beautiful.

I’m sweaty 99% of the time. Thomas is testing boundaries I didn’t even knew existed. Caroline is going through a tough 3-4 month leap. Rory is working. We are traveling for various family events this holiday season.

This is a valley. I’ve been here before.

Times get tough but sure enough they keep on moving. Trying hard not to wish these moments away but some days I want to sleep and wake up to a few months down the road.

Attempting with all of my might to truly seek out gratitude in these moments. To find the little joys. To see the sun rising for all its beauty.

This is just a valley. One day we will climb out of it together and when we do we will look back and be grateful for the strength we earned.

Motherhood makes me feel defeated, overwhelmed, emotional, and some days, straight up crazy.

But motherhood also makes me feel confident, secure, beautiful, wanted, and loved.

It’s a rollercoaster everyday but it’s my rollercoaster, and I’m grateful for the privilege to experience it.

Sometimes life is really hard and all you wanna do is crawl into a ball, but then your kids do something adorable or hilarious and it sets you straight again.

I’m thankful for women like who are humble, willing to serve, strong leaders, kind hearted, and able to listen. She lives her life guided by God and even when she’s uncertain, she knows He is everything.

I would have never joined this amazing team Francis + Benedict] if it weren’t for her asking and encouraging me to ask God about my next steps.

You wouldn’t expect a simple “yes” to change your life, but Francis + Benedict] did.

Also, fun fact: Lia and I grew up in the same hometown, Williamsburg, VA!

You’re in the trenches, but God places a ladder in front of you and says, “let’s climb out, together.”

Some seasons of life are hard. There is always something feeling like a weight pushing you deeper and deeper away from your connection with the world. You lose sight of who you are. You push away your community. You dive deep into your own head, drowning in thoughts that say, “I can’t do it.” “I’m too alone.” “I am not enough.”

But God doesn’t give up on us. God has never given up on me and honestly there have been some times in my life I’m surprised He didn’t. Some of my valleys have been so low. But every time He stands with me, He waits for me, He gives me what I need to pull myself up.

In this season of life, God has blessed me with . He has given me a community of women who pray before every meeting. A group of coworkers who ground themselves in Christ and have vowed to be missionaries, no matter the cost. A fellowship of ladies who support me, who pray for me, who love me, and who make me laugh daily.

Sure, the skirts are pretty, but the people? Oh, the people are changing the world.

Heart is full ❤️

Before I joined I prayed and prayed, unsure if this was the path God wanted me on. I felt the smallest, tiniest nudge thanks to my husband and WOW what an important nudge that has been.

Sometimes the smallest leaps of faith reap the largest rewards. This company, these women, this mission has been more than a blessing in my life. It truly has been life changing.

❤️❤️❤️heart is happy

This shirt doesn’t have spit up on it 🙌🏼🙌🏼

For now.

Living that newborn life with a toddler under 2 has this mama needing some dress up time. There’s nothing better than styling a skirt to immediately make you feel like a million bucks. I took my new Ibrahim Super Mini for a spin with a summer and fall look.

Week 38 and everyone is tired, but mostly my feet from holding up all this female empowerment.

This week marks week 37 and mama is feeling it.

Officially baby month ❤️so close to a family of 4.

Little sweetie boo boo. One day we will get pedicures together and discuss relationships.

I look forward to those days. ❤️

35 weeks preggo and dinner out with this hunk celebrating him being the best dada in the world.

Can’t wait to meet our daughter so soon. ❤️❤️

32 weeks with lil sissy.

Starting to feel excited and nervous about adding someone new to our little family, but just like when Thomas was born, I know my heart will explode with love and grow bigger everyday.

29 weeks and I want my daughter to know that she do amazing things.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of fundraising with my team .

When felt that nudge from God, she knew she had a destiny to raise enough funds to provide our family in Togo with new electrical sewing machines, electrical irons, a fabric cutter, and new sewing shears. The ask wasn’t small, but the hearts of those involved were HUGE.

As of today we have raised OVER $10,000 for our family in Togo.

God is good.

So, to you, my sweet 29 week old baby girl, I want you to know you can amazing things when you follow God’s calling for you. When you open your ears to hear him, your life will be changed forever.

❤️❤️

28 weeks with baby girl.

Third trimester begins and so do the prayers for a safe and healthy end to this journey, which is really the beginning.

Can’t wait to meet you wittle smush cutie 🥰

Does this count as a mother and son photo?

It’s Wednesday so that means I am wearing and sharing one of these beautiful skirts!!

Did you know that F+B has both a non-profit side and a for-profit side? This means that when you donate to Francis+Benedict, you know your money is going directly to our Togo family and funding one of our many projects and initiatives. (Education, transportation, health savings, and nutrition)

Our for profit side is where I fit in! Our advocates, our skirts, our business, is all possible because of people who believe in this mission and want to be a part of big change around the globe.

Have you purchased your first skirt, yet? Trust me, it will change your life.

25 week bump makes her first Francis+Benedict debut!

Happy !

This might be one of the most beautiful pieces of wearable art I’ve ever owned 😍

Playing dress up during nap time is a big part of my self care routine.

I used to get up, shower, and get dressed every single day when I was teaching. It was one of my favorite things— looking through my closet and seeing what kind of fun and colorful outfit I could put together for the day.

My outfits used to reflect my confidence, excitement, joy, and overall pride in myself for my career and my time spent in the classroom.

So now, as my outfits reflect less color and more sweatpant material, I use nap time to feel a little like myself again and take back that confidence in my fashion.

The only green I have this year.

Three years ago we were on spring break enjoying the beautiful Abacos with some of our dearest friends, who we miss so much!!

So much has changed since then. I love having photos to look back on.

Change is hard, but the memories of fun, love, laughter, joy, and friendships keep us going!

He’s such a good helper. Even if it meant going up and down the driveway 100 times just so he could push it.

Happy . I woke up thinking about the men and women in Togo this morning. I woke up thinking about a woman named Rose whose life has been far from easy.

If we were to sit down and discuss the difficulties of our lives, I would weep listening to Rose tell her story of death, poverty, and triumph.

There is something so amazing about humans though. Even with our pain, our suffering, our absolute difficulties in life, we somehow find a way to laugh, smile, find joy again, and move forward.

Today I am thankful for a company like that continues to show me God’s love in various ways, through various people, in various places around this world. I am blessed to work with the sewists in Togo and to know their stories.

I hope one day I can tell them mine.

The hardest part of losing a grandparent is watching your own parents mourn their death.

The loss of my grandpa yesterday has me thinking deeply about the life he lived and the way he impacted my own mother, his daughter. It’s so strange when you start to really dive deep into your family history and remind yourself that this man wasn’t just your grandpa, but he was first someone’s baby boy and toddler. Then a rowdy teen. Then a husband. Then a father. Along with so many other titles before becoming my grandpa. A whole life lived, so many memories.

I can’t help but wish this hadn’t been the end for him. But I wish even more it hadn’t been the end for my mom and her siblings. I cannot imagine losing my own dad, so those emotions are projecting onto them and their pain.

Life is short! Ugh. So so short. So we celebrate today, knowing it’s fragile.

It’s a freezing Valentine’s Day, so I’m pretending I’m still in Savannah, where it was always warm, celebrating love with my love.

Boo thang for life ❤️