Fulfillment

There are a few things in life that many other humans seem to enjoy, yet I never understood why. Running is one. Cooking is another. I'm sure there are more, but these are the two I can think of off the top of my head. I tried running. I downloaded an app, I went faithfully every day for maybe a month. Then I fell back into the fitness routine I feel more comfortable with: anything else.

Creamy Tortellini Soup - it was DELISH!

Then there's cooking. There are TV shows about cooking. People choose to be a chef. Yes, as a career. Most of my friends and family enjoy cooking. Yet here I was with no desire to cook and, worse, when I did dabble in it, nothing I made would hardly ever turn out. I wasn't great at timing, if one thing burned then FORGET IT I'M NEVER COOKING AGAIN! Phil enjoys cooking, but since our lifestyle has shifted since having Judah and I am working from home with him (because, c'mon, raising a baby is a full-time job people. Stay-at-home mom makes it sound like we do nothing, right?), it makes sense for me to start cooking.

Within the last few weeks, I can actually say that I've gotten enjoyment out of cooking. Say, what? I was just telling my friend Tori earlier that if you had told me I would be enjoying cooking even a month ago, I would've laughed. But, there's something to be said about putting your time and energy into something and seeing something beautiful (and, dare I say, tasty) out of it!

Now, it's not an easy feat cooking with a toddler, I'll tell you. Who decided that the fussiest time of day should also coincide with the time that dinner needs to be prepped? What the heck. Most of the time, Judah is crawling up my leg looking at me like why aren't you holding me? But I've been able to work around him or distract him with kitchen tools. It doesn't matter that by the time I'm finished cooking Judah has emptied most of the cabinets in our kitchen and undone any chore within his reach that I may have completed earlier. This is the stage of life I'm in right now and I'm working with what I have. Dinner is cooked and I actually got some fulfillment out of it -- this is big news friends.

"Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable"

I'm so grateful to have fulfillment in other areas of my life too. Being a mother, wow, how can I wrap up Judah's first year of life in one word? Fulfillment. Just like cooking, there are areas that are messy, imperfect, rushed and stressful, but the end product is so unbelievably worth it.

It seems like when Judah came along, my heart got bigger to make room for other areas in my life that I often wished were fulfilling, but weren't. This past year has also brought along starting my own business. I remember wondering if I would ever find a profession that I felt excited about, challenged me and also made me some money, because that's always nice. I joined Mary Kay six months ago and can say wholeheartedly that I've never enjoyed working so much in my life. Except, it doesn't even feel like work. It has pushed me so far out of my comfort zone (hello public speaking and presentations) and I am so thankful for that. I feel so much more confident in who I am and who I want to be. I want what I do here on earth to matter. Why not? That's why God put us here. To experience. To worship. To Live. To share our stories with others.

Some of our community - the best!

Sharing life with the community of friends we've made since moving to Warwick brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. We are building a life for Judah around quality friends in a quality town. This little town is so quaint and our community here brings me a lot of fulfillment.

Life brings seasons and I've been through my share of them. Not every season has brought me fulfillment and joy, but this one has filled my heart so completely. Here's to finding what brings you fulfillment and pouring that into every aspect of your life, even things you never saw yourself trying or enjoying!