It’s been a bit of a struggle for me lately trying to figure things out. My life is going to change completely next month when I become a mother and have a sweet little girl to care for. I am not working currently, mostly just freelance here and there. A year ago I was working a job that was great, but it just wasn’t right for me. Shortly after, I started a repurposing business and freelance photography and that kept me occupied until I became pregnant 5 months later.

I’ve been ‘stuck’ in a place of uncertainty and wondering what I was going to do over the last few months. I thought that maybe having a baby meant putting my other dreams on hold. Maybe this was God’s way of telling me it was not His timing for me to pursue the things I felt so deeply He was calling me to. It was about a month ago that He had shown me otherwise and He still continues to do so.

The last book I read suggested another book, Freefall to Fly by Rebekah Lyons. Without reading much about it, I added the book to my Christmas list along with a few others. I began reading it a couple of weeks ago and little did I know that this woman’s story would be used to speak directly to my heart. In her book, Rebekah takes you through her journey from vulnerability and uncertainty to a life of meaning and balance between motherhood and following her dreams.

“Some women uncover their talents before having kids and then shelve them while raising their children. They’ve experienced a sense of fulfillment in living out their purpose but believe they must set aside their pursuits for the sake of motherhood. They’ve bought into the belief that their gifts and child rearing are disparate parts, unable to coexist. Instead of fighting to figure out the balance, they stuff their dreams in a box marked ‘motherhood.’ ”

This very paragraph hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized that becoming a mother did not mean that I had to put my life on hold. I am just simply growing my family and have the privilege to raise my daughter while I follow my dreams. What an honor it is to be able to teach my little girl to pursue her calling and be an example to her! I believe that 2016 is going to be a year of not only birthing a child, but also the birth of new gifts and new vision. I am so looking forward to all that God has in store for me and my family this year.

If you are feeling stuck or are unsure of how to find balance in being a wife and mother, as well as pursing your life purpose, I highly suggest this book. It will definitely give you some encouragement and make you feel empowered.