birthdays, Frances Hoelsema

Hi, friends! I’m so excited to share about a new book from YA Christian Fiction Author, Beloved Smart, called The Daily Life of Hailey Grace! Keep reading for info on the book and a giveaway where you can win a free copy! (Oh, yeah, and there’s also a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card! Sweet!)

Here’s the Book Blurb:

For Hailey Grace, birthdays suck! She hopes with all her heart that her big day passes without gifts, or even a birthday wish. But with loving parents and two witty best friends who keep her on her toes, there’s no telling what adventure Hailey Grace will be forced to explore this time. Unexpectedly, her best friend Alex challenges her to do something she’s never done before. With that comes a whole new set of rules, and another life Hailey isn’t sure she’s quite ready for. Now questioning all that she has ever believed, she takes Alex up on the dare by asking for something that no one but God can give her. Her request also comes with a twenty-four-hour deadline. As the minutes slowly but surely tick by, Hailey’s life shifts into overdrive and she wonders if she has asked for too much too soon.

Click the link below for the giveaway!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8af75d4811/?

This post is part of The Daily Life of Hailey Grace Blog Tour. To learn more about the author and her book, check out all these other cool blogs that are part of the tour!

Livy Lynn Blog

http://www.livylynnblog.com

My Worst Birthday Ever

January 1

R.M Archer

http://rmarcher.com

Guest post from Beloved

January 2

Hot Town Cool Girl

www.hottowncoolgirl.blogspot.com

Guest Post from Beloved & Giveaway

January 3

Spoonful of Surprises

www.spoonfulofsurprises.com

Giveaway

January 4

Uniquely Marie Blog

Hi there!

My Worst Birthday Ever

January 5

Smyling Girl

www.smylinggirl.blogspot.com

Guest Post & Giveaway

January 7

Bookish Orchestrations

http://bookishorchestrations.blogspot.com

Interview & Giveaway

January 10

Victoria’s Book Nook

www.victoriasbooknook.blogspot.com.

Interview

January 11

Riley Aline

www.rileyaline.com

Guest post from Beloved

January 12

Stories and Soul Speak

www.storiesandsoulspeak.wordpress.com

Guest Post & Giveaway

January 13

Once Upon an Ordinary

https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/

Interview

January 14

Imperial Scribis

https://imperialscribis.wordpress.com

Book Review

January 15

English Mysteries

https://englishmysteriesblog.blogspot.com/

Interview & Giveaway

January 16

Novels Dragons and Wardrobe Doors

http://www.novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors.blogspot.com

Book Review

January 17

Unorthedox Mama

www.unorthodoxmomma.com

Guest post from Beloved & Giveaway

January 18

Among the Reads

http://amongTheReads.net

Book Review

January 21

In My Book Case

http://inthebookcase.blogspot.com

Giveaway

January 22

Authoring Arrowheads

https://authoringarrowheads.wordpress.com/

Interview

January 23

Frances Hoelsema’s Blog

www.franceshoelsema.com/blog

Book Spotlight

January 24

The Calico Books

https://thecalicobooks.wordpress.com

Giveaway

January 26

Home with Hummingbirds

www.homewithhummingbirds.com

Guest Post & Giveaway

January 28

Among the Reads

http://amongTheReads.net

Guest post & Giveaway

January 29

Writing’s From a God Girl

www.writingsfromagodgirl.wordpress.com

Interview

January 30

The Lens and the Hard Drive

https://thelensandtheharddrive.wordpress.com/

Book Review & Interview

January 31

September is kind of a crazy month for us Hoelsemas. We have a couple of birthdays, a week-long summer vacation, and I usually start school with the kiddos at some point in the month. This year I happened to realize something that got my mind spinning in many directions.

Back in 2007 (well, technically very end of 2006), my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first child. We were delighted as we really didn’t know if it would happen for us. (I’ve shared parts of my story here, as well as on Facebook. I’ve even written a book on infertility because we faced that disease head on. You can find it HERE!)

Unfortunately, however, that child wasn’t meant to be. God called that angel home in February 2007. My due date was in September 2007, though. Another reason September is just a tad *crazier* around here.

So this is what I realized this year. If my husband and I had never miscarried that child, we would have a 10 year old!! That makes my jaw drop, people! I mean, it’s already hard enough that my oldest is going to be seven in November, and my baby is already four, but a 10 year old!!?!?!? I’m not that old, am I? It’s just really hard to believe.

Time really does fly the older you get. I feel like every time I blink my children are just that much older. So then I got to thinking about parenting. I pray almost every day that my children will grow up making wise choices, having the right people surrounding them, and turning out to be successful, smart, hard-working, honest, loving, et cetera.

I believe heavily that Proverbs 22:6 holds true. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Thus, I try to train my boys in the way of the Lord. I don’t always do what’s right, but I hope I’m doing good enough. I hope I’m a good mom.

Then I came across something that spoke volumes to me. The following post is from 21st Century SAHM on Facebook. You can see their page HERE!

Girlfriends, I got to get something off my chest.

My house is never clean. Like ever. I have friends (with kids) whose houses are spotless. Are they better moth…ers than me? Nope. Am I a better mother than them? Nope.

I work out every day. I have mom friends who don’t exercise. (I mean other than running around like crazy people after their kids). Does that make either of us a better mom? Nope.

I have a friend who gave birth in a pool in her living room. I pushed mine out in a hospital bed after receiving a gift from the epidural fairy. Both of us are good moms.

I drink a beer or glass of wine (sometimes in front of my kids!) on occasion. I’m a good mom. My neighbor and good friend doesn’t drink. Also a good mom.

I’m a yeller. I have a good friend who is quiet and extremely patient. I envy her. But we are both good moms.

I have friends who are super organic, chemical free, and dye free. My kids sometimes eat popsicles for breakfast. The cheap kind that are 50 for $2.00. Are either of us better than the other? Nope.

I swear, but not in front of my kids. Are you a bad mom if you do? Hell no.

I’m involved with my kids’ school but I don’t volunteer and live there every day. Are the moms who volunteer daily any better than those who never do? No. Am I incredibly grateful for the moms who volunteer every day and help the teachers? YES.

Are stay-at-home moms better than working moms? NO.

Are working moms better than stay-at-home moms? NO.

Are married moms better than single moms? NO.

Are you a better mom if you take your kids on exotic vacations? NO.

Can you be a good mom if you the closest thing you get to a vacation is the park? YES.

Can you be a good mom and have a super scheduled summer with lots of planned activities? Yep.

What about if your summer is lazy with no plans? Yep.

Do good moms let their kids watch TV? Yes.

Play video games? Yes.

What about if you say no? Also fine. Your choice. You’re the mom. And a good one.

I’m a Christian. My friend and neighbor is Muslim. Another friend practices no religion at all. WE ARE ALL GOOD MOTHERS.

My other friend is gay. Her kids have TWO mothers. They are both good moms.

I breastfed. My kids barely had any formula. Am I better than moms who give their kids formula? NO.

So how about this? Can we all climb down off judgmental mountain for a second? And just support one another? And just say, Hey, motherhood is hard. You’re doing a good job. Raising kids can knock the wind out of a person. You got this.

How awesome would that be? Just a thought.

There is a lot of judgment going around, and I know at times it seems easy to think we’re doing better than or worse than other parents just based on situations, appearances, provisions, et cetera. But really I think we’re all just doing the best we can.

So in a day and age where there are a lot of paths to take (vaccines, schooling, foods, technology, chemicals, and the list goes on), the best we can do is research and decide what’s best for our family and/or just choose what fits our budget, morals, conscience, lifestyle, et cetera.

And then pray. Pray it all goes well. Pray our children grow up right. Just pray. Let God take care of the rest.

And, finally, don’t worry about what others think (yes, easier said then done). Just rest in the knowledge that you’re doing the best you can do, and that no one will love your kids better than you do.

So this September, I will take all these words to heart, and continue to be the best mom I can to these two precious boys (and one angel in heaven).

Multi-Genre Author

The Daily Life of Hailey Grace

Doing Our Best