Beautifully Chaotic Mom Life

So I'll start off being totally transparent. The blog for today was almost non existent due to some changes I've been experiencing for the last week or two. Normally I'm able to write some time in advance and I have blogs I've started that I can release but I know timing is everything. Thank goodness I was able to pray last night and ask for guidance because my overall goal is to inspire and encourage while remaining consistent to what I do. Now that's off my chest, lets get into it!  I woke up this morning wondering what can I say that will encourage and inspire? Something that will allow others to think more deeply while being true to what's within me? I ended up opening up my Bible app on my phone and reading a devotion I recently started and there it was! What do you want to be remembered for? What story or legacy do you want your kid(s) and/or grandkids to know? What decisions are being made right now that will work out for the good of not only for oneself ...

Sometimes I have the opportunity to sit silently and look back over my life to see just how far I've come as a person. I’m always in awe of how extremely gracious and merciful God has been to me, even in the midst of my foolishness. I hadn’t always been the person I am today and I didn't always strive to make the best decisions, especially with so many things and people seeking to distract me from my destiny. Honestly, I can say that to some extent,  I  walked through life carelessly and took many things and people for granted. Listen, I was a mess and the things I pulled back then and the choices I made before truly knowing Christ left me with an uncertain future but He had a plan. I thank God that He looked upon me and saved me the way he did, when he did. I thank God for the change of heart and the  continuous  shaping of me as His child, as a woman of God and now as a mother to a beautiful little girl.  Never in a million years did  I  think m...

I've always believed that you can't take everyone with you where you're going. It's not to say you're somehow better, have arrived, or are leaving them behind, it's just that people have seasons. Some people are in your life forever and others temporarily, but it's up to you to have discernment to know when the time is up and when to move. When we hang on to things and people longer than we need to we open the door for confusion, struggle and stagnation, because that piece that once fit the puzzle no longer does. Also, sometimes we know that things are ending but we don't want to be the one to end them. Listen, God will definitely step in and shift things if you don't. I've experienced the lose of various relationships over the years but this couldn't have been more true than when I became pregnant. I knew things in my life would change, I was a mom in the making, but I never knew to what extent. I knew my body was changing, my thoughts were ...

It's my assignment to love my daughter unconditionally, building her up holistically. It’s my assignment teach her to love herself in the most authentic way, embracing each flaw she possesses day by day. It’s my assignment to show her that beauty is more than skin deep, that true beauty is found within and not based on society. It’s my assignment to let her know it’s okay to be perfectly imperfect and those things she thinks makes her different actually sets her a part. It's my assignment to show her that the specific talents and abilities were given to her to touch the world in only the way she can. It’s my assignment to teach her to embrace the skin she’s in, to  delve into the history behind her beautiful melanin. It’s my assignment to teach her the importance of loving God and in turn loving all people. It’s my assignment to show compassion, in turn teaching her to be compassionate and not judgemental because we all seek to be understood.  It’s my assignment to allow her t...

Being pregnant and giving birth for the first time is a beautifully frightening journey. You can read all the books you want and gather all the best advice from experts and those around you, but until you actually experience it yourself and the things that come along with it (aches, pains, emotions, etc.), you'll never really know. With that being said the woman's body is a wondrous creation, intricately designed by God Himself. The changes that the body goes through during pregnancy is astounding! From the crazy elasticity of the uterus and skin to make room for the growing fetus, the production and increase in the volume of blood, to the loosing of bones to prepare for the delivery of a baby. And these are just a few of the many mind blowing capabilities of the female body as it makes room and prepares to give life to another generation of people who will inhabit the earth, leaving their footprints. To be transparent, I never really saw myself with kids. Most women know that ...

I know you're probably thinking about why I named my first blog post what I did, "And in the Beginning." I specifically chose those words because this is my first of many blogs that I'll be writing on my journey as a first time mom. But before we jump into all the good stuff,  I wanted to briefly introduce myself and delve into a few reasons why this blog is of importance to me and why I hope someone finds hope, inspiration and encouragement as they read.  My name is Crystal Mouton and I was born and mostly raised in Houston, TX, with the exception of 5 years of my formative years in Lafayette, LA. GO Ragin' Cajuns! I attended and graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Art in Nonprofit Management. GO Gators! I've been an educator to elementary and middle school children and am now in recruiting, helping others land their dream careers.  I'm just an early 30 something woman and mom who'...