Daily Life | Brooke McGlothlin

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Dec 1

Can I share a little “After and Before?”

(I said after & before instead of before & after because the 1st picture is the finished product. I figured if I showed the old pictures 1st no one would want to see anything else 😂).

We have lived in this house for a little over 5 years. Since that time, we have done very, very little to change it. I told someone the other day that most of our budget, everything that isn’t nailed down in bills, and giving, and regular expense of living, goes to travel baseball for our boys. No. House. Budget.

I recently confessed to my husband that I still didn’t feel like this house was mine. We’ve only painted two rooms since we moved here, & those only because the color choices in them were so radically unlivable for us. But most of the rooms are painted some color, and none of them mine. It’s not that they were bad color choices, it’s just that they weren’t mine. And therefore, it didn’t feel like my home.

He asked me what color I would choose for the kitchen, which topped my list of rooms I wanted to change. There was a time when I would’ve chosen bold, dark, moody colors. But in this season of my life I lean toward clean. We chose a very light gray and he painted the entire kitchen for me the week before Thanksgiving. We went from dark army green, to beautiful and bright.

He also allowed me to invest in what will be my Christmas present a bit early. After almost 20 years of having the same kitchen table that was very frayed around the edges, we got a new one, and I love it! We bought two chairs, and I kept the bench seat I’ve grown to love. Finally, we got a few new bar stools and, after going 5+ years with no curtains in my kitchen, I found these on Amazon on Black Friday and got a steal.

I absolutely adore my kitchen now. You can’t see them in this picture, but if I were to turn the camera around you would notice beautiful lights over top of my kitchen cabinets. They look gorgeous at night, and cast a warm glow over the whole kitchen. I could just stay in there forever.

Swipe if you’d like to see the befores (and please, for the love of…say you like it so my hubby will feel like he did something good ;)

brookemcglothlin

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Nov 29

One of my favorite ways to get in the mood for Christmas is trying different festive essential oil blends in my diffuser! Sometimes I struggle to transition from one season to the next. It’s like we are expected to flip a switch and be merry overnight, right? Am I the only one??

This morning, I chose Wild Orange (we call it, “Happy” in a bottle), Peppermint (perfect for waking up the brain and opening sinuses…hello winter allergies), Cypress (good for calming coughs, also something I struggle with), and finally, Holiday Joy (it’s Christmas in a bottle, promise).

I LOVE being purposeful about the smells in our home. Believe me, with two teenage boys, two big dogs, and a rescue kitty, we need all the help we can get there. But the best part is that each choice doesn’t just smell good…they benefit our family in so many ways.

I give this blend two thumbs up (2 drops each)!

And while we’re talking about Christmas joy, another way I help my heart in this department is by listening to @davidnevuepiano on Pandora. He has such beautiful Christmas hymns and I dearly love them! Plan to meet me over at @millionprayingmoms at Noon EST today as @_ginalsmith_ and I kick off the Christmas season with a series of big announcements this week (one pertaining to this love of Christmas hymns) starting with a new episode of #mentormonday! If you can’t join live, it’ll be saved in the #millionprayingmoms stories 💚

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Nov 27

See that little one at the bottom? The one who is screaming like Animal on the Muppets?

10 years ago he was giving me a serious run for my money. This picture is a perfect nonverbal description of my young motherhood and his personality.

He still has a very big personality, but time has tempered and shaped it a bit. Thank heavens.

A lot of influencers say that talking about “surviving” motherhood is bad, and that we should talk instead about thriving in it. I certainly like the idea of thriving better than surviving, but I see a picture of struggle —> choice to honor God through struggle —> grow in maturity —> struggle again…in scripture much more often.

It was owning the struggle, and going to God with it that made my relationship with Him thrive. Without the struggle I would’ve taken the credit for myself. Just being honest.

Swipe to see him now 💚

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Nov 26

Want 30% off #prayingmombook? Grab it from @bethany_house_nonfiction as a part of their mom gift guide!

(Also, I have a picture of every book of mine on my #turquoisetable, so I couldn’t leave Praying Mom out, even though it really needs a fresh coat of paint)!

#prayingmom #prayingmoms #christianmom #sheprays #millionprayingmoms

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Nov 25

I posted this last year. Still seems appropriate! Happy, HAPPY Thanksgiving!

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Nov 24

A sneak peak of my #prayerroom in progress. I’ve talked for years about wanting a dedicated prayer room…and the reality is that I’ll never get it in this house 😂 BUT, I can share. Half will be my prayer room/office, and the rest will be the mud room between the house and garage where everyone dumps stuff when they come in 🙄 #lifewithteens, right?

These three prints (swipe) are probably my absolute favorite find so far. They’re the sheet music to three of my favorite hymns; Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Great is Thy Faithfulness, and I’ll Fly Away. I found them on Etsy a few years ago and just now hung them (on brick, using Command Strips. The frames are intentionally very light to make this work. Didn’t want to put more holes in our brick walls).

I’m hoping to have the whole room, minus new barn doors, ready by Christmas, and I’ll be doing a prayer room tour at @millionprayingmoms when it’s done. Until then, I’ll highlight some of my favorite pieces here 😉

If I don’t say it tomorrow, friends, Happy Thanksgiving!

#sheprays #prayingwomen #millionprayingmoms

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Nov 21

I’m doing a thing I haven’t done in 20 years, and it’s bringing me so much joy…singing in the choir.

Specifically, I’m singing with the choir in the Candlelight Carols our church hosts right before Christmas. It isn’t that I’ve been anti-choir. It’s that for many years we went to churches that didn’t have a choir, or if they did, my kids weren’t in a place where I could leave them easily to contribute. Now, I can.

After the first practice my husband asked me how it was. My reply was slightly dramatic 😉 but it’s really how I felt at the time.

Life-giving.

In Sunday School this morning, our pastor asked us to share something God had done in our lives recently that filled our souls. I’ve thought about how to answer that all day, and singing with the choir this year, maybe even permanently, is the simple pleasure God has made possible that I can do just for Him, without having to worry about anyone else. And that, my friends, fills my soul 💚

What’s filling yours as we move fully into the week of Thanksgiving in the States?

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Nov 16

Hey Friends,

Well, it’s been quite a month for me. So many things happening behind the scenes. Maybe you noticed that I wasn’t posting here a lot (maybe you didn’t, and that’s TOTALLY OK!) and wondered what was up?

As we made our way through my very favorite months of September and October, I found myself getting used to the idea that I would be moving forward with @millionprayingmoms without a full ministry partner. And I need to tell you that there were days I felt brimming over with purpose and passion, and other days when I felt overwhelmed with it all. I always seem to ask the question: “Do I have what it takes?” anytime I’m faced with something that feels big, and the answer is always, “No you don’t, but you serve the God Who does.” I don’t know why I forget that so easily…

He’s never let me down…so I’m still here, moving MPM into a new stage. I’ve spent TIME praying, dreaming, researching, and praying some more, and I think I’ve heard at least the next right steps, but one of those steps was significantly changing the MPM social media. SOOOO, I’ve been sharing my heart at @millionprayingmoms way more than here. Mostly, I’ve been hanging out in my stories here…something I’m growing to love.

And honestly, the very well thought out purpose I had for THIS account has changed and morphed. I don’t really know what I’m going to do here…except be me. Just me and my boys and the life we live. Maybe that’s all it needs to be 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anyway, I wanted to touch base and let you know what’s happening. If you don’t follow @millionprayingmoms go do it. That’s where I’m sharing about prayer, and while it’s for moms, it’s really for everyone. I’d love to connect there, but I’ll still be here too…maybe just a bit differently than before 💚

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Nov 12

This was my heart rate last night during my youngest son’s basketball game (it was EXTREMELY physical, more like a football game, high fouling, and we won by one shot).

Clearly I needed my Adaptiv/Serenity/Balance/Copaiba/Peace/Shot of Whiskey essential oil blend before we got started 😂😂

#basketballmoms WHAT UP?? Baseball and football don’t do this to me!

#idontdrinkwhiskey #thinkingishouldstart 🤔#essentialoilstotherescue #doterra

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Nov 12

All just in the first 14 verses of Ephesians. MAN are we rich in Christ!

This weekend, as you rest or run, remember that these things are yours in Christ. You have so much more at your disposal than you think you do because of, “…the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us.”

Know who God is = know who you are = strength for your purpose 💚

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Nov 11

My guy had a good night of middle school basketball. Maybe his personal best.

3 3-pointers
2 regular shots
1 foul shot
1 jump shot
———————-
16 total points for the game 💚

(I muted the videos so you don’t have to put up with “crazy mom screaming for her baby” sounds 😂😳).

#mobsociety #sportsmom #sportsmomlife #basketball

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Nov 8

What a fantastic, life-giving email I received from @jeffdbraun and @bethany_house_nonfiction this morning!

ECPA is the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association, which represents Christian publishers nationwide. And of course, when you are an author it feels good to know that people are reading what you wrote!

A big, huge, thank you to everyone who has supported #prayingmombook. It was the first in four years, and it was a little bit scary to start over. I did everything differently from other book launches, and I’m still working hard to get the message out there. But there wouldn’t be any lists if you hadn’t purchased. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

💚

P.S. I’m not 100% sure, but this could be my first bestseller list ever, so there’s that ;)

brookemcglothlin

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Nov 5

Signing some copies of #prayingmombook for the women of Johnston Chapel Baptist Church. I’m so looking forward to the opportunity to share with you this weekend in my first non-virtual, post-Covid women’s event!

I can’t wait to do a deep dive in prayer with you!

brookemcglothlin

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Nov 3

A beautiful reminder from my Everyday Prayers for #ThanksLiving prayer journal today. God isn’t finished 💚

#sheprays #prayerjournal

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Nov 1

What I’m working through this November.

Gratitude reorients and rights wrong beliefs. That’s what I’m going for. Join me? Grab the digital version at the @millionprayingmoms shop link in bio!

#sheprays #millionprayingmoms #thanksliving

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Oct 30

😂 #husbandconversations

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Oct 30

Tell me he doesn’t look exactly like the Facebook cat??

#nermal #catsofinstagram

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Oct 28

I listened recently to a podcast where NT Wright, an expert on the Apostle Paul, was asked what Paul’s greatest asset was to the Kingdom of God.

Was it his knowledge of OT scripture? His experience as a devout Jew? Was it his boldness? His way with words? His passion for Christ…for living for Christ even if it meant dying for Christ?

I thought it was an interesting question, but nothing special really. If I’d been asked I might’ve chosen his ability to boast in weakness (because I feel like I do that a lot over here 😂), or maybe his deep understanding of how much he needed Jesus.

But that’s not what Wright chose. In fact, he didn’t choose any of the things normal Christians say about Paul.

He said the most valuable asset Paul brought to the Kingdom of God was his vibrant prayer life.

I was stunned.

What started as a, “meh” question ended up blowing me totally away. Arguably the most known Christian in the world, who is responsible for much of the spread of the gospel to you and to me, and it was his PRAYER LIFE that made the most difference?

🤔

And then it dawned on me.

None of the other things Paul was known for would’ve been possible without a deep and abiding, life-giving and ongoing conversation between Paul and his Father. Friends, that’s prayer.

That’s the power of it.
That’s the necessity of it.
That’s the possibility of it.

We literally can’t afford to be without it.

What could be possible in YOUR life, your home, if you made talking to your Father your #1 priority? The possibilities are endless💚

(Need help learning to pray? Read #prayingmombook. Link in bio).

#millionprayingmoms #prayingmom #prayingmoms #sheprays

brookemcglothlin

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Oct 27

Y’all forgive me, but I know some of you don’t get to experience God’s glory in the fall like we do here in #swva. I can’t stop taking pictures as the trees rise up and show off His greatness.

“Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me…”
-Emily Brontë

#swvabeauty

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Oct 26

I’ve shared my story several times over the last week…and again even just this morning. There’s often a theme to what God is teaching me that way.

Growing up, specifically as an older high schooler and into college, the Lord gave me the opportunity to watch friends and family experience the negative consequences of bad choices. Also, I got betrayed and hurt myself. Most of us have.

Why bring this up? Because while I would never wish hurt on anyone, watching others go through it, and even experiencing it myself gave me a holy desire to make different choices, and to choose not to be the kind of person who intentionally hurts others.

My graduating class celebrated 25 years this past weekend, which is possibly why this is fresh on my mind, but I also had the opportunity to walk my kids through some hurt over the past 24 hours, and because of the grace of God, was able to thank God for letting the hurts happen so that they can see exactly what kind of men they DON’T want to be. I pray it takes. I pray it roots deeply down in the soil of their hearts. Not that the hurt itself would root there (as it did in me some if I’m honest), but that a desire to be different would take shape, grow, and bloom into beautiful, sacrificial, real manhood.

Yet another way prayer has changed the way I parent. We aren’t helpless to just let life happen to our kids. I’m not saying we can prevent every bad thing with our prayers. I’m not sure we should try. But when they do happen, we have an active, aggressive, righteous response that God hears and honors.

Parenting can often leave us feeling helpless.

Prayer fills parenting with holy purpose 💚

#prayingmombook

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