Working on Being a Happy Mama

A joyful heart is good medicine!

I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.

-Audrey Hepburn

The grid through which we see life will determine how we behave in life. A long time ago, I realized that my children needed a happy mama. Since then, there have been many times when I've truly struggled to find joy in my days, but it has become a position of my heart to search for it.

Happiness is a choice that comes from a heart that desires to please God. Happiness is an attitude that, in the will, says, "This is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

How to develop this attitude little by little is another thing all together. Here are some things I have done to cultivate happiness in my home. The more you practice and choose these heart expressions of happiness, the more happy your home will become.

Cultivating Happiness In Your Home

Before you even step out of bed, put your eyes on Jesus and talk to Him.

"Jesus, this is your day. I can only have enough strength for all that I carry if you carry it for me, and if you give your spirit's life into the moments of my days. Please help me to worship you today by choosing to be thankful for the gifts of my children. This is your day, Lord, and I want it to be a day when you are present every moment. I love you, Jesus and am thankful for you being with me."

When you first see your children or husband, greet them with a blessing.

Kiss your husband in front of your children---this makes them feel happy and secure. Choose to take time to tell him goodbye and kiss him before he goes to work.

"I am the most blessed mama in the world to have you as my little boy."

"Good morning sunshine. I am happy to see you this morning. Did you have any dreams?'“

"Mama needs a kiss from you today because you are so very special to me."

"I am so happy to be your mama! God must have loved me to give me you."

When a child grows up with a blessing most every morning when he awakens, he feels wanted and affirmed deep inside.

Put on music at different points all day.

Turn something on when you do the dishes or chores with your children (I prefer something upbeat!)

At the dinner table play something instrumental so everyone can talk without interruption.

Put it on when you are in the car, and when you have a sick child, and when you are alive, and … !

Certain music, scientists have said, lowers blood pressure, soothes the nerves, gives people a sense of contentment, helps some children do better at math problems, and takes the focus off work so time goes by more quickly and pleasantly.

Place fun things in your day that you as well as your family will enjoy.

I light candles a lot just because it makes me feel civilized.

I instituted afternoon tea times because I wanted a civilized moment, and it made me happy. A cuppa and a small treat, like a piece of dark chocolate.

I love to walk, sing, dance, have fun, and live with beauty and harmony, so I place things every day in my life that give me happiness or a sense of fun. Flowers, walks at sunset, back rubs, sitting out on the deck and watching the pines bend in the wind… these small joys have helped me to calm the raging life storms I've faced.

The practice of being thankful and cultivating joy is not one that is perfected overnight, and there will undoubtedly be stormier days that challenge us more than others, but the more we take time to look at the day the Lord has made and make the choice to rejoice, we will find that joyfulness becomes a more natural state.

May your days be happy and bright.

Lots of Fun with Sarah

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.

I’ve so loved continuing to look through all your messages about Help, I’m Drowning. I must say I’m incredibly relieved to finally have gotten this launch out of the way, but I’m even more relieved that my words have helped, encouraged, and inspired you.

The past few weeks, even without my book launch, have been full. My oven has been broken, and so we’ve been having to adjust our cooking to only using a stovetop. Then, Darcy, my sidekick golden retriever, suddenly had to get surgery and has been limping around the house while she dons the cone of shame. Along with all of that, my hip has been having issues for awhile, and I’ve just gotten surgery done on it — for the next few weeks, poor Clay will be taking care of two limping ladies!

I’d hoped to spend these months in England, helping Sarah take care of her three children. But life does not always go how we envision it.

As a young woman becoming a mother for the first time, I had all these visions of how wonderful, meaningful, and purposeful I would feel raising my children. I thought of motherhood as a gift, and it was, of course. It still is, and now grandmother-hood is another gift I am blessed enough to enjoy.

Yet, with my idealistic image of motherhood, the picture I had in my mind of my family peacefully gathered round the dinner table as we shared a tasty meal by the candlelight, I had forgotten something important: life will never be perfectly in order, especially when you’re a mother.

So many times, I wondered how I’d possibly make it through another day of homeschooling, cooking meals, cleaning up countless messes — even though I loved my four children endlessly, there were days when this thing I knew was a gift, felt impossible to control, let alone enjoy.

I found myself using “when” whenever I’d dream about what my life could look like… when the kids are older, I’ll do this… when the house is in better shape, I can finally do that… when we have more money, we’ll be able to have this… when, when when.

I was living in anticipation of a simpler season, smoother sailing, uncomplicated days, forgetting that in the process, I was still living out my life.

What I’ve learned with my near seven decades is that life is just going to be a lot of trouble, despite the blessing of being alive. Marriage won’t be all roses, we might lose out on a job we really needed, and raising our children will leave us feeling drained, unappreciated, or lonely. It’s worth it to ask ourselves, how can we survive the difficult parts of living?

With the countless stormy seasons I’ve faced over the years, I’ve found that pushing past these uncertain times makes us into fierce women. I like to think that I’ve become a fierce woman, and Sarah is, too. I see her jumping into her calling of being a lifegiver, a mother who cultivates beauty and joy not just for her children, but for herself.

On today’s podcast with Sarah, she shares with me some of her “survival techniques” that have kept her going in the midst of an incredibly challenging, exhausting season. I hope you will be reminded that you aren’t alone as we share our struggles, and encouraged that you, too, can bring beauty into ordinary days.

Books Referenced in this Podcast:

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Support & Community, Just For You

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Thank you, friends, for the countless messages I have received from you in the past few days. So many have been encouraged by the message of Help, I'm Drowning, and I’ve so enjoyed hearing all about the ways you’re being encouraged. It is always my greatest hope to inspire hope and encouragement for fellow weary mamas. I am so glad to have been able to do that.

Ever since I became a Christian as a young woman, I have been captivated by the concept of mentoring other women through loving, close relationships. Where did I learn all about it? From pondering, studying and understanding the life of Christ. His way of reaching the world was by developing personal relationships, serving, and teaching the truths that came straight from the heart of God. That, to me, seemed the most wonderful and inspiring way to reach others.

After the release of Help, I’m Drowning, and seeing all of your messages, I was praying about how to further encourage young women, new mamas, and seasoned sailors in this space. I was reminded that I always forget to tell you about the community of women who gather together in community each month for encouragement.

My team and I developed a community called Life with Sally to be a further resource, encouragement, provide countless ideas and to build a place where women all over the world can feel inspired and encouraged. I would be so honored if you’d consider joining our community.

Members of Life with Sally have access to legacy talks, recipes, Bible studies, book recommendations, Awaking Wonder units, and of course, a wonderful, one-of-a-kind community of kindred spirits, along with so much more. There are years of content for you to discover!

You can find out more about my membership at Life with Sally — I do hope you’ll join in on all the fun.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to order your own copy of Help, I’m Drowning below.

Resources:

Books Referenced in this Podcast:

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

Buy on Amazon

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Authentic Faith, Not Perfection: Help, I'm Drowning

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As I look back on the years of my life, I remember many times when I pondered if my kids would be ok. It didn’t seem like they could be with all the difficulty and issues we had struggled with—and how imperfect Clay and I were. Yet, as I look back now, it was not perfection that was needed, but an authentic faith, a humility, a choice to trust when the feelings weren’t there. This week, Sarah surprised me with sharing about my book—she said she learned how to walk through her own darkness—that is the key, faithfulness in the midst. Thanks, sweet Sarah!

“This is my lovely mom last year just after Samuel was born. She arrived in the middle of winter and walked my fussy baby around the house for hours and bought us good food and rode the train with Lilian and me to Brighton just to get us all some fresh air and find some gorgeous flowers at the market.

My mom is a trooper, a bringer of courage, a mighty maker of beauty, and she has a book coming out today all about how to make it, how to get your hands round faith and hope and God's love in the midst of dark times.

I so want you to read it because my mom is a woman who knows what it means to walk through the valley, to bear the darkness, and somehow, be radiant. She keeps showing up in my own dark seasons, laughing and loving, helping me to remember that I am capable of bravery, of beauty, of hope.

I've watched my mom navigate achingly awful seasons many times in my life. I've watched her endure loneliness and grief, illness and difficulty not just with gritted teeth, but a heart as tender and hopeful as a child's because she chose every day to hope, to choose, to try, to love.

I'm so proud of her, and I have learned how to be a woman of courage because of her. She's offering a beautiful thing in this book, and I recommend it to you as someone who has been daily heartened and comforted by her wisdom and presence through all the dark seasons of my life.Love you, mama (Sarah)

Happy book release day, wonderful Mom!

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

Buy on Amazon

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

16 Million Downloads, Chocolate and a Giveaway

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Wow! What a week! Launch week is pretty much closing today! I feel so blessed and love and encouraged by you, my wonderful friends. I couldn’t have done it without you. And, don’t you know, a girl just might have to have some salted caramel chocolate to be able to make it through a launch week. (Thanks, sweet Katie.)

The truth is, I am somewhat introverted at heart and I just cringe when I see one more photo, one more post, because it is not natural to me to launch. But over years, I have acquired some skill and knowledge about how to support what my publishers are doing—but it is not in any way natural! Whew—the chocolate came at just the right time.

What is natural is that I love to podcast.

I love to picture all of you, I am pondering your hearts, your needs and I love being a voice of encouragement to you—with Darcy at my side, sitting quietly, in something comfortable and chatting with my heart-friends—you. And guess what?

Right in the midst of this launch, I realized that I had hit over 16 million downloads of my podcast. Wow! That is because of you. What fun it has been to be a part of this. Thanks so much for making this happen. It was never my goal. I just love sharing with friends. And then somehow it just kept growing.

To celebrate the end of launch week and in light of these downloads, I was pondering what I could do that would be fun and also bless some of you. The past few weeks, I gave away 4 private mentoring sessions. I have had so much fun talking to the precious ones who won. So I was thinking—wouldn’t it be fun to extend that as a giveaway to 12 more women—to gather over a zoom call party one evening—where you can ask questions, tell me your stories, I will respond and tell you mine. Whoever wins can invite their friends over for the time of fellowship—and we can keep the mentoring/friendship going. What do you think?

So to enter the giveaway (either on Instagram or Facebook), make sure you’re following me, like my post detailing the giveaway, and tag a friend in the comments using #HelpImDrowning.

I will host the party a bit after my surgery on my hip (September 21—so after that a week or two).

Today, I shared on my podcast 6 Ways that I deal with the storms in my life with the scripture that keeps me fast. I hope it will be of great encouragement to you. I pray it gives you a grid to follow, to practice when you need anchors to keep you strong. And it’s in the back of my booK: I call it my Storm Care Kit.

Meanwhile, I am off to eat, fall into bed one more night. But I will fall asleep thanking God for you.

Books Referenced in this Podcast:

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Love God Greatly: Angela Perritt Giveaway

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Giveaway and a Wonderful Podcast!

What an interesting, exhausting, but exciting launch week it’s been!

Launching a book is like having a baby — first, you are pregnant with ideas, and then it takes a very long while to grow, and then the pain of getting it out into the world!

A book has a life all its own and I hope and pray that this book will encourage many women all over the world. One of the realities of life is that the world is broken, people are desperately lost and floundering, and darkness is evident in so many ways and in so many areas of life all over the world.

Yet, if we know Christ, we live differently. Maturity for us, as with babies and toddlers, children, youths, is slow, over a long period of time. But God companions us and causes us to be fulfilled in the deep places where we learn the secrets of a kingdom life through journeying through many life storms.

We live in the reality that He never leaves us, that He is with us, even to the end of the world, that He is our light, our salvation, our shepherd, and He is good. And so, though storms are often relentless, God’s presence is constant. A part of our glory as believers is to be able to bring God’s light into every situation, every storm, every relationship.

Learning the reality of this truth took me many years. I began as a novice and ended as a seasoned “sailor” so to speak. My hope is that this book will companion you and comfort you as you face your own storms, but that you will also find hope, courage, grace to live a faithful story in the midst of these life storms every day.

I am beyond blessed to have generous friends who wanted to be a part of the launch of my book—friends are the best! My dear friend, Angela Perritt, is a beloved, trusted friend who shares her extremely difficult story on my podcast today, At Home With Sally. We have been the kind of friends that see each other seldom, but I know when I am with her, I will leave wanting to be my best self, wanting to serve Christ with a more loving heart, and being motivated to take His light into the world. Today, She, speaks of the ways she was able to walk through many challenging days and live in the peace of God’s reality.

Angela Perritt is the founder and director of Love God Greatly. Love God Greatly is a global ministry dedicated to fighting Biblical illiteracy around the world through their translated Bible studies as they build communities of women who are centered around God's Word. The Bible studies, website, and Facebook communities are available in over 35 languages and in 100+ countries. 100% of all ministry profits go directly toward the urgent need of providing Bible studies to women around the world in their native languages at no cost.

Because she and I both want to support women in their love for God’s word and their desire to spend time with Him, we want to give away one of her amazing leather Love God Greatly Bible to someone in my audience. It is beautiful faux leather Bible.

This Bible will help you know how to study the Bible, as it has so many resources.

Created by women, for women, the Love God Greatly Bible offers insights that will encourage and equip you to meet God on the pages of Scripture and engage deeper through Scripture memory, prayer, and daily reflection.

To enter, follow me and Angela (@sally.clarkson on IG—and @lovegodgreatlyofficial on IG), like my post about Angela’s giveaway, and tag a friend in this post using the hashtag #HelpImdrowning

Thanks to all of you amazing friends who have been cheering me on in birthing this baby.

NET, Love God Greatly Bible, Leathersoft, Brown, Comfort Print: Holy Bible

By Thomas Nelson

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Beauty: A Profound Anchor in the Storms of Life

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“One of the marks of a godly woman is that she takes responsibility for her soul's need for joy and delight. A woman is a conductor, who leads the orchestra of her surroundings in the songs and music of her life. God is a God of creativity and dimension, and so He is pleased when we we co-create beauty in our own realm, through the power of His Spirit.

It was a profound realization when I understood that I could become an artist with my very life.”

-Sally Clarkson

Storms have come out of the blue, invaded my life, caused destruction and devastation at times. Yet. one of the ways I learned to anchor myself was by establishing artifacts that lifted my spirits, rhythms that kept me sane, (tea times, walks, quiet times, breakfast out with friends, reading encouraging books, watching uplifting or fun movies, gathering with an inner circle girlfriend, going on an adventure, sleeping, taking baths, …..!)

You get the picture. I learned to take responsibility for my soul that it might continue to become more beautiful.

In light of that, today, one of my dear friends, Jacqui Wakelam, has chosen to give away one of her beautiful framed prints to encourage one of you. She is a gift of a friend and I know you will absolutely be blessed by her. I hope you will enjoy our podcast.

To enter, follow jacquiwakelam on instagram. Follow me on insta. Tag a friend in the post on insta or Facebook.

But even better, subscribe to her newsletter, Beagles for Beauty @: https://www.jacquiwakelam.com and you will receive into your inbox, inspiration, beauty, ideas, pondering thoughts and friendship in the best sort of way. And it’s free!

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Launch Day: Help, I'm Drowning

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It’s out!

I’m so happy that this day has finally come — where I can move these words from my heart and into your hands. This book was born out of the thousands and thousands of women around the world who’ve expressed to me in messages, comments, and conversations their own stories of dealing with life storms, and the feelings of loneliness, helplessness, and desperation that we are all too familiar with in our journeys as women, wives, and mothers.

In addition to your own stories that inspired this book, the thoughts, reflections, and wisdom in Help I’m Drowning came out of my personal journey as a young, idealistic woman and mother — I so often found myself in the same places as you are today.

I’ve encountered the deep pain of heartache as I lost friends and family to disease and illness; I’ve lost countless nights of sleep with endless amount of work to be done; I’ve walked with my children through their own seasons of loss, hurt, and confusion; I’ve felt tossed about by waves of worry and anxiety due to financial instability; I’ve been challenged with the heavy downpours of over-exhaustion, isolation, and fear; I’ve wondered where God was in all of this — and then, just as I’d managed to weather through one storm, I’d see another looming just up ahead.

What I’ve learned in my nearly seven decades is that even in the times when I’ve felt most alone, overwhelmed, and uncertain, God was there with me. He is always there with us in the midst of our storms, even though at times it feels like He’s sleeping quietly in the back of the boat, or waiting for us on the other side of the storm. He is there, and He is faithful — He wants us to weather our life storms with hope and grace, and He is ready and willing to walk with us through the worst of our storms, offering us wisdom, grace, love, and hope.

I pray this book will be a salve to your soul, and a lighthouse in your storm. I pray it will inspire you, but also help you know that you are not alone, that you are seen and understood in your storms. You can order it today at the link below.

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

Buy on Amazon

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!

Perspective: Learning How to Anchor Well through Years of Storms

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Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. Matthew 7:25

Jesus warned us that storms would come. He even allowed His disciples to experience “a furious squal” (Mark 4:35-41) to come upon them so that they thought they would drown. He warned of life storms so that we would not be surprised. But He also promised that if we built on the solid rock of His word and trusted in the unshakeable nature of His goodness, that we would not fall.

Because He cares so much for us, He wanted us to know what to expect ahead of time so that we would not be discouraged. As a young believer, inexperienced, it took me a long time to learn the ways of weathering by anchoring myself on His Word, His goodness, His love.

Perspective is a wisdom that comes through experience. We see things differently because of the long view of life and what transpires over decades. Today, I was so blessed to have the opportunity to talk to Kate Battistelli, as a seasoned woman, who adds so much grace to her words and gives so much wisdom and hope.

Tomorrow is the day of the official launch of this book. We will have lots of fun and giveaways this week. I hope that many of you will find hope, comfort and companionship and ultimately a deeper love for Christ at you read Help, I’m Drowning. He is my rock, my pearl of great price, my shepherd, my friend, my king.

Join me today as 1:00 Mountain time for a fun Instagram live with my friend, Leahvboden.

Happy Monday, Friends.

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

FOR MORE

• Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

• Leave an iTunes Review These are so important as they help our podcast reach more women with messages of encouragement.

• Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates.

• Share with others. My prayer is that this podcast brings encouragement to women and families, and I would be honored for you to tell others about it.

• Join my friends and me in membership at Life with Sally, a place for me to share more teaching from the Bible and messages on education, motherhood, discipleship, and more!
  
  
  

Thinking of You, My Friend

Oh sweet, precious ones, I have read all week about your own heart-stopping waves of hurt and heartbreak through the storms of life. When I sat down to write this book in the midst of a global pandemic and multiple other nation and personal crises, I thought of you, sweet friends.

I thought of the woman wondering if she will be able to make it through another day, but longed for the compassion and companionship of her Creator.

I thought of the woman whose stormy seasons had left her wondering if God truly loved and cared for her.

I thought of the tired and exhausted mama who has her arms full of babies and a sink full of dishes wondering why life can be so hard, so often.

I thought of you.

I wish I could invite you onto my breezy front porch and we could lament and laugh together while munching on something decadent and sipping something delicious.

But this book is the next best thing. If you are wondering “What would Sally say to me right now?” Help I'm Drowning is it and I pray it can be a light in your storm.

Today, I'd like to give away 20 copies of Help I'm Drowning to church leaders, church libraries, mom heart group leaders, and missionaries. To enter the giveaway, make sure you're following me on IG or Facebook, and leave a comment on either my IG or Facebook post telling me about your group, church, or ministry.

You can also preorder your copy of Help I’m Drowning today

Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope

By Clarkson, Sally

Buy on Amazon