About Ashley Schnarr

Ashley is a stay-at-home daughter preparing for her future dream of being a wife and mother. She blogs at www.stayathomedaughter.com where she shares her passion for Christ, Biblical femininity and preparation for the future. Ashley comes from a family of seven. She enjoys ministering in song, being a wedding cake decorator, long time babysitter, and new author of "Keeping House...While Keeping Sane". You can follow Ashley through her blog, facebook, or twitter.

15 Things Moms Wish They Knew Before Having Children

May 19, 2013 By Ashley Schnarr

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Are you a mom to be or young woman who would like to have children one day?

I asked a group of ladies what things they wished they knew or had taken the time to learn before having children. They gave a lot of good responses and I found the information helpful as I, a young single woman, prepare for my future family.

I have paraphrased some of the responses below:

1.) I wish I knew that life would change drastically, constant interruptions and down-right difficult time but it’s worth every minute of it.

2.) I wish I had been a better steward of my finances and thought more carefully about student loans so I didn’t have to worry so much about money issues when children came along.

3.) I wish I had guarded my heart and body better and asked myself, “How will this choice affect me 20 years down the road? How will it affect my future children?”

4.) I wish I had learned to cook and prepare healthy food for my family before I was married with children so they didn’t have to be the ginny pigs.

5.) I wish I knew that having children is way more about sanctification and sacrifice than luxury.

6.) I wish I had learned to trust and rely on God more. Some days are challenging and the future is uncertain.

7.) I wish I had learned to make a routine for my devotions. It’s so much harder to find time or be awake and alert enough when you have little ones.

8.) I wish I had been more diligent about saving money.

9.) I wish I had learned to be a better time manager.

10.) I wish I understood that life will get crazy and you can’t always get everything done.

11.) I wish I knew that “me” time would be limited and that I had realized earlier that Jesus bought us with his blood so all of our time should really be HIS time.

12.) I wish I had spent more time around other children so I knew better what to expect and how to raise with my own.

13.) I wish I had thought about what I believe about raising children and then made sure my husband and I were on the same page.

14.) I wish I had learned how to be a godly wife for my husband because that also effects your children and parenting.

15.) I wish I had known how important it was to have a support group you could rely on for friendship and practical encouragement.

Just one little note: We can never be completely prepared for the joy of marriage or children and God can use even the most unprepared women but it is still wise to take time to learn and grow so we can be good examples of motherhood for His glory!

Blessings,

Ashley
www.stayathomedaughter.com

4 Comments | Filed Under: Babies, Boys, Child Safety, Girls, Parenting, Special Needs, Teens, Toddlers Tagged With: 15 Things Moms Wish They Knew Before Having Children

Preparing for Motherhood Gracefully

April 7, 2013 By Ashley Schnarr

I have some very specific goals and convictions about raising children. As I have expressed before that I’m a big promoter of defying the culture and preparing now for children. While I do not want to back down on that stance at all I find that I need to beware that my heart does not have a shortage of grace for others and myself in my opinions and preparation.

I have a lot of ideals that I really want and strive to prepare for such as wanting a large family or planning to homeschool my future children.

These are good goals but sometimes I want them so much that I forget WHY I should want them. My motivation for these things should be a deep desire to serve and glorify the Lord and raise my future children to serve and glorify the Lord. My motivation should not be a me-centered attitude that wants my circle of friends to pat me on the back so I can feel good about myself. Nor should I lift up a method of glorifying Christ above my desire to glorify Him.

I’m finding that I need to guard myself from turing good things into idols of self gratification.

I’m also learning that if my heart’s desire is truly to serve and glorify the Lord in my planning and preparing then I will have a more grace filled perspective. When my motivation is right I will naturally be more graceful towards those who do things a bit differently.

“Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” -Romans 14:4 {NASB}

If God calls others to serve and glorify Him by doing things a little differently than I prefer, what right have I to be judgmental?

If my methods are my idols I will tend to be critical towards others who do not share my same methods but if my motivation is loving Christ then I will be more grace filled when I see others serving Him in different capacities.

Having this type I graceful attitude is beneficial for myself as well. If my preferred methods are idols to me it will be more painful down the road if the Lord does not choose to have me serve Him in the way I have planned to serve Him.

If I make an idol of something like having a big family but the Lord only allows me to have one or two children I will most likely feel like a failure and will be critical and judgmental towards myself. However, if I keep glorifying and serving Christ as my focus I will have a more graceful view of my circumstances, understanding that my calling is not lesser, just a different type of opportunity.

Today I encourage you to prepare well but do not allow your beloved methods and ideals become idols. Our God is a creative God who loves diversity. Rest in the grace of His creative plan for you and for others.

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Blessings,

Ashley Schnarr
www.stayathomedaughter.com

3 Comments | Filed Under: Following God, Parenting Tagged With: Preparing for Motherhood Gracefully

FREE Printable Safety Cards for Your Children

March 10, 2013 By Ashley Schnarr

I’ve created for you a FREE printable Safety Card download. This download includes four cards for you to fill out with emergency contact numbers, allergies, medications and special instruction for your child.

You never know when you might be faced with an emergency situation with your child and you want to be prepared with all of the information on hand, ready and available so you don’t have to search for it or try to remember in a high pressure situation.

Click the image below to download your FREE PDF copy!

Suggested Use:

Keep these cards in an easy to find place such as your refrigeration or near the phone
Print these cards our on Card stock paper or use a laminator
Keep these cards together by using a hole punch and keeping them on a metal ring (found in your local craft store)
Give these cards to babysitters or child care workers.
Keep these cards in your car or diaper bag

Blessings,

Ashley Schnarr

http://stayathomedaughter.com/

3 Comments | Filed Under: Child Safety, Parenting Tagged With: FREE Printable Safety Cards for Your Children

The Proverbs 31 Mother

February 9, 2013 By Ashley Schnarr

“She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also,and he praises her, saying:

“Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”

-Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31 is a beautiful passage talking about the virtuous wife. This exemplary woman is said to be worth far above rubies.

Certainly this is the type of woman a godly man is looking for when searching for a wife but have you ever noticed the ending of this chapter? Verse 28 tells us that not only does her husband praise her but her children rise up and called her blessed.

I think the model of the virtuous wife in Proverbs 31 is also a model of a blessed mother!

I don’t believe the Proverbs 31 woman became such and excellent wife and mother on the day of her wedding or on the day her first baby was born. No. I think it took years of intentional practice.

While I don’t think a person can ever be completely prepared for motherhood ahead of time (some things can only be learned by experience) I do think it’s important that we begin preparing for this special job as soon as possible.

5 Things We Can Learn From Proverbs 31 To Help Us Be a Better Mother:

1. Diligence
The Proverbs 31 woman learned the art of diligence. We can see that she was a hard worker who carried out her tasks well and in a timely fashion. Diligence will be needed to tenderly and carefully train children. This is a trait we can begin learning even before we have children.

2. Compassion
A good mother has compassion. The blessed mother and excellent wife we read about was always caring for her family and extending herself to the poor and needy. Are you cultivating seeds of compassion in your life?

3. Servant’s Heart
The Proverbs 31 woman has a heart that desires to serve others. This passage says she goes to great lengths to gather food for her family and she rises when it’s early to prepare it for them. Having a mother with a loving, servant’s heart is a valuable gift for a child and it’s something we should start growing and learning now.

4. Wisdom
“She opens her mouth with wisdom”. Typically the only way a person can speak wisdom is if they first gain wisdom in their heart. Begin planting in your heart spiritual and practical wisdom by studying, observing and intentional learning. I cannot tell you what a blessing it has been to me to have a wise mother.

5. Kindness
The Proverbs 31 woman is a kind mother, “the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Perhaps this is the one of the greatest gifts a mother can give her children, kind affection, in both her speech and in her actions. Again, this is something we must strive towards and learn because kindness doesn’t always come easy when the days are long and challenging.

Single woman, wife without children yet, I’d like to encourage you to take time now to learn what it takes to be a Proverbs 31 wife AND mother. This will be a gift to your husband and a huge blessing to your future children. May it be said of you:

“Her children rise up and call her blessed” -Proverbs 31:28

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Blessings,

Ashley