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Alex Smith | motherhood

@lovedaphnemae

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mama of 5 sharing our life +simple ways to mother with more presence & purpose 🕊️All for God’s glory
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tend your beautiful life↓

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I'm currently listening to the kids run around the house with play silks tied around them like capes. The sounds of their feet thumping along the raised foundation, squeals of excitement and eruptions of laughter float through the air around me. I look around from my seat at the homeschool table… items strewn about the floor, pillows tossed haphazardly from the fort building that commenced hours earlier. I'll worry about it all later; for these are the sights and sounds of childhood.

I began thinking about the culture of our present society, and how eager it is to steal away these precious years from our children. There has been a growing push to speed up the rate in which our children experience the world. No time for simple pleasures and imaginative play… instead this new form of “childhood” seeks to sneak its way into their lives and steal away the carefree joy that should be synonymous with these years. It comes under the guise of “normalcy," and leaves everyone in its wake staring disillusioned at years past. It desires to replace that innate joyful freedom with anxiety, stress, and subjects that their minds aren't even designed to understand. Chaos ensues in their little bodies, and plunders their ability to live presently, playfully, and securely. Maybe this sounds overprotective or against the norm… to be honest, I’m ok with that. My children’s well being means more to me than anything else.

So as we settle into summer, we can view it as an opportunity to allow our children to dream and play barefoot outdoors, and we can do that alongside them. We can encourage this type of purposeful childhood preservation; feet in the dirt, head in the clouds, imaginations running wild. There is a very intentional choice that goes into pushing back against societal norms, but once you fall into that very satisfying routine, it becomes the most amazing reality. It's like we step into the life we’ve just been frantically swimming alongside, barely keeping our heads above water; and now we are the ones at the helm. #daphnemaefilm

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10 whole days of lovin’ on our sweet Tait. My goodness I adore these four little ones with my whole entire heart. #ourtaitrobinson

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Ok so here it is, ✨the Sacred Maybe ✨... my online course for photographers, and it will be available next week! .

I wrote the content last fall actually when I was on the other side of a rather lengthy and unsavory period of waiting. I began to see the power of the energy that time held for me, and how that began to reveal itself in a beautiful way through my work . .

This course isn’t just about how to photograph families, or motherhood, or shoot film... it’s much more than that. And I had no idea how significant it would feel now, having this entirely universal experience looming in the midst, as we progress, grow, as photographers, creatives, as humans. .

It feels like now is it’s time, your time, our time, now more than I could have ever guessed. I can’t wait to share this with you... release date is May 14th, and it will only be available for purchase for two weeks, so mark your calendars! I hope this speaks right to your hearts in the most soothing and wonderful way 🕊. #thesacredmaybe #daphnemaefilm

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Well friends, the studio is complete! After a whole year, and two phases, this gal is all ready for her close up, and I couldn’t be more thankful! •

My little natural light studio here on our farm has been such a labor of love for me. I’m so grateful for this business and the way it allows me to contribute to our family’s needs, but it isn’t always easy, and because I believe transparency is the road to honest connection, I wanted to share a little story with you. •

I’ve saved and worked and saved some more in order to cover the cost of the studio build and renovation. The money I make in this business goes to all sorts of monthly expenses for our family, but I also worked hard to save all I could to make this dream of my own studio a reality. •

I paid the builder who worked on the renovations most of what I owed him, and although I wished I could pay him the rest all right then, he very graciously let me know I could pay the remainder when I had it. •

I began feeling a bit of anxiety about it all, so I prayed about it, knowing full well that God had always provided for us. Then just two days later, my aunt came over to watch the kids while my husband and I went to dinner, and handed me an envelope. She had just sold my sweet grandma’s house, the one who had passed away in the fall, and she very generously decided to share the profits with some family members. I stood there with tears in my eyes, holding a check for the exact amount that was owed to the builder. My grandma was still showing me her love, my aunt unknowingly lifted this burden, and once again, God had provided. 🕊Keep hope alive friends, it’s always present and ready to be received! ✨Now let’s make some beautiful treasures in the studio together!!! #daphnemaegardenstudio #daphnemaepresets

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Your days may be piled high with what feels ordinary; baskets of mundane, sinks full of routine. But your life radiates with the glow of one thousand suns and dims all the red hearts because of the love you pour into every one of those tasks. You are building someone’s childhood... the most important work. And all the while, you are living moments that in the end, will be the life of your own.
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So remember, you are never “just a mom.” You are a Mother. The word “just” has no place before that title. Perhaps underpaid (well, yes), maybe over worked (probably), but doing this work each day within walls that no one sees? That’s a life’s work you’re doing mama. Legacy building and people growing. I know it doesn’t always feel like it, but you’re making a real difference in the world with every bowl of cereal and folded sock. You’re mothering the hearts of future generations, you are the magic makers, and you’re doing it all, even better than you think. #justareminder also, summer, I miss you 🥺🌼☀️🙏🏻#motherhoodinspired #mylovesonfilm

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A roll of tri-x, a dock, a profoundly messy bun, and my family in North Carolina this past fall . The kind of film I’m keeping for my grandkids to look through. Now, I LOVE beautiful things that celebrate femininity and motherhood, like a lot, but there is also space for this kind of rag tag buncha folks just loving each other and living life. It’s all beautiful you guys, it’s all good and worth it and real. We can make space for it all. To me, life really isn’t compartmentalizable (not a word🤔)...it’s just a beautiful kaleidoscope of emotion, truth, and love 💛.

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I think we can be grateful and still authentic. I think we can rejoice and still be true. I think we can choose to focus on what’s good, the bright spots, the glory amidst the pain, and let those things be our real. I think there is a necessary place for sharing our struggles, absolutely, but there is also a place of warmth and hope in sharing our everyday, simple, abounding blessings. Thank you for sharing yours with me. I’m so thankful for all of you. #mylittlefamontheprairie 📷: @yanpalmer

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Weaving, connecting, holding, together. Always reminding myself to look up, they’re waiting.

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