I’m starting to learn that life {and motherhood} are very seasonal; each season fading into the next.

Just when we think we can’t stand another sleepless night, we find ourselves sleeping a solid six hours but we now spend the remaining sixteen hours keeping a tireless toddler alive.  And without great warning we soon realize our job as 24/7 bodyguard has transitioned into chauffeuring a preschooler/tiny dancer/ budding ball player all around town.  There are no road signs that notify us as we leave one season and enter the other.  There is no fanfare…these seasons, they just become, and so do we.

We become.

The last four years, I’ve watched this evolving online community become – and it has been a beautiful thing.  As my season here as an SMB contributor fades out, I reminisce with a few of my favorite moments from a wonderful journey.

1. My First SMB Moms Night Out.

When I first moved to Arizona I wanted so badly to connect with other people here and feel a sense of community.  I remember setting a goal for myself: The first time I saw someone I knew in my local grocery store, I’d know that I had arrived…that I had finally found my “place” in this community.  It took way longer than I hoped for this to become a reality. When I walked into an SMB MNO and saw tons of women who greeted me with a smile and genuinely seemed interested in getting to know others, I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I saw one of these women in my Fry’s Marketplace.

2. The time Adrienne ate her placenta.

Yep, she sure did – and I’ll never forget it.  SMB founder, Joy Cherrick and I had just arrived in Tuscon to do a review and write-up on a 5-star resort (no complaints here!) We were sitting in Joy’s suite when the blog almost broke because Adrienne’s incredible post drew so much traffic.  I love that SMB allowed each of us to be “us” and offer our uniqueness to this online community.  Watching my fellow contributors blossom has been so fun!

3. Kirsten’s journey to editor.

Speaking of blossoming, I’ve loved watching all of my fellow contributors bloom.  When Sarah stepped down as editor, she left some pretty big shoes to fill. I remember the look in Kirsten’s eyes as she accepted the role.  I’ve loved seeing her flourish as an editor (and mom)!

4. The chance to become.

If you’ve read anything I’ve written over the last four years, you’ve heard me share about motherhood.  These kids, they don’t come with instruction manuals, and we often second-guess ourselves.  A real mother would never do this. Any true mother does that. The truth is that motherhood doesn’t always fit like a glove from day one. We struggle, we evolve, and the beauty is in the process. I’m so grateful this community has offered me a place to write about this process.

My favorite passage from the Velveteen Rabbit says it best: ““It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand. But once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”

In the future, I’ll be cheering on this community from the sidelines. Whether you’re a contributor or a reader, know that you’ve got another mom in your corner, rooting for you as you become.  

Editor’s Note: All of us at SMB, want to say a heartfelt “Goodbye” and a big “Thank You” to our wonderful friend Noelle. She has been sharing her heart, her humor, and her wisdom with our community for several years now and we will greatly miss her authentic and honest voice. We wish her nothing but the best on her future endevors! I have asked Noelle to share her three favorite posts with us and we have linked them below. Also, Noelle’s next “season” in motherhood will involve teaching a Women’s Bible Study at her church. The study is open to the community and they have childcare (woohoo!).  Here’s a link with more info for anyone who may be interested in learning more: 

Once again, goodbye to our dear freind Noelle! Thank you for all you’ve given to the moms of Scottsdale! 

Noelle’s favorite posts:

I love Dangerous

The Most Interesting Mom in the World

The Cure for Motherhood Guilt