The year is 2016 ... Reflection for the Past 10 Years
10 Years of Motherhood, Faith, and Social Media: Reflecting on the Highs and Lows of 2016
I’m not usually one to jump on social media trends, but this one tugged at my heart. This year marks 10 years since I began this blog and social media account, a space that first grew out of my journey into motherhood and a desire to connect with other Orthodox Christian moms. What began as a small outlet for sharing daily life has blossomed into a meaningful place where I can use my gifts to encourage others and glorify God through faith, family, and honest storytelling.
In this reflective series, I’m sharing a collection of images and words originally posted on my Instagram, looking back on the highs and lows of 2016—a formative year in my life as a mother, believer, and content creator. These reflections capture both the beauty and the struggle of early motherhood, faith, and growth, and serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness over the years.
This Orthodox Christian motherhood blog and my instagram has been such a blessing as I’ve become the mother I am today. It’s been an integral part of my motherhood journey. After 10 years of blogging, my little instagram has gained quite a following (over 72,000 followers as of writing this). It has not been without its struggles and challenges. Many of the early motherhood struggles I had have faded into the background and I have found that I am much more capable now that I ever imagined I would be (10 years ago). I find that mothers especially are tempted to get lost in our new role as mothers, but with lots of prayer, an intentional community, and with the help of the saints, we stretch and grow in this role. I also think it’s very important as mothers to have a creative outlet that is separate from our roles as a mother. This blog, and my instagram function as a creative outlet for me. I really enjoy it. In this season of life, I have had to pull back quite a bit as I have a lot on my plate, but even just the little nuggets I am able to share here and there serve that purpose. I give thanks to God for his faithfulness in motherhood and in our family, and for allowing me a space to share the ways He has blessed us! Thanks for being here, and reading!
One of the sweetest ways to help children connect with the lives of the saints is through food, especially when the recipe itself has a connection to the saint’s story. Saint Euphrosynos the Cook was a humble monastic who was granted the ability to dwell in Paradise, where he gave away apples from the garden. These simple “Three Baked Apples from Paradise” are a fun way to bring that story to life for your family as you celebrate the feast day of St. Euphrosynos.
The recipe is intentionally simple enough for children to help make, and with just three apples, it’s perfect for a small family—but it can easily be adjusted to make more servings for a larger family, homeschool group, or parish gathering. As you prepare and enjoy these baked apples together, you can remind your children of St. Euphrosynos, his humility, and the beautiful glimpse of Paradise God allowed him to experience.