If I spend my time “just” being a mom, have I spent my time well? Am I worthwhile? Or do I feel the need to shout my resume, credentials or what I could have done?

When God created Adam and Eve he told them to fill the earth and subdue it. Thus the very first command celebrated the good and very high calling of parenthood. And yet, sometimes the idea of being “just” a parent feels like too small of a thing.

Motherhood is a role to be eagerly sought after, desired, and prized. How can be satisfied and secure in our calling without needing to prove our prowess elsewhere?

Listen in for a raw conversation with Angela Lee!

Angela Lee is a Harvard Law School grad and former Big Law lawyer who now spends her time caring for and homeschooling her two young boys. She is married to her best friend, Sam, who serves as the lead pastor at Maranatha Bible Church in the Bay Area, California. Though she spends most of her time trying to keep up with her energetic kids, her ideal day consists of an endless mug of tea, a long fiction book and deep conversations with friends.

Flying with kids is hard.

One of my favorite lines from the memoir Cheaper by the Dozen (published in 1948) is when the dad (who has been serving in Washington during WWI) asks the mom about her travels with their kids from eastcoast to westcoast to visit her parents.

“It was fine, dear. But next time, you take the children to California and I’ll go to war.”

Hilarious and relatable.

Flying is by no means something everyone should feel compeled to do. It is both time consuming and expensive. If you do fly, don’t feel discouraged if it's really rough.After flying solo with Daniel when he was 11 months old I got to my accommodations, turned out the light, climbed into bed and sobbed.

We all need to give ourselves and our kids buckets of grace and not be discouraged when things go haywire. <3

If and when things do go wrong remember, every person on that plane was a baby once and 97 percent of people will be kind. Even if your baby screams the entire time, you’ve made it! You’re at your fun destination and God has given you an opportunity to rely on Him! Win, win.

Because both sets of our grandparents live on the westcoast, I fly a good amount. But, by God’s grace, flying isn’t something I dread anymore. I mostly travel with my husband although I probably travel solo about twenty percent of the time.

My two main goals are survival and grace. In order to walk towards those goals I like to remember the Four Ps.

Pray, Plan, Be Productive, Persevere

It’s Fall time! It seems like the majority of us love it. And really what’s not to like! It’s a time for lots of good food, reading, campfires, leaf piles, and delicious smells.

Daniel 2:21 says: “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding”

God has given us the seasons and they are lovely! Fall ought to be a time of wonder and a time that we marvel at the Lord who holds the planets in motion, who causes the earth to orbit the sun to give us the distinctions of Spring. Summer, Fall and Winter.

How can we cultivate a love for God through embracing the changing seasons and how we can invite our families into deeper worship through celebrating all the lovely delights of fall?

How can we get our families outside more during this time?

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Eryn Lynum is a certified Master Naturalist, Bible teacher, national speaker, and author. Eryn lives in Northern Colorado with her husband, Grayson, and their four children, whom they homeschool—mainly in the great outdoors. Eryn has has been featured on FamilyLife Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Christian Parenting, MOPS International, Bible Gateway, Her View From Home, and For Every Mom. Every opportunity she gets, she is out exploring God’s creation with her family and sharing the adventures. To learn more about Eryn, visit ErynLynum.com.

Check out her new books Made to Marvel & Where Wonder Leads!