I’m so grateful to be a contributor for Flagstaff Moms Blog. My husband and five teenage daughters moved from Chicago to Flagstaff in August 2017 to help pastor a church here in town. My realtor suggested I follow FMB on Facebook, and I instantly loved the online community.
I even found myself dreaming up articles I would write if I were a part of FMB. As a former journalism/English teacher, I love to write but never took the time to start my own blog. When I applied to be a contributor, I figured they wouldn’t take me because I was too old (almost 50) and too Jesus-y (my favorite topic to write about). It’s kind of fun finding myself in the older mommy category. I love encouraging young moms through their tough seasons, and it’s a sweet reminder to the grace that has been given to my family through infertility, sleepless nights, a child with a serious illness, and surviving the effects of substance abuse.
– Family: Married to my high school sweetheart for 25 years. We have five teenage daughters, Brynn, 19, Claire, 18, Eden, 16, Lily, 15, and Maia, 14. We talked our college-age girls into a one-year experiment in Flagstaff, and I think they are stuck.
– Job: I work part-time as a cabi stylist (Learn more at jillanderson.cabionline.com.) and part-time as an executive assistant for a real estate investment firm in town. I also lead the women’s ministry at my church, Harvest Bible Chapel.
– What brought you to Flagstaff: My husband was hired as a pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel. This the third church we have led. We planted our first church in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the second in Orlando, Florida. We hope this is our final stop. We love the size, weather, views, people and funkiness of Flagstaff!
– Early Bird or Night Owl: I love quiet, early mornings with coffee, a book or my Bible, getting a jump on the day. I’m the first one up and the first to bed in my house.
– Hobbies: writing, tennis or pickleball, exploring local restaurants and hikes around Flagstaff, traveling with my daughter to softball tournaments
– Favorite thing to do with your Family: laugh, play cards, go on a hike or a road trip
– Kids Age Difference: Let’s just say I had my fifth daughter when my oldest was in kindergarten. I went through a short season of infertility, had my first baby a month before I turned 30, and then had five daughters five and under before I knew it! People used to say, “Just wait til they are all teenagers.” But truly, this is my favorite season of all. They are best friends, and there is tons of laughter in my home!
– Coffee or Tea: Coffee for sure. Dark roast with one Truvia and cream to make it the color of peanut butter. Or Iced Americano if I’m splurging out and about.
– Favorite/Least Favorite Household chore: Floors and shower/bathtub. However, I’ve found that my teenagers are willing to do almost anything for cash. And, I’m not above that. I figure my time is valuable. And why pay a professional when I have five adults-in-training in my house!
– Going back in time, one thing you would tell yourself right before you became a mother: You’ll get to do this five times! (Maybe I wouldn’t tell myself that. I would have been terrified!) Giving birth is the most amazing, miraculous event of a woman’s life. The toddler years will make you question whether you are fit to be a mother. You’ll feel overwhelmed at times, but each one of your children will teach you something valuable and make you more like Jesus. The best is yet to come!
– Something you are looking forward to: Teaching a parenting class at my church in the fall. Meeting my daughters’ future husbands.
– Favorite Thing to do in Flagstaff with/without kids: Local coffee shops, restaurants, hiking a new (not scary) hike. Red Mountain is currently my favorite.
– Best Mom Hack: Teach your children to do their own laundry. Life changing. And if they unload the groceries and put them away, they will know what you bought and what is available in the pantry and the fridge. No more, “We don’t have anything to eat in this house!”
– The greatest challenge you’ve faced: One of my daughters was diagnosed with PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neurological Disorder Associated with Strep, when she was 14. It totally rocked our world for a couple of years with every psychiatric symptom imaginable and even a week in a psychiatric hospital. Praise God, He healed her by the time she had graduated from high school. But it has made us more sensitive to mental illness, autoimmune disorders and families that have chronically ill children.
– Something you love about yourself: I’m a get it done girl, I can spin a lot of plates, and most importantly, I can laugh at myself.
– Favorite thing about being a Mom: This season. Watching my teenagers find their faith, their passions, their strengths, and weaknesses. And watching them enjoy each other’s friendship.
I love meeting new people, so if you want to meet for a walk, coffee or my favorite lunch spot, reach out! Motherhood was never meant to be done alone. This is the beauty of Flagstaff Moms Blog.
