My 30 Before 30 Gratitude Challenge

Uncategorized|October 4, 2020

So I turn 30 in about a month! I’ve always wanted to do some kind of challenge or bucket list to complete before the big 3-0, but each list or challenge just didn’t resonate with me.

Taking stock of missed opportunities from my 20s or trying to finish unrealistic bucket list items just doesn’t fit with how I feel. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. I just feel…grateful.

What I feel about my 20s is overwhelming gratefulness to Jesus.

So, I want to end my last month of my 20s expressing gratitude to God everyday.

I shared on IG how I’m doing a #30Before30 Gratitude Challenge, and I’m inviting my blog family to join me!

If you’re interested, join me in this challenge by sharing 3 new things that you’re grateful for, everyday, for the next 30 days. It’s about expressing thanks to God. You can post on your feed or your stories, and tag your post with #Mels30DaysofGratitude!

We can always find something to be grateful for, and I’m excited to see how we’ll notice Jesus in all the ordinary moments of our lives! Today is Day 3, so I’ll be sharing mine later on over on IG!

Check out my YouTube video below for more of my heart:

Leave a comment!

meloniebygrace

3,497

Nov 5

Vote like a mother today 🩷 Voting for my daughters and their future 🩷

Vote like a mother today 🩷 Voting for my daughters and their future 🩷 ...

Nov 4

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!!! 🩷 I had a great weekend celebrating with Joshua and the girls. I can’t believe I’m 34 with FOUR kids 😳 life comes at you fast!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!!! 🩷 I had a great weekend celebrating with Joshua and the girls. I can’t believe I’m 34 with FOUR kids 😳 life comes at you fast! ...

Nov 2

This is 34 🩷 it’s my birthday!

I am grateful for these 34 years — for my body that has carried my 4 girls (having the last 3 in the last four(!) years), for my mind pushing through depression and anxiety, and for my heart still full of resilience and dreams.

I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, but without Jesus it all means nothing. So, I’m most thankful that He has walked with me, and carried me. I’m really excited to keep going with Him for the rest of my days.

#birthdaygirl #thisis34

This is 34 🩷 it’s my birthday!

I am grateful for these 34 years — for my body that has carried my 4 girls (having the last 3 in the last four(!) years), for my mind pushing through depression and anxiety, and for my heart still full of resilience and dreams.

I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, but without Jesus it all means nothing. So, I’m most thankful that He has walked with me, and carried me. I’m really excited to keep going with Him for the rest of my days.

#birthdaygirl #thisis34 ...

Nov 1

Harvest Fest, Reformation Day, Fall Fest, Hallelujah Night, Fallelujah Night, whatever you want to call it — we enjoyed a beautiful night at church as Minnie Mouse x 2 (Honor and Noah), Minnie’s cat Figaro (Worthy), Daisy (Raegan), Clarabelle (me), and Clarabelle’s boo Goofy (Joshua) 🩷

Harvest Fest, Reformation Day, Fall Fest, Hallelujah Night, Fallelujah Night, whatever you want to call it — we enjoyed a beautiful night at church as Minnie Mouse x 2 (Honor and Noah), Minnie’s cat Figaro (Worthy), Daisy (Raegan), Clarabelle (me), and Clarabelle’s boo Goofy (Joshua) 🩷 ...

Oct 28

2 months of our Worthy girl 🩷

2 months of our Worthy girl 🩷 ...

Oct 22

Anyone else trying to figure out how to get their toddlers to eat more fruits and veg? Enter: @littlebellies Organic Frozen Purées! I ran to Target to grab to grab all five flavors! They’re frozen cubes thawed quickly so that I can throw them into sauces, make popsicles, or serve them as sis for a quick snack! I can’t wait for Worthy to try them when she’s ready!

Find them at your local @target! Let me know if you loved them, too!

#ad
#littlebelliesusa
#littlebellies
#gifted

Anyone else trying to figure out how to get their toddlers to eat more fruits and veg? Enter: @littlebellies Organic Frozen Purées! I ran to Target to grab to grab all five flavors! They’re frozen cubes thawed quickly so that I can throw them into sauces, make popsicles, or serve them as sis for a quick snack! I can’t wait for Worthy to try them when she’s ready!

Find them at your local @target! Let me know if you loved them, too!

#ad
#littlebelliesusa
#littlebellies
#gifted ...

Oct 22

Anyone else trying to figure out how to get their toddlers to eat more fruits and veg? Enter: @littlebellies Organic Frozen Purées! I ran to Target to grab to grab all five flavors! They’re frozen cubes thawed quickly so that I can throw them into sauces, make popsicles, or serve them as sis for a quick snack! I can’t wait for Worthy to try them when she’s ready!

Find them at your local @target! Let me know if you loved them, too!

#ad
#littlebelliesusa
#littlebellies
#gifted

Anyone else trying to figure out how to get their toddlers to eat more fruits and veg? Enter: @littlebellies Organic Frozen Purées! I ran to Target to grab to grab all five flavors! They’re frozen cubes thawed quickly so that I can throw them into sauces, make popsicles, or serve them as sis for a quick snack! I can’t wait for Worthy to try them when she’s ready!

Find them at your local @target! Let me know if you loved them, too!

#ad
#littlebelliesusa
#littlebellies
#gifted ...

Sep 27

Doing dishes for my family of six (!) used to involve water everywhere, soap rings, and soggy sponges. Who knew a sink caddy and a fast drying rack would bring so much order to my countertop and sink?

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to shop this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/4RjfP

Doing dishes for my family of six (!) used to involve water everywhere, soap rings, and soggy sponges. Who knew a sink caddy and a fast drying rack would bring so much order to my countertop and sink?

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to shop this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/4RjfP ...

Sep 26

The absolute lights of my life, my beautiful baby girls 🩷🩷🩷🩷 Happy National Daughters Day, my girls

The absolute lights of my life, my beautiful baby girls 🩷🩷🩷🩷 Happy National Daughters Day, my girls ...

Sep 23

Breastfeeding routine with my one month old ft. @jackandjillkids 🩷

I’ve breastfed all my kids and I’ve always been advised to wipe their gums after nursing — clean and healthy gums help to make sure that their teeth are strong and healthy when they come through! It’s so cool that there are wipes for parents now from Jack N’ Jill— sterilized, individually wrapped, natural, and made with xylitol!

Happy mouth, happy baby!

#jacknjillkids #breastfeeding #onemonthold

Breastfeeding routine with my one month old ft. @jackandjillkids 🩷

I’ve breastfed all my kids and I’ve always been advised to wipe their gums after nursing — clean and healthy gums help to make sure that their teeth are strong and healthy when they come through! It’s so cool that there are wipes for parents now from Jack N’ Jill— sterilized, individually wrapped, natural, and made with xylitol!

Happy mouth, happy baby!

#jacknjillkids #breastfeeding #onemonthold ...

Sep 22

One month (and a few days) of Worthy 🩷 swipe for the gummiest smile 😍

One month (and a few days) of Worthy 🩷 swipe for the gummiest smile 😍 ...

Sep 21

Happy 2nd Birthday to the happiest girl with the biggest most beautiful smile, Noah girl! 💜 (She turned 2 earlier this week)

Her favorite show is Little Bear (remember that show from Nick Jr?) and her favorite color is purple, so a purple Little Bear themed party at home was perfect. She’s grown so much from last year (when we did a strawberry themed party - swipe for one year old Noah photos).

Noah Grace, we love you forever and ever 💜

Happy 2nd Birthday to the happiest girl with the biggest most beautiful smile, Noah girl! 💜 (She turned 2 earlier this week)

Her favorite show is Little Bear (remember that show from Nick Jr?) and her favorite color is purple, so a purple Little Bear themed party at home was perfect. She’s grown so much from last year (when we did a strawberry themed party - swipe for one year old Noah photos).

Noah Grace, we love you forever and ever 💜 ...

Sep 20

As a mother of four, I’m looking for quality, health-focused products for my girls. That’s why I used @jackandjillkids for our morning routine with my littlest ones!

The biggest draw for me was the natural toothpaste with 40% xylitol - an ingredient our dentist repeatedly recommends but is hard to find in toothpaste! That, plus the flossers are indivisible wrapped (a hygiene win when you have tiny hands dipping into a bag repeatedly).

Find @jackandjillkids products using the link in my stories!

#meloniebygrace #jacknjillkids

As a mother of four, I’m looking for quality, health-focused products for my girls. That’s why I used @jackandjillkids for our morning routine with my littlest ones!

The biggest draw for me was the natural toothpaste with 40% xylitol - an ingredient our dentist repeatedly recommends but is hard to find in toothpaste! That, plus the flossers are indivisible wrapped (a hygiene win when you have tiny hands dipping into a bag repeatedly).

Find @jackandjillkids products using the link in my stories!

#meloniebygrace #jacknjillkids ...

Sep 18

Had a small virtual shindig this week, and didn't want to bust my budget. Setting up for a small party at home calls for some DIY decor - put this easy balloon garland together in less than 15 minutes, using what I already had — my trusty balloon pump that's lasted for 7 years so far!

If you want to celebrate but don't want to be outlandish, try to DIY your decor. Here’s the pump I‘e been using for years.

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to shop this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/4RtKc

#diyballoongarland #diypartydecor

Had a small virtual shindig this week, and didn`t want to bust my budget. Setting up for a small party at home calls for some DIY decor - put this easy balloon garland together in less than 15 minutes, using what I already had — my trusty balloon pump that`s lasted for 7 years so far!

If you want to celebrate but don`t want to be outlandish, try to DIY your decor. Here’s the pump I‘e been using for years.

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to shop this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/4RtKc

#diyballoongarland #diypartydecor ...

Sep 15

You may have noticed that I tend to disappear for months (and sometimes years!) from social media. Whether my breaks are planned or not, the reason why I post sporadically is because I struggle with social media even though I love using it!

After wrestling with this struggle for a few years, I wanted to share my hesitancies in case anyone else shares the same reservations. I share 7 thoughts on my blog (link in bio). Here’s a glimpse at 3. Do any resonate with you?

1. I want my motives to stay pure, but I can get discouraged by the numbers: something changed for me in 2020 — my follower count began to fall (and continues to do so to date), and I was lucky if even a few hundred people even saw my posts, much less liked or engaged with them. To be honest, it was really discouraging. I knew I shouldn’t care about the numbers, but it sucked to pour my heart into a post or video and see it do badly.

2. Social media tends to commodity humans, not honor them: I am uncomfortable with the way people are reduced to ”products” by social media. Real humans, image bearers, are treated like products or items to be reviewed and liked/disliked. Think about it — people leave comments and stars as reviews. I think social media can reduce us to consumable items when we were made for so much more.

3. I don't want to contribute to mass consumerism and fast fashion: I really love sharing and receiving recommendations for things like clothes and house goods and decor. However, I can’t help but feel that social media encourages people to chase the newest items, cycle through fast fashion, and buy too many items all around. Fast fashion’s impact on the environment and on society, in particular, is horrible, from carbon emissions to water usage, from forced and child labor to textile waste and microplastics. Social media helps to contribute to mass consumerism in a way that makes me very uncomfortable at times.

More thoughts at meloniebygrace.com

You may have noticed that I tend to disappear for months (and sometimes years!) from social media. Whether my breaks are planned or not, the reason why I post sporadically is because I struggle with social media even though I love using it!

After wrestling with this struggle for a few years, I wanted to share my hesitancies in case anyone else shares the same reservations. I share 7 thoughts on my blog (link in bio). Here’s a glimpse at 3. Do any resonate with you?

1. I want my motives to stay pure, but I can get discouraged by the numbers: something changed for me in 2020 — my follower count began to fall (and continues to do so to date), and I was lucky if even a few hundred people even saw my posts, much less liked or engaged with them. To be honest, it was really discouraging. I knew I shouldn’t care about the numbers, but it sucked to pour my heart into a post or video and see it do badly.

2. Social media tends to commodity humans, not honor them: I am uncomfortable with the way people are reduced to ”products” by social media. Real humans, image bearers, are treated like products or items to be reviewed and liked/disliked. Think about it — people leave comments and stars as reviews. I think social media can reduce us to consumable items when we were made for so much more.

3. I don`t want to contribute to mass consumerism and fast fashion: I really love sharing and receiving recommendations for things like clothes and house goods and decor. However, I can’t help but feel that social media encourages people to chase the newest items, cycle through fast fashion, and buy too many items all around. Fast fashion’s impact on the environment and on society, in particular, is horrible, from carbon emissions to water usage, from forced and child labor to textile waste and microplastics. Social media helps to contribute to mass consumerism in a way that makes me very uncomfortable at times.

More thoughts at meloniebygrace.com ...

Sep 11

Happy due date to our Worthy girl! Last year we experienced a very painful pregnancy loss. Right after our loss, we got pregnant with Worthy, our sweet rainbow baby. She was born about 4 weeks early and we brought her home on National Rainbow Baby Day. Thank You, Lord, for Worthy Grace ❤️

Happy due date to our Worthy girl! Last year we experienced a very painful pregnancy loss. Right after our loss, we got pregnant with Worthy, our sweet rainbow baby. She was born about 4 weeks early and we brought her home on National Rainbow Baby Day. Thank You, Lord, for Worthy Grace ❤️ ...

Sep 10

With work on pause thanks to maternity leave, I finally had time to organize under my kitchen sink!

Anyone else struggle with home organization after working, taking care of the kids, life?

These Amazon finds helped me out! Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to the bins and lazy Susans! ⬇ https://liketk.it/4PXV1

#KitchenOrganization #OrganizeWithMe #ltkhome

With work on pause thanks to maternity leave, I finally had time to organize under my kitchen sink!

Anyone else struggle with home organization after working, taking care of the kids, life?

These Amazon finds helped me out! Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to the bins and lazy Susans! ⬇ https://liketk.it/4PXV1

#KitchenOrganization #OrganizeWithMe #ltkhome ...

Sep 6

9 years together, almost 7 years married ❤️

9 years together, almost 7 years married ❤️ ...

Sep 3

I am the mother to the four most amazing girls - my heart is absolutely full

I am the mother to the four most amazing girls - my heart is absolutely full ...

Aug 30

Introducing 🩷Worthy Grace Jordan 🩷 Our sweet preemie came just about 4 weeks early and stole our hearts

Introducing 🩷Worthy Grace Jordan 🩷 Our sweet preemie came just about 4 weeks early and stole our hearts ...

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meloniebygrace

3,497

Nov 5

Vote like a mother today 🩷 Voting for my daughters and their future 🩷

Vote like a mother today 🩷 Voting for my daughters and their future 🩷 ...

Nov 4

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!!! 🩷 I had a great weekend celebrating with Joshua and the girls. I can’t believe I’m 34 with FOUR kids 😳 life comes at you fast!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!!! 🩷 I had a great weekend celebrating with Joshua and the girls. I can’t believe I’m 34 with FOUR kids 😳 life comes at you fast! ...

Nov 2

This is 34 🩷 it’s my birthday!

I am grateful for these 34 years — for my body that has carried my 4 girls (having the last 3 in the last four(!) years), for my mind pushing through depression and anxiety, and for my heart still full of resilience and dreams.

I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, but without Jesus it all means nothing. So, I’m most thankful that He has walked with me, and carried me. I’m really excited to keep going with Him for the rest of my days.

#birthdaygirl #thisis34

This is 34 🩷 it’s my birthday!

I am grateful for these 34 years — for my body that has carried my 4 girls (having the last 3 in the last four(!) years), for my mind pushing through depression and anxiety, and for my heart still full of resilience and dreams.

I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, but without Jesus it all means nothing. So, I’m most thankful that He has walked with me, and carried me. I’m really excited to keep going with Him for the rest of my days.

#birthdaygirl #thisis34 ...

Nov 1

Harvest Fest, Reformation Day, Fall Fest, Hallelujah Night, Fallelujah Night, whatever you want to call it — we enjoyed a beautiful night at church as Minnie Mouse x 2 (Honor and Noah), Minnie’s cat Figaro (Worthy), Daisy (Raegan), Clarabelle (me), and Clarabelle’s boo Goofy (Joshua) 🩷

Harvest Fest, Reformation Day, Fall Fest, Hallelujah Night, Fallelujah Night, whatever you want to call it — we enjoyed a beautiful night at church as Minnie Mouse x 2 (Honor and Noah), Minnie’s cat Figaro (Worthy), Daisy (Raegan), Clarabelle (me), and Clarabelle’s boo Goofy (Joshua) 🩷 ...

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