Motivating Mother – Katrina Smith

I feel like EVERYONE needs a big sister. That big sister to look up to. That big sister to talk to. That big sister to teach you things. That big sister to share clothes with. That big sister to make you laugh. That big sister to answer her phone when nobody else will. That big sister that is there for you… no matter what.

WELL… luckily for me, I have a big sister and she is ALL of those things and more. She is someone I have always looked up to and hope to be just like one day.

I am so excited to introduce you all to Katrina Smith, my older sister who I love SO much! She is our Motivating Mother today and truly is motivating. With five children of her own – she is a hard working, busy, busy, BUSY mom! I am so grateful she took the time to write this for all of us today! Here she is….

Dani asked me months ago to write this and I felt so inadequate to write anything motivating at the time. We had recently moved to a new state and were going through lots of financial problems.  I was pregnant with our 5th child (which was a HUGE surprise), on bed rest, and my home was a complete wreck. My 10 and 9 year old were doing their best to run the household while my 4 and 3 year old were destroying it faster than anyone could keep up. My spirits were down and I just felt so beaten up.  I became depressed and anxiety kept me from living my life how I wanted to. I often questioned why I had ever wanted to become a mother in the first place. Being a Mom is so hard at times. Most of the time for me anyway. I just wanted to run away from the life I had made and start all over again. But the words of a wise man kept coming to me.

“Don’t you give up.
Don’t you quit.
You keep walking.
You keep trying.
There is help and happiness ahead…  It will be alright in the end.
Trust God and believe in good things to come.”

Those words gave me hope. Those words gave me the strength that I needed to keep moving. Those words made me pick myself back up so I could be a mother to my 4 beautiful girls and baby boy that was on the way.

Sometimes when we go through trials, we don’t understand why we are having to go through them. I sometimes wish, that if we make good choices in our lives, and are doing our best, then we should have an easy life. Doesn’t that sound nice?? I think it does, but I am not in charge and that’s a good thing. God has shown me over and over again that I am not the same person coming out of my trials that I was going into it. I am stronger and braver each time I conquer something I didn’t think I could do.  I am grateful to have a loving God who knows my limits and pushes me so I can become a better wife, mother and friend.

Now that Eli is here, things are getting better. My house is often still a mess, dinner isn’t always ready and I sometimes let my kids have candy for breakfast just so I can sleep in another 30 minutes. But my kids know that I am trying. They know that I love them with all of my heart. They know that I can handle the trials that are thrown at me because we know The Lord is on our side.

I still have Debbie Downer days.  I am not the perfect mother. My husband and I are working harder to be happier in our trials. Every day we text each other 3 things we are grateful for. It’s amazing how truly blessed we are. When we recognize the positive, we see that our lives aren’t as bad as we thought.

Dani and I often laugh how her biggest trial is not being able to have babies the easy way and that my biggest trail is that I get pregnant every time I wash my clothes and my husbands clothes together. 😉 But even though being a Mom is hard, I am so grateful for my 5 little ones who make me laugh and cry every day. I love being a Mom. It’s my favorite name! I am grateful to my Heavenly Father who gives me trials so I can be a better Mother. You’ve heard the saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? Well, I have the feeling I am going to be the strongest woman in the world one day.

If you ever feel beaten up as a mother, just as I have,  just remember WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!  We are mothers and we are tough.

Katrina is a hard working wife, loving mom, fun sister and amazing friend. She is blessed to be able to be a stay-at-home mom with her five children – 4 girls and 1 boy! She is extremely creative and crafty, serves everyone she sees in need, is the best cook, an incredible party thrower and you MUST try her jalapeño jelly one day… it is simply the BEST! 

Don’t forget to share this with all of the moms in your life! –

Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

October 2, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 1 Comment