We absolutely love introducing you to inspiring moms that live right here in our community – especially, when their goal is to inspire us MOMS. A while back, a friend of ours reached out to us and told us that we should speak to our meet a mom feature today, Alicia Searl, because she wrote a beautiful book for moms to remind us that we are not alone, and that we are loved, valued, and worthy. Alicia Searl wrote the book Wounded as she was struggling finding her own worth while raising 3 daughters. As she started to write out her heart for her own peace of mind, she says God made it clear to her that He wanted her to take it a step further by sharing her story to send a message to moms – that God is using them to do great things, even in the midst of the mess, and that we are not alone! We have begun reading Wounded which is a heart felt book for moms made up of 30 devotionals that are tailored for the busy mom that has littles with a short attention span. You can feel Alicia’s heart and passion throughout her faith based book and her honesty and realness is a beautiful thing. We sat down with Alicia to learn more about her mom life here in the Katy/Richmond community, her inspiration behind writing Wounded, and how her faith has shaped not only her life, but her mom life, too.
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the Richmond area?
Native Texan- born and raised. Grew up in Cypress and then moved out to Sugarland area shortly after my husband and I got married. Now reside in Richmond. We moved out to Pecan Grove in 2012 and love the community.
How many kiddos do you have and how old are they?
Three lovely ladies – 14, almost 12 and 5
What’s your favorite thing about raising a family in the Richmond/Katy area?
So many things…Love that its got so much to offer, yet still has a small-town feel. We just love all the “local owned” restaurants and cute boutique shops. Also, it’s nice that my parents and sister live close by in Fulshear – extra bonus!
Least favorite mom job? (i.e. packing lunches, dishes, bath time, etc.)
Folding and putting away clothes…with three girls that can wear up to two to three outfits a day…(eye roll) the mounds add up quickly. Luckily my oldest daughters do their own laundry for the most part. But, with as much as they wash – it usually prohibits me from doing everyone else’s laundry…sigh.
Best mom hack that makes life easier?
Hmm… with as much as I clean up the floors (we all shed including the dog), a few years ago, I got a stand-up dustpan…A-mazing! The dry mops are nice too.
What are your favorite local things to do in Richmond or Katy? (with kiddos or just for mom!)
We love parks, and there are so many of them! We also have three little softball players, so we are at the ballpark several times a week and pretty much live there on the weekends. Our family also enjoys going to downtown Richmond. It has a precious strip of cute places to eat and shop along with events that go on throughout the year.
We’re big on self-care for moms, as hard as it is to find the time, what’s something you do just or yourself?
Fellowship with other moms is vital. We need each other for the support, so I try to meet up with a few friends for coffee, brunch, or dinner at least once a month. It’s a precious time where we all get mentally, emotionally and spiritually refueled.
When I am seeking a bit of solitude for self-care, I find it either on my porch swing or taking daily walks. Bubble baths with Epsom salt are also a great escape for those days that my body is crying out that I need a little reprieve.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I’m a struggling reader. Yes, I know that sounds rather strange to say as a writer (just goes to show how God can really use anybody). Growing up, I was never diagnosed with dyslexia, however as a former reading specialist, I am pretty sure it was the underlying reason I could never finish a book, even through high school and into college. Reading has always been a challenge, making me feel anxious and a bit overwhelmed. However, over the years I have learned ways to push past my insecurities and struggles, even picking up some helpful strategies along the way.
Tell us about the inspiration behind writing your book “Wounded”?
Motherhood is quite the journey and I am pretty sure all of us can attest that there are times when we are in awe and amazed by this calling, while other times we just don’t feel cut out for this role. As I met up with other moms and we shared our hearts, it was apparent that we needed to feel more connected, however, many times felt alone. As a mom that truly struggles to remember her worth, craves meaningful connections and longs for peace, I started by just writing out my heart. God took it a step further and opened doors, making it very clear He wanted to use my story to send a message to moms. In my heart, I know He used my ordinary story for His extraordinary purpose.
What do you hope moms get out of your book?
My hope is that moms can relate, feel encouraged, and know that they aren’t alone. As moms, we can often feel lost, misunderstood and lonely, maybe even struggling to find our purpose. My prayer is that this book brings moms a sweet reminder – they are valued, loved and worthy. God is using them to do great things, even in the midst of the mess!
How has your faith helped you or played a role in your motherhood journey?
My faith is continually growing, but it is the ONLY thing that has helped me truly understand sacrificial and unconditional love. The love God has for me and all of us is indescribable, yet personal. He has provided the guidance I need to be the mom He is calling me to be. And while I am continually being shaped and formed, I know my God is a gracious and kind Father, as well as a just One, which gives me so much comfort as I raise my girls.
Have you always been strong in your faith or did it come later in life?
Well, I wouldn’t necessarily say I’ve always been strong in my faith, but I have always had pretty strong convictions. As a child and even young adult, I wanted to “be good” so to speak. However, guilt would surround me when I felt I fell short of that, which of course is, and was, all the time. As I’ve grown and matured in my faith, God has worked on my heart. He’s allowed me to see it isn’t about being good enough, but rather, about who I am found in Him. Just as we love our children regardless of what they do, God so loves us. We just have to let Him in and accept that Truth.
What advice do you have to new moms or moms that are struggling right now?
Oh, sweet momma you are not alone; my heart can relate. There are a lot of voices clamoring for your attention; telling you what to do and how to do it. But, in all honesty – there is no such thing as doing this mom thing “right.” We will all get it wrong – time and time again. Luckily, our children won’t remember most of our blunders, but they will definitely remember how they were loved! The beautiful thing is God knew what He was doing when He placed that little person (or persons) with YOU! He also knew you’d struggle. Being a mom is a constant learning journey. Learning to give. Learning to let go. Learning to breathe, to rest, to forgive, to ask for help, to laugh and see the joy. Give yourself some grace and know that while motherhood can be hard – really, really hard at times, we are all just learning. Each season will bring about something new too, constantly shaping us into the mom we need to be for that time. But… YOU were made for this! You are so much stronger than you think. You can do so much more than you may want to believe. You don’t have to hold it together; you just have to hold tightly to those babies and know with a little faith, it’s eventually all going to be okay. So, take a deep breath and take it one day at a time. Keep it simple, and just do what you need to do to put one foot in front of the other, because you are enough!
When parenting gets hard, what’s something you tell yourself that gets you through?
There are several go-to Bible verses I cling to. At the beginning of each year, I also try to choose a new one to etch in my heart. This year’s verse is from Psalms.
Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.
I also try to remind myself that every day brings about new mercies and a fresh start. “Tomorrow is a new day.” Some days I am telling myself that at 9 am, in which case I tell myself, “The afternoon can only get better.” – Ha!
And… Sometimes my mind just isn’t in the right place, and no matter what I tell myself it won’t necessarily be good. In those times, I try to reach out to a fellow “sister” in Christ for support.
To learn more about Alicia, check out her website and social media:
Website: https://www.aliciasearl.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoundedMom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciasearlwrites/