Introducing to you Amanda — She is a new Momma & the owner of Amanda Martin Virtual Consultant and currently resides in Florida. Her dream of being an entrepreneur has inspired her to become a virtual assistant. As a VA, she works with small businesses and bloggers to help them gain back time & run their business more efficiently!
Faith, Work, and Motherhood
- Tell me a little about you and your family!
Hi! I’m Amanda, born and raised in Florida. My husband and I are about to celebrate our two year anniversary this summer! We are loving life and enjoying our new addition to our family-our little 6 month babe! I love all things health related! I am always looking for new recipes to make-I am a huge foodie! I definitely enjoy a good cup of coffee and some sunshine at the beach.
- Tell me about your background and how you got to where you are now.
From a very young age, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. All throughout my highschool and college years I was laser focused on being an educator. I put my head down, got to work and landed my first job teaching 5th grade. Over the next 7 years I continued my work in education and pushed myself to learn all that I could. In 2017, I decided to take my education a step further and pursue my Master’s in Educational Leadership and Supervision. I just recently stepped out of my role as a teacher to be a stay at home Mom with our baby and pursue my business full time. I am the founder of A. Martin Virtual Consultant. I help small business owners thrive by off-loading time consuming tasks so they are able to refocus their time and energy on the big goals of their businesses.
- I’m sure there have been times when it’s been tough juggling work, baby, and family. How have you been keeping balance in your life?
Lately, I have been really striving to utilize some tools to help me stay productive and have a nice balance. I have been using a calendar to keep track of meetings and tasks I need to complete. Instead of creating a huge unrealistic to-do list each day, I have been creating a list of 3-4 tasks I need to complete. This allows me to keep moving forward in my business and not become too overwhelmed. Another way I am striving for balance is by giving myself days off work. On the days my husband is off work and home, I am off work. This allows us to spend quality time together as a family and conquer some tasks around the house. As a family we have been enjoying going on long walks, having picnics and doing some home DIY projects. I will say, it’s not always easy to put my phone down when my mind is running but I have been praying and asking God to help me be present in the moments that we have together.
- As an entrepreneur, what is one of the biggest hurdles you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The biggest hurdle I have faced as an entrepreneur, is moving past the doubt of “can I actually do this and succeed?” When I was just starting out in my journey, I was reading testimonial after testimonial of Moms who were able to leave their full-time job and run their own business from home. One day, I just had to tell myself I CAN DO THIS, I have these same skills and I know I can do this. I told myself, I had to and I started believing in myself to do so. I am constantly praying for guidance from the Lord and for Him to open doors to lead me down the path He has for me.
- As a new mother, what is one of the biggest hurdles you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The biggest hurdle I have faced as a new mother is around breastfeeding.(I know this can be a sensitive topic because not everyone has the ability to breastfeed or chooses to do so, however, this is just part of our personal journey.) I knew early on I wanted to breastfeed. I did not research any formula at all because in my mind that wasn’t an option. I have wanted to be a Momma for so long this is something I just knew in my heart I deeply wanted. Breastfeeding was off to a great start. A few weeks in and my husband and I were leaving a lactation consult and I was crying my eyes out feeling like a failure because my baby had some restriction under his tongue (which I had kind of figured…thanks to those Momma instincts). This was causing him to struggle to continue to gain weight and caused a dip in my supply. As we were figuring this out, I had a really hard time with the idea of not being able to nurse. I would cry and BEG God to bring my milk supply back up because it hurt to my core the idea of not being able to feed him. From those early days, I had determined I was going to do everything and anything to be able to feed him. We ended up having a procedure done to help him feed better and I met with a wonderful lactation consultant who supported me throughout the whole thing. I have had to make some pretty drastic changes to my diet due to intolerances but I wouldn’t change it for the world and little man is THRIVING! I know it was by the grace of God that He has helped us get where we are today!
- How important is faith in your life?
My faith is the most important thing to me. I became a Christian at a young age and have been striving to live my life for Christ.
- Was there a specific turning point in your life that brought you closer to God than ever before?
Growing up as a Christian and in a Christian home, I have experienced different highs and lows in my relationship with Christ. Before experiencing motherhood, I was in a rut with my faith. I was begging God to light a fire in my soul and provide me with some new direction. The day I became a Mother, He did just that. I have never been more humbled and in awe of how unworthy I am to be able to be given such a precious gift. Becoming a Momma has taught me so much about God’s love towards us. How He views us. How to have a childlike faith. Becoming a Mother has softened my heart. It has ignited a deeper love for Jesus within me. It has forever changed me.
- How do you bring glory to Him in your everyday life?
In my everyday life, it’s my heart’s desire to bring glory to God. Epehsians 6:10-20 talks about the spiritual battle we are in daily. Which means everyday we must equip ourselves with the armor of God. Some days are easier than others. But lately, I have been striving to bring God glory in pursuing my role as a Momma in the very best way I possibly can. By promising to do my best as a Mom and raise our little guy up in Christ. While I am home doing housework, I am typically listening to worship music. If I am out walking or my husband and I are in the car, we like to listen to sermons. I strive to model, even in these early months, how to act Christ-like with my husband and with our son. I truly feel being the best steward of what God has entrusted me with, this precious life, is bringing Glory to Him.
- How has God been present in your life these days?
In the midst of everything going on in the world today, juggling entrepreneurship, and fulfilling my role as a wife and Mother, God has been present in many different ways. I tend to struggle with anxiety. Lately, I have been working on surrendering things that I cannot control over to the Lord and clinging to His Biblical promises. One way I have felt very connected with God is by giving my all to being the Mom He has called me to be. I find joy and fulfillment in the little quiet moments of nursing or rocking my baby. It often brings tears to my eyes as I am so humbled that God would allow me to experience such an amazing thing as being a Mother and all the joy it brings.
- Do you have any tips for new moms who are struggling with their faith?
Pray, read, and worship. Memorize and meditate on God’s promises. God promises in James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” He does not say draw near to God and he MIGHT draw near to you, He says He WILL. If we draw near…pray, read, and worship, He WILL draw near to us.
Another verse that comes to mind that I have been praying on lately is Matthew 17:20. The Bible says, “He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I encourage Mothers who are struggling with their faith to pray on these two verses. Ask God to give you just a mustard seed of faith.
- Any advice to our mamas-to-be?
Do your best to prepare, but have some faith. Your Momma instincts will kick in and you will know what’s best for your family and your baby. Enjoy every second because it goes by so fast. Enjoying the moments that most people complain about…”sleepless nights, nursing, a baby who only wants to be held” …the life pause a baby brings. Time really does fly by. Be present in the moment and enjoy it.
- What does motherhood mean to you in one word? (and explain why)
JOY. Motherhood in one word to me would be JOY. Every time I see those little fingers and toes, every time I hear a little giggle. My heart just bursts with JOY.
To learn more about Amanda, be sure to follow her on Instagram!
Leave a Reply