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Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

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How Living in Community Helps All of Us Flourish

Every Wednesday is “Go Mama Workout Day” at my house. It’s my favorite day of the week. It’s the day I don’t shower. I hang out in my workout clothes and wear a messy braid all day. I invite women and their kids from my community to join me.
 
I started this almost seven years ago now. My husband, who was a personal trainer, was invited to speak at our MOPS group. He talked to the mamas about nutrition and fitness and led them in a workout. After his talk, I found myself in several conversations with mamas who were longing for accountability. They wanted to work out but lacked the confidence to walk into a gym or just needed a safe space to make fitness fun.
 
The Go Mama Workout was born.
 
Through the years, we have averaged 7-10 mamas every week with as many 20 kids running wild in the yard or sitting in Bumbo chairs watching their mamas sweat it out. What started as a handful of moms from my MOPS group working out has grown into a rich community of friends.
 
Now we start out each week in my living room for a time of sharing and prayer. This part is almost more important to me than the workout itself. We laugh. We cry. We share prayer requests. We change blowout diapers. We eat. We speak fitness and life goals out loud. We are inevitably interrupted a dozen times by kids needing snacks or fighting or wanting to breastfeed. It’s beautiful; it’s messy.

I love that I get to see the younger girls romping around the backyard wearing those sun dresses and sparkly shoes that my girls used to wear. I love when my friend Esther shows up with goodies from her garden or Janelle brings extras from her pantry.
 
Our Swap & Shop event for our moms group was also born out of my love for living in community. I wanted to create an event where we could share resources within our MOPS group. We purge our closets for the purpose of paring down and decluttering our own lives, but also to bless another mom with something new.

On Swap & Shop night, we all bring our used clothes, shoes, jewelry and kids’ clothes and swap. It’s so much fun to see moms going home with new treasures – and without having to spend a bunch of moolah!
 
I have been that mom who didn’t have money for new clothes. I have been that mom with only rice and beans in the pantry. I have been that mom with sick kids and no health insurance. I have been that mom grieving the death of my beloved husband. And all those times this MOPS community has come through for me.
 
We share resources; we share knowledge; and we share inspiration. My MOPS friends have inspired me to try Zumba, to stick with breastfeeding, to take care of myself. One mom put her culinary skills to use to bake my wedding cake a few months ago. Another mama friend spoke about embracing our children’s personality types and gave me skills to parent my littles better. A mentor-friend a few years ago inspired me to keep on keeping on with her story of being a working mom while still loving on her three kids.

I believe God designed each one of us for community. He himself embodies community. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three in one – our model of community working seamlessly. He has designed us to live in relationship, to work out our insecurities and use our gifts in the context of authentic community. Living in community is messy and hard, but it is also rich with opportunity to taste His glory.
 
I realized that living in community this way has grown me, challenged me, encouraged me and pushed me. These women have watered and cultivated the soil of my life and caused me to flourish through the years.

My challenge to you today is to be intentional about cultivating your own community. Gather some women. Open your home. Invite someone to the park or strike up a conversation with someone who has kids your age. Brainstorm ways you can share your resources and encourage someone else in your circle.

I am a better mama, wife, woman, friend, mentor, speaker, creative writer, business woman because of the women in my life. In a world where comparison and cattiness so often drives a wedge between female relationships, I am grateful for this diverse community of women that walk the journey of life with me. We are flourishing together.

Dorina Gilmore-Young is mama to 3 girls and thrilled to be a wife to her new hubby, Shawn. She is a published author, blogger and the Coordinator of the Bridge MOPS group in Fresno. This article was originally published on The Bridge MOPS blog.

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April 14, 2016 Categories: Navigating GriefTagged: community, flourishing, friendship, gifts, Grief, kids

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Meet Dorina

Aloha, friend! If you love stories, you are in the right place. I write about grief, glory, running, food, and more. I hope these words inspire you to chase after God’s glory in your life today!

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👀 Seeing this book baby on Amazon for pre-sale today made my day! I can’t wait to for you to hold her in your hands next Spring when she enters ...

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Aug 15

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👀 Seeing this book baby on Amazon for pre-sale today made my day! I can’t wait to for you to hold her in your hands next Spring when she enters the world! 📚 
📖 When Zayla asks her mom to describe God’s glory, Mama knows it’s time for an adventure! Together, Mama and Zayla discover how sunrises and dancing, daffodils and green peppers, kind words and loving hugs—and more!—are all reminders of God’s glory. ☀️ 
🥳 Huge shout out to @alyssadeasis for creating this gorgeous cover! 
👉🏾Where did you see God’s glory today?
🏷 TAG a friend who might like this multicultural book for kids of all ages! 
Pre-order using this link: https://amzn.to/3dymw2w or DM me and I’ll send it to you!
#kidlit #picturebook #bookcover #bookcoverdesign #glorychasers #weneeddiversebooks #multiculturalbooks @waterbrookmultnomahkids #kidsbooks #christianbook #jesusgirl
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Today I’m walking through Psalm 96 with you. This one kind of just puts a spring in my step. I can hear the music behind the words! 🎶

...

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Aug 12

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Today I’m walking through Psalm 96 with you. This one kind of just puts a spring in my step. I can hear the music behind the words! 🎶 
I’ll be honest. I’ve been feeling wonky and weighted this week. I just turned in my book Tuesday and then had to tackle my mile-long to-do list and get my kids ready to go back to school. 
I woke up feeling down but this praise psalm lifted my head and reminded me who God is. I can lean on him and count on His character when I feel weary.
🌥Friend, how are you on this Friday? How can I pray for you? 
#devotional #prayer #biblestudy #encouragingwords #jesusgirl @incourage #glorychasers #hisword
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I loved this conversation we had on Episode 10, Season 2 of Eat Pray Run with Gena Anderson. Gena is a Jesus-lover, writer, and nurse practitioner who...

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Aug 12

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I loved this conversation we had on Episode 10, Season 2 of Eat Pray Run with Gena Anderson. Gena is a Jesus-lover, writer, and nurse practitioner who loves to share wellness information and inspiration to the world around her. She is the author of The Well Woman: A Journey to Wellness Through Loving Jesus. She proudly holds the title of wife, mom, and the world’s most average CrossFitter. She shares why rest and meekness are strengths!
🎧 Listen anywhere you find your podcasts! 🎧
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✏️ First day of school for my 5th, 8th, and 11th graders! We love how our school kicks off the year with a Convocation, including worship, prayer ...

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Aug 11

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✏️ First day of school for my 5th, 8th, and 11th graders! We love how our school kicks off the year with a Convocation, including worship, prayer and encouragement for students (and parents!)
I will miss my girls - as I always do this time of year - but I’m excited for what God has in store for them this school year! 
👉🏾Are your kids back in school? What grades are they going into this year? 📚
#backtoschool #schoolgirl @fresnochristianschools #fresno #jesusgirl
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📚 This summer I helped co-lead a book club for women leaders with @sybilkolbert & @mari.tuten We read Ruth Haley Barton’s 📖 Strengthening ...

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Aug 11

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📚 This summer I helped co-lead a book club for women leaders with @sybilkolbert & @mari.tuten We read Ruth Haley Barton’s 📖 Strengthening The Soul of Your Leadership. 📚  This was such a powerful book that both challenged and inspired our group. 
Ruth Haley Barton invited us to an honest exploration of what happens when spiritual leaders lose track of their souls. Each chapter included a spiritual practice for soul nourishment. 
I loved the way she unpacked the story of Moses and his leadership journey. This book came right on time as I’m discerning next steps and next projects. 
👉🏾Do you have a process for discernment? What are you saying yes and no to this fall? 
@ruthhaleybarton #discernment #jesusgirl #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #womenleaders @leadloved #leadon #sabbath #soulcare
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