in my own skin

Sometimes it can be difficult to feel comfortable in my own skin when so many woman around me seem to fit their own skin better. They have better looking bodies, cars that are always clean (how is that even possible unless you forbid children to ride in it!), well-behaved children, nice homes, are more talented, have a perfect marriage, and can manage all the responsibilities of being a wife/mom/whatever without ever seeming stressed. 

I'm pretty sure it's all a bunch of malarkey. But the facade is hard to see past. And it makes me feel pretty lonely to think I might be the only imperfect wife/mom/whatever out there.

I like real. I like flaws. I like people who aren't perfect. I like to see scars. Because I have them: scars, flaws, imperfections. They are evident to me every single day. The laundry gets backed up. That funny vein is sticking out on my leg again (thank you, two children), my house wasn't clean when a friend dropped by and there were Cheerios on the seat in the truck where I asked my friend to sit. 

So friends, when you are around me, be real. Be flawed. Be honest. We are all striving to be something more, but it's okay to admit that we are not perfect. It makes it a little less lonely to be an imperfect wife/mom/whatever when I know that you are too. 

KC

up

You ever been around someone who is so up that you always want to be around them? Always positive. Always looking for the good. Always trying to make you smile or laugh? I love being around people like that.

My Pa was that way. At a restaurant or a store, my dad was always trying to make those helping us smile. And he was always smiling. If he was chatting with his buddies, they were always laughing about something or another. Even in the worst situations, he brought humor. He was the best to be around. 

I want to be like him. I choose to be like him. I choose to smile, laugh, (try to) be funny, look for the good, and have a positive attitude. 

KC

friday's happiness dozen

A dozen things that make me happy on Friday:

1. Cardboard boxes for forts.

2. Toothpaste globs in the sinks - kids brushed their teeth!

3. Fun stuff in the mail.

4. Beach towels in the backyard - summer time is here!

5. Piano music!

6. My hubby's smile will always make me happy.

7. Having my niece back from college!!!

8. Having another niece graduate with honors from 8th grade.

9. Having yet another niece ask my kids to be a part of her wedding - so excited!!

10. Movies with girlfriends -no, we did not sneak candy in...

11. Funny stuff on Pinterest that I am always willing to share with my friends.

12. Caffeine

KC

 

a grain of salt

 We had a family get together this evening for my niece's 8th grade graduation. We had a great time! The kids played well together. The adults laughed at jokes. (We filled up on good ol' hot dogs and hamburgers. 

I am blessed because I have a pretty awesome family. Not because we agree on everything. We don't. And not because we were all raised the same because we weren't. We have a lot opinions, some very strong. There is some stubbornness and strong wills. We really could have a recipe for disaster if we didn't have a couple of good things going for us.

First of all, we tend to take each other with a grain of salt. You ever take a bite of something and it's just not quite perfect? You add a dash of salt and it tastes so much better! Eggs. I can't eat them without a little bit of salt.

It's the same with my family. Not a one of us is perfect. We've each got our faults. But if you take us with a grain of salt, looking past our faults to see the good, it makes the relationship much more enjoyable. Instead of picking out the bad, we look for the good. 

And the most important reason we get along is our common ground of faith. God is the head of each household. When God is the head of the family, everything else becomes secondary. 

I like my family. They aren't perfect but neither am I.

KC

something is better than nothing

I was encouraging a fellow CrossFitter today. I could tell that the workout was killing her so we modified it and made it attainable. And as she finished up I reminded her that it wasn't how fast she was moving, it was that she was moving. Doing something is better than doing nothing! 

That's life for me.

I have a lot of goals for myself. Some written out, some in my busy little head. Some biggies and then some that would just make life easier. Some that are fun and some...not so much:

Someday I'd like to shoot a gun. Never done it but I think it'd be awesome. 

Go to Canada for a family reunion on my husband's side (this summer, baby!)

Eat Thai food. I hope I don't regret that one...

Keep the truck clean (might have to get rid of the children to make that happen).

Clean the windows on the house. Fingerprints are cute, but only for so long.

Cook healthier meals (so probably less Mac-n-cheese).

Keep the house tidy. *sigh*

Stop letting the gas tank get to Empty before filling it up.

This is another list that goes on and on. There is always something that needs to be done. Something that needs to be improved upon. It can be downright depressing to think about how many different areas of my life need work. 

But, I am trying. I might not be progressing as quickly as I'd like with some of my goals, but I am moving toward them. Doing something is better than doing nothing. 

I like this little phrase that I discovered on Pinterest. It's a good reminder. We are not perfect and never will be. And God is not asking us to be. 

But progress is a good goal.

KC

the heavy night

Looking ahead at the week before me, I'm honestly not sure there are enough minutes in each day to accomplish what I need to do. Life just got real busy. And stressful. And although I like busy, I don't like stressful. 

So I sit here on my couch this evening, it's weighing heavy. My heart just feels heavy. I could easily succumb to it and sink into a funk. But the thing about funks is this: once you get in one, it's hard to get out of one. Part of me just wants to go to the pantry and shovel in as many M & Ms as I can find! Chocolate is always a good go-to. But my will power stepped up and didn't let me. (Although I am curious as to where my will power was last night as I sat in the pantry finishing off a bag of Funyuns. Hmmmm....) 

But as I sat here, God gave me a little gift. It is a little reminder of something my Mom taught me: Don't dwell on it tonight. Emotions are always high at night. Wait till morning and things will seem better. I've always kept that tucked in my heart. I try not to make any major decisions at night, but wait till morning when things are always brighter and clearer.

There's a scripture that, every time I hear it, I think of my heavy nights and it gives me hope:

Now perhaps there are more devastating situations that this scripture can apply to, but I like to think that God made it for any level of "heavy."

Can't wait for the morning!

KC

my reflection

My house is a little cluttered. There are vintage suitcases here and there. Pieces of furniture that I have painted in pretty much every room. There are unique things decorating my house that, believe it or not, I found on the side of the road. Family pictures, unique artwork from friends and thrift stores and garage sales, signs with scripture, and wreaths. 

For the most part, it's tidy around here, downstairs, anyway. Upstairs has a little more of an "enter at your own risk" feel mostly because the kids rooms are up there and so are all my crafting supplies, which, for some reason they really struggle to stay organized. 

If it were up to my husband, things might be a little different. But he is so gracious and overlooks our clutter because he loves us and respects that we are all built a little differently when it comes to organization. 

But I made an interesting realization today. When I look around my home, I don't see expensive items or things that need to stay perfect. Because that's not who I am. I love the unique, the vintage, the worn in and well loved. I love people with stories to tell, with a rich history. I want an interesting history. I don't need a life that "matches" from beginning to end - I like adventures and taking chances and learning new things. I like to be busy and sometimes get messy. 

My house is a reflection of me: imperfect, but it all still works together. 

I used to think it stunk to not have the latest and greatest. But nowadays, I like what I see. I see me and the people I love reflected back at me. 

I guess God's making a little progress in the contentment part of my heart! (But just a little - I have a long ways to go!)

KC