picture me {im}perfectly.focusing.

i love how the Lord works.
sometimes i wish it didn't take me so long to catch on.
summers have usually been hard on me.
this year the Lord has been so gracious.
i have truly enjoyed most of it so far.

my main problem is focus.
it hit me tonight like a ton of bricks.
i have a.d.d.
in a big way.
focusing has always been a problem.(since i was little.)
and it is SO frustrating.
my friend described it as a traffic jam.
um.yes.in.a.big.kind.of.way.

i left tonight to have some time by myself.
because i do not get much of this treasured time as of late.
i needed it.
major traffic jam.
it has been on yellow.light. for some time now.
RED.LIGHT.

i go to chick-fil-a.
library parking lot.
eat my sandwich.
drive off.
go to a park.
text with friend.
talk to friend.
dump truck. (love you, lo.)

breathe.
feel a whole lot better.
write a letter.
pull out the book.
skim over parts.
ahhhh.  like fresh air.
breathe.

"when laundry is for the dozen arms of children or the dozen legs, it's true, i think i'm due some appreciation.  so comes a storm of trouble and lightning strikes joy.  but when Christ is the center, when dishes, laundry, work, is my song of thanks to Him, joy rains.  passionately serving Christ alone makes us the loving servant to all.  when the eyes of the heart focus on God, and the hands on always washing the feet of Jesus alone - the bone, they sing joy, and the work returns to its purest state: eucharisteo.  The work becomes worship, a liturgy of thankfulness."  Ann Voskamp, 1000 Gifts.

when i focus on myself.
i am robbing myself of joy.
by refocusing on why i do what i do.
focusing on Jesus.
is like a breath of fresh air.
rejuvenates me.
empty to fill.

and fill He does.
sweet reminders of His love for me.
He tenderly woos me back.
centered on Him.
it is all for Him.



                                                            picture me {im}perfectly

is a weekly project to reveal that we don't have it all together.

i will post a 

picture me {im}perfectly

blog post every wednesday 

where you will be able to link up to your blog

revealing that:

you are not picture perfect,

your kids are not picture perfect,

your house is not picture perfect,

your crafts are not always picture perfect,

let's 

encourage, 

inspire and 

remind 

other women 

that none of us have it all together. 

i just went to sweet, hill's blog and she featured me again this week.  thanks, girl.  i laughed out loud.  cause my last picture me {im}perfectly was pretty rough;)  but, we have to be real.  right?  :)  i also can't wait to post pictures of my organization of mac's room.

676.  swimming breast stroke with mac today.  he beat me.
677.  lawson doing a dive off the diving board.  she is five.  WHAT?
678.  two days until i am with my fam in bama. yea haw.
679.  a husband who greets me with a kiss and tells me i am beautiful.
680.  a husband who extends grace to me when i don't hear the compliments he gives me.
681.  Jesus.

whew.

grace.

God's

Riches

At

Christ's

Expense.

i am so thankful that His mercies are new every

single

morning.

i had to be real with y'all.

a friend pointed out the post right before the last was so upbeat.

things are going well.

but, it does not mean that i don't have bad days.

yesterday was one of them.

today is a new day.

thank you, Lord.

669.  wearing cowboy boots with shorts for vbs.  it makes me feel young.  and fun.

670.  a husband who came home last night and said go.  i have got them

671.  dinner by myself at panera.

672.  letters written.

673.  target trip.  wandering the aisles by myself.  no cart.

674.  eucharisteo.

675.  "In Christ, there are bonds that are deeper than genes and blood." Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas.

If you have any prayer requests, feel free to email me at imperishableseeds@gmail.com

picture me {im}perfectly

 

i'm a yeller.

i admit it.

and i hate it.

i try so hard to speak kindly when i get upset.

it is SO much better than it use to be.

this is gonna be short and to the point.

vbs this week.

running late today.

children being disrespectful.

constant talking back.

stirring up trouble

=

one unhappy momma.

I just put them in their room for one hour of "quiet time."

rules= stay in room.no fighting.

both come out of their rooms.

all i hear is constant banter and screaming

back and forth.

I walk in there calmly.

line them on the bed 

spank them.

and then 

i yelled at them.

no pictures today.

just one girl

in need of 

Jesus.

"a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 15:1

please, Jesus help me know that my children and their behavior does not reflect who i am in You.  please forgive me for being harsh with them.  change my heart.  make me new.  help me as i go and talk to them.  let the love i feel for them come out in words that give life.
in Your name i pray.

653.

So, so many things to be thankful right now.

I almost can't contain myself.

Even though swim team is literally consuming most of time,

I am enjoying life.

Right.

Where.

I.

Am.

And it feels good.

I feel His graces surrounding me.

Encouraging me.

Slowing me.

Focusing me.

Breathing life into me.

Thank you, Lord.

Thank you.

eucharisteo.

653.  bear hugs.  with people i love.

654.  fresh cut gladiolas from a special friend.

655.  letters.  (old school.  handwritten.  not email.)

656.  my children and their courage.

657.  jumping on trampoline with friends and laughing until crying.

658.  the game of things.  (if you don't have this game, you should.  especially if you like to laugh.)

659.  a husband who is an amazing father.

660.  braided pigtails.

661.  lunch with old friend.

662.  hearing a pastor's testimony.  it was amazing.  and moving.

663.  the thing that struck me the most from his testimony was something someone said to him one day. 

One day when he was really struggling.  The man said,

"You have kingdom value.  You have kingdom value."

664.  after four years of dropping my kids off at vbs, i am finally participating in leading worship.  and loving it.  even though i can't even hit a note.  and mess up frequently.  blast.  especially because the girl i am leading with is one of my besties.

665.  impromptu playdates.

666.  Jesus.

667.  the restoring of things that were broken.  and not being as scared of the broken.

668.  trusting Him. knowing He is establishing the way for me.
"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

the winner is.....

Janet-Lynn

seeds.  

is the name of the

prayer blog.

Janet, 

let me know if you want a painted cross or barrette's.  I am sure the barrette's would look precious in little Finn's hair;)

Ok, y'all be patient with me while I get this up and running.  I am so excited.  Seriously.  Pumped.

I would love to have suggestions and ideas.

Catchy phrases.

Let's start.

Yeah:)

 

"that momma."

picture me {im}perfectly

is a weekly project to reveal that we don't have it all together.

from hill's blog:

i will post a 

picture me {im}perfectly

blog post every wednesday 

where you will be able to link up to your blog

revealing that:

you are not picture perfect,

your kids are not picture perfect,

your house is not picture perfect,

your crafts are not always picture perfect,

let's 

encourage, 

inspire and 

remind 

other women 

that none of us have it all together.  

Yeah Allison.

I just published my first picture me {im)perfectly yesterday.

And today is the actual day to participate:)

Yes.

Ok, so yesterday I take my kids to their first swim team practice.

Mac does fine.  I have already threatened to take the Wii away for the whole summer if he complains about it anymore.  So nada out of him.

But, La pulled out the hyperventilation number.

Lawson has been swimming by herself since one week before her third birthday.

Her coach said he had never seen a three year old with a butterfly kick like her.  

I drop her off on the steps and find a seat.

I look over and she is bawling crying.

Tears.

Chest moving up and down.

Oh.no.what.is.the.problem?

She tells me she does not want to do swim team.

Heaving.

Inside I am thinking, "I just ordered you a $50 swim team swimsuit.  Oh.yes.you.are."

But, I kept wavering in my parenting.

I couldn't decide what was the best way to handle the situation.

To make a long story short.  I ended up getting in the pool.  Told the swim coach to let her go.

She will swim.  Trust me.  Kinda thing.

I let her go and she acted like she was drowning.

I got her out of the pool.

She sat by me until Mac finished practice.

I was furious.

Livid.

I was "that momma."

You know what I am talking about.

I was so torn about what to do.

I was praying on the way home.

Lord, what do I do?

And all that kept coming to me was:

Love her.

Love her.

Draw near.

Leighton came home for lunch.

We talked and then had a talk with her.

I even took her back to the pool yesterday afternoon.

She was swimming like a fish.

So, this morning she starts again.

"I'm scared.  I don't want to do swim team."

I post something on Facebook and I got a lot of great advice.

One person recommended ice cream or something.

That was the ticket.

Fo.sure.

I told her if she didn't cry and she participated I would take her to Yumilicious.

My friend let me know she was doing fine.

I see her coach.  She tells me she did awesome.

Yeah Lawson.

We went to Yumilicious.

We ate down to the asphalt.

It was so good.

But, getting there tore this momma up inside.

You know why.

Because I see so much of myself in La.

It is like looking at myself in the mirror.

I am pretty sure my mom would tell you that I would do just about anything to get my way.

And most of the time it worked.

Manipulation Queen.

Right here.

One thing I have learned is the Lord continues to love me.

Guide me.

Draw near.

Comfort me.

Accept me.

All because of Christ.

Not me.

And He is Perfect.

Picture Me.

{im}perfectly 

is a weekly project to reveal that we don't have it all together.

I heart this girl.  

Hill.

First off, what a cool name?

I have wanted to do this picture me {im}perfectly for a long time.

She is an amazing wife and mother.

I love her honesty.

Her kiddos are presh.  presh.  presh.

Ok.  

Here goes.

I am a mess.

Most of the time.

Sometimes it is organized messy.

Sometimes it is downright ugly.

Sometimes it is pretty.

But, here is the truth.

I have found beauty in the mess and {im}perfection of my daily life.

Here is a picture of my son eating his dinner in the car.

Winner.  Winner.  Chicken.  Dinner.
Although it was not chicken.  It was a grill cheese.  Demonte Whole Green Beans and Strawberries.
And my son hates to have his picture taken.  Can you tell?  Oh, and is that applesauce?  That must be why the ants are attacking my child's car seat today.  Awesome.

Now.  Brace yourself.

The worst part is my children have been gone since Monday.  Today is Friday.  (now it is Tuesday.)
I just took this picture.
I did accomplish a lot while they were gone.  But, obviously not this tornado.  Caused by yours truly.
I am not even going to make an excuse.
(I painted his drawers and put it in the dining room.)

That is awful.  Ridiculous.  embarrassing.

It gets worse.  I feel I need to come clean.  Be honest.  Transparent. 

This is a stack of our budget stuff.
Things are about to change at our house.
So, please pray for me?

I think it is so important for us women to be real about our imperfections.  It draws us closer to the Lord. 
Last but not least.  The Giveaway will end Sunday evening at 10 pm.  (Ok, now the giveaway will end this next Sunday because my week is not slammed packed.)I will announce a winner on Monday.  So, friends  keep the names coming for the Prayer Blog. 

As you can tell I started to write this post and then did not complete it until today.
But, I am so thankful because last night I read one of the best blog posts I have ever read about being perfect.
I am "a perfect mess."
Thank you, Lord for loving me in my mess.


648.  a fun weekend with my sister and her family.
649.  slip and slide fun.
650.  fresh cut hydrandea's
651.  gardenias
652.  thankful that LOVE cover's over a multitude of sin.

1 Peter 4:8

English Standard Version (ESV)

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."