Truth Serum

In this pretend world of online, this world of blogging, Face Book, Instagram, it's so easy to airbrush truth. I can write what I want to write, show you only pictures of smiling kids, a loving mommy. I can talk about the easy and leave out the hard. I can make my life seem nauseatingly perfect. When I get asked 'How do I do it?' when asked about having 4 littles at home, I pray that I have not been airbrushing our truth. Here's the truth. I don't. I wake up with regrets. I talk harshly to my kids when they don't listen. I talk down to my husband when I'm frustrated or upset. I go to bed with regrets of how I've parented, how I've loved my husband. I, sometimes, have a hard time forgiving and forgetting. I can hold on to a grudge a little too long. I'm not a good friend. I don't take time to send sweet notes. Or bake someone cupcakes. I want to. I have intentions of doing so, but the reality is, I don't. I scream over broken glass. I loose my cool when I have to repeat myself yet again. I disappoint myself with my lack of control when it comes to sweets. I struggle with my body image, have every intention to keep up my work out routine, but an extra 30 minutes of sleep usually wins out. I start multiple books about how to be a better parent/spouse only to get thru chapter two before I forget about it. Then, when I fail as a parent, I get mad at myself for not reading my book. I don't do it. I have gaps. Huge pot hole sized gaps that could swallow a car. But I have Jesus. He fills in where my gaps are. He breaths grace onto, into me. If I let Him, He can take my ugly, dirty truth and clean it up. The flesh part of me wants everyone to see perfect when they look in. But what a shame I would be to be a stumbling block for someone who doesn't know Jesus. Jesus doesn't need us to be perfect, but we need to be honest and real. So, when the outside looks in on us as a family, I don't want them to see perfect. I want them to see our cringe worthy real. To see truth. I don't want people to see me when I parent. I want people to see Jesus when I'm with my kids. I want people to see Jesus when they see Trey and I as a couple. I want to breath out grace and mercy as much as I need to inhale it. I want to live out truth. And the truth is, I don't do it. I can't. He can and does.

Jesus paid it all, 

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

O Praise the one who paid my debt

And raised this life up from the dead

We'll praise the one who paid my debt 

and raised this life up from the dead

Thankful for a Savior who gives to let us live. 

Seriously lacking time to post, so here's 3 posts jammed into one. enjoy. ;)

On the 10th, our little big man turned 3! He's been talking about his birthday and party for seriously the whole year! He asked for cinnamon rolls for his birthday breakfast and for a bouncy house for his party. He asked for the bouncy house a long time ago, Trey told him yes on a whim, and he NEVER forgot about it! So, guess what Solomon got for his birthday party?! Only the best.day.ever. For the most part, it was a great day! The weather was fabulous. The cupcakes were delicious. The boys completely wore them selves out jumping. Money well spent.

On the 11th, our Charlotte baby turned 5 months. Do to the crazy week I had, I never got to take her picture... but I did capture this!

Slow down, sweet girl! You are growing way way too fast!

Also, on the 11th we took E down to Riley for a day full of appointments. She had a swallow study, ECHO, and hearing test. We weren't super concerned with any of these appointments, but unfortunately were a bit blindsided with the results of a few of her tests. For a while, Trey and I had a suspicion she was aspirating some when she drank. With her bouts of pneumonia and fevers in the night after drinking milk, we knew something was up. What we didn't expect was for her to aspirate enough to require a G tube. Even with thickened liquid {think milkshake consistency} she was still aspirating. She will go in on the 29th for the G tube placement. I'm told it's not a huge deal, but still hate that my girl has to be in the hospital again. Not one of her favorite places.

We also found out that her heart defect is not what we previously thought. She has what is called an ASD. Again, not a huge deal at this time, but still shocking to know it's not what we thought it was. We will meet with the cardiologist to go over what he thinks in July. It may heal on it's own. It may need patched. Either way, we know God's hand is on her and much peace comes from that.

Our lives seem crazy right now, but I'm loving it. All our babes are just so much fun and definitely don't leave us lacking for entertainment.

Well, hello spring. Hello, new beginnings.

Today is sunny with the promise of spring. The season of new beginnings. New growth. A time of refreshment, changed attitude. No more winter gloom. A lightened heart. Let's embrace this new beginning. Let's love. And build each other up. Isn't life hard enough without making hard on each other? Let's spread Joy, not hate. Let's embrace Grace and Mercy like we embrace the long awaited for sunshine.

{All prints are available at 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintableWisdom.

 Quite possibly my new favorite etsy shop}