Monday, April 22, 2013

Hello old friend



Has it really been since October 12, 2012 that last talked to you my faithful old friend? Thank you for not chastising me about it (cause trust me, momma has enough of that in all the other areas of her life) So much to update you on let's see if I can squeeze it all in.

Life on the homefront is sailing a tad bit more smoothly. After a 3 month stint of sleepless nights and pondering on how I chased this one away, he came back. I can really say in this case it was a 50/50 who done it. And the difference this time is that I was able to step back and not only say I realize we don't have to be perfect but that those imperfections are what I missed. And that even though we are not perfect we are worth it. So it's a little bit of this and little bit of that, and who knows, maybe all the cliches are true but I don't believe that deep down in my heart.....



The babies have me running ragged. Between Varsity Cheerleading duties, Emory's softball schedule, My Tball coaching responsiblities, church choir and the job I attempt to do justice to I honestly barely have time to go to the restroom (and forget about getting to do that alone) it seems I am constantly running.

and there has only been a time or two I have had to stop and remind myself this is the life I chose and would choose it all over again.



I will try to upload recent pictures tommorow when I have time...Maybe one of these days I will have something else to talk about other than my kids.....

but most likely not




Monday, October 08, 2012

Untitled





Three years ago, when I was at my absolute lowest point in my life, I decided that from here on out I was going be candid, and honest with my kids, my  family and friends, and my counselors. I would't sugar coat it and I wouldn't hide anything.

 I was going to be an authentic me. 

At that point it didn't occur to me how unrealistic and impossible a goal that was, because I wasn't being candid and honest with myself.  and God and I were nowhere on that list. 

Fast forward through the bumpy start I got and a few new mistakes that set me back before I could continue to move forward and here I am. FINALLY learning..I am learning that I haven't thought very highly of myself. I am learning that while I hope and believe that I have some good in me, I don't recognize it in my daily actions and I give myself little credit for it being there. I think I've accepted bad things that happen to me, because in some way I must have done something to deserve it. Roll your eyes if you must but it's true....this is how I felt


My awesome counselor Greg asked me a simple question....What is the difference between shame and guilt. So of course I told him what I thought (don't I always). Shame and guilt are the same things. I really had never thought about which one I was feeling because I felt like they were interchangeable.

In reality shame and guilt are too different things. I read a book by Helen B. Lewis, and she said explained in words that made sense to me, that the experience of shame is directly about the self, which is the focus of evaluation. In guilt, the self is not the central object of negative evaluation, but rather the thing done is the focus.’ While guilt is a painful feeling of regret and responsibility for one’s actions, shame is a painful feeling about oneself as a person.’”

The book goes on to explain why I have never "genuinely" felt "guilty" about any of it. I did feel something but it wasn't guilt. It was always something I did to myself.The DWI, the lying, the manipulating was all pertaining to me and how I felt about myself as a person. I didn't process how it made other people feel because I felt like I was doing it to myself. The deep shame you feel as a person clouds genuine feelings of guilt over what you did or caused someone else to feel. I would apologize to someone but it was more about making myself feel better not really about apologizing to that person.

Ouch! Very painful realization to come to......

Learning to let go of shame is a really hard thing to do. I feel like though, that at least I can recognize it now though. Instead of shame on me....

Sometimes this is me...



And sometimes yes,  I own this one right here....




But I'm finding even more often...and authentically, honestly, wholeheartedly I know with out a doubt I know that I am this....


Loved by my father in heaven, although I fail him often he has never failed me.

Loved by my family, both of them (blood and not), maybe not always in the ways I thought they should but always in the ways that I needed.Some of the most profound lessons I've learned have been from my experiences with my family. And even though I didn't learn them as a child I am okay with having to wait until I was an adult. Because the point here people is that I learned anything at all..

Loved by a man who for some reason puts up with me, who gets me, who needs me and sticks around purely because of the person I am, and who we are together. He is immature and maddening and not perfect...which makes him perfect for me. 

Loved by my babies who truly are the best thing I have ever done. Hands down they saved me..and continue to save me. I've learned so much more from them than I could possibly have taught them. 



....to be continued 

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Monday, October 01, 2012

White Diamonds

A few days before our road trip this cute picture popped up on my facebook wall

 

Jackie gets bored while Bryan is working nights so she sends me random pictures at all hours of the day and night..

Fast forward to Friday morning.  Each trip I take I have this obsession with taking a picture with the Big White Star symbolizing entry into the lone-star state. This trip was no exception.





  I couldn't talk her into actually getting up close and personal with the star but she did play peek a boo with the Texas sign. 



When I got there I got to hug my sweet birth mother's neck (hence the blog post title) I remember the first thing about her that really stuck with me was the way she smelled. I rushed out to buy some of the perfume when she left so I could keep a piece of her close to me. 

The next morning we went to cheer on these little guys soccer game


Elias (Mya as Isaiah calls him) and Gabriel (Beebow as Elias calls him) are buddies and best cousins. It is just precious to see them together, they truly love spending time with each other.


and they love their Gigi


My sister Nicole and I with my nephews



sweet sweet babies!!!





awesome band played Saturday night and I got some bestie/sister time. It was so much fun just being silly and carefree and having two of my most special people by my side being fun and silly with me...

Sunday time to leave and it's always bittersweet. Each trip makes me closer and closer to this family that I cherish and am falling in love with more and more the longer I get to see them. I have learned to process having two families and being able to love both of them without taking away from loving them the same. It's been a rocky and hard to explain road and if I have learned everything it's that patience, kindness, and understanding are virtues that you can only strive for when you give it all to God. I'm selfish and impatient and stubborn and my plan is not always HIS plan. 

I'll leave you with this picture...Cause I just love to look at it


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