Kat-

This post makes me so proud of you.  I wish I didn’t hide behind pretty words so often.  You inspire me not to anymore.  Here goes.  (deep breath)

1.  I’m entirely too independent.

2.  My Bible is underneath two trashy maganzines on my nightstand.

3.  I’m a people pleaser.

4.  Money burns a hole in my pocket.

5.  William Faulkner’s from MS, and I don’t even care.

6.  I listen to country music.  A lot.

Ok, that’s one of the best posts I’ve read in a long time. I think as bloggers there’s the “cool authenticity”- you know, the kind where we admit to stuff that makes us sound amazingly spiritual or approachable – and then there’s the “uncomfortable authenticy” where we admit to stuff that doesn’t make us look cool or spiritual. Chances are everybody struggles with it and yet we still are embarrassed.

You’re totally right though. That photo at the top of this post and some of this stuff you talk about is a side of you I probably would never have seen had you not let your guard down a bit. Sure, we prefer people to think of us as super-parents or amazingly spiritual but the plain and simple fact is that most of the time we’re not.

Awesome, awesome post.

Yeah… what’s up with that hat, anyway?  Uh… Blossom?

But seriously…

1. I homeschool… and it sucks.

2. I’m overwhelmed on a daily basis… even though I’m always simplifying.

3. My standards for everyone (my family and myself included) are ridiculously high and unobtainable, and I often have little room for grace.

4. I want everyone to communicate loads of grace to me in overt ways, or I get moody.

Now, for something that used to be on my list that isn’t anymore…. hmmmm….

I used to care more about tasks than people.  Things like #3 used to not bother me.  It bothers me now.

I loved this post and your transparency. Here are some of mine:

1.  I fall asleep during my time with God.  (I’m so glad I’m not the only one!)

2.  When people sing solos in church, instead of listening to the lyrics, I’m criticizing their voices in my head. (I know, it’s terrible!)

3.  I ALWAYS have to be right.  Even when I’m wrong.

4.  I complain.  A LOT.

5.  I eat ice cream out of the carton when my husband’s not around. 

6.  I have a really hard time staying focused when I pray.

I’m working this year on having a daily Bible reading and prayer time.  The prayer time especially is something I long for God to enrich and grow because I feel so much more connected to Him when my prayer life is strong.

Rejoice! Aren’t you glad that God made us all different and none if us will EVER be perfect “until that day…” You’re still a wonderful, caring and loving Daughter and a VERY blessed Wife and Mom!

In response to #5: I thought that layer of dust simply assisted the circulation of air…you’re supposed to dust those things?

Mindi,

I am so glad you told us #6.  I now have hope!

I read this earlier today & thought, “Nope, not gonna do it.” But I kept thinking about Kat’s transparency & wanted to see if I could do it, too.

1. I am NOT a creative blogger.

2. I am *so* not a cool mom. Just ask my kids.

3. I don’t pay enough attention to my ever-patient husband. (OUCH)

4. My TV is on a lot. Often for background noise, but still…

5. I don’t exercise regularly. Don’t tell my doctor. Although she probably knows.

6. I use semicolons excessively. (That one’s for you, Kat.)

7. There are Christmas gifts for my parents in a box in my room that have still not been sent.

8. This is way harder than I thought it would be. Thank you, God, for grace.

Kat,

Inspiring post.  We are all lying to each other aren’t we?

1.  I filed for divorce this year, but put it on hold for one final round of counseling hoping this time it would work

2.  I hate some specific people

3.  every sunday at church for the last 18 months someone has said something that has hurt my feelings

4.  I think I’m having panic attacks or maybe I’m going crazy or both

5.  my kids sneak out of their beds at night and listen to us fight & argue outside our door

6.  we are getting help, being helped and our community is highly aware ( relax )

7.  my house smells like the litter box today so I’m in my room with the door closed and scented candles burning when I should clean the danged thing out

8.  I won’t link to my blog because I just won’t

9.  I could go on and on and on but I won’t

We could be twins.

Sans the kids.

And the icing.

This is such a good idea and so true!!!!

The reality is that everyone has bad days, and no one is perfect.

My confession is that on a day like today where my husband has been traveling for 4 plus days, and will be gone for another week or so, I haven’t been sleeping well, and I have a sick child, my TV will be on more than usual, and we will be eating leftovers or snacks all through the day- I will not cook today! I am very grumpy, my kids are driving me nuts today.. so I had to go through the alphabet and thank God for something with each letter of the alphabet, to get me a little less grumpy.  Ironically my kids names are all in the beginning, A,B, and C.  ha!

I think I have a can of frosting in my fridge… hmmm.

I love your list! I feel like you peeked in my head and pulled out my own thoughts. I hopped over to your blog from your link on we are that family.  Love what I have seen! Adding you to my blog roll!

I immediately resonated with #1.  When I got home an hour later, there was the sheriff, my next door neighbor, and my children all hangin’ out in the front yard.  All was forgiven when I admitted I had just forgotten early release day and the sheriff said, “Been there.” He had also, fortunately, been engaged in conversation with my dysfunctional neighbor who thought we were pretty fantastic.

And I proceeded to read #2 through #25 and I can’t believe you used my brain to write this post.  I love REAL!  Thank you.

I love this idea! I trust you are familiar with Todd Wilson (familyman ministries)?? If not you should be! :0)I believe we cannot grow until we are honest and transparent about who we are!

My List:

(I am obviously not proud of these things…just being honest)…

1. I am totally a people pleaser

2. Hence I am a lukewarm evangelist

3. I yell at my kids often

4. I am way more polite to complete strangers

5. I am irregular and inconsistant in my private prayer and Bible reading

6. I do not budget money wisely

7. I overspend regularly

8. I talk on the phone and am on the computer inordinate amounts of time at times.

9. I let my kids get away with stuff and then pounce on them when I’ve had “enough”!

10. I am disorganized.

11. I have a messy house

12. I often pay bills late

13. I neglect my husband in the hustle and bustle of life and use that business as my excuse.

14. I stay out “doing errands” to avoid work at home.

15. I could go on with this list but you get the picture….

On the bright side God is faithful to show me my sin and I experience feeling distanced from Him (and that bothers me). That is an evidence of grace… Sinning is NOT an evidence of grace! ~We ALL sin~ But longing for God’s presence (even faintly) and greiving because I have greived Him IS! So in that sense this is a reasuurace of my standing in grace and I can rejoice that I am God’s child and that He loves me despite all these things! :0)