Hello Monday, Strawberries and Smiles and a dose of honesty

It’s so funny how sometimes an idea for a post can be changed in an instant.

An unexpected conversation can pull your heart in a totally different direction than you began with.

But that’s what’s so amazing about life, and friendships.

Conversations that sparked out of a simple tweet, could turn into just the encouragement you needed.

Sunday night as I loaded pictures from this incredible day with my daughter I jumped into Twitter land

…. and straight into a conversation about fears.

We all have them, they all hold us back…

keep us from doing the things God has planned for us

keep us from sharing our story with others.

After all who wants to read that this day with my daughter was everything I needed?

That Kateyn and I have been a battle of strong wills for months,

and somedays I just cry and feel like a complete failure,

even though in my heart of hearts I know it’s not true.

I know she loves me.

I know she needs me.

See I know that this strong willed battle I’m waging is going to turn into a wonder, amazing, talented, loving, caring, compassionate young woman. I can feel it deep within my soul. It overwhelms me sometimes.

I need to harness it. Challenge it. Gently teach her how to take all her passions and pour them into something wonderful.

Just watching her with her friends, I was overcome by her magnetic personality.

She’s loved by all and she deeply cares for her friends.

I think sometimes fear over powers what we want to say because sometimes the ugly needs to come before the good.

Sometimes we need to admit our flaws so we can move past them.

And to be honest, I share my heart here in this space for me.

So it’s ok if you disagree with me sometimes.

It’s ok that I share that I’m sometimes beyond frustrated with my daughters behavior in one breath

and then share all the amazing qualities I see in her in the next.

WHY?

because I’m far from perfect.

and praise Jesus for that because otherwise I wouldn’t need HIM.

So…

Today I’m saying… Hello Monday.

Hello new week.

Hello quality time with my daughter that allowed us to love on each other for a few hours.

Hello to picking sweet strawberries while listening to the sweet laughter that came from her excitement all morning.

Hello to a grateful mom watching my daughter play with her friends.

Hello to each morning being a new beginning.

filled with new adventures

and overcoming each challenge that comes our way.

Hello to being more encouraging.

Hello to facing my fears.

Hello to sharing more of my heart with you,

even when it’s hard to do.

What are you saying “Hello” to today?

I’m linking up with the lovely Lisa for Hello Monday.