True North

{Hello! If you are visiting from Becky's Blog you can find my latest Project Life Posts here and here.}

Over the last year I've noticed that I personally don't do well with "holidays" or my birthday for that matter. Celebrating the kids or my husband I LOVE but my own birthday or standard holidays I just wake up in a funk the day of.

On Saturday I could feel the funk trying to creep its way into my heart with Mother's Day on Sunday and I didn't want it to. So on Sunday morning when my husband asked what I wanted to do I went with the small voice in my heart instead of the Hallmark version in my head.

 

We skipped church and had a lazy PJ morning at home. We did not go to a fancy restaurant but instead had laid back meals at home courtesy of my uber-talented cook, ahem husband.

 

No chores were done and I sat at my craft desk guilt free to work on Project Life when Travis was either in the wrap or napping. I indulged and watched Grey's Anatomy & Scandal while nursing Travis and holding him maybe a little too long so I could finish the episodes.

 

Much of the day was spent just being Mom. Breaking up fights, coping with Owen's tantrum's (he's discovered he's TWO), cleaning up paint that Garrett got on our patio furniture/patio/puppy Ellie, figuring out how to work in a shower even if it meant it was at 5:00PM.

 

Attempting to take a picture with the three boys. I went into it knowing that the boys wouldn't be clean or coordinated or well behaved. I leaned into the chaos in order to see the beauty in real life, right now.

 

And you know what, it was perfect. I had a great day.

By listening to the small voice in my heart I found my true north and I was able to soak in the day with my family. Letting go of the Hallmark version in my head let me see that perfectly imperfect was a true reflection of where we are right now and celebrating in this way was exactly what I needed to have gratitude and joy fill my heart instead of the funk.

I share all of this because I believe all too often it is easy for casual observers of life to see only the polished, perfected version. I am passionate about being real and hope that I share my life in an unfiltered version so that we all know that we are not alone in this journey. Unless of course your life is perfect and then all I've provided today is comedic relief through my series of pictures with my boys. :)

I hope you have a beautiful day.

Monica