YOUR INFLUENCE HAS IMPACT

Backstory: Every morning we get in the car to go to the gym I pray out loud with INTENTION. Well, a few weeks ago my three-year-old had a raspy voice with a little cough for a couple of days, due to allergies.

So, for the second day in a row, Gracie asked, “Mommy, can you pray to God so He heals my cough?”

To see your faithfulness come full circle, through your children, gives the heart an overflow of joy. It’s also a reminder that we are always influencing someone, someone is always listening and watching what we do.

REFLECT: How is your influence impacting others?

Imperfectly Yours,
Katie

BE SET FREE

This makes me ask: WHY? 

Why would God allow us to feel trapped on earth in order to set us free and find freedom?

First off, we are not meant for this world — praise God for that!! Then, sometimes, God allows us to be put in a prison of containment because, within that prison, our actions are put in a vault. Within a prison we can not act as we want or of our own free will. Within that prison we have to reflect on who we are, not what we are or what we do.

It’s in a prison like mindset, or environment, that we must drop to our knees and seek Jesus with every ounce of faith and hope we have. It’s in a prison that we gain strength to break every chain!!

Father God, let my identity forever rest within you. May the prisons I have overcome on earth make me a stronger leader and warrior to run the race of your kingdom. May I forever be known as your daughter — an ambassador for your kingdom.

In Jesus name, I pray we all find this type of God-ordained freedom. AMEN!!

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

STRIVE AND THRIVE

Transparency. Heartache. Rigidity. Work. Time. Patience.

It's like trying to glue together a shattered window pane. No matter how much effort you put into putting the pieces back together you are always going to see the cracks. You are never going to be able to completely smooth out every scar that is left behind.

You can heal wounds, but scars will always be there.

Scars are the remnants of the negativity you overcame -- of the trial you chose to persevere through.

CONSEQUENCES AND RESPECT

This isn’t just a picture of DOCTOR Gracie, but a life lesson on consequences and respect.

Halloween night, a few hours before trick-or-treating commenced our girl shushed an adult. Unlike my normal response, I bit my tongue and remained CALM. (Internally I was CLEARLY boiling over.) To begin, Daddy took the reigns and at one point asked her if she wanted to go trick-or-treating. At first, she said, “Yes.” Then, when she learned she had to say “I’M SORRY” a whole new slew of emotions took over her toddler body. 

Rigidness, quietness, silent tears — she was clearly embarrassed and her shy side mixed with anxiety didn’t help our situation. So, I put on my mom pants and said, “Gracie, until you apologize there will be no trick-or-treating or costume because we will CANCEL your Halloween.” 

Now, every parent feels a bit confident when they think they found the edge. To my utter disbelief, when I then tell her to again apologize she shakes her head NO!! With disappointment internally coming in waves, we proceed to CANCEL her Halloween.

We followed through with our words and as she continued with her stubbornness, go figure, we stood firm as parents. We want to raise a GOOD person, but when that is counteracted we MUST stay true to our beliefs and faith.

A few hours after tough love, life lessons, and my self-doubt as a mom/human — daddy took her for a walk that included another tough, but loving talk. By the end of the walk Gracie came to the decision that she is a big girl.

While picking flowers she told her daddy, “I’m a big girl and big girls say sorry when they’re not nice. I’m going to say sorry because I’m a nice big girl.” So, she apologized.

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF A BABE!!

See — despite popular belief it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. It wasn’t about being right as a parent, but the want to raise a good human. For every action there is a consequence and as parents we set the tone for our children. We are the ones who teach them whether or not bad actions receive punishment or reward.

This picture is our confidence that a good human is being formed. She learned to be respectful to others and that being a big girl means you have to have humility. I’m proud of our girl and she gives me countless more reasons to be every day.

Also, I’m proud of my husband and I as parents.

Because it’s hard.

REALLY HARD!!

Yet, days that ended like Halloween night make all the hard work in the middle so worth it.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

MY WORKING CHILD

“BUT MOMMMYY — I need to finish my work,” Gracie exclaimed. SERIOUSLY?! You would have thought I had just tried to steal chocolate ice cream from her. I was just letting the kid know I had finished writing for the day, GEESH!!

Here’s the “TEA” — my girl is OBSERVANT and gets easily bored. Yet, she uses words like miniature and well in the proper context. She’s only three-years-old, but has a spirit and intelligence beyond her years.

She can test me and inspire me all within the same breath. Every day I question myself and may even repent for a thought or two, but I wouldn’t trade being her mother for all the desires or fortunes in the world.

She’s my favorite && I’ll love her for eternity.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie