Imperfectly Beautiful

(Every single photo below was a failed attempt because there was always someone blinking, not looking, or making weird faces. As you can see, I got pretty good at pasting on the smile until the moment was right. Of course, it never was! Oh well.)



Andrew is trying to eat my arm and Adele' is interested only in the passing cars.

Not bad, not bad. Except now Adele' wants to see what's what with her sister.

Oh good. Adele' is looking--and so is Andrew, albeit a bit sheepishly...but now Corynn happens to BLINK. Ah yes---the mid-blink shot. You KNOW we needed one of those.

Another car passes to enrapture Bunkin, and by now Andrew is feeling on the outside what I am feeling on the inside.

Maybe some other time.....


~~~~~ * ~~~~~~ * ~~~~~

I am my own worst enemy and I choose, daily, to beat myself up about the way that I look because---I could be thinner! I could be petite! I could be prettier! WHY aren't I prettier?!?

Of course, the truth of the matter is that beauty comes from within and I know this fact. God sees our hearts. But I think that to accept this fact and still have an ungrateful heart about our physical appearances, we are still missing the ball. Actually, we are way out in left field.

Today NEEDS to be about appearances. Because a change of heart needs to take place, and attitude needs adjusting.

Today I am going to thank God for what I have always considered curses, and THANKING Him is what should have been done a long time ago.

When I brush my incredibly thin (and thinning) hair...I thank God that God has spared me from disease that would make it ALL fall out.

As I turn away from those hideous stretchmarks....I will thank God that my womb has been filled because its emptiness would have been mourned my whole life.

As I struggle to find shirts that will fit and flatter such an OVERWHELMINGLY large bust....I will thank God that I have two breasts. My Oma lost hers after several bouts of cancer.

When I see women whose head fit in the crook of her husbands arm or pine for the sweetness of a tiptoe kiss, I will thank God for my 6 foot tall frame that allows me to rub toes AND noses with Mattie. At the same time.

When I pinch the rolls that somehow have lingered in my mid-section, I will remember that my children love to snuggle and always tell me "I'm tozy" Perhaps those rolls help me to be cozy?

When I slather aloe on my sunburned skin while I try to keep from staring at the much-coveted "TAN PEOPLE", I will be thankful that I have children who have their fathers' skin! :-)

When I feel ready to complain about my widely spread eyes, I will remember that God made them extra sparkly to compensate.



Today I choose to live a life of gratitude.