confessions...

WOW I just read an amazing post over at The Better Mom titled "when you’re not good enough {and the right things don’t work}"

She actually admitted to having a dirty kitchen, fighting with her husband and having the kids "hate" her! 

This was perfect timing for me to read this.  I have been convicted of being real and honest... so here goes:

Yes, more times then not my floors are not clean.

Yes, more times then not we miss preschool work.

Yes, the hubby and I fight sometimes.

Yes, I raise my voice way more then necessary at the kids, dogs, and husband.

Yes, there are times when the laundry piles up so high I don't ever think it will all get done and if it does it does not always end up folded.

Yes, I struggle with self-control and self-discipline.

The list could go on and on.  It is time that I stop worrying about being perfect, or at least trying to look it (and probably do a really bad job at it).

I need to start being real and honest and be who God made me.  Someone who always falls short, but is still loved unconditionally by the Creator of the universe!  Someone who still stumbles and makes mistakes, but is chosen by God to be His daughter!  Someone who struggles and looses with temptations, but is forgiven and washed clean with the blood of Jesus! 

It is time for me to start living to my full potential God has planned for me.

You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Psalm 118:28-29 

Moving back and starting over

As most of you know we have recently moved back to my childhood home.  My mom moved into the MIL cottage next door (about 20 feet from our backdoor) and we are in the house.  I really do love it.  I love the smallness of the house (I can clean it all pretty well in less than 1 day).  I love the farm and the animals.  I love the vision I have for our garden this spring and all the land for the kids and dogs to run on.  I love the lifestyle of living in the country, growing and raising our own food, moving towards a more simplistic life style.  I really love where God has brought us. 

However, I have moved back to the place where I made a lot of bad choices, where a lot of bad things happened.  Yes I have moved on, and thanks to Jesus, I was able to forgive and really change my life.  But how do you come back to a place where you had your friends, and rekindle relationships and yet still live a godly lifestyle when your old friends haven't really changed?  There are some people I really would like to see again, but I am not who I used to be.  And sometimes that just puts me (and them) in an awkward place. 

So today i was driving back from our Ladies study at church and was thinking about how yes I did grow up here, however I feel like I have moved to a new place and am starting all over with making new friends, something I find as a challenge anywhere. 

Have you ever moved back and had to start over with new friends after giving your life over to God?