SAKURA BLOOM :: SLING DIAIRIES :: ALL THE LOVE :: VISION

its that time again... entry number FOUR of six for the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries :: All the Love! a few weeks ago we traveled to virginia beach to stay at the Founders Inn. there was a conference ::wild & free:: i really wanted to attend and told ryan about, when we looked at it, he mentioned making it a family vacation. it was the best decision we made to spoil us. mama came home refreshed and encouraged, daddy was more connected with the littles and enjoyed some laid back play times, and littles came home with sickies! but on the way home we stopped by the beach. solomon's first visit to the ocean. it was beautiful! so without further ado... my fourth entry...

THEME :: VISION

i did an exercise before i sat down to write...

i went and i looked into a mirror.
i wrote down what i saw:

a tired mama.
a worn out mama.
acne that has reared its ugly head.
pounds that won't leave my sides.
heavy bags under eyes.
ratty hair that hasn't been washed in a week.
worry and doubt in my abilities.
hesitation of self-worth and love.
insecurities.

and then i asked ryan,
who has no idea of this exercise,
"when you look at me, what do you see?"

his answer.
a amazing mommy.

i asked for him to give me a little more...
you...beautiful, amazing mother/lover/wife/friend.

what if i could learn to see that when i looked in the mirror?
what if i could change the way that i see things?
what if i could change my vision?

vision can be deceiving.
we all dream of what life will be like.
what we envision for ourselves.
but i have never met a single soul who has uttered these words.
"life is exactly 100% what i envisioned it would be."
most of the times we are caught by surprise of how life leads.
the circumstances. the path we walk.
who we become.

littles i want you to learn to see with your heart.
to envision love.
grace.
i want you to see grace.
in the people around you.
and in yourselves.

the grace that covers the ugly.

thats the vision He sees us through.

thats the vision we should hold ourselves to.

let your heart be your eyes.
when you see yourself.
when you see others.

look through the Creators eyes.
at His beautiful creation.
yes we will stumble and fall.
we will misstep.
we will not always love the outside,
or even the inside,
but, thankfully, that doesn't determine who we are.

we are all struggling to be the best.
to find balance.
but as a wise friend recently reminded me...
it doesn't exist.
it's not suppost to.

so while i can envision a life of perfect days,
perfect body, perfect home, and perfect faith.
im going to stand and say,
im going to envision a life of messy, crazy, hectic,
rollercoaster moments.
take your breath away moments.

mamas, friends, sisters...
can we all step forward with the mission to change our vision?
to not see the frazzled woman in target and look away,
but to see a woman who has struggled, is struggling in the moment and offer a helping hand?
to not see a messy home, with yogurt smashed into carpets,
dirty dishes in the sink, and piles of dirty laundry everywhere,
but to see a lived in home. a present family in the midst of life?
to not see the woman who is holding up her smile with gritted teeth,
tensed shoulders, and a pit of worry in her gut...
but to see a fellow sister in the trenches of life,
grasping for calm and reassurance.
to see her for the beauty that she is.
a loving, tenderhearted warrior.
a mama.
just needing a little love and a lot of grace.

this. this is my vision.

xoxo

kate is wearing simple silk marcona.