life gets messy

Have you ever experienced solving one problem and then life threw another one at you?

It is 11:24 am on Tuesday post two weeks since my latest blog and here I am frantically writing, hoping to crank out something.

It was the perfect plan to blog every two weeks, giving me more time to jot down ideas, compile them at the end, while allowing me to more present with my family. Lets face it, Paisley didn't like that I had my face buried in a computer 24/7.

Instead, the past two weeks consisted of a lot of snuggles, sleepless nights, flushing episodes and coughing fits. Our baby girl came down with croup.

Sometimes we can plan and plan some more, and expect things to turn out down to the very detail in which we planned. Then when this superb plan fails we become discouraged and sometimes find ourselves giving up entirely. I'm learning that in life there are two categories: uncontrollable circumstances and controllable circumstances. Paisley getting sick was a circumstance we could not control but as her parents we needed to be there 100% to nurture, provide comfort, and soothe her. Sometimes these uncontrollable circumstances can cause other plans in our lives to be pushed back.

Yesterday, I felt so discouraged that I didn't have anything to feed your eyes. I was disappointed in myself that I didn't meet my expectation. Not to mention I felt as though I let my number one fan down, my husband. But, instead of him making me feel worse about why I didn't have anything to deliver, he got busy and created a little illustration(cover photo) to show the past two weeks through his eyes. In his lightheartedness, he spoke words of encouragement into my heart to still write no matter how late I am publishing this blog; or even how unplanned it is and unedited. Nothing can beat how raw and vulnerable this message is.

This experience has taught me not to give up even if my plan doesn't align with the circumstances that are happening in my life. Looking way back I can see where I gave up on so many potentially amazing life-altering circumstances just because I hit a barricade. Instead of finding the detour sign I would just stop all together.

Friend, if you are feeling discouraged because a minor or major life circumstance has altered your plan; don't give up. This hill, valley, or mountain you may be experiencing right now just may be exactly what you needed to go through in order to grow you for something greater.

Maybe you end up riding a scooter instead of driving a corvette; just because you aren't getting to your destination the way wanted doesn't mean you can't get there. It just means it will take a bit more work, patience, and grace.

-manic mom