When it rains........

 **Today's pictures brought to you by vacation that happened a month ago.  I am so behind with pictures ;)

 You know the saying "when it rains it pours".  Today it poured!

 and poured......

 and poured......

and poured....some more!

 Then when I thought it was all over......it kept pouring- again!!!

 Sometimes as parents I seriously feel that we get worn and tired.  With good reason!  We pour ourselves into our children.  Helping them with homework, helping htem when they can't seem to calm down, helping them figure out their friends, helping them not to hurt each other, helping them to get along with others, helping them in their walk with the Lord, doing devotions, reading books with them, helping them learn how to fold laundry, helping them to spell, helping them to learn patience (which I don't know myself!), and on and on the list goes.

 Earlier today Jason and I were talking about how we usually can't even complete a sentence- seriously!  It is a struggle.  Then we hold grudges against each other because secretly we blame each other.  Or sometimes our frustration with the day or a certain child takes over and we have a hard time showing love to each other.  Talk about junk getting in the way.  It makes it tough as nails.

 Don't get me wrong- this is not a complaint session.  It is REALITY of our lives.  You know people say to us all the time, "I don't know how you do it".  That's easy- WE CAN'T!  We struggle.  We are not perfect.  We get up and try again.  We keep trying.  We keep forgiving each other over and over.  We focus on God.  We fall flat on our faces!  We beg God for mercy!  We are on our knees!

 We pray together.  We read devotionals and scripture together.  We charge forward knowing God already wins the war.  We lean on others that surround us in love.  We rely on the fact that although we are not perfect GOD IS!

 Today was a hard extremely insane struggle!  We even took time today to go to The Crossing's prayer meeting together to be refreshed and renewed.  It was powerful!!!!  Just what we needed!!!

 When we returned home......the battles still came.

 We still had realities that were not pretty.

 This- this face- is how I felt!  REALLY GOD ARE YOU SERIOUS?????

 I have no idea most days why God chose me to parent our children!  No idea why God chose me to be a wife because I stink at it - A LOT!  No idea why God redeemed me because I am selfish all the time!

 I know for a fact that there are many people out there that feel the same way.  That struggle, that hurt, that wonder what in the world am I doing???

 When we feel this way- bookmark this post.  KNOW that you are NOT ALONE!  That there are others of us out there.  The ones that are real.  That know WE CAN'T!

 Sure there are plenty of times we can or at least pretend we can.........

 EVERY TIME there is GOD!!!!!

 Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 Just take a break for a minute and read over and over Matthew 11:28-30.  As in right now- read it again and again.......let it soak in......let it revive you......let it take over your whole body!!!!

 I guarantee we were never meant to walk this path alone!  We were meant to rely on others and on God!

We were meant for fellowship, praise, worship, reading the Scriptures (which are full of examples of people just like us).  We are meant for:
 Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”