The Real Deal {Tea with Me]

If you were to tea with me today I'd tell you that I was challenged recently by a post Em, from Teacups Too wrote regarding social media & the partial truths that can be portrayed on the internet. She posted a link to a fantastic article by Shauna Niequest called "Stop instagramming your perfect life".

I've been mulling over similar thoughts for a while now as I vacillate between ideas for blog posts & ways in which I write them.

I want to be real. I want this space to be real.
A place to record memories. A place to inspire people not make them feel inadequate.

I want to share the everyday AND the exceptional. The successes AND the challenges.

So this is the 'real deal' tea post (complete with the photos we never post!)

In fact, no tea this morning, I'd probably suggest coffee. No, not instant; the good stuff. It's one of those mornings. Actually it's been one of those mornings for at least the last month and a bit. I feel like I am walking around in a sleep deprived stupor & coffee is the only thing that clears the hazy morning cloud over my head.  Of course, I would have to clear a path to the coffee machine...

I would have to apologise for the smell as you walked in today; there is a bag of nappies in the hallway waiting to be taken to the bin (ahem...did I just take the 'keeping it real' a step too far!?!)

I'd ask you if you ever felt like you weren't enough? If you'd ever read someone's blog or looked at an instagram feed and wondered why your life/house/kids/husband wasn't as exciting/eventful/clean/pretty/amazing/talented/coordinated/good looking etc etc (create sentence as appropriate!)

It's so true isn't it...our lives can look better on the internet. I really enjoy scrolling through my own instagram photos (can I really say that?). Its a collection of really lovely photos. Highlights, special events, times when my kids looked cute, amazing foods I've made, times my hair looked good...you get the idea!

But it's only a snippet of my life. A small glimpse at my real, messy, sinful life. I've got to be honest...I'm not what you would call a natural homemaker (gasp...no!). You would be hard pressed to find a spot on the lounge to sit today to have your coffee. The lounge room is a bomb & you would probably find Harper with his eyes glued to ABC for kids.

We don't post photos of the messy & unlovely. Just the good bits.

I'd tell you that I think that social media has the potential to breed discontent & only we are responsible for how we let it affect us. I find it's so easy to get sucked into the comparison game, we can become so quick to judge. What if we cared more about the cleanliness of our hearts than the cleanliness of our homes? What if, instead of comparing & judging & justifying & wanting & striving & outdoing...we just got alongside & cheered & encouraged & celebrated?

And then I would realise that I had talked your ear off...oops. I'll go make us another coffee! I would probably apologise for being too 'real' & promise that next time you come I will clean the house haha!


(Linking up with Em for her regular 'Tea with me' posts)

On days like these {A beautiful exchange}

You were up half the night with a sick little girl and wake to her cries now. Breakfast needs making...again. The dishwasher needs emptying...again. Dare I say it but last nights dinner pots need washing. Breakfast gets made, slapped together haphazardly; only to have him turn his nose up at it. My coffee goes cold as I realise Josh's* shirt needs ironing. Another job I relegated to late at night once kids were in bed which got forgotten amidst the long list of other jobs. My patience wanes as jam is rubbed into the carpet and greasy peanut butter fingers smear the window to wave bye to Dad.

The day goes on, tantrums are dealt with, sleep battled with. The balancing act of doing housework and playing with the kids. I begin to question myself. Am I providing Harper* with enough 'educational' activities? Is Rory* meeting her milestones? I should attempt solids again with her, what is one more week in the scheme of things? Do you think it's ok to serve eggs on toast for dinner again tonight?

I fall into bed, knowing I'll do it all again tomorrow.

Did I actually get anything achieved today??

But as I lay there and reflect on my day, I know there's more.

More to life than this.

If there wasn't, what would be the point?

You might remember that recently I made a decision to read my bible...really read it. It is on days like these that I feel that quiet whisper, calling me to Himself.
On days like these when I have so many demands placed on my time. Why would I possibly want to add another 'have to' to the list? Surprisingly the more I do it, the more I want to do it. 

So I make myself a cup of tea and open the Word. Sometimes it's only a minute but I know His words are life and they are changing me, one little minute at a time.

Its such a phenomenon. A miracle really. Its supernatural. I can't explain it. Something happens when I open that book; when I immerse myself in His life giving words. The world shifts, changes. What was once an effort becomes effortless. And suddenly, days like these become acts of worship to the one who made me.

Cheeks smeared with jam fill me with joy as I can't help but admire how gorgeous my son is. Anger in the heat of the moment makes me ever so thankful for His grace. The tantrums no longer determine the mood of our home.

Peace invades my soul and I'm ready to get back out there.

Ready to read "The Cranky Bear" for the 9th time that day (not even kidding!) and I even find the energy & enthusiasm to do the voices that I know bring Harper so much joy. 

Spending time with God changes me.

A beautiful exchange takes place.

Less of me & more of Him.

My weakness for His strength.

Thank you Jesus for days like these. For showing me beauty in the mundane.

Sometimes this is the only way it happens.

**Side note, from now on my kids will be referred to by their proper names. Harper & Aurora (or Rory) & my husband as Josh & bestie as Anna. Phew, I'm sick of using their nicknames and anyone with half a brain could have figured it out anyway which defeats the point of actually having a pseudo name!