The Vetter's: Life stuff...

Many of us question our purpose in life. We struggle with where we should be versus where we are. We compare ourselves to others to try and measure our own worth. If we have what they have, then we're doing well, right? Keeping up with the neighbors as they say! We have stable jobs, a mortgage, 401ks, insurance, playdates, social events, and so on. We're doing good!

A couple weeks ago, I listened to a sermon online from a church I attended in Dallas. It was talking about beauty and how, as women, we tend to compare ourselves to others to determine our worth. Are we pretty like her? Do we have great hair like her? Do we have the nice car like her? House - well-behaved kids - clothes - jewelry - the list goes on. I am so guilty of this. I follow a few blogs and it's hard not to fall into the comparison trap. Even with my own family....my brother has a gorgeous family, he's successful, his wife (my sister-in-law that I freakin' love!) has the best figure and is perfect in so many ways, Drew's sisters are drop dead gorgeous AND smart --- again, I can go on. So, I tried to take a step back over the past week and refocus on myself - with less comparisons. I became more aware that I was looking at certain 'outfits' because a blogger looked cute in it. Look, I love fashion - I have my own style...I just don't have time for it right now. I need to get changed in 3 mins flat to get out the door in time for daycare drop-off and work. I seriously don't need to consider buying an outfit b/c someone else looks cute in it - what happened to me? Or one day I was considering Botox - I was convinced enough that I was planning to go get injected. I am 36 yrs old (I think...) -- why in the world would I need that?

Those are just examples....but by stopping to really think about the comparison trap and how I was letting it impact myself and my family, I was able to appreciate what I have more. Right here. Right now. No tomorrow is guaranteed. My kids act wild. This past Sunday at Target, an employee offered to help me with Ellie because she was being so "energetic" in the store. I was not winning any Mommy award that day. Also, I wash my hair twice a week. And I don't have time to shop for fashionable outfits right now. I don't have a new or big house with the latest upgrades. I don't have a big car that fits all my crap and then some....... And when I FINALLY listened to that sermon on keeping your eyes set on God and letting him define your worth, your beauty --- it hit me. I have been completely unfair to myself. I have been too hard on myself. I have blessings upon blessings. I have my health, my family, a husband that's forever supporting me and loving me, two healthy adorable kids, a small SUV filled with dirt from my kids, a house that's just right for us, a job that allows me to help provide for my family and gives me great benefits and insurance. I have many blessings. By the end of my 5 mile walk listening to that message, I felt ready to try again....to live in the now and stop comparing. I think I am doing pretty good so far.

Acknowledge and count your blessings daily.

And that my friends, was a random post by me. :) Below are lots of random pics of my blessings!