I.am.enough.

As a little girl, I dreamed of the day that I would marry my prince charming and live happily ever after...

...but as a grown woman, I have days that I struggle and think "this is NOT my fairy tale life!"  Why didn't those stories go something like this...

"Once upon a time, in a tiny little town lived a wife and mother of three.  She woke up at 5:45am to try and get herself showered and somewhat ready for the day before her three boys awoke.  She knew that once they woke, her time for herself was over.  "Mom! Where are my shorts!"  "Mom, I can't find any clean jeans!"  "Mom! This shirt doesn't fit me!"...sign this, sign that, give me money for this..."Mom, can you get me breakfast!"  "Mom...he pushed me"  "Mom...mom...mom...mom...".  After she miraculously found everything that couldn't be found, signed all forms, and got the tummy's filled...they were running late.  "Let's go...get your jacket on...boots...gloves..."  And out the door they go...all are in the car and one says, "I forgot something!"  Out the door, running up to the house...and five minutes later he returns to the car.  Quickly up to the bus stop, they pull up just as the bus is coming to a stop!  "Good bye!  Have a good day!  I love you..." Doors slam!  She now gets to enjoy her quiet car ride to work.  "S%#@!  I forgot to put out the garbage!"  She turns back around to pull the overloaded garbage can to road.  Off she goes to work...while at work, she is thinking about what kid needs to be here, and what kid needs to be there and who can pick up this kid or that kid.  Ooops...gotta put some lunch money in the account so the kids can eat...Once her day is over, she picks two kids up at the bus stop! Throws a granola bar to the kids in the back.  One boy is changing clothes in the back seat, getting ready for swimming.  The other one is whining because he just wants to go home.  We go sit at swimming for an hour, and get a phone call from the other son..."Mom, can you come pick me up from the school?  I can't get a ride home..." hop in the car from swimming...drive to the next town to school to track down the next boy and they drive home...it is now 7:15pm.  Each boy wants something different for supper, and she makes what they want.  Each boy has homework to be done, books to read, papers to be signed, and projects to work on.  "Mom, I need money for this..."  "Mom, we need to finish this project by Friday..."  While she corrects all the homework and gets all of the papers in the correct folders, her precious boys are arguing about which TV show they want to watch.  Back packs are packed up...dishes get done, the house gets somewhat picked up...now, she has to work on her homework.  Sit down to work, kids are yelling in the other room...time for bed!  Boys are whining because they don't want to go to bed...teeth are brushed, prayers are said...her homework gets finished...her workout gets done...and now it is 11:30pm.  Congratulations...you get to wake up and do it all again tomorrow because your husband is working 48 hours straight...."

WHAT??  Where was this in the fairytale books?  As a woman, there are many days that I am left wondering, "Did anyone notice me today?"  "Did anyone appreciate any of that?"  "Was I enough?"  It took me living on my own for fifteen months to truly understand and believe that my worth does not come from what people think of me...my worth comes from God.  "Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is great worth in God's sight" 1 Peter 3:4.  Isn't that great?  I. am. worth. it.  and...so are you!  This is not easy to remember...this day and age...life gets tough.  We struggle with friendships, marriages, eating disorders, mental illnesses, and traumatic events that make us lose our self worth...however, God is always watching.  He sees you.  He notices you...

So today, I am reminding myself that I can still have that fairy tale life...even though we live in a not-so-fairy tale world.  I will count my blessings each day...I will be thankful for the little things...and I will live in the moment... 
He sees me...I am worth it and I.am.enough!!