Grace.

Happy Saturday! First, I want to thank all of you for visiting my little corner of the internet. It means the world to me when I click on and see how many of you took time out of your day to come here and read what I have to share. I by no means am this big-time blogger, I consider myself a baby blogger and as those numbers slowly creep up for how many readers have been here, I cannot help but smile. It's odd because while my social media numbers are pretty stagnant the blog continues to grow. 

I’ve always wanted this blog (and my social media) to be a happy place, somewhere I can share my personal growth, life experiences and maybe help a person or two along the way. But whenever I share vulnerable and deeper posts, I can't help but feel anxious about what other people think of it and/or if it's being taken the wrong way.

I guess that’s part of what comes with sharing real-life experiences publicly. Still, it leaves me wondering: should I keep things light and happy, steering clear of anything too personal? Or should I keep being honest, even if it means I might get made fun of and ruffles some feathers along the way?

As an empath and someone who cares deeply what others think of me, that second option feels scary, and I'm not sure what to do with it. I've grown so much over the past few years and worked really hard on myself. Recognizing my shortcomings, where I made big mistakes and through that also realizing my worth. 

This all comes down to grace. Grace is something we all need, because none of us go through life without making mistakes. I need grace. Others need grace from me. And it's only by the grace of God that I'm still here today and have everything He's blessed me with. 

It's been a journey to accept this truth. I've carried lots of self-judgement and insecurity for a long time. But as God continues to show me my worth and teach me to extend grace to myself. Even when others don't want to give me forgiveness, God always will. 

So, as I move forward, I’m choosing to lean into grace, God’s grace, grace for others, and grace for myself. I know that sometimes when I share more personal parts of my journey on social media, it might make some people uncomfortable or even upset. But I also know that vulnerability is part of healing and part of helping others heal too. I won’t always get it right; I will never be perfect and that’s okay. I'm just Kristen. Imperfect, honest, emotional, sometimes insecure Kristen. What matters is that I keep growing, keep seeking truth, and keep showing up, flaws and all. If you’re on a similar journey, I hope you know you’re not alone. 

Will I keep posting about how far I've come in my personal life? I'm not sure. I'm trying to find my footing and see where I fit in within this big giant internet world. I do know every day I'm becoming more comfortable in my own skin and with that maybe just sharing what makes me Kristen and things I love will be enough. I guess time will tell. But again, thank you for being here. This coming week I have 2 or 3 posts lined up that are happy, full of fluff, not deep and summer filled fun! I do know one thing, those posts feel safe. 

I'll leave you with this cute picture of the kids. They had their first swim in the pool on Thursday and while the water was ice cold, they had a blast!

We'll see you in a couple days! xoxo