Why I’m bringing my muffin top to Mexico


 

3 1/2 years ago, I received a  judgmental comment on my blog – I will never forget. Not because I was hurt by it, but because of the readers who came to my defence. The premise was this:  a few blogs before this comment I blogged on leaving 4/5 kids behind (taking the nursing baby) to Mexico on a vacation. A few blogs later I wrote on how society doesn’t value children.

I received a comment (paraphrased)  that my husband and I were selfish and abandoning our kids by going to Mexico and leaving our children behind with Grandma.

So that leads me to my favourite defensive comment from my friend …

 

“Dear Anonymous.. I’d like to see you wrangle 5 kids in Mexico.”

 

We haven’t taken a vacation like this since, until now… and guess what, people?!

In just a few weeks we WILL be wrangling 5 kids in MEXICO!!!!! Lord help us all!!!

I am very excited for this trip.  The entire Ball family will be doing as the Mexicans do, and it will be an adventure for all 18 of us! Lord help us all!!!

So…. that leads me to the Muffin Top…

muffin top to mexico

We all know the drill when a vacation is booked: hair, nails, new clothes, pedicures, celery and crunches! AM I RIGHT?!

Well I jumped on that band wagon with full force, until…

I came to a few hard realities. (emotional breakdowns over stupid things)

 

#1 The closer I get to 40, the more invincible the muffin top becomes. 

#2 The closer I get to 40 the more insecure I feel about my muffin top, and when I say insecure, I mean debilitatingly insecure.

#3 Striving, period, for anything, including a hot body, is really really REALLY mentally unhealthy for ME.

So, after a very stern talking to (to myself), and very strong conviction from God (who desires me whole)  I decided to become one with the muffin, sprinkle some sugar on it, and redirect my preparations to something of way more lasting in value.

My relationships.

This trip isn’t about who looks better in a bikini, or turns heads when they walk by the pool. It’s about the people we will be margariting with, and the little hands I will be holding as they see the ocean for the first time,  and the sunset  kisses I will be giving to the man my soul needs. 

I want to be prepared in mind and spirit to go. I want to go already connected with my husband, so we have been working to reconnect before we go. 

I want my children to be getting along, so we are working with them to speak kinder to one another.

I want to enjoy time with the extended family and in-laws with no judgments and expectations, so I am working on my heart and attitude. 

So when you see me on the beach with my muffin top, and my badly self coloured hair, know that my heart is full, and my mind is at peace! 

Sometimes we need these reality checks, so that we are not exerting our efforts on things that have no eternal value. I am learning that the way to handle insecurity is to accept the insecurity and replace our value in it. 

It’s not easy being a “real” woman in a bikini world, but God calls us to be a “real” woman in a broken world.

 

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8 thoughts on “Why I’m bringing my muffin top to Mexico”

  1. Alanna says:

    “It’s not easy being a “real” woman in a bikini world, but God calls us to be a “real” woman in a broken world.”

    Words to live by! I wish you the most brilliant of trips – you’re going to have a fabulous time 🙂

  2. Faith says:

    This is truth Sarah. Well done!

  3. Charmaine says:

    You can’t please everyone all the time. It’s interesting comments were made when you left your kids behind. We were considering a 3 to 4 month long missions trip with our kids and we comments! “Mexico isn’t safe. You should go by yourselves.” More and more I try not to care what people think. I don’t have mental for that. Have fun on your trip! We have friends who took their 7 for a month and they had a great time.

    1. virtuouswomanx says:

      I think the safest place to be Charmaine is in the will of GOD! Whether that’s Mexico or home.

  4. Lauralee says:

    Love this

  5. Suzanne Guest says:

    I love it! Enjoy your Mexican vacation to the fullest, Sarah. I’ve long since made peace with my less than perfect body. It’s my less than perfect emotions that I struggle with. I agree with you though that God cares for us and wants us to be fully whole and fully HIs.

  6. Karrie says:

    Your story reminds me of the lesson I learned on a recent trip to the beach.
    I do not have a muffin top. I have a nice trim waist and flat as a board tummy.
    BUT….. Let’s talk thunder thighs!!!! How do you hide them in a bikini?! NOPE!
    There is not a bathing suit that exists that can contain these thighs and this butt!
    I was self-conscious with each step. Until… My husband told my that I am ridiculous! And he meant it. He said that I am by far the ‘sexyist’ woman on the beach. And he meant it. He really did! So, why then would I argue with him??!! He is the one that will be in bed beside me tonight. I don’t care to impress the female strangers on the beach. I don’t care to arouse the male strangers on the beach. I do want to please my husband. He says is he pleased. Who am I to argue?! I do all I can to be satisfied with myself in the way of eating well and enjoying exercise.
    Sprinkle sugar on your muffin top and enjoy!
    My husband embraces the pear and enjoys the fruit and so shall I.

    1. virtuouswomanx says:

      You are awesome! I love your perspective that it’s not about intriguing others, but pleasing yourself and your man! Takes some women a life time to get to that understanding!

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