As Thanksgiving is approaching I find myself focusing on the many blessings in my life (and there are so many)....and trying to minimize the struggles, hardships and difficult things, BUT then I am reminded that we are to be thankful for ALL things....
1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Last week, my 17 year old son broke his ankle during his last football game of the season. It was scary, frustrating and discouraging all at the same time. This is his 5th some what "big" injury and there have been so many minor ones that I can't even count the number of xrays and MRI's this kid has had over the past 6 years. Everything is more challenging: mobility, showering, the moodiness....
But today,I will thank Him that my son broke his ankle last week (strange I know), but as much as I pray for the Lord's protection before and during his football practices and games, I know this was the Lord's protection from something much worse. I thank Him, that I get to regain precious time with my 17 year old because when your right foot is broken you CAN'T DRIVE...so I have more time with him as I drive him to and fro and he is simply home more when he is on crutches and casted for 6 weeks.
I thank Him for precious family members diagnosed with scary illnesses that make us all stop and think about what was and what will be. I know that God will show Himself in amazing ways in the situation and I wait expectantly to see what He is up to.
I thank Him for the many friends He has placed in my life that are going through tremendous struggles- and I am blessed with the priveledge to pray for and with them.
While I miss my baby girl like crazy, today, I will thank HIM that my daughter has the opportunity to attend a wonderful university, that she is making precious friendships AND growing in her faith along with getting an amazing education. I simply can't believe this is our life- one without her living under our roof, but God is growing and equipping all of us while we endure the change.
This has been the longest we have gone without seeing her, and I can't wait until she gets home on Tuesday! I think it will be a special Thanksgiving as we will each appreciate our time with her so much.
I stand confident that God is good ALL OF THE TIME and for that knowledge, I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Homesick for Her Bed!
"I'm a little bit homesick. I miss my bed and you guys!!"
Ughhh, not the text message I wanted to receive. I think there must be a lot of that going around. Lots of tests, not enough sleep, weather changing, a break coming but maybe just not soon enough. We worked really hard to make her dorm room bed REALLY comfy, but I love that she misses her childhood bed.
I think about how we moved her into that bed when she was just 15 months old. The next baby was on the way and I did not want to have two cribs, so my mom gave me my old double bed. She was so little that she didn't even know she could get out of it. We always worked hard to develop good sleep habits with our kids. When they are little they always want to grow big! When they were little we reminded them that God allowed their body to grow while they were sleeping! My baby girl grew into a precocious preschooler, a silly elementary schooler, a diligent drama free middle schooler, a hard working dedicated highschool student, and now she is an amazing young collegiate woman missing that brightly colored covered double bed of her youth!
This momma misses seeing her little girl sleeping soundly in that bed!
Ughhh, not the text message I wanted to receive. I think there must be a lot of that going around. Lots of tests, not enough sleep, weather changing, a break coming but maybe just not soon enough. We worked really hard to make her dorm room bed REALLY comfy, but I love that she misses her childhood bed.
I think about how we moved her into that bed when she was just 15 months old. The next baby was on the way and I did not want to have two cribs, so my mom gave me my old double bed. She was so little that she didn't even know she could get out of it. We always worked hard to develop good sleep habits with our kids. When they are little they always want to grow big! When they were little we reminded them that God allowed their body to grow while they were sleeping! My baby girl grew into a precocious preschooler, a silly elementary schooler, a diligent drama free middle schooler, a hard working dedicated highschool student, and now she is an amazing young collegiate woman missing that brightly colored covered double bed of her youth!
This momma misses seeing her little girl sleeping soundly in that bed!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
"Has it Gotten Any Easier," You Ask
Someone asked me today, "has it gotten any easier?" I find myself really thinking about that question...
Yes, I don't burst into tears quite as often, but I still miss her so much it hurts. I have altered my focus on the fact that she is healthy, happy and YES, HER WINGS SEEM TO BE WORKING pretty well. Oh how I Praise my God for that! She seems to "need" me just enough to keep me "feeling needed" which helps this momma!
Sending her a scripture via text message daily also helps, as she always responds and that usually opens the window to a little chat about what she has ahead for the day. I hope it feels as encouraging for her as it does for me. One day, my plate was so full that I was delayed in getting a scripture to her, and she sent me a note that said, "no scripture today, mom?" I was glad to know that she missed it and am thankful that God is using is word to bless her each day.
I know that I had dug my heels in on discovering and allowing a new normal to occur around here, but somehow it happened without me looking. Dinner with the four remaining of us sitting at the kitchen table doesn't feel so strange any more, I don't holler her name up the stairs and feel the kick in the gut that "oh yeah, she isn't here", I don't look for her car to pull in, I don't assume she will be here to babysit my little one if need be (by the way, having to hire and pay a sitter again is a BUMMER!), I don't accidentally buy the special things from the grocery I use to keep around here for her, BUT
I must confess that I do occasionally, when no one is looking or around, head into her room, lay on her bed and have a good cry.
The new normal doesn't feel like it will ever feel NORMAL!
She sent ME this one!
Romans 12:12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.
Just a few verses from recently:
Psalms 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Genesis 28:15 I am with you and will watch you over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.
Psalm 29:11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Psalm 16:8 I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will nto be shaken.
Proverbs 10:30 The righteous will never be uprooted.
Psalm 73: 25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Phillipians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.
Yes, I don't burst into tears quite as often, but I still miss her so much it hurts. I have altered my focus on the fact that she is healthy, happy and YES, HER WINGS SEEM TO BE WORKING pretty well. Oh how I Praise my God for that! She seems to "need" me just enough to keep me "feeling needed" which helps this momma!
Sending her a scripture via text message daily also helps, as she always responds and that usually opens the window to a little chat about what she has ahead for the day. I hope it feels as encouraging for her as it does for me. One day, my plate was so full that I was delayed in getting a scripture to her, and she sent me a note that said, "no scripture today, mom?" I was glad to know that she missed it and am thankful that God is using is word to bless her each day.
I know that I had dug my heels in on discovering and allowing a new normal to occur around here, but somehow it happened without me looking. Dinner with the four remaining of us sitting at the kitchen table doesn't feel so strange any more, I don't holler her name up the stairs and feel the kick in the gut that "oh yeah, she isn't here", I don't look for her car to pull in, I don't assume she will be here to babysit my little one if need be (by the way, having to hire and pay a sitter again is a BUMMER!), I don't accidentally buy the special things from the grocery I use to keep around here for her, BUT
I must confess that I do occasionally, when no one is looking or around, head into her room, lay on her bed and have a good cry.
The new normal doesn't feel like it will ever feel NORMAL!
She sent ME this one!
Romans 12:12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.
Just a few verses from recently:
Psalms 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Genesis 28:15 I am with you and will watch you over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.
Psalm 29:11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Psalm 16:8 I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will nto be shaken.
Proverbs 10:30 The righteous will never be uprooted.
Psalm 73: 25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Phillipians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
"She Missed MY Voice"
My day was made....we text ALL the time each and everyday, but rarely talk on the phone for more than a couple of minutes, TODAY she called because "she missed my voice!" talk about melting this momma's heart into a big puddle. She was so chatty and I love hearing about all the little things and being able to ask questions. Our just over an hour chat was wonderful and it was obvious she was just needing a little piece of home. She cracked me up because she was telling me that the other day she was really missing her daddy. What she was missing was something she probably rolled her eyes about when she was home....his regular and very often "BE SAFE", as she came to and from home. It is nice to know your missed when you are painfully missing someone so much!
It was hard to want to hang up, Thanksgiving break CAN'T get here soon enough for this momma AND her girl!
It was hard to want to hang up, Thanksgiving break CAN'T get here soon enough for this momma AND her girl!
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