TODAY IS THE DAY!

I have been anxiously awaiting this day since last August!  The little bird is flying home, back into MY nest!  Her wings have proven to be strong and I am thankful to God for all of His provision for her and our family in this time of transition.  Of course, she is a little sad.  Sad about leaving her friends, oh how I remember how hard it was to leave.  There is nothing quite like living day in and day out with your friends and peers especially when you are growing up together and sharing so many new experiences.    I don't think she realizes how fast summer is going to fly and she will be reunited with all of her new special friends before she knows it.   I DO, and I am going to treasure every moment of having her home.  The brothers are equally as excited about having her back, so today starts a new phase for us- living with a college student that is use to NO accountability.  I suspect it will have its bumps and hurdles, but we are all growing and changing and creating our new normal. I am looking forward to the nest being full again, the chatter and joy in my house abounding.  It is bound to be a great summer.

I have many friends embarking on this same journey in the coming months...sending that first child off.  While it was the most difficult parenting experience I have had so far, we survived it and God did what He usually does...WAS FAITHFUL.  This momma bird is forever grateful.

Thanks for sharing the journey with me!

Box Brigade and FOMO!

This is a fabulous idea!  Our church gathers the mothers of college students by grade level,  and we all bring goodies, scripture, encouraging notes to put in bags for each child represented.  We did it once in the fall, and just did it last Saturday morning.  It is such a blessing to all involved. After filling the bags, we gather and share prayer requests for our students and then have a sweet time of prayer.   Of course the students get a wonderful care package full of yummy treats and encouragement and the mom's get the reminder that we can go to GOD with all of the things burdening our hearts for our students.  It was perfect to do right here at finals time when the kids are under so much stress....at least my student is! 

Thankfully, she has proven herself to be a great college student.  She has learned the balance of studying and being successful AND not missing out on too many fun things.  In fact, she is suffering from a condition that I think has caused her to be sick multiple times this semester due to not enough rest.  This condition is something she and her friends have labeled FOMO- fear of missing out.  Heaven forbid you miss a party, mixer, or opportunity to socialize.  I think I would be a bit more worried about her condition if she hasn't had such a successful year academically.  To be honest, I am pretty sure I suffered from the same condition, but I didn't seem to have the balance down. 

Balance...what does that look like? Well, for my 19 year old freshman (soph in about 4 days) it does involve some ALMOST all nighters in the library more often than I like to hear about, plenty of pictures to post on facebook at random themed parties in some unusual attire, fabulous new friendships, a passion for her future endeavors, excitement registering for next semester classes, sorority bible study, service opportunities, meetings, babysitting for local families.....she seems to squeeze a lot in and I am thrilled she is making the most of her college experience!


Here is something I found on line that I included in by Box Brigade contributions:

Dear God, I ask for your help during final exams based on who you are and the promises that you make in the Bible.   I thank you God that you are the source of all wisdom as it says in Proverbs:

“By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place, by his knowledge the deeps were divided and the clouds let drop the dew.” (Proverbs 3:19,20 New International Version of the Bible.)

Help me to remember that however complex the subject may be that I am tackling, you can enable me to grasp it, understand it and remember the details because you are the originator of all knowledge.  I thank you that you promise to help me when I ask for wisdom as it says in James:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NIV)

Help me to believe that even as I am praying, you are giving me the wisdom and the help I need. I thank you that studying and gaining this knowledge will be beneficial to me as it says in Proverbs:

“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.” (Proverbs 19:8 NIV)

I thank you that although the discipline of studying seems very difficult right now, it will be well worth it as it says in Hebrews:

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 NIV)

I thank you that even though I may feel stress and pressure during exam time, it says in Philippians:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

And finally, I thank you that through the help of the Holy Spirit, I might have the mind of Christ:

“’For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (First Corinthians 2:16 NIV)

Thank you God that as I have spoken to you, you have spoken to me through your words in the Bible. Help me to remember them and depend on them during exams. Thank you for your wisdom, truth and help. Amen.

Prayerideas.org

Good luck and do your best!
I love you, Mom

Struggling Wings

I have not been as faithful to keep this up to date as I would have liked to....this has been such a busy spring.  My little bird has proven herself to have strong wings, for the most part! 

There was one incident that had this momma bird in a tizzy!  At the end of spring break, the norovirus got the best of my college freshman.  She had a very difficult time bouncing back, and it was difficult to be away from her when she seemed so miserable.   I finally felt the wings were struggling a little more than I could stand to hear from a distance so I made the 3 hour trip just to see her face and gauge how she really was doing. I really planned for it to be just a day trip, but  upon arriving, it was clear that we needed some medical intervention.  After two bags of fluids, checking into a hotel room and watching her sleep for 16 consecutive hours and her STILL not looking much better.  I brought the little bird back to the nest.  What a gift it was to have her home for an unplanned 5 days.  It was so wonderful to be able to take care of her and finally see her bounce back.  Thankfully, her fabulous private university really worked with her and she was able to get caught up with all of her school work- this is where we saw her wings in full flight.  She amazes me with her hard work and dedication.

The following weekend was Easter, and she brought two out of state friends home with her.  What a delight to have 3 PRECIOUS college freshman in our home for the weekend.  They were darling and God has been so great to provide her with fabulous friends. 

The weekend after Easter I got to go up again, for her sorority Mom's weekend!  Talk about fun....we had the best time, and getting to meet more of her friends and their mother's just brought so much joy to my heart!  More details on the weekend later!  There are some good stories to tell!

Nearing the end of this year....I am amazed by how fast the time as gone, and that I survived.  My heart has ached as much as it has been full of joy.