Releasing Our Grip

 When I read my devotion for the day in "Jesus Calling" I knew immediately that I wanted to share this with you in light of our"Back to School theme''....

Here it is.....

**Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one - as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father's undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.
When you release loves ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do."**


WOW! Talk about hit you where it hurts. I will admit that I am guilty....oh yes, VERY guilty!!!!

Idolatry?!? I sure never thought of it like that!! Ohhh mercy!!!
Endanger??? Oh no!!!!

I have often found myself consumed with concern over each one of my kiddos and my grandangels. Oh I know it is not OKAY to be worrying (that's why I used the word "concerned" ha!) yet I know I am only fooling myself.

This is an ongoing issue that I am consistently working on and trying to be better at. To release my cares and my loved ones unto Him. He is the ONLY ONE who is capable, He is the Master controller over everything!

Oh Lord I pray you will help me day after day to remember that I am helpless and it is not (and never has been) my job to cling tightly to my precious ones. 
 Oh Lord please help me to release my grip.
Help me to remember that there is nothing I can do that you cannot do.

I entrust my loved ones to you Lord and I promise I will try my best not to be an Indian giver!

XO Love & Blessings!

BACK TO SCHOOL

I thought I would share this in honor of all the kiddos heading back to school.

I was one of those moms that actually did not have to peel my little one off the tree to get her/him to school. They all were pretty excited, it was me who was apprehensive. Especially on their first day of kindergarten, I hated that they were growing up and moving on.

I may or may not have driven by the school to be sure they made it on the bus."

I was definitely the one clinging to them when they moved away.

I think I have shared here before a little bit about my transition into the empty nest.

It was not easy breezy by any means.

 I would probably have kept them in the nest for the rest of their lives!

I have three grown up kiddos.

The first little chick a dee flew the nest in  a hurry. After finishing beauty school and beginning her future in that field she suddenly decided she did not want to miss out on the college experience and would be heading out in a few short weeks! We hustled getting her all pulled together and ready for the big day. We spent the weekend getting her settled in and attended the welcome to college life meetings. One called Issues to Tissues"where a lot of parents were voicing their sorrow of how they were gonna miss their kiddo being at home, their weekly rituals, stuff like that. I cruised through it all, I was having a good time with my girl, getting to explore her new digs, getting her all settled, meeting her new friends....

UNTIL............

It was time to say good bye!!!!!

I nearly fell into a heap in the parking lot.

I had to pull it together and get out of there with some dignity.

I found myself on the 4 1/2 hour drive home sobbing my heart out.

Her life was flashing through my mind....

To say it was an adjustment would be an understatement!

I may or may not have went into her room and cried on a regular basis.

We adjusted.

Life went on.

It was not the same. It never would be again.

 But life was not over

That little chickadee flew back home.

Only for a short while......

THEN......she and her baby sister decided to fly off together.

So, now I was saying good bye to BOTH my girly chick a dees!!!!!

My heart ached.

BUT.......

They were only moving 25 minutes away.

I was still a sad momma bird.

I missed my girls.

I had a hard time adjusting.

 But I did still have one more to keep me busy, my boy.

It wasn't long til I was bidding him good bye as well.

He was leaving on his 18th birthday to become a US Marine!!!

YUP, that was a tough one!!!!!!

Momma bird cannot just pick up a phone and call her baby then!

MANY days/weeks would go by without hearing his voice.

OUR NEST WAS EMPTY.

and truly, so was my heart.

The house was empty...

SO, I took one of the rooms and made it into my very own,

first ever...

craft room!!!!!

I called it my consolation prize!

I learned to adapt.

I crafted a  lot!

I prayed a LOT!!!

 I cried a LOT!!!!

But I am here to say that it was all a part of the growing process and in retrospect I might have cried a few less tears. (maybe)

I have definitely adapted to the empty nest and have to say.......

It's not bad!!!!!!!!!!!

Granted, there are days/times, when I feel the ache of days gone by when it was a family of five hanging out, laughing, playing, living......together!!

I have the added "prizes"now of "grandchildren"and they sure do make life sweeter!

There is still nothing like hearing my kiddos'voices on the other end of the phone or feeling their hugs when we get to see one another.

During all those years they were home in the nest we were creating tender memories, the foundation they are now building their lives upon.

It was vitally important.

It was what made them who they are today.

So, to all you moms out there sending your babies off to school.

I wish you well.

Know that you WILL get through this.

It hurts.

No doubt about it!!!!

One day you will be enjoying the peace and quiet you are craving today.

You will actually miss the sticky kisses and fingerprinted windows.

 (well maybe not the work of cleaning it up, but you know what I mean! ha!!)

Growing up is a process for us as well as for our kiddos.

This is the beginning of a new season, embrace it as best you can.

Send them off with love and prayers and know that no matter how old they are, your job as MOM is never done, it is just ever changing!!!

Love & Blessings!
XO

DoN't bLinK!!!!!!

I do realize it has been forever....geez, how does the time go by so swiftly!?

 Time is the equalizer of all mankind and yet I find myself feeling as if I am particularly short of it most days. I know I am not the only one, nor am I the busiest person ever. In fact I have had much busier times in life, yet....time is escaping me at a rapid rate these days.

 Anyone else feel this way?

Is it just how it is for most people these days?  More than likely it is just another ploy of the enemy, trying to make us feel like we just cannot keep up.
I sure feel like that most of the time!

Back in the day (meaning several years ago when I was a young mom) I read a book "More Hours In My Day" and followed the author Emile Barnes. She had no "great secret" either,  it was just all about managing our time and doing things that will be more effective and purposeful.
I am pretty sure I am utilizing as many time skills as possible, yet it seems to escape me.
Once again....I KNOW I am not the only one!

When I was a mom of "younguns" I felt like the days were so long
. So much to do, so many demands on me, my time, my energies..... YET....I knew then, and it is even more apparent now...the days were fleeting!!! No matter how much I enjoyed my babies and my time with them, they were all gone before I knew it!
Oh how I miss those days of being mom, with all my little chickadees here in my roost.

Ah, but life in an empty nest sure isn't bad at all I have to say.

When I have the chance to tell young moms, I like to tell them...the days are LONG (there is SO much to do, so many demands on you in every direction) BUT the years are fleeting....
so be sure and enjoy every moment while you can!

 It is something you will never get back....EVER!!!!!!!

 'Whatever you do.....don't blink!!!!!

One of the things I like to do while I am not "blinking"is to capture the moment in my heart, like a photograph. I like to close my eyes and take it ALL in..the sights, the sounds, the faces, the memories. I look around and take  a mental photograph that will live on in my heart forever! As the years have gone on I have revisited some of those mental photographs and they are just as precious as those physical phot.ographs

SO, take it from the mom of an empty nest....one who at times aches for the sights and sounds of her precious kiddos being close at hand, little ones who still needed their mommy.

DON'T BLINK!!!!!!!!

XO

A Mother's Day Lesson from Momma Bird

Since we went to church last nite I was able to wake up leisurely and just hang out, a lovely treat indeed!!

I meandered onto the patio and was immediately welcomed by the cool, fresh early morning air (it is getting in the 90's here now).
 The MANY birds that have been hanging around our home lately were busily singing and flitting around. Right away my husband noticed that a little baby bird was making it's first attempt to fly out of a nest that had been built up in the gutters of his shop. He watched it try to set sail, only to drop the 20 feet or so to the ground. Then it began hoping around trying to muster up the strength it would take to get back to the nest. It would flutter up as high as it could, very close to the building, and then it would slide down the side of the building....back to the ground.
 Attempt after attempt.
Hopping, fluttering, flopping.....

Immediately I thought...this poor little birdy needs some help.

 Where is it's momma!?!?!?

 As quickly as I had that thought, I knew the answer.........

Momma bird is purposely NOT helping her precious little baby so it will gain strength, determination, and confidence to do it on it's own.She is probably watching from a spot close by, staying out of sight so her little fledgling will keep on trying.  Each time it flutters it is building the necessary muscles that will enable it to one day soar on it's own.

 Momma is a wise old bird.

I was struck by the correlation of it being Mother's day and me sitting here witnessing this little life lesson being played out before my very eyes.

 I admit, I have struggled with this concept of motherhood, stepping aside and allowing my baby birds to struggle and hop around trying so desperately to succeed. I tend to want to swoop in and pick them up and set them back, safely in the sweet cozy little nest. I like nests, I like cozy and safe and hassle free living! ;)

Although my little birdies have long ago flown our own little cozy, sweet nest, I am still finding I have to step back and watch them struggle and hop around....building strength, confidence, determination, ON THEIR OWN.

Who knew I would STILL be doing this?? Oh, they are fine on their own, this momma just thinks she has to be right there helping and supporting and watching ever so closely to be sure that her baby birds are safe and protected from any vultures that might come upon the weak little birdy as it struggles to find it's wings, lest it be devoured.

Lord knows we have had plenty of experience in this. All three of my kiddos have had to endure some pretty rough patches as adults. Times when they were once again learning the ropes of flight. Gaining new strength and confidence, determined to fly in the face of adversity and the pain that had tossed them from the cozy little nest that was once theirs.

Lessons from an empty nest come just as hard as those when the nest was full and bustling. But now, I must stand further back, I have learned even more how very important it is that I ALLOW them to feel the struggle and the anguish of defeat, in order that they then find the thrill and strength of victory.

The greatest desire for this momma bird is that no matter how many times my precious baby birds fall or get tossed from the nest, that they never forget where their strength comes from. We have but one source of strength within ourselves and that is God Himself. When we ALLOW Him in to rule and reign in our hearts we gain a strength that we would never otherwise have.

To all of you moms out there who are experiencing your little fledglings flutter and hop around learning how to spread their wings to fly....stand back dear ones, allow them the space they need, but be close enough to see if danger is eminent. They need time, they need practice and one day they will be soaring so high and you will feel so proud.

As I continue to watch our own little back yard birdie flutter and hop around I am reminded how very important our role is as momma bird. Knowing when to step back and when to step in. When to allow our little fledglings to struggle and even fall, before stepping in to save the day. A lesson I have to master so I can have the healthiest, strongest. most confident baby birds soaring high overhead!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all you Momma Birds out there!!!

Love & Blessings,
XO

Summertime & Standing Strong!

Last week was one of the best weeks everrrrr!!!

My little family all came home to the "nest" for a little Family Staycation.

We swam, & played & laughed & snuggled & read books & watched old movies & went to the park & colored & danced & played games & took naps (the kids - not the adults so much, that's when we had a chance to visit!)
What fun it was to fill our hearts and our home with so much love, laughter and memories that shall last us forever.
I love how my grandchildren have the sweetest cousin bonds, and how much fun they have and how much they enjoy being at Mimi & Papas!!!
I LOVE BEING MIMI!!!

I also love how much I enjoy being around my adult kiddos! They are so amazing!!!

As a family we have been through plenty of ups and downs in life and this past year and a half has been one of those times that we were tried and stretched and I am so thankful that we have held on to one another with a fierce grip!

The enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy! He is on the prowl at all times. To think you are immune to such attacks is only fooling yourself and leaving yourself vulnerable. Each and every day we must put on our armor and be prepared for the war that wages for our very souls and for our marriages and families.

"The thief does not come except to steal and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
John 10:10

I am so thankful that I have the promise of LIFE and LIFE ABUNDANTLY!!!!!!
God is so good!!!!

My hope for you is that you are enjoying the life that God has intended for you and that you stay ever alert to the tricks of the enemy.

XO

Happy Mother's & UN-Mother's Day

To all of you moms out there who lovingly devote your lives to your children I pray you had a very blessed day designated to

YOU!!!!

Motherhood is a group I have been a proud member of for 32 years now.

It is the role of a lifetime for me.

I do not remember ever wanting to be anything else besides a mom when I was growing up.

While I thank God for the three precious blessings that God entrusted me with here on this earth, I know they are not mine, but they are His.

(I need reminded of this from time to time though, I will admit).

Each one of them are unique and incredible in their own right.

Each one was created wonderfully and beautifully by our awesome God.

Psalm 139 speaks of how God has created us just as He wants us to be,

He has given us specific talents and abilities that are there for His reasons.

I would love to introduce you to each one of my pride and joys and tell you all about Shelly, Sara and James and the fabulous qualities and traits they each possess.

HOWEVER....

I am feeling something else on my heart at the moment
(and............. I did not get permission to exploit them here! LOL!!!)

While I am thankful and feel beyond blessed to be a mom.

I am mindful of so many women who long to be able to be a part of that group

called "Motherhood".

It breaks my heart to see the pain of these barren women.

I KNOW that God has a plan for their lives, I also know that at times that seems so distant and elusive compared to the longing deep within their precious, loving hearts.

I do not know God's ways, nor can I understand why sometimes we cannot have every desire of our heart, especially when it is something we feel so led to.

I can only say that GOD LOVES YOU and

HE SEES EVERY PAIN YOU FEEL.

He knows your heart, because HE created it!!

He DOES have a plan for you!!!

Please be encouraged by God Himself on this day that your heart feels heavier than usual for the longing within you heart.

As I have been writing I have been thinking of the many other types of moms that are struggling with this day.

There are the grieving moms who have lost a child.

The moms who have children but cannot be with them,

for one reason or another.

The mothers whose children have grown up and moved on

leaving them feeling lonely and without a purpose.

There are also those of you whose moms have passed away

and you are missing them desperately today.

There are some of you who feel an emptiness on this day because you have never felt the love of a mother and you long to have that in your life and in your heart.

For all of you I pray healing and wholeness within you, within your heart.

I pray that you know this is but one day in your life,

it is no more valuable than any other day in God's eyes.

He wants you to know and feel His love and JOY,

He wants you to feel His PEACE!!!

Remember...He knows your heart, He created it

and He does have a plan and purpose for your life!

I am praying for ALL of you moms right now......

in the mighty name of Jesus!!!

XO

Tis the Season!!

I sure do not mean to advocate the busyness of the season, yet here I am admitting to the way it has sucked me in and caused me to be so immersed that I have barely had time to breathe, let alone write a blog post!

It all began back in November.
A week prior to Thanksgiving we (@my job) began the flurry of Christmas decorating for our customers. We were consumed with juggling the Christmas decorating with the customers who still needed/wanted things accomplished in their homes. It kept us hopping for sure.
In the midst of this time I was also buried with several projects I was commissioned to create.
On top of it all my son and his girls came "home" for a few weeks!!! What a sweet blessing that was!

In fact this was the first time in a while that we were able to have our entire family together for the holiday of thankfulness!!! The image of all of us standing in a circle holding hands saying a prayer and sharing what each of us is thankful for still resonates in my mind and in my heart. THOSE are the precious memories we live for.

We made lots of sweet memories while the family was here. When our son comes home our oldest daughter does her best to be here with her kiddos as much as possible so the kids can all be together. The busy days always ended with all four of the little ones together in Mimi's big bathtub......then they all snuggled together in our living room ,slumber party style, for the last two or three books/stories and finally nodding off for a good nights rest.
It melts my heart that they are making such sweet bonds and memories.

We are thankful that we get to be together again for Christmas, but it won't be ON Christmas. You see...as many families do, we have to go around many things; work schedules, & which weekend the kiddos are with which parent, plans with the other families, etc.
Soooooo....I decided long ago that whenever we can make it happen, whenever we CAN be together THAT would be Christmas (or whichever holiday it happens to be). So, this year we will actually be celebrating Christmas on New Year's Day!
We can choose to be all sullen and fussy about these kinds of things or we can make the best of the situations, knowing full well that what really matters is being together (at some point in time!)

I am actually still in the throes of helping others create Christmas in their homes in various ways. But soon....very soon....I can focus on what is left for ME to get done! Maybe it is a good thing we are not celebrating til New Years Day!!!

Are you ready for Christmas?
Are you thinking ahead of what you will do to make it memorable?
Are you keeping some traditions going? Making new ones??

I feel that traditions are the things that connect your family, that sweet memories are made of. It is a consistency that reminds you of the season and the meaning behind it.

One of the traditions that we have enjoyed for many years is one of the easiest ones you can adapt right now.
Once the holiday is over and you are taking down all of your cards, photos and newsletters you received......place them all in a basket. Keep the basket close at hand and at each dinner time, pull a card out of the basket...look at it once again, read it, talk about your precious memories with those who sent it. THEN pray for the person/people who sent the card.
I usually leave the card on the table til the next day when we drew a new one.
It is a great way to read the card again (when there is not as much hustle bustle going on). Some times I would feel led to send them a quick note of love and encouragement in the mail, and let them know we had prayed for them.

My prayer for you and your family is a holiday of precious memories, of sweet love that surrounds you. I hope you enjoy whatever and whoever you are blessed to be with.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
XO

Thanking God....

Today is my "baby boys" birthday!
He really is not a baby, obviously...but he will always be my baby.
(this is him and his sisters when he was promoted to Staff Sergeant last year)

Our son arrived this day 26 years ago and was warmly welcomed by his mommy, daddy and two big sisters. I have told him all his life that he "completed our family".
He is an amazing man!!! He has served our country since the day he turned 18 years old as a US Marine.
He is an incredible daddy to two precious angels.
He is an awesome baby brother!
He is a most amazing son!

We don't get to celebrate his birthday much, not because he lives miles away in Arizona (because we are known to jump in our car and drive the 7-8 hours to see him and his precious ones in a heartbeat!), but because he has been "out of the country" in Iraq or Afghanistan or Japan or Okinawa or ...... on many of his birthdays!
But this year he is HOME!
He is celebrating with his angels today and next week he will be here with us and we will be able to celebrate HIM!!!!! I am so thankful for that.....for sharing precious moments with our family.

Today he wrote me the sweetest message....remembering some of the sweet times growing up and the things we did to celebrate each one of our kiddos.

So, in honor of my son.......to those of you young moms (and dads) I thought I would share a few things that we did as traditional birthday fun that created precious memories in the hearts of our children. It is my firm belief that if we take the time and make the effort to do these kinds of things for them, that they will grow up knowing full well their worth, the love we have for them, their value.... Creating a strong foundation upon LOVE.
That is something that they will have for the rest of their lives!!!!!

For each of our kiddos' birthdays (for as long as I can remember) I would sneak to their bedroom doorway the night before their special day and DECORATE IT. I would hang streamers, balloons, signs, whatever. When our son was a big football player in High school I even created a breakthrough banner...like the players run thru at the beginning of the game....he had to "break through" in the morning to get out of his room! He loved it!!!!!
He said he always loved waking up to his doorway being decorated!!!

Then when they came out for breakfast, there on the table would be their baby book for us to peruse during the day and reminisce, usually telling the story of the day they were born. The dining room would be decorated with more streamers and balloons. Of course they would get their favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner! THEIR CHOICE!

It does not take a lot to create these precious memories. It is in the little things...for one day you will realize that they were the big things!!!!

I miss decorating doors and dining rooms for birthdays, but now I am happy to share in the joy as we create new and wonderful memories.
It's a new season.

My point is this: enjoy the season of life you are in!
If you have little ones still at home...do what you can, while you can, to celebrate them and make them feel special and wonderful!!!! Truly they will remember and treasure every precious moment, every effort you make!

Love & Blessings!
XO

I......

I live in an empty nest with the love of my life. There was a time when it was filled with lots of feathers and fluff, but now it is just us. When my little chick-a-dees first started flying from the nest I was sad and disappointed, but now, I embrace this season and the benefits and JOYS it brings to my heart and to my life.

I like weekends! No matter what I am doing, I enjoy them. I like to be home, or to be off doing something fun...either way it's all good!!!

I loathe negativity and yet I struggle with it myself. It is one of those things that has been in my life and I have struggled to keep at bay for as long as I can remember.

I listen to Christian music every day! It feeds my soul!!

I laugh at the antics of my fun family!!! They make my heart smile BIG!

I lack the ability to lose weight and keep it off! This has been my struggle forEVER!!! I hate it, I hate that I even just mentioned it....like if I don't it might just go away!

I learn more & more about God and His plan and purpose for my life every single day. There are lessons in every circumstance and every day we live!

I love the Lord with all my heart and soul. He is everything to me. Without Him I can do nothing and would be nothing.

Hope you all had a fantabulous weekend, whatever you did!
Enjoy the week ahead and MAKE IT GREAT!!!!
Love & Blessings!

Family Photo Time.....

This pretty much sums up our family!!!
We have so many WONDERFUL photos to choose from, but this one is so priceless and so "US". I have no idea what my son is saying/doing....but we obviously think it is pretty funny! :)




Last week was
FAMILY*FRIENDS & FUN TIME!

Since our son had just arrived home from Afghanistan we decided we would do a little "staycation", a time where everyone could gather at home, play, swim, hang out, visit, catch up, watch old home movies.....
We also took several day trips ending with a day in Disneyland where we had to say our good-byes. James' little angels were so sad, they did not want to say good-bye to us! Melted my heart!! (I, of course, did not want to say good bye either!) As we were driving off it occurred to me, ahhhhh this time it is NOT for several MONTHS! :)

I am so thankful for my family, for the relationships we all share. We are like all families, we have had our share of troubled times and rough patches along life's highway....but always we are each other's safe place, the ones we can talk to, lean on, depend on. We care deeply for one another and we LOVE having time TOGETHER!!!!

My three kiddos have brought SEVEN little angels into my heart and life. I cannot imagine life without these precious ones! They are amazing...precious and beautiful inside and out.

On our way home last nite (can you even believe that we were stuck in major gridlock at 11pm-2:30 am)!?!?!? Jim and I were talking about our blessings and how we LOVE this grandparenting gig! When our kiddos were little we were busy providing for them, disciplining them, learning about life and figuring things out. But NOW, we are in a whole different season where we KNOW that the time will be short (they will grow up way too fast), that we can ENJOY them (I love telling them that they have to ask the parents! snicker, snicker...). I have also realized that our influence is valuable and unique....no one else has this place of influence that we do....I take that very seriously. I want to show them how loved and treasured they are, and when need be I want to be able to offer advice or HELP to the parents cos I know what a tough job it is to raise children.

Tomorrow is back to work, back to the grind of every day life. But I feel refreshed and restored and I have many precious memories alive in my heart that I share with some of the most amzing people on this planet!!!!

Love & Blessings to you and yours!

The Empty Nest

I thought I would share something I recently wrote to my cousin, one of my dearest life long friends. She and I are only a couple of months apart in age and we have shared life all these years...to this day we have the sweetest, most treasured friendship...truly a sweet blessing!

Last Friday her sweet daughter got married, the second of her three children. As I was writing a card to her the words began to flow from my pen. Having experienced the complete emptying of the nest, I felt I had some thoughts to share with her.


"Your sweet, cozy nest is emptying out...one little chick-a-dee at a time they are flying off into this great big world. Building nests of their own, one stick, one feather at a time.

It is going to take some time to create a nest as cozy as the one they left.
In fact their nest will never be just like the one they spent their lives being nurtured in.
Theirs will be a reflection of who they are, who they have become. They are building their nest with their own unique materials; those things that appeal to them and their little love bird. Those things that are readily accessible to them.

It is a process, it is going to take the little love birds some time to create a nest that will one day hold and nurture their own little baby chicks.

It was time for your baby birdy to get up and leave the coziness she had grown up with, that she was accustomed to. Her wings were itching to be stretched, when she stood up she was bumping into Mama and Papa Bird.
Tis the cycle of life.....

Sometimes painful and emotional; but all part of the plan God created when He made us.
He has a plan - He is Almighty, Omnipotent and Sovereign in all His ways.

So, Mama bird...Nurturer of souls, lover of your baby birds, the one who has labored faithfully to build your nest - the one your precious chick-a-dee's enjoyed and appreciated...
Know that you have done what God created you to do, and you have done it well. you have given your grown-up chicks all that they need...a strong foundation, in which to build the rest of their life upon.

You are amazing....the emptying nest is your newest adventure in life, your newest season....ENJOY IT!!!!!