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

Encouragement

We all need it.
It comes in many forms.

Some days it is the very thing that gets us from the couch to upright again.

Some days we feel as if everyone has nothing but negative to say,
then we hear that positive voice
and we begin to see the first glimpse of light
shining into the darkness of our soul.

Without encouragement we feel dead, dry, lifeless.
Like a plant that has been ignored, un-watered, without sunshine,
without loving care.

Then we begin to receive a little love,
some light from those people who allow their lights to shine.
A smile from a stranger.
A hug from a friend.
A note of encouragement.
A text message from someone who just wanted to tell you they love you.

I wonder.........what are YOU doing today to be that ray of sunshine?
What are you doing to bring some other soul a glimpse of hope?

Today may be your day of giving
for one day you will certainly need to be receiving.
Such is the cycle of life.

Go today
Smile
Laugh
Love
ENCOURAGE!!!!!!!!

Our Natural Resources

Time-Energy-Money
Our natural resources in life.

These are the things that we are constantly seeking.
There never seems to be enough of any of them.

If you are like me when you were younger you never thought that ENERGY would be one of them.
I mean, I would wake up with plenty of energy and I could go and do all day long...no problem. Get a good nites sleep (and that was not always a "long" nites sleep since I am a night owl) and wake up feeling ready to face the new day.

As for TIME well, there was plenty of that too, or so it seemed for the most part.
It seemed as if we had all of life to do the things we wanted to do. But as we all know, those days draw in closer and closer the older we get.

Then there is MONEY. Although I have never been in a place where I did not have to be careful, watch my money, budget, etc. I am thankful we have always had what we needed. There were tough times, but God always provided.

Here's the thing.....

With money you work hard and at the end of the pay period you get paid and you are "replenished".

With energy you get a good nites sleep and you are restored....ready to begin again.

With time you get a new 24 hours each and every day...no one has more than another, this is one place we are all equal.

Once I found myself living with a chronic condition that depleted my energy I began to see that , unfortunately, the resource of ENERGY does not necessarily replenish itself with those good nites sleep.
Also as life goes on we find that pay day does not always do the trick in replenishing our money because we have debt. When those pay days come along we do not get 100% of it to "replenish" our pocket books any longer.
As for time.......well, no matter that technology is super duper fabulous we are still finding ourselves with less and less time. In fact it may be BECAUSE we have such super duper technology that we ARE so busy and our time seems to disappear at a rapid rate.

Why am I bringing this subject up???
Because I have come to the conclusion that the time has come that we CHOOSE how to spend OUR time, money, energy....all our resources. Which also includes our God given talents and abilities....for the very things GOD put us on this earth to do.

He did not make us all the same, we are all needed for different reasons/purposes.


What happens to most of us is we spend our lives doing what we are asked to do, what is demanded of us and never get to the things we want/need/desire. It is a huge waste of God's resources! He put those abilities and talents in us when He created us...they are there for good reason.

I recently read a quote that says it well..........

"Success depends on getting good at saying no without feeling guilty. You cannot get ahead with your own goals if you are always saying yes to someone else's projects. You can only get ahead with your desired lifestyle if you are focused on the things that will produce the lifestyle."

This is not to be mistaken for responsiblity! If you have a family to tend to, that is what you have already CHOSEN. Your responsibilities shall always come FIRST!

It's time to BE who GOD created YOU to BE and DO what HE has created YOU to DO!!!!!
SO....let me challenge you to go out and use your resources wisely. We all know you only have so much of each to go around......spend them well! Make HIM proud!!!!

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

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Don't you just love it when several things come together to reveal to you a message!?

Over this past weekend while I was visiting my son and his precious little girls I was teaching them the Sunday school song "This little light of Mine".

Do you know it?

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,

this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,

let it shine, let it shine, let it shine"

Then the little ditty seemed to stick in my head and I found myself humming it to myself on my seven hour drive home.

THEN....Once I came home it was time for Soul Restoration class.

What an amazing thing to discover Melody was talking about

how our lights shine and make a huge difference in the world.

How even one light can make a difference in the darkness.

About how amazing it is that we can light another's light

without taking anything from our own.

I was touched by the message,

the video and the very thought of how

each one of us women in the world

are a light

and when we allow ourselves to shine before men

we make an amazing difference in the world we are a part of.

Okay...THEN........

I opened up my art journal to do some of the art part of the lesson (a few days later)

and found that I had written something in there a couple of weeks prior.

"Dear Brave Girl, Don't ever doubt your strength, the power within. It is God IN you. With HIM all things are possible and He wants to shine through you!!!"

Apparently God is sending me (and others) an important message..........

and I wanted to share it with you!

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

I believe God wants you to know too that

YOU ARE A LIGHT!!!!!!!!

That He made you wonderfully, perfectly and that you

have a specific light that you are to SHINE!!!!

What is it that God put in your heart?

He put it there for a reason...for a purpose.

It is up to you, a responsibility,

to use it and to be a LIGHT for others to see.

It is our light that will lead others to HIM!

So, my question to you is this...

Are you letting your light shine?

I have to tell you something..........

I have found myself with my own light buried so deep

that no one could ever see it if they wanted to!

No one would even know it was there,

because it was buried under the mess of life.

I would allow the issues and overwhelm of life to darken the light.

Are you doing the same???

Let me encourage you to release the junk of life

to the only one capable...GOD Himself.

To trust HIM with your troubles and trials

and in the process your light shall SHINE

I hope the little ditty is ringing in your heart now

and you will go around singing the song to yourself as a reminder to

LET YOUR LITTLE LIGHT SHINE!!!!!

Lots of love and blessings to you!
XO

Restoring My Soul

So far 2011 has been a wonderful time of GrOwing forward in hopes of becoming a better ME!

I am in the midst of some SOUL RESTORATION at Brave Girls
WOW, it is amazing!!

We all get caught up in life and the demands it makes on us and we get a little LOST in the shuffle. We lose a part of us that yearns to be heard, to be known. It is vitally important that we restore that part of our soul because God put us here on this earth, each one of us, for reasons HE has in mind.
It is up to YOU to be who He created you to be so that you are doing YOUR part in making this world a better place. There never will be another one just like you. It is up to you to be and do all that you can while you are here on earth.

I talked last time about a lot of RE words and this time I am talking about GrOwing
(I write it like that because to me it means I am GOing forward and GROWing along the way...).

If you put the two together you have REGROW..........hmmmmmmmmmmmm...........

Sounds like a pretty good plan of action to me!!!

So, here's to REGROWING in 2011. I pray that you will re-grow all the things in your life that have gone dormant and been crushed and trampled.
We have so much to look forward to, so much to do while we can.

With much love and blessings....
Sherry

RE...............

I have finally had time to sit and read and write and think and ponder and pray and look forward to the NEW YEAR with faith and hope and anticipation.

I love this time of the year for this very reason!!!

I am one of those who loves to set aside time to come up with a plan for a new start, a fresh beginning, a RE-grouping of sorts.

I do not believe that New Year's Eve/Day and thereabouts has any magical power....I just believe it is a great reminder to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN...to the world and our life around us. To REflect over the past year, the blunders, the absurdities, the blessings, and everything in-between. To RE-evaluate that which you stand for, the traps you have fallen into and all that you have forgotten to REmember!

It is a fabulous time to RE-focus.

In doing so I literally list the areas of my life that I believe need to be fine tuned (actually I list them all and RE-evaluate each one of them). I try to REmember the things I felt over the year, good and bad, making sense of each one of the feelings and the REsults they had in my life.

I REport to GOD and together we REorganize what needs more attention, what needs to be REleased and how I need to go about all of this!

Some of it does not come without a heavy price.

This year I had to come to a few decisions that will affect me both good and bad, but it was time. One of those was to choose to REduce the amount of time I work so I can REgain my health. It will be a financial sacrifice but it will also hold great REwards in the end I am certain.

So I am sort of REorganizing my life.

It is also time to REnew my commitments, REflecting on what those are and how they need to be REpurposed to serve me better in 2011.

I do not feel as if I am REinventing myself so much as I am simply REcovering that which was already there, which leads to a REnewing of my BODY, MIND and SPIRIT.
It was time I REspect myself enough to REplenish that which has gotten lost in the shuffle of life.

As I look at all the lists, the REsolutions, I have ultimately made...I am feeling REjuvinated to REpurpose my time and my energies...it is a REcipe for the new year.

It is my tendancy to fret and worry and be consumed.....instead I am going to REjoice in the fact that GOD has it ALL under control. (I may need REminded of this from time to time!) he he!!!

So, a little late I know but HAPPY NEW YEAR dear ones!!!
May you find the RE's in your life and come alive and thrive in 2011!!!!!

XO
Love & Blessings!

Missin' Mom

Today would have been my mom's birthday........

Mom has been gone for just about 14 years now.
When mom died we were left without parents (dad had died nine years earlier).
It was a very strange feeling to become an "orphan" at the age of 39.
I remember how terribly difficult it was to digest, the fact that there was no more parent in my life. No one left who knows everything about me, who was there for every moment of my life, the ones who raised me and saw me through the ups and downs of life.
Unfortunately we also lost our sister two years after dad (she was only 29 years old).
So, half of our family is already in heaven!

Days like today are a little melancholy. It is difficult not to feel the effects of a life so changed.
B U T . . . . . .
I am thankful for the promises God has for us, for the life He has so graciously given me.
Today I was blessed to share life with my love and our son and his two precious angels.
It helps.
But just like the band aid on the "owie" it still stings and hurts, it will heal and feel better with each passing day.
But today is just one of those "owie days".

How about you? Have you had your fair share of those "owie days" lately? Have you felt "orphaned" and alone in this life? It is easy to feel like this, sometimes we have an abundance of people around us and we still feel lonely and sad.........

I hope that if you have those feelings you will go to the source of HOPE and HELP and COMFORT. God is the one and only one who knows and understands completely.
He is our parent when we have no other parents.
He is our lifeline, our strong shoulder to lean on......

I have taken a few moments to say a prayer, asking God to remind me of HIS love for me, to fill me with enough love to share with all the ones I love. I am releasing my pain and gathering His comfort.
Now I will be grateful for that which I have right here and right now and go snuggle with my precious grand-angels and be thankful for the JOYS He has given me to lighten my load and brighten my days!!!

I pray you are feeling God's love and peace and comfort.........
Today and every day!!!!!

Sweet love and blessings to each one of you!
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

God's Awesome Creation

There is just something about being in nature, in the prime of God's great creation that makes me feel so close to Him, so blessed and so grateful!!

I went to a Women's Retreat with my life long friend (my sweet cousin) at Mt Hermon. It was such a blissful weekend. I had never been there before and now I want to be sure and go there again some time soon!

The conference center is situated amidst the redwoods, and beautiful trees that are sportin' their fabulous fall colors. There was a creek running through whose sound was soothing to the soul.

We ventured out on a few walks around the area and just took in the serenity and brilliance that surrounded us. There was a different view from each spot we were in.

I am so thankful for the many different "scenes" God has created. From the mountains with the towering trees, to the ocean and it's refreshing breezes. They are all fabulous to me. Each one a reminder of God's brilliance, His power and majesty. He created every bit of it and every scene is a gift for us, all we have to do is open our eyes to see it.

We spent many years living in the "desert" where there is not much beauty to behold, besides oil pumping units, sand, and tumbleweeds. We lived in an area where I could venture out on my daily walks on a back road. It was an uphill walk towards a cluster of pumping units. There was really not much to behold, just lots of empty land, besides the random tumbleweeds. I remember one day when I got home my husband had asked me how my walk went and I said......"Oh the view was beautiful today!" He looked at me with a puzzled expression and said "what view?" To which I explained that when I reached the summit the view was awesome, with the sun setting...the colors were glorious, it was just gorgeous. His reply was "Only you would say THAT was a beautiful view!!".

I have come to learn that it is all in how we CHOOSE to SEE! There is always a view to behold, a scene unfolding before us, whether it is bright and brilliant or a little ordinary and simple. If we are looking for the best we will find it.

I pray that you will SEE with new eyes today, whatever YOUR view is, I hope you find the beauty in it. Take a minute and look for it.

I would love to hear about YOUR view!

Love & Blessings!

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

Feeling Upside Down??

Isn't he adorable!?

This is my youngest grandangel, one of the sweet JOYS of my life!

I just love this picture cos it just seems to be fitting of me these days...upside down, but smiling anyway! :)

There is always something to smile about..something to THANK GOD for!

In Max Lucado's message tonite at the "Change The World Tour" he made a very good point (of course he did he IS Max Lucado!!!)

He said: "many of you are going through difficult times and feeling overwhelmed by it all. I can not promise you that your situation is going to change and be better..but I CAN promise you that GOD IS WITH YOU and HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU! He has your back!!!!! He will never leave you nor forsake you."

It is so true!!!!

When nothing else seems to make sense, nothing seems to be going right, you just have to keep the faith, keep moving forward, keep on keeping on.

I am learning that is not always easy, some things are so much easier said than done!

BUT it IS the right thing, the thing that God would have me do....and YOU DO!

If you find yourself struggling to stay upright some days, to keep the emotions at bay, to fight the negative thoughts, to keep a good attitude......FIX YOUR EYES UPON JESUS!!!!!

Max went on to explain that the bigger you make GOD, the smaller your problems will become.

Keep Him in focus, keep your eyes upon HIM.

SO...If you find yourself feeling "upside down" and "beside yourself"....

KEEP FOCUSING ON JESUS!!!

Make him bigger and your problems smaller and smaller.... and SMILE!!!!!

XO

Love & Blessings!

Family FUN!

I love AUTUMN!!

I love the fall colors, the cooler weather (although today was in the 90's here in sunny California!)

I love the sights of pumpkins and fall leaves and ....

all the fun things about it!

Sooo what fun I had this evening when we joined our oldest daughter and her family doing something I have never done before.....going through a corn maze.

We had a blast!

We laughed, we trekked along, we chased the little guy who kept trying to find his own way in the maze.

It was so much fun!

After we made our way through the maze and everyone was plenty dirty and tired of the game of it, we ventured on over to the pumpkin patch.

My silly little 1 1/2 year old grandson, Alyxander (we call him Xander) thought he was in heaven....he thought it was a field of orange balls and he loves balls!!!

He found one perfect little pumpkin, picked it up and proceeded to throw it! He thought it was pretty funny and repeated the game over and over........he had us all laughing so hard.

Family fun is the best diversion, the greatest way to really realize and remember what life is all about! Tonite I am thanking GOD for His amazing blessings in my life and for the fun diversion of a little corn maze and a pumpkin patch!

I hope you are enjoying FALL wherever you live.

Tell me what YOUR favorite thing about autumn is........

XO

The Clouds Are Parting....

The fabulous sights of God's creation never cease to amaze and thrill me!

I saw this sight on my way home from a long day of work recently....I could not pass it up.

I had my camera with me so I pulled over, jumped out of my car and snapped several pics.

I am sure the people who were passing by me at

lightning-gotta-get-home-speed were thinking I was nuts,

but I knew better.

The very act of me stopping to take in this scene was a HUGE part of the progress I am making.

For a while I was so submersed in the deep dark hole that I could not see ANYTHING.

That happens sometimes.
It is not fun, nor is it anything I am proud to admit.

It seems to come with the territory of LIFE

and life with a chronic illness that takes a HUGE toll on the 'ole AGING body!

I don't talk about it much, I actually prefer to act like it is not even there.
(the fact that I have been struggling with a condition called Fibromyalgia for 7 years now)
Which has been part of my problem.
If you act like something is not there it does not magically disappear!
Go figure!

Some times the pain and agony in my body is so intense that it takes a terrible toll on the rest of me, my emotions, my mind, my attitude.

Yea, my attitude was starting to get pretty bad....
that is probably why God had me in a little "time-out".
Can't say I blame Him!

Every year around my birthday time I make it a point to STOP
and ponder, pray, seek GOD, re-evaluate my life and the things that are filling it up.....
However, this was not the "feel good, catch a break, get-away" kind of fun reflection I prefer!

I gleaned several lessons during this little time out,
most of which I am still digesting.
I can tell you though,
that if you are seeking GOD amidst all your troubles and trials,
He will be there. He will NEVER fail you.

People, on the other hand, might consistently disappoint....
that is when we must remember that
we are all just human beings striving to do our personal best
while we are here on this earth.
In the end what really, truly matters is doing God's work.
Being and doing the things He has for us, and us alone.

There are several talents and gifts we each possess that come packaged uniquely in us.
That leaves us each with a huge responsibility
to do everything we can to use them to the fullest for HIS glory.

I hesitate to post this.....I hesitate to be this REAL..
but you know what,
this is life.
This is what real life is like.
I know I am not the only one who struggles, who finds themselves
stumbling and falling down under the pressures of life.
I know I am not the only one to struggle with health issues that take a
tremendous toll not only on ones body but also the mind and emotions.

You know that saying....
Remember that the person you pass by today is fighting a harder battle than you.

I have only shared this with a few people but this leads me to the perfect illustration;

The day my mother died, back in January of 1997.
I had been in ICU with her, I witnessed her take her last breath
and then lie perfectly still, never to breath again.
I was with her as her spirit left her body.
As I walked out the door into the hallway just moments later...
there was a complete stranger who was in an all out, gotta-get-there mode
who was going so quickly that he/she
(I do not even remember!)
brushed my shoulder and nearly knocked me over.
Probably because I was already feeling very unstable.
That person had no idea that my mom just died!
I even remember thinking that.........
They don't know what I just experienced.

I wonder how many times we brush past someone who is facing one of their bleakest moments?
How many times we can brighten someones day by a simple smile?
How many times we have been thoughtless and inconsiderate,
never thinking about what that person is dealing with.

I do my best to remember this lesson, and to treat others gently and kindly.
We all deserve to be treated kindly.

Let me tell you.....whatever you are facing today GOD is bigger than it.
No matter how buried you feel, how submersed you feel,
how hard it is to even stay upright....
GOD IS WITH YOU!
HE LOVES YOU!!!!!!

Hold on tight & BREATHE!!!!

If you see a breathtaking sight.......
STOP, take it in and know that God is sending you a message of LOVE.
It is like a little postcard mailed directly to YOU!!!

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!

This Weekend I....

* Went to a Bridal Shower for one of my sweet nephews' fiance's. Congratulations Lacey & Christopher!!!It was sooooo fun to be around family!!!

* Went to dinner with my sweet husband and while we were waiting saw some of the sweet young'ins that grew up with my kiddos....they are no longer "youngins" of course! It was sooo good to see them and to have a quick, sweet chat!

* Did laundry, changed sheets, weeded the flower garden....

(not a big housework weekend! ;)

* Spent too long at Michaels looking for a product that apparently they no longer stock...something I NEED for a project I am making that needs to be done NEXT WEEKEND!

uh oh!!!!

* Went to Home Depot for parts for the sprinker system that was punctured by the jumper/water slide we had for our big party!

* Went grocery shopping.

* Sat out at the pool, under the shade of a palm tree, with a warm breeze blowing, holding a sleeping baby, while watching the other little guy show me tricks he could do in the "CA CUZZI!" ;) ...now that is the life!!!!

* Had a another major fibro attack (or whatever is going on in my body these days!)....could barely walk!!! ugh!!!

* Read and studied two chapters for my Bible Study...Battlefield of the Mind.

* Swam a few laps.

* Watched American Graffitti with my sweet, car lovin' husband!

* Got my old lap top back, restored by my cousins SWEET husband!!!! Thank you Sam!!!!!

* Started a special project for a special bride-to-be (the one that I always thought was gonna be my daughter-in-law!) he he!!!

I am so thankful for weekends, for time to re-group and do the things I never have time for all week long.

I have been struggling with my health lately so it has been harder than usual. I feel so out of sorts. I also injured myself in a fall about 2 months ago and my toe still has not healed....I guess I need to go get it X-rayed. Life is full of up's and down's....I try my best to stay strong and positive no matter what stage of the game I am in. It is not always easy, nor am I always successful.....but I have learned that the key is to keep on believing. Believe that GOD IS IN CONTROL.....He knows all, sees all.....IS ALL!!!

I pray that if you are feeling overwhelmed, distraught, overcome, frustrated, depressed, that you will seek GOD and HIS help. Immerse yourself in the Word of God. That is the greatest tool we have. It is a sharp, two edged sword, but it does no good in it's sheath. You must use it. Write the Word on your heart, recite it often, the devil HAS to flee when the name of Jesus is uttered!

Some times all that can come out of my mouth is simply "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus"....and that is enough!!!!!

So, here's to a great week. The first week of AUGUST, can you believe that???

I pray you enjoy every precious moment, that you will find time for all the things that matter most to you!

Remember....our lives are the sum of the choices we make!!!!

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!

This Weekend I.....

* Got up at 3am drove down to Camp Pendleton where we experienced the most amazing 4th of July EVER! It began with "colors" (as they raise the flag everyone stops to show respect)...soon a big white bus came around the corner filled with dearly missed US Marines!!! Welcome homes surrounded us and we welcomed our own Son home from Afghanistan!!!!!!

* Witnessed the "meeting face to face" of my son and his sweetheart....priceless!

* Met two precious angels that I have a feeling will be a BIG part of our hearts and lives.

* Spent the entire day with our daughter and her two boys, who never cease to amaze us and fill our hearts!

* Laughed and smiled with the people I love.

* Enjoyed nice long chats and a little nap on the long drive home from San Diego.

* Watched fireworks going off all over our neighborhood...thanks neighbors for allowing this tired couple a free show! :)

* Worked on a couple of my "journals" that I need to finish asap!
(journals that I have been commissioned to make)

* Took my husband to one of my favorite little eateries that he had never been to.

* Discovered that my pharmacy would be closed from Friday thru Tuesday which sent me into a medication withdrawal that has NOT been fun!!!

* My awesome husband installed "misters" on our patio, while I finished painting my crazy coffee table. I should post photos...too bad I did not take "before shots" tho. It WAS an old, FREE, hunter green painted coffee table with a lovely little golf set painted on the top surface. It is NOW a fun reddish, antiqued, table with a leopard painted top. FUN!

* Swam around the pool staring into the brown eyes of my one year old grandson as he chilled on the raft.


All in all I have to say...........this was one of the most memorable weekends in my life! The most memorable way I am sure I will ever spend a 4th of July!!!
I have enjoyed the days OFF....we all need to catch a break and ENJOY our lives. (a lesson I am working on, or is God working on me on, or ??? well, whatever it is...it is definitely happening!)

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!!!!!