Greetings to my dearest friends and family…

As many of you remember back in 2002 I participated in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk.

 It was a three day-60 mile life-changing  journey.

I have wanted to do this again for many years, but because of my chronic health condition I have at times been unable to walk around the block let alone 1 mile or 60!

 But, PRAISE GOD….He has brought restoration to my body and I now feel like I can do it!!!

I have signed up for the 2 day – 39 mile walk in San Francisco in September 2013.

 I am so excited to help bring awareness to this dreaded disease that has struck close to home far too many times. 

I am making a plea to you for your help in reaching my requirement of raising $1800.

I have a couple of fundraisers in the works…..

The first one is a QUILT RAFFLE.

 My dear friend Mary Bowen created a gorgeous pink quilt for me to raffle off.

 For every $5 in donations I receive I will put your name into the raffle.

 

The other endeavor is a YARD SALE on Saturday May 4^th at my house.

 I would appreciate any donations for this, which I hope to be my biggest boost in raising funds.  During that yard sale I will take the last donations for the Quilt raffle and then at noon we will draw the winners  name.

When I did the walk in 2002  I was able to raise MORE than I was required to and it was because of all of you who gave so generously. I am depending on that same love and support this time around. I could not have done it without you then and I cannot do it without you now!

Thank you for believing in me!!!

Sherry

 

 

www.avonwalk.org/sherrycoggins

I am not certain why but this is no longer a direct link (so when you go there just select participant and then type in my name and it will take you to my page)

Happy 2013!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL........

As I was thinking about today, New Years EVE, I was realizing how this day is just like my favorite part of a DAY.
Dusk is my favorite part of a day. New Years Eve is just like DUSK!
 It is the end of the year when things are calm and there is a sense of pause in the air.

I love pausing and reflecting at the end of a year. Pausing to reflect and remember the blessings of the year and the anticipation of the year ahead of us. For as long as I can remember I have taken time to sit down and go over the past years calendar, making note of the things I have done and the things that have transpired, lessons learned, memories made. There are always things that make me wish I could have a do-over and things that I wish I could live over. Things I wish I did not have to go through (but seeking the lessons learned)
 In it ALL I know God is in control and it is HIM that I seek to please and honor.

My hope and prayer for 2013 is health, peace, LOVE, happiness and GROWTH. I want to grow in His love and mature in my walk with HIM!

I happen to be one of those who choose a word of the year. I have only just began pondering my word and so far the one that is sticking is GrOw!!! I have always loved the play on the word....to GrOw/GO forward in my walk with the Lord...to be all and do all for HIM!!!!
I have some ideas about the new year ahead....I am still consulting HIM about them....IF they are of HIM then I shall be seeing some astounding and profound growth in this new year ahead.

What about YOU?
Are you refelcting over the past year and it's events and lessons learned?
Are you ready and excited to embark upon a new year filled with promise and potential?

What are you hoping for, planning for?
Are you consulting HIM?

Are you choosing a "word of the year?"

I would love to hear all about it, all about YOUR New Year process.

Love & Blessings to you for the new year ahead!!
XO

Happy Veteran's Day!

 

My son, the US MARINE has served our country for 10 years now.
He has raced up the ranks and is a Staff Sergeant.
YES we are ever so proud!!!!

(this photo is of he and his sisters the day they "pinned him"Staff Seargant)

He is a humble young man and thinks he has done nothing. YET, he has been a part of the war in the middle east since the day he enlisted. He and his sweet little family are apart more that they are together due to the many deployments and trainings he is required to go to.

BUT if you ask him...He says he has done nothing.
 He is not a "hero".

In fact this morning when I texted him to wish him a Hppy Veterans Dy he was quick to tell me that the TRUE heros are those who have done so much more.

Yet, I know for a fact that he has seen more and done more than he will ever admit to.
 Such is the life of a humble servant, a veteran!

This boy, this MAN, this US Marine is MY hero!
 He has served and sacrificed in ways that many of us will never comprehend. He has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, he has flown across the world to be at his cousins, a fellow Marines, funeral. to represent his family and his country at a time when our hearts were breaking. He has been faithful, honorable, integral, a leader, an outstanding Marine even in the toughest of times. He has missed more holidays and special days than he will ever admit to. I cannot remember the last time his birthday was a time of being together. (He says it is just another day.)

This 28 year old Marine is a fine young man, and he is one of many. Many who currently serve our country. There are MANY who have gone before him and many that will follow behind.

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have given so much.

To "MY HERO"I say.........THANK YOU SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless you for ALL you have done and all that you ARE!!!!
Your momma loves you!!!!

XO

LISTENING & LEARNING

Uhmmmm... I guess I forgot I have a blog!!!

Not sure how that happens but life just seems to move so swiftly that it causes me to forget to come here and write a little something now and then.

So much has been going on, life has been a happy, busy blur.

During this time I have been coming to some realizations and pondering some ideas that have been dropped into my mind by God Himself. It seems that the more we listen, the more we will actually hear! Ha! Go figure! But no, really...I found myself on the mountain where we used to live, taking walks and enjoying the blazing beauty of autumn. I  was able to perch myself on the mountain top with a fabulous view to feast my eyes on while it fed my soul. Being in nature seems to have that effect on me.

For years when we lived ön the mountain"I would take my daily 4 mile walks and be able to chat with God in a very uninterrupted, serene way. There weren't many people around, just me and the trail and the glorious scene around me. Being there brought back so many memories of the many times I walked that path and how many tears I have cried, prayers I have prayed, the many miles I put in.

While we lived there we endured many of life's trials and tribulations (that happens over the span of 14 years!) At one point in particular I was going through a very difficult time and my walks became my escape. I would just walk and walk and walk, talking to God the entire time. It was so therapeutic, so healing. After months of that kind of walking I decided I wanted to trek to the TOP of the mountain and back. From my front door that was an 18 mile walk, straight up and back down.

So I did.
On my 39th birthday I had an amazing physical/spiritual journey.
The events of that day have been ingrained on my heart and are the very lessons that have spurred me on to writing a book (which is still in the works). God did a mighty work in me that day, He delivered me from my childhood issues and brought me into the light of adulthood without the baggage I had been carrying all those years. It was as if I was carrying along a back pack filled with big, heavy rocks, each one representing an ïssue". The process dumping of those childhood issues brought back the very words God had spoken to my heart many years prior.

YOU WILL NEVER BE AN EFFECTIVE ADULT UNTIL YOU QUIT BEING A DEFECTIVE CHILD

Until we are able to release the wounds of our past, those things that have clouded our vision, tainted our view and rendered us ineffective must be ditched for good, allowing us to live in a new found freedom and effectiveness.

I plan to get back to my writing and maybe one day I will complete that book. It burns in my heart to share that which I learned because I want everyone to live in the freedom that God offers us and desires us to have. He wants us to let go of the past, of the things that hinder our effectiveness and holds us back from being who He created us to be.

In the meantime, let me encourage you to go outside and enjoy the brilliant changing of seasons. While you are breathing in the fresh, crisp air, be mindful of the way God is working in your heart and LISTEN to what He might be wanting to say to you!

In order to hear Him, you have to tune out the noise of the world and actually listen with a quiet and open heart.

I think I am going to do the next best thing tomorrow and go for a walk at the local park and let my mind and heart be filled with HIM.

XO Love & Blessings to you!

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

You are a TREASURE!!!!

You matter more than you will ever know.

God loves you more than you will ever realize.

If you can know anything today, those two things would be plenty!!

Have you really stopped to think about how valuable you are?

Do you know that God made you JUST AS YOU ARE,

with all the specific and unique talents, traits, abilities, gifts, personality.

He had a plan and a purpose for you so He created you for just that.

If you have never read it....Psalm 139 will spell it out for you.

"For you have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb.

 I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

 Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well."

YOU ARE A TREASURE!!!!

There really aren't too many days that we feel like a treasure, or maybe not special at all. BUT if you stop and think about it, think about the fact that HE created you just as you are AND then He GAVE His one and ONLY son to die so you might live....

then, you might begin to grasp it.

Right now, I hope you can pause and just soak in the love of God,

 to FEEL treasured and cherished.

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;

 yet perhaps for a good man someone woud even dare to die.

 But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were still sinner,

 Christ died for us."

Romans 5:6-8

You are special

You are wonderfully unique

You are beautiful, just as God created you

You are loved

You are treasured!!!!

XO

Love & Blessings!

Sherry