DEAR MOTHER IN LAW
DEAR DAUGHTER IN LAW.... There once was a little boy that captured my heart. From the very first moment he was placed in my arms and his big blue eyes stared up into mine. I held him there. So close. He had this heart that was full of compassion. Always thinking of me. He would bring me flowers and write me love notes. I was the world to him. He would promise never to marry or move away. And I held him there. So close. As he grew, his compassion never waned. Sweet notes and cards. Thoughtfulness. He shared his dreams with me. His funny moments and his happiness. Maybe, he mused, he would marry.... but live right next door. He would never move....too far away. And I tried to hold him there. So close. But then one day he was asking for advice. His compassion and thoughtfulness shifted. Advice on what to write... to her. Again I tried to hold him there. So close. As he talked, I stared into the eyes of my little boy. My baby, now a man. He would marry her. He would live anywhere in the world if he could be with her, because she was his world. And I was not. I could no longer hold him there, so close. I had to let go. She changed everything. She was his everything. His happiness. His life. She brought him joy just by being herself. And she brought me joy because she was herself. She wrote me notes filled with love. She shared their dreams with me, their days, their hopes, their heartaches and their happiness. She shared their laughter with me. She sent me pictures he didn’t know she took. She told me each time he spoke loving thoughts of home and mom. Each time.💗💗 She shared him. And she allowed me to hold him close again. So close. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remember the heart that held his first. That heard his first words of love. That taught him to walk and talk and be the man you love, the man you married. Remember the heart that holds his now. That gives him joy and happiness. That loves him more than you ever could have hoped for. The woman he married. Remember.... and hold each other close. Thank you Shannon. I love you 😘❤️
4/16/2019
The Softness Of A MotherTHE SOFTNESS OF A MOTHER
Sometimes the days seemed so long, but the nights seemed even longer. Newborn feedings, teething, bad dreams, growing pains. Overwhelming exhaustion. You couldn’t wait for bed time, just for a little peace and quiet. Until the crying started all over again. But then there would be nights that just pulled at your heart strings. The soft glow of the moon shining in on their tiny faces as you watched them sleep. You didn’t think love could squeeze your heart any tighter. They came to us always. We were Mama. We made their boo boos and their heart breaks better. And at night, when all the world was fast asleep, they were safe there. Safe under our roof. Safe in the quiet. No one warned us how much our heart would feel that squeeze as one by one they moved out~ until one day they were all gone. You think back to the days when they were safe, and now as you lay in bed looking at the vast darkness outside, you wonder if they are okay. Maybe hundreds of miles away. No longer under your roof. No longer in their childhood bedroom. They are an adult now, in a dormitory or maybe their first apartment or house. That quiet you longed for so many years ago is now an unwelcome guest. You can’t control their safety. You worry. You think back to all the nights they cried for you when they were little and you held them close and rocked them back to sleep. It was in your DNA. It was your job. You were the one who made sure they were okay. And now you aren’t. The reality of that hits you. You thought it was so hard during those baby years. You never truly realized how simple life was back then~until now. This is a hard you’re not sure you can get past. You wish you could hold them and rock them again. You can’t, but Someone else can. Someone else is. The same One Who holds you close. The same One Who gives you the peace that passes understanding. The same One you cry out to when you’re hurting. Just as He is with you, He is with your adult children. Release your control and understand that He is with them even now. He knows their hurts, their disappointments, their adult growing pains. He will take care of them, no matter how far away they are. There is no need to worry. He is the great Shepherd and even though they are adults now~they are still, and always will be His little lambs. Just like they will always be your little lambs. When you look up at the stars tonight, they are sleeping under that same sky. The soft glow of the moon shines in on them as their heavenly Father watches them sleep. They aren’t as far as you think. They are right there next to you, asleep in your Savior’s arms. So let Him sing to your heart the soft lullabies of peace and comfort. Let Him hold you as you fall asleep, knowing that His great arms are holding them as well. You can let go of that control and give it to Him. It wasn’t ever really ours to begin with. It was always His. He just poured down His love a little extra in the softness of mama until He knew they would be okay on their own. Without you~ But always with Him. Psalm 42:8
4/10/2019
Standing In The Middle Of BeautifulSTANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF BEAUTIFUL.
Psalm 118:24 Tears filled her eyes as she spoke. Almost 30 of us, all staying under the same roof. One week together. Oak Island. Family. She spoke about her children all being together. She spoke of how much it meant to her that we had continued this tradition all these years. She first came when my husband was a baby, followed by siblings, then their children and now great grandchildren. As I looked around the room, tears filled everyone’s eyes, including my own. What we have is special. My mother in law recognized it and she was grateful. This year my children and grandchildren all came down. We want to continue this tradition with my in laws, and this year tears filled my eyes once again. As my grandson ran to hug me when we finally arrived. As my granddaughter snuck into my room in the early morning hours to sleep with me. As I watched my grown children laugh together and love on each other. As I watched my grandchildren run in the sunshine and sand and dip their tiny toes in the surf. Our lives had become so busy that even living in the same town, time spent together like this was very rare. And this year the tears spilled down my own cheeks as I waved goodbye to them all and turned to an empty house without them. Such a beautiful house on the ocean and yet, in this moment it was only a building. What made that building so beautiful were the people who filled it. I could picture them all there, in the now empty rooms. The time went by too fast. I realized then that I wouldn’t mind being back in the middle of snow and ice and freezing temperatures, because I would be with the people who made everything beautiful. My family. Every moment of every day can be beautiful if we realize what God has blessed us with. Too often we think that if we could just go on that vacation or if we had a bigger house or new furnishings, then we would be happy. We seek our joy in things. The grass is always greener syndrome. We miss what is right in front of us, and sadly we don’t realize how beautiful it is until it’s gone. Think about what truly makes life beautiful. Look for that beauty in the small things. Beauty that surrounds you on a daily basis. A morning sunrise. An open bible. Your daily routine. Your church family. Your hometown and neighbors. A hug. A smile. The sunset and stars. Your cozy bed. Your home and loved ones. Your whispers to the Savior as you fall asleep. Sometimes what we overlook as the small stuff is really the big stuff. The stuff that dreams are made of are too often the very things we take for granted. My mother in law recognized it. It wasn’t just this place, it was the people in this place that made it beautiful. And that place is right where you are at this very moment. Choose to see the beauty in it. Don’t wait until it’s gone before you realize all God has blessed you with. Recognize the joy in every moment of every day right where you are. You’re standing in the middle of beautiful, you just have to open your eyes and heart to see it. It’s always been there~ That beautiful stuff that dreams are made of. FLEETING MINUTES THAT MAKE UP MOMENTS
“Oh honey, you’re going to miss this. They grow up so fast.” I had asked for prayer from the ladies at church. Her words did not bring comfort, they brought guilt. All I could do was just stare and nod. Sheer exhaustion made my brain so foggy that my mouth wouldn’t form the words I wanted to say. I’m that mom now. Writing blogs. Warning mamas about time fleeting by. Telling them to cherish every moment. But I remember. After countless months of no sleep, I had little strength left. She cried all night long. Every night. I cried all night long. I cried because I was horrible and selfish. I cried because I felt like a failure as a mama. A failure because I had no patience left. No compassion. I just wanted the crying to stop. I just wanted to sleep. If I’m honest with you mamas, I don’t miss that. I miss every one of those baby moments, but not that. “You’re going to miss this”... that’s not the answer any poor, sweet, exhausted mama needs to hear when they’re in the middle of a particularly trying time with their little one. They need compassion. They need understanding. They need someone to tell them it’s going to be okay. They need a shoulder to cry on. They need someone to give them a break, make them a meal, allow them a nap, encourage them in God’s promises and help them to remember that they are not alone. He is always with them and He understands. They are not a failure. They are human. God understands. And then they need to know that God gives strength when they have no strength left. That He is always by their side, holding them as they hold their little one. He wants them to know that they can cry out to Him, just as their little one cries out to them. He wants them to understand that even when they think they have no compassion, His compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22 And in the morning, with tears rolling down her cheeks for the frustration she felt the night before, that mama will look into her baby’s smiling eyes and pure love will fill her heart to overflowing for her little one. That moment is when she can find comfort in knowing that the love her heart holds for her little one doesn’t even come close to the love her heavenly Father has for her. God is in that moment. God is in every mama moment. All the beautiful sweet baby moments and all the desperate, helpless, exhausted minutes. He is always there. He will never leave. He will help you through. He will give you strength. He will give you compassion. He will teach you to forgive yourself. And one day, when your children have grown, when you realize how quickly time went by and how much you miss those baby years~ those desperate, exhausted minutes will be just that. Fleeting minutes compared to all the beautiful moments God allowed you with your child. The desperate moments won’t define you mama, they will make you grateful. Grateful because you will know that God was right there with you in every minute that made up the moments~ and that’s what made those moments so beautiful. THE STRUGGLE OF OUR IRRITATING HUSBANDS
I’m blessed with great in laws. We’re all able to laugh together about the less than perfect traits that we possess, but there are times that I can let it get away from me. They know all the amazing qualities my husband has, but they also know many of the “not so great” qualities, and if I’m not careful I find myself listing all the things he does that drive me crazy. I know exactly why I do this. He is a carbon copy of his dad, so his mother can relate 100%. Just recently I was with a group of ladies comparing notes on their husbands. Every part of me wanted to join in and list some of the things Mike does that irritate me. But then I stopped myself and in my heart I asked myself “why?” Why did I feel the need to complain? To bring up my husband’s shortcomings? I realized it was only because I knew I would be validated in my complaints. And I knew that was wrong. Why do we as wives, as women, as humans do this? Don’t join that bandwagon ladies. Don’t be pulled into a conversation and deceived into thinking it’s okay to start listing off someone else’s traits that you find irritating, especially not your husbands. Because that’s never okay. Stop and think. For every thing that irritates you, I guarantee there is something your husband does that’s amazing. We just need to open our eyes and see it. Replace the negative by focusing on all his positives. I Peter 4:8 You will surprise yourself when you really, truly start working on that because you will find that you are married to Mr. Wonderful, and maybe even fall a little more in love with him all over again. So, I bit my tongue and I looked over at him and I realized what a really awesome husband he is. I decided that the next time I’m tempted to complain to others, I’ll just talk to God about it. He usually has this way of showing me that I can be pretty irritating at times too. Recently, while at the airport I watched 2 sweet, elderly gentlemen. Both got up and bought their wives a parfait and brought it back for them. The wives took them without a second thought. We as wives take a lot our Mr. Wonderful does for us for granted. Notice the small stuff and be thankful. Stay out of the complaining conversations and love on that man God gave you. And occasionally vent, but only to God or your mother in law. 😉 We all need to vent from time to time. Besides God, she truly is the only one who understands the struggle. And then let her know how much you love and appreciate that son she gave you. *side-note~ I highly recommend NOT complaining to your own parents. And to all you mother in laws reading this~ allow your new daughter to to ask for advice (aka vent 😂). Your son isn’t perfect and she could use the mama wisdom you have, instead of the criticism you might be tempted to give. But that’s all a post for another day 😉 Ephesians 4:32
2/12/2019
Parenting Pet PeevePARENTING PET PEEVE ✔️
Parenting pet peeve #557... Just kidding, I don’t have them numbered... or do I?? 🤔😂 Sometimes it feels like this many... You know those moments when you’ve been praying and talking and praying and talking with your children and for some reason it just doesn’t click? They come to you overwhelmed and discouraged. They’re heart broken and hurting. They cry, which makes you cry. They want answers. They don’t know what to do. You’ve been there. You understand. So, you pray for them. You pray with them. You talk to them. You text them. You share verses and words of encouragement. But it just seems like it doesn’t click. They’re just not getting it. i.e.~In one ear and out the other. And then they have a breakthrough. An epiphany. They tell you they heard a message, they read a devotional. They talked to someone. And here is where the pet peeve hits you smack in the face. Excitedly, they share the words that changed their life, the “great advice” that helped so much. And it’s exactly what you have been saying ALL... A...LONG. EXACTLY. Yep. That’s hard. As a mom you just want to scream~ “Are you kidding me?!! Where have you been the last 25 years I’ve been telling you that exact thing? Were you even listening at all?!!” And then, as you’re standing there completely dumbfounded, they don’t understand why you aren’t more excited for their new change of heart. For their epiphany. And you have no words. I don’t know why I let this bother me so much. Unheeded words. Someone else’s advice. Someone else’s help. It’s hard on a mama. But then I think about my own life. My own walk with God. When I’m overwhelmed and discouraged. When I cry and don’t know what to do. I read God’s word and for some reason, it doesn’t click. In one ear and out the other. But then I read a devotional or hear a message and bam!! I have my own epiphany. My own breakthrough. As if the speaker or writer wrote it just for me. And I say “thank you Lord”. And He whispers back with a smile~ “I’ve been telling you this all along, you just needed an extra nudge.” Isn’t that what we have been praying for? For help for our children and what they are going through? And yet when that extra nudge comes and it’s not from us, our mama hearts sting a little. This mama wants her mama heart to look more like Jesus’ heart. To understand that God can use anyone and anything to turn a situation around. That He heard my prayers for my children and He answered. And to be thankful. Even if that answer didn’t come from me. I’m sure He’s been speaking to me all along about this. Tomorrow I will probably read it in a devotional and get hit over the head. So instead~ I’ll tell Him I hear Him today. And I’m listening to His advice. ✔️Pet peeve #557~ Given to God.
2/5/2019
Getting Old StinksGETTING OLD STINKS
I’m looking in the mirror and an old lady is laughing back at me... I am not one of those women that embraces age. (And if I’m honest, I’m not embracing it in my husband either 😂) Let’s be real here. I don’t put on my bifocals, look at my wrinkles in the mirror and “love” them~ “because they are a result of all the laughter in my life”. I don’t look at my stretchy stomach skin (that resembles a large, deflated balloon) and think it’s “beautiful”~ “because it carried my four precious children”. I cringe at the facial hair and turkey neck I’ve got going on. I don’t embrace my grandma acne, my lack of energy, my increase in forgetfulness or the arthritis throbbing from every joint. I don’t cherish hot flashes, weight gain or painful, sleepless nights. (I know what some of you are thinking right now~ 🤔 she’s a poster child for my products!! Please read my disclaimer below😉) I wish I could embrace it all. I know I should. God bless all you women who do. I read inspirational quotes from you on Pinterest and wish I could be like you~ carefree women who love getting older and think everything about it should be celebrated. (They fall into the same category as women who love being pregnant 😂) But I’m not. It’s been my rough year. I’m not sure why it hit me at 53. Odd year. I’ve been angrily embracing many of the bad things that come with age, instead of all the wonderful things. Please know, I’m not having a pity party, I’m just stating the facts. A lot about getting old stinks. All you young women in the prime of your life, don’t roll your eyes here~ You’ve been warned. It’s coming. The good news is, there are a lot of things I do love about getting old. Who knew that your heart could hold that much love for the babies your own babies gave you? Or that those little girls that play with baby dolls and Barbies will one day be your best friends? Who knew that the little boy who brought you flowers would one day co-pastor right next to his daddy? That you would gain the wisdom in realizing that all the things you thought were so important when you were younger weren’t so important after all, and you were able to let go and give that mess to God. That you would fall even deeper in love with your spouse than you were on your wedding day. That the young couple who stayed awake till all hours, now find sweet comfort falling asleep next to each other at 9pm. That more and more of your loved ones have moved on to their new home~and heaven gets a little sweeter every day. Jesus gets a little sweeter every day. The love Christ has for me has wrapped my life in joy and peace and comfort despite all the things I hate about getting old. I can’t do this old thing without Him. And the older I get, the reality of how much~how very, very much~ He loves me hits home and fills my heart with understanding that I never had 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. It grows deeper every day. With every wrinkle, with every hot flash, with every pound I gain and all the Advil I take. And that makes me realize that I can do this old thing~ because of Him. I’m not telling you I’m going to embrace it. Nope. My arthritic thumbs hurt just typing this. 😂 I’m sure I’ll still get hit with some hormonal, cranky, grandma days~ but I know my Savior is right there with me, perhaps even chuckling at the old lady applying Clearasil and wrinkle cream at the same time, and muttering under her breath. Yes that’s me. And after writing this I’ve realized~ maybe I have embraced it after all. 😉 2 Corinthians 4:16 Isaiah 46:4 Job 12:9,10 & 12 Psalm 71:18 Psalm 73:26 Proverbs 17:6 *Disclaimer~😉 Many of the issues I have are due to years of undiagnosed Celiac disease. I am fully aware of all the amazing products out there that can better the quality of life as we age, some of which I am taking. Thank you ahead of time for your concerns and desire to help. This was not intended to seek pity or treatment. Just sharing woman to woman with others who may be going through the same things.
1/29/2019
Babies Don’t KeepBABIES DONT KEEP
They had this fairytale flair of cleaning. These ‘littles’ I called my own. “Don’t come up yet” they’d yell down the stairs. I’d smile knowingly. And when everything was clean and I was given the okay, the door would be flung open, magical music would be playing and proud smiles would be displayed. The music got me every time. It was as if they turned ‘cleaning their bedrooms’ into a Walt Disney production, with all the dramatic effects. Looking back, cleaning was a household word. Mom (I) was a clean freak. Every day had its chore and every thing had its place. Living in a parsonage, the worry over appearances took over the ease of letting life happen and loving it. Too often. Would anything life changing have happened if I had let the dusting go one more week? If I had allowed toys to lay around an extra day? If the pillows weren’t perfect on the couch and the dishes weren’t all washed? Here I sit 25 years later. The same house. The same rooms. Something life changing did happen. I put down the mop and my high expectations for the Pinterest perfect house and looked around. The same rooms~now empty. No more toys. No more dramatic entrances into fairytale bedrooms. No more pillows strewn all over the floor. Life changed. My kids grew up. The vacuuming. The mopping. The dusting. The chores. It’s all still here. My kids are not. Tidying up can be done tomorrow. Even if your children are “posing” in it, that picture or story for Instagram can wait. Your kids cannot. Tomorrow and the next day and then 25 years later you can take all the pictures in the world. But the little hands will no longer be tugging. The little feet will no longer be running. The little laughter will no longer be ringing in your ears. The chores will wait. Life will not. It will continue to move, even as your walls stand still around you. So build a fort in the living room. Have a pillow fight in the den. Play Barbies in the bedroom. Smile at the dishes in the sink. Laugh at the dust that will be there tomorrow~ And love until it aches. Love on those babies until it aches. Because the cleaning and dusting and dishes will all still be here tomorrow... But your babies won’t. 💕
1/8/2019
Don’t Miss Out On The RooftopsDON’T MISS OUT ON THE ROOFTOPS
I stand at my bedroom window in the quiet. This room that my three daughters once shared. It didn’t used to be this way. Quiet. I look out into the darkness. The moon’s brilliance reflects softly off the snowy rooftops. My bedroom used to be downstairs. I never had this view. I didn’t realize what I was missing. My life was downstairs. Down in the trenches of the crazy life of a pastor’s wife with four children. Busy and happy. Crying and laughter. Moments turned into memories. Now~all quiet. I see the snow covered rooftops of our church....our hall....our beautiful town. I look toward my children’s rooftops. Sleeping soundly with their spouses. Their children. Their moments. Their memories. They will be busy. They will be happy. They will have crying and they will have laughter. And I weep for the blessings my Heavenly Father has bestowed upon me. The happiness He has allowed me to hold under this rooftop. Some years I was so focused on the mess that I missed the moments. So focused on the busyness that I missed the blessings. But now I see them all. I look at the rooftops. The beautiful clean snow falling softly in the darkness. I see God. Don’t miss the rooftops. They’re there~ in the craziness, in the busyness. They’re there in the crying and laughing. They’re all the sweet blessings God gives us each day~ that we often somehow miss. They’re all the beautiful moments that make up our memories. There~ under the rooftops. Soon the snow will melt. Winter will pass and before you can blink~the tiny laughter of little children, the busyness, the craziness~ It will all pass, and another rooftop will hold that magic inside. Cherish those moments while you can. You might not even realize what you are missing. Don’t get so caught up in the trenches that you miss the miracles you hold at your fingertips. But don’t get so caught up in the memories that you miss the moments you have right now. I hear my husbands soft breathing as he sleeps, and I smile. Old memories are deeply cherished but new ones are ahead. Don’t miss out on the rooftops.
12/11/2018
An Unplanned PregnancyAN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY
Two of my four children were planned. Our first was a happy, yet unexpected surprise for me. Our third was a different story, but one with a very happy ending. We lived in Connecticut at the time and my OBGYN told us that everyone born before 1965 should get vaccinated for chicken pox and measles, especially if we were planning to get pregnant. The disease could be deadly for a baby in the womb. He advised I get the vaccine at least a month before conceiving, with strict orders that I NOT get pregnant. So I did. We were extremely meticulous in obeying the Doctors orders, but as careful as we were...accidents happen. I freaked out. Mike freaked out. We both freaked out. The Doctor said “DON’T get pregnant”... But I did. And I freaked. The doctors kind of freaked too. They advised abortion. They advised tests to see if the baby would be born with deformities and if these tests were positive, they advised termination. We declined. This was our miracle baby. Against all odds, God chose for him to be born. No matter what ~ he would be perfect in our eyes~ because God had chosen to breathe life into his tiny little soul as I carried him. Month after month we prayed. And as that precious baby was placed in my arms and tears of joy spilled down our cheeks, we praised God for a perfect, healthy baby boy. Our only son. What a beautiful gift from God. My life was changed that day. We are human. We our sinful. As careful as we may try to be in obeying all the “rules”, in obeying God’s commands~ we can never be perfect. We can never be good enough. We will always mess up. Sin will always be present. But there’s still a very happy ending. Romans 5:21 We are not an accident in God’s eyes. We are precious to Him. God loves us so much, He made a way. Only one way~ and that way is through His Son. And through His Son, we can become perfect in God’s eyes. Born again. Not because of anything we have done, but because of everything He did for us. John 3:3,16 Christmas changed history. Christmas changed our hearts. Christmas changed our destiny. Christmas changed our lives for eternity. Christ was born. He left the glory of heaven’s majesty. For me. For you~ To be born in you. John 1:14, 3:7 For you, so that God almighty could breathe life into your soul. So that you could carry Him in your heart. So that your life could forever be changed. Against all odds. Against all mess ups. Against all rules. Ephesians 2:8&9 Only Jesus~ living in you. Romans 8:10 Tears of joy spill down my cheeks as I think of the absolute majesty and wonder of Christ’s birth, that precious baby placed in a manger~for me. It brings me to my knees. There will be no other gift this Christmas that can compare to such a Gift as this. The Gift of forgiveness and eternal life from a Father and His Son, our Savior that gave His life for you. When I ponder the birth of my son and that little miracle placed in my arms~ my thoughts go to that manger in Bethlehem and the greatest, most important Miracle of all mankind. Fall on your knees with me this Christmas and praise God for His miraculous Gift. Matthew 2:10-11 The Gift that changed our destiny. A Gift that can change your life today ~and forever. Titus 1:2, John 3:15, I John 2:25, Romans 6:23, I John 5:11 & 13, John 10:28, John 17:3
12/4/2018
Don’t Lose Heart In The NowDON’T LOSE HEART IN THE NOW
It was almost Christmas when our family moved from Ohio to MI to live with my parents. It had been a long and lonely few months up until this time. My husband had been working out of state all week and I was left alone with our four small children, our youngest being only 8 months old. We enrolled our kids in the same school my husband graduated from. It was an exciting time. Christmas was right around the corner and we were sure a pastorate position would be as well. All was right with the world. We thought. God had different plans that year. It started with Andrea’s teacher informing us that she was extremely behind in her class. She told us that the class already knew the entire alphabet, but that Andrea could not identify one letter. We were in shock, she had been getting such good grades at her previous school. Her sweet teacher suggested we start out with flash cards and work with her every night. From the beginning. I had panic moments. How could I teach her the entire alphabet when she was already so behind? There were many, many long nights. Lack of patience and crying often ensued (from mom and daughter). It didn’t take long to figure out what was going on. I would hold up a card, Andrea would look at the card, then at me. Directly at my mouth every time. Apparently she had gotten very good at lip reading and instead of identifying what the letter was, she was waiting for me to mouth the word. She didn’t know the truth, she was only imitating. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, the next 8 months weren’t easy ones for our family. There was a lot of praying. A lot of crying. Some fighting. A lot of trusting. And so much learning. During that time, Andrea wasn’t the only one learning, I was as well~ Learning to trust God was a big one. Not just with the alphabet incident, but also in the circumstances of life that surrounded us. Next on the list would be the realization that our children watch everything that we as parents do, in every situation. How we act. How we react. We are teaching them in every moment we live and their little eyes are soaking it all up. A parent can send their child to the best school, the best church, the best children’s programs, but ultimately as important as all these things are~ God has chosen YOU as the most important person He wants your child to learn from. YOU have to teach them. They might imitate the good behavior they learn at church. They might know all the right answers from the lessons they are taught~ but the truth of life’s lessons, the hard lessons, God’s lessons~you’re the one that will teach them that. They can imitate their teachers or their church leaders, but every single day, every single moment, they are watching you and the truth you are teaching them by the life you are living. It will be hard. There will be times that it will be very hard. There will be panic moments, lack of patience, fighting and even crying. There will be a lot of praying. Don’t give up. Every night for 2 hours I worked with Andrea. It wasn’t easy for either of us. She finally got it. Months later when that pastorate position became available in a little town called Caseville, her teacher told us she was ahead in her class and doing very well. Twenty Five years later Andrea teaches as a substitute at that very school. One day, your children will have children. They will teach them the lessons they learned from you, whether they were good or bad. I know I made many mistakes through the years, mistakes I see my own children replicating at times, but I also see the amazing ways God allowed them to see some of the good too. It’s very humbling to watch your own adult children. When the days and nights seem long and hard, you think that day will never come~but it will. And then you realize it came too fast. Don’t lose heart in the now. Stay with it mom. Teach them. Pray with them. Discipline them but most of all, love on them. Then, one day watch with a heart that is full, as they do the same. Psalm 78:2-4, 6-7
11/20/2018
Now I’m That MomNOW I’M THAT MOM
Hey all you mamas out there~ What is it that you want from your children? Not FOR them, but FROM them. Does that sound selfish? Let go of the idea that it is, and look deep into your mama heart. What do you want more than anything FROM your kids? Love? Respect? Compassion?Thankfulness? Time? When they are tiny little ones, the answers are a lot easier. What we probably want most is rest. We don’t think a lot about the other things. Yet. The fact is, when they are tiny they automatically do all the other things. But then they get a little older. Love is still there, but that respect thing starts to lose its footing. A little older, and thankfulness and compassion turn into eyes rolling and heavy sighs. Still, a little bit older and we would give anything for time. Time with the ones who were our whole world for so long. How quickly things change. Our babies once snuggled on our laps, begging us to read to them, soaking up the sound of our voice with sweet, childlike adoration. And then, adulthood in all her glory turns that childlike adoration to annoyance and frustration if we call and want to talk. How quickly it changes from making every “boo boo” better with just a kiss. From caring for their sick little bodies through the night, to more annoyance if we share our concerns when they aren’t well. I can remember all of these scenarios in my own life with my mother, but they are only a memory now. My little self wanting to be with her and like her. Wanting to spend time with her. Wanting to be taken care of. Time changes things. I became a mom. Amidst the endless responsibilities young children bring, the phone rings and it annoys me. I know it is her. I’m so ashamed of the thoughts my mouth would not utter~ “She always picks the worst time to call. I don’t have TIME to talk to her right now!” But then one morning the phone rings again. Amidst the chaos of craziness that surrounds me, I hear nothing but my dad’s voice~almost as if he is speaking in slow motion... “Your mom is gone”~ My breath escapes me as my entire world rushes backward. I long to give more love, more respect, more compassion, more thankfulness, more time. So much more time. For a very long while, whenever the phone rang after that moment~ I thought for an instant that it was her. I wanted it to be her. So, I’m that mom now. The one on the other end of the phone. Calling, worrying, wondering if they’re ok. Wanting to help. Wanting to love. Wanting to spend time with them. Wanting all of those things. The same things my mom wanted from me. And as much as my human mama heart loves her children, it doesn’t touch the love my heavenly Father has for me. A love that desires all these things. Love. Respect. Compassion. Thankfulness. Time. Glory in the time you have with your little ones. Glory in the time you have with your mama. Glory in time spent with your Savior. Don’t allow time to change your child like adoration~ Allow it to deepen the love you have~ Not only for your mama~ but most especially for your Savior.
10/9/2018
Angel Wings And LaughterANGEL WINGS AND LAUGHTER
I can remember watching my mom at the crack of dawn. She was wearing her heavy white robe with the sleeves rolled up and her arm was inside a turkey that looked bigger than I was. I can still picture the table the first time my “Big Grandma” (my mama’s mom) placed “Shake and Bake” chicken in front of us kids. We all marveled at this new and wonderful invention. I never knew my mouth could be so happy. I remember telling my “Little Grandma” (my dad’s mom) that she made the best mashed potatoes in the whole world. She confided in me that her secret was the whole milk and butter she added. I remember baking peanut butter cookies with Big Grandma and mama. Mom showed me how to press them with a fork and Grandma told me only Crisco would work in the dough. Fruit cocktail cake. Chicken cacciatore. Pierogis and potato pancakes. Hot dogs, mashed potatoes and sour kraut. Go’wompkis and city chicken. Grandma’s cheesecake and fabulous fudge. Chrusciki~Angel wings and laughter. The smell and the taste and the laughter. And mom in the middle of it all. 💗 Memories. A dear friend reminded me this week of how special memories are and how thankful we should be for them. The smells. The tastes. All triggers of memories that were a part of my childhood. Happy get~togethers with family. Holidays and birthdays. Love and laughter. Sometimes the memories can cause our hearts to hurt. We miss our sweet loved ones. Some days I wish I could be that little girl again, watching mama clean the turkey before our big Thanksgiving meal. I miss her terribly, and when the colder air blows in and the leaves start to turn~the memories flood over me. One month from this day, 11/3~ she would take her last breath and enter heaven’s glory. What would I do different had I known, I only had that one month to be with her? So much. God has given us a gift. The gift of today. What we can’t do over, we can do anew~ Today. We can make new memories and we can choose to find joy and thankfulness in the gift of the memories God has already given us. How sad our lives would be if God did not give us these precious gifts. Memories tucked away in our hearts that will last us a lifetime, long after our loved ones are gone. Memories that will bring us laughter, even when our hearts are hurting. Memories that help us shape our today’s. So~~I made grandma’s peanut butter cookies, Crisco and all. Who knew in this age of ‘health food everything’ that they still made it? I showed my granddaughter how to press them with a fork. She snuck one off the pan before they were even cool and the twinkle in her eye and laughter in her voice is a new memory I will cling to. Perhaps one day I will try to make angel wings with her. And she will remember~ Angel wings and laughter. Lots of laughter.
9/26/2018
Before They Are GoneHis eyes were huge and scared.
Pools of blue. Tears almost spilling over, yet trying to be brave. Who was this little man I was raising?Who would he become? As he walked to school his very first day, he continued to look back at me until he was no longer in sight. And then he was gone. Each year passed. He brought me flowers he picked on his way home from grade school. He made me cards and wrote inside that he would never marry, or leave home. He brushed my hair and bought me trinkets. He wore his heart on his sleeve. He wrote sermons, and told me he would one day be a preacher. Who was this little man I was raising, and who would he become? He would become someone’s husband. Someone’s father. Someone’s preacher. And then he would be gone. He would grow into a man with no need to look back at his mama~ and her blue eyes would spill over. Trying to be brave, yet praising her Father for the man he had become. For the husband he was. For the love of his Savior as he preached. For the father she knew he would be. Who is that little man you are raising?Who is that child you hold close? They will one day be someone’s husband, someone’s wife. Someone’s father. Someone’s mother. You are teaching them that even now. What a heavy, glorious responsibility it is. One we need to remember daily. One we need to bring to our Savior minute by minute, hour by hour. One we must never forget~ Before they are gone. I got lost in all the beautiful images.
My sweet grandchildren. Their precious little eyes were dancing with joy in every picture. Full of love for mama and daddy. This day, this time, this age, it will never come again. It is a fleeting moment and then it’s gone, and the eyes that once were dancing, won’t dance anymore. Yet, we do not realize. We take today for granted. We get lost in our own lives and goals, wants and dreams. Today is just a page of our story. A page that we turn day after day, without really thinking about it. It is routine. Until it’s not. And then, one day those innocent, happy, dancing eyes are filled with irritation, embarrassment or even disdain. It is too late~ and we realize the moment is gone. We want to go back and read the previous chapters. We want to linger longer. We want to meditate on it, but we cannot. That moment will never come again. It was lost in our work, in our hobbies, in our time spent on social media, in the worry over keeping a clean home, in the changing diapers and sleepless nights, in the laundry and dishes. That moment was lost in ourselves and the desire for time alone and “when will this ever end” moments. And that’s when you realize those dancing, innocent eyes don’t look at you the same. Perhaps one day, when this stage is past, they will. But now those eyes are dancing for their friends, their crush, their desire to get away, to be their own person~ to grow up~ but they aren’t dancing for you. Stop what you are doing and lose yourself in those innocent, dancing little eyes. Soak every tiny moment up. Don’t get lost in you~ get lost in them. Today isn’t routine because today will never come again. One day those eyes will search for you once more. They will become the eyes of your best friend. They will look to you for answers and help, for guidance and love, for relief and prayer. They will be filled with remembrance and respect, Because those eyes will be looking into the tiny dancing eyes of another.
6/26/2018
Dear EllieI realize ladies of all ages will be reading this letter today.
This is the day I will watch my niece Holly get married. It seems like yesterday that she was my little Ellie’s age as I watched she and her mama walk hand in hand along the seashore. Some of you may have precious little ones this very age and wish time would stop going so quickly. Others of you may be my age with grandchildren, remembering your own children at this age~ and still others of you may be the age my mom would be if she were still alive today. One thing I wish for all of you to remember is this~ your own mother~ no matter her age, or yours, has these exact thoughts about you. So stay a little longer, love a little harder and laugh a lot more with your children ~and your mom~ because time is passing quickly and these special moments will soon turn into fleeting memories.~~~ 💗Dear Ellie💗 Today I watched you walk away from my front porch toward school, hand in hand with your mama. Oh the memories that flood over me. This is your last week of kindergarten and I desperately wish I could hold on to this moment, every second of it, and someday replay it for you when you are a mama yourself. You look up at her in childlike wonder and innocent love. She is your everything. Your super hero, your mentor, your example, your comfort, love, encouragement and strength~ your whole world. When you grow up you want to be just like her. I watch you unashamedly hold her hand. Your precious little face looking up at her as you share your thoughts and dreams. She is your very best friend. And I don’t want it to end. Someday when you read this, you will be a grown woman. Your views on life will change. You may not look at your mama in the same way. And it will hurt her, more than you could ever realize~ until you have a child of your own. I wish I could wrap this very moment up in a box and one day ask you to open it and let every memory flood over your heart like warm beams of sunshine. And bring you back. And help you remember the love of a little girl for her mama. I don’t want that to ever change. But it will. I see you turn the corner and walk out of sight. Still chatting happily. Not a care in the world. No worry over what others will think. Proud to be walking hand in hand to school with your very best friend. And I want you to remember. Because that was my Jessica. That was my Andrea. That was my Michael & that was my Kathryn. Don’t ever forget. Because she never will.
5/8/2018
Fix My MarriageFIX MY MARRIAGE!
Why does “marriage” get such a bad rap? Why do men complain to other men that they “won’t ever get any physical attention” once the ring goes on, while women whine to other women about everything their husbands do wrong? I remember the early years of our marriage like it was yesterday. We had this “mixed tape” of love songs we’d listen to while we kissed on the couch. All. The. Time. And then life happened. Cue the babies, sleepless nights, dirty diapers and terrible two’s. Suddenly they’re in high school with teenage drama, sporting events, graduations and college prep and before you know it you are planning weddings and baby showers. The “kissing” sessions on the couch became few and far between. At times there would be a lull in the busyness and we would find ourselves on that couch like a couple of teenagers, but more often than not, we had to purposely make the time for each other (no matter how exhausted we were) to love on each other and rekindle the romance. We had to remember the “us” of our early years. When we didn’t, the irritability levels rose and the fights became more frequent. Why is it that even today, after 32 years of marriage I can be listening to a love song that gives me all those mushy, wedding night vibes toward my husband but five minutes after he walks in the door he will say or do something that irritates the snot out of me? Here’s the shocking answer to that question~ I am selfish~not selfless. I want those mushy feelings, but only on my terms, where “happily ever after” revolves around me. Too often I focus on me and my day and don’t take into account the kind of day my husband had. There’s so many good books out there with advice on how to fix a broken marriage, but ladies~I have found that the BEST book on marriage was penned by God Himself and HIS first step to fixing your marriage is this: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:5-8) He made Himself of no reputation by completely emptying Himself of all the glory due Him. He became a Servant. He forgives our every trespass and loves us unconditionally, expecting NOTHING in return. He gave His very life for us. I’m not saying that every day will be a bed of roses if we apply these principles and I can guarantee your marriage won’t instantly be amazing. Some days will be hard, very hard. Do whatever it takes to continually have the mind of Christ. Don’t give up. Fight for your marriage. Plaster notecards everywhere and set alarms on your phone that say~ !!! HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST !!! Strive to look at your own heart before casting blame and then forgive and forgive and forgive again. Always remember the mushy feelings and “make-out” sessions. Love unconditionally, expecting nothing in return. And finally~ when we are tempted to blow up at our husbands, or wallow in self-pity, when we feel like “that was the last straw”~ think about all Jesus forgave of you and what He endured to accomplish that. If you want your marriage to be fixed, fix your eyes on Christ. (Hebrews 12:2) Christ is our ultimate example and with His help we can continually press toward that mark (Phil. 3:14) and finally give marriage a good name. The one God always intended. Wednesday was my dads 80th birthday. This week has been a bit emotional. At what point does the care of our parents turn from "being taken care of" to "taking care of them"? Somehow it just evolves and life changes. This past week I've been looking through stacks of old pictures to put a slide show together for him for his party today. It's funny when you're younger, you think 80 sounds so old. Then you blink and time has flown by and it doesn't seem so old after all. I'm 52 and inside I still feel like that little girl in all the pictures. Daddy's little girl. This old body might be telling me otherwise, but as I look at the pictures I can remember those moments in time like they were yesterday. I remember my younger years being so full of "my life" at the time that I didn't take the time to really get to know my grandparents and many relatives like I wish I would've. I would love to sit down with them today and just listen to the stories of their youth, but that chance is long gone. I see pictures of my grandpa in the garden with my dad when my dad was only 2 or 3 and can't help but think of my grandson Ethan who is the same age, right along side his daddy. The bible tells us our life is a vapor. One day Ethan's children and his children's children will be celebrating his 80th birthday with him. He will remember that time with his daddy like it was yesterday. He will remember his mama singing to him and holding him, and hopefully his grandparents too. I'm sure my dad feels just like me. My dad came over on his birthday and I asked, "how does it feel to be 80?" He replied, "just like it did when I was 30!" Time flew by. Where did it go? Just yesterday he fell madly in love. Just yesterday he was proposing to my mom. Just yesterday his firstborn son made him a proud daddy and then a little girl stole his heart. Just yesterday his youngest son was born and then he blinked and they graduated. They got married. They went through heartache. They gave him grandchildren. They had to say goodbye to their mama, the love of his life. They watched him go through life threatening surgery and almost lost him. They watch as his great grandchildren smile up at him. Just yesterday. And so, I am going to make the most of the time I have today. Family is so important. Don't allow your "now" to consume you so much that you miss out on opportunities to love deeply those who may be gone before you know it. Opportunities that someday you will wish you could have again. One more visit. One more talk. One more hug. One more "I love you". Love is God's greatest commandment and one that we often overlook, without ever realizing it. We look at our grandparents and just see "old" but that moment of your life that you are living right now, that was their yesterday and one day you will be living their todays. I am a grandma now and the love I have for my grandkids can't even be put into words. I know it would mean the world to me if someday, when they are old enough, they asked me to tell them the story of me. To tell them the story of my daddy. With a heart over flowing with love, I want to tell them every single detail before my yesterdays are gone and I will be ever thankful to God for my todays.
12/31/2016
Let The Son ShineI was sitting in my bedroom with the door locked, crying. Again. Sadly, I wasn't one of those moms that never allowed her kids to see their parents fight. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and tell my young self to "stop it". I would tell myself-"dry your tears and look up for a minute at your four children who are watching and listening" Marriage can be tough. There are those sweet times that I write about, but there are also some hard times. Some fighting. Some hurt. Some wrongs on both sides. Marriage isn't easy and life isn't easy. I'm thankful for a husband who forgives but is also willing to ask for forgiveness. This isn't always the case. People will hurt us. Friends and even loved ones will undeservedly hurt us, sometimes over and over. Our hearts can feel like they are breaking and as we sit crying and not understanding why, we have one of two choices. Stay there in that pain and justify our continued, righteous sadness or~ allow Jesus to shine from us. How often did I stay there? Too often. And even as I got older and went through heart aches and trials in my life, it seemed like it was still always about me~ "well God is allowing this to happen for MY good"~ when all along it was never about me, but all about Him. I was just focusing on Charisse too much to see it. Yes, God has a purpose in every trial we go through. Yes, He wants to teach us something through our trials, but we are only human. We feel pain and sadness. Our Savior understands that, and all along He is right there whispering to us~let me take that pain away and shine through you. Sometimes we don't think we can, because our human hearts feel it so deeply that we can't let it go. Just like my children were watching how I reacted, the world is also watching. I would go back in a heartbeat and react differently if I could now, but I can't. That doesn't mean I'm just going to throw in the towel. I will learn from my mistakes and realize now that every hurt, every bad thing that happens is intended for good. Not mine, but His. To show His glory so that others might come to know Him. Every day is a gift. A new beginning to start fresh. His mercy and compassion are new every morning. Today, as we end this year and begin a new one, let's determine not to stay in 2016. Let's open the windows of our hearts to God and even on our cloudiest, darkest days, let the Son, in all His glory, shine.
11/12/2016
God Hears Your Mother's HeartWhen my kids were little, I decided that every year on their birthday I would write them a letter. I tried to remember special things about their year then told them all about their birthday celebration and what they were like at that age. I also told them my prayers for them. I would tuck each letter away in my special box, thinking about the day they would have their own kids and I would give them their letters. It seemed so far away at the time. This year I was able to give Michael his on his birthday and Andrea hers on her birthday and just recently gave Jessica hers for her upcoming birthday. Through the years there have been struggles. There were times I felt like I was failing or wasn't a good enough mom. I would pray and cry and sometimes wonder what I was doing wrong. Then pray some more. There were times I thought my girls hated me. There were times I worried my kids would grow up and not have close relationships with each other because of how badly they fought. I re-read all the letters this morning and I cried. It was like living all those moments again. The precious, innocent love your kids have for you when they are young and then some of the heart aches that come in their pre-teen and high school years and how quickly things can change. I remember wishing at times that I could just go back to when my kids were so little they truly believed that mom was their everything and couldn't wait to snuggle with her at the end of the day. When I read those letters today, God showed me something very dear. He showed me that even when I felt like I was failing, He was listening. When I wrote my prayers to my children, He heard them. That there was a lesson to be learned in every moment that I lived, and that someday He would show me the good in every one of those moments. Mom, no matter the age of your children, never stop praying for them. God hears your mother's heart. Your children need you but more importantly, they desperately need your prayers. Even when we feel like we can't get it right, there's such a peace to be had in the assurance that~He can.
10/22/2016
The One Who Holds That FutureCan you imagine the feeling of giving birth to a son, knowing that there was a law that all male babies were to be killed? Put your mind there for a minute ladies. Trying to hush your newborn's cries and hold them close as long as possible until you realized you couldn't hide them anymore. And then watching as that precious, helpless infant was placed in a tiny boat and floated down a river, out of sight. To have faith in God at that point would be an understatement. What about seeing rain for the first time as you sit in a massively huge boat, wondering what will become of you and your children as the waters rise higher and higher and everything you have ever known has disappeared under them? I can't imagine being barren for years and begging God for a child and when He answers, having the faith and trust to leave that child with someone else, believing God would take care of the treasure I had prayed for for years. How about having my young son tell me that he was about to go fight against a giant two times his size (that every other man in the army was afraid to fight) but not to worry, because God had his back? And the biggest awe moment for me is trying imagine being told that I was going to give birth to a Son who would be the Savior of the world. God is still God. He is our great God, the God of the Bible. He is in control. Yes this election has to be the very worst in our country's history. Does our future seem scary? Yes, it does. I'm not going to sugar coat it. My heart wants to worry and fret about the future of these precious grand children and what they will be faced with ten years from now. I want to hold them tight just like BaPa is in this picture, and never let go. But my God is still on the throne. He is my God of miracles and I will continually pray that He gives me the faith I need to trust in Him and the future He has for me and for my kids and for my grandkids. Moses mother, Noah's wife. Samuel's mom and David's. Mary. How did they do it? They knew their God. Their Heavenly Father. They talked to Him, they spent time with Him and in turn He gave them the peace that passes understanding and the comfort to know it would be ok. That doesn't mean they weren't scared. I'm sure they were scared out of their minds, but they believed. They had faith. I often hear the phrase "now more than ever we need to pray for our nation". Honestly, why haven't we been praying all along? From that first joyful moment we learn our child is on the way, our prayers should be fervent for them. In the book The Practice of the Presence of God, the writer speaks about the amount of sin and unhappiness in the world and the extremes to which the enemy is capable of going. But what spoke to me most was in this statement~ ....he had a peace because he knew that God could rectify the situation in a moment if He willed it. Whatever our future holds, our prayers should be lifted up to the One who held that tiny boat, the One who made an ark float. The One who cared for a tiny child and helped a young boy defeat a giant. The One who gave us His only Son. The One who holds that future in His hands.
7/30/2016
How Quickly Life Can ChangeI wrote this post on Thursday while I was waiting for the surgery to be over. Praise the Lord all went well and now we just wait to see what God has planned for his vision.
How quickly life can change within a week's time. Last week I was working on my daughter's wedding dress when I posted on my ladies page and this week I am sitting in a hospital waiting for my husband to get out of a surgery that we had no idea he would be having. All the little things I wanted to finish before the wedding seem so trivial to me now. Retina detachment surgery is not a life or death procedure but your mind can tend to think about things like that when your signing forms concerning anesthesia. When your husband is giving you instructions on the drive down "just in case". When you kiss him as they wheel him away for surgery. As I lay in bed last night with my best friend sleeping next to me, I prayed and thought about many things. I thought about this post and I wondered if I could sum up my feelings in one word. The first word that came to my mind was grateful. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought about everyone that was praying for us. I feel that my words can't even come close to describing how thankful I am. I'm so grateful for all of you, all the prayers and the outpouring of love. I'm so grateful for a God who hears us even when we can't utter a word. Our awesome God who can hear the prayer of thousands at the same time and our God of all comfort who makes me feel even now as if He is carrying me through with a peace that passes understanding. I know everything is going to be okay because no matter what, my Savior will be holding Mike in His arms. And I am grateful. 💗
7/23/2016
Your Hand Is Never EmptyToday I am working on my daughter's wedding dress. My last child to get married and leave the nest. I'm sure I might be a little more sentimental than other women, but I'm also sure there are women who feel the same way I do. It's hard to let your children go, bottom line. Whether that means your baby's first day of school, first year of college or first day taking another's last name. Kathryn went shopping with me the other day and we had the three oldest grand babies with us. On the way home that night she asked~"when do kids get easier mom?" I laughed and responded~"never". I cried as I watched their tiny little hands wave goodbye to me on their first day of school and I cried all the way from Pensacola, FL to Caseville, MI when we dropped each one off to college. I knew and still know in my heart that everything will be ok because I gave my children to the Lord the moment they were born. I prayed for them every single day and I knew that when I could not hold their hand any longer, no matter how far away they might be~ my Savior was holding their hand for me. That doesn't mean there hasn't been heartache, wrong decisions, late nights with no sleep, but only worry and prayers. It hasn't always been easy, but I knew in my heart that whether my kids lived right down the street or in Japan serving the Lord as a missionary (as Andrea was leaning toward), they would never have the peace of God if I held them back from His calling. So, I will let go of Kathryn's hand soon as she becomes Josh's wife and trust my Savior with their future, knowing that He will not only be holding her hand, He will be holding my empty one as well.
6/18/2016
A Picture Of Our FatherSome of the sweetest memories I cherish are the memories of my mom and dad while I was growing up. Even though we went through some very hard times together, my parents did everything they could to make my childhood special. I have such sweet memories of my dad singing to me all through elementary school. Sadly, I know of many friends who's childhood was horrific, who's father was anything but a father. I truly believe the relationship we established with our dads growing up influences our relationship with our Heavenly Father more than we know. I never knew anything about our household finances growing up, dad took care of that and never talked about it. Today I seem to find it easy to have the faith that God will take care of our family financially when it might look like an impossible task. But when my parents split up for a while, I had so much worry and so many trust issues during that time. Today I tend to worry much more about relationships in my life, wondering if everything is going to be ok. I'm not saying this is all my dad's fault or that it's okay to blame a lukewarm or non existent walk with God on our fathers. I am an adult now and my walk with God is solely my responsibility and any areas I am lacking in are because of me, not my parents. My point is that when a man becomes a dad he probably doesn't even think about being a picture of the Heavenly Father to his children, but he is and that's huge. It's not up to us as women to ridicule or try to fix our kid's daddy. It's up to us to be their greatest encourager and to love them with our everything and to pray for them more than anyone, realizing the heavy responsibility that they have on their shoulders because our kids are also watching us and how we react to their father. Someday that's exactly how they will react to their Heavenly Father. That's huge too. They will either love Him with their everything or treat God as if He can't get it right. Praise God that He always gets it right and that no matter what kind of father we had growing up, our Heavenly Father has always been there. He knew and loved us before we were even born. He is the perfect Daddy and longs to take care of us. We can have a Father like this. That might be easy for you to comprehend, or it might be very hard. Psalms 86:15 tells us He is a God full of compassion. He wants us to feel safe and loved in His arms. Romans 8:15 tells us He wants us to cry out to Him~"Abba Father or Daddy". Ladies, pray for our kid's daddies. Thank God for them. Praise God He has given us an opportunity to show our children the deep love a Father can have for them no matter what their home life is like, then rest in His arms and find the safety, comfort and compassion of the Father who loves you more than words can ever express. The great I Am.
5/7/2016
The Best Title In The World: MomI've been thinking all week about Mother's Day and my mom. My mom and dad built their dream retirement home back in 2000 and just a few short years later, very unexpectedly, my mom passed away from a massive heart attack. What do I want to say to moms this Mothers Day? First, I would like to say cherish every single moment with your mother if you still have her. She might drive you crazy, I'll admit my mom did at times but I miss so many things about her, even the little things we would share like which makeup to choose. I miss her cooking for me and her laughter. I miss her love of Christmas and food. I miss her squeezing my babies when she hugged them. I miss talking to her. I miss the phone ringing and I feel so sad that it used to irritate me if I was busy and mom wanted to talk. There is no one in the world like your mother. No one will ever love you like she does. My heart aches at the impatience I would have with her at times or the irritation I would feel when she would "mother" a little too much but only because she cared so deeply. Cherish the time you have. Don't let living life become more important than loving with your everything. You don't know what tomorrow holds. And to all you sweet moms out there, the next thing I would say is to cherish every moment with your children. Make time with them. Play with them and love on them. Teach them about Jesus and play with them some more. Put your phones down and listen. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, no matter our age, so make sure your children know how important they are to you right now and how deeply they are loved. Before you know it you will be a grandma looking into the eyes of your children and seeing yourself, looking into the eyes of your grandchildren and seeing your children. When you kiss your babies little cheeks at night as they snuggle under the covers, make sure you made memories that day that will last them a lifetime. As they drift off to sleep thank God he gave you the best title in the world: mom.
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