An Open Letter To My Graduating Senior {Thoughtful Thursday}

Hey there friends! Well, here we are again. Preparing for another high school graduation. It seems like yesterday that we just did this, but in reality it was two years ago!! Time moves so quickly these days, that I feel I must pay close attention or it will all become a blur. 

There is something that happens to us mamas when are babies are about to leave the nest. It's odd, and hard to explain, but it's real. It happened two years ago and it's happening again. 

So, I am writing this letter to my graduate to try to make some sense of this strange phenomenon.

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Another Year Older

A couple of months ago our oldest turned 20. And just this weekend our daughter turned 18. 18 and 20? How is that possible?? Seriously it was just yesterday that they came home from the hospital right? 

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5 Things To Make Back To School Easier For Moms

Maybe your kids have already started back to school, or maybe you have a couple more weeks. Here they start tomorrow. After a summer of slothing around I'm looking forward to a schedule, but thinking about all the things that are going to be on the schedule kinda freaks me out a bit. Over the past couple of years I have put a few things in place that have seriously made my life easier and more peaceful.

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So, It's Summer...Thoughts On Thursday

So, it's summer.  We have been on summer break for a week and a half now, and if you noticed I've been a little MIA on the blog. 

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Thoughts on Thursday

This year's Mother's Day sermon plucked my mama heart strings and I just wanted to share. So here are some deep thoughts on this Thursday morning. Hopefully you are encouraged as I was!

There were two things that grabbed me.  The idea of building a home - a legacy of faith - within our family.  This has always been the central goal of my husband and I. We often get caught up in the competition of good grades, and success in sports, or other things the world puts value on. However, in the end, the number one thing for us is that our kids love the Lord and follow Him. 

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What's Happenin'

I haven't forgotten about y'all I promise.  All sorts of things have been happenin' around here lately, I just haven't had a chance to pull it together to share with you guys!  ;)  So, today is a round-up of sorts.  A peek into our lives so to speak.

Some progress has been made in the family room update.  We contemplated paint colors for the walls.  And re-arranged furniture! 

Then there was a birthday in the house. :)  So, progress put on hold for more important things.

The kids had a day off from school, so we sorted through clothes.  My boys have been growing like little weeds!

Paint was chosen and painting began.

The house was a mess and laundry had piled up, so progress paused while I did some laundry.  As I was doing laundry, I realized I was running low on laundry soap, so I whipped up a batch.  

It's all gelled (is that a word?) and ready to be poured into containers!

Then the snow came.

And that meant some sledding.  (so thankful for a hubby and a dad who loves getting out and playing with his kids no matter the conditions...I hate the cold)

The snow makes me more and more mindful of my oldest and others I know who are among the many in the New England area that are buried under several feet of snow...not inches. I am thankful for technology that allows me to see his smiling face from time to time.  Makes this mama heart feel much better - you can tell a lot from just seeing their face, am I right?? (I screen-shot this while we were face-timing the other night - he would not keep his phone still, so the pic is blurry ;))

 

Finally the painting was finished and all the furniture back in place.  Nothing much is styled and pretty yet, so not quite ready for a complete reveal, but here's a sneak peek. Still lots to do, but we are definitely headed in the right direction! And, I am loving the new furniture arrangement!

See, I told you we've been busy!!  Hopefully I will be back soon to share more details of the family room transformation.  Thanks for following along on our little adventures :).

My Dear Friends

This is for all of my friends far and near who have been, and continue to be a constant source of encouragement on this journey of life.  Many of you have been along for lots of ups and downs and twists and turns, and some are new to the area.  Either way, I want you to know how much you ALL mean to me.  

I know it's December 1st and Thanksgiving has passed.  But, as I was sitting scrolling through social media last night I was overwhelmed with gratitude for you, and this scripture that I used to have my preK kiddos memorize every year came to my mind.

A friend loves at all times.  Proverbs 17:17

You guys have done this many times over the years, but this week was a perfect demonstration. I posted a series of pics all centered around my boys first visit home from college.

You anticipated his arrival with me and waited with excitement!

You cheered with me when he arrived!

And when it was time for him to go back to college, you were sad with me but encouraging all the same - Christmas will be here soon!!

Without this encouragement, accompanied by so many of your prayers, I would be a mess.  But, instead I am adjusting to this new phase of life and I am thankful for so many things.

But today I am most thankful for friends like you!!

I love you all from the bottom of my heart - you know who you are!!

Ready {Five Minute Friday}

It's Five Minute Friday again.  The day that our host graciously gives us a word to prompt our spirits to write for five minutes - no prep, no editing, just words.  Today the prompt is ready.

As a mama how do we know when our kids are "ready".  I feel like I have spent many sleepless nights, many a stressful moment wondering if my kids were ready for the adventure or challenge they were about to enter into.

Was it too soon?  Did they know all that they need to know?  The wonderings are endless. But, this is the dance isn't it.  We teach, we train, we encourage, we build-up, as mamas that's our job.

Then, one day we send them into this thing, whatever it might be, and hope they are ready. The first time we let them try to stand on their own, walk on their own.  The first time we try to feed them cereal.  The first time we let them miss that morning nap.  The first day of kindergarten. The first dance class.  The first t-ball practice. (jump ahead a few years) Driving to school by themselves.  Going away to college. Oh my goodness I could go on and on. Our lives are full of firsts, many we are ready for and some we are not.

As a mama it has been hard sometimes to let my kiddos go into a new thing, not knowing if they are really ready,  but trusting that God's got them.  Ready or not, here they go and in those moments I have to trust that God's got them (or lose my sanity).  

Because, really, let's face it - are they ever "ready"? Are we ever "ready"?  It's exciting to watch your kiddos grow up and try new things, but it's also hard.  We know there is a chance for success, and there is a chance for failure.  We do what we can to make them ready.  But, in the end, the best thing we can do is love them. 

So, as you tuck your kiddos in tonight and think about the next new adventure, don't fret. They may not be "ready" but God's got them and they know you love them.  :)

Linking up here with other brave writers :)