Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Looking Back

It occurred to me recently that I have been in a LONG season of loss.  I did not "feel" the weary weightiness of these losses until the other day when it "dawned" on me that this was what was happening.

Moving three years ago was a big loss.  I moved away from my church and family.  I am fortunately able to still go to our church and see my family, but it is an hour way on a busy highway that really stresses me out.  Of course, I am blessed to have a house and I am thankful.  I plan to make the most of living down here, but I do long to move back home one day soon.



A year after we moved, my maternal grandmother passed away.  She was such a pillar of my life!  I had already lost my maternal grandfather a couple years before her, another severe loss.  They were part of the air that I breathed! They were a big part of who I was!



Another year passed, almost exactly a year later, and my paternal grandmother suddenly passed away from cancer.  I spent the next year mourning, but accepting God's timing of this devastating loss.  She was the kind of grandmother who was also a good friend.  I looked to her for guidance as well as love.  She left a big void.

I feel these losses very deeply. And now, we are ramping up to experience another kind of loss, our oldest is about to go to college next year.  Every day he separates a bit more than the day before.  I worry about his heart and I see him make decisions that do not honor God.  I have fears and worries that I need to give up to God and trust that he will not depart from the truth that he has grown up in.  I know that this is just part of the normal progression of growing up, and it is hardest the first time that parents go through this life change.  It still brings up a lot of questions like, "Did we do our best?"

These are all natural part of life losses and they are hard.  I thank God that I have put my faith, hope, and trust in Him.  I pray that through these losses I can hold fast to my faith and bring Him glory.  It is hard.  I want to pout some days and cry on others.  I am writing this to be transparent.  Life is messy.  Life is hard.  No one has it all together.  But there is hope!

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Lately












We finally got a short break from the oppressive heat and humidity, but it is on the way back.  That is the nature of late summer.  School is back in full swing, so it seems as if the weather should turn to more mild temperatures.  Fall is still a while away.

Our herbs are doing rather well at the moment.  We are enjoying fresh herbs in bread and sauces.  I am thinking of how I want to dry and store some for the winter.  These herbs are the only plants the bunnies did not destroy.  It also helps that we have had some wonderful rain recently.

This week is our first home football game for our local high school student.  I go to hear him in the band, of course.  It is a quite festive event.  This week they play the nearby rivals.  It is sure to be a crazy time.




Monday, August 15, 2016

Our State Fair in Pictures

Oh, my.  Time certainly flies when school is back in session.  We went to the state fair just before we started back to our lessons.  We had a wonderful time.  I really love our fair.  It is too bad that schools start back so early now.  Most people have to go on the weekends.  I do not know how the 4H kids do the fair at all.  We were very fortunate to be able to go early on the first Saturday.  The weather was warm, but not terrible, which was another mercy.  We also basically ate our way around the fair.  I am glad we also walked over 4 miles.  :)













































Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Early August Blessings









August has begun and life is full.  I feel so blessed!  And it is just starting.  School for our oldest is going well.  The younger two start this week.  We are looking forward to a return to the children's ministries at church later this month.  Youth group activities will begin soon as well.  Summer vacation has been wonderful, now it is time to get back to it.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Cakes, Cakes and More Cakes










We had a wonderful birthday celebration for Grace's 17th birthday last month. She and her nana made a couple cakes and she made cupcakes to share with friends.  It is hard to believe she is 17.  The cakes were very yummy, but I must confess that I have had enough cake for awhile!