A Glimpse of February

Surprise!  Two days in a row!

I guess I'm really needing to connect.

At least, I've moved from the sofa to the chair today.

That's a big step.

In the almost two years that we've been here, 

I've done little decorating. 

I had hoped to share my "pink" bedroom, 

which is actually gray, 

during Valentine's week.

I didn't add anything except the side table and lamp, 

but it made me feel good to make up the bed

if only for photos.

Hee! Hee!

I used pink in my wedding. 

It's always been my favorite color of choice

as most of you well know.

I think, 

pearls 

porcelain 

and pink!

I love the ambience here. 

This decor always makes me smile.

It will always be my favorite room. 

I had intended to share everyday in February with you, 

but of course, life happened.

So, you'll just get a glimpse.

Somewhere between then and now, 

this little girl grew up. 

When did this happen?  How did this happen?

This is my niece ready to go to her 8th grade Sweetheart dance. 

I can still see my little girl behind the make up and glam.

She has a piece of my heart, 

as these have my heart.

We kept the girls last Friday for the the mommies 

and daddies to have some time together. 

They had so much fun! 

Grandy enjoyed some one on one time with 

our oldest baby girl.

David is beginning to find some connection. 

He has been officially appointed Youth Pastor. 

The thought scares me to death. 

Being a PK, I know the expectations

the church has for its leaders.

This is a big step for him. 

He's an introvert by nature,

but a quiet, strong leader. 

It's intiminading when you're surrounded 

by seminary pastors, doctors and professors, 

educators and the educated. 

I told him, "They have the education.  You have the experience."

Doing youth ministry in the big city is not like 

doing it in a small town among a core group of leaders 

you started doing ministry with 35 years ago.

It's a challenge that we are looking at as opportunity.

These kids are precious. 

They are small, but mighty warriors for God. 

God is growing the church and that is exciting to watch.

It's not been an easy February.

This is how we do crazy when the whole family is sick and shut-in for days. 

Gonna start speaking some positive affirmations DAILY!

Missing Home

Looking back, I see that I've only blogged

about 5 times since before Christmas. 

It's been a really hard winter for us. 

David and I have been sick. 

We've both been to urgent care once 

and to the doctor twice in less than a month.

I had an asthma attack one night.

I will NEVER let my inhaler expire again.

We've managed to work, which has not 

necessarily been a good thing, giving 

our bodies little time to rest.

I had a tooth pulled which afforded me a 

few days off from work which I needed.

I've been in hibernation mode.

Spring is teasing me and playing with my emotions.

It's not been a cold winter in TN, 

but a dreary one with lots of gray skies 

and rain, cool and warm temperatures.

No Real Winter!

It will soon be 6 years in March since I've talked to my daddy.

This was his happy place.

This was home.

My husband's family lives on the other side of the lake now. 

Although I'm happy for them, it's hard 

to look across the water and see the old home place.

As I've said before, the hardest thing about 

going "home" is having no "home" to go home to. 

My daughter sent me a message this morning 

that they wanted to go "home" for a weekend.

She said, "Where will we stay?"

Right.  That's an issue. 

This is the image of my daddy that is forever etched in my mind.

The hard, hurting memories have now been replaced with 

good ones...

his teaching the little ones how to bait a hook 

and throw a pole or reel a fish in. 

I just wish he were here to teach my little ones...sniff! sniff!

I think the kids would like to go back here for a day.

It wasn't magnificent but it was home. 

I have many regrets, 

like why didn't we buy the home place.

We could have. 

We were just so ready to get away from all the pain. 

I've always heard, "Make no major decisions the first year."

I wish we had listened.

Some days, I long for the familiar. 

There are challenges with living near your grown children. 

We were empty nested for 13 years. 

We were on our own. 

We answered only to God. 

Sometimes the kids don't understand how we have changed. 

We're older. 

Sometimes, older looks "lazy."

We get tired easier.

Sometimes tired looks "depressed."

We like staying put and being home. 

Sometimes, staying put looks like

"you don't want to spend time with the children."

My longing for home, doesn't mean

I'm ready to move back. 

It just means I remember and I miss 

what can never be again. 

It's grieving and letting go. 

The first year here was our honeymoon. 

Now we are doing real life. 

Real life is hard. 

Change is not easy.

I think it takes us older ones a little longer to adjust. 

My kids may not see it like that. 

I'm gonna touch base with you guys for a bit, 

visit, then it's off to work I go.