My treasures
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Summer Love
I can remember standing in front of my mirror about the age of my older daughter (13) and singing away .....Summer love had me a blast lalalala ......I will spare you all the lyrics! But there was something about that song......that I just loved it was a frequent on my set list :-)
As I think about my love story now......one word comes to mind "distance" I know that isn't very romantic! There are many other words that would run a close second romance, tenderness, devotion, patience , and so on!! But distance is what comes to my mind now!
I was so bothered a few weeks ago when I saw segment on the news after the Gores announced their split after 40 years. First of all I was saddened for them and their family, to invest 40 years in a marriage and life together and just toss it to the side boggles my mind. But that isn't what truly bothered me, there was some type of "expert" ( I use that word very loosely) speaking to the fact that more and more couples are getting divorced later in life. In her words its a "trend" ! Lovely !!
Remember the term the "seven year itch" I remember after we made it 7 years thinking to myself well we are home free now !! She went onto to discuss that it use to be that if a couple made it 25 years they were in it for the long haul. To me that seems like a no brainer. But according to our new trend that is no longer the case. Couples are realizing that "they can find happiness later in life". In the second half or their life, as they have matured they are not the same person they were on their wedding day (no kidding) and now they may not be being fulfilled in their present marriage. What ever happened to the happiness of seeing your commitment to the end, fulfilling your vows, weathering the storms together, sickness and health till death do us part! Do those words ring a bell to anyone!! Almost all of us said those words in some order on the day we married !
But now we are faced with a new "trend" that sends all that out the window. For what ? oh that's right HAPPINESS !!
You know what I say to that .......its an escape hatch for a lot of selfish people! Its funny a few of us were sitting around talking about what we would do when our kids are grown and our commitments are less, not one of us said "it will be my time" or "finally I will do my own thing" We all chatted about how it will be a blessing to have more time to minister to others needs and take time to listen and not be so distracted. We would be able to mentor those who are in our shoes right now !! News flash that is true happiness !!
So that brings me back to my word DISTANCE !! When I was in 8th grade I ran cross country track, I was soooo slow but I loved being with friends. I also tell my kids all the time that they had a pizza party at the end of the season that I loved :-) But I started every race with the team and even though they always blew past me I steadily walked/ran the rest of it ....I always finished ..no short cuts ....staying on course....until I was over the finish line.
That's how I see my marriage......I am in it for the big pizza party !! Seriously, I want to make it to the end of the season with the team ( my husband and I) I want to go the distance.......it may seem easier to take a short cut, jump of course for a while or just call the race all together ! But there is something to be said for staying the course and crossing that finish line. Trends will come and trends will go........so I am going to let this one pass right on by me !
As I get ready to celebrate 14 years married .....romance is still very important to me but more important than that is knowing that our love and commitment is going the DISTANCE!! Our marriage is like a 3 legged race, sometimes we may stumble and fall but we are tied together by our hearts and we will cross that finish line together even if one is dragging the other !!
As I think about my love story now......one word comes to mind "distance" I know that isn't very romantic! There are many other words that would run a close second romance, tenderness, devotion, patience , and so on!! But distance is what comes to my mind now!
I was so bothered a few weeks ago when I saw segment on the news after the Gores announced their split after 40 years. First of all I was saddened for them and their family, to invest 40 years in a marriage and life together and just toss it to the side boggles my mind. But that isn't what truly bothered me, there was some type of "expert" ( I use that word very loosely) speaking to the fact that more and more couples are getting divorced later in life. In her words its a "trend" ! Lovely !!
Remember the term the "seven year itch" I remember after we made it 7 years thinking to myself well we are home free now !! She went onto to discuss that it use to be that if a couple made it 25 years they were in it for the long haul. To me that seems like a no brainer. But according to our new trend that is no longer the case. Couples are realizing that "they can find happiness later in life". In the second half or their life, as they have matured they are not the same person they were on their wedding day (no kidding) and now they may not be being fulfilled in their present marriage. What ever happened to the happiness of seeing your commitment to the end, fulfilling your vows, weathering the storms together, sickness and health till death do us part! Do those words ring a bell to anyone!! Almost all of us said those words in some order on the day we married !
But now we are faced with a new "trend" that sends all that out the window. For what ? oh that's right HAPPINESS !!
You know what I say to that .......its an escape hatch for a lot of selfish people! Its funny a few of us were sitting around talking about what we would do when our kids are grown and our commitments are less, not one of us said "it will be my time" or "finally I will do my own thing" We all chatted about how it will be a blessing to have more time to minister to others needs and take time to listen and not be so distracted. We would be able to mentor those who are in our shoes right now !! News flash that is true happiness !!
So that brings me back to my word DISTANCE !! When I was in 8th grade I ran cross country track, I was soooo slow but I loved being with friends. I also tell my kids all the time that they had a pizza party at the end of the season that I loved :-) But I started every race with the team and even though they always blew past me I steadily walked/ran the rest of it ....I always finished ..no short cuts ....staying on course....until I was over the finish line.
That's how I see my marriage......I am in it for the big pizza party !! Seriously, I want to make it to the end of the season with the team ( my husband and I) I want to go the distance.......it may seem easier to take a short cut, jump of course for a while or just call the race all together ! But there is something to be said for staying the course and crossing that finish line. Trends will come and trends will go........so I am going to let this one pass right on by me !
As I get ready to celebrate 14 years married .....romance is still very important to me but more important than that is knowing that our love and commitment is going the DISTANCE!! Our marriage is like a 3 legged race, sometimes we may stumble and fall but we are tied together by our hearts and we will cross that finish line together even if one is dragging the other !!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Best Mommy Award
Nicholas informed me yesterday, as he sweetly held my hand, that I have won the best mommy award ! My first thought was well today must have been an OK day as I breathe a sigh of relief. Because most days I think I am in the running only for the grumpy mom award! As I bask in the delight of the moment and he gently swings my arm back in forth, he quickly informs me that if God had a wife she would probably win best mom! Of course I had a good chuckle on that one. He reminded me that he did not think God was getting married so I would be able to stay the best mommy.
Sweet little encounters like that with my toothless 8 year old are the highlight of being a mom. I am realizing I have fewer and fewer of those moments left. Nick lost his first front tooth 2 days ago. I love that toothless smile! Its some type of a marking to me in their journey from my baby to being their own big kid. I have so far tucked 7 front teeth under pillows ! It struck me that I only have 1 more front tooth to go in my mommy journey. First it was everyone off bottles, then no more diapers, and how I rejoiced when they all slept through the night. One day I realized I did not have to pack a bag every time I went out of the house. Everyone gets in and out of the car all by themselves, most of the time truth be told they are waiting for me now.
Its really amazing how fast time goes by. I know we all say it a million times, and as moms we hear it from the veteran moms all the time. Cherish this time !! But how do you do that ? In the hustle and bustle of each day ?
Truthfully I don't know. I have given it a lot of thought lately. Am I spending more time maintaining and organizing the ones who live with me, than nurturing and loving them? Is it more important to me that my house is tidy (not if you looked at it today)and my kids are meeting a certain standard, or do my children get the best part of me ? Do they get to see and feel my heart ? Do they feel like they are at the top of my to do list ? I guess if I got up enough guts I would ask them. But truthfully I am still basking in holding the "best mommy award" for today. Knowing deep down inside I am not worthy of that title. Grateful that I have today to cherish my treasures !!
Sweet little encounters like that with my toothless 8 year old are the highlight of being a mom. I am realizing I have fewer and fewer of those moments left. Nick lost his first front tooth 2 days ago. I love that toothless smile! Its some type of a marking to me in their journey from my baby to being their own big kid. I have so far tucked 7 front teeth under pillows ! It struck me that I only have 1 more front tooth to go in my mommy journey. First it was everyone off bottles, then no more diapers, and how I rejoiced when they all slept through the night. One day I realized I did not have to pack a bag every time I went out of the house. Everyone gets in and out of the car all by themselves, most of the time truth be told they are waiting for me now.
Its really amazing how fast time goes by. I know we all say it a million times, and as moms we hear it from the veteran moms all the time. Cherish this time !! But how do you do that ? In the hustle and bustle of each day ?
Truthfully I don't know. I have given it a lot of thought lately. Am I spending more time maintaining and organizing the ones who live with me, than nurturing and loving them? Is it more important to me that my house is tidy (not if you looked at it today)and my kids are meeting a certain standard, or do my children get the best part of me ? Do they get to see and feel my heart ? Do they feel like they are at the top of my to do list ? I guess if I got up enough guts I would ask them. But truthfully I am still basking in holding the "best mommy award" for today. Knowing deep down inside I am not worthy of that title. Grateful that I have today to cherish my treasures !!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Day 1
To write or not to write ? that is the question before me.......so much swirling inside of my brain, so much bubbling inside my heart !! Is it just for me ? Probably ....... there is no easier way to get it all straight in my mind than to get it down on paper (so to speak) Its crystal clear when I can see the words before me!
So here it is ....maybe its therapy for me ! Maybe it will touch my kids at times, as they read of how much their mom cherishes this season she has with them !!
Maybe a handful of friends will read along once in awhile and get a good chuckle or shed a tear with me. Fellow travelers on the road called motherhood......could the road be more blurred ? Its comforting to know that we are not plodding along alone.
So here it is Day 1 ...no catchy title.....really no idea where it will go...maybe there won't be a
Day 2.............just a desire to write.......to see it in black & white before my eyes (and yours)
So here it is ....maybe its therapy for me ! Maybe it will touch my kids at times, as they read of how much their mom cherishes this season she has with them !!
Maybe a handful of friends will read along once in awhile and get a good chuckle or shed a tear with me. Fellow travelers on the road called motherhood......could the road be more blurred ? Its comforting to know that we are not plodding along alone.
So here it is Day 1 ...no catchy title.....really no idea where it will go...maybe there won't be a
Day 2.............just a desire to write.......to see it in black & white before my eyes (and yours)
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