Walking on sunshine

You may not know this if you don’t know me personally.  Yep, I have an addiction.   I’m dependent on sunshine.

Every winter, even though I do relish the cold weather and I’m crazy enough to say I enjoy snow, I start getting restless, weary, and downright grumpy come February.

I owe this moodiness to lack of sunlight. Winter’s short days coupled with dreary, overcast skies that usually accompany a good portion of the season here in my homeland seem to affect me negatively.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) because I don’t require medication or even light therapy, but the lack of light – in particular sunshine – and even a lack of brilliant colors definitely makes me a Grumpy Gerta.  Writing this post while seated at my kitchen table perusing a mostly brown, gray, and black landscape outside my window reminds me of this malady.

So every February, I anxiously await longer days, more sunshine, and whine at winter’s longevity, saying,  “Bring on the color, will ya??”  I first noticed my temperament became gloomy when we lived in the Pacific Northwest where the sunshine is minimal and the rainy skies continue for a good part of the year.

A wise advice giver told us to purchase a house with abundant windows, a home not located in a nest of those huge Douglas Fir trees that seemed everywhere.  We moved there from the Midwest plains where sunshine abounded and trees weren’t as high as skyscrapers.

During our first winter (if you could call a season without any frost winter), I noticed the ever constant overcast skies and lack of sunlight affected my demeanor.  When the sun came out, my world became rosy.  I was a most happy camper as my mood lightened, my steps became more springy, and my general outlook brighter.

Six years later, we moved back to our home state and my hometown.  Imagine my dismay to find out my neck of the woods (where winter definitely arrives) is also noted for lack of sunshine.  In 49 years of weather records, our nearest city supposedly averaged  sunny days only 45% of the year.   Some experts claim October is one of our sunniest months, which explains why I love fall weather.  And I LOVE sunshine!  When the sun beams, I beam.  It’s that simple.

So this week, it’s been rainy and dismal and drab and gray.   Need I go on?  Blah.  The sun appeared to be AWOL and that made me tired, apathetic, and lethargic.  Really, I just wanted to crawl back into bed yesterday because it was so bleak outside.  And I didn’t even feel like blogging!  Yes, it’s that serious!

But this morning gifted me little glimpses of sunshine literally and figuratively.  Every so often, rays of light peeked out from behind the clouds and streams of sunlight flooded through my windows.  Hurray!  I started feeling more perky.  I opened up my laptop, logged into WordPress and another little glimpse of sunshine poured into my day.  Dor over at  Technicolor Day Dreams  blessed me with a comment announcing that she nominated my blog for an award — get ready — the Sunshine Award!

Sunshine??  I’ll take it!!!  Gladly!!  What a sweet thing to be nominated for an award that is given to “bloggers who are inspirational, and who have impacted your blogging or your life.”

Here’s what Dor wrote to explain why she nominated Mama’s Empty Nest for this award:  “because she is “Mama” to everyone and writes luminous posts full of sunshine and hope – the perfect candidate for this award.”

Dor doesn’t know me personally; she doesn’t know that I LOVE sunshine.  She doesn’t know that my goal is to spread some sunshine and hope into this dark world.  But she sees that in my posts which sends rays of sunshine into my soul.  Thank you, Dor! I awakened this morning thinking I had nothing to write about today but just one or two rays of light provided inspiration.

I’m happy to comply with the rules of the Sunshine Award.  Heck, when the sun shines, I’m just happy to comply –  period.   So here goes:

Sunshine Award Rules:

• Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog.  Check.  See the logo, it even looks happy, doesn’t it?
• Answer 10 questions about yourself. Check. Q & A  below!
• Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers.  Check. The difficult part is narrowing down the nominations because a myriad of fabulous bloggers exist out there.  My faves listed below.
• Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated. Check.  That’s the fun part!
• Share the love and link the person who nominated you.  Check.  Dor, you’re incredibly kind and sweet!

Ten Sunshine Award Questions (and answers):

Favorite color:  Yellow!  Of course, the color of sunshine!

Favorite animal:  Cat, namely one beautiful calico kitty named Callie

Favorite number:  Eight (it’s a recurring theme in my life)

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Tea, hot or iced,  hands down.  I also like….you guessed it….sun tea.

Prefer Facebook or Twitter?  I’m not on Twitter (probably because I’m too wordy!!), so I’ll have to say Facebook (although it aggravates me sometimes.  But that post I’ll save for another day.)

My passion:   #1 – God (He created the sun and gave us His Son!)  #2 –  my husband and family.   #3 –  writing, it does give me joy.

Prefer getting or giving presents:  Receiving gifts is not high on my love language list, but I so enjoy giving joy to others with a meaningful gift.

Favorite pattern:  Beams of sunshine slicing their way through the clouds (like in my photo!)

Favorite day of the week:  Friday (it’s usually a day off, my catch-up day, my do whatever I feel like day!)

Favorite flower:  So hard to choose!!!  I vacillate between lily of the valley, lilac, and hyacinth.  Bet you thought I’d say daffodils or buttercups because they are yellow! I like them too, but I love lily of the valley for their tiny, delicate blooms, lilac and hyacinth for their lovely fragrance.

And now it’s time to pass the torch of sunshine to my fellow, inspirational bloggers listed in no particular order but as they came to mind.  Thank you all for sending a little light and sunshine into my blogging world.

I must apologize for two things though. First, I’ve mentioned several of these bloggers before (I can’t help it, they are my favorites!!) and I haven’t had much free time to seek out a lot of new blogs to read.  Second, if you’ve already received this award, I’m sorry, but you are my sunshine and you deserve to be recognized again!

1. Grace For My Mess  I always find rays of sunshine at Jana’s blog as she writes about her faith and family, spreading the light of our Savior to all who read her posts.
2. Homestead Ramblings  HR was one of my very first contacts in the blogging world and she has become one of my dearest friends.  Her insights inspire me and are illuminating as well.
3. Georgette Sullins Blog  Another blogger that I’ve come to think of as a dear friend.  Her life stories never fail to intrigue me and make me smile.  Smiling is sunshine for the soul.
4. My Wife Doesn’t Think I’m Funny  His wife may not think this guy is funny, but I think he’s hysterical.  His posts always make me laugh and not being much of a humor writer myself, I admire that about him.
5. Coming East  Simply put, Susan’s posts are interesting and well-written.
6. Seeing Beauty  I recently stumbled upon this young writer and immediately sensed a beautiful soul, one who serves others in a far-off land.
7. Stories About My Life, 92% True  Jimmy keeps me updated on what happened in the 80’s (the ‘lost’ decade I can’t remember because I was too busy giving birth and raising three kids!) as he writes nostalgic stories for his family but manages to amuse the rest of his readers, me included.
8. Big Happy Nothing  Amiable, Amiable just exudes fun and just like we need sunshine, we all need a little fun in our lives too!
9. Minding My Nest  With that common theme of nests in mind, I enjoy reading Kelly’s journey coping with her “not so empty nest.”  She fills her nest and blog with great pictures, awesome recipes, and creative craft ideas.
10. These Days of Mine   A day without Dianna’s blog is like a day without sunshine.
11. Inspired Visions  I’m always inspired by this blogger’s visions which are her wonderful photographs.
12. Montana Outdoors  Even when this talented photographer posts pictures of snow and ice, it warms my heart.  He’s a down to earth, homespun kind of guy, one you’d be happy to call your friend.

Today in my Opportunity book, I feel like I’ve been transported to sunny California.   The sun is shining outside and in my heart of joy, I’m walking on sunshine.

Copyright ©2012 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Catching my breath and saying thanks

Henry Kissinger supposedly said, “There cannot be a stressful crisis next week.  My schedule is already full.”

That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling this week.  Mama’s nest may be empty, but her schedule is not only full but overloaded!

 To say it’s been busy here lately is a gross understatement.

With all THREE of my children getting married this year, the pace of life has ratcheted up several notches!

Here’s a run-down of my week’s calendar since last Friday.

• Friday, January 27 – Drive into city to go with both daughters for evening appointment at bridal salon.  Grab fast food dinner on way to salon.  Watch oldest daughter try on several gowns.  More to come on that!  She did say yes to the dress! (And we were there until past closing time!)

• Saturday, January 28 – Clean house, run to grocery store in morning.  Visit yet another wedding reception venue with oldest daughter, fiancé, and Papa in afternoon.  After preparing decent sit-down dinner for four, try to relax and watch movie with family.
• Sunday, January 29 – Attend church and then visit another wedding reception venue. Say goodbye to oldest daughter’s fiancé on his way back to that other state and say hello to middle daughter who came home from the city for more wedding planning.  Spend all evening researching wedding ideas, invitations, cakes, flowers, etc. with oldest daughter and planning the next two days’ activities with middle daughter.
• Monday, January  30 – Work all day.  Call church to book oldest daughter’s wedding date.  Receive text message from her that chosen reception venue site is now taken on that date.  Call church again to ask for other open dates and chose one.  Text daughter.  Call church again (by now, the secretary must think I’m insane!) to confirm and book a different date.  Immediately upon return home, run to craft store with middle daughter to purchase decoration supplies.  Turn the kitchen into a wedding preparation station, but still take time to watch “The Bachelor” with middle daughter so we can complain about all the annoying girls on the show.
• Tuesday, January 31 – Take day off work to perform various tasks with middle daughter including cutting, gluing, making lists, searching online, and general wracking brain for ideas.  Stop.  Drive to chiropractor’s appointment to be cracked, popped, stretched, and adjusted because hip is really acting up.  Feel sick afterwards but decide there’s no time for that.  Meet oldest daughter at 5 p.m. appointment at reception venue to sign contract and make deposit.  Come home, grab dinner, and order decorating items found online.
• Wednesday, February 1 -  Go to work and try to accomplish as much as possible.  Attend co-worker’s family member’s memorial service with other co-workers.  Grab dinner and head off to church with hubby for Bible study, which he is leading.  Check email and note that son sent a link to his engagement photos with fiancée.  Quickly glance at all 187 photos and decide to table deciding on favorite one for another day.  Spend restless and sleepless night.
• Thursday, February 2 – Go to work with headache and toothache (probably from stress).  Go straight from work to chiropractor’s appointment.  Meet hubby at home, grab quick dinner, and proceed to church for evening event with guest speaker (dear friend of mine). Remember to show son’s online engagement photos to hubby.  (Still haven’t picked which one to use for engagement announcement.)
• Friday, February 3 – Try to organize bridal bombardment that’s taken over dining room.  Chat by phone with sister to arrange for trip out of town next week to search for mother of the bride dress (that’s right, I still don’t have a dress to wear for wedding number one!)  Run to nearby fabric store in search of elusive item needed for table centerpieces.  Come home disappointed and empty handed.  Turn to the internet to search for item, still not found.  Spend way too much time viewing wedding sites.  And finally, log in to neglected blog where I find I’m very behind in approving comments, replying to comments, not to mention reading my favorite fellow bloggers’ posts.

That’s been my week in a nutshell, with no end in sight.  By the end of this year, I will have scads of time to devote to whatever I want, including this blog.  For now, I’m just trying to keep my head above water and my body from collapsing.  Breathe, breathe, just breathe.  That’s become my new mantra.

All of this is my feeble attempt to explain why I haven’t responded to some very kind and encouraging people who lauded my blog with more awards back in January.

I’ve been remiss in not acknowledging and publicly thanking the generous fellow writers who bestowed honor on me and I’m so sorry for that.  Kate at Believe Anyway graciously sent two such awards my way.  One was the HUG Award, created by blogger Connie Wayne.   If you’d like to know more about this award, you can read about it here.  Thank you, Kate, for deeming my blog worthy of this honor.

Kate also passed One Lovely Blog Award on to Mama’s Empty Nest.  There are no rules for this award, and I find myself grateful for that because, frankly, I just don’t have time to follow a list of rules right now.   All of my blogging buddies have most lovely blogs, so if you’re reading this, you’re a blogger, and I read your posts, please consider yourself named as One Lovely Blog!

Another new friend, Dor from Technicolor Day Dreams,  bestowed the Versatile Blogger upon me.  Thank you, Dor, for thinking of me in this category.  I appreciate your nomination very much and I’m enjoying getting to know you!

I received this award once before and followed the rules then, which are: thank the person who nominated you and link back to them in your post;  share seven things about yourself; pass the award on to 15 more bloggers, and contact the bloggers you have chosen to let them know they have been selected.  But this time around, forgive me for not following the rules and passing on the award.

I’m truly thankful for these new friends and their sweet recognition.  Their encouragement gives me joy on this day in my book of Opportunity.

I’m just sorry I can’t participate in the award giving as much as I’d like to, but honestly, I’m just trying to tread water here the last few weeks and it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon.

Breathe, breathe, breathe.  And in the meantime, give thanks.

Copyright @2012 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Mutual admiration society

Reader Appreciation Award

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” ~  Voltaire

Another year soon comes to a close…a year of writing in my book called Opportunity.  So many of you have joined me on this journey by subscribing and reading my posts this past year.

As we say goodbye to 2011, I think it’s fitting that I write about another blog award, The Reader Appreciation Award, bestowed upon me from my friend, Georgette at Georgette Sullin’s Blog.

I appreciate this gracious lady -not because she’s presented awards to me – because she’s a faithful reader and ardent commenter of this blog.  Reading her kind thoughts and tidbits of info she leaves in my comment box gives me pleasure.   Receiving a notification that she’s written a comment on a post I’ve just published is like finding a little surprise gift left on my front porch.

This recent award is slightly different from all of the others because it recognizes your blog’s top readers by the number of comments they’ve posted and really, where would we writers be if we had no readers?   We would not receive feedback, suggestions, encouragement, or support if it weren’t for these wonderful people.

I, for one, never miss reading Georgette’s blog and because she writes about such interesting topics, I usually comment to let her know how much I enjoy her writing or mention something I want to share with her.   My comments earned me a spot on her reader’s appreciation award post.

When she honored me with this award, she blessed me with her descriptive words:  “This reader shares her faith journey through her online journal. It is thoughtful, reflective and beautifully written. I enjoy each of her stories that usually focus on family, among my favorite topics.”

Thank you, Georgette, for the lovely sentiment and the award!  But enough about me, this post is about you, you, and you, my readers.  Now it’s my turn to show my appreciation to top readers by passing on the Reader Appreciation Award to these honorees.  The following are the rules for this award:

• Award your top 6 bloggers who have commented the most.

• Be thankful.

• You cannot award someone who has already been awarded. And you cannot give the award back to me.

• Don’t forget to tell the bloggers you’ve awarded.

• If you don’t want to pass on this award, that’s okay too.

Blog statistics rate top readers by the total comments they’ve made, not how many times they’ve read my blog.  Actually my first two top readers are Georgette and Dianna over at These Days of Mine (another of my faves!), but since they have already received this award, I can’t “re-gift” it back to them.   I appreciate them both very much though for all the encouragement they graciously bestow on my writing endeavors.

My next top reader, Just Me, is a dear friend from my days of living in the Pacific Northwest and alas, she doesn’t blog.  But she deposits meaningful and sweet words on my posts to let me know what she thinks.  I am most grateful for her friendship and the thoughts she leaves for me to enjoy.

So my next top readers who also are fellow bloggers include: [drum roll, please]

1. My good friend, Homestead Ramblings, with whom I connected shortly after I started my WordPress blog.  We started an instant kinship and I know we’ll be friends for life.  When I was feeling a real disconnect with many things in my world,  God caused our paths to cross.  I’m so grateful for HR’s friendship, her caring consideration,  and her always supportive comments.
2. Susan, who writes Coming East, gets me.  Her thoughtful comments make me laugh and nod my head in agreement.  I sure hope I do the same for her because I’ve enjoyed getting to know her through her blog.
3. My lovely and gentile friend, Saturday Evening Front Porch is another buddy I’ve had since the early stages of my blog.  Through our empty nest connection, we found each other, and we learned that we have much in common, even though I’m a Northern gal and she’s a Southern belle.  I always appreciate her humor and her gracefulness.  She’s a gem.
4. Montucky is a fairly new friend.  He takes the most breathtakingly beautiful photographs out in his home state of Montana.  Even though my photos are very amateur and I use a simple point and shoot digital camera, he encourages me with his kind comments.  Thank you, Montucky!
5. Patty over at The Fearless Cooking Club likes my blog often and that plus her comments make me smile.  Don’t go to her blog if you’re hungry because she posts the most amazing pictures of  the delicious food she makes and you’ll find yourself drooling!
6. Two fairly new blogging friends tied for 6^th place with their comment totals –  HappyKidsHappyMom who writes Play 101 and Yen at One Thing.  Both of these younger ladies make my day sparkle when I read their comments, and I love the inside peeks they give me into their lives through their blogs.  Thank you, sweet ladies!

I know there are many, many more faithful readers who click on my little blog-space out there in cyber world but don’t leave comments.  My stats tell me you’re out there…reading.  And I thank you wholeheartedly.  The leaps my statistics chart demonstrates when you visit my blog makes my grateful-meter jump too!

So to all my loyal readers, I’m not sure why you keep coming back to read my rantings observations on life, but thank you, thank you very much for doing so.  I appreciate each and every one of you, even if I don’t know who you are.  (Just a hint – why not leave a message telling me why you keep coming back?)

As I close my book of Opportunity (2011), we’ll soon embark on a new adventure in the new year – 2012 – just around the corner.  I hope you come along with me for the ride and join me in our mutual admiration society.

 ©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Good tidings we bring

Merry Christmas to all my faithful readers from Mama’s Empty Nest!

I’m thankful for all of you and I pray you have a blessed day today on this 25th page, Chapter 12, in my book entitled Opportunity.

Thanksgiving blessings

Thanksgiving

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.”

Here at Mama’s Empty Nest, we give thanks today,  this Page 24, Chapter 11 in my book entitled Opportunity, to the One who provides our needs.

May you be blessed with love, family, and friends on this special day and may you have many blessings to count.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Know that the Lord is God.

   It is He who made us, and we are His;

   we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

   and His courts with praise;

   give thanks to Him and praise His name.

 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

   His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

~Psalm 100:3-5

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Counting blessings, a family legacy

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year and it is right around the corner of next week.

My family and I have so much for which to be thankful.

As often happens when I think about the blessings I’ve been given, I immerse myself in the waves of nostalgia for memories that envelope my heart in gentle, caressing folds of love.

In the last years of my maternal grandparents’ lives, they resided with my parents and me.  Both Grandpa and Grandma died, within six months of each other, the year I turned nine.  So my childhood memories of them are brief but certain aspects of our life together remain vividly ensconced in my mind.

One of those cherished vignettes is sitting side by side with my grandmother in her favorite rocking chair singing hymns as we rocked in time.   Grandma may not have realized it,  but she instilled God’s Word in my heart with those “hymn sings” we shared.  She also taught me valuable life lessons through the words of those songs, one of which was to be thankful for my blessings.

I distinctly remember those song lyrics and one particular hymn has been swirling around my mind all week.  Today, this Sunday, in my book of Opportunity, Chapter 11, Page 20, we sang this old hymn, Count Your Blessings, in worship at our country church.

My husband and I worshiped God today in the sanctuary of this church  - where we were married and where middle daughter will marry her true love in a few months; where both of my parents grew up as members; where all four of my grandparents belonged; where my great-great grandparents were two of eight founding members back in 1820 – this church which was built upon ground donated by those great-great grandparents.

As I sang this well-loved tune, I thought about the legacy of my family heritage in this church.  In my mind’s eye, I envisioned my ancestors who worshiped God in that very spot all those long years ago.

But mostly as I heard those familiar musical notes, I could picture my elderly grandmother and my little childhood self in our living room at home, rocking in that special chair, and praising God as two voices – one worn, weathered, and cracked and one young, high-pitched, and tender –  sang:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

    Refrain:

    Count your blessings, name them one by one,

    Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

    Count your blessings, name them one by one,

    Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

So I am counting my many blessings and naming them one by one.  Even though this year had its challenges, I’m thankful.   One of my blessings is being the wife of my true love and mother of three amazing adults who come back to the empty nest from time to time for visits.

This past fall, our oldest daughter moved back to our nearby city from a state down south and it’s so good to know she’s within easy driving distance again.   Recently, she told me this: “I love being 10 minutes from one of my best friends, 35 minutes from my mom and dad and 10 feet from my sister!”  (They share an apartment in the city.)

Sounds like she’s very grateful and counting her blessings as well.  I’m hopeful that counting our blessings will always be an essential element in our family legacy.

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Nostalgia lesson – past, present, and future

My mom on the farm

“Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson:  you find the present tense, but the past perfect.” ~ Owens Lee Pomeroy

Living in the present IS tense.  Just pick up a newspaper, turn on the TV, or click on an internet news site.

You’ll find headlines screaming at you about economic crisis, crime, joblessness,  war, homelessness, natural disasters, and social disasters.  It’s enough to make you crawl back into bed, pull the covers up tightly over your head, and pull a Rip Van Winkle, hopefully awakening in 20 years to find it’s all over.

Maybe that’s why my mind often reverts to the past because the present is just so difficult to maneuver.   It’s true nostalgia makes one feel better, and when we look back at the past, we tend to remember the perfect moments.

The other day, I drove to a much-needed hair appointment at my favorite salon.   The morning air proved cool enough to fling my car sun roof wide open and power all the windows down.  Traveling on some country back roads to get to the highway, I relished the refreshing morning air, and that’s when I heard it.

A distinct sound immediately transported me back to the past, back to my grandparents’ house.  Somewhere a rooster crowed.   Loudly.   His “cock-a-doodle-doo” rang through the air.  Instantly, I remembered the chicken coop at my grandparents’  where roosters and hens roamed the yard freely.

I also recalled one old mean rooster from which I steered away because he frightened me.  Let’s just say he didn’t like the hand that fed him, that’s for sure.  Once he attacked my grandmother flogging her legs and hands until blood flowed from them.  Since she was elderly, she couldn’t scurry fast enough away from his menacing, pecking beak.  If I remember correctly, he ended up being Sunday dinner.

I was just a young child then, but I remember those things well.  When I think about chickens, I also recollect one Easter when my sister brought home two baby chicks.  They were the cutest, downy fluffs.  But as they grew, they became destined to join the other chickens over at Grandma’s house.   They weren’t so cute then.   In the past, they were adorable.  In the present, not so much.

Later on my day out,  I visited a local antique store.  I’m always on the prowl for vintage items that middle daughter (my antique loving one) might use for her wedding plans.  It was hot and humid in the store, just like stepping back into years of old when air conditioning didn’t exist.  The wooden floor creaked under my feet and the place was crammed full of furniture, what-nots, dishes, you name it.  If it was vintage, it was sitting somewhere in that shop.  Even an old pump-organ rested there amid the clutter.

As I roamed among the nostalgic wares, my eyes would spy something that reminded me of my mother or my grandmother which prompted another trip down memory lane.   Those kitchen items there – Grandma had those.  That lovely dresser set consisting of mirror, jars, comb and brush -  similar to a set my mother used.

All the items packed into that shop were useful in the past; some of them were loved and treasured by someone.  Now they just gathered dust sitting on shelves, crowded into spaces where a passerby might happen to take a liking to them.   In a way, it saddened me to think about all of the lives those discarded items represented.

After a while, the search for just the right treasure proved elusive.  Wilting from the humidity, I crawled back into my car, cranked the a/c up and headed home.  On my way, it occurred to me that we humans resemble those antiques.   Useful, loved and treasured for a few seasons, but one day, life on this earth must end.   For most of us, we’ll only be remembered when something triggers a memory of us in a living soul who once knew and loved us.

It’s true that we are like the grass as God’s Word reminds us in Isaiah 40:6-8: “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them.  Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

We wither, we fade away, but that doesn’t mean life is without purpose.  When our purpose is to live for Christ, show others His love, and lead them to Him, our past may not be perfect, neither may our present be,  but the future?  Oh, that will be perfect! Coming face to face with Jesus in Glory, hearing Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” and spending eternity with Him is the most picture-perfect future I can imagine.

In my book called Opportunity, Chapter 7 is coming to a close.  On this 30^th page, I’m thankful that the God of the Universe loves me (and you) and desires for us to spend our futures with Him.   To receive that gift of grace that will last for all time, all we have to do is acknowledge that we are His and accept that Jesus is our Savior.

The following Casting Crowns song is one of my favorites.  Even though you and I are just vapors in the wind, flowers quickly fading, waves tossed in the ocean, He hears us and He saves us.

© 2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Fallen and can’t get up?

The other day I fell.

I didn’t trip, stumble, stagger, tumble, slip, teeter or lose my balance.  I fell.  Hard.

I lurched.  I sprawled.  I dropped faster than the proverbial hot potato.  I was down for the count like a boxer who just took one to the chin and kisses the canvas of the boxing ring floor.   And I can blame it on my computer.

Sitting in my family room on my day off, I needed to complete a work project, so I had brought my office laptop computer home with me.  While working on that device,  I also decided to fire up my personal laptop.

I happily bounced back and forth between typing my project on the business computer to checking Facebook updates, email and blog stats on my personal one.  You see, I really am a bonafide multi-tasker.  I believe it’s my middle name.

Ward, the work computer, indicated his battery was draining fast, so I plugged his cord into the electrical outlet.  Of course, Penelope, the personal laptop, had to follow suit.  And she was downright pesky about it.  She kept beeping at me and then gave off a dire warning, so I located her adapter cord and plugged her in as well.

There they sat, Ward and Penny, side by side on the coffee table, recharging so they could further assist me, while I occupied the couch, crunching some numbers on a calculator.   And then the phone rang – not my cell, the house phone in the kitchen.

One minute I stood up to rush to answer the phone, the next minute I slammed into the floor.  Belly-flopped.  Face planted in the carpet.  Stunned and thinking, “What the heck just happened to me?”

I lifted my head,  expecting to have a bloody nose because I smacked the floor face first that hard.  Relieved to see no blood, I rolled over to take assessment of the rest of my body.  That’s when I noticed one of the laptop cords was still twirled around my big toe (yeah, I never wear shoes in the house) and obviously was the culprit for taking me down.

I slowly worked my way into an upright position, thankfully realizing nothing was broken on me or the laptops.  I vaguely remembered the odd sensation of lurching forward unable to catch myself, hitting my left hip on the edge of the coffee table and my right hip on the arm of the sofa on my way down to my crash landing on the floor.

I still can’t quite understand how Penelope and Ward managed to stay perfectly perched on the coffee table though, while I ended up sprawled on the carpet.    I always accuse both computers of having  minds of their own, and now I’m wondering if the two of them were in cahoots – you know, a conspiracy theory.

The day after my plummet, I definitely felt the damage – both hips bruised and even my stomach hurt from the impact.   For a few days afterward, you could have nick-named me “Hop-a-Long,” as I ambled slowly especially while going up and down our staircase.

So why write about obviously being a klutz?  I do so because it occurred to me, each time I winced from my bruises, that my fall describes what life is often like.  One minute you’re breezing along like nobody’s business, taking care of business, and then boom!

You’re laid flat.  Something knocks you for a loop.  The rug gets pulled out from under you.  You never saw it coming.   Those hidden obstacles send you reeling and flying.   That’s life.  There’s not much we can do about that.   Bad things happen.  Falls occur.  Things don’t turn out the way you expect.

But there is something we can do about the way we respond to the bumps and lumps, twists and turns, and belly-smackers and head-bangers on our way.  Do we wallow while we’re down, drowning ourselves with misery and “woe is me” attitudes?  Do we just give up saying, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!?”  Or do we dust ourselves off, pick ourselves up, and move forward?

My middle daughter experienced her fair share of disappointments while she was still a college student.  An injury sidelined her from her sport of choice, but instead of feeling sorry for herself, she simply moved on and attempted something different – running on the college cross country team.

Once during an important meet, she was closing in on the finish line, when splat –  she fell!   Those watching all gasped.  She could have quit, she could have writhed on the ground weeping in despair.  But she didn’t!  She scrambled to her feet, planted a smile on her face, and finished the race bleeding knees and all.  I’ve always admired her courage and guts in doing so.

I’d like to think she inherited her determination from her parents, but I attribute her tenacity and optimistic attitude to her faith in God.  He helped her through the long haul.  She’s learned to hold onto her faith in Jesus for dear life and when we fall, as we surely do, He offers His hand to lift us up.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12-14,  “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

My recent fall reminded me today in my Opportunity book, Chapter 7, Page 12, that even though life looks so very rosy right now at our house, falls will come.  Obstacles will cause me to stumble; circumstances will happen beyond my control.  But I must forget what’s behind and remember instead to press forward knowing that Jesus stands ever ready to help and guide me.  Even though I will fall,  He will always be there for me just as He always has been, arms outstretched ready to pick me up.

Deuteronomy 33:27 promises that to all of those who put their faith in Christ Jesus:  “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.” 

What about you?  Do you believe God’s everlasting arms are always underneath you?  Won’t you join me today, right now, in thanking Him for always being within our reach?

“Underneath are the everlasting arms.  What child of God was ever allowed to fall lower than God’s underneath?” ~ H. Gill

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Lest we forget the need

Image via science.howstuffworks.com

As I enjoyed a restful, relaxing Mother’s Day yesterday,  thousands of my fellow Americans exhausted themselves cleaning up from the aftermath of tornadoes in the deep South.

While I lathered myself up with soap in a hot shower, many of them have nowhere to wash their hands.

As I plugged in my hair dryer, hundreds and hundreds of Southerners are living without electricity.

While I turned on my faucet to fill my tea kettle with good, clean water for my morning cup of tea, scads of my fellow countrymen have no running water.

As I consumed a hot breakfast cooked over my own stove,  hundreds of tornado victims have neither stove nor hot food.

While I casually perused my closet to choose clothing for the day, their clothes have been destroyed or blown away.

As I rode in my own vehicle to attend church, many have been left without transportation and many have lost even their place of worship.

While I gaily chatted on the phone with each of my three grown children and felt blessed by their Mother’s Day wishes, hundreds of people still mourn the loss of their loved ones who were killed by the killer twister.

As I sat on my overstuffed, comfy chair with my feet propped up, my fellow human beings have no furniture to rest upon.

While I communicated on my blog, through email and Facebook with friends and strangers via my laptop, those who’ve lost everything feel cut off from the entire world.

As I lay in my warm, comfortable bed with a soft pillow for my head, plenty to eat and drink and a roof over my head,  countless of God’s beloved children have no place to rest and no place to call home.

There, but for the grace of God go I….and you….what are we going to do about it?

While I contemplate my blessings in my Opportunity book today on page 9 in Chapter 5, may I suggest you do the same?  Those of us who are blessed with much dare not forget about those who have lost everything in tornadoes and other disasters.

I urge you to consider donating monetary aid to the organizations helping our brothers and sisters in need.  Here are a few trustworthy organizations that can use your donations to directly help victims:

www.samaritanspurse.org

www.salvationarmyusa.org

www.redcross.org/

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Not your typical day

It starts as a typical day off work.

Crawl out of bed.  Perform usual morning tasks which include looking out the window to find a dreary, rainy and chilly day greeting you.

Gather up laundry.  Eat breakfast enjoying that first hot, soothing cup of tea.

Tell husband about the crazy dreams you had.  Laugh out loud at his reaction.

Throw first load of laundry in the washing machine.  Think about what household chores need to be accomplished.  Decide they can wait and power up the laptop.  Log into Facebook.   Read updates on your friends and relatives near and far.

Decide to check blog and perhaps write a short post for today.   Click on WordPress.  Stare at WordPress home page.   Blink.  Stare again at home page.  Blink… blink… blink.

Gasp out loud.  Mind begins rapid-fire monologue.  What?!?!  Is that real?  Do you honestly see what you think you see?  Could it be?

On the Freshly Pressed home page for www.wordpress.com there sits a picture that looks exactly like the one you used in yesterday’s post.  Blink again.

The upper-right corner of the page boasts the freshly pressed post entitled,  “When nature shows no mercy” by Mama’s Empty Nest.  That’s you!!  Sit back in your chair and let the shock sink in.

Blink again and again.  Stare intently at your computer screen to make sure your eyes are not playing tricks on you.   Nope, still there.  You’ve just been freshly pressed for all WordPress bloggers to see!

Yell at husband to come look as you incredulously explain, “I think I’ve been freshly pressed.”  He grins at you and says, “Wow!  That’s great!”   You grin back and stare again at the screen with him.  Shock.  Total shock.

Hubby grabs your cell phone and texts your three adult children: “Your Mom has made the big time on WordPress!  Her blog from yesterday was posted on freshly pressed on the front page.  This made her day.  You should take a look and congratulate her.  Love, Dad.”

You finally come out of your shock stupor to actually log into your blog.  And there you see proof that it’s true.  Your site stats have soared to heights never seen before.   Fellow bloggers are leaving comments for you.  In the blogging world, it’s an exciting day.

Friends write congratulations on your Facebook wall.  Your children respond with messages and phone calls.  They’re proud of their mama.  They tell you again what an awesome writer you are.  (Of course they believe that, they’re your offspring!)

Oldest daughter tells you “Mom, you’re going to be a famous blogger!”

And your reply is “Ha! Only for one day!”

And that’s the truth.  When the fervor dies down,  the site stats will return to the normal range.  Your 15 minutes of fame will be over.

For what it’s worth, you’re relishing the ride on these last few pages in Chapter 4 of your book called Opportunity.   But more than that, you hope and pray lives were touched by what you write, which always comes from God placing thoughts in both your heart and mind.

Thank you WordPress and all you fellow bloggers and readers out there.   Thanks to you, it’s been a thrilling roller coaster of a ride!

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com