Empty?

This doesn't feel exactly like I thought it would feel. Our youngest daughter moved into her dorm at college last week and although I am not sure what I expected, it has been somewhat uneventful. Don't get me wrong, the many days of shopping and packing prior to the move were busy and full of activity. The actual day was exhausting and exciting. 
 We transitioned a room from this...

to this...

And then when I saw her looking like this....

It was really difficult to feel very sad. After all, this is what we have been working toward, right? Another step toward independence - this is a very good thing! So, even though I miss her and find myself wondering what she is doing, what she is eating, how did she sleep last night, my heart is full of joy, not empty, as we enter this new season in our lives.

Congratulations to our daughter, Rebecca!
We are so proud of you and know that you will do very well as you enter into this new time of your life! 

I love you very much!

Messy

My house is messy. It was only cleaned yesterday but it remains messy. There are books piled here and there, projects started and stashed away, and beloved items that won't be thrown away but have yet to find a "home" in our house. It seems I can't keep up with it, so the messiness remains here and there and it just gets cleaned around. On Monday, our daughter leaves for an extended vacation with some friends. I keep wondering if I should take some of that "free" time (haha...she is 18 years old!) and tackle some big cleaning project and do a little decorating, or develop some feng shui. But then I remember what I read about feng shui. One of the original uses of feng shui was to orient tombs in China. Tombs. That seems so unappealing and contrary to to living - the messy, breathing, living that goes on in my home. Maybe I will start another project....like painting.

WOW!

Oh my gracious! Our baby daughter graduates from High School tonight!

Restoration

When I first sang this song in a worship service nearly 5 years ago...I loved it.  I wept with joy at the truth and prayed that He would turn my mourning into laughing and turn my sadness into joy.

Years have gone by and I still love this song.  I really love the truth in this song.  And I really, really love that it is true for me.

He is faithful!  He brings restoration!



As seen on : David Brymer - restoration (elciProductions cover)

 
You bring restoration
You bring restoration
You bring restoration
to my soul

You've taken my pain
called me by a new name
You've taken my shame
and in it's place, You give me joy

You take mourning and turn it into dancing
You take weeping and turn it into laughing
You take mourning and turn it into dancing
You take my sadness and turn it into joy

hallelujah, hallelujah
You make all things new, all things new

All Things New

Well, hmmm.
I logged into blogger this evening with thoughts of blogging which have now totally left my mind.  Blogger has totally changed their format and I cannot figure out how to move my signature to the bottom of the page.  Oh bother.

I suppose I will have to spend a little time figuring out how to make this work again.

And I was also given the option to create a new blog.  I found it interesting that I was prompted to do that in such a bold and random fashion, but I actually gave it a bit of thought.  I started this blog as a means by which to communicate interesting thoughts and photos to my friends and family.  We had moved to Texas after living in Virginia for nearly 12 years, and I thought it would be fun.  Well, it was fun and then almost everyone ended up on facebook.  (which I have a love/hate relationship with)  Sometime during my heavy blogging phase, I was regularly reading other blogs and commenting on them.  I made "blog" friends.  At the time, my husband was getting his master's degree and I had a lot of free time to ponder, write, etc.  That has changed now and the time I have is spent with him or my family and the newest "time taker", the Biblical Counseling certification that I am working toward.  Now only a few people read my blog, close friends and family, and this is fine since it is why I do this.  But as I contemplate a "new" blog, I give it serious thought for one reason and one reason only.  I have one person, who reads this blog on a regular basis (on average, twice a week), who I am just a little uncomfortable with.  Years ago, there were posts on this blog that were hurtful and mean.  The appropriate apologies have been made and that relationship is now ended...but these former friends continue to read my blog.  I am bewildered.  Stunned, even.  The same person has blocked me on facebook...but visits here.  I understand that this is a public domain, free and available to anyone, but why bother?  I can only hope that it is because the person still cares in some odd sort of way.  Or maybe there is still fear that I would write something that would embarrass or hurt them?  Only they know why they lurk here.

So, I will have to give this some thought.  I have evaluated it for years...yes, years.  I have prayed over it.  I have discussed it at length with ministers and counselors and friends.  And I look at it now from the perspective of a "counselor".  I know that the situation is not pleasing nor honoring to God.  I know that the bitterness and resentment that I once felt has been replaced by love and mercy, but I don't have the amount of grace that God would if it were Him in these shoes.  Sanctification.  Walking and living in freedom, in my identity as His child, knowing that no matter if they "lurk" or were to openly make contact, it doesn't really matter.  They cannot hurt me.  They cannot condemn me.  God uses this blog...and these spies (that's what it feels like anyway) to continue to grow me into His image.

Ok...I don't need a new blog to identify my new heart!

We will see what I decide to do with the blog address.

He makes all things new.
Amen.
(my name is at the top)

:/

Wedding Countdown!

Well, today marks the one month mark until my son and his lovely fiance get married. I am getting very excited even though I still have a few things to do!
I can tell that my son is getting excited too.
The deadline to R.S.V.P. was today. I think we have heard from almost everyone although I know there are a few stragglers. Now to determine who will be attending the Rehearsal dinner at our home the night before.
We will be preparing a pig...an entire pig for the meal! It is a tradition in Vietnam for the grooms family to present the bride's family with a pig prior to the wedding. So...of course, we will do it! It will be done in luau style which will be fun since we just returned from Hawaii and experienced an authentic luau.
Here is a photo of the traditional Vietnamese procession where the pig is presented, along with other gifts, to the bride's family. I don't think ours will look exactly like that, but you get the idea.

It is going to be so much fun!
Let the party begin!