Aha Moments with the Savior

Eli - Year Two Departure to College! Last year at this time I wrote about our youngest leaving for his first year of college.  The empty nest began.  We managed to survive and even thrive during his time away from us.  He came home for the summer, worked hard, navigated our home rules, and made it to the end basically unscathed! Instead of the family packing up two vehicles and heading as a pack to move him into his dorm, this youngest of ours packed his own truck, got it serviced, and headed out on a Friday morning for the three hour drive to school....alone! I said my official goodbyes the night before, but had to sneak into his room early Friday morning to give him a last hug, words of wisdom, and pray over him before I left for work.  I was in a hurry that day as I had a full list of things to do at the office.  It wasn't until I walked in the door Friday afternoon that I saw the gaps, the holes, the emptiness.  I reluctantly went up to his room to look around.  He had

The Grand Tetons National Park - June 2018 This summer I was able to visit the gorgeous colors, views, and coolness of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  What a gift to my husband and myself as we used the week to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary!  I am rather shocked that so many years have gone by.  It really does seem like a short time ago that the two of us were saying our I dos! In preparing for this trip I diligently studied the weather, what to pack, where to go, and even pre-booked a few excursions.  What I didn't prepare for was the amazing way God has shown us a facet of Himself:  Creator!  During this trip my husband and I kept commenting that God apparently forgot to deposit a few of these gorgeous mountains in central Texas!  Further, the weather was often for jackets and sweaters. Given the 90-100 degrees we experience back home, it was a welcome relief to bask in the coolness. Seeing those gorgeous mountains of the Grand Tetons whose peaks were still snow-cover

Wow!  This is a biggie!  As would-be grandparents watching one of our children go through the processes and expenses of an overseas adoption, we are floored as to the level of financial commitment that is required of them.  Their persistence, ingenuity, and patience to make this happen is to be commended. I was honestly afraid to ask this child how much all of this would cost.  So, as any good mother of multiple children, I went directly to her older sister. After all, don't sisters tell each other everything? She shared with me the statistics, and data given her.  I must say, I was blown away by the amount of money an endeavor such as adoption will cost.  Further, in speaking with some going through infertility treatments, the cost again is staggering! Several parents have mentioned to me that they hate seeing their children spend so much of their money on either of these paths.  After all, most young couples are at the start of their careers, and having to outlay a large sum

Who doesn't like a to do list, or a top 10 things to remember list?  For the free spirited soul, this would probably not be your favorite thing.  But for me, the type A, get it done gal, I love lists! I don't always follow them, or accomplish all that they suggest, but I cherish well thought out plans of action. How does this parlay into what we should and should not say to our children as they go down their road of infertility and/or adoption? Do you ever wish you had a "how to" manual on how to say and do the right thing?  In ALL circumstances?  We do have that manual; it's called the Bible.  But with so many chapters, verses, stories, and complicated passages, how can you know what is for you in this particular instance?  A list such as this requires lots of input, prayer, and practicality.  So, in an effort to help things along, here we go: 1. At the first conversation about their situation, listen more, talk less.     Our role is to be compassionate and

Recently, I was asked by a long time friend of mine about the adoption road my daughter and son-in-law are traveling.  Immediately, I felt the urge to share all that was going on, what I was truly feeling, and my thoughts on the matter.  Boy, did the contents of this blog hit me right on the head! The conversation was going to be all about what I was thinking or feeling.  Not the real facts or what we have been told we can share. As I wrote in my last post, the infertility or adoption journey that your children may be traveling is their story to tell, not yours!  Sure, we can share updates or anything we have permission to share, but laying it all out there is not our job.   We are to support, encourage, and pray for our children's situations, but only from the sidelines. This may strike many as a "standoffish" approach, but in the long run, the journey they are on is their own.  We, the would-be grandparents are not the key players.  We are the supporting actors.  As

Our little miracle grandson! I am blessed to be able to lead a monthly support group for women who are walking through infertility, adoption, or infant loss.  Having lost a baby of my own, my heart plunges head-on into what these sweet ladies bring to our monthly meetings.  Sadness, anxiety, hope, despair, and yes, even laughter make up this road so many travel.  https://www.sarahs-laughter.com/ A quick research on Google states that in a 2010 study; it was found that at least 1 in 8 couples struggle with some sort of infertility.   Further, a look on the American Adoptions website confirms this about adoption:  about  10 percent  of women in the United States — 6.1 million — have difficulty       getting or staying pregnant. While not all women facing infertility will pursue adoption, a  2002 study  by the Centers for Disease Control shows that more than half (57 percent) of women who use infertility services do consider adoption. So what does this mean for the "wo

My husband and I took Gary Chapman's "Love Language" quiz many years ago.  When we shared our results with one another, we both realized that we had "Gifts" as the bottom language on our test sheets! Imagine the shock we felt when we realized we had been doing holidays and birthdays all wrong for so many years.  After a few laughs and sharing our revelation with those around us, we determined to change the way we do our celebrations.  Did we figure it out?  Not by a long shot! We both realized that our primary love language is "quality time."  So, how that applies to anniversaries and Valentine's Day is to do something together!  We can go to a movie, out to dinner, or just hang out and we have satisfied this aspect of our need in our relationship. But oftentimes, why do we still feel as if we have missed the mark?  We want to honor one another with our time and attention, but the world seems to interfere by telling us what we "need"

Late last fall, I had the "privilege" of tagging along with my husband through the state of Florida.  It was a working vacation of sorts for me while I joined him on his journey visiting people associated with the ministry for whom he works. I must say, perception vs. reality really came to light this time.  I had visions of endless time to sit at my computer and catch up some much needed work assignments.  Nope, did not happen.  Further, I had hoped my husband and I would have lots of time together to just talk and enjoy our time together driving through the state.  That too did not occur.  Too much time on the phone, making appointments and scheduling last minute visits.  Not to mention, calls from back home dealing with a semi-crisis long distance.  Six hotels in 7 days.  Yep, I hauled that suitcase of mine in and out of hotels that many times.  I began to wish that I had not packed so many clothes! (P.S. I got over that feeling!) As I now look at my week in the re