Changes in the wind

Each morning first thing, I check my weather.

How I get my weather

Next I check my texts.

not a phone that is smarter than me

I could go through the morning routine without a word spoken.

Some days this summer, while my son was on fires and my husband working, I felt as though I spent the morning in "mental telepathy" mode.

Don't get  me wrong, I love the modern conveniences and prefer to get the news I wish and not some headlines thrown into my hearing from a radio or t.v. personality who doesn't care how it will effect me.

But this life is so different from the days of my little ones being home, and well, little.

I became a morning person out of self defense when my kids were little. Now I am an evening person out of self defense to keep connected with my girls who are college students. I want to keep connected and often 10 or 11 pm are the best times to connect with them. I am so thankful for the mobile connections.

So, I will go through my silent mornings and enjoy that I don't have to speak, while remembering the days of fashion police and making lunches.

I  have a new change coming in mid October. After months of looking for a job and having Four different times had one in my hands, but having them tell me something was wrong, they would not be able to hire me... it does appear this one will stick. Wait upon the Lord and He will renew your strength.

Now I will enjoy the falling leaves and prepare my life for a change of season.

Here are a few pictures of the last high school graduation that just made their way to me. This happened two days before The Wedding.

The High School Graduate

Girls in Red, Boys in Black

Happy Sisters

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

" ...but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

    they shall walk and not faint."

Praying for Adult Children

Last night I lay awake praying for my adult children. I though some humor would be good, so, I switched on the computer and Youtubed Chonda Pierce. The first video she had a recently empty nest, like mine. The second video a year later she had an overflowing nest and wanted to take flight herself as her daughter,
son-in-law and grandchild-to-be were all living with her. BUT, I know that recently her husband of many decades passed away and she is dealing with a completely different "empty". My "take home truth" as I fell asleep last night was, that our nest is always changing.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
     "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" (ESV)

Here is northern California it is Fire Season. In the past two weeks we have had over 150,000 acres total burning in the north east region of the state. My son is on his fourth and final week of direct attach fire fighting. (Big Breath) This has been his passion since he was Four year old. 

My sister has three girls and she would send a box of church dresses to me for my three girls. Once she thought it would be good to add something for the boy and she sent "Ralphie". He is one of those non-Disney, teddy bear style, carnival grand prize, dalmatians.

New Ralphie looked like this

I just Googled:  carnival grand prize, dalmatians and came up with an amazing likeness to Ralphie in 1999. Now 14 year later, he sets on the top shelf with a CDF shirt I downsized for Ian when he was five.

Ralphie Now

He has had three different eye surgeries to replace scratched eyes, twice been re-stuffed and so many stitches I cant count. Now his boy is out fighting real fires while Ralphie stays at home and dreams of the good ol' days.

"Mom we are this close"

The girls have left another three empty places. I read recently how God miraculously increase the love we can give with each child's birth, but I know for a fact HE doesn't reduce the hole they leave in our heart when they leave home.

bro's 1st time at the beach

Now that the youngest daughter lives on the beach she had to have her "baby brother" go over to see the beach for the first time. She wants to share her life with us and expand our world. That is what it seems to be about now, our nest is empty and under construction, while they fledged to make new nests.

New apartment

The big event of the summer is now two months in the past.

♫Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters...♫

The new  beginnings are breaking free...

Bride and Groom, June 7, 2014

And I may pause to remember the moments...

Final Moments before "I do"

And...I will pray.

This last week I started a new Bible Study group.

comes with a  study and prayer guide

God isn't finished with me yet.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

FIre Fighter's Mom Prays

                

The five minute Friday prompt is BLOOM. What is raising children about if it isn't blooms.

The first of my "four in five years" started as a seed inside of me and bloomed to a beautiful April Flower.

That one was flowed by a March Flower and then 18 months later my October Flower.

Then April Showers brought my May Flower, though I am sure he wouldn't want to be called a flower.

My son bloomed into a strong young man who now is out fighting a "bloomin' fire".

I am so thankful that God has placed HIS Holy Spirit in all of their hearts so that they can bloom for HIM.

A bitter sweet time for a mother to see all her children off Blooming in the world.

That is why we pray.

My time is done and it is time for GOD to bloom the prayers of a mother's heart.

My son, CCC Firefighter 

            A Mother's Prayer

The alarm goes off, ready to go, all with no hesitation
Time to save a soul or a home, straight to that destination

This prayer’s for my son, as that fire calls
Protecting the innocent and fighting flaming walls

Guide him with your strength, the courage to pull him through
Give him that breath of air, if he gets down to his last few

By chance he may get weak; do give him the will to stand
Carry him as you said, your” Foot Prints in the Sand”

He will have to lift or ax a door today
May your angels chip away, helping along the way

There’s always the unknown, of what they call "back draft"
Secure your arms around him, and the others who have his back

Make way for him to listen, to hear that persons call
If he gets blinded, give him sight, direct him down that hall

Determined to break a window, to rescue that angry dog
Or fight the wild fires, to keep lands beauty how it belongs

Keep their team in motion, to know where one is at
They’re taking turns in and out, of these fires that attack

When that duty’s done, he’ll have peace of mind
You were right beside him; he now thanks you for your time

Lord I ask this of you, I pray you watch over him
Help him always save the lives, then return him to me again.

by Carolyn Kay Carr


Dear Lord,
This has been his dream since he was three years old.
He wanted to ride the "Big Wed Twuck" with his buddy Ralphie, the stuff Dalmatian Dog.
He and Ralphie would mount the wooden fire truck, toy box, that his Granddad made him and fight 
their imagined fires.
He has wanted to save the people, save the wildlife, save the forest, save the pasture land and run into the face of danger to show how much he cares...
Today he is going out to his first Wildland fire.
Keep him safe, help him be a witness of Your love and grace.
Remind me what my friend said when her son went to fight in the Middle East, "He is in the hand of God, there is no better place."
Thank you for Your peace.
~Amen~

Easter 2013

May 1996

Don't eat the kitties

"Mom I done cut me down a tree"

Belong

Five Minute Friday

"Belong"

I always wanted to have a sense of BELONGING.

I learned in college that it was one of the most basic of human needs.

We all want to BELONG to a group/family that will love us and accept us as a valued member.

Now that I have been around for over a quarter of a century, I have learned that my sense of
BELONGING can only come from being one of HIS KIDS.

Knowing Jesus as my savior and knowing that I am a daughter of the KING OF KINGS is what makes my life real.

I am blessed by my FAMILY, some by blood, but some only through the blood of Jesus who encourage me daily.

I have a faith-sister that walks and talks with me every week, I have a faith-aunt that has given me an open invitation to chill at her house and I have a faith-mom that has even given me a key to her house with an invitation to anything in the frig.

These three ladies along with a few others who give me a sense of belonging in the SISTERHOOD of CHRIST. We go to different churches, but we are all chosen by HIM.

As I said I am also blessed with blood family that belong to HIM and for that I am eternally thankful.

STOP

Here is the update on my Blue Eye Burnham Crew.... Enjoy!

Added a son-in-law in June

Son has been working for the CCC for a month and is thinking he might
like to work in the woods after his career as a Fire Fighter for the CCC

Baby Girl is learning to love her fist apartment by herself and has started work before
beginning her Senior year of University.

Stay tune for updates on my job search. I appreciate your prayers as I going through hiring process for a major door to door delivery service.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Eph. 3:20 NIV)

Farewell to June 2014

Amazing Grace

"Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wrench like me, I once was lost but now I see" John Newton

Today's Five Minute Friday prompt is:

Lost

I focus on the events of a month that changed the life of my family forever. I pray that we have not lost too many opportunists to share our faith and love the Savior who gave us life and gives us a tomorrow with a hope and a future.

The graduation of a child.

The wedding of another.

The taking or responsibility to sell a car by another to continue school with less debt and a goal of ministry.

Big life decisions that were one time events that change life forever.

They work hard, they play hard and they love hard.

I pray the moments shared will not be lost in my memory as this month of many events comes to a close.

The son goes off to fight fires in Northern California, the fires that have not begun, but history tells us, they will be many in our drought.

The daughter going back to work and school on the Coast where she contiues a life of service to many nations and a stand for Christ in a lost and dying world. A community that his ripe for spiritual things, but reluctant to the Holy Spirit.

My prayers go with them all as my children continue their journey in Christ, the Photographer, the Graduate, the Bride, the Bus Driver. Go with God my children and may you bring the love of Christ to the lost.

Stop

A letter to my daughter

"Johanna"

The child who went the extra mile
(actually 300 round trip)
to bring Christmas to your sister

The "smart child".

You were the 1st in of your siblings to go to University.
(And a Junior at only 18!)

Not just leave home, but live in an apartment with strangers.
(That took a lot of guts!)

Your are a best friend beyond belief.

The first day you got your car you wanted to share, even with the dog.

Without you we would not have family photos

You took my love for yellow roses and made art.

Yes, you are the one that seems to be the glue in the word "family". You try harder, work longer, 

share your heart with all your strength.

And when the day is done, I know the Lord is say,
 "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

...and I say, "I am so thankful that God allowed me to be your mother."

Yes, I am proud of you, but not for all these reasons alone, I am proud that you want to share your life with me. Not because of who I am, because that is the way God made you. He has a purpose and a plan for your life and I know that is going to be an amazing purpose.

Love and Prayers, Mommie

Visit

I can't believe my last post was in November as I was anticipating our Thanksgiving visit from my children. Following Thanksgiving I was thrown into a whirlwind of paper work to apply for my new job, which I started on December 9th. The topic for five minute Friday is VISIT.

READY, SET, GO...

"Two little girls knocking on my door, they have come for a 'whisit' with me. Elaine Irene is only three, and Cheryl Lynn is only three..." That was a poem my Great Grandma H. M. Bussey wrote in 1956. Three years before the first visit that I appeared in as my oldest sister is six years older than me.
My little girls are now almost 23, 21 and 19 1/2. Visits have gone from tea parties in the back yard with stuffed animals to Thanksgiving with new fellas to meet the family. We have occasional visit on Skype. That is a crazy thing to me as I always think of George Jetson getting yelled at by his boss in a futuristic sci-fi cartoon of the 1960s. Amazing how family changes and the visits change in timing and place.
I miss the little girls in my life, but love these wonderful young women they have become. A school bus
driver/mechanic, an Archaeology student and a Child Development Student, and lets not forget their little brother the 6 foot plus Fire ROP fella. What amazing possibilities for topics I never imagined in my childhood or their childhood....amazing possibilities for topics to visit.

STOP

For those who keep up on my blog here are few pictures to update you on the events of December 2013 and January 2014.

Wes and kids did the Turkey Trout Thanksgiving Day

Johanna and I made the shirts

Ian graduated to pinata man @ Aunt Merna's 

The entire family in one place 

Dec. 11, 2014 Ian's ROP ERS Badge Pinning

All ready for Ride along
(Ian spends 24 hour each weekend with Cal Fire)

Dec.24, 2014 - Tim got down on one knee
Abbie said, "Yes!"

last summer picture of the happy couple
(anticipating a June Wedding)

Junior can't wait for the living room to get back to normal
Christmas Morning 

Johanna went down to see Abbie since she didn't make it home
for Christmas

Back to a new normal...
Johanna back to school this last week...
Abbie staring school again this week...
Ian started back to school two weeks ago...
(Mary too)
and I am loving my new job with
Blue Shield of CA FEP.