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
.
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New Ralphie looked like this
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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.
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| 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.
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| "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.
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| 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.
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| New apartment |
The big event of the summer is now two months in the past.
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♫Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters...♫
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The new beginnings are breaking free...
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| Bride and Groom, June 7, 2014 |
And I may pause to remember the moments...
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| Final Moments before "I do" |
And...I will pray.
This last week I started a new Bible Study group.
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| 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 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.
