Dave nonchalantly mentioned today that we have now finished 1/12 of this year and I don’t really know how I feel about that. But now that we’ve checked off 31 days for January it’s time to link up with Emily Freeman over at Chatting at the Sky and share what we learned this month. So here we go:
~I LOVE THE BOOK LITTLE WOMEN – I’ve read some classics but this one just hasn’t made it off the shelf and into my hands. I have seen the movie but never read the book. I needed something fun, light and fictional to read before bed so this one made it to the night stand and I just love it! Louisa May Alcott has some great ways with words and I really laugh at her humor. Last night I put the book to bed after reading Chapter 4 “The Laurence Boy” – where Jo meets Laurie. And after writing up this post I’m picking it up again because I need to know what happens next!
~TRUSTING GOD’S TIMING TAKES PATIENCE BUT SO WORTH IT IN THE END – Some of you may remember last summer when I shared about some of our staff/friends at church moving on and all the crazy sadness that came with that whole transition. We have been in interview stage for bringing in new team members for a while and now I am so happy and excited to share that we’ve found a wonderful family to come on staff with us. We have been communicating back and forth with them since September and God has been knitting our hearts together in a really great way for His ongoing work here at Asbury and it’s all good! Lesson learned this month: Let God do the planning… He does it so well!
~EVERY JANUARY IS A DIFFERENT JOURNEY – My mother died in 2003. That date, January 18, always holds raw and uneasy emotions for me. I never know how the day is going to play out… whether I’m going to be a bawling mess with loads of snotty Kleenex, sad, melancholy or… numb. Yet the day never comes and leaves without thoughts of Mom and the moments that unfolded that day now 13 years ago. January 30th is also my Mom’s birthday so this month is just always a little bit emotional. Those who have walked a similar road know what I’m talking about.
I was going to post this following blurb of words on her birthday but honestly, I was too emotionally spent that day and I really just wished to push the thoughts off to another day. But I didn’t want to forget these moments so I’m choosing to share them now because it’s all part of this crazy journey this month. Thanks for coming and joining along.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM
Today was my Mom’s birthday.
She would be 76 today.
That sounds old to me because she died too young.
Others would say, “62 is not too young” but…
- to a daughter who just hadn’t had enough days and wanted more… it’s too young.
- to a daughter who had young ones of her own and still wanted Mom around to ask: “How do I do this mothering thing?” …. it’s too young.
I miss her and I’m pretty sure that will never change.
Over Christmas break my oldest daughter, Sam, talked of pretty dresses and wedding dresses. She’s NOT planning her own but what girl doesn’t love dress up?
“I have my mom’s dress.” I nonchalantly threw out as I scrolled Facebook.
“Where is it? Can we get it out? Can I see it?… Let’s get it!”
Through her begging and pleading, I pulled Mom’s dress out of its packed up box and laid it across the couch.
How many years ago did I find this same dress hanging in the back of Mom’s closet and ask the same thing… “Can I try it on?”
I can still see Mom standing there watching me twirl in her wedding dress and me…repeating again and again… “This is so beautiful!”
And now here I stand in my own living room years later and the moment comes back vivid and clear.
Sam heads up the stairs to try it on. She comes down, twirls in the kitchen and says. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
It’s moments like these when I miss Mom the most. How proud she would be to see who these little ones have become.
I lean back again into the promise of these words… “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…”
I can imagine Mom watching from above and whispering … “Yes, she’s beautiful!”
Happy Birthday, Mom! We love and miss you much!
*****************************
*Linking up with:
Tripping Over Typeset 
OH MY WORD. I am so glad I’m parked next to you at Emily’s today. Sam looks wonderful in her grandma’s dress – just lovely. Every word you wrote about your mom resonates. I lost my mom in 2012 WHEN I was 62 and she was 86+….and I know I am blessed to have had her so long but I still miss her terribly – I still want to pick up the phone and call her. I am just so very happy to have read this today! xo
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I hear ya on that picking up the phone part. I still do that at times but then stop myself. I know someday her and I will have a one great long chat and it will all be good! 🙂 So glad you were my neighbor at Emily’s and thankful this was a blessing to you! Love to you!
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You brought tears to my eyes…I can still hear her voice, so kind and loving. I miss her, she was one of the most amazing and God loving women that I have known and probably will ever know. Thank you for sharing her with me all those years ago, you were blessed to have her and so was I.
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Yes, Cara! I still have pictures of my mom with your boys. I remember those days with fondness! And yes, we are both blessed to have known her! Thanks for remembering and loving her. You always had a special place in her heart!
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Thanks for sharing your heart and your beautiful photos! I lost my dad over 23 years ago, but I still miss him. He was only 65. It’s been ages since I read Little Women but I remember enjoying it very much. I might have to get it out again. 🙂 Blessings to you! I’m visiting from #InspireMeMonday!
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Thank you, Gayl. Your right, it doesn’t seem to matter how many years go by our loved ones are still missed. And yes, you should bring out Little Women again. I am so enjoying it! Thanks for stopping over. Happy Monday to you!
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Oh friend, I can see why January is hard for you. I am so glad your daughter and you got to share this memory. I love that she tried on the dress too. It is indeed beautiful. Your mom is smiling down on both of you. And God’s timing…oh so true…but how often do we forget that it will happen in God’s timing and not ours? A hard lesson for us all to continually learn.
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Thank you, Tara! Yes, God’s timing is so much better than ours! Thanks for stopping by today!
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Your beautiful tribute to your mommy made me cry. I absolutely love that your daughter tried on her dress–the clouds of lace are such a beautiful reminder that we have ‘clouds of witnesses’ in our families who pass on their heritage of faith. I’m glad you like Little Women! I’ve read everything LMA wrote (including her books that didn’t get published until the late 1900s–ok, that just looks SOOO weired to say that).
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Thank you, Anita. Yes, I’m really enjoying Little Women! I don’t think you’re weird to read everything a great author wrote! 🙂 Have a great day!
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What a beautiful, heart-felt post. Your daughter looks absolutely beautiful in her grandma’s wedding gown.
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Thank you, Barbie!
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Sam looks gorgeous in your mom’s dress! I’m sure that was an emotional bringing together of 3 generations.
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Thank you, Lisa! It was!
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What a beautiful post. I have not had to deal, yet, with the heartbreak of losing my mom. I cannot imagine how hard that would be. I love that you keep your mom’s memory alive for your daughter through her wedding dress. My aunt gave me my grandma’s wedding dress. She kept it in a shoebox! it is something I treasure as Grandma passed away when I was in high school and still too “full of myself” to really take the time to find out who she was. I would love to go back and quiz her on so many things. And I agree……Little Women is a great read!
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Thank you for your thoughts. And yes, I’m enjoying Little Women! Thanks for stopping in!
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