Home is Where You Go to see Life Through the Eyes of a Child

Home is Where You Go to see Life Through the Eyes of a Child….

I was given a wonderful gift last week by a sweet friend of mine.  She knows I love children…she knows I love the written word and she knows I love The Bible.

The gift was “The Jesus Story Bible (where every story whispers His name)….I can just imagine the light in her children’s eyes she starts “whispering His name”.

There is something precious in the way a children’s Bible brings to its reader the Word…

For example,

“The Bible isn’t a book of rules or a book of heroes.  The Bible most of all is a Story.  It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasures.  It’s a lovely story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne – everything- to rescue the one He loves.  It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!”

So, right off the bat, her children know….

This is a story….

But, this is the Truth.

“In the beginning, there was NOTHING.  Nothing to hear.  Nothing to feel.  Nothing to see. 

 (I can just imagine sweet friend’s voice…whispering about the “nothing” and then….boldly stating”)

BUT GOD HAD A PLAN.

“I’m going to make E V E R Y T H I N G!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God spoke.  That’s all.  And whatever He said, it happened!!

(can’t you just see her little ones eyes big, mouths open, hearts ready like little sponges to soak up His Story?)(can’t you just hear the inflection in sweet friend’s voice as she BOLDLY declares the power of our Great God?)

And then, in a tinkling, sing-songy way…

God said, “Hello Light” and light shone in the darkness.

God said, “Hello sea, Hello sky” and great space opened.

God said, “hello land” and there came cliffs and mountains.

“Hello trees, grass and flowers…Hello stars, sun and moon”

“Hello birds, fish and animals”  “You’re good, God said.

And, they were”

I LOVE this STORY!!!!!!!!

And, I especially love it as told to the souls of our little ones….who fully trust the “story teller” a/k/a Mom in this case.  They not only will soak up His Word in their hearts, but they will believe every word they are told because of who is telling them…and, how she is whispering His name.

“God saw all that he had made and He loved them.”

“But God saved the best for last.  From the beginning, God had a shining dream in His heart.  He would make people to share his forever happiness.  So, God breathed life into Adam and Eve.”

“When God opened their eyes, the first thing they saw was God’s face”…..

And, when God saw them he was like a new Dad. 

You look like me, He said.  You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever made.”

God loved them with all of His heart.

AND, they were lovely because He loved them!!!”

I love the thought of Sweet Friend sitting on her couch with her three little gifts from God…one on each side and one on her lap helping to flip pages.

She knows that her time to read is brief.  They have the attention span of about 30 seconds J and what she has to say is important.

Imparting eternal truth to pure hearts in a brief amount of time takes skill…

No, it takes more than skill….

It takes great love.

Love for her children.

Love for her dreams for those children.

Love for her parents who did the same for her.

Love for her husband.

But, more significantly..

Love for Her Father…the one in Heaven…the One who gave us these great truths for a purpose and a reason.

She understands the “value of the gift” of this particular story telling…

She understands the three blank canvasses set before her waiting for anyone and anything to paint their story on the pure white surface of her children’s heart.

She “gets it” that this alone time she has with her babies is precious moments given to her to stroke great brushes of God’s truth onto their souls.

For some day, she will not be the only artist/writer/storyteller in their lives. 

So, she very gently, very sweetly, but mind you……

Very purposefully paints the picture of God’s story in their hearts, in their minds and on their souls while she can…

And, she does it very tenderly…

And, she does it very frequently…

Whispering His name…

Painting their canvas..             

As only she can do…

Their Mama…

One of God’s greatest story tellers.

Blessings,

Lesa

(Sweet friend….what you do on a daily basis matters……it just does)

Home is Where You Go to Watch God Answer Your Prayers

Home is Where You Go…..to Watch God Answer Your Prayers….

I love it when God’s presence is black and white in life….When you cannot call your life’s happenings “God-Incidences” but rather can claim them as direct answers to your quiet prayers.

When there is no doubt….no wonder…no “fork in the road”…

Yesterday, I took my daughter to college for the second time in her life.  The first time we traveled West.  Prayers were laid daily at God’s feet that her Western Experience would be a good one…

I never could grow in comfort that she was where God wanted her to be….but, it is her life…her decision…so, she went.  And, her Dad, her brothers and I took her.  I remember so much about that weekend…the hopes, the fears…the prayers.  I even remember the sun setting in the West and pulling hope from the beauty of the soft pinks, oranges and yellows…praying and praying all would go well.

Her room was adorable….her roommate seemed “ok”…the school itself was wonderful..

But, when we drove off, it didn’t feel “God blessed”….

I kept my thoughts to myself.  I am just her Mom.  God can take anything and make it beautiful..wonderful…great.

And, I knew HE was with her….

Fast forward one year….

Yesterday, Madison, her “ladder Dad”, Ian, and I drove her the 35 minutes East to college.

We took the traditional photos in front of our home with Ian, me, her brothers and even her Dad.

Very different experience.

As we set East, I prayed….

I live in prayer for all of my children, but for my daughter, I feel immersed.  

The experience was a quiet one.

We were met at her dorm by tons of college kids who loaded 90% of her belongings to her room before we could even get to the front to register.  They were organized, ready and willing to serve us.  It made us smile.

They seemed to genuinely be ready to serve…glad to have my daughter join them.  You could feel God’s presence.

We go to the desk to register…Madison is a little nervous…it is a big step to return to something where you had once struggled.  I admire her for this ability.

I prayed…Lord, I know you are always with us…please let  your presence be evident in a “black and white way”.   And, HE did.

Madison was registered by very kind and sweet people….they made her (and us) feel wanted.  The smile on her face was priceless…it was genuine….

Through her nervousness, she walked…and, all along her path, God put kind people to encourage her.

Her RA, “Courtney”…appeared almost immediately.  A very sweet, spritely young woman, she welcomed us with great spirit…laughter filled the dorm room…it was a sweet welcome. 

God….thank you!

I will carry in my heart forever one of the very first images I had of the room…..right as you walk in the door on the white shelf lay a Bible…not just any Bible….”The Extreme Teen” Bible.  And, it was not a graduation gift from a few months prior.  It was a well-worn, well-used, somewhat tattered and very much appeared to be loved Bible…

I smiled.

God….thank you!

I have an Extreme Teen (actually, three)….maybe I need to be reading from that BibleJ

I didn’t take The Bible as a miraculous sign…I do not cling to that type of thinking.  What it was to me was a direct response to a humbled Mama’s prayers…

We did the standard “college move” processes….

Decorate the room…

Stock the fridge….

Check out the empty mailbox…and beg for mail (If you would like her address, message meJ)

And, of course, remind your parents that you will soon be needing some new clothes for the quickly arriving FALL weather!

We meet her new roommate…a very sweet young woman…a little nervous as well.

We meet her Mama and some relatives/friends.  Equally nice and kind.

It is the kind of experience you hope to have....relaxed, welcoming….

We go to lunch (she was successful in a goal she set for heself (Grammy, you would have been proud)….and, we return……

On our way in the door, we meet another friend who Madison went to HS with.  Very Very sweet girl…she loans us her “tool box” and we are able to finish our room decorating and set up.  I am impressed with the kindness she displays to Madison.  And, grateful…that she would spend time giving Madison the “how tos” from her own personal expertise (this is her second year at the school). 

Thank you….God

And, finally, as we wrap up Madison’s “move in day”….we head to the front door of the dorm… 

On our way out the door, three young women (their names elude me, but I will never forget our conversation)….introduced themselves to Madison, Ian and me.  They gave a little of their history, their campus experience…the location of important places on campus…they took our photo…

And, they invited Madison to go to church with them.

And, I believe she will.

Thank you, God.

That while you do not always so clearly make your presence known…sometimes, just as we need you to…

You do.

Blessings,

Lesa

                            

Love Is In The Details......as God would have you to Love....

Love is in the Details….

I don’t know who to credit with this quote…I am not even sure when it was that I first heard this quote..

I do remember my sister,  Jill,  explaining to me that her wedding was “all about the details because “love is in the details” ….and, she truly did have an exceptionally lovely, down to the smallest detail wedding…I was touched by her attention to everything and amazed at her organizational skills.  She is still like this with her little family…..her love is evident…

Tough, though, if you are not an overly detailed person, which I am not.

I am a generalist….I see things in BIG picture format.  If I get caught with too many details, it bogs me down and I cannot get anything accomplished. 

Some of my friends will laugh at the above comment, because they find me very detail-oriented….even today, I keep a monthly calender for both my current family and for my ex-husband to share so that he is kept abreast of our children’s activities.  I do this from love because I care that he is able to be just as involved as he wants to be and chooses to be.

I have organized baseball teams as “coach’s wife” and school home rooms as “class mom”.  I have written PKU newsletters which went across the entire state of Kentucky, assisted in lobbying for PKU fundraises and even legislative bills.  I have managed a home of five (although I failed at being tidy) for 26 years. 

But, it did not come easy to me.  I struggled.  I felt like Paul….”I do do what I don’t want to do and don’t do what I want to do”……because women seem to be judged on how well they can organize their families, I worked like Martha Steward striving to make homemade foods for my daughter, daily iron my husband’s shirts to starchy perfection, vacuumed the kitchen at midnight, cut my children’s hair to save money, I made sure our clothes in the closet were organized from lights to darks and that our bathroom towels were folded in the exact tri-fold that all good women did.

I rarely said no, and then felt guilty.  I often said yes, and then felt exhausted.

It exhausts me to read this.

And, then one day, it all changed…..

I do not fully remember what caused the change….

But, I am grateful.

I remember distinctly asking God….how can I be the “me” you created me to be and yet show love to my family?

And, he answered…..Love Them….as only you can…

Which is such a “God-incident’ thing since I always signed my letters to children and at times even my siblings…ILYAOYMC” OR “ILYAOYBSC”

I love you as only your mama can….I love you as only your big sister can….

And, that was the beginning of change for me.

Yes, I do think love is in the details….I think my sister learned early on what I had not figured out yet….

Love is in the details as YOU are able to love.

For me, it meant giving up organizing things for others and focusing instead on my own family….

It meant seeking out my God-given gifts and using them in a detailed way.

Thus, I went back to writing notes.  Many of you may have received a note from me (if not, I apologize.  I probably wrote it but failed to get it to the mailbox), I began cooking little meals and delivering them to your door, I sat more in my “mama chair” with my babies and rock and sang to them.  I let the laundry, vacuuming and house work go and climbed the Magnolia tree with my boys.  I bought a subscription to the Lexington Children’s Theatre and took my daughter on Sundays.  We grew a garden together.  We laid out on the concrete in our driveway and watched the stars together.

Our motto became “Honey…dream big dreams, because if Jesus lives in your dreams, your dreams will live”….(Thank you Eva Self)

We initiated “family goals”…..and loved to mark them off when we were successful in achieving them.  We still do this…it is just a little different now.

We fed the ducks, ate watermelon like pigs and stank like dogs from playing in the mud.

We had fun.

Now, obviously, we didn’t get this perfect or some things in our lives would be very different….

·                                 But, as I tell the children….and, as a dear friend, Nancy wrote me just yesterday, “

·                                

o                                                        “Isn't it funny how we put some people on a pedestal and think somehow that they are different than the rest of us? I am just a forgiven saint walking the narrow road to heaven and trying to show others the way. We all have lumps and bumps...and stumble from time to time.”

While I don’t think anyone would ever dare put me on a pedestal….and, it saddens me to think that I am not necessarily one I would recommend anyone follow, she got it right..

“I am a forgiven saint….walking the narrow road…trying to be a light where I can…trying to be authentic as I go….never judging…

Just loving…

Loving as God has made me to love…

What a relief….

I can be myself….love the way I am able and that is A-OK with God……

Love IS in the details……

As YOU and I are able to love….

Blessings on your day,

ILYAOIC,

Lesa

On Optimism....

“Becoming familiar with optimism, reflecting on it, and making it a priority to become more optimistic are powerful life tools.  Seeing optimism as a possibility, instead of dismissing it as naiveté’, gives you more options.  It allows you to know that very often you have a clear choice about how to respond or think about something in your life.  It’s an attitude or outlook that nudges your perception one way or the other.  choosing optimism over pessimism can sometimes make the difference between success and failure, winning and losing, being neutral and getting depressed, moving  forward or giving up.”

-          What about the Big Stuff

I remember well sitting in a church service listening to one of our ministers talk about Optimism.  He explained that in our world today, authority seems to be give more frequently to those who are negative, pessimistic, or serious  and that those who are optimistic are seen as naive….

It’s is frequently true.  He had us think about those who had authority around us….and, I confess that several, in fact, most of those I thought of,  I would have also included as negative.  While, those who were optimistic, were loved and cared about, but were not considered authorities.

He challenged us to “think differently”…..and, I have tried to do that in my life.

I earnestly believe that if you are with someone long enough, their good will eventually come out.  This is one of my favorite quotes…and life truths.  I do believe this. 

And, the more I believe this, the more I seek those eternal optimists to keep myself and my children blanketed with optimism.

I have seen negativity destroy things…I have seen optimism build things.

It is an amazing difference.

I have a friend, Monica, who is a die-hard optimist…..and, I confess that at times, her optimism grated on my nerves (during my non-optimistic days)….:)  Sorry Monica…don’t think you knew that.  But, I can tell you that when my daughter was (and is) in need of a good dose, it is frequently Monica who gets the call, text or email to reach out to Madison.   There are others…some who are quietly optimistic, giving glimmers of their positivity in their actions, there are some who are boisterous in their optimism and I am amazed at what they accomplish even in the face of die hard negative-ators.

God bless the optimistic.  Quiet or boisterous…they change lives in a positive way.

I think Jesus was an optimist.  I know he believed in obedience and that is why he followed the path to the cross.  But, just as surely as he believed in obedience, I have faith that he was optimistic in the value of his brothers and sisters here on earth.  He believed we were worth the sacrifice…he believed we had hearts worth saving….

And to me, what greater sign can there be of our optimism?

To save our souls as in Jesus’ case?

To save our hearts, our feelings, our self confidence?

To see the good in us when all we see is bad?

To put faith in another when they do not have faith alone?

My husband tells me frequently…and, in fact, writes frequently to me that he will always

    “stand in front of, stand beside, and stand behind me”…..

Not in naïve belief that all I think and say and do is perfectly correct or right, but in love and belief that I am doing my best to be my best in search of HIS best all the days of my life.

THAT is powerful…to be loved unconditionally…accepted unconditionally and stood by unconditionally.

In optimistic faith

I appreciate that minister pointing out the fact that being optimistic (in others, in life….in FAITH) is healthy…because the world would have us believe otherwise.

I am grateful for the “Monicas” in my life…for they remind me of the gift of optimism.

I am committed to spending the balance of my days seeking out the optimistic…and weighing heavy the words of those who are not.

I believe that starts at the cross…

Blessings,

Lesa

                                                                                               

Home is Where You Go...To See Yourself reflected in Your Husband's Eyes

Home is Where You Go…

    To See Yourself Reflected in Your Husband’s Eyes….

 

I haven’t written about my husband before…for many reasons, but…

It is time….

Ian gave me this plaque after we married to remind me on a daily basis what he sees when he looks at me, my heart, my soul.

He knows I love words.

He knows I love seeing words in black and white. 

He knows I believe you are what you read.

He knows that what you are told you are plays a great impact on who you believe yourself to be, especially when it comes from those who love you most. Especially when you are told these things daily.

Words can build.  Words can destroy.

Precious…Mommy…Tender…expressive.

Priceless, valuable, petitioner, pure.

God’s.

God’s girl.  God’s woman.  God’s child.

It melts my heart when I read this.

It touches my soul.

It draws joy into me to think he views me in these ways.

Especially touching is that he daily reminds me that this is who I am in God’s eyes…my creator who has known me since before I was formed in my mother’s womb.

He made this plaque for me as a gift…to remind me that in God’s eyes…through His view…from God’s perspective…

I am His.  I am good.  I am worthy.  I have value.

Priceless.

Sacrificially priceless..

Jesus worthy….Spirit Given…God blessed priceless.

While I have always known this…for my parents taught me this as well, over the years, I had lost that knowledge…buried deep.

Like a treasure, Ian put together this sweet gift to remind me of who I am, can be, will be..

A small gift in form, but a huge gift in its ability to impact.

“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, forgets what he looks like.”  James 1:22

I wonder how many of us “forget what we look like” due to others words about us, to life, to challenges….and, would that we were told the precious about us, how much more joyful and different would we be?

 I am grateful that I have a husband who has helped me remembers whose I am…How I look through HIS eyes and through his (Ian’s) eyes…

It helps me remember.

My children read this plaque…and, they get to see how I am viewed by my husband.  They look at me through a more sweetly defined perspective…

It has made a difference in my life..this small gift.

And, for that I would add another word.

Grateful…

Blessings,

Lesa

Home is where you go TO HAVE YOUR HEART TOUCHED

I had a heart-touching moment this week….A sweet young friend of mine texted me to let me know she was getting baptized and that she wanted to be sure I was there…

Humbling to be so invited….even more humbling to watch a young woman I love so much to commit her life to Christ with such thought and purpose.

My friend and I have had some deep conversations….frank sharing from her to me.  Authentic, truth-sharing talks.

I love this young woman.  I love that she has chosen to live for Christ in an environment where it would be so easy to live for the world.

I love her because she knows the path of Christ will not be easy.

I love her honesty about how hard it is to be a teenager today.

I love her frankness about life….

I love that at her young age she acknowledges she cannot do this thing we call “life” alone.

She recognizes that she needs the power of Christ.

She needs the authority of her parents.

She needs the accountability of her siblings.

She needs the strength of her church family.

She needs the surrounding of herself by her God-seeking friends.

She may be young…but, she has the important thing figured out….

And, while I may be thirty-five plus years older than her, I have learned much, been humbled much, been touched much by her heart.

I am so grateful to have this young woman in my life.  I know that it is not accident that she is there at this particular time…for this particular season.

Knowing her has made me take stock of my own life…

And, isn’t that part of God’s purpose for each of us?

To help one another to bring us closer to God…..

Sweet friend, I am so proud of you. Proud of your stand for Christ…proud of your tender heart…

May God bless and bless each of your days.  May He give you strength to live daily for Him.  May he help you always to remember for Whom it is that you live.

I love you….and, I love your great heart..

Blessings,
Lesa

(submitted with permission of Ms. Venecia Proctor.  Congratulations and Blessings, Sweetie!!!)

Home is where you go TO HONOR OUR VETERANS

My Daddy is a Viet Nam Veteran. 

My Mother is a Viet Nam Veteran.

My Brothers, sisters and I are the children of a Viet Nam Veteran.

Our children are the grandchildren of a Viet Nam Veteran.

Because of that, we are different.

And, we should be.

To be the heir of one who sacrificed his personal body, energy, heart and life so that we can enjoy a better, more peaceful life is a gift.  An expensive gift.  A worthy gift.

I was four when my Daddy went over to Viet Nam.   I remember it well.  I remember his leaving…and, I remember his return.

I remember my military mother writing my Daddy letters every single day.  Frequently, she would have us sing songs or say hello to my Daddy on reel –to –reel audio tape.  One letter she wrote started December 1 and went all the way through to December 31^st.

I remember very frequent packages being sent to my Daddy…coffee, tea, Vienna sausages..and Daddy’s favorite, Carmel squares.  Even today, when I open and eat a Carmel square, I cannot help but think of my Daddy and smile….

But, more than anything, I remember the pride I felt growing up knowing that I had a Daddy who had chosen to be a protector of our family, our friends and our country.

It is a blessing to be the child of a veteran.

Veterans see life differently…..they recognize the value of each day, the  significance of a handshake, the worth of a hug, the gift of tears.  Veterans have low tolerance for bad attitudes, bad behavior and bad effort.  They are solid.  They are substantial.  They are strong.

Veterans are the glue that keeps a Nation knitted together….they are selfless…others and country above self.  They are disciplined….yet patient.  They are wise…and yet vulnerable.  They are leaders and yet stand behind and follow.

When I think of the veterans I know, they all have hands which engulf my own….they are warm….

They all have hugs which are long….and which let you know you have been hugged.

They all have the ability to drop tears in their conversations and then flood you with laughter as they tell you something positive.

They are the epitome of Philippians 4:8, my husband’s favorite Bible verse….

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

I think God was talking about veterans in this verse….veterans of all wars..Holy wars and civil wars….family battles and personal battles…..

God knew the worth of a Veteran and He gave them to us to be the image of those things which remind us of why we are here in the first place….To give God the glory through our lives.

That, to me, is what Veterans do…they give God the glory through their lives, through their service, their words, their actions and their deeds.

I am the child of a Veteran…..

Today, and every day, I am grateful for that legacy….

Blessings,

Lesa

Home is Where You Go to Watch Your Friend Be a Blessing....

I have a young-Mom friend who fairly consistently shares on face book her child rearing experiences.  She is unique in many ways….she understands already the blessing that a child is to his parents.

She understands fully the phrase, “her cup overfloweth” because God has chosen to bless her with triplets….a sweet God answered prayer to her, her husband’s, her family’s and her church family and friend’s prayers.

I admire this woman.

I admire her very much.

When in her presence, you sense a gratefulness in her heart.  When I look at her from across the church sanctuary, I see her kind eyes look sweetly to her babies with much love….love that comes from understanding the value of the gift she has been given….

I have seen small glances between she and her husband…yes, we are overwhelmed…but, yes, we can do this.

Precious to my heart is when she walks down the aisle to take her babies to Kids’ Own Worship during our church service.  Typically, she has the sweet help of her husband to get them to class, but on this one Sunday, she walked with them alone.

It was precious……to her left was one son, holding fast to her hand…at an angle she walked so that all four of them could fit down the aisle.  Her other hand had two sweet, little palms grasping…one son’s hand to her palm and her daughter’s hand to her pinkie.

THIS is what God meant when he said for the little children to “come unto me”…..

I know I was not the only person touched by this Mary Cassatt scene played out before our sermon even began.  What a beautiful story she is telling about God’s love….

Sweeter still is that even though her own cup overfloweth….she manages to notice the needs of others…praying, fasting and encouraging us to do the same….

When I envision Godly mothers, I see this woman clearly….

What I admire about her is that she does not pretend to “have it all together”…..her messages are about seeking help…from others who have done this already…who have walked this path before her….who understand.

I admire her frankness.  With us, her church family, her face book friends, her family….she knows she cannot do this child-rearing thing alone.

She knows she needs the prayers and encouragement of others…and, she is not afraid to share her needs.

It is a blessing to “watch” her raise her children….it is a blessing to be one of many prayer-warriors for her sweet family…

It is a blessing to have a friend who very clearly realizes that we are not to try to “take on” this earthly journey alone….we are to seek the help, love and support of our friends and family.

She does this very well..

I am blessed by her.

But, more importantly, her husband and children are blessed by her.  And, it is a humble privilege to watch…..

Blessings,

Lesa

Home is Where You Go to Have “Good, Clean Fun”……

Our boys and several of their friends participated in “FROM” this weekend.  FROM, for those of us who didn’t have one when we were in high school, is Freshman Prom.  I confess to some anxiety over FROM…the expense, the dedicated time to shop for tuxes, the flowers, the ballgame right before, the photo session, LIMO or no LIMO?, the post FROM party, the late…or should I say early am hours…I am 49 and don’t function as well at 1 am as I used to.  The ability to get up to make it to church the next…well, the same day.

I think even more worrisome is the “after” stuff which comes after FROM…the parties.  Parties to homes of kids I don’t know, parents I don’t know at locations I am unfamiliar with.  At our house, you go nowhere unless we know the parents, know the location, have confidence the parent is going to be there, have confidence the parent is not only going to be present, but will have control over the situation.  A call and/or visit to the parent’s is made.  And, tonight’s party did not meet with any of those criteria…thus, I got to be the mean mom and say “no”.  Thankfully, I was not alone in that…the other parents of my boys friends felt the same way…so, we were a united front (Thank God for Kim/Mark, Kris/Todd, Jamie, etc.)

I didn’t party when I was in high school.  I didn’t feel the desire to party…didn’t want the possibility of problems which can come with parties, didn’t want to have to ask my parents to go to a party.  So, I have to work hard to “give permission” to my much more social children who are not like their mother.

I believe that it is okay that my children are not like me….it is not bad…their desire to want to go have fun…it is just that having fun has its limits…needs it boundaries….

My parents had a philosophy…”I will trust you as long as you do not give me a reason not to”……..so, that is what I try to do with my children.  I can tell you…much simpler it is to raise them when they were in elementary school and in middle school…..much more difficult it is when they get to the age where self-thought enters their decision making.  It is a humbling time for a parent.  

The confidence you have in the teachings you have given your children as youngsters is stretched as they grow into adulthood….all the teachings you have given them since birth are called upon to get them through this period of life.  No parenting is perfect…and, frankly, my children’s has some flaws which we see evidence of daily, but they have been taught right versus wrong, they do know to put Christ as their center, they do know the right thing to do….it is becoming increasingly vital that they do what they know to do….

We talk about this a lot. 

We talk about my and their Dad’s parenting failures.

We talk about how they will be parented moving forward.

It is a humbling time.

We talk about the need for trust, respect, and faith that if they are told “no” to something that it is because as parents, we can see danger where they are youth, cannot.

We talk about fun versus danger.

We discuss the desire to say “yes” as often as we can…..but, balance it with “no” which is to be respected.

Will they obey perfectly?

No.

Do I obey perfectly?

No.

What I do believe is that I have three children who have great  hearts…who have been through much…but, who are survivors….

I believe that their journey these past 21 years and 16 years is not in vain….some of the lessons  they have learned will be used to serve others…..to make the place around them better…

I believe that they are not “finished” products….and, I am grateful for those adults around them who love them, care for them, believe in them and see the good in them.  I am grateful for the Dads and Moms who reach out to my children, who provide safe havens in which they can play and grow. To their grandparents who love them….just love them….

I am increasingly grateful for those of our friends who “adopt” my children as their own.  Who tow them to events, feed them, discipline them and genuinely Love them.  The Coach Johnny’s and Ms.  Coach Jane, to “second Mom Melissa” and “Mrs. Kim”….to cheerleader Leslie and Mr. Steven.  To Fannie…to Ms. Kris and Mr. Todd.  To neighbor/friend Mrs. Laura.  And, the list could go on and on…..

I am especially touched by those of my friends who see the good in my children….who stand beside them when I cannot….who hold them accountable and who take time to listen to them.

I could not nor would I want to travel this journey with you……and, I am glad we don’t have to…

You assist in teaching my children that live can be fun….that FROMs can be a great experience….that you/we are willing to work together to give our children opportunities for “good, clean fun”….

With your help, we teach our children the need to serve and be authentic….the need to balance living for self with living with other’s needs in mind…that there is more to life than playing and more to fun than being silly.

Last night was such an experience….

No party.

But, lots of fun.

Instead, late night/early am trips to Taco Bell, lots of laughter and conversation around the TV, XBOX and in the family room.

It was a night of “good, clean fun”…….

Blessings,

Lesa