Missy's Moments

Life Lessons

I've been thinking- actually I've been thinking A LOT about my blog- I love coming back here and reading about all the memories that I kept track of. Life with 4 kids in the house always provided good story telling material. My days either brought me tons of laughter or brought me to tears. I was reading this post and the nostalgia was there but more-so there is a feeling of gratitude. Life looks different than I ever imagined it would look. So I remembered that I started a list of all those moments of Grace that I am grateful for and I think I'll try something different and try to continue it.

So that brings me to #10. I am grateful life lessons. A couple of weeks ago a couple at our church said good-bye to their 12 year old son here on earth. His funeral, the celebration of life that was held for this boy was heart breaking and breath taking all at the same time. I have found myself more than a few times asking myself when Eric and Sam are being ridiculous "does this really matter in the big picture". It's sad that lessons are so often learned in tragedy.

I was so moved by the difference this boy made is the lives of so many. Songs I adore were also loved by him. Our worship team played them beautifully and there were people praising God and it really was an authentic worship experience. One that I had never imagined experiencing at a funeral. That taught me just how truly alive our hope is in Christ. I was re-taught just how much I desire to point to God, I to want to be remembered for my love for Jesus.

On the other side of life we are getting ready to experience the birth of our first grandchild. Other than the birth of my own children I have not felt such a connection to a little one. I've seen grandparents goo and gaa over theiIr grand-children but I think I get it now. Kayla has graciously included me in so much of her pregnancy. There have been some scary moments. At just over 19 weeks Kayla called me (quite upset and for good reason) because of some heavy bleeding. I've had 4 babies and up to that day I had never heard of anyone bleeding heavy in pregnancy expect in the case of miscarriage. I begged for that baby boy's life on that drive. I couldn't bare the thought of my baby going through the pain I had only feared up to that point. When we got to the hospital the doctor was in the room within minutes with an ultra-sound machine. There are no words to explain the relief I felt upon the site of that precious heartbeat.

Both of these experiences along with many others teach me to embrace life. We do live in a fallen world, we do have a hope of so much more but life is good.Christ didn't die for us so we can sit here on earth and twiddle our thumbs until the good stuff gets here. There are lessons to be learned and I'm ready to learn.

John 10:10- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Nine- Lazy Afternoons

What a glorious day to do nothing.

Some of my favorite things about doing nothing include a good book,

recorded DVR shows (most recent favorite is Criminal Minds).

A hot cup of coffee (or two or three),

smelling the crock pot full of what I hope will be an acceptable dinner.

Feelings of anxiousness because of a to-do list are not even close to the radar.

There are a few thoughts of the upcoming week but just mainly my mind just hears the sounds of passing cars on the wet road.

The occasion growl from our dumb dog who thinks she can take on the passing german shepherd.

 The living room clock is ticking and Sam is wearing down my phone battery playing angry birds.

 Rick is off to fleet farm doing whatever it is that men do at Fleet Farm.

Eric is reading a book and watching Disney XD all at the same time.

 Sure there is a passing thought about changing the load of laundry but really it will wait,

in fact I think I'll scan facebook,

fill my coffee cup

and read the next chapter. 

The book- Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult.

In the crock pot- 3lbs of boneless beef ribs with a whole bunch of Famous Daves BBQ sauces dumped on top.

#9 of 1000 Graces- A lazy afternoon.

Off to do a bit more nothing.....

#8 My Old Angel

Next week on Thanksgiving we'll travel to Wisconsin, Eau Claire to be exact to visit with family and celebrate the holiday. Growing up the drive to Wisconsin always seemed to be an adventure but it was always one that I looked forward to. My Great-Grandma Lorraine lived in Chippewa Falls. 628 Maple Street. I couldn't get anywhere in Chippewa Falls (or Eau Claire) but I could probably get to that address with my eyes closed. I haven't been to that address since March of 1992, nearly 20 years old we said good-bye to my Old Angel here on this earth.

But see this is the thing... the memories I have of my Old Angel are so sweet, so precious and just as cherished today as they were in the days after we said good-bye. I am so thankful for that gift. Growing up didn't always give me such sweet memories but not so with Grandma Lorraine. Oh could she worry... I'm telling you not a soul walked in her house without her checking to make sure their feet were warm enough. She could recite the anniversaries, birthdays, death dates, dentist appointments of your 3 cousin once removed! Her memory was unbelievable. Grandma drove slower than most toddlers on a trike, and loved to play Bingo. My Old Angel was faithful, full of goodness and love. She loved God and loved like God. I remember her telling me once as a teen "I may not always like what you do but I will always love you". I believed her. It showed in all that she said and did.

Grandma Lorraine loved her family, she really was a foundation for what was shaky and unstable. She lost her husband to soon, had to say good-bye to 3 children much to early. She endured and kept on and life was well with her.

She tucked me in one night when I was staying there and leaned in to kiss me and said good night little angel. I looked up and said good night old angel... from then on she signed letters to me as "Old Angel".

I am forever thankful that I was that little angel under those covers.

#7

7. Eric's desire to "get revenge" on his last AWANA 'record'. He was able to memorize 10 verses earlier in the year and He warned His leader that this week he would like to WILL learn 14 verses. (he asked me to cross out would like to and change to will do). I'm thankful that He desires God's word, he works for it and is learning to apply it to his life.

One Thousand Graces...

You can call them gifts or graces, whichever you call them I have been inspired and have decided to start my own list. Daily I'm reminded of little treasures that so eloquently  whisper 'I love you'.

 

 

I have enjoyed reading a friends list, I have looked at others here and there and I'm in so let's start with...

1. My Creator, the maker of all that I am and the one who loves me. Period. God

2. My children, each for different reasons, each in their unique way, but all for the way they show me God's infinite love.

3. My husband, his love, our love, our life together.

4. Truth, something that for so long I searched for, asked for, debated, denied, desired and a thirst for that truth that was only quenched by the purest of all waters... living waters.

5. Coffee... yes it's true. I enjoy the warmth, the taste, different flavors, a good conversation with a friend or the solitude.

6. The willingness to procrastinate just long enough to seek out my blog! There's much to do but stopping to think about and write about all I have to be Thankful for has been on my heart. Me time is ok :)

 

So with 6 in mind I'm going to stop for tonight and I promise I'll be back.... Wonder when I'll make it to 1000. I'm sure there's that many and much more!