Light, Love, Hope

After a long Winter, we are anxious to get our patio, pool, and pond area in shape again.  That is my favorite area on our       property.  When people come to visit and ask if they can see our home, my husband will take them inside to show them all around.  I am just the opposite, as I prefer the outdoor living space, instead.

There, we have arches on the left side of the steps, which takes you around to the large patio area with a white pergola draped with green chiffon and dangling warm white solar lights that sparkle in the night.

(Taken at my daughter’s wedding during the Father/Daughter dance)

On the right side of the pergola is a large flowerbed with a fountain with beautiful Crape Myrtles that burst forth with beautiful Crimson Red blooms in the Spring.

On the left side of the pergola is a flower garden with fragrant Lavender, Knockout Roses in shades of pink and red, as well as white Shasta Daisies.   All flowers provide joy from Spring to Fall, until Winter arrives.

Winter.  Thankfully, the South Carolina temperatures aren’t as frigid as Illinois, for example.  Even still, we find our outdoor time limited when the winter wind is ripping and temperatures fall.  Trees are bare, as the leaves have all fallen on the ground. Everything is dormant now, except for my beautiful Camellias. In the middle of Winter, the variety of white, pink, and peppermint Camellias greet me as I bundle up and walk outside to greet the day.

(These were taken on a rare “snow” day in South Carolina recently.   We may get snow once every five years or so.)

My job each day is to check to be certain the bird feeders are well stocked in the winter to help the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Sparrows, and our other feathered friends.  Occasionally, we will see actual Blue Birds and Woodpeckers. I squeal like a schoolgirl with delight when I spot them in the trees!   We have Blue Bird boxes along our fence for nesting when the time arrives.

Ah, Spring!

We await your arrival, for just like Jesus, you make all things new!  Jesus washes us with His blood and saves us from our sinful ways.  He renews us and awakens a longing inside of us to follow Him all the rest of our days.  Oh, thank you, Lord!

His mercies are new every morning.

As temperatures begin to rise in a few weeks, the green leaves will return, and pretty soon buds will form!  Spring will bring forth such beauty and fragrant flowers from bare branches we see outside our window today.  Ah, but beauty awaits from the ashes in our lives.  Jesus restores what has been taken from us and those ashes will have beauty in its place as Jesus fills us with His love.

The weather today will be in the 70s, and my heart yearns for the days of Summer when we would take our boat to the lake.  My youngest daughter and her friend would pile in our 2500 Suburban with the boat trailer secured behind it holding our Edge Water boat.  With excitement in our eyes and smiles on our faces, we would make our way to the landing, take the boat off the trailer, pull up to the dock and let everyone get comfortable in their seats as we packed the boat full of coolers and our Phantom raft.  This two seater raft always yielded squeals of delight as we pulled the ever so adventurous and trusting children behind the boat.  Ripping and roaring through the waterways, we would purposely circle around to ensure they jumped the waves our boat made.  Video footage to enjoy later is always a must!

We have made so many memories in our boat, and I’m so thankful our girls have expressed an interest in boating activities with us.  As they grew up, we feared they would lose interest.  Boating is fun with my husband and I, but it’s more fun when the entire family is there!

My oldest daughter doesn’t care for boating as much as we do, but we have gotten her and her husband onboard a few times. Sunset cruises on the lake are my favorite as well, especially when we let them have a turn at the helm.  I’m proud to say they have all demonstrated great skill with maneuvering the boat.

I feel the need … the need for speed!

That line became famous in the movie Top Gun, but it applies here as well.  No one can resist pushing the throttle forward, the front of the boat leaping forward, then getting on plain.  Now you’re living the good life!

Ahhh, sweet memories!  We look forward to Summer and all of the memories that await us!

Yesterday, a friend posted questions she asked her four year old daughter.  One particular answer struck me.  The question was, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  The little girl’s answer was, “I want to be an ordinary girl who runs errands.”  When her mother asked who the little girl knew that was an ordinary girl who runs errands, she answered, “You and me, Mommy!”

My friend has been afforded the wonderful opportunity to stay at home and raise her daughter.  There is nothing “ordinary” about that.  It’s exciting to think of the opportunity this young mother has had to spend all of this quality time with her daughter.   She has been able to teach and mold her.  Stay at home mom’s often don’t get the respect they deserve, though.  Often times, people look down on stay at home mothers because they aren’t “working” to provide income for the family.  Yet, there are critics on the other side for working mothers as well, which is another issue altogether.  We will save that for another blog post.

But “ordinary” is not a word to describe the absolute most rewarding and fulfilling “job” ever!

This young mother struggles sometimes with her value and worth.  Day in and day out, she has fed, diapered, and nurtured her baby girl.  She has been overwhelmed by colic cries and laundry piling up.  Most days, the only interaction with another adult is when she receives a random call on her cell phone wanting to extend her car warranty.  It’s hard in those early days, but soon the baby learns to smile, laugh, and the mother’s heart is filled with such joy.  As the baby grows into a toddler, they learn to walk and are forming new words.  Oh, but wait until the toddler hugs you or climbs into your lap.  Those are the days you live for!  It makes up for ALL of the hard days when your baby is able to say, “I love you, Mommy!”  And you know without a doubt what unconditional love truly is all about at that point.

This is no ordinary task.  Raising our babies to be good, God honoring people, with morals and values, and teaching them about Jesus is a great privilege and honor.  These babies have been sent straight from God in Heaven to our awaiting arms, and we have been blessed to be their mothers.

Ordinary?

If anything, it’s extraordinary, and I have rocked this role as a mother of two beautiful blond hair, blue eyed baby girls.  They have turned into gorgeous young women, and my heart is so proud.