Back To Reality

What I already knew became more evident this weekend....more real. I've said it before that time is no one's friend and to always make each and every moment count. And as I sit here relishing in the thoughts and memories of the weekend I can honestly say that I don't take my own advise near as often as I should........

I saw a Daddy walk his baby girl down the isle......And Mama tear up as she realizes this is the last of her three baby girls.  They done well, raised three beautiful Godly women. Spent their time wisely, and now they get to enjoy watching each of them grow and raise their own families........I've watched them with their Grand baby so sweet to be able to be a part of their moments.

I saw another Mama take us in, opened her doors and welcomed us with open arms into her home. And we would sit and talk........"I'm in this big house all alone since my husband died and big Daddy is gone."  Her sweet southern accent, I could listen to her all day. And when it was time for us to go you could hear the sadness in her voice. How she wanted us to stay. "I love a house full, won't you stay?"

And it's in being aware of your surroundings, living this life and catching every moment and taking some of it with you to wrap up in ribbons to be put away till you can untie them again.


I went through a weekend with out getting on the time stealer the one thing that occupies way too much of those precious moments......Those fleeting moments. I didn't miss FB near as much as I thought I would. I didn't go through with drawls and have to get on my phone to check the next status.....I rarely had my phone with me.......And you know I actually enjoyed not being connected electronically because I was connected in reality....touching and hugging real people. Talking and smiling, actually looking in their eyes and really seeing what they feel instead of assuming what they meant through typed status'......

And I realized what I already knew....Life is so much better...Moments are more precious in person!

My goal? What I am determined to make happen, is real life, not the virtual kind. And please don't get me wrong I think that keeping in touch on line is still important, but reality definitely Trumps it!!

Life doesn't get accomplished staring at a big screen it just gets more complicated. I want to go back to simpler times. Back to shaking hands and hugging necks....Back to reality.

Walking Home in Good Company

The candles were lit, the table set and as I wait for women to come who have literally changed my life, I give thanks for each and everyone of them. I never dreamed it would last this long. I still had that fear of getting too close, letting my real self show.....And I often wonder why "The Mentor" chose me. Full of wisdom, Her heart full of Joy because her Savior lives there. Laughter is her best friend even when life gets her down. she is the Matriarch of this group. And we love her.......

It started 6 years ago, this Beautiful woman was turning _ _ and she chose 7 women to join her on her birthday escapade. I remember thinking how I immediately felt at peace with these women. How I immediately loved them.

We faithfully get together when ever someone's birthday pops up and we celebrate life.

And this girl, she shares my heart and also my name......Met her 10 years ago and I love her....Her and I, we know a lot about GRACE. It consumes our lives in everything we do, there is always grace.......A faithful friend. I find comfort in just being around her. I can truly be me, with her. And she is loved.

 The girl on the left, she is sweet and sensitive, calm and quiet spoken. Caring. Always interested in knowing how we are doing. Love her smile. I never told her this but she reminds me of my Aunt. Same sweet smile, same soft voice. And she is loved.

 The young lady on the right is our Sweet Southern Belle. Witty, charming. She must have SWEET TEA. Love to hear her talk.  Part of our comic relief, she pretends not to be in the same room with us once in a while......And we love her.

 And it seems no matter what....there is this unspoken rule, there is a security in knowing that we are here for each other. ALWAYS. And as we share in life's joys and hard struggles we make moments....Moments that are but a breath....Moments turned into memories that last a life time. Moments that enrich our lives..."And although this world is ugly it is beautiful."Ann Voskamp....  Moments that make this a better place to be in.

There are 3 women missing. One just became a Grandmother for the second time. She is Sweet and thoughtful, so very caring. Always wanting to help. And we love her.

The other two had some things to tend to......One with a "can do attitude."  She is not afraid to set you straight. (Of course in a loving way). The other part of our comic relief and she is loved!

The other, is our Second Southern Belle who will tell you that one of the most important things you can do is stand by your man. One who seems serious at first....then warms up after the first smile given. And she is loved.

I find myself  giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart for each of these beautiful women who have taught me that it's okay to be myself. And oh there is JOY in being a Christian Woman. That I can trust again and not have that fear of losing........that fear of a broken heart. The fear of not being accepted for who I am. That there is a multitude of blessings in true sisterhood.........

And as the years tend to make you older I often pray they make me just a little more wiser. I often think how God places just the right people in your life at just the right time. Some are there only for a moment and some are there to walk the rest of the way home with you.......It looks like I'll be walking home in Good Company.

Giving Thanks With a Grateful Heart.......ALWAYS.

Spend Them Wisely

If only for a moment today, take the time to notice........not what you don't have but, what you have been blessed abundantly with. Not what you could be or could of been but, who you are right now. Take a moment to cup your child's face in your hands look him, her, them straight in the eye and profess your love to them. They remember moments like this.....you and them all wrapped up in love.

Take a moment or two or three to notice what your man does for you.....The unspoken actions of going to work and providing. And if there is no man.....Be still and know that He is GOD.......

Take that one last moment when all is said and done, babies are tucked in bed, dishes put away, and you pull back the covers to rest from all the BLESSINGS that have filled your day.......Thank Him for what has been given and what will be given in the morning to come........

Moments are not given for us to ponder what could have been or to waste time on wishes spent. Moments are given so that we may GIVE. To give to all those that surround us in this life. To give thanks to the one who gave us MOMENTS........

Won't you spend them wisely?.......

Simple Moments

Moments held in a picture are moments held in the heart. Simple moments like this. Every day, "run of the mill moments"........

 And I'm captured by him...by her......by it all. All that this life holds. Blessings are not measured by greatness,or money spent or by things. Rather, it is measured by love and how much one heart can hold.

I breathe in deep, the smell of fresh cut grass.  The fragrance of life can take you back to places and times you thought were buried deep, but they soon rise to the surface. It's living this life that will bring a long lost smile. It's loving in this life that make simple moments worth while. That look that he gets, I could stare into those eyes all day. And I don't think he realizes it.....How much I love....how much I love him more than yesterday.

I grab my heart, hold onto my camera and snap quick. Because I know all too well Simple Moments are fleeting........Enjoy this life here on this side of heaven, even the simple every day, "run of the mill moments." It matters how you spend it here. It matters to the loved ones around you......It matters to strangers watching you...........

Moments Not Meant To Be Missed

And I promised myself this time I would try not to miss any more moments...............

 The pictures have been too scarce over the last few years. You never know what you'll capture when your not afraid to hang a camera around your neck. When you silence the ones who don't want to be captured......

 I capture them anyway. Because that's what some people have left, Picture paper. And the prints make them remember moments missed, make them smile.

 Daddy's hands..........

 And what I capture, captures my heart......

 She laughs, tells me to stop and I capture this.......Pretty blue eyed, sunshine girl. She captured my heart 13 years ago.

 Daddy says "no poses!" "What are you doing?"

 And I capture this....I tell him someday you will cherish this, this almost missed moment.

I missed her before she even left, my sunshine girl. Two are gone and three are here, but still there is a void.....I keep myself busy, but busy is not enough.

 Before he leaves , he pulls out a small album. And in it are picture paper memories of his brother, the one that passed away. And I tear up. He doesn't see me as I flip through the pages. "I keep it in my truck, Just to have it to look at." So he can remember.....So he can smile when he is feeling blue. And to him, it was just  yesterday they were running around the hill tops together........Making memories he still talks about today.

These days I swear I could stare at that crooked smile all day....Just to have it engraved in my mind. He will always be my first true love.......

And life will capture your heart if you capture the moments not meant to be missed. How precious this life, how precious the memories life holds.

How quickly your present becomes your past, your today's become your yesterdays. And I'm holding on with a tight grip only to lose my grasp......But I embrace what's to come. More picture paper moments.

The Forever Moments

When your tired of being tired and you feel you can't go on just one more minute......well your right, you can't, not with out Him. Through this journey, this Mama Journey there is one thing that I surely know....These forever moments your in right now, all too quickly become your past and "where did the time go moments?"

A young Mama, her little girl eating  peices of broken up chicken. "I just don't know how you do it How did you do this 5 times?" I smile and reply.....You just do.

Your days may seem long now and there are gonna be those times when there is no easy way out, But over the years I have found that the more I keep Him in my thoughts the more my thoughts become His......And through all the years of raising my babies I have found that at times they were raising me. I'm growing right along with them. And Oh how I love them. I know that with out a doubt I was placed on God's Green earth to be a Mama..... to be their Mama. It's what I know, it's who I am......And sometimes I'm pretty good at it. But you  know there are times I certainly fall short......I'm still sin soaked.

Dear little Mama I want you to know that this forever time doesn't last forever and if there was one thing I could leave with you, it would be to cherish every moment, even the not so nice  moments. I know what it means to have life speed past and all the while I'm grasping for moments missed.

The nest, it will be empty soon. I'm already feeling the effects......Looking up at who use to be my little man. Now he is my gentle giant. I remember those soft blond curls in the back of  his head. And do you know what I remember the most, what comes to my head the most? It's  not the forever moments it's the fleeting moments, the ones that never seemed to last long enough. In three years He could be..... he has the choice to fly. And oh how my heart aches, but at the same time I am filled with Joy. Because I know the time spent raising him, molding him, was so well worth it. I am so proud of who my children are turning out to be! And there is no way we raised them on our own! You can bet through all those forever times The Father had a hand in it. Keep your thoughts On the God/man. And so very soon your"Forever Moments" will all too quickly become faded memories.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

More Beautiful Moments

"For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11



Right now I'm wishing I had my camera. The images in my head I want to hold tight to. I was going to bring it yesterday while we went out, I even had it in my hand. But for some reason I put it back down. And I don't get very many chances like this.........

I see his once strong, young hands now aged with tremmor. And as he holds his last grandchild I'm aching inside....And he doesn't know it. I don't tell him that what I had envisioned for him, what I had planned for his later years in life is not at all what I see happening now.

The road is hard on a man trying to make a living. After all these years of working hard to take care of his family, I ask God to please take care of him......His eyes are tired. I think to myself how much longer can this go on? I feel the thought in my head reaching down to my heart. I'm hoping he can't see it in my eyes that he can't read my mind. Hoping some how that my thoughts can't speak loud volumes.

And watching him go seems so much harder this time around. It just doesn't feel right . I know I can't change the hands of time......But God can't you just change this ending. This is not how I want this story to go. You have it all wrong. This is not the way I want the road to go. It's the wrong direction. Can't you please stop the train, switch tracks? Something....Anything but this?

And in my head over and over again, each time I ask.....beg for Him to change the course. The words that are breathing life into this broken heart are whispering.... Dear sweet child, I know your heart aches but, you must put your trust in me. For I know the plans I have for you and your Daddy,  plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 Life can be so hard this side of heaven. And although I'm praying.......HARD, I must rest in Him. My Daddy must rest in Him.

I pray for Rest, I pray for relief.... relief of the pain that age has settled in and caused. I pray for health and better decisions. I pray for JOY to come live even in all this pain and sadness.....I pray He remembers his Joy. I pray for clear vision on my part and his. But most of all Father I pray that you hold my Daddy in your strong, loving arms. Because I can't bare to see the hurt and the pain the years have caused.......

And next time Father......next time I want to take pictures, beautiful pictures. Help me to stop and notice the beauty of the moments to come......Give me Beautiful moments......More Beautiful MOMENTS..........