THE LAST TIME

Everytime I read this it brings tears to my eyes. I have always tried to encourage moms who are in the thick of things with little ones that this too shall pass and truly in the blink of an eye. But this poem states it so well, such a perfect reminder to truly embrace each season, each moment. I know some days feel overwhelming. I know some days it seems impossible to hang on one more moment in the midst of the trials and turmoil that little ones can bring. But in the midst of the trying times, we must have something to hold onto, something to help us keep perspective that our children are little for such a short time and that one day we will miss this. We will long for just a moment of it back. One day there will be silence and no more messes and we will wish to turn the clock back, but we won't be able to. So if you find yourself in the midst of the turmoil, overwhelmed, take a moment to think on this and remember, that this too shall pass.

I remember when my children were young all my "God stories" started with, I was in the shower and... the shower was my prayer closet. It is where I took very quick showers, but spent that time not only letting the water wash over me, but letting His Spirit wash over me. It is where I sang to the Lord, where I cried out to Him to sustain me, to strengthen me, to give me wisdom, or whatever my need was that day. It was a very precious and coveted time. I pray you will look to the Lord to sustain you and provide whatever it is you need today.

And I hope that you will find that this poem is a great reminder to make the most of each day because there will always be, a last time.

THE LAST TIME 

        ~Author Unknown 

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms you will never be the same

You might long for the person you were before 

When you had freedom and time

And nothing in particular to worry about

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before

Days will run into days that are exactly the same

Full of feedings and burping

Nappy changes and crying

Whining and fighting

Naps or a lack of naps

It might seem like a never-ending cycle

But don’t forget…

There is a last time for everything

There will come a time when you will feed your baby for the very last time

They will fall asleep on you after a long day

And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child

One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down 

And never pick them up that way again

You will scrub their hair in the bath for one last time 

And from that day on they will want to bathe alone

They will hold your hand to cross the road 

Then will never reach for it again

They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles

And it will be the last night you ever wake to this

One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus” and do all the actions

Then never sing them that song again

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate 

The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone

You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face

They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time 

Until there are no more times. And even then, it will take you a while to realise.

So while you are living in these times, remember there are only so many of them and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.

For one last time.

God At Work In The Midst Of It All

Here is a picture of Betty taken less than two months ago. It is her 88th birthday celebration and she is surrounded by family, including her daughter Mary on the far left with the glasses and Dana seated to Betty's left with the white sweater. 

What a blessing it has been to spend time with Betty and her daughters. It is always amazing to watch God work, and believe me when I tell you that He is working in the midst of this! 

As I come in for my latest visit, Mary is massaging Betty's legs with some delicious smelling lavender lotion and as we hug and kiss I remark that I am happy to see her being pampered, "just as it should be". Her retort is, "and as it SHALL continue to be!" we all laugh. 

Betty and Mary January 2012 visiting her grandson's school Taft University

As we sit and visit, laughing and sharing stories and memories, you would think we were just four girlfriends hanging out together. If not for the presence of the hospital bed where Betty reclines, you might think our discussion about what Betty wants done for her Celebration of Life service, was just four girlfriends sitting together planning a festive party. 

"There is to be dancing!" Betty declares. "What kind of dancing?" Mary inquires. I want everyone to do the Electric Slide. I take notes, Mary and Dana laugh and wonder aloud if this would be appropriate or if people will be offended. I remind them it doesn't matter what others think, it's what Betty wants and Betty says she wants "anything that causes a stir!" They wonder how many people know the Electric Slide and wonder about how we could find a teacher for the service, I share with them that Daniel, Samantha and I teach line dancing and can do it. (Another God moment) Mary asks me if I will dance with her and I say of course I will. Because I will do just about anything for my Dear Betty, including teaching The Electric Slide at her Celebration Service. Betty remembers her brother "Dutch" teaching her to dance as a young girl while she stood on his "polished wingtip shoes" in his kitchen. She insists he wasn't successful, but I doubt that is true. 

Out of nowhere Betty says, "There should be sandwiches, and pickles, don't you think?" I grab my pen and start to take notes, Dana comes back in from the kitchen and we are planning again. A menu is taking shape and it reminds me of a country picnic, so fitting for celebrating the life of this Country Gal turned City Woman. It is decided that there should be sandwiches, and pickles, and baked beans and potato salad and watermelon. Dana suggests we should have Boysenberry pie and Betty lights up at the thought! And so it goes. Little by little her celebration service is coming together, directed and planned by Betty herself. 

There should not be black! Maybe people can wear a little black but not lots of it. "I don't want to look down and see a black blob" Betty states. We discuss Betty's favorite shade of blue again and she reiterates that she wants people to be happy and a celebratory mood to prevail. 

At some point, again out of almost nowhere, Betty tells us that when this is over we three are all to go to Casa Del Rey and have a margarita, we look at each other and grin and acquiesce. Well, if she's going to insist I guess it's the least we can do right! I mean, you just don't say no to Betty. (and they do serve virgin Margaritas btw.)

You may be wondering what any of this has to do with God working. You can feel God throughout all of this in the atmosphere of her home as we visit. It is one of joy and laughter, teasing and chiding. It is one that can only be orchestrated by our Heavenly Father who promises to give us a "Peace that surpasses understanding." And that is exactly what He is doing. Mary and Dana are finding that there is a strength born of their mother's faith, and their own, that they didn't know was within them. God is working through this time to bring the family to the place where they are ready for Betty's next step on this journey. I am reminded, and share with them, that God gives us what we need, when we need it, if we will just place our trust in Him. 

Betty is concerned about being a burden to her family, but I remind her that this is what her family needs, to take care of her and make this transition with her. I remind her of what she already knows, that God is in control and giving each family member what they need to get through this journey, so just trust Him for this part too. She nods her head because she already knows this, but the mother in her is concerned for her children's well being. She is used to being the caretaker, not the patient. Although not a role she is used to assuming, I must point out that she is relishing it and enjoying every moment of it. 

Every once in awhile Mary or Dana wonder aloud to their mom, "How will we do this or that without you?" and she reassures them they will do just fine. Mary is concerned that Betty has the memory of the family and how will they remember things, Betty tells her she will work at it just as Betty has always done and it will be fine. Even now she is still the Mom and teaching her children life lessons. We talk about God and His promises and how He takes care of us. 

My husband has joined us a couple of times and Betty takes extra delight in her male audience member as she entertains us all with her witty remarks, we all listen and laugh and of course she gets in a little bit of hand holding with him, because she is Betty! 

Dana and Betty with Pete Carroll while visiting USC in May 2009

Another way I see God working through all of this is the fact that we went through all of this with my dear mother in law just over a year ago and that experience gives me the ability to hopefully offer Mary and Dana some bits of knowledge or comfort born of experience and I marvel at how God brought this friendship about to allow for this very thing. For as His word says, we shall comfort with the measure with which we have been comforted. (My paraphrase)

Sometimes Betty seems to be sound asleep as Mary, Dana and I chat, but then out of nowhere she comments on something we are talking about, reminding us that she is always listening. Of course there are the moments when her symptoms act up and bring us all back to the sharp reality of what is really happening here. But for the most part as she reclines in her bed, mostly with her eyes closed, sometimes nibbling at tiny pieces of pickle or watermelon or whatever she has requested to have a taste of, the main reminder of what is really happening is just her exhaustion. Of course the reality never leaves our minds, but God is so good to us to keep other things in the forefront where we are not consumed by it. And of course Betty's spirit keeps us all going as we soak in every moment of this precious time with her. And then when I come home, I hug my children a little bit longer and hold my husband's hand a little tighter, reminding them and myself how precious they are to me. 

Today I urge you also, to hold your loved ones a little closer and longer and breathe in their closeness while you are all still together. For as my friend Betty is teaching me, make the most of life, because it all passes too quickly. 

Blessings,

Colleen


Tonight I'm linking to
The Sunday Community

A Heart for Motherhood

Oh, Mothers of young children, I bow before you in reverence. Your work is most holy. You are fashioning the destinies of immortal souls. The powers folded up in the little ones that you hushed to sleep in your bosoms last night, are powers that shall exist forever. You are preparing them for their immortal destiny and influence. Be faithful. Take up your sacred burden reverently. Be sure that your life is sweet and clean.--JR Miller

I love this quote! There is truly nothing in the world more important than being a parent. It is the best vocation there could ever be. The world tells us that it isn't important. The world tells us to ship our beloved children off to daycare to be raised by an overworked, underpaid caretaker who is also trying to raise twenty or thirty other innocent young children. There is no time for them to be cherished, to be molded, to be discipled. I urge you to say NO and make a way to stay home and raise, cherish and disciple your own little blessings. It is one of the few things you will do in life that will last for all eternity.

Be Blessed!

Hot Tea Month

January is hot tea month!

One of the things I miss most about our lifestyle right now, is my inability to host tea parties. I love to host tea parties! So, I thought I'd indulge in a little virtual tea party right here.

There is something so inspiring about a beautiful tea setting. It is simply beautiful, elegant and inspiring. Tea brings about the feeling that one should lounge and savor. Tea is not about hurrying. It is about savoring. About taking time to enjoy each other. Time to relax, sit, sip and savor. When you think of tea you don't think about running, chaos, noise. Tea inspires calm thoughts. Maybe that's one of the things I love most about it.

I absolutely adore teapots! I am not sure how many I have. More than some might think is necessary, but less than any true tea devotee should have I would think. I have elegant teapots, whimsical teapots, country themed teapots, holiday teapots. Many of my teapots were gifts from wonderful friends and so I treasure them even more dearly! This is also the blessing of tea parties, they are meant to be shared. Friends are meant to be treasured over a nice cup of tea and scones.

My most prized teapot isn't really a teapot at all. It's a coffee pot. It was my grandmother's china set that she gave to me just before she passed away. Oh how I loved to eat off the good china! So we serve tea out of it and we love and cherish every sip because it reminds us of her love. The pattern is Johnson Brothers Enchanted Garden. It is missing a few pieces that had broken over the years and originally I thought I would replace them, but then I thought those wouldn't be from her, so what's the point? So I never did. Part of the love affair with tea parties is the tradition of it all. You feel connected and like you are a part of some grand tradition.

My affection for Johnson Brothers however, led me to some other patterns and purchases, like the one above. That is Summer Chintz and I not only have a few tea cups and saucers, but this is also the pattern of perhaps my most extravagant purchase ever! I'll get to that in a moment. I also have two or three other Johnson Brother patterns in my collection. A white swirl and a pink house teapot and cookie jar. Well, I had a pink house cookie jar, it got broken in the move to the townhouse. I have also learned to let go through my love of beautiful tea things. I have learned that things are just things. Things are not meant to be permanent. People are meant to be permanent. I treasure my loved ones much more than any thing I could own, so I use them and if one breaks, no biggie. Clean it up and move on to the next one. I wasn't always like that. I used to love things. I used to mourn the loss of the things I loved. But now I love my things, but they are meant to be enjoyed and shared and one day either they will leave me or I will leave them. My loved ones will, hopefully, if I have anything to say about it, be there in heaven with me!

I have quite a collection of different tea cups. I actually have very few sets. The only complete set I own is the set from my grandmother. All the rest are odds and ends I've picked up here and there. So, my teapots and tea cups don't ever match, but that's ok. That's part of the charm of tea. it is eclectic. It can be just as easily elegant or whimsical with a full matching set, or with an assortment of mismatched items. You can try to pull together a certain color scheme if you like, but I love to set out my assorted tea cups and allow my friends to choose the one they like best. It's part of the fun and charm of tea parties, imo.

And then there is the tidbit tray. Did you just ask me what a tidbit tray is? That's okay, I never knew before my fascination with tea began either. It is a tray to serve tidbits on. No, seriously. There are many different styles of tidbit trays. My favorite is the tiered tray. I only two of these because they are difficult to store. But I do have plans for more, if we ever have room that is. Which leads me to the reveal of my most extravagant purchase ever...

My Summer Chintz Tidbit tray! I will not reveal how much I paid for it, only my husband and God know that! But when I bought it they didn't exist! I found it and the price was more than I would normally ever pay, but I loved it! I searched and searched for another one. All over the web I traveled in my search, only to find they didn't seem to exist! Not even the manufacturer had ever heard of them. So, with my husband's blessing, I bought it. And I haave never regretted it! I absolutely love it!! I do believe mine was handmade because the ones I see now do not look like mine, don't have the same hardware, and mine actually has a bowl on top (this is a picture of one I found online) which I cannot find anywhere.

And lastly, for this post at least, is the beautiful serva-snak dishes. These were my first find and I fell madly and completely in love with them! I have since gathered others, but none as beautiful as these fan ones. These are delightful because they have a little rimmed section of the plate for your cup. So, you can put your food and drink on your plate and mingle! These are wonderful if you don't have enough room for a sit down tea. Let everyone meander around and visit. Now, wandering the room is not the same kind of tea party as a sit down, so please don't give up the sit down variety! But it can be fun if you want to have a large group and think you can't do a tea party because there isn't room to sit. These trays can also be used at a sit down tea party. But our lives are so rushed already that the whole point of a tea party is to take the time to sit and refresh. And the point of sharing a tea party with friends is to sit and really visit! So, be mindful of the atmosphere you want to create when planning your party. But don't stress about it! Tea parties are meant to be fun!

Well, hopefully you are feeling inspired to enjoy a cup of hot tea to celebrate hot tea month. Perhaps throw in a scone or cucumber sandwich and really enjoy! I will be back soon with some recipes and other musings on tea parties.

Until then....

Be Blessed!