Never Grow Up!

At the end of October, Keziah had a few days off from school due to our teachers having a 2 day convention. We took advantage of that and took the kids to Rochester, New York, where they have an amazing Children's Museum. We went two years ago, but they got more enjoyment out of it now that they are two years older.

Although it wasn't an overly long drive, we knew staying in a hotel would be such a highlight for the kids. Sure enough, they loved it! In fact, Nathan and I didn't even have our shoes off before each bed was claimed by a kid. They seriously thought they each would get their very own bed. Ha!!!

 

The next morning, once we were done running after our pillows which were blown out of our car and down the parking lot, thanks to some gusty winds, we got to the Museum.

And so the fun began. I believe every single button was pushed by this boy. Finally, FINALLY he was allowed to push buttons without getting yelled at!

 

 

Keziah has an amazing imagination and is so creative, so this place was just up her alley as well.

 

 

 

 

Some other highlights were the kid-sized grocery store, where the kids could buy 5 things and ring them through.

 

 

 

 

 

Being apart of a Sesame Street show! (just kidding.....)

 

 

 

Service with a smile.....and a bit of "who needs tongs when hands work just as well?!"

 

 

 

So much to do. So much to see. So much to craft. Keziah could have stayed a few more hours, but after 4 hours, Lincoln was done.

 

 

We ended with Keziah going on the Carousel. Lincoln would have nothing to do with it. Rides are not his thing.

 

 

It was so fun to spend time together, adventuring and exploring. The kids had a great time, as did mom and dad. We all slept very well that night and then drove home the next day. We are thankful and humbled by the very fact that we get to go to these kinds of places with our own children.

Your Kids are Grown Up....Now what?!

I was speaking with someone recently - a much loved wife, mother, grandmother. A woman who holds all the titles that many little girls grow up to want to be. And while she holds all those titles (plus more, including a daughter of the King, a sister in the Lord!), she expressed that a restlessness can seep in. A feeling of "I am done raising my kids, now what?! Am I even needed by my kids anymore?? Why was I not prepared for this part of motherhood??"

I don't know about you, but when I was a little girl, I couldn't wait to get married and have kids. But every time I pictured my future family (6 boys no less!), my children were always little; always around the age of 7 and down. You know how naive I was then, for I pictured it to be peaceful, calm, full of organization, and love. Don't forget, I was picturing myself as a mother of 6 boys! All 7 and under!! HA!!! Yup, naive. :o)

Anyway, my point is - I never pictured myself with teens, or further yet, with my adult children. It was always "I can't wait to have kids" and those kids just never grew up in my mind. Yet we all know that children do grow up (the ones the Lord does not take back to Himself in childhood). They don't stay little for long - even when you are in the trenches of toddlerhood it feels like they will never grow up. And when they are done growing up, does that mean they no longer need mom? And that mom doesn't need them??

So here I find myself, talking with a dear woman whose children have grown up, left the nest, married, and started having families of their own. While she has had many years of her children needing her and her time, she has come to a place in her life that her children just don't need her as much (if at all), and certainly don't need her like they did for so many years.

And *that* my friends, is a hard thing to grasp. It's a transition that can be very difficult to maneuver through, to navigate. To be at peace with.

Sure, she knows her children "need" her, but really, they are now relying on their spouse in life, not Mom. This is something that she wasn't prepared for! Yes - she wanted her children to grow up and be mature citizens of God's kingdom, self-sufficient adults! And they are! But now what is her role? What does "to be needed" look like now as a mother of grown children?

When you've gone through years of being needed and now you are sitting in an empty nest with your needy children having turned into independent adults, that can leave a mother floundering. While on one hand she sits back and gives thanks to God for where her children are in life, there is a part of her that wants to cry out: please, my children!! Call me! Need me! Chat with me! I am here now......not forever! So use me! Let me hear your voice! Just because you have grown up, I am still your mother! I want to be needed yet!

But don't confuse 'need' with "babysitter". Sure, your mother loves your kids, but having her babysit your kids is not the only way to show you need her. She loves YOU. It is YOU she wants to hear from; it is YOUR life she would like to know about; how things are going....not because she is nosy, or wants to give her input (even though that often happens......just part of being a mother :o) ).

So let's do this! Let's not *tell* our mom we need her, let's SHOW her!! Let's take the time, while she is still here, to let her know that not only do we need her, we want her still as our mom.

How?

Well, there is a saying out there: Kids spell LOVE like this: Time.

But actually, that statement is wrong. It's not just kids that spell love with the letters t-i-m-e. We *all* spell love like that. So do that - spend time with her. How could we not? Do we even realize how much time she has invested in us while we grew up?! How then can we just kind of forget about her?

I am so thankful to have talked with this woman, as God has used her to open my eyes up in regards to whether I have made my mother (and Nathan's mother) feel needed and wanted. That I need her and want her to be a part of my life, and not just to babysit my kids.

Time to pray about this and thank God for our mothers.

Let's enjoy and appreciate our mothers, recognizing what they are to us: still our moms. Let us make sure she knows that although we are all grown up, she is still very much needed and wanted.

So I ask you (and myself!):

when was the last time you called (not texted, but called) your mother? And not because you need her to babysit for you, but that you actually called, well, just because?

It's the Month....

that is very close to our hearts:

I have written plenty about it in the last number of Novembers. If you haven't read and are interested in reading those posts about it, you can find it on the side under the label "Adoption".

I have a few topics up my sleeve to write about for this year, but if there is something you are wondering as well, do shoot me a message! After all, education dispels fear!

Awareness is huge, which is what I want to promote. While I firmly believe that adoption is not for everyone, I do think it is very important that all couples/families should take time to pray, talk and consider adoption and foster care.

So for now, while I formulate my thoughts about what to write about in regards to Adoption (and give you some time to let me know if you have something you may want to know), I encourage you to pray about this very tough yet valuable topic of adoption and foster care.

Autumn!

Although it is November, we have been experiencing some amazing weather. Like plus 20 degree Celsius weather. Not just for one day either, but for four. FOUR days in a row!!!! And you can bet your booties, I am enjoying every. single. moment of it, 'cause I know what is coming next.........my daughter's favourite season and my dreaded season. Winter. Well, if winter was for 1 month, it wouldn't be so dreaded, but yeah, not where we live! We get to have winter for minimum 5 months! Yippee-I-aye!!

In the last few weeks, we've been able to enjoy a few hikes with friends, observing God's creativity around us. The colours. The animals. The smells. The sounds. Autumn is just such a beautiful season.

 

 

There were lots of these guys, much to the kids' delight!

 

And cool looking prints in the mud.

A year ago I cried because it was snowing. But not this year!! We will continue to enjoy our days outside, where it is warm enough to wear just an undershirt apparently (yes, he *is* wearing an undershirt.....you just can't really see where it starts or ends, thanks to him losing what little tan he had from the summer :o)

And while I bemoan the fact that Winter is coming, I am thankful for God's faithfulness in the changing of the seasons, year after year. Autumn is not the only season where He shows His creativity; He does the same in Winter. Hard to see it sometimes when it can be so grey, cold and blustery, but all of that is from His hands as well.

I am thankful for a God that not only has the weather and seasons in His hands, but has me as well. While I don't look so forward to Winter as it can affect me, I go into the season with confidence and comfort, knowing He is there with me every wintry day. May you feel His presence wherever you are as well, no matter the Season of Life you are in!

Randomness

One more night and then my hubby comes home! Yay!! We are all excited! But in the meantime, I have another lonely night ahead of me. So lucky you - I shall blog :o)

I was going through my pictures and found a few random ones that I thought you'd might enjoy.

Nathan took Keziah out on a date awhile back, which resulted in her coming home with a fish. I was quite surprised, but let me tell you, the relief I felt was immense when I heard that the pet store had only kittens, hamsters and fish. I have never welcomed a fish more so than Bluey, knowing how close it was to having to deal with a kitten or hamster (which, by the way, will *never* happen.....). Bluey thankfully lasted more than 3 days. Not more than 3 weeks, but at least more than 3 days.

Who knew I'd actually miss this face?!

The camera never does a sunset justice.....

Not sure if you are familiar with this treat below. If you don't know what it is, I warn you not to find out. Because once you are introduced, there is no going back. Even the mice in our home couldn't resist!! It broke all our hearts that we had to throw it out, thanks to them! (Chicago Mix Popcorn - Caramel and Cheese Popcorn in one bag. Yummy!)

How many Helders does it take to change a light bulb?! Or maybe I should ask, how long does it take when you have this many Helders changing a light bulb?!

He will regret this picture one day......but I sure won't! :o)

Keziah's little Frog Oasis she created, to hopefully entice a dear little frog to become her pet.

The best I could do with the eclipse that happened a few weeks ago. Did you manage to catch it? It was amazing.

What a joke - I saw that chocolate milk was on sale last week, so I bought it. Well, wouldn't you know it that while it *looked* like it was on sale, they shrunk the bags!! So what used to be 4L, is now 3L! The bags hardly fit in a regular milk container! Pathetic.

With Nathan gone, I've had a bit of fair time on my hands, so I picked something up that I haven't touched in at least two years! Way back when (like 17 years ago), I had the "bright" idea of cross-stitching a birth announcement for every niece and nephew born to us. Who knew we would be blessed so many?! You can tell I obviously came up with this idea when my first nephew was born, 'cause if I knew I'd have 24 (plus one more in a month or so, DV), nieces and nephews, I think I would have been smarter. I think 15 of my nieces and nephews have one already, so yeah, a wee bit behind. But hey, better late than never!

These boots best describe our creative, flashy and eccentric girl. I saw them second hand and knew exactly how she would react. I gave them to her last week and she has yet to take them off.

Reason #348 that Nathan needs to come home:

I asked Lincoln to find the hair clippers. True male-style, he not only couldn't find them, he left every single cupboard door open!! How are things like that innate?!

I shall leave it at this. Seeing that picture of our bathroom reminds me it no longer looks like that! We've recently renovated this bathroom, bringing it out of the 80s and into 2015. Next time!

Take care!