Monday, December 30, 2013

"The Nest is Quiet"

Wow! What a whirlwind of a year it has been.  Can 2013 be coming to a close already? Really? It seems just like yesterday that we were in the exciting planning stages of the wedding and all the events that go along with that most blessed day.  The nest was a mess, we were remodeling and the kids were moving in and out. We took in a new pet, a rescue Boxer that we named Lola.  I tripped and fell in Belk and tore my rotator cuff, had physical therapy and now am scheduled for repair surgery.  I took a walk out on the wild side and started a blog. Had a migraine that lasted about 20 days.  Our house was broken into. Our daughter purchased her first home and we helped with the move and settling in. As a mom, I've had some big emotional moments in 2013. Good emotional moments though.  The kind that you look forward to. The moments where you can sit back and say you've done your job and hopefully done it well.

I can now say, for the most part, the nest is quiet. Some times, real quiet.  Transition, moving ahead, growing pains. No more, "Shh...turn the TV down. Don't wake up the kids." We can play the TV as loud as we want or not at all. We can sit in the dark or have all the lights on without anyone looking at us like we are weird. Do I miss all the doors opening and closing? Do I miss the pitter patter of feet on the stairs? Oh yeah! Do I miss hearing "Mom, have you seen my kicks?"  "Mom, do you know where my keys are?" "Mom, did you borrow my bracelet?" I miss hearing that so very much. However, I'm so grateful that they have launched and embarked on their own. They have started their own lives as adults and I'm so proud of them and wouldn't change a thing. 

The changes that have taken place this year have caused me to grow and relax a bit. Not a lot mind you but some.  I look at things a little differently these days. Some things you just can't change and fretting and stressing just doesn't make any difference or help. I'm praying this year will be a little less busy and a little more relaxing. I'm praying the same for you. I'm praying for peace, health and happiness for you. I'm praying that the Lord will bless you in big ways and that you will seek Him when His ways aren't clear. Let Him direct your path.  

I so appreciate the new friends that I've made the past few months through the blog. Thank you for being so kind, for reading and for your comments. You have made this new adventure much easier than I ever expected.  I'm looking forward to the new year and the new adventures that await us. 

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall softly on your fields.
Until we meet again.
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

With love, Fifi

This picture was taken at "Thankmas". Missing are my sister Melissa and her family who live in Romania and Melissa's son who is a student in Lynchburg and my sister Mary who was at work.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Joy to the World! The Lord is Come!


We just finished  a get together with my side of the family.  Not everyone was able to be here but we had great food, and enjoyed being together. My sister, Melissa, lives in Romania, with her husband Brad and son Luke, her son Matthew is a student and is spending Christmas with his fiance' and my son Brad and his new bride, Kayla, are with her family. Dad read the Christmas story and talked to us about Joseph, Adam and Jesus and then he prayed with us.  I love to hear my daddy pray.  I remember as kids sitting around the kitchen table and we would have our nightly devotions. Dad would teach us about God being all knowing, all powerful, etc. and then he would pray with us and for us.  I don't think that is something that I will ever tire of. What a blessing it is to have parents that pray for you.

Tomorrow is a little more of the same. Breakfast with James' parents and Kristen, lunch at James' parents house. church at 4:00 then dinner tomorrow night with our kids. May each of you have a very merry, and for you Jeff Wylde, a happy Christmas.  Remember that the greatest gift of all is Jesus. He gave His life for you and me. What an awesome most precious gift.

A gift to you from me. David Phelps singing "O Holy Night!"

Merry Christmas my friends.



Until we meet again!

With love, Fifi


Thursday, December 12, 2013

An Evening Out on the Town

It has become somewhat of a yearly tradition for my Aunt Sonja, my parents and I to attend the Piedmont Wind Symphony Christmas Concert.  http://piedmontwindsymphony.com/ Each year they have a guest artist and we have heard some of the greats, The Three Tenors, Paul Anka, Kenny G and this year, Neil Sedaka.  It's such a great time to get out for the evening, just sit back, relax and listen to the Wind Symphony, the guest artist and enjoy our time together.

I love listening to the music of the 50's and early 60's.  It takes me back to my childhood.  My mom has a beautiful voice and I remember her cleaning house and humming or singing tunes from her teenage years. "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Sugartime"  are just two that comes to mind. And my Dad...oh my goodness...he would love to sing "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" while acting it out. "Acting it out" meant pressing our heads on his shoulder and holding it there while he sang to us. Needless to say, that would get on your nerves in a hurry. You just couldn't get away. Oh, and I can't forget "Blueberry Hill." That must have been one of Dad's favorites. Dad bought a collection of albums one year called "Autumn Leaves" and he would put those albums on the turntable at night and we would all go to sleep listening to their favorite songs of that era. I think that is why I love to go hear artists like Paul Anka and Neil Sedaka, because I have such fond memories associated with that music.  It wasn't music of my era but my parent's era.  It links me to them.  It gives me a connection to them.  It gives us something in common and it reminds me of my childhood, when things were more simple.

I'm so thankful for my childhood.  We were well cared for, were loved deeply. We were taught how to make biscuits and gravy from scratch. I could cook a full meal at 12 years of age. (Thanks mom!) Dad taught us how to change and rotate the tires (yes girls can rotate tires) and mow the grass.  We hung clothes on the line, raked leaves, shucked corn, shelled peas, rode bicycles together as a family and went on some awesome family vacations. We helped cut wood.  Well...Dad cut wood. We piled it on the trailer. We worked hard and played hard but we did almost everything as a family.  Then when the day was done, it was time for a little music from the 50's.

Yes, I may be a 70's girl but I love my 50's music.  It will make me smile every single time. Thanks Mom and Dad for loving us, teaching us about life and how to make it in this world. Thanks for making our home a happy place and  for singing "Sugartime" and "Put Your Head On My Shoulder." Thanks for giving us good memories and for ending each day on a happy "note".



"Put Your Head On My Shoulder"
Paul Anka

Merry Christmas!

Until we meet again,

Fifi

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Life Interrupted

I went into work on Monday morning which is my normal day off. I worked for a couple of hours then headed out for a day of running errands, lunch with my Aunt Sonja, Christmas shopping and a couple of appointments...then my phone rang. Life Interrupted.

"Mom, where are you? CPI is trying to reach you. Someone broke into the house."  What, our house? I called CPI security and sure enough they were pretty confident that our house had been violated. The glass break detector, the front door and an interior door and the motion detector all had been activated and a man's voice had been heard inside our home all within just a short time. Our house, on Monday morning at 11:30 in broad daylight. Life Interrupted.

Isn't it amazing how fast plans change?  Right before Brad called I couldn't wait for lunch.  After the call came I wasn't hungry at all.  I no longer "had" to go shopping. My appointments were cancelled. Everything else went on the back burner. Just fifteen short minutes after Brad's call, I was standing inside my splintered, front door looking into my house with a police officer by my side, my alarm screaming, hesitant to walk in my own home.  Life Interrupted.

This is my safe place. The place where I go to get away from all the hassles of the outside world. The home where we have lived our entire married life. The home to where we brought our babies from the hospital.   The place where my children come for Sunday lunch.  Where we gather when our hearts are grieving and we need to be together.  This is where we "meet" when there is a crisis and we need to troubleshoot. This is the place where we have laughed and cried. Where we've shared joys and heartaches. This is where we've made memories.  Now, someone has entered into our home, without an invitation, and they took something of ours. Something that the police won't find in the pawn shop, at a flea market or a yard sale. They won't find it in the back of a panel van or in someone's car with others just like it.  What they have taken from us can't be bought or sold. They have taken our sense of security and our peace of mind.  Life Interrupted.

"Is the alarm set?"  "Yes," "Are the doors locked?"  "Yes!"  "What about the back door?  Did you check it?"  "Yes." I set the alarm clock and turn out the lights. "Are you sure you checked the doors?" "YES! It's o.k. I'll double check." Life Interrupted

As I lay in my bed going over the days events I'm reminded in Isaiah 41:10 that God is with me even when I'm afraid.  "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  I love how I can go to my Bible and find a promise from God that will be just the right message for just the right time.  Even when my life has been interrupted by people that set out to do me wrong.  I'm so glad that as I lay my head down tonight that I know the Peace Speaker. I'm glad He knows me by name. I'm glad that no matter what happens, ALL is well.  I will say this verse tonight as I go to bed and remember that the God that loves me is right there with me and will strengthen and help me. I may even repeat it a few times. I'm so glad this promise holds true even when my faith waivers and shakes.

Have you had time of a "Life Interrupted?"  Have you had a similar experience?  If so, I would love to hear about it. Please leave me a comment below and tell me about a time your life was interrupted?

May the peace that passes all understanding be yours tonight, and I pray that you know the Peace Speaker as I do.

Fifi





"Peace Speaker" Heritage Singers