Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Times Change {God-Sized Dream}









Holley's 'do what you can step' for our God-sized dream this week is to write a post sharing "a typical day in your life like right now? How can you see God’s hand in the middle of the “small” and ordinary too?" 

A typical day ?

Ummm

If you had asked me 8 or more years ago I could have given you an almost minute by minute schedule of all my days.  As a mother of school age kids my days started early prepping the day by packing lunches and double checking backpacks.  The evening were spent either at the football field, softball field, wrestling gym, dance studio or volleyball court.  Then after the sun had long since set my time was split between making sure one child was taking a bath, while another was doing homework and trying to get something thrown together for dinner.  This is just the week days and the weekends didn't allow for much slow down.  From sporting events to house cleaning to trying to navigate a few friendships filled my Saturday. Sunday was church and family time.  Then you mix in spend the night parties, birthdays and holiday there were many times I just felt like running away.

But I was the momma so I didn't think that would work.


Now that was before August 2011.  Major changes happened in a short time.  My husband and I became empty-nesters.  Our son moved out one weekend, our daughter the next and even our neighbors moved the next.  Talk about a change.  We went from the hustle and bustle of a four person family back to just a couple.  Mike and I have never really been alone - together.  We lived with my in-laws when we were newlyweds as we built our house.  Our son was born 6 months before we moved into the house.  So see we have always been a family not just a couple.


So my typical day has slowly been developing over the last 15 months or so.  Instead of sitting in the standing cheering their games I sit by the phone awaiting their phone calls.  I no longer look across the table to see their face but now look at their Instagram pages to see pictures.  I no longer sit on the edge of my bed with them to hear about their day but I slowly scroll through Facebook post to stay up to date.  

At first it was sad to see the younger days gone but God is teaching me so much as we all continue to process this change. I am learning that the verse, "train up a child" is so true.  God has shown me just how much louder my actions spoke/speak than my words.  He has also shown me how much peace comes when you know that your children walk with the God as they are grown.  

If you are a mom of young children I advise you to cherish the moments as they come but do not begrudge them growing up.  


8 comments:

  1. Thank you Amy for this sweet reminder to us momma's with little ones growing so fast....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do grow up fast but there is always new adventures with them. I am learning to enjoy each stage.

      Delete
  2. Ah Amy... yes - I am nearing this season and trying to let go slowly - so as not to have any tearing apart... (easier said than done, I suspect!) Thanks for your comment on my blog today! It's nice to know that even after devoting so much time and focus... we now have 'time and focus' for other things! (Although - let's be real... we'll always be focused and investing in them!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Slow and easy is the answer. Just when to want reel them back in you have to give a little more slack in the line.

      Delete
  3. Amy, you have such a beautiful perspective on change and how God can still bless. Thank you for the challenge to invest in my daughter every moment...sometimes I catch myself already grieving the fact that she is growing up too quickly. But the truth is, I love who she is becoming and who God has created her to be. :) Blessings on your day, friend! Thank you for this piece of your heart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. God has been faithful to show me the blessing in the change and how they are all a part of His plan.

      PS it is okay to grieve a little - I did this week when my youngest said she wasn't coming home for Spring Break.

      Delete
  4. Oh Amy, this makes me sad, I'm happy my little one's are growing up but the thought of them not around anymore breaks my heart. I know there are times when I can't wait for summer bc that means extended stay at grandparents, but after 2 days, I miss them terribly and want them back!! They think I'm nuts..so does my husband :) But kids are such a part of your life it's hard to let them go, even if you must.
    By the way, you described my life right now!! busy busy busy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alecia, you are momma -- they will always be around. I miss mine so much but when they come to visit I realize that we are all at a point of "for such a time as this" to be apart yet still together.

      Delete