Amazine Grace

No doubt one of the hardest things for a mother to do is to let go. Letting go of the reigns on your child is difficult. Letting go of the million thoughts that consume your mind as your child ventures off into the world alone. Letting go of what you thought you had control of. Letting go of what you guided for so many years. My oldest son, Seth is turning 20 today, his first day out of his teens and today has already been difficult for me. Traditionally, I am that mom that throws it down on birthdays, going all out. He isn't here and I can't help, but be bummed and cry. I want to personally tell him happy birthday and give him a great big sucking the life out of him hug and I can't. So instead, I'm going to do my best describing the love we have for him! Hopefully, our words reach over the hundreds of miles and are worth just as much as our hugs.

Seth, you have made this life as a mother one with challenges, but also one with many adventures. You came into my life at a time I was lost, turned my life upside down and put my ambitions on hold. You gave my life a breath of fresh air and because of you I was saved and so was this family. Not many people could have ever faced the struggles you did with such grace, mercy and most importantly humbleness. You have far exceeded what I planned for you. YOU MAKE US PROUD! YOU ARE AMAZING! YOU ARE ENOUGH! I do believe though God has so much more in store for you. You might only believe the things you have done is small potatoes, but planting those seeds has given hope, love, courage and blessings to many. So keep planting those seeds and don't forget you were never meant for just small potatoes, you were meant for a harvest of potatoes. Keep Him close to your heart always remembering the "Amazing Grace" He has had in your life!

#happy20thbirthday #weloveyouweadoreyouwemissyou #proudmomandpops

Grace & Mercy

You know what would be great in this world? If people could stand on their own 2 legs with integrity and dignity, be capable of rising above and not bash others so they can climb on their backs to reach the top. Why, must we tear each other down to win, succeed or prosper? Instead, shouldn't we be praying for each other. Shouldn't we if not satisfied with a current issue or situation, an opinion or outcome speak to each other with grace & mercy? Bashing and hurting each other is not how we should handle disagreements. There should be prayer for a change of heart, prayer for peace and prayer for grace. There are more important things than success ya'll. You don't take that with you to heaven.

Bless You Boys!

What an incredible night! We were having a rough couple of weeks and were blessed with Saints Tickets in the Plaza Level then chosen to go on the field for the Tunnel Run! The Lord reminds me daily that He is in the details. We entered in the wrong gate, were running a little late and I was frazzled. It was as if He said "Hey, look at me - I'm still here", when the lady stopped us to talk to us. We almost ignored her and passed her by, so thankful we didn't! #blessed

Prayers

It is easy to be overcome by fear and doubt, because we respond in flesh. The enemy would like to see us be overcome by it, so he says he has won. Yet let us not forget that our Lord has already fought for us and we are always safe in His arms whether we are here or there. He knows our pain, He knows our grief, He knows our madness and He knows our anger, yet He still remains merciful even when we question His perfect love. He would never harm us, He will only protect us whether we understand it or not. I am laying down all my doubts and fears and turning to the Lord and trusting in Him. So, tonight as you rest your head, please say a prayer for some very special people that are in desperate need of prayer as their little boy fights for his life! I just ask that you keep speaking life and light over them. Thank you for being the beautiful faithful community you are! Nicole & Darby Bourgeois YOU ARE LOVED!

Motherhood

Such a lovely weekend with lovely women! I learned so much about myself as a mother now and where I want to be! Even when I can't entirely do it perfect, the perfect God has mercy on my imperfect ways! He gives me grace on my not so stellar days of motherhood and has leniency on my mommy tantrums, because He knows my heart - and it is full of Him.

We don't give ourselves credit for the roles we play and it was wonderful hearing mothers being honored as the pillars of the household. Great job Melanie Gaspard , Ternica Williams and Carol Knight, we have an amazing church, love you all at Victory Life Church (Lockport) !

Plans

Life can be seriously crappy sometimes. Your children will have disappointments that break their heart and yours. This is one of those moments. What do you tell your child, when she repeatedly feels defeated? We usually come to Facebook to share our children's accomplishments, yet what if they fell short? So I'm sharing today a lesson from defeat, beauty for ashes!

Disappointment will come so honestly it is best they experience it while they are young, while they are still under your protection - where you can nurture and love them. This is not to say that you should cope for them or retaliate on others, but don't belittle their feelings, let them experience it, let them muddle through it as you give love and guidance. Let them experience them, let them cry and then show them how to rise up again.

Their wounds will teach them lifelong lessons in resiliency and how to stand strong despite the mountain or giant they face. To make it in this world, kids need to learn how to struggle. They need to learn how to persevere for a hard fought victory, but also need to learn how to handle disappointment when the victory does not come. The world is tough out there and if they never experience disappointment it will be even worse.

For Claire this is just another notch on her belt of life that she will just need to learn from, but we know our master and He has great plans for her. He clears the path for those plans and makes our paths good. He knows what lies ahead for her and has closed doors along the path to keep her focused and moving forward to her great reward.

So as we gathered up other friends last night that faced disappointment, we made the best of a night of what could have been defeat but became a night of resilience!

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

10 Things I Learned

10 things I learned this morning:

1. Lady Trojans can run up and down a field for over an hour and be like I just woke up like dis, well I didn't run and I could scare young children with the way I look. Oh wait - they are 20 years younger than me, maybe I'll use that excuse.

2. How old am I - 90? Every stinking body part on my body hurts. Even my eyelids. Apparently I can't hang.

3. Taking down signs in the rain will not be fun - can they just stay up til we go to state next year?

4. Yesterday was beautiful on the field, in the bleachers and at home. I will forever have that embedded in my memories of that time we first went to state. What a great story we have!

5. Like really who do I talk to about #3.

6. Our town still loves our Trojans and that includes all - from soccer to football to tennis to track to swim to bowling to FFA to JROTC to band to cheer to dance to flag to baseball to softball to whatever else I left out! We are one team, one school, one family!

7.-10. I'm done, I'm tired of learning! Peace out!

P.S. if anyone is interested in the image I designed and created let me know. I can change it to whatever sport or program you like or just leave it blank. If you want to get it on a shirt or something I can email the image to you.