Memoirs of an Empty Nester pt.11

I’ve had such a glorious day today in the presence of the Lord. I have truly been transforming in my spirit. I have been experiencing life as an empty nester, and it hasn’t been easy. In fact, at times my experience has been scary, just as there is good in the world, so is there evil. Evil has tried to assert itself into the seat of my thinking so that I will remain in bondage to my past through my thoughts. But God is faithful and He has done well to deliver my soul, my thinking, and I am eternally grateful. He has supernaturally given me the opportunity to benefit from this alone time that I have with Him, so I am not totally alone. He and I have been doing some spring cleaning in my mind, my thought life, putting to death old ways of thinking. In actuality, all those things that other people have said and done against me, and the things that I have said against myself, and the things that I have said against others, had to be dealt with. All that stuff equals NEGATIVITY. And my soul had to be made free from all of that negativity and I actually feel glory on the inside of me, there has been a change in my soul and spirit. I need and want to fill my soul and spirit with the fruit of praise and worship, not only because my soul wants to, but also because I need to in order to keep my spirit free from negativity. I have learned that negativity within, attracts negativity from without. (I share that just in case the Blue Bird of happiness is pooping  all over your life excessively, examine your vibe.)

I have been blessed by God to enter into a REST in the Lord. I feel like a novice at this walking by faith, but perhaps I am not because God has been working with me for a while.  The appointed time has come, for me to enjoy the fullness of God’s presence through Christ and His faithfulness to me, His love for me, and all else that is His glory. What an honor, I know that I have asked for it, cried for it, and now I am experiencing it, from faith to faith and glory to glory I am being changed into the image of God’s dear son Jesus Christ. The rest of the Lord that faith ushers a believer into is a wonderful and glorious place to be…and the empty nest isn’t so empty any longer…

Rom 1:17 KJV – For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
2Cr 3:18 KJV – But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Memoirs of an Empty Nester-9

Usually when people are fortunate enough to reach my age…they would have passed through familiar milestones. They would have acquired some money and toys, perhaps property and warm, fuzzy life memories. Surely, children and grandchildren, daughters-in-laws and son-in-laws. But that has not been my experience. I do have two daughters that I love and am proud of, and thank God for each day. I also have a granddaughter that is absolutely precious. Yet in this moment, I have siblings that I don’t communicate with much. I don’t have people in my life that I can really call friends. I don’t have an accumulation of money or valuables. In fact, I believe my finances are at the same level that they were thirty years ago. My growing up memories are all in my head because I don’t have any mementos. I enjoy the company of people, however in small doses, because the conversation usually drifts into the unimportant or the selfish and self-centered. Interesting to me is this, because of our economic crisis, there are many more people experiencing this kind of existence, due to loss.  There are a lot of alone people in the world. People who have lost loved ones too soon. People who have had to move to new cities because of loss of income or property in a catastrophe. So what do I do with this knowledge and reality. First, I understand that I can’t impose the expectations of the world upon my life’s course. Because if I don’t meet the expectations of society that they will reject me. If I meet the expectations of society and am successful according to the worlds standards, then the world will want to know my name and then siphon my goods.  We see it all around us, the entrapment of success. Instead, I believe that the overall course of my life has been ordered by the Lord, minus the poor decisions of course. Second, I want to express my gratitude to the Lord for governing my life, all of my life. Actually, that is a life lesson, I choose to be  grateful for LIFE, it is precious, and it affords me the opportunity to give and love, learn, grow and create change for the better. True happiness rests in who God says that I am through his word. Real love and total acceptance comes from God, who knows all there is to know about me, and still loves me enough to have given his life as a ransom for mine. Mementos will be forgotten, people will unfortunately pass away, and relationships will end, but when the dust settles what am I left with? In my case, I am left with my relationship with God, which is eternal. And for the first time in my life I am really focusing on HIM and HIS will for me. I am grateful for this time of deep meditation and reflection, and I daily make a conscious decision to live my life according to God’s will, and I am becoming a better person for it. This is an absolute walk of FAITH, and I have been fearful. This is a walk of FAITH, and I have shed many tears. But I am standing on God’s Word and Trusting him, and I see change coming…♥

Memoirs of An Empty Nestor pt. 8

HOME ALONE YIPPEEEEEE!

I have been mothering since the age of TWENTY-FOUR. And I am still mothering just from a distance, but as any mother will know that once a mother always a mother. I want the best for my daughters, and I want them to make the right choices, right? But today, DECEMBER 17, 2009, I don’t have to mother ANYBODY. BECAUSE ALL OF MY CHILDREN WENT OUT OF TOWN. For the first time in my life, for real, I can just about do what I want to do. It is just me. This is so weird and exhilarating. My little munchkin isnt calling mom mom every 5 seconds, I’m not cooking breakfast for anyone. I don’t have to duck hormone imbalances. I don’t have to be a rutter for anyone’s ship. I don’t have to be a sounding board. I want to see how long I last before I miss all of this and begin to drop tears. Never!!!! I refuse to miss them and cry…stay tuned!!!!!!

 I have decided to return to school and get a masters in education. I’m nervous about that but, I figure, this is a dream and you only live once. I’ve got to face the fear and go forward. If I keep going forward, the UNIVERSE will rise to fulfill my destiny. I love it…life is great, AMEN.

Memoirs of An Empty Nester pt.7

I am getting to a place in my life where I am happy I’m alive, not just oblivious to death, but aware of the shadow of death, and yet determined to live and be happy, grateful in fact, to do so. Self-love and self-acceptance has such a warm and welcoming feeling, even cozy is descriptive of what I feel. Why couldn’t these feelings have filled my soul in my youth, during the times when my self-worth and self-esteem was too tied up in what other people thought of me. When the opinions of others determined what I thought of myself. What my family and friends think of me is important. I want to be perceived as a compassionate human being. But the opinions of others don’t dictate what I feel about myself, and I like the person that I am becoming. I look forward to the next step in my growth. I love this feeling, because I am in a wonderful place, wow, it is hard to explain. But I am in a place of peace, a place wherein I don’t have to struggle, if I don’t want to really. I am in the place where I will see the goodness of God, if I stay focused on The Lord Jesus Christ, and stay focused on faith in His Cross and what He won for me thereby. I am in my promised land, my wealthy place, I simply must overtake the giants, just like the children of Israel. What an awesome, faithful God I serve. To be continued…

Memoirs of an Empty Nester pt 6

I am doing a pretty good job of getting along without my child being at home. I am really getting into my writing,  maintaining my blogs and thinking about writing a short play for children, (that I really think I am going to do). I also thought about doing an outreach with food for those who are finding it difficult to make ends meet in this economy. I have really gotten past the  shock of being on my own after so many years. The fact that I started the process gradually has been a big help for me and I am really getting into ME. I really wish that I thought about ME a lot sooner. I have to work a little harder to take care of me, but it is worth it, I am worth it.  It may sound corny, okay it is corny, but I am happy discovering just who I am. I am a grown woman with a grandchild, and I am finding excitement in finding out who I am.  Since I am already in corny mode, I might as well let it rip, I had a wonderful experience the other day. I listened to the SILENCE, and heard my heart beat. I was grateful to be alive. To have an opportunity to serve God better than I had been.  I thought about my talents and abilities that He could use for his purposes. I thought about married life and how  much I missed it. What an absolute gift Life is! I never knew that Silence had so much to say.

10 Things You Can Do To Beat The Bear!

Yes, we are living in a time of financial crisis and job loss and fear about what tomorrow will bring, and how we will survive it. Understandably, life becomes extremely stressful when we lose control over our circumstances. When we have to think about how we’re going to offer the basic needs of shelter and food for ourselves and our families, the experience can quickly overwhelm our lives and our outlook on the future. I am also facing the uncertainty of tomorrow, and I am facing the prospect of how am I going to provide for myself. So I thought that I would share with you some of the things I do to stay positive and full of faith and hopeful.

1. LOOK TO THE HIGHER POWER. I used the term higher power because everyone doesn’t believe in Jehovah God, but it is absolutely important for me to realize the power that comes from the Supreme Being, the one who is greater than me. I am not in this world alone. (St. John 3:16)
2. MEDITATION AND PRAYER.  The ability to get into a quiet place and engage in thought and contemplation and expectation from God brings me great peace. Because I believe in Jehovah God, I use his Word as the focus of my thoughts, then I make my petitions or requests of God and I speak forth what he has promised me through His word. Then, I use my imagination to see myself in receipt of those promises. And I hold on to that for dear life, because the Bible says that when I meditate on God’s word and do it, I will make my way prosperous and have good success (Joshua 1:8)
3. BE THANKFUL TOWARD GOD. Many times we blame God for adversity in our lives. We ask why did God allow this or that to happen. But I have found that when I bypass that kind of questioning of God, and instead give  thanks  for the goodness of God in my life, I swell with peace and expectation and joy in my spirit. ( Psalm 107:20-22).
4. RELIEVE YOURSELF OF STRESS. You may have to cry, or talk about your situation with others who share your circumstances, you may find solutions (networking). Exercise, is a great way to get those endorphins popping, resulting in a better attitude. Eating more veggies and fruit, which are cheap, (farmer’s market) always seems to give me pleasure emotionally and physically because I feel lighter.
5. ASK FOR AND RECEIVE HELP. Human beings are quick to try and fix their problems. But, there are times when God expects us to wait and depend on HIM. What is a problem for us, is not a problem for God. So ask God for help and when it comes please swallow  pride. You’re truly not the only one going through difficulty, so you’re not less of a person.
6. KEEP GOING FORWARD. Keep living and loving and doing the things that you love. This writing that I am doing, and working on my websites is something that I absolutely enjoy. In doing so, a whole new career or direction in life may emerge. God’s ways are awesome. A recession comes into your life and causes some damage, but you survive and out of the debris comes new meaning in life, and a new ability or talent that births something great in you and through you.  Something greater than you’ve ever known before.
7. TRUST GOD.  Sometimes in life trusting God or a higher power is all that you can do. Those times when you have tried everything else and everything else has failed. Give God the opportunity to enlarge and bless your life his way.
8. WATCH YOUR HABITS.  Pay attention to your personal habits. Keep yourself up and your surroundings neat and clean. This may sound silly but, keeping yourself neat and clean and your living space free from clutter and filth has a wonderful effect on your psyche, it can even relieve stress.
9. HELP OTHERS.  Doing for others can bring great reward for yourself, at the least it will take your mind off of your situation. In the long run, it will bring you great soul satisfaction and joy to help someone else in need. You may even find a new purpose and calling.
10. DON’T FORGET GOD.  When God changes your circumstances, and brings you out of your adversities please don’t forget what God has done for you and/or your family. Let this time be a learning experience with the Supreme Being.

The Righteous Choice to Operate in Spirit, pt8

My quest to pursue Spirit, and live a life on point with the kind of life that God has prepared for me, has been a journey of destruction and rebuilding. Revisiting the past and confronting it and dethroning the power of the hurt from days gone by. Things said and done, doors opened, evil unleashed, a life thrown into turmoil, has now worked a far better glory in my life.  What gave me the power to do that?  The love of God did.  Knowing that I can trust God’s love for me, gave me courage to revisit those places of pain to tell them that they will no longer have power nor place in my life. The hurt has been replaced with the love of God. Love for Him and love for me, now love for others. God’s love is filling up the empty places in me.  God’s acceptance is filling up the deep places of need in me.  God’s peace is overshadowing me, and I trust Him. My wings are unfolding, wide they want to spread, I’m about to soar in the freedom that only the Master can give. Is that destiny that I’m tasting…

The Ratings Have Begun to Drop 61% on the Gosselins!!!!

It is just a matter of time now, Jon has finally put his man pants on and spoken up for himself. He only revealed what the more astute viewer already saw going on in the Gosselin household. I only wish the best for this family. Now that Jon is out, he may never want to go back to the brow beaten way of living.  Hold on little Gosselins, daddy is coming to the rescue.
Embedded video from CNN Video

 

Jon Gosselin Speaks Out About His Marriage to Kate on Good Morning America – ABC News

Jon Gosselin Speaks Out About His Marriage to Kate on Good Morning America – ABC News

 

IT’S ABOUT TIME JON…

Memoirs of an Empty Nester, pt4

To be honest  our children begin to leave us the minute their feet hit the ground running. They leave to explore other areas of the room, house, or yard. When they master speech, they tell us no to the carrots and peas, and yes to another hour of Sesame street, when we’ve said enough. Then we leave them in the hands of caregivers that our children call Mommy, and walk away feeling like the lowest form of life. Next, the first day of kindergarten, the  journey that will no doubt widen the gap between parents, and  our children, as they navigate the labyrinth of geeks and jocks, the popular, and the unattractive.  Searching for identity, hoping for acceptance, coping with rejection, trying to please everybody, bodies morphing, got to make the cut, got to make the grade.

Where does the time go, and how do we as parents go from knowing everything and being the best mom or dad, to being someone who “just doesn’t get it.”  But that’s not the worst, the worst is when I started feeling like my mother, when out with my children. OMG! that is the worst, feeling like the tag-a-long. But, I’m not going out like that. My life will be filled with other rewarding things, like  (limited) time with my granddaughter.  Perhaps I’ll join some groups or start a movement. I’ll find a way to give to others as I have given to my family all these years. I know that my children still need their mother, in limited amounts that is, but I believe that there are those in the world who may need me more.