change ramblings....

The past few months were a whirlwind of activity, between the normal (whatever that means!) daily routine of our lives, and the additional activity of planning and, pulling off, a beautiful  wedding!   The wedding WAS beautiful, the bride was gorgeous, the groom, so dashingly handsome.  the dad seemed nervous...the mom, staying busy to hold back tears that threatened to fall if she stopped to think about what was happening,..until one brief moment when the bride danced with her dad...a few tears leaked then...but the dam finally broke when the bride and groom said their goodbyes and headed for the honeymoon).

When asked by others how the mom was doing, as the couple were away on their cruise the reply they got was " partly sunny with periods of spontaneous brief showers"

It is now over, another beautiful memory. The newlyweds have settled into their new home, and mom and dad are settling into a new normal (whatever that means!) daily routine .
Gone are the days when the mom, dad and 2 sweet children would take vacations trips to fun places together.
Gone are the days when the family of 4 splashed in the pool out in the yard.  
The overnighters, church camp, cookies n milk after school, 4H meetings, band concerts, choir concerts, dance recitals and spelling bees. 
Chasing lightning bugs in summer, putting them in a jar for a nightlight by the beds...listening to sweet prayers as only a child can pray.   Fishing in the pond, having picnics, and riding the atvs all over the place!! 
Gone , are my daily prayers, sometimes tearfully, that God will insure my children of finding christian mates, and keep them physically and spiritually, safe.  Gone, but never forgotten, as I look forward to the new memories of what the future will bring.  A new member of the family,  who fit in so well, who has brought my daughter so much happiness, who prays and worships God with her.   A reminder of how great and perfect is Gods timing, if only we trust Him.   
As I settle into this new chapter in my life, the prayers for my children (now there are 3!) are still there....praying daily for their safety, spiritually and physically.    Praying  I may learn how to cut the proverbial apron strings, (can't I do it inch by inch?) but yet, still remain a part of their lives in an acceptable way, never interfering in their lives as they meld together in the Lord. 

While I know they will never be little children again, they will ALWAYS  be MY babies, and I hang onto those precious sweet memories while embracing the future and new memories we will make !    For while my daughter has now matured into a beautiful young woman, inside and out, and left the nest, we are still a family...of FIVE.