With An Act of My Will ... Continued...

#589. Clean dish towels. They are no longer are all over the floor left to "blot up" imagined drips. LOL!

#590. Music playing throughout the house whenever I want. Nanner nanner MOO MOO!

#591. Space in the kitchen for making dinner. No need to negotiate around someone else making his dinner (since he rarely ate the one I prepared).

Now...in all honesty, even though yesterday and today I have been choosing to give thanks to God for things that I can experience now that the "nest" is "empty," I also have to fill in the gaps left... so I do all the laundry now (there is less of it, true), empty the trash, and do all the horse chores. I do miss those things that the kids did to chip in as members of our family. I miss the DLF lunches we enjoyed, too.

But I am definitely learning to enjoy these other things and I think it is ... ok!

#592. Twilight drives with hubby with the convertible.

#593. Texts from baby-dre.

#594. Activity of "D" man visible on Facebook. :-)

With An Act of my Will...

Note: Since I am struggling so much with this "empty nest" thing, I am choosing today to thank God for any blessings that I possibly can that might be a result of the kids no longer being here. This is one of the hardest things for me to do, as I would love the noise and mess of having the kids here if I didn't have confidence that they are right where they are supposed to be. So, with an act of my will, I choose to give thanks:

#581. Quiet in my home. No TV, games, or YouTube videos playing on laptops.

#582. Counters clean...all day, even!

#583. Empty sink...no new dishes!

#584. Washer and dryer available any time I need them.

#585. Cabinet devoid of numerous almost-empty Hershey Syrup bottles.

#586. No more almost-empty ketchup bottles in the fridge. (There is a theme here!)

#587. Solicitousness  of two canines who wonder where everybody is!

#588. Meals eaten at home.

Continuing the Count...

#574. White egret, regal bird, atop a pine in a Chicago suburb--tenacity!

#575. Baby's sticky waves and smiles: Reminder of young parent joy.

#576. Silken tresses falling over arms: Embracing my woman-child.

#577. "Mommy"--a precious word from the lips of a young adult.

#578. Pipe organ crescendo in Edman Memorial Chapel.

#579. 1000 voices lifted in harmony, asking God to "Be Thou My Vision."

#580. Prayers of Loved-One-For-Life for me and for our children.

Weekend Musings

#561. Top of my head nestled under Man-Child's chin...towering closeness, warm hug.

#562. Deep chuckles, moments of mirth.

#563. Pillow fights.

#564. Homes nestled among meandering rivers.

#565. Railroad tracks.

#566. Powerful crashing of water...a canyon and falls in the middle of nowhere. How did flat land turn to a stunning lesson on the mystery and power of God?

#567. Swinging suspension bridge!

#568. Aspen leaves shimmering in the sun--reminding me of a gently jingling tamborine!

#569. Skipping stones.

#570. Rivers winding in unexpected places.

#571. Football throws and kicks (and catches!).

#572. Men who love the Word of God and who want to pour their lives into younger men.

#573. Fawns in fields of tall grasses.

Evening August 13

#557. Ascending rays of light, heralding day's close.

#558. Golden rimmed  stratocumulus hovering, hushing, quieting the sky.

#559. Cricket symphonies harmonizing with wind -- the canyon with the top down!

#560. Dogs damp from baths, bringing anticipation of delightful softness to nuzzle and cuddle.

#554 - Engine's sound coming down the street, signaling the return of One Loved.

#555 - Wiggle of a golden dog, eagerly heralding the return of the "alpha male" of our home.

#556 - Husband's gentle lips, greeting me this morning. A precious kiss (or 5!).

#539. Great time early this week with Kathy and Bob...my cousin and his wife. Daniel, Michaela and I enjoyed visiting with them so much. There is something about family that is precious. Refreshing.

#540. For a pastor who cares.

#541. That I have been invited to attend and to speak to the women at our Church's women's retreat in September--and that the date was available on my calendar!

#542. Last Sunday I had the joy of leading worship at my church. God has made me so incredibly desperate for him and because of that, I sense his presence SO powerfully. It is a joy and delight to stand in his presence.

#543. The clear blue sky that I enjoy living under in Cool, California.

#544. For my husband's job and apparent stability. Lord, let us never cling to anything but you, our only true Rock, but thank you for his job!

#545. On Tuesday of this week, in my journal at home, I thanked God for both of my children being under our roof. That isn't the case right now--nor will it be for months to come. I am grateful that in spite of my helicopter parenting, my daughter has chosen to spread her wings to an amazing Christian college. The adventure is beginning!

#546. On Wednesday of this week, I had an amazing day with my daughter. Watching recorded Olympic events, cuddling one another close, and having a cry-fest together. "Mommy, I don't want to leave." Words precious to my ears, but even more precious is the mature, wise decision of a young woman to go regardless. Oh, how proud I am of you, Michaela!

#547. That everything on the shopping-for-college list was purchased! We CONQUERED!

#548. For this bittersweet season...that Michaela and I enjoy one another that parting is hard. I am so thankful for my relationship with her.

#549. For new seasons and adventures.

#550. For a husband who is willing and able to schedule time needed to lovingly travel with Michaela all the way to Illinois (from California) to deliver her safely to her new home.

#551. That upon arriving in Wheaton, Michaela's heart was filled with humble gratitude.

#552 For sweet time with my son eating dinner out, talking about the "What ifs" of life ahead for him as he launches into his new adventure, too.

#553 That even though my son has been propelled into this adventure by default and has been less than enthusiastic, nevertheless his heart seems to be stirred by the hope of new experiences apart from mom and dad. This is as it should be!