A Dedication

As Baptists, we don't baptize our infants, we dedicate them to the Lord.  That is what we did yesterday with our newest baby, Kyle Ryan.  We promise before God to raise him up to know and serve the Lord and we promise to pray for him and support him in his Christian walk.

 We dedicated Leah Rose to the Lord...

 ...just as we dedicated Ryan Heath to the Lord...

 ...and Allison Clair.

We pray for them and ask for protection and health, but most of all we ask God to reveal Himself to them in such a way that they would give their lives in service to Jesus Christ and, if necessary, die for Him.

Neglected Blogs

I have neglected this blog.  I haven't posted since last Christmas.  Part of me thought that I would just shut it down, maybe I would never post again.  But I can't.  Sometimes I just need a place to say something - something that I might not say to someone in person.  I am no poet like Ann Voskamp, but I do have things to say.

Why have I neglected this blog?  I have been busy with other - more important - things.

Spending time with my precious granddaughter...

...making quilts...

...gardening...

...Family Vacation in Port Aransas...

...teaching Divine Design...

...traveling with my husband...

...and then this precious event happened!  Kyle Ryan.

Since his birthday in July, I have been extra busy spending time with my daughter and both grandchildren.

Now, today is September 1st and tomorrow is Labor Day.  The summer is over!  Fall is here or at least coming (maybe not the temperature of Fall, but Fall is on my calendar).  My favorite time of year.

Divine Design starts back up in one week so I will get busier.  But I don't mind.  I remind myself that I need to make the most of the days, weeks, months, or years I have left.  I need to spend as much time with my family as I can.  I need to squeeze, hug, kiss, and play with my grandchildren while I can because I know that in a few short years they will go off to school and want to be with their friends and I will get kicked to the curb.

I am in the Fall of my life.  Maybe even the winter.  I don't know how long the Lord will allow me to stay here on my earthly home.  I do know that although I am not young anymore, and the Summer of my life is over, I like Fall.  I am going to make the most of this season of my life, doing the things that have eternal value.  Then I will go Home.

"Nobody tells you when you get born here how much you'll come to love it and how you'll never belong here.  So, I'll call you my country, but I'll be lonely for my Home, and I wish that I could take you there with me."  Rich Mullins

So, now I've caught up on the blog.  Happy Fall!

A Priceless Christmas

My daughter and my granddaughter sitting around a table at church sticking candy on a gingerbread house - our third year to do this.  Leah tiring of decorating and beginning to eat the "decorations."

Going to the live Nativity Scene at church and watching Leah (much to my surprise) ride the donkey.

Ten adults and one very active 2 1/2 year-old sitting around a dining room table eating and celebrating Christmas my brother and his family.  Missing loved ones who have gone on to their Heavenly home and those who are not able to be around the table anymore.  Reminiscing about Christmases past and telling family stories yet again.  Talking with nieces and cousins and trying to talk Leah into performing all her "tricks."

Eight adults and one very active 2 1/2 year-old side-by-side on a pew at Christmas Eve Service.  Holding Leah and holding her hand as she holds a lighted candle.  Singing Silent Night and feeling Leah lean her head against my cheek.

Fighting the crowd at the restaurant for our annual Christmas Eve Mexican food.

Six adults and one very active 2 1/2 year-old crammed into a family room with packages, boxes, wrapping paper, ribbon, glitter, toys and toy parts knee deep.

Eating tamales around the breakfast room table and thanking God for our blessings and especially for our family.

Other than my relationship with the Lord, there is nothing of this world that gives me more joy than having my whole family around me.  Listening from the other room to them talking and laughing is precious to me.

Priceless and precious.

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family and may God bless you in the New Year.

Love,
Clair

Pumpkins - Human and Vegetable

I have never made a secret of the fact that I love pumpkins.  This photo makes me hyperventilate.

This year I discovered that Leah loves pumpkins too!  One day she came over and said "Nana has lots pumpkins."  She likes to play with them.

She went with her Momma to the pumpkin patch yesterday.  Have you ever seen such a cute "pumpkin?"
I think NOT!
I thank God for His immeasurable gifts.  Happy Fall everyone!

On Turning 60

One day last week my husband woke up with a 60 year-old woman!  Me!!!!

I can hardly believe that I am 60.  I don't feel that old most days.  I remember my Daddy telling me that he felt middle-aged, but when he looked in the mirror he saw a 90-year old man.  That's what happens to me.  I look in the mirror and I see dark circles under my eyes and my eyelids droop more than before.  The skin on my neck is starting to look kind of wrinkly.  Yet, I don't feel 60.

I don't feel 60 unless I have to squat down to pick something up or stand up after sitting in a chair for a couple of hours.  Ouch - then I feel 60.

I sometimes look at young women who are pregnant and I think "I wish I could go back and do it all over again!"  I wish I could go back to the day I married Roger and start all over again.  I would do a lot of things the same, but I do have a few regrets and I would like to go back and fix those.

But - no way I can do that.  My years of having babies and raising children are over.  I am sad about that.  But my children still need me at times and I am finding so much joy in being a grandmother.  Also I am finding new meaning and purpose in my life by teaching my class of young women on Tuesdays.

I don't know how long the Lord will allow me to live, but I want to stay busy until the moment He calls me home.  Not just busy for busy's sake, but busy doing what the Lord wants me to do and doing what gives meaning to my life.  I want to do things that will go before me to the Throne on Judgment Day.  Things that won't be burned up in the fire.  I want to have a crown to throw at Jesus' feet.  I don't want to be empty-handed.

I pray that no matter how much longer my life will be that Jesus will sign His name to my lifesong.  I pray that I have lived in a way that pleases Him.

And about turning 60....my Daddy used to say that on your birthday you are just one day older.  No big deal.  After all, life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, red wine in the other, body thoroughly used, totally worn out and screaming -- "WOO HOO, what a ride!"

Summertime Blues

I am back from my trip to Italy (best trip ever) and trying to adjust to my new schedule as just a housewife again.  I had fun on my trip, but I missed my children and especially my little Leah Rose so much and was glad to get home.

I find that now that she is not with me I am oddly a lot more efficient with my housework, but there is a sad tinge to it.  Yesterday I went to Central Market for the first time without her and cried most of the way through the store.  I miss reading books and having her sit in my lap.

I have seen her a lot since I got back, in fact, she is sleeping in her room at my house right now, but I have to adjust to a new normal.

I know it is the right thing, however, because she seems so happy that her Momma is home with her.  Allison told me that when she goes in to get her in the morning she says, "Momma home."  That thrills me!

She had her Momma call me yesterday and when we talked she said, "Allah Rose (Leah Rose), Nana hing (Nana sing)."  So I sang her song to her.  Then she wanted the Nana's baby song, and the bath song.  I sang all three and she told me she loves me.  I think she misses me a little, too.

Thank You, God, for this precious gift.

Love,
Clair

Mother's Day

The first time I held him in my arms I knew I was in love!

I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life!  All my life, all I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother.  This little gift from God was my prayer-come-true.

Then, a few years later another little gift from God came along.  The most beautiful little girl I had ever seen!

Motherhood has been the greatest joy of my life.  Sure, there were ups and downs, good years and bad years, successes and failures, but these children brought such joy to my life.  Married to a great man, mother of two wonderful children who married two wonderful people, I was sure my life was complete.

And, then...........this little gift from God came along.

 

 Having all four of our children (our in-law children are our children now, too) in our home on Thursday nights for family dinner is Heaven-on-Earth for me.  Hearing this little girl talking and laughing...I could never thank God enough for His immeasurable gifts!