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We took the girls to the symphony Friday night. It was a beautiful evening, and I loved every minute of it. Molly loved it too, but was sure to let me know they were the youngest ones there by a few decades.

We ate dinner then walked to the theatre. Such a pretty city!

I would say “can’t wait til next year!” but the family says maybe give them a few years in between🤣

The performance took me back in my memories to middle school when I attended Davidson Fine Arts School and was first chair in the second violin section. 🎻I wish I had kept it up!

It’s almost Thanksgiving Day! It’s been so nice to have the kids all under our roof for a few days. I scheduled professional family photos while we were all together. No one was overjoyed by this fact, but considering it has been four years since we had real photos taken, I didn’t entertain any complaints.

Josh and I have been talking about parenting a lot lately. The way we parent has changed as the kids have grown, but they still need our direction, our prayers, our input and our money. Josh gave a little lecture of sorts this morning—a pow-wow to help them on their journey. Then later at lunch we talked about what we would say to each other to help us on our journey. To Josh I would probably remind him to reflect on his priorities and to not let work take up quite so much mental energy if he could help it. To me Josh said he thinks I should enjoy the moments, the days and not carry the heaviness of life around. Easier said than done, but it’s something I am taking to heart this Thanksgiving. A grateful heart is a light heart. Happy Thanksgiving!🧡

Ruby sent this video to me just now. Molly sang for a class she is taking at Liberty. So proud of her!!!! Love hearing her sing.

This fall I hosted a bible study in my home. I’ve done this off and on for years and years. There’s just something about the gathering of women and studying of God’s Word—it’s always a special time!

The study was by Megan Fate Marshman—Relaxed: Walking with the One Who is Not Worried About a Thing. We studied and applied Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”

There were so many practical truths and personal ways to apply them. Even this morning I used one of our new ways of processing my heart in prayer by drawing a heart in the middle of the journal page and then on each spoke coming from the heart, I wrote down all that was on my heart. It could be anything at all; this morning my heart was filled with some concerns for people in my family, projects I have on my mind, and a personal issue I need clarity on. After the heart dump, I went around the spokes and asked God if there was anything He wanted to tell me. I was reminded of the truth that He created my kids and He loves them more than I do. I was reminded that God never wastes our waiting seasons. And I just felt so much better talking to God and listening to God about all that was on my heart.

But the main reason for this post is to tell you about a revelation I had after our last meeting. I snapped a photo before we began. Then I went on to speak to each of them in the order that I met them over the years of living here (with one girl I met years ago in Georgia!), sharing with them how we met and what they mean to me. I was a little emotional because the move to Charlotte 8 years ago was hard for me. Friends didn’t come quickly. The Lord was so personal and faithful to be to me all I needed in the lonely season. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

However, in my living room over these weeks there were 8 ladies.

8 years here in Charlotte.

8 friends the Lord has brought me along the way.

God is so faithful and so personal. I’m grateful.

And this picture reminds me that God could see this day and these faces and knew when I would meet them and how the friendships would grow. He can be trusted. I hope I never forget that truth.

A couple of Fridays ago, Mack had a football injury and now he’s out for the rest of the season and has to wear a boot for three weeks. Booooo.

We ended up in the ER when he was in too much pain the night he got hurt. So we had a slow weekend and helped Mack adjust to his splint and crutches.

Then, Monday Mack and I went to Ortho Carolina for his official appointment with a doctor. I scheduled it wrong and so we had to leave for lunch and come back later. We went to lunch and had time to talk about all kind of things.

Later that day Mack started getting a bad cold and ran a fever for a couple of days. He and I continued to have a lot of time together.

Wednesday he still felt awful so I let him stay home from school again. We needed to leave the house for our cleaners, so I took him to lunch (we ran into his girlfriend and mom), and we got a smoothie after lunch and had more time together.

More time together than we’ve had in a very long time! Made me think about our homeschooling days that allowed for plenty of down time and conversations. Especially with Mack! He was my sidekick as we waited on the girls during their dance classes or every Monday and Wednesday when they attended a co-op. Mack would sit at the island eating hot dogs and strawberries while talking my ear off. He was (and still is) a very funny kid with lots to say. So being with him during those days was good for my heart. He’s usually at school, at football practice or with friends or Brooke—all good and normal ways for a 17 year old boy to spend his time. This fact, though, made our extra, unexpected time together even sweeter.

And with football ending so abruptly, I was forced to deal with Mack’s “lasts” before I was ready. I knew the next Friday was Senior Night but I hadn’t spent much time thinking about it. I don’t know why, but it just hasn’t hit me that Mack is a senior. I’ve ordered his cap and gown, turned in the official name to be on his diploma, and there is a Senior yard sign in my driveway I see every day. Yet it still hadn’t sunk in that Mack is a Senior. But this week it has.

This week I’ve remembered snuggly, chubby baby Mack, talkative toddler Mack, creative elementary Mack, brave middle school Mack, rebellious Mack, and now a more mature and even funnier and more thoughtful High School Senior Mack.

I am proud of him for a million reasons (none of which have to do with the state of his room), and I look forward to how God will lead Mack into his next season.

Super proud of Mack and his football journey. He’s a great teammate. It’s been so fun to watch him play! 🏈

This morning in my RELAXED bible study by Megan Fate Marshman, I was faced with this question [the homework is about submitting our ways to God as it relates to money]:

“Tell a short story about the most satisfying work that you’ve ever done in your life.”

Within .5 seconds, a smile spread across my face, and I started writing…..

“My days began with bed-head all around and pajamas for a couple of hours. Cutting up pancakes, listening to their jabbering, wiping down sticky hands and cheeks. There were books and blocks, time for painting or teaching abc’s and 123’s. We walked the neighborhood looking for pretty leaves or pointing out puffy clouds. Lunch and laundry. Naps and snuggles. Tears and boo-boos. Singing and dancing. And so many words.”

It was the most exhausting work in the best of ways. I wouldn’t change a thing. Do I sometimes feel like I’m floundering in this new season with mostly-grown kids? Yes. Slowly, but surely I am finding my footing though.

Proverbs 3:26 says, “For the Lord will be your confidence (translates ‘at your side’) and will keep your foot from being caught.”

As I write these words in a quaint coffee shop, sipping hot coffee in between bites of quiche, the girls are in college and Mack is working his way through his senior year; we are all worlds away from the sticky bites of pancakes, but there is One who is with us still—our precious friend, Jesus. I’m so grateful for the gift of His presence in every season. Just as the Lord was with me in those years of young motherhood, He will be with me in this new, (ahem) mature season of motherhood—one step at a time.

These two seniors are out on a Homecoming date. They looked so nice and spiffy!

Brooke was also on Homecoming Court at Carmel—like Ruby and Molly.

And she won—just like Ruby and Molly!

It was a super fun evening watching her get crowned. Mack had a football game he had to play in, so he had to miss it, unfortunately.

So happy for her! And so happy the senior year is moving along smoothly so far.

Sure do love this guy. My senior. My baby.

This post has been sitting in my draft envelope for a while now. I found it today and was reminded of the truth of each day having enough trouble of its own. Hurricane Helene brought destruction far and wide in the southeast. A mere two hours west of us whole towns have been wiped off the map. And my Georgia family is dealing with their own mess from Helene, though we’re all thankful it wasn’t worse for them. It took my brother in law hours to get to a neighboring town because he had to stop all along the way to cut and remove trees from blocking the roads. And my little sister is still without power—day 7. My dad had his own stories of the destruction he saw when he ventured out. But all of it reminds me that all we have is the moment. No one is promised tomorrow. Disaster can strike anytime and anywhere. Nothing is for sure except Jesus and His promises. Here is the post I drafted——-

Josh taught through the book of Ecclesiastes this summer in our small group. Weekly, it seemed we were reminded that: 1) You’re going to die. 2) You don’t know when. 3) Enjoy the life God has given you!

Maybe it wasn’t quite that simple, but those were my takeaways.

So when we spotted a wildflowers painting while shopping in Ohio, we decided we wanted them as a representation of this season and how we want to live. You see, wildflowers are just beautiful. There isn’t anything super predictable or any patterns that are sure to repeat. Except beauty. Color. A sight to behold. There’s nothing to do with them—just let them be. Let them grow. Watch them sway. And take in the beauty. Enjoy the pretty flowers. Sounds simple. But how often do we just not have time for slowing down? For noticing our surroundings and taking in life as it is?

Wildflowers grow together in unity to create their overall beauty. Each one worth looking at, but it’s their togetherness that makes them a sight!

In Matthew 6:28, Jesus tells us to “Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.” And a few verses later the summary is this: “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” This song has been on repeat since I first found it. Who doesn’t need this reminder?

My prayer for all of us is to find the beauty wherever you are. It’s there. Maybe it’s in the faces of your loved ones. Maybe it’s a neighbor who shares a meal with you. Definitely beauty is found in the helpers, the givers, the ones who share and show they care. But there’s also beauty in nature. Even among the downed trees and power lines, look up further still. Find the birds, listen to them sing. Find a flower and look at its beauty. Find a face and let them know you love them. And remember that God is still ruling and reigning and one day there will truly be nothing to worry about! Until then, consider the Lillies and rest in Jesus.

Mack’s senior year is ticking right on by. He’s halfway through the football season and the first quarter isn’t too far from wrapping up.

He isn’t sure what is next for him, and we are praying and waiting to see how God unfolds the path for Mack. we know He will show Mack the next step.

It’s hard to wait and not know though! It’s tempting to just make a decision and move on, but that’s not what we are going to do. We are going to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not on our own understanding. We will acknowledge the Lord in all of this and trust Him to make Mack’s path straight and clear! It’s God at work in Mack to Will and to work for His good pleasure. We’re excited to see it unfold.

Thankfully, we have an amazing leader in Josh. Similar to how his own dad helped guide Josh when he was a senior in highschool, Josh and I sat with Mack and talked through some challenges and prayer points. We wrote them out and posted them in his room so he can see them every morning and night. I was cleaning up some things upstairs and snapped a picture of them.

It made me smile to know how much Mack is loved and cared for by us as his parents, but more than that, by his Heavenly Father who loves Mack perfectly and fully.

Praying God’s will can be fully realized in Mack’s life. He is faithful!

And let me close with this grid of photos from when each of us were in Kindergarten. How cute were we??

All of us had crazy hair…except Mack because we kept it so short back then. Kindergarten to senior year goes by so fast!!!!! I’m trying to enjoy every moment. 🥰

Relaxed. It’s not a word that would describe me on most days. When I think about the opposite of relaxed, I think of words like: uptight, anxious, worried, fretful, and busy. I also think of the word afraid. If you’re relaxed, there’s likely not a threat around you. Being afraid seems to be a root cause of all the other words. Fearful that if we don’t take care of things, no one else will, so we get to work…doing and worrying and making ourselves uptight and anxious until things seem to be under control.

As I was thinking about this word, relaxed, as it was going to be the actual title our fall bible study, I kept thinking about Luke 12. Jesus is speaking and He tells the people to not be afraid of death. He tells them to not be afraid when people persecute you for what you say or don’t say, He says not to be afraid that your basic needs won’t be met like food and clothing. And then He says in verse 32, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” John Piper says this addresses our fear that God is not good and is not working good for us. The same fear from Genesis 3 when Eve thought maybe God was holding out in her. Yet we see in Luke 12:32 that God is our Shepherd and we are His little flock. He is caring for us and guiding us all the while protecting us from harm. He is our Father who loves us and it’s expectant that a Father gives His children an inheritance. This inheritance is heaven, His kingdom. But not just His kingdom in our eternal home. But His kingdom, meaning He is the King who rules and overrules in our lives. We get His sovereign rule and reign over our lives now and forever. We can trust our Shepherd, our Father, our King. We can relax in His more than capable hands.

So week one of the Relaxed bible study by Megan Fate Marshman was deeply helpful for me. Everyday day we start our time with God by presenting ourselves as we are, desiring to be a living sacrifice. Then we let God peel back all the layers as we declare, “I am not primarly….(these are mine) a mom, a wife, the grocery getter, the laundry lady, a stay at home mom who wonders if she needs a job, tired, burnt out, frustrated about…” until I got to the core. Primarly I am in Christ and He is in me.

And then, Megan encourages us not to fight our wandering mind. She says go to God! He cares about what’s on your mind and heart. So instead of fighting to stay on track with the right kind of prayer, just take your wandering thoughts to God. He knows what you’re thinking anyway.

Then, listen to God and do what He says. Is there something I need to do as a result of my prayer time? Any text I need to send? Anyone I need to forgive? A meal I need to take? A way to serve someone in my family?

It’s a simple way to pray, and I love it! Give it a try. Your Shepherd, Father and King loves to hear from you❤️