The Beep Of The Cell Phone....

My cell phone beeped today, as I was sitting at my desk at work, alerting me that I had a text message. Looking at my phone, I saw that the text message was from my first born daughter, Jessica. I knew that the message that was on the phone, would change the course of all our lives to some degree. I flipped open the phone, read the message and burst into tears, sobbing. The message read: "Final decision made: Staying Here!"

Jessica and her husband, Justin, have been on a whirlwind course these last few weeks of talking, and praying and seeking counsel, and more talking and praying, to come to a decision about a job offer that had been put before them. The job would take them many miles from here, and not Alaska.

They had Jim's and my full support whatever way they choose. We just wanted them to do what they felt the Lord was asking of them. Last night, I tossed and turned, knowing that today, they had to give the final answer. Every parent wants the best for their child and my heart was so torn, realizing that they might move far away and how could my mother and grandmother heart survive?

My daughter is my friend, and I love spending time with her. The Lord has given us a very special relationship. We have shared so much together.

As I lay my head on my pillow tonight, I am grateful to the Lord that I don't have to say goodbye to my grandkids, my daughter and son-in-law, for now. They are here in Washington to stay, until the Lord opens up the right doors and they know the doors are from Him. It will be the right timing....
Until then, I will hug, laugh, enjoy, invest into their lives, every moment I can with all the "more" days that the Lord gives me.

Setting the Record Straight...and Estate Sales....

Today I found myself standing in line, with a number card 40 in my hand, waiting to get into an Estate Sale....All of sudden it was 10am and all us standing in line, scurried into the 3 story home, and handed the guy at the front door our number card.
I have always had a "certain feeling" about estate sales, and today was only a confirmation.

As I was roaming around the house, from room to room, bumping into people, looking through someone else's life, all sorted out in different piles throughout the many rooms, I had an overwhelming, increasing sense of sadness.

An estate sale, most of the time, is because someone has passed, and this is what is left of their "life" they have left behind, for everyone to plow through. The saddest encounters for me, are when I find old photographs of the family.

I am setting the record straight for my children right now.... After your dad and I are gone, please take whatever you want, and give to my siblings and our friends what you think they might like.

There will be no estate sale from us. I won't have people, pawing through our lives, looking at half filled boxes of bandaids, shampoo bottles, bags of poise pads, toothpaste, towels, sheets, musty smelling clothes, dishes, costume jewelry, books I enjoyed, etc... Please children, do take all the pictures! They are our lives together, filled with many memories. Everything you don't give away or want, please take to the Goodwill.

Most of all, what your father and I want to leave with you, is a legacy to follow Jesus. All the other "stuff" that will be left is just "stuff".

10 Qualities Of A Good Leader

All of us have leaders in our lives and each of us have led, to some degree or another. Each leader leaves a lasting impact upon us, whether they have been positive or negative. Listed below are 10 qualities that I have determined over the course of my experiences, whether I am the leader or I am under a leader, that each must have to make a positive impact upon their followers.

1. Have integrity...
2. Be a person of your word...
3. Not only listen but hear...
4. Genuinely care...
5. Lead by example...
6. Communicate effectively...
7. Personal character...
8. Be a servant...
9. Teachability...
10.Committed to growth...

I am sure there are many more qualities that can be listed to make this complete. These are basic. I want to be a good leader. I want the Lord to develop these deep qualities in me. I've experienced enough pain in poor leaders, and I have had the real joy of good leaders. Not perfect, but hearts who include most of the 10 qualities I have listed. I am so thankful for His grace that continues to mold and make me into the woman of God that I long to be, and wanting to lead by example. Leadership really is a gift. It opens the door to touch someone's life. How we touch them, is up to us....

The Eve of Mother's Day...

I have been cleaning out my closet, and today, I came across a red shirt that was my mother's. For the first time, I pulled it out from the back end of the closet and put it on. I wrapped it around me, and could picture in my mind how it looked on my mom when she wore it. I believe it was one of her favorites, as I saw her wear it many times.

Naturally the first thing I did though, was smell it. To see if I could still smell her scent. But it has been so many years, that her scent no longer lingers and all that remains is the smell of my clothes closet on it.

Mother's Day is tomorrow. Even though this will be the 19th Mother's Day that she has been gone, I still miss her. I miss her just as much and even more each year. She never saw her youngest children grow up, my children grow up, my siblings children grow up, never got to meet her grandchildren, missed out on so much laughing with her kids, sharing in their accomplishments and weeping with their sorrows.

I miss you mom.... and now that I have discovered the red shirt, that I forgot was back in the closet, I will put it on from time to time and pretend that you are holding me close. Thank you for being my mother. You were such a good mother in so many ways. Your children do rise up and call you blessed.