Empty Nesting: It is Harder the Second Time Around!

                                                               My idea of the “Tiger Mom”.

Hubby and I are in the process of empty nesting for the second time.  The Rev. has flown away into the destiny God has waiting for him and my little nurse is studying for her last finals before nursing school begins. 

Hubby called me to tell me he is on his way home (a 500 mile trip).  I could tell he didn’t sound right.  I knew what it was.  It was the same thing I have done for two days.  Both of us were remembering the Rev’s first day of Kindergarten.  That horrible, wish I never knew the look, that was on his little face.  His face is an adult one now, but that look is still there.  That little boy is still behind those grown up eyes! 

This is the second time in three years the Rev. has left EVERYTHING known to him to venture into unchartered territory for God.  The first time was when we left him knowing no one and nothing about Broken Arrow, Oklahoma except it was where RHEMA was located and God had called him there.  Now again in Arkansas to begin his first Associate Pastor‘s job.  Thank God we know his pastors!  They were our daughter’s pastors in College Station, Texas when she was at Texas A&M. 

I know they will take good care of him.  A sweet lady has opened her home for him to stay there until he finds an apartment.  He described her as being much like our pastor’s wife.  I feel great relief by this because there is no greater lady on the earth besides my mother!

Hubby will come home, and the first part of the re-adjustment phase will begin.  The door will not swing open with Gracie barking as though Charles Manson has escaped prison and is coming in to murder us all!  I won’t go to the window to see if his car has made it back for the night.  I guess I will start sleeping on a regular schedule now.  There won’t be anymore UFC fights in the kitchen between him and hubby with me screaming, “Watch out for the dogs!!!”  Funny the things you never think of are the ones you will miss the most…except for Gracie’s yapping!!  That one is getting old FAST!!!!!!!!

At the same time, hubby and I will look at each other and on the spur of the moment say, “Let’s hook up the travel trailer and go.”  Right now, that is about all I can think of that will change very much.  I will get even more involved at church (something God has really been speaking to me about lately), and my ear will be to the phone much, much more! 

Keep the Rev. in your prayers, precious reader, and his mom even more!  Blessings to you in abundance as always!  Juliana

Today is the Day…

                                                             My beautiful children. 

The “Rev.” is finally flying into his destiny!  Today my son leaves for Arkansas to be an associate college and career pastor.  I am so proud of him, and I am very excited for him, but at the same time I am starting to feel the mixed emotions of joy, sadness to see him go, and excitement because I know God has great things in store for him.

This is what we have prayed for, what he went to school for, and now the time of being mentored by a wonderful pastor has come!  It isn’t easy seeing your little birds leave the nest, no matter what age they are, but it is necessary to their well-being as well as our own as parents.  It is time.  He is a man now, no longer a child for me to watch over.  I can completely trust God to do that! 

I do ask you, dear reader, to pray for my son as he enters this new aspect of his journey!  I ask that you pray for me as well.  The weather is horrible here and is getting worse.  Please, pray for traveling mercies for him as he makes this trip.  All is well I know, but knowing he is covered in prayer just puts my mind more at ease.

Blessings, precious reader and thank you!  I will see you soon! 

Glory to God, My Son’s Life As A Minister Is Now Beginning!

Today, I am writing about something very near and dear to my heart…my son, as well as all of my family.  Almost a year after graduating from seminary my son has obtained a wonderful job as a minister to a “College and Career” group in Arkansas.  I am praising God!! 

This past year I have watched the enemy do everything he thought possible to discourage both of my children from their callings and dreams.  I watched them, and even though they didn’t say a word, I could see them fighting discouragement and thoughts of “Will it ever happen?”  If you are a mother, you know you take this on yourself, personally.  I had a fight, too!  But, praise be to God Who ALWAYS gives us a surpassing victory!! 

For a few days the Lord has spoken to me to share what I pray over my family.  I pray a prayer of protection, favor, wisdom, and growing beyond our years in the things of God.  I am going to pray my daily prayer now and hope it will encourage you, dear reader.  When I pray this prayer, it literally brings peace where worry and fear tried to edge in, joy where disappointment tried to take over my mind, and a deeper trust that all is well, not just going to be alright.  The prayer is as follows and is in boldface and italics.

Father, I come before You in the name above all names, Jesus!  I thank you for keeping Your hand on my family (I name them individually throughout the prayer).  I thank You it says in Psalm 91 that no evil shall befall us, no plague shall come nigh our dwelling and You send Your angels to keep us in ALL of our ways of going and coming!  I ask You to send warring protecting angels to surround us and keep us!  I thank You we are covered in the blood of Jesus!  I plead the blood of Jesus over our physical bodies and every organ, cell, bone, and tissue!  I plead the blood of Jesus over us mentally and emotionally, so that we act and think with wisdom at all times.  I thank You we have Your favor that surrounds us as a shield!  I thank You, Your word says in ALL of our ways You cause us to triumph and You give us surpassing victories!  I thank You, according to Your word, You perfect ALL things concerning us!!  I thank you we are the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath!  I thank you everywhere we go and everything we put our hand to it is met with great success, just as Your word says!  I thank You, that even though we have planned our way, You Father, direct our steps getting us to where YOU would have us to be, exactly when we should be there!!  We are in the right places at the right times!!  I thank You we have the mind of Christ!  I thank You that You send angels to dig out our ears so that we easily and quickly hear Your voice and we are quick to obey what You say!  I love You and praise You, Father, for You are worthy of ALL praise and glory!!  In the mighty name of Jesus I pray!   AMEN!

I hope you have found comfort in this prayer God spoke to me to pray.  I know when I pray it, my day is so much more stress free and, no matter what the circumstances may be facing our family, God has them well in hand!!

Blessings to you, precious reader!!  I will see you soon!   Juliana

Glory to God, My Son’s Life As A Minister Is Now Beginning!

Today, I am writing about something very near and dear to my heart…my son, as well as all of my family.  Almost a year after graduating from seminary my son has obtained a wonderful job as a minister to a “College and Career” group in Arkansas.  I am praising God!! 

This past year I have watched the enemy do everything he thought possible to discourage both of my children from their callings and dreams.  I watched them, and even though they didn’t say a word, I could see them fighting discouragement and thoughts of “Will it ever happen?”  If you are a mother, you know you take this on yourself, personally.  I had a fight, too!  But, praise be to God Who ALWAYS gives us a surpassing victory!! 

For a few days the Lord has spoken to me to share what I pray over my family.  I pray a prayer of protection, favor, wisdom, and growing beyond our years in the things of God.  I am going to pray my daily prayer now and hope it will encourage you, dear reader.  When I pray this prayer, it literally brings peace where worry and fear tried to edge in, joy where disappointment tried to take over my mind, and a deeper trust that all is well, not just going to be alright.  The prayer is as follows and is in boldface and italics.

Father, I come before You in the name above all names, Jesus!  I thank you for keeping Your hand on my family (I name them individually throughout the prayer).  I thank You it says in Psalm 91 that no evil shall befall us, no plague shall come nigh our dwelling and You send Your angels to keep us in ALL of our ways of going and coming!  I ask You to send warring protecting angels to surround us and keep us!  I thank You we are covered in the blood of Jesus!  I plead the blood of Jesus over our physical bodies and every organ, cell, bone, and tissue!  I plead the blood of Jesus over us mentally and emotionally, so that we act and think with wisdom at all times.  I thank You we have Your favor that surrounds us as a shield!  I thank You, Your word says in ALL of our ways You cause us to triumph and You give us surpassing victories!  I thank You, according to Your word, You perfect ALL things concerning us!!  I thank you we are the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath!  I thank you everywhere we go and everything we put our hand to it is met with great success, just as Your word says!  I thank You, that even though we have planned our way, You Father, direct our steps getting us to where YOU would have us to be, exactly when we should be there!!  We are in the right places at the right times!!  I thank You we have the mind of Christ!  I thank You that You send angels to dig out our ears so that we easily and quickly hear Your voice and we are quick to obey what You say!  I love You and praise You, Father, for You are worthy of ALL praise and glory!!  In the mighty name of Jesus I pray!   AMEN!

I hope you have found comfort in this prayer God spoke to me to pray.  I know when I pray it, my day is so much more stress free and, no matter what the circumstances may be facing our family, God has them well in hand!!

Blessings to you, precious reader!!  I will see you soon!   Juliana