Blessed Beyond Measure

As I type this morning, the house is unusually quiet.  It reminds me of just a few short months ago when Charley was an infant, taking several naps per day and Curtis was spending the majority of his time at school.  I cherished those moments of silence.  Every seasoned Mom told me to take advantage of that time and nap myself, but I just couldn't help but to curl up in a chair and just savor the quiet...meditating, praying, and contemplating. 

These days, it seems that the quiet has been replaced with the wonderful sounds of a toddler's babbling, laughter, cries for attention, and all the noise that comes with motherhood.  I don't enjoy it any less, it's just different.  So, now, when the quiet moments last a little longer, I'm more than willing to drop whatever I'm doing, say a prayer of gratitude, and once again savor the quiet.

Today, I can't help but to reflect on the many life-changing events that the "Prichard family" experienced in 2011.  WOW! What a year!  I have to be honest and say that I'm GLAD it's over, but yet I can't help but to say that more than any year we have had as a family, we were BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE.

2011....Curtis graduated as a DOCTOR of PHARMACY, became a DAD, and started a NEW CAREER!  I became a MOTHER (celebrated my first Mother's Day!), AND I turned FORTY.  Charley turned ONE, got kicked out of preschool (not really! :-) ), started getting teeth, and was ADOPTED into our family!  And as a family, we moved to Missouri then ended up across the country in Northern California!  That's a lot of change for us.  I highlighted the good things, but of course, with the good, comes the hard.  Leaving family and friends behind in Nebraska and Missouri was difficult.  Sending Charley to daycare only to watch him struggle was sad.  Seeing Charley cry because his teeth hurt was disheartening and the realization that his biological parents were giving up their rights to know and raise their child was heartbreaking.  BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE.  Because of Jesus, I can still say that.  He was with us through the good parts and the hard parts of 2011.

I have no doubt that 2012 will bring its share of surprises and life-changing events for our family.  It's just "how we roll".  Our "rolling" seems smoother when we allow God to lead us in the direction he has planned for us, so..."Yep, I'm ready for 2012, Lord.  Count me in!"

Love to ya!
Shell

Merry Christmas Eve

It's early on Christmas Eve morning (well, early for ME) and I'm up before everyone else.  So I thought I would take some time to reflect on what happened on this day long, long ago to a woman named Mary.  I'm sitting in a comfy chair, in front of the fireplace, facing a beautiful Christmas tree.  I have running water for a shower later, and my child is sleeping in a crib with a mattress supporting his little head and body.  Life is good and I am so blessed.  Wonder if Mary was thinking the same thing on this day?

I'm sure she woke up early to "get on the road" with Joseph.  Bundled herself up and loaded the car...umm...donkey, then braced herself for the long journey to Bethlehem.  I wonder if she knew tonight would be the night that she would give birth.  I bet she had an inclination.  Imagine how miserable the journey had to be for her! Riding on a donkey for hours while you're 9 months pregnant!  Who thinks about that?  I know I never considered it!  Then, imagine the panic, as a new mother-to-be, when you hear that there are no rooms left for you to rent in this small town.  Again, I'm sure she had that nagging feeling that this was going to be the night.  Oh, the stress!  Only to find herself making a make-shift bed in a dirty barn with dirty animals and probably dirty hay for her precious, newborn baby boy.  What mother would not cringe at the thought of that!?  But, for some reason, I see sweet Mary, as calm as a cucumber, taking the wonder of it all in, and singing sweet praises to her new bundle of joy as the early morning light appears.  He was the Son of Man, after all...and she knew that!

My wish this morning, is that I could sit down and have a cup of coffee with Mary on the Eve of her son's birth.  What was it like to be the mother of Jesus?  Was she, like me,tired all the time...chasing after him as he scooted across the floor to danger or holding his hands as he learned to walk (all the while feeling like her back was going to break)?  Did she love being a "Mom" as much as I do?  What did it look like to raise a son who was sinless?  How did she survive watching her son being crucified on a cross?  So many questions!  I would love to have just an hour of her time this morning, for a little insight into her experience as a mother.

I feel blessed to see Christmas from a mother's perspective.  It bring tears to my eyes to think that it all began with the birth of a baby that changed the world.  What a glorious experience for Mary to watch her son change the lives of so many people around him.

As a foster mother and an adoptive mother, my heart longs to see the children that pass through my life make a difference in the lives of others.  I pray that I can be a "Mary influence" on them, all the while allowing God to be in control, directing their lives and leading them down the path that he has chosen for them. I hope that in a couple of years, when my own son, Charley wakes up on Christmas Eve with the excitement of Santa's arrival, I can gently teach him the real meaning of Christmas.  I want him to know that there was an arrival of a boy who gave us life...eternal life.  That's better than any gift he will ever get from Santa.

May you and your family have a blessed Christmas, with the knowledge that Jesus was born to give us the most awesome gift we will ever receive.  Thank you, Mary, for accepting the gift of Motherhood for this precious baby boy. 

Love to ya,
Shell