Separation Anxiety and Walking

My 8 month old is going through separation anxiety, its a stage and at his age and  it is pretty normal. It's a  stage. I have to keep reminding myself it's a stage. He would prefer that I never leave his side...ever. Naps are a battle because he will not go to sleep unless I am holding him or holding his hand. He proceeds to wake up and realizes I am not there, cries as if he's terrified and that I have abandoned him forever. If I am out of his sight you would think he was hurt by the way that he cries. I want to be there for him and there are times when I am right there every second. Sometimes I let him sleep in my arms because he needs the extra comfort. Sometimes I hold him half the day. There are times where I think we both need a little space because it's just overload. Last week was definitely the worst of it! 
On Saturday night he had so much energy I wasn't sure how to put him down for bed, so we were walking around. His little tiny hands wrapped around my two pointer fingers as we trolled about the house. He has stood a few times so I said, "Why don't you practice standing little guy?" I put him flat on his two feet in front of me and what does he do? He looks at me in a half panic and runs into my arms! My son took five whole steps of independence into my arms at a time when his separation anxiety was at its greatest point. This reminded me of my walk with the Lord. At times I want to feel the Lord nearer. I feel alone, despite His promises of "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) I am sealed with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) I am his Child (John 1:13)

It's hard to just 'know' that He is with me when I don't 'feel' Him holding my hand, walking right there with me. With Everett walking it has given me a visual. Sometimes the Lord is there, right with me, but He's not necessarily holding my hand. He knows I can do it from everything He has taught me. I can cling to His promises and know that He has not 'left me.' It just might be that I do something GREAT in my independence, when I feel Him the least He is standing by smiling with pride. As I grow and bloom where I am.

Becoming a Mom and Having Purpose

All my life I have struggled with my self-esteem. I don't know why. I received Christ as my Savior at age 4. I have great parents who love me. They have a stable marriage and I know they love each other. I have three siblings who love me and are an encouragement to my life. Not the kind of siblings to quarrel with you or tear you down.

Yet, I was daily bogged down with negative thoughts: "No one likes me" "I'm ugly" "How can people stand to be around me?" I wonder if people would care if I lived or died?" "I bet no one would notice if I was dead, no one would miss me"

Then in college I met the most amazing guy. He was so extremely positive I thought it was fake at first. I then realized as time went by that he was genuinely that optimistic.  He was a huge encouragement to me and pulled me out of my negative thoughts.  He is who I married!


After being married for a year and a couple months, we found out we were going to be parents. I was careful to eat right and take good care of myself. I think I read every book possible to be the best Mother ever.

After giving birth, I held my daughter. For the first time in my life I knew it mattered if I lived or died. I had a sense of purpose to live that was never there before. This small, beautiful, helpless baby needed me to live. In a way, I needed her  to live as well. I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed me to be a Mom. Since being a mom, I try to take captive my thoughts  "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ " II Corinthians 10:5.  I have spent time meditating on Colossians 3:2  "And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth."  I refuse the negative thoughts that creep into my head and try to fill my thoughts with something nourishing for me "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." Philippians 4:13.

Thankful for My Mother

I am thankful for my Mother. I recall her sitting at the dining room table nearly every morning doing her devotions. I remember her exercising every day - many days I joined her.  I remember her singing or whistling as she cooked and cleaned. I remember her teaching me how to iron, sew, dust, vacuum, do the dishes and weed the garden. I remember asking her to type my school reports for me and being amazed as her fingers flew effortlessly and flawlessly across the keyboard.  I remember coming to her crying...I remember her staying up late with me as we talked and prayed.

Thank you Mother for showing me the value of setting aside time every day for devotions. Thank you for showing me the value and enjoyment of daily exercise.  Thank you for putting into action Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men". Thank you for teaching me the skills necessary to be a successful wife and mother. Thank you for being there when I needed you. Thank you for your love and compassion and also teaching me to be loving and compassionate.

Homemade Mother's Day Cards

It’s a Mother Daughter Craft Day

We love making cards. It’s a good reason to get together and use our creativity. We used white cardstock, a patterned paper ripped and an additional colored paper to go with the pattern. Higher quality stamps give a clean look. The real star of these cards is the distressed ink, it gives the perfect aged look with the torn paper for shabby chic Mother's Day cards. Buttons added the final touch on some of them.

We stamped our images and words, tore the edges in a shape fitting to the image, and then rubbed the edges with Distress Ink almost to border the image.

An adorable little helper improves the creative process, but not the productivity. 

Hopefully these inspire more Mother's Day Cards! 
Here are some Ideas that you can use:

 

 

What kind of card would your mom love to receive from you?

God's Love: No Hesitation

I have never understood "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ"  more in my life than now. My 8 month old had a really rough night last night, which means I had a rough night.  Teething and a growth spurt is a vicious combination for a little one. How often he was nursed, cuddled, and sang to -  I can’t tell you. My sweet baby was crying off and on, it’s a blur as to when we ended up asleep on the couch. It is comforting to know we did sleep. As hard as it was, and I am a girl who loves my sleep, with no hesitation, I will stay up with my baby boy one hundred times. (Didn’t the Lord invent coffee for such a time as this?)  I love my baby more than words can describe, I'm there when he needs me. No hesitation.

Much like when the Lord was there for me so many times, I clearly remember feeling the Lord’s presence with me all night as I cried half the night in my college dorm, because I needed Him. No hesitation. There was a point where I almost felt a hug around me for comfort, as I was hurting the most in that moment. It felt as if we were crying together, the Lord and I. I am His precious child, His little girl. His immense love for me is greater than I can imagine, but I have a slightly increased understanding now that I am Everett’s mom. I selflessly love this little boy more than I knew I could, and he has expanded my understanding of love.

 This Hymn comes to mind:
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

Ephesians 3:17-19 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

On the Day I Became a Mommy

On August 6^th, 2011 my life changed forever when my son was laid in my arms. Even though I had never seen him before I already knew this baby. This is the baby I carried so close to me for 9 months (and an extra week). My beautiful child I sang to and prayed for daily. I didn’t know whether this sweet bundle was a boy or girl. What an amazing moment, to already love him with all my heart the second I meet him. I knew that this would be an amazing moment but, I was not prepared to have this feeling when he stares back at me. I was not prepared for this feeling of purpose, this amazingly huge, bigger-than-me responsibility. I am responsible for taking care of this new life. Those sweet eyes, that beautiful face, the shape, and features are the perfect combination of my husband and I. Just like I told my husband at his 20 week ultra sound, he has daddy’s forehead and mommy’s chin! He is the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on. AND this is my sweet baby which I get to take home and cuddle and love, everyday. I am overjoyed to be his mommy. To understand him, to train him up in the way he should go, and to love him unconditionally, no questions asked. To look into his eyes, eyes that resemble mine, and say I’m proud of you. To hear “mommy” that special name and only he gets to call me (for now only he can.) I have set out to be the best mom I can possibly be for my son. Lord willing, this baby that will grow to be a respected, honorable, wise man of God, like his father. 

Mommy & E 4-2012

Bloomin'

Yes indeed, life is full of surprises, wonderful and nowhere near wonderful. What do you do when life doesn’t even give you a decent lemon at times? Both of us, Darlene and Savannah, have had our fair share of struggles. It’s especially challenging when things look temporary, but continue to go on for much too long. What would you do with it?

Our choice has been “ I am blooming where I am” –that is, I will grow and bloom, for the glory of Christ Jesus in whatever I am facing, whatever the situation. Clearly the Lord has a plan here and I will use this to the best of my ability. Who are we?  We are a mother and daughter blogging team. Savannah has been happily married for 3 years, a new mother in her mid-twenties. Darlene has been happily married for over 25 years, mother of 4 in her late forties and has one grandchild.

Our blog will include many holiday themed crafts, recipes and new things we are learning. Our prayer is that you bloom where you are, be encouraged and grow from our blog. Thank you for checking “Bloomin’ Where I Am”.