She Held the Hand of God

We decided that since our whole family was together on Friday evening, that we would catch a movie we have all wanted to see for quite some time, The Blindside. Since we were meeting My Dear there, we chose to eat at CICI’s Pizza close to the theater, not on our ‘normal’ side of town.

We girls were running a bit late and My Dear had already purchased our meals, so we rushed in, grabbed our food and joined him at the table. I noticed a large area of stuff near my chair, all covered by a camouflage tarp, as I sat down. As I was in a hurry, I did not give what was near me much thought…now, I kind of wish I would have!

When I had taken a few bites of dinner, the gentleman at the next table asked if his stuff was in our way. I then looked at our table neighbor for the first time – a homeless man! Why had I not noticed him, or for that matter, his stuff? You may remember I reviewed the Andy Andrews book, The Noticer, a few months back and mentioned that I wanted to notice more around me…obviously, I still need to work on that!

I felt a tug on my heart that I should carry on a conversation with him, but how do I even begin that? I’m still a work in progress. Very soon, though, this man was leading a conversation with me! It was such a delight!

He is from the area, having lived in our city for many years. He graduated from my daughter’s rival school, South, when North was just starting out. He told us the grocery store in the center was at one time a Piggly Wiggly, and then became a Safeway before shutting down over 20 yrs ago. He told us how he lived in a brand new home on a close by street at one time, and how his family was one of the first tenants in a brand new apartment complex where the Super Wal-Mart now stands. I do remember the apartments!

My Dear and his family lived near the area for several years, including the almost three years we were together before marriage, and visited this shopping center many times. At one time, there was a Furr’s Restaurant in the center and that is where my in-law’s brand new Buick was stolen in the spring of 1990…yep, the same one My Dear drives now! There were some things about the area that we already knew, but he was such a wealth of information that we all listened intently!

As I began to gather my purse, I noticed our CD had come to stand by the man’s table and was talking to him. I heard her ask him if she could pray for him and his response humbled me. He said that was his ministry, to pray for others, but he did not mind her praying for him. OH, MY!

Then, my sweet, now adult child reached out her hand to gather his and prayed!

A sweeter prayer, I’m sure I have never heard. I know she touched God’s heart, because I could feel mine breaking under the weight of innocence and grace!

Matthew 25:40 Then the King will answer, "I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me." How is it that our children can teach us so much more than we could ever teach them?

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow…like homeless men and precious daughters!!

God’s girl,

Pamela

My Dear CD,

If you would like to join other bloggers on this Wednesday walk, visit Lynnette's site for all the details.

This post seems perfect for a Wednesday's Walk and even though I originally posted late Sunday so that my CD could read it before she headed off to school, I really wanted to share it with y'all. Hope you enjoy and have a terrific week ahead!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

God's girl, Pamela


Ps 139:17,18a How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand....

My heart is overwhelmed! So many memories of you growing up right in front of my eyes! I am such a blessed Mom to have spent my days with you as part of them for the last 19 yrs!

I cannot wrap my brain around the fact that you start college in less than 12 hrs! Your graduation day seems like such a dream - did it really happen already??? If I allow myself, I can remember the first few moments of your life and lots of moments between then and now.

Your very first day of school....Bethel Temple Mountaintop, El Paso, TX.
A very difficult move from El Paso to Dallas just a few months later.
Kindergarten graduation from GCA....and GrandMom came to watch!
Your struggle starting first grade at GCA. We decided to keep you home the 2nd semester and that was when you came down with chicken pox....and passed them to Bunny.
Your first day at Ethridge Elementary....my first day of public school - ever!
Soccer!
The very consistent 100's on your elementary report cards - man, my child is smart!
The move we made to BNCS for 4th grade....you were excited, but unsure. I'm sorry, that may not have been the best move for you.
Upwards basketball!
The tears through 6th grade...once again, I'm sorry!
Seventh and eighth grade at Webb.....and uniforms!
Basketball!!!! Basketball!!!
Freshman year at North Garland: choir and basketball!!!
The biology trip to Denison with Mrs. Hess...and that lovely centipede!
Sophomore year: Miss Harvey and how she began to shape your life for the future!
Junior year.....that was a hard year!
Senior - choir, lack of basketball and watching God change your heart and mind! New church, new friends, new outlook!

Now, all of a sudden, you are going to college! For the first time in 14 yrs, we won't all go together to drop you off for the first day of school! I know that God has His gentle hand upon your life! I know your Spanglish is going to drive me crazy for a few months!
I know that I have been blessed to do my best to "raise you in the nurture and admonition" of the Lord. I know that I have failed many times but God always reaches down to pull me back up and try again!
I love you and am praying that your first day in your new normal is blessed by the God of the universe in unbelievable ways!

Mom

Illness and Mommyhood

UPDATE: Finally able to eat something substantial this morn!!! My whole upper body aches, though. I am able to take the day off, thank you, Lord!!! Now, the rest of you, BETTER NOT GET SICK!!! Love ya!

So if you are a Facebook friend, you have seen both of these subjects take a front seat in my life this week. I have been somewhat surprised by both, even in the midst of knowing that God is not.

Tuesday evening, the girls came home from VBS; Bunny talking about all that had happened in the 4 yr old class and CD being very quiet. She answered the question of what did she do at VBS, then disappeared to her room upstairs. We were not surprised since she is a perfectionist and packing on Tuesday when you leave on Saturday is so the right thing to do. Then, not half an hour later, she came down telling us she was not feeling well and had not been since having Goldfish at VBS. As her parents, we figured she was beginning to stress about the trip ahead and encouraged her to settle her spirit before going to bed.

She did go back upstairs...and back down within ten minutes!!! She had gotten physically ill! No fever, just an upset tummy - for the next six hours!!! I finally crawled in my bed about 6:15 Wed morn and slept a few hours before Miss PD made her entrance for the day. I did what I should have done...told Miss PD's Mom but since there was no fever and extenuating circumstances of stress surrounding the trip, I really thought we were fine.

WRONG!!!

Miss PD's Mom called me Friday morn, little Miss had started getting physically ill around 10 pm the night before and had finally drifted off to sleep around 5AM. I went to their home that day to watch Miss PD for just a couple of hours, getting lots of texts from my CD of all that she was remembering she needed to get before leaving early Saturday morn. We had also planned a dinner party for family that night so they could say their goodbyes and prayers over her...somehow, I know with God's help, we pulled it all off!!!

The alarm went off, very rudely, at 2:25 AM so we could get luggage and people to the van and to the church by 3:15 AM, with the final destination of the airport by 4! We watched our oldest walk through the airport security for the first time without us! Very surreal...trust me!!!

We then headed for some breakfast at Whataburger...Bunny loves their taquitos! We came straight home and all crawled back in bed for just a bit more sleep. Needless to say, being up for a portion of the night re-arranged our whole day and even on a Saturday, not much housework got done...oops!!!

I was first up, no surprise, by about 9:30 and checking Facebook and Twitter to make sure they had made it to the Miami airport! Her youth pastor, Doug, had uploaded some pics of her and friends and I surprisingly found that did my heart some good!

For a little bit, anyway!!! (This is at the hotel in Colombia!)

Then, I noticed just how quiet the house was while the other half of my family continued to sleep...and it began to drive me nuts!!! All of a sudden, I could not pull away from the computer for fear I might miss something new pertaining to CD! I found myself leaving this status on FB, " I know y'all are gonna be sick of me, but....I did not realize I would miss CD this much!!! And she is still in Miami!!! She is my early riser and I am lonely while the other two still sleep!!!!"

I have been trying to 'let go' little by little, but I am now convinced that cannot be done...I just have to at some point let go!! I see the difference in my relationship with the girls - Bunny is my buddy, CD has become my friend!

So, to wrap this up, I come downstairs last evening and see hubs eating and I was overcome by a wave of nausea. Within the hour, I was sicker than a dog!!! However, unlike CD and Miss PD, I am now 16 hours into this and still can't see the end! Please pray for my dear hubs as he tries to keep up with me! As I said earlier, I know that God is not surprised by this. I am praying that the Colombia team that we spent about forty-five minutes with, will not come down with it over there!

I really wish my Mom were here to take care of me! However, I know that my Father is always near...especially when I'm ill.

Moms, stay healthy, okay???

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

God's girl, Pamela