As the Seasons Change...

The year is passing so very quickly in many ways...except for the journey to our baby girl/s, that is. :) But we continue to count our blessings and remember that each day brings us a step closer to bringing our sweetie/s home. So we wait...and soak in the blessings along the way.

Last week, Tim and I took a couple trips to visit our daughter in college. As parents, it only takes one call to hear "Mom, I need..." and we're figuring out a way to get there. It was so worth it in many ways. One unexpected joy in those trips was driving on the country and interstate roads and seeing the fall colors lavishly dancing along the way. The gold, orange, red and even taupe hues were abundant as we made our journey. It was breathtaking to see how perfectly placed these colors, hillsides, foliage and woodlands were presented to remind us that another season has arrived.

Quite honestly, autumn is not my most favorite time of year. I love spring and summer's warm and colorful palettes even more. But fall is a beautiful time of year...especially after the weeds have retreated! :) Autumn is a great time of year for me, though. Our firstborn child arrived in the fall. I love the sound of bands playing and football crowds roaring in the stands. I enjoy the crisp air teasing us and inviting us to new menus of soup, pumpkin pie and hot tea or apple cider. I enjoy watching folks come and go as the nip of fall brings natural blushes to their faces. I suppose my greatest concern about fall, though, is that winter soon follows. And as beautiful and exciting as winter can be, I am always concerned about loved ones dealing with slick roads, ice storms and cold, cold temperatures.

Yet our scenic drives last week reminded me once more of the beauty of changing seasons. Each one has its own beauty. Each one has a purpose. Each one prepares for the next season, as well. And even when we can't see it all happening before us, it is a constant cycle of change to be enjoyed and appreciated. That's a bit like life, isn't it? As Tim and I strolled along our alma mater's campus, it was hard to believe that we had been students there decades ago! It sure doesn't seem that long but that was an earlier season in our life. Then we had the season of parenting little ones and we believed that the next eighteen years were going to be a much longer time frame. Yet we turned around all too soon to realize that our children are no longer little ones. Both are driving. She is in college and is a young adult. He is in high school and is a teenager. How quickly it has gone! The seasons have been purposeful and passed more quickly than we ever anticipated. Yet we wouldn't trade one single day of those seasons for anything. Each season was an incredible blessing in its own way as it led to another wonderful and blessed season in the journey of life as a family.

The journey to our baby girl/s is not that different. We've been walking along this road for over two years. We have been logged in now for eighteen months. And as challenging as it is to wait, each season of our journey to our sweetie/s is precious. Once again, I am reminded of the words of several friends who have encouraged us in this journey. One said "God's timing is always right." So we must trust that the waiting continues until the time God designed for us to meet our little one/s. Another said "God has a master plan." If He can plan the perfect and beautiful seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, I'm sure He's capable of planning our journey to our little daughter/s. Another friend said "When they place her in your arms, it all makes sense." We believe that is worth waiting for!! Some seasons are a bit more exciting and some seasons are a bit more challenging. But each one has its reason and its beauty in our journey.

So we continue to walk, pray, love, hope and enjoy each step...and each season. Whether we are in the season of paperwork, rest, dreaming, more paperwork, uncertainty or celebrating each milestone along the way...we are grateful. We are blessed. We are thrilled. And we are never alone. Thank you for walking beside us each moment. May you be blessed in each of your journeys...and seasons, as well!
Cherishing each season,
Terri and family

In Our Hearts While We're Apart...

Being a parent is the highest calling in my life. It brings the greatest joys while also pulling on my heart in the deepest capacities I've ever known. To love my children more than life itself means that my entire world has changed with motherhood. Of course, I still have personal dreams, goals and individuality...to some degree. :) But I would trade it all in a moment...for my children. Today is no exception.

Our daughter just drove off to return to the university campus. It was a special weekend for we celebrated her birthday a little early. Tomorrow will be the first official birthday we will spend "apart" and yet I knew it would someday happen. But my heart throbs for who knew that the years would pass so very quickly? Who knew that the little baby girl I held for the first time twenty years ago would grow up so rapidly and move on to college while we see less and less of her at home? We will wait by the phone until we know she is back on campus safely...and we'll miss her terribly every moment yet rejoice in her endeavors, her life and her purpose. And each phone call, text message, email or word from her will be held in our hearts as we love her yet watch her soar as a young adult.

Our son just drove away for a quick trip to the store. He will return in just a little while and I will breathe a sigh of relief that he is safely back home. Yet all too soon, he will also drive off to college in another year or two...and we'll once again adjust to the shocking reality that our babies have become adults and our parenting roles have changed dramatically. It seems like only yesterday they were both in car seats anticipating the newest kid's meal toys as we made our Friday night trips to the local burger drive-through. One night I specifically remember them telling me what they wanted to be "when they grow up" and we spent a few minutes dreaming of all their options. Our daughter eventually stopped and said "Mommy, what do you want to do when you grow up? What do you dream about doing?" Without any hesitation, I responded "I'm living my dream, sweetie. It just doesn't get any better than this! I'm living it right now."

Now as one drives back to the university and one drives to the store, I think about how we've given them roots...and are learning to give them wings. I realize that my heart never ceases to learn new depths of loving them. I'm learning to love them when they're near and love them in my heart when we're apart. It's not easy...but it's a new step in our journey of life.

We are also in a season of life where we love another precious child who has not quite yet made it home for the first time. Instead of loving her at home and then loving her from a distance, we have loved her from a distance originally and long to bring her home more each day. We know our little Jenna Elizabeth ("JennaBeth")...and possibly our Emma Katherine ("EmmaKate")...live far away in miles. But our hearts certainly hold a very deep love for our baby girl/s that cannot be shaken by time or distance. So we wait...and we love...and we pray...and we learn more and more about parenting whether our children are in our arms...or in our hearts while we're apart. Nothing can separate us from the love we hold for each of them!

So happy birthday, Rachel. And drive home safely, Micah. And hold on, baby girl/s, as we wait for the day we meet you for the very first time and bring you home. May all of you remember that you're never alone and you're never without our love...in our arms...or in our hearts while we're apart! I love you always....Mom.
Cherishing the journey of parenthood,
Terri