Their Steps

Before I go any further, I wanted to thank my dear friend, Pea, who last week honored me with a new award! Thank you so much, Pea!
True, it seems kind of a humorous award name if you know me very well...I'm a bit shy in person, so schmoozing is the last thing I would probably use to describe myself!
But then I read the meaning behind this award...

It’s an award for those who have the natural ability “to effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

Reading this definition make me feel humbled and honored! (Especially, coming from Pea, who personifies this to me!)

Blogging to me has surpassed the original purpose to practice my writing while keeping friends and family updated...it has become a source of encouragement and friendship for me, and I thank all of you who have enriched my life in this past year!

I'm going to think on this one, and come back to bestow the "schmoozes" to a few others! :)

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I'm hoping you all enjoyed this last weekend of July. The last weekend! I absolutely cannot believe how swiftly this summer is flying by. I know people say that every year, but this summer is careening like a rocket through time, and I wish it would slow it's pace just a bit to a nice, lazy stroll.
But despite it's high speed, God's been able to not just teach me recently through the more painful parenting moments, but also in the slightly less-painful, yet foreign ones.

Saturday was a day of bravery for my oldest. And in a roundabout way, for me, too.

By evening, she had tackled a series of "firsts", ending with a visit the amusement park with her daddy and sister, where she graduated from riding those "big kid" rides...you know, those rides where everyone is screaming and even this mommy will not set foot on.
And I get just as nervous from the ground looking up, so all I can say is, I was glad I wasn't there to watch her on all of them or my fingernails would pretty much be history.


(This one might look tame, but I hear it went quite fast!)

But first, let me back track...
In the morning, my husband was working so I took the girls to a community center carnival. There was a rock climbing setup there, and I was surprised at not only my eight year old's bravery to try it, but my own to allow her with no hesitation. I am the ultimate nervous mommy (and it doesn't help that she broke her arm jumping off a mere 3-ft slide at age four!)
but something clicked in me this weekend, to relax those apron strings just a bit and let her try her wings.
And she conquered that mountain and reached the top!!!



And let me back track just one more time...
Just before this, we had dropped off some books at the library...
where I actually did my first act of bravery as a mommy.

I had awakened this morning with a pulled muscle in my hip, so when we reached the library, we parked almost right in front of the door. I told her she could take the books in all by herself...a first! When she picked her jaw up off the car floor, she excitedly took the books as her younger sister and I watched her like eagles, and she went inside. A moment later, she emerged...a beaming smile of pride upon her face.

This was a huge milestone for us... up until this weekend, she was officially still my very little girl, under my wing of protection, who isn't even allowed to cross the street alone. This weekend, she is still very much under my wing...but I loosened a few feathers just a tad and gave her a bit of wiggle room.

I grew up with very protective parents...so it comes by me naturally.
And yes, protective is good.
But as someone who has this natural bent, I have to continually remind myself that they actually belong to the Lord- He is their true Protector.

Yes, as a parent, I have to pray for wisdom and use it...ask for His guidance and listen...but I have to also relax my hold just a bit...year by year...day by day.
This may be one of the biggest challenges of parenting there can be.

But when I remember how much God loves my children, it becomes just a bit easier.
Then I can start to learn to rest in the fact that they belong to Him.

And that He is ultimately the One who loves, protects and guides them- through the valleys, over the mountains...each and every step of the way.