A Father's Love

I was sweeping the kitchen floor this evening when I heard it: pure, unbridled laughter. Laughter so hard that it sounded almost painful. Laughter that can only come from a little girl with her father.

That laughter is what makes it all worth it.

The long months of a deployment evaporate as I stand there, a smile on my face, my heart completely full. We're doing something right.

I had wondered, at times, if this seperation would be hard on my little one. If she'd still share that special bond with her papa.

But it didn't take long for them to pick things up again.

Yes, there were some adjustments to be made.

But the love was still there.

The love that started the moment she was first placed in his arms on that hazy hospital morning.

The love that started there, that continued through long nights, family trips, holidays, a first birthday and months of video chatting from far away.

No, it didn't take our girl long to start laughing with her Father again.

To re-forge that bond they had so tightly formed.

And that, my friends, makes my heart feel full.

That is why this post is a bit on the rambling, sappy side.

Because my heart can't help but be full to overfilling this evening.

Another day I'll post about the harder side of re-unions. The struggles. The frustrations.

But for today, I'll focus on the love.

The love of a father and his daughter.

Have you experienced the love of your Father up above lately? When was the last time you truly laughed? When did you last experience unbridled joy?

Homecoming Prepartions

My friend described it best “It’s like you have senioritis all over again.”

I have trouble concentrating. I’m anxious. I’m extremely excited.  I’m in a tizzy as I try to get everything done on time. I have trouble sleeping. It does kind of remind me of being a senior in high school, ha! Only this time, I’m waiting for my husband to come home. I’m excited, and nervous, about having him back in our every day lives. Oh how wonderful it will be. But, oh, what an adjustment we have in front of us.

Just as this deployment was a new situation for us, a homecoming will be new as well. I’m sure we’ll have our own, interesting challenges awaiting us. My husband will be drastically changing his time zones. He’ll have to adjust back to having a little one underfoot. He’ll, really, have to get to know our daughter all over again. She’s changed so much since he’s been away. He’ll have to adjust back to America, the land of plenty, with everything you can think about at your finger tips. It’s hard to imagine what it will be like. As for me, I’m so extremely excited to have him home again. I’m busy fixing up our house, running errands, making lists of meals I want to cook, dreaming up family vacations for us to go on this summer, and looking forward to some dates with my hubby!

As my days are focused on the up-and-coming homecoming, I can’t help but think of my Jesus. Oh, how happy He must be for us now! And, oh, how he wants this same response from me. Do I anticipate spending time with Him everyday? Do I make myself look nice, when I come into His present? Do I wait expectantly for Him, in every part of my life? It’s certainly some food for thought.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name” (Psalm 104:4, HCSB)

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, NIV).

Discipline

 Some days test me more than others. Today was one of those days. My toddler is at an age where she's testing her limits, seeing how far she can take things, if and when she'll get her way. When she doesn't get her way she screams at me and/or throws herself down on the floor in the fit. The sound level is enough to give me a headache, her screaming is enough to make me feel helpless as a parent. Oh, how I'd love to give into her everytime. Oh how I hate to hear her cry. But stand firm I must, because I know it's for her own good. I know, in the long run, she'll be the better for it. And so, I ignore the screams, I give her space, I put her in a quiet place for a few minutes and then I love on her and calmly explain why her reaction was wrong. She may be a little young to understand all of the words I say, but she's old enough to sense my reaction, to understand that she was in the wrong.

And isn't that the truth for me as well? There have been times when I've kicked and screamed my way through life. Times when I insisted that I know best, when I refused to listen to any other voice of reason. But my Father up Above knew better. He saw the big picture. He knew what would ultimately be in my best interest. And so, He reigned me in. He helped me through difficult times. He held my hand when I needed it. He encouraged me, uplifted me, and, ultimately, made me stronger. Yes, those times of growing were hard. Yes, I  didn't like it. But, my, am I thankful for a patient Savior that knows what's best for me.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4, NIV).

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6, NIV).

"See how happy the man is God corrects; so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty" (Job 5:17, HCSB).

The Waiting Game

I’ve been learning a new meaning of the verse “love is patient” as of late (see 1 Corinthians 13). It’s hard to be patient when you know something is happening soon. I think back to graduation high school, getting married, having a baby—those were all impatient times of my life. I was always looking forward to something special, something wonderful, something I was waiting for with great anticipation. And, now, I find myself doing that again. It’s hard to wait, when something is just ahead. Just the same, God’s word tells us that love is, indeed, patient. So patient I am trying to be. As our busy deployment days wind their way down, I’m trying to enjoy each moment. Yes, it’s been difficult, but, I’ve also created some wonderful memories with my little girl. Walks, trips to the zoo, craft days, where the house was exploding with pieces of fabric and scrapbook supplies, lazy days watching movies, trips to see family.

God definitely taught me a lot, about depending on Him. I’ve also found that I’m a lot stronger than I thought I was. I really wasn’t sure I could handle this house and the parenting thing on my own, but I did. I really think we’ve come out stronger at the other end, which is saying a lot. So, as I wait out these last few days of the deployment, I have nothing but thankfulness in my heart. Thankfulness for my wonderful family and friends, that have given us so many prayers, love and encouragement. Thankfulness for my husband, who has empowered me with his prayers and encouragement across the miles, and thankfulness for my Savior, who has strengthened me on this journey.

So, instead of being impatient, I’m trying to be thankful, and looking at all the love in my life.

 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4, NIV).

What are you thankful for today?

Beauty Full Memories

Windsor Castle, April 2002

Our lives are filled with memories. There are times when I look at my little girl and wish I could freeze that moment, keep her this young, this vibrant, this lovely for ever. I'm sure she has a marvelous life in front of me, but it's already hard for me to think that she, one day, may life that life far from me.

My mother must have felt much the same. Before she even felt ready, I was out the door, on my way to college for the adventure of a life time. Four years of college passed, with summers at home, and then, I was permanently moving to a different state. Two years after that I was marrying the man of my dreams. And thus, goes life.

Now, a thousand miles seperate me from the mother who raised me. We talk often on the phone, sharing in each others lives, and posting pictures online.

But still, time and miles seperate us. There many days that I wish I coulid hop over for a cup of tea, or have Sunday Super together as a family.

But this, for now at least, isn't our reality.

Still, this lady that I grew up calling "Mom," is important to me. It is, largely, because of her, that I'm me.

She's one of the best moms, and friends, that a girl could ask for.

When I was a senior in college, she and I went on a wonderful adventure together. We travelled to England, and saw many of the places we'd dreamed about in books. We visited the Tower of London, Walked through Windsor, saw Shakespeare's birth place, and drank many pots of tea.

It was a Beauty Full Memory, one I'm sharing in honor of Mother's day (which is coming up on May 13th!) and as a part of Love Feast Table's Fancy Friday Link Up.

Do you have any Beauty Full Memories? What mother figures has God placed in your life?