My Sunshine

Every morning I review my Facebook memories and marvel at how far God has brought us.

This is one of the ways I absolutely love “looking back” while still moving forward.

Sometimes it is very hard for me to believe how much changes in just one year.

I was looking at an image of Naomi this week a year ago. She had fallen asleep on my shoulder.

Naomi has always been and always will be my sunshine.

I love all my children. Each with their unique strengths and weaknesses.

I wish I could have given them a simpler and more carefree life.

I wish I could have given them more presents and presence ~ I gave what I could.

Moments like her falling asleep on my shoulder are the moments that take a lifetime.

They are the moments that make a lifetime. We tend to talk about our hobbies, our victories, our triumphs.

We don’t always talk about the valleys.

The most vulnerable I have ever been in my painful humanity has been as a mother.

When I was Naomi’s age I wanted to be a writer and a mother.

I got to be both when I “grew up”.

But sometimes I grew “down”. Sometimes I fell.

Sometimes I failed….

….I never quit…. sometimes I wanted to… “sometimes” and “someday” came and went…. I now look at my skin getting soft with age and my wisdom highlights (otherwise known as gray hair) and I’m thankful.

People used to tell me at the pharmacy ~ don’t grow old!

I knew they were teasing ~ but I always prayed ~ “I hope I get to.” Growing old is a privilege.

I’m thankful to God for every day I get to see her beautiful smile….

I’m thankful to God for every day I get to see Allena’s, Hannah’s, and Doyle’s beautiful smiles….

I will treasure and cherish every moment of joy and

vulnerability that is parenting ~ even though sometimes it feels like I am in over my head….

...speaking of “in over my head”…

This week Leroy Nolt Construction Company put the roof on our house!

You might say that in all the best ways ~ I certainly am in over my head!

A year after Naomi fell asleep on my shoulder I worked with volunteers to build our home. A year from now we will be in it.

My favorite part of this morning was placing the windows ~ two on the east side of the house and two on the west.

As the light poured in through the window I couldn’t help but think of “my sunshine”.

All of my children light up my life just as the light beamed through the windows this morning.

I am writing this column for you on Wednesday, Thanks~giving Eve.

Due to a change in deadlines and print schedules for the holiday, “Rubber Chickens and Roses” didn’t print Thursday since we didn’t have a paper.

On this Thanks~giving Eve I am thankful for many beautiful blessings in my life ~ including you.

Thank you for taking the time to read “Rubber Chickens and Roses” this morning, this afternoon, this evening, or this night.

I am saying a quiet prayer for you ~ that you would know and feel loved in this life. That you would live life fully and boldly and beautifully.

I thank God for you and pray that God will continue to bless and keep you. I hope you and your loved ones had a beautiful Thanks~giving.