As We Approach Thanksgiving and the Holidays, You are Not Alone....

I haven't blogged in a while, April to be exact. I entered a new Season in my Life this Fall. I am a temporary Empty Nester. I say temporary because my oldest moved out and my youngest, who is a Freshman in College, will be home in 8 days and 3 hours for Thanksgiving, but who's counting? I already have the sheets washed, house cleaned, and fridge filled. My kids will make fun of me but I think to myself, "You just wait.... Wait until, God willing, you are a parent someday, then you will truly understand your crazy Mom."

This new Season has brought both joy and challenge for me. I have felt joy watching my oldest daughter become independent. She is a beautiful smart woman and she can really cook! We have a new adult friendship and that brings me joy. We try to get together weekly and those are my favorite nights. I have felt joy seeing my 18 year old thrive, grow and adjust to being away from home. I have experienced joy visiting her with my older daughter and getting to know her fabulous new friends. It gives me comfort knowing she has a support system away from home. The bond my two girls have is special. Sisters are the best, and that brings me joy. I also have found joy in doing whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it, and not have to report to anyone. I have finally reached adulthood!

The challenge that I have faced if I am being completely vulnerable in sharing, is called loneliness. I don't feel that way constantly by any means. I am blessed with an abundance of friends and family. My job keeps me very very busy and that is also helpful. I am healthy, active, and have a full life. But darn it if loneliness rears its ugly head every once in a while.

This is what I have learned. I am not alone. I have had to dig deep and tap into my faith again. Why do I wait until I am lonely to be reminded of my Faith, reminded of a God who never leaves us or forsakes us? Because I am human. I am broken, and I can not do it alone. I say, thank God for that! I don't have to be able to do everything by myself alone. The best thing is, that we are not meant to do things alone. We are made for relationships, my favorite. I thrive on my relationships. I am a people person. I guess that is why I don't like being alone. Relationships are a gift and should be treated as such.

This pandemic continues and the repercussions of it are settling in: Grief, loss of jobs, the labor shortage, rising prices ...etc Some feel this year is worse than last year. I understand that but that is not how I feel. We have students and staff at school (thank you sweet baby Jesus). Since I am a people person, this makes me happy. Sitting in my office last year alone, on Zoom, staring at my staff's faces on the screen about killed me. Dramatic, I know. But, this year has not been easy either. With a staff shortage, we are having to work even harder to pick up the slack. God Bless our Staff, they are amazing individuals and Heroes. Their jobs and requirements have changed, as all of ours have, and we keep pushing through. We push through together, not alone. We need each other and depend on each other. It is how we are made.

Courageous Crooked Crowns came about while brainstorming with my girls. I love the image that my artsy youngest came up with. The crooked crown, the crown hanging off of the woman's head, is symbolic and meaningful to me. We all adorn crowns, but because of life's turmoils, they are crooked now. No one should be ashamed of a crooked crown. I am proud of mine. I wear it courageously. I am proud of who my crooked crown has made me. I am better and stronger because of its crookedness. But I did not go through my turmoils alone, never. They were not easy, they still are not, but I learn and grow from them.

As we approach Thanksgiving and the Holidays, take comfort in knowing you are not alone. It has been in my weakness that I am reminded He is strong. Be good to yourself, be good to others, give yourself grace, and give grace to others. We are living in a very unsettling time, but we are in this together, not alone. I'll say it again, we are not made/created to be alone. I am choosing to embrace my newfound Independence, and hopefully make a difference while doing so. I will also continue to count the days until my girl gets home next week.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" 2 Corinthians 12:9-11

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control" Gal 5:22

Peacing out for now

Stay Healthy in Body and Mind,

Kath