December 4, 2014

Dear Girlie of Mine - a Five Minute Friday post

So it is freezing here tonight... literally, raining frozen slushy wintry showers - but no snow. It's the kind of cold that makes me thankful for the warmth, and reminds me to pray for those who don't have somewhere safe and cozy to hang thaw out. 

I had a full afternoon, having to be out and about both yesterday and today and it made me really miss my girlie.  For the past nearly 20 years, she's been my wingman for all things Errands.  I know, I know... she's close - still living just minutes away from 'home' - but I don't get to see her much and when I do, well - she is exhausted and stressed out (finals week, anyone?)  So of course tonights' prompt made me think of her right away...

The prompt is: DEAR

Let's play...

{GO}

Dear Girlie of mine... (of Ours... of His!)


Gah, I love you so very much!  I am so proud of who you are and who you are becoming and I can't believe that God has blessed me with you and let's me have a front row seat to this life that you are living. Brave and Beautiful - full on and full of grace.

I know baby girl... I know because 1) I remember 19... and also because (2) I know you... 

It's hard some days. Living this life all growed up and carrying so much responsibility...

...always being the encourager and the one who sees the glass half full and always searching for the brighter side.  Some days it feels like too much.  Some days all that wanting to be independent and on your own feels foolish and like it's too hard --like you can't do it! (But you can! You are!)

Oh I know... you don't say that.  You are brave and even when it's hard, you know God and you have seen how He comes through, over and over and over again.

I know you know the end will be good, but sometimes it's the middle that can feel so uncertain!  It can be so foggy and it's hard to remember what the sun feels like and how the end will come around and it will all work out! (It will! It is!)

Things won't always be hard.  I know, even now - it's not all hard! It ebbs and flows because - Grace!  All is grace and God is good and Life... well, life is a mixture of hard and good and happy and sad... life comes at us fast and furious but we can stand tall and choose that... (the fast and furious) or right in the midst of it, we can choose peace and joy...

We can choose...

I love that you are my Girlie and that you have the best of me and the best of Daddy and the best of all the Father made you to be, and it's all being mixed and molded together and just in case you've forgotten in all of this stress and all of this fog...

You, my Girlie... oh My how you Shine!

(I know, right? Can you even handle it?)

There are times when I long for yesterdays - when you were little(r) and still let me sing you to sleep, tickling your back and laying together... I miss being able to pray over you as you would drift off, hoping and believing that the very words spoken over you would sink in deep.  (I still pray those prayers... and I still believe!)

But there are also times when I long for tomorrow... for I can see God at work in you, baby - even if/when you can't see Him or feel Him or dare to hope that He is there...

Oh but He is! He is right there with you, in you... and always, He is for you!

And tomorrow is going to be Amazing, my Dear!

{STOP}

Do you all remember being 19? Even in my fairly sheltered, charmed life, Nineteen was hard! I was prepared for my own hard days of adjusting to this Empty Nester life (which - in case you are worried, is not all bad - by the way!)... I just didn't really expect her hard days of adjusting to unfold just out of my reach!  Thank God for prayer and that He, more than I ever could be, is the Answer to every question and the Provider of every need met. 

No matter what we are facing - every one of us... we don't have to face it alone!




Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click here to read what others have to say about "DEAR"


Oh ...the fine print: if you don't know what FMF is!  Five Minute Fridays have been hosted by Lisa Jo Baker.  This week we start gathering over at Kate Motaung's.  FMF is open to anyone, so to learn more about it - and to jump in yourself (the more the merrier!) or just to find a linky to see what everyone is writing about today - click HERE!  The idea is to simply write... for Five Minutes flat... no editing, no deep thinking - or at least REthinking, no spell check - just write! Let it flow! We all write using a prompt that Lisa posts at 10pm Thursday night (EST.)  I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!

28 comments :

  1. This is beautiful and what girlie can go wrong with a mama who breathes love all over her and into her and lets Jesus shine through it all? (Back to our conversation about weird commenting abilities--there's a message that says my comment was published--even though I hadn't commented yet--how did it KNOW I was going to comment? ;). )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - Oh my, these comment issues? I am so glad that your comments keep showing up - even with all the glitches! Thanks so much, friend, for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. Beautiful post and such a precious note to your girlie! She's beautiful too! I can so relate to you friend. My daughter is 20, and dealing with much of what you described. What a great mom you are, Karrilee. Keep doing what you're doing. So glad we share this time in our lives! Bless you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Julie - I am so thankful that we are learning to live this Empty Nester life together, friend! Blessings right back to you, and your (not so) Little (anymore) too!

      Delete
  3. Karrilee, your daughter is as beautiful as you are. I can't handle that picture...so darn cute. This is a beautiful letter to your daughter. And she is lucky to have you as her momma!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, right? LOL?! She is always so kind to come out and play with me if I have gone too long between clients and those 'test shots' are always among my favorites because we are usually just talking and goofing off... and her Joy just spills out! xoxo

      Delete
  4. I'm reading this thinking, "I can't even IMAGINE my mom writing a letter like this to me!" You are an AMAZING mom and you have yourself one amazing, lucky daughter! I wish I could see her face when she reads this! Made me choke up a bit! Being a young mom myself, I know this day is coming...I'll stick with Elmo right now though :) Thanks FMF friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw... thanks so much Bethany! Stick with Elmo... treasure each day - they really do go by faster than those long hard days make you think! ;) Isn't it a blessing to know that no matter how we were raised - all of us are loved and adored like this by our Father in heaven? My love for her pales in comparison... my love points to Him and how much more He adores her... us... all of us! xoxo

      Delete
  5. A stunningly beautiful letter to a stunningly beautiful girl. Thank you for your words here. They encouraged me and I'm sure they will encourage your daughter. I LOVED this part: "It ebbs and flows because - Grace! All is grace and God is good and Life... well, life is a mixture of hard and good and happy and sad." Perfect! I'm always glad I've stopped by...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Karen! Is that not just how life truly is? All is Grace! So glad to have you stop by, friend! Any time!

      Delete
  6. A true keeper! The letter and your girlie!!! xo It has been so much fun (and encouraging) getting to know this awesome group of women. I feel a true bond and connection with many of you!!! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen... she is a real keeper! And Amen to the kindred hearts of this community that gathers and encourages and uplifts! Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. I love hearing your heart for your dear girl. It is so hard to let them go and especially to watch them go through hard things without us. So glad that our heavenly Father is always with them and loves them so much more than we do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Barbara - it's that knowledge that makes it just a little easier to let go right? That He loves them more than we ever could! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

      Delete
  8. Thank you for sharing your momma's heart. As the mom of a grown-up girlie (mine will bee 22 in a few days) I know how hard it is not to wish back to the younger days. However, knowing that she is held in her Father's hands makes it easier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh it does, Amy! It really does! It's funny - I wrote in my What I Learned In November post about how sometimes we want to be their Saviour... of course, not really - and we would never say that - but I know for me... I want to protect and provide and take care of her and fix all that concerns her... but that is not so much my job anymore - at least not as often! Always - we partnered with Him - but when they are younger, they just see it is you... the older they get, the more they need to see it is God - whether it is still through you or not! It's a whole new level of trusting God with them, right? We're in it together, friend! xoxo

      Delete
  9. I can only imagine how special and loved your daughter feels, knowing to speak your love to her as easily as you write it here. What a beautiful thing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Jen! She is pretty freaking amazing, so there's that... she makes it pretty easy! xoxo

      Delete
  10. I am not trying to flatter you I promise, but I was thinning this was your best friend, then as I read I thought she must be your sister. Then I thought much younger sister. Then I realized no way, she is you daughter! In my mind you were 24 years old. Anyway, you look very young and your daughter is beautiful. Such a lovely tribute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well - if there was a prize for my favorite comment - you would most definitely win! ;) She IS my best friend... and my sister... but always, my daughter too! Thanks so much for your sweet comment!

      Delete
  11. Karrilee...what a beautiful post coming from a mother's love for her daughter! My only child (my son Shane) has been with Jesus for three years and each day when I pray I ask God to relay to my son how much I love him! I had a dream about my son not too long ago and I asked him if he hears this. He turned and looked at me straight into my eyes and said "Yes I do!" :) What a wonderful message from him and hope for all! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Verona, I am so sorry for you loss. I will be praying for you over the holidays... and I am so thrilled that God still gives us dreams and visions and what a gift to know that your son still sees, still hears, still knows how much you love him! xoxo

      Delete
  12. This hit home... about being prepared for my own struggles with becoming an empty nester, but not being prepared to watch her struggles unfold out of reach.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're in this together, sweet friend - and He's got them... better than we ever could! We know it... but sometimes we want the tangible... we want to jump in and be the tangible... at least I do! I was just thanking God for you, as I hung those gorgeous golden wings on my Advent tree! Love you, friend! Praying for us all!

      Delete
  13. I love watching you love your girlie. This inspired me to make sure each of my little men know how deeply they are treasured today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw Colleen - that comment just makes me all kinds of happy, friend! xoxo

      Delete
  14. Thank you for sharing your heart with us in this Five Minute Friday post. I am in my thirties now with kiddos of my own, but the knowledge of the depth of my parents love for me, and that they are praying for me is huge. I am sure it is huge for your girlie too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, Jo Rose! It's true - we never stop praying for our kiddos... and knowing that someone who loves you is praying for His best for you - well, that is a HUGE blessing!

      Delete

Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

Blog Archive