Wednesday, March 3, 2010

It Could Be Different Than How You Think

The house was quiet as it sometimes is at this time in life. The upstairs closets desperately needed to be organized and cleared of all that tends to collect in closets. One wishes at times that this needed job would take care of itself or by some wave of a magic wand. But, no it is always there waiting to be completed. Recently it was this job that I tackled.
Waves of nostalgia flooded over me as I sifted through boxes of memorbilia that had collected over the years.
The first box contained our oldest daughter's vast book collection. Books on politics, life stories of some of the people she most respected, books on writing speeches for her years of being in Toastmasters, and books on presenting those speeches. Suddenly, I found myself reflecting back on the daughter of this time, and the daughter of now. I thought about the time in her life when business suits, Toastmaster meetings, and life at the office was the everyday norm for her. If you would have sat down with me at that time and asked me, "what do you think she will be when she grows up?" How would have I answered?

At the time that this picture was taken, if I remember correctly was for some business event she was helping to host, how would have I answered your question? As mothers how do we possibly know what it is they will be when they grow up?


She, our oldest one, was always the teacher of her two younger sisters(who were 8 and 10 years younger than her), play director at family events, the dress- up designer, the leader and conspirator of all her many cousin's shananigans,gracifully portraying the lead roles in school plays(her role in "The Egg and I " still humors me greatly), and with all of this she faced life with endless energy. So...I might have answered your question in many different ways. Must admit there were moments when I wondered if she might end up being the first woman president of our country. What I would not have answered you at this time of life, is that she would be...



...married with six precious children, five of them were aged 3 and under. She would be baking loaves of healthy bread in her kitchen oven, helping supervise the adventure of having 20 baby chicks that came to live in their barn, cooking meals, and changing hundreds of diapers in any given month.
You see life often does not turn out as we think, and rarely as we plan. That's okay, because in my opinion it is better. God's plans always are.

I almost finished cleaning and organizing my closets on that ordinary weekday evening.




18 comments:

southerninspiration said...

To have so many distractions you are doing very well!! And what a story about your daughter......precious! Yes, God does take us on paths that we'd never have imagined!!! What a blessed mom and grandma you are!

Suzanne

Barb said...

Judy, such a beautiful post. I love your words and the pictures. Your daughter makes you proud, I know.

Barb ♥

lindsey said...

Lovely post. It is so easy to get carried away when 'sorting out' I have done it so many times...and it is usually our childrens belongings and memories that hold me up too. When I look over my eldest daughters life I would not have imagined her to be doing what she is now and to have two little Zulu boys!! You are so right about God having the best plans possible for us all.

Stacey said...

You are so right! The thing is, when you hold that first baby, every plan you ever had can change in a heartbeat. They are such a precious family.

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

Your daughter is a POWERFUL woman! I expect that your grandchildren will likewise have powerful and interesting lives as well. What an interesting life to watch unfold...she probably still has some surprises for you in the future, and will create still more memories for you to sort in one way or another.

a woman who is said...

Bless you, sometimes I dread those boxes of memories. I do have some that need to be gone through since our move 4 years ago. I am such a big mush I would sit and bawl all day.

What a gift we have though in watching our daughters become the wonderful godly women the Father intended for them. Who knows after she raises all those babies she still maybe President someday. We could certainly use somebody with all that wisdom and organizational skills right now!!!

Happy@Home said...

Your daughter is not only beautiful, but seems to have many diverse talents.
I love the picture of her reading to the children while one of them is concentrating on balancing a sippy cup on her toe. So cute.

Miss Gracie's House said...

so sweet! I can only imagine how delightfully busy she is...
Rene'

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

What a beautiful 'musing' as you cleaned and organized!

Isn't it a good thing that the final outcome for us and our children is in His hands! Like you said... who would have known! And here she is, just thriving in her own world, such a far cry from what it started out to be.

It's for sure, she is one blessed daughter to have you for her mom!

Blessings!

Sonja

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

Jduy~
What a BEAUTIFUL post...about your beautiful daughter. She sure is something else...but I know you know that. ;-)

What a PROUD Mamma/G-ma you MUST be!! You truly are blessed.....and I too am glad that God's plans...are ALWAYS much better than what we think!

Wanda said...

Simply beautiful. Very well-written. A precious description of a wonderful woman.

Melinda said...

Yes, life does have a tendency to throw us some curve balls at times.
If you can catch them and deal with them alls the better.

Melinda

Lovella ♥ said...

Isn't it just amazing what we think about while we clean ..organize and do our daily routines.
I can see that you have a wonderful daughter and she is an amazing mother. .such a blessing.

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

What a beautiful and SO TRUE post...loved it...

Kathleen said...

Ahhh ... caught by a moment of sheer serendipity & joy. So precious!

What a beautiful young lady in every sense. I'm wondering if her family devotion isn't a result of the witness she had beneath your mother's wing? !!

Blessings,
Kathleen

Shelley said...

I loved this story about your daughter!! What a great life she has! I left the corporate world 2 years ago and I've never looked back.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Your daughter has had such a full life Judy and I can see she is the happiest now nurturing her precious family. I pray God will give that blessing to my daughter one day.

Anonymous said...

I loved this post Judy! My favorite quote is "life happens while your busy making plans"
-John Lennon-
It's interesting to see the direction our children have taken. Like you say, sometimes in a totally unexpected way, and yet it all works out to be the best for them. I hope you have a great day ♥

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