My daughter’s words are now a meme. 🙂
You Are Priceless
My daughter’s words are now a meme. 🙂
Tag: #singlemom
Chasing the Sunset
I’ve started my morning over twice so far.
The taste of my coffee wasn’t pleasing, so I made a Chemex. I hadn’t made one in so long, it didn’t drain completely, but this is how I felt regardless.
Did it not drain, or did I not give it time?
♥ ♥ ♥
This morning I recalled teaching my daughter to drive. It was a scary experience. Not teaching her to drive, but that she was learning with my truck!
When it was time for her to learn, it was time for us to move. We were living in the country on 40 acres, and the road to our house was treacherous to say the least. It had sharp curves and made of dirt.
The next house we found had straight highway running to it. The first time she went 65 mph she exclaimed, “This is exhilarating!”
I sat in the passenger seat, drinking in the excitement on her face. You want that look to last, but soon after she learned to drive she began adulting. Then you hope they remember the moments which caused that look.
♥ ♥ ♥
One time we were driving home, and she turned off the main road. It was late in the day and the Texas sky was pink and gold. Her favorite time of day. I didn’t know where she was taking us, as she turned down one road, and then the next.
She parked the truck and stared straight ahead. She had run out of road trying to get close to the sunset.
She said, “I was chasing the sunset.”
We sat in silence watching the sun go down.
Chasing that sunset was exhilarating for her, even though it was out of reach. I was happy she tried without worrying what the end result may be.
I hope you never stop chasing the sunset.
Follow Your Heart
My daughter left me a note of advice.
Reading this part makes me feel like I did something right. How many 19-year-old’s say this?
“Take this time while I’m gone to do things that fill you up and make your heart smile.”
This morning, I woke up feeling guilty about recent purchases. Does that ever happen to you?
I’m over it now because without even realizing it, I took her advice and acted on it.
As you see in A Doggo’s Life, our doggo’s are sharing a dog bed. I wanted our new puppo to have her own bed, so went in search of the perfect dog bed. In my mind I pictured exactly what it should look like, but 4 stores later didn’t result in that bed.
That was my mind, but what did my heart say?
Step One.
Back before Thanksgiving, my daughter and I were in a store where everything is pretty, but reasonably priced. I saw a rug that made my heart smile. My daughter saw my face light up, but she also knew we were setting aside all extra money for England.
Guess what? She’s in England and I still have money. Glory to God!
Yesterday, I went back to that store see if the rug was still there. It had been months, so what were the odds? Would it be on sale after Christmas?
It was in the rug bin along with one other rug.
It wasn’t on sale, but I had a price in mind that I was willing to pay. I found a sales lady, and inquired about the price of the rug. Full price was too much, but I’d walk out of there with it if she took $50 off.
Step Two.
The sales lady found an online coupon she could apply to meet my price! Then it became confusing.
She asked, “Is that the color you want? We have another one in the back that’s grey.”
The rug standing in the bin is a light color, which I gravitate toward, and it has pale gold shimmers running through it, but my daughter loves grey!
They grey one was equally pretty, and I knew my daughter would love it. What did I do? Like any good Mother, I loaded the grey one in my truck.
Score one for the mind.
Step Three.
I sat in front of the store staring at the rug laying across the backseat. The sales lady told me if it wasn’t right, to bring it back and get the other one, but I wanted to know in my heart what to do.
I found myself walking back into the store swapping the grey for the one I wanted. I followed my heart all the way through. My daughter will be happy.
Looks like we found the perfect dog bed after all.
Taking Her Advice
She followed her heart, and so shall I.
The Queen B
My daughter is still in England, but will be on her way to Paris to celebrate New Years.
I’m home making changes to the house.
I read a Blog where one Mom has a stack of shower curtains. She changes them out seasonally, which I thought was a sweet idea. My daughter and I don’t have room to store things plus, I love my shower curtain, but could see room for improvement.
Our shower curtain hooks are plastic.
We’ve had them a long time, and they’re beginning to break. I spotted these on Etsy and fell in love.
My daughter’s nickname is “Queen B.’
The choices we make snowball over time.
Three years ago, my daughter would not be in England for three weeks. I wasn’t sure it was possible a year ago, because when she told me her plan, I saw dollar signs floating through the air.
By the grace of God, she’s on a trip of a lifetime.
I could have bought a new shower curtain, but opted for bee rings. It’s the small choices over a period of time that add up to a beautiful life.
All hail to the Queen! xx
Be the Mama
I try not to rush anymore, but recently I found myself getting sucked into life’s frenzy.
This morning it was time to stop.
I’ve been watching my daughter.
At 19 years old she has wisdom and discernment, and makes sound decisions. I’ve stepped back to let her practice running her own life. Watching how she manages it, and giving her plenty of space. She’s been adulting very well except for this one thing….
She’s exhausted.
Mentally and physically.
Time For a Change
I took a long look at how busy she has been. We both have, but I could also feel a disconnect. We are more than roommates. We actually do this life together, but when she came home Monday from her Dad’s, she sat down and fell asleep in her chair.
Her visits with her Dad haven’t changed since the move, even though the distance has. He’s only ten minutes away now instead of an hour, but she still packs her duffel bag every Friday, and heads to his home. Stays the weekend and comes back here on Monday. She has three days before doing it all again.
I’m Still the Mama
She communicates with her Dad, and they make their own plans, until this morning. While she slept, I texted him and told him she is staying home this weekend. It was time to step in and be the Mama.
When she awoke, I told her what I did, and she looked mortified that I had stepped in, but you know what else I saw? Relief. And a slight smile.
This weekend she doesn’t have to be an adult. We will spend time together doing whatever we choose.
Today was a good day to step in and be the Mama.
That’s True Love
My daughter will be gone most of the day, but we begin each day together. She makes a Chemex, because she has it down to a science, whereas I do not. I sit in the den anticipating that magical cup of brew.
This morning she did something so special. She has this coffee cup she knows I love. It’s just the right size, and I use it when she’s not here. When she is here, she usually uses the cup, but not this morning.
She sat the cup on my side of the table.
This was a special moment to receive this cup from her. It was a small gesture, and maybe to some go unnoticed, but it’s how we show our love and care.
The smallest of things create magical moments.
While she is out and about adulting, I began thinking what I could do for her. We have this inside joke now that she is almost 20 years old. I tell her she doesn’t need me nearly as much as she thinks she does, but there is this one thing she loves for me to do. Wash her sheets in perfume wash.
She’s jokingly asked if I will come and change her sheets the rest of my life. Well darling, maybe not every week, but when time allows, I will do that. It was 32 degrees this morning, so her favorite flannel sheets are being washed in perfume for her bed.
For me, it was getting to use her cup in her presence, but for her it will be these sheets.
That’s true love.
