A time to be.....

I awoke this morning to a private message with the news of airstrikes and very close calls. Then to hear the news of a dear sweet friend's unexpected death. Today has been a day of trying my best to grasp life while juggling mine. Mine consist of a very demanding 5 year old,a husband who is still healing from surgery while awaiting the next, a son overseas...among the airstrikes, bills, dishes, Etsy orders that need to be finished asap and a grandbaby due at any moment. Yes, my head is spinning!

Unexpected moments have a way of forcing you into reality. Is there a such thing as reality anymore? We run run run but never really seem to catch our breath. What good does all the running do anyway? Wasted time doing meaningless things. I get so caught up with the doing that the doing has stolen the valuable moments of life. The moments of investing in those friendships. The moments of really living life with the ones we love. Who cares if the floors are dirty and the sink is full? Life is way too short to waste on petty things and attitudes. When is the last time you told that friend how much you loved them? When is the last time you cut out all the business of life to just enjoy being with that friend or family member?

Today I lost a friend and quite possible almost lost a son. I had a friend tell me this evening that she was up at 1am cleaning up after a sick child. As she was cleaning she began to pray. Praying for our son. Little did she know at that exact time missiles were flying over the city in which he now lives. I am now determined that when faced with a real tough moment I'm going to just face the battle and pray...pray like there is no tomorrow. There's nothing like fighting an unpleasant moment while changing eternity.

The day that started with bombs and a death has ended with a time of learning and growing. Reflection. A time to just be lost in His unfailing love and mercy. God only knows what tomorrow may bring. Praying for His eyes to help me see the turning of the hands on time.

 

A Time for Everything....Ecclesiastes 3

3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

An uncertain tomorrow...

As I read Ann's post this morning I realized how true this statement is.... When an uncertain tomorrow is trusted to an unchanging God...you will have an unwavering peace!

1984....I graduated from highschool,went on a long term mission trip, became engaged and married and I voted for the first time. I don't really remember the feeling of uncertainty. Reagan/Bush and Mondale/Ferraro ticket. We all know the outcome of that election. Oh my how time have changed!

Today I have two kiddos who are voting in the presidential elections for the first time. As I watch our children and hear them doubt ,wondering if their vote matters. I see fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear that maybe the country that once was will be no more. Their vote means so much more than they realize. How blessed they are to live in a country where they have the freedom to cast their choice on the future leader of the United States...even if the choice is not what they had hoped for.

Really isn't our hope suppose to be in the one who made us? Doesn't He hold this world in the palm of His hand? I have watched over the last many months as this election has divided friends,family and neighbors. How can we allow a mere man to unravel something that is so much more important than an office of leadership? The truth is...We have placed our future hope in the hands of man and not God. We have allowed the division to creep into our lives and homes. Stealing our peace.

No matter who wins this election today...I will not be dismayed. My future hope is placed in the one who holds my life in His hands as I soak in His unwavering peace! Tomorrow when I wake up...I will still be me...The mom of 9,wife to a wonderful man who loves me and daughter of a great King! I will still live, love and place all my hope in the only true leader that I know...Jesus! Maybe we should place Him on the ballot?

Joshua 1:9

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

 

7Southern Sisters... Way More Than GRITS!

 GRITS.....Girls Raised In The South

 

Our girls would say it's way past time to have a new "Sister" photo taken. Trying to get this many girls in one place for a photo is....let's just say it requires a lot of time and energy. With miss little bit (Reese) due very soon it may be a while. Our oldest daughter is due to deliver our first grandbaby very soon. Yes we are a family full of women! With Kelley recouping from ankle surgery and Justin's sudden trip to an overseas school for a year...Let's just say I'm ready for a little down time from all this excitement. Down time meaning...Just me and my sewing machine! If you haven't checked out our new name for the Etsy store 7Southern Sisters head on over and see what's new! For the next few weeks we're offering a 10% discount on all orders in honor of  Miss Reese. Just add the coupon code Reese2012 at checkout. Looking for something special ?  Just message me with your ideas. I'm always game for a custom order! Don't forget to like us on Facebook...7Southern Sisters 

 

Below is from our About page in our Etsy store...

 

                                                                      7Southern Sisters

 

 Just One Southern Mom's Journey Sharing The Gift That She Has Been Given....

I grew up in a family of women who loved to sew and craft. I grew to have a great appreciation of beautiful fabric while watching my mother and grandmothers sew many things.  Becoming a mom has inspired me all the more. I have spent many long nights sewing, just to finish an outfit for my kids to wear the next day.
I love my job as a stay at home mom. Out of a desire to earn a little extra cash for those unexpected things...that would be often...I stumbled upon Etsy one day! From that moment on I was smitten! Our first shop Karen's Kidz started with our many tote bags and diaper bags. I often call sewing my therapy. My kids know when the machine is running, that is my time to think. But I always welcome the interruptions as they too sit and watch, asking questions as they inspire my next project. Sewing girls clothing...I guess you could say I have had plenty of practice?This is where I have the most fun. What girl doesn't like a new dress or outfit? My goal is to expand our designs in the near future.
I recently decided to change our name to 7Southern Sisters. Over the past year I have gradually added more home decor items that are rustic and southern inspired. My plan is to continue offering children's clothing too, but you will be seeing a lot more southern inspired gift items.
With our new granddaughter due November 2012, I will continue to be inspired all the more and hope to add many new designs and a section in my shop called Reese's Korner. As the seasons of life change, I hope you will continue to shop with us or even just stop by to take a peek at what's new.

Thanks for taking your time to visit our shop. We hope you see that we take great pride in the quality of all our shop items. Please message me with any request. I am always ready for any challenge of custom orders.

Blessings,

Karen

The sweetest words...With All My Heart!

Life happens...this was suppose to publish on Wednesday Night. I'll blame this on the dogs!

It can be said that our week has not been boring. Sunday was a "See you later" party for our son. Monday was getting him packed for his trek across the ocean to a land that will be called his home for the next 1-2 years. Tuesday morning bright and early...3am...our final hug with ugly tears  seeing him off for his 6am flight. Then there was today...the big and what we thought was the final ankle surgery.

With much anticipation we left early this morning for that long awaited 2nd surgery. It was met with skyping with our son as we waited in the pre-op room. I can't begin to explain how much good seeing that boy did for my heart. I hope he knows just how much I love him!

With a kiss and see you later for that man of mine. His chariot wheeled him down to dance with the sandman. And I ....down stairs for the long wait. This time I had the most blessed time in the waiting room with the greatest woman I know...my mom! I love her too!

The wait was a little longer than anticipated and met with a little disappointment. Because of some excessive bleeding, a third procedure could not be done. Not what I wanted to hear. Not the news I wanted to share with the man laying upstairs in the recovery room. So up I went...to have a talk with the man upstairs.

My eyes were met with a sleepy prince with his glass slipper bandaged leg and wearing that oh so cute hospital gown. I know he's tired of this. I know he'd rather be sitting on the porch at the lake. I love him more than I can say. As I stood there asking him questions to help him wake from the drug fog. Not getting a whole lot of response. I asked him the one question that I love to hear him respond too....Do you still love me? Not expecting a very long answer I heard him say...."I love you with all my heart!"  Drugs or not, that man has a heart that has captured my very own being. Through all the pain, his love for me remains the same. Through all the pain, I realized how very blessed I am to be loved so deeply by a man who remains the same, drug fog or not.

As we make our way towards what looks like a 3rd surgery, we take each day as it comes. Each moment as it arrives. Each with it's own worries. All to be laid at Jesus' feet. It's through his pain that I truly understand those heartfelt words...I love you with ALL my heart!

This could get really ugly.....See you laters are way too hard!

I have done really good all day. Trying to hold it together and remember that this is ALL God! But then the selfishness creeps in and the well has been broken.

The reality of watching his bags loaded into the car. The reality of watching "Boots"...that's his nickname for her....as she says she's packing and going with him.The reality of watching my family lay hands on our son and pray for him. To let the prayer sink deep. The reality when "Boots" wants to give him something after he's gone to bed and I say later. Then to hear her say...Ok, I'll just have to give it to him when I'm 8! Yes the big ugly tears....the I can't catch my breath ones. The memory of me saying...If he could only stay little forever!...floods my mind. He's 6'3 now!

Yes...the big old ugly cry that I have held and said I'd wait to have until after he left ....well it didn't wait. Suddenly his whole life has swept before my eyes and the questions fill my heart. You know the ones?...the would of, should of, could of.  All those annoyances...the empty milk jug that I just bought, the rumbling of the floor from the surround sound, the leftover chicken that I thought I had put away for the next night's dinner....suddenly they are not so much of a big deal!

You spend your whole life making sacrifices just to encourage them in their dreams, to see them smile. I'm going to miss that sweet smile! Thanks to Skype I will! The person who invented Skype must have been a mama! She knew this mom would someday just need a moment to see those beautiful eyes that she saw for the first time 27 years ago.

You pray and pray for God to do something big in a loved ones life and when He does...you scream...But God!  That was a brief question in my heart today. But then I realized...Justin isn't mine. He belongs to his creator. He made a choice to follow the one who has called him. When I asked God to expand his horizons...I never thought it would be clear across the ocean and then some.

In a few days our son will walk on the soil of a land that he's only read about. The land that he's always desired to see. When the message comes...I'm here! The ugly tears will turn to joy! It's then I will know, he's right where he should be.

Today...

Today our son turned 27.

Today he purchased his airline ticket to Israel.

Today I saw how much God loves him dearly.

Today is a day I will never forget.

Today our son is set to begin a dream that was placed in his heart so very long ago.

Today I realized that the last 27 years have been some of the best years of my life!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate a 27th birthday than to purchase a ticket for a journey that will change you for a lifetime!

I'm really going to miss him!

Another Teen....I'm not scared!

Today we start the journey of another teenager in the Holcombe house! This makes the 7th teen that has graced my nerves and my heart. I can't begin to thank God enough for walking this road with me. Without Him all of this would be meaningless! As I watch them go from being a teen to an adult I rest in knowing He has always carried me when I didn't have the answers and rejoiced with me when the victories came. Raising teens in today's world has not been the easiest thing I've done, but it's been the most rewarding journey I will ever take! Yes...I have another teen! I'm not scared!

Many ask me "How have I managed to raise this many teens and survived?" I honestly can't take the credit for this. It's been a team effort and a willing heart. Team effort as in my support team....Husband parents, friends, pastors(Church Family). But really the answer to this question is "Jesus!" He is the reason I get up in the morning and go to bed at night. He has carried me when I just couldn't get it together. When the mom guilt had me so bound that I never thought seeing them make it out of the teen years would be possible. Will the rest of this journey be easy?...Probably not! But I'm not walking it alone! One day at a time. We tackle each event and heart issue as it happens. If I look at the BIG picture I get very overwhelmed. But learning to see their hearts and know God is the one leading them where they need to go is my saving grace. I just need to learn to step aside and allow Him complete control.

I think watching and letting my kids make mistakes is probably the hardest thing I have had to do as a parent. But isn't it in those mistakes that we learn? I know I have made my fair share of them and continue to everyday. It's a natural thing to want to keep them from making those same mistakes. We know the pain from them...don't we? Yes...there are times we need to step in and take over.  Much like when they were little and learning to walk....we walk beside them sheltering them with our arms to keep them from falling. The joy we feel when they do it on their own. But the smile on their face when they realize they finally figured it out. Priceless! I want that same joy as I watch them make good choices. I want that same joy when I see them say "YES" and surrender their lives to the Lord. I want that same joy and peace when I finally figure out I can drop my arms and allow Jesus to be the one who shelter's them with a greater protection than I could ever hope to give.

There will always be insanity when a teenager is present. Loving them through the attitudes and choices they make will be what brings back that sweet bundle of joy that you had the honor of teaching how to walk. Only then ...you will not be the one protecting them with your arms.
Hang in there dear fellow parents. Although right now you may feel you are being pecked to death by chickens. Joy does come in the morning....the sun will rise and the sanity will return! Yours and theirs! Only this time God is the one teaching them how to walk!