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Cruisin N Smoosin!

February 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

OK – so maybe that is not even a word up there!

But hey…I was very blessed last week to spend five days on the Love Like You Mean It Cruise meeting and greeting people and being all around tropical and active! I committed to totally ignore all social media while spending time with my husband and ministering to other couples…and it was awesome!

Hubby and I had the pleasure of emcee’ing the nightly entertainment on the big stage and that was so much fun! I kept asking him to pinch me as I stood chatting with crazy amazing entertainers who love the Lord and minister to others through song, humor and magic!

I also had the amazing joy of spending lots of time with my fellow contributors over on MomLife Today – Crystal Paine and Dannah Gresh!  Too, too much fun!

Since I have been home I got right back into my momlife.  A college visit weekend with my daughter and then today…I had the EXTRA amazing fun of sitting with my son at the DMV as we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited … and then waited some more – but I am happy to announce we now have another driver in the Eyster household. So much for my new found “stardom” on stage, momlife is alive and well back here on dry land – HA!

My son thinks having a license is real glamorous too…but he will be in for a big surprise because what having a license actually means is I now have license to send him out to get milk, run errands and all around be my “go get it” guy!  That’s a whole different form of cruisin!

 

 

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Teen Watch

February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Raising teenagers really is a wonderful thing and the relational bond made through the years serves as an anchor in times of tumult.

In so many ways we as parents are given the opportunity to help our teens understand and navigate the world around them. Now, more than ever, that navigation requires intentional steering and a hand always at the ready to toss out a life preserver of truth.

Teens really do want to be spoken into, even if they initially roll those eyes, they are longing to be part of a conversation that enlightens and advises.

I recently read an article that discussed a disturbing social phenomenon that “pretty” is no more, now it’s all about being “hot” – and sadly that observation is true.

From the time I was very young I have been adept at people watching – you learn a lot about others by simply observing. Find an opportunity to observe the kids that your teens (and pre-teens) hang out with. The next sporting event you attend don’t watch the players on the court or field, watch the players in the stands.

Join me at MomLife Today to learn why observation leads to great opportunities to steer your teens towards a better course.

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Stay The Course?

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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When your first born goes off to college there are so very many challenges.
Letting go, trusting God, an empty bedroom, a smaller ketchup bottle, no more long brown hair stuck in the vacuum cleaner brush, one less place setting, a sad cat, less conversation – I could make a lengthy list.
I could cry me a river too.
But I choose not to – I have spent the last 19 years training her for this time in her life and quite frankly, she is ready. She has stepped into her new life and is thriving. She has chosen friendships well, she is chasing after God, she is loving others, she spends time in the school library often…and the chapel. And down in the creek bed – she’s always been drawn to Him in creation.
As parents we hope and pray that what we teach them daily, what we model to them daily will become their own.
It has…and more.
Moms – keep pouring into your children. Before you know it, you too will be sitting on an empty bed, hugging a worn and well loved stuffed animal.
I assure you that every single MOMent you spent giving of yourself to her will be worth it.
Stay the course.
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Texting Pick Me Up

January 27, 2012 By 2 Comments

I was moseying along during the day yesterday, minding my own business – actually I was cleaning a bathroom. Such is the glamorous life of a mom expecting a house full of couples for a good old fashioned deep Biblical discussion.

Part of me wanted to fore-go the cleaning and just let my son’s mess speak for itself – “This is our home, we do live in it and our guest bathroom happens to also be my 15 year old son’t bathroom and he nor I have done our chores for nearly two weeks!”  I know…that’s kinda yucky, but we were out of town, he was staying with friends and we are all still trying to catch up!

But gee, company was coming.  It might shock you to learn I decided not to run the sweeper…I really am so over the “my home must be perfect to be a good mom” lie!

So…any-who I hear the familiar “ping” on my very old iphone and I bolted towards it to see who was wanting to connect.  You do that once you have a child in college – truly… any connection from the former occupant of your daily home and heart life is craved.

There to my hopeful eyes was a text from my girl, my Freshman in college, my “I do miss you mom” girl…and here is what it said:

“$96,261 a year, what the average homemaker is worth. According to…hmm, the people on the radio who were talking about taxes and money and stuff. Just thought you might find that interesting. Love you momma!”

It appears I am a millionaire…with a sparkly bathroom and a dirty floor!
Truth be told, the payment I receive in raising thriving teens is far better than the millions!
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Roof Crashers

January 12, 2012 By 2 Comments

There are times in my momlife where I sit in amazement of who my children are becoming.

He sheepishly walked in from Echo – the Wednesday night youth gathering at our church – and as he looked up at me I could see emotion in his face. He grinned slightly and averted his eyes. My mom senses picked up on something…something big.

“Are you OK?” I inquired.

“Yeah…well…it was a really good night,” he offered.

“Have you been crying?”

“Um…yeah…I am just so happy, and blessed…to have such great friends. After church we gathered in a circle and we prayed for each other and I just kept thinking how blessed I am to have such amazing Godly friends. I told them we were going to be known as the Roof Crashers from on.”

Spend some time reading Luke 5:17-26 and you’ll see the enormity of that proclamation.

This is the same boy who at age five was screamed at on the playground, “Go away – we don’t like you, we don’t want to play with you.” The same boy who has received a good amount of ribbing because he chooses to step away when conversations go south. (Which trust me moms, amongst boys, happens more than we would all like to admit!)

As I have pondered my sons sheer joy over who he spends time with I am reminded that we all need to surround ourselves with authentic relationship.

Do you have Roof Crashers in your life? I encourage you to stop right now and pull out your note cards and write each one of them a good old fashioned hand written note of gratitude and let them know just how much you love and appreciate them.

Come back to visit and I’ll share with you just why I think that son of mine has the desire to seek authentic relationship…it does take some parental modeling, but obviously it is worth the effort!

 

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Interviewing A Model

January 11, 2012 By 1 Comment

I really enjoy interviewing people for MomLife Today because being able to share what others are doing to glorify God, that in process speaks into the lives of moms, makes me silly happy!

Confession time…knowing that I was interviewing an International model made me feel silly awkward…like my former awkward pre-teen self. No pressure there…sitting on camera opposite a woman who has been on magazine covers. Gee thanks.

I chose, yes chose, not to “go there” with the comparison trap…and approached the interview with a brave, and yes, happy heart! I even got silly happy because Rachel Lee Carter is a “true beauty” and is an amazing mom and has a passion to speak into the lives of teens (and their moms) about the importance of modesty!

If you would like to “meet” Rachel Lee Carter hop on over to MomLife Today and you can see my video interview and listen to her on FamilyLife Today!

 

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New Territory, Instruction Needed

January 10, 2012 By 5 Comments

Laughter and revelry have filled my warm, cozy home for the last 27 days. Not so much more than any other passing of 27 days. Just sweeter somehow.

She was home again. My daughter. My “I’m a freshman in college” daughter. Who is more woman than girl now. Who is more reflective and forward looking now.

This is new territory for me. Territory I knew was coming, yet as with any challenging journey no matter how well prepared one thinks one is…there are surprises along the way.

“Mom…I am so happy. I love my friends and miss them so, so much.”  Smiling at that proclamation I silently wonder, has she said that to her friends about me? Probably not.

But that’s ok. That means I have done my job of mothering and preparing well.

I am propelled back to the three-year-old daughter, being dropped off in a new church classroom, the easy way she hugged me goodbye and bravely walked into a new room, not knowing a soul. She moved forward into that new territory bravely, I wondered why she forged on without even a glance backward.

Then, and now, I know it is because she is content wherever she is because she knows she is not alone. She has been taught that. By her father and me.

I hear her in her room when she chats with her Heavenly Father; I have seen journal entries she has chosen to share. I have seen serenity, peace and tranquility revealed when she puts pencil to sketch pad.

Still…there is that part of me that wants to hold on to the girl I was given and keep her all to myself.

Heavy sigh.

Oh what must my Heavenly Father have in store for this amazing daughter of mine? I pray He gives me the ability to face her future with as much grace and strength as she possesses.

A contented smile grows in gratefulness for the gift of motherhood and the well worn leather map that I use to chart the course each day – His word. Without it I’d be lost and lonely.

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Thanksgiving Changes

November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As you may recall, my daughter started college a few months ago. That has led to changes and a new normal around here.

She certainly left a big empty space in our home upon her departure, but God is graciously filling that void. Having the capacity to embrace change, even one so very close to one’s heart is a choice – and I am choosing to accept, adapt and grow.

I have been counting the days until Thanksgiving and then CHRISTmas so I can spend precious time with my girl.

Change.

In early November my daughter called to ask if she could go with her college friends to Texas for Thanksgiving. I admit, my first thought was, “No way girlie – get yourself home!” However, God whispered louder than my panic fueled mom heart and I told her that her father and I would think and pray about her request.

Selfishly…I wanted to say no. But wow – she has this amazing group of friends God has brought together who study hard, chase God hard and are filled with joy and seek adventure. They have spent two weekends at our home and they are amazing young adults all walking the narrow path.

Heavy sigh.

Yes, we spent Thanksgiving without our girl and at times it was a big-o bummer.

However, she had a great Texas adventure and gained much by interacting with parents, siblings and relatives of two of her new friends. For that I am grateful. My release led to her growth.

This letting go stuff is hard…but I am learning to expect and accept change and be grateful- with a strong dose of prayer and dependance on God I hope I can keep it up!

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Home From College Disaster

November 19, 2011 By 1 Comment
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I am so happy my daughter is home from college…she brought five friends with her and there is a lot of cooking and conversation going on around here!

Have I missed EVERYTHING about my daughter? Humm…

… proof positive that a picture is worth a thousand words!

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Boys, Moms & Messy

November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Boys…you gotta love em – cause they keep you on your toes!

They also keep you in your laundry room and kitchen! Especially the kitchen because giving them good grub keeps them coming back to your home. Which trust me, is a good thing.

I learned from a mom older and wiser than me years ago that if I wanted to know where my son was and what he was doing I best make my home a welcome place for him and his friends. Great advice, that I heeded and indeed our home is one of the places they choose to do their guy stuff.

I share about the fun and messy over at MomLife Today - I even share a great birthday party idea that has officially put me in the “epic mom” category. {jealous much?}

I hope you will join me there to read all about it and I hope you too will heed that wise advice and fill your home with dirty, smelly, lively, fun-loving boys – you will be glad you did! (For reals!)

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