And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

We dropped our Meredith off at college last Wednesday in Florida. It was good but hard. The tears are close at hand as I write. I miss her. Next weekend, our Jacob is moving out once again which is good but hard. I love having him home. By the time I write again, we will only have our Gwendolyn at home which is good but hard. She is a joy and I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to give us our Gwendolyn, however our home has gone from bursting at the seams full to almost empty and it is good but hard.

To keep my mind preoccupied over this last week, I have organized many closets, including the two closets that hold our children’s old toys and games. I went through thousands of legos, play mobile sets, dollies, Barbies, play horses, Shopkins, Calico Critters, board games, and puzzles. All of them played with so often and enjoyed on a daily basis now sit quietly waiting for the days here and there when our grandsons come to play. It’s been good but hard. I have found myself praying as I am organizing, “Lord, please come and comfort me. I am grieving. I feel sad. I want to talk to my mother and ask her how she made it through these years of empty-nesting. Lord, I miss her. I miss my dad. I miss my mother-in-law. I miss having all my children home. Please heal the broken pieces of my heart.” I have been waiting on Him to answer and show His faithfulness to me once again.

I love motherhood. I have a heart for mothers. I love mothering in this season just as much as when my children were little. It’s wonderful but I do miss days gone by. I saw a quote on a picture while out shopping with my oldest, Elizabeth, yesterday which said, “You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow, they will be a little older than they were today. This day is a gift, just breathe, notice, study their faces and little feet, pay attention, relish the charms of the present. Enjoy today, for it will be over before you know it.” This is true and I encourage those with littles to enjoy each day to its fullest, even your hardest days. Don’t wish the days away.

All week, I have wanted to put my pen to the paper and write on my blog. In my slow effort to walk through Philippians, the Lord had me at chapter 1, verse 6 today which is quoted above. This verse is one of my life verses; a favorite. My grandma Jan ended every letter to me with those words. She wrote them in my Bible upon graduation from high school. It spoke to me afresh today. I hear, in this promise, certainty that the Lord is carrying me and that good work of faith that He began so long ago in and through the grieving of so many losses; the loss of parents, the passage of time, the precious evenings of family time, the fullness of our home, the empty bedrooms, and the toys that sit waiting to be played with. With that promise, I feel His comfort; His unwavering faithfulness to me.

I am so thankful for the five gifts that God has given me and I am looking forward to the days ahead for I, like the apostle Paul, am sure that He who began a good work in each of them will be faithful to bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

I will close with a beautiful song called “How Can It Be Time Already?”

Blessings to you and for those of you who are in my shoes, I am praying for you.

Heather