We Need Each Other

Let me just start that I am feeling a little spoiled being in quarantine with this view outside the window of Gordon's home in Palm Desert. I struggled with the decision to come. This trip was planned weeks ago. But then the title of this post is, "We Need Each Other" and even in our relationships and the Coronavirus we need to do what we can to be safe and nurture those important relationships.

It is a basic human need to be in community. We Need Each Other!! A few weeks ago, before all the Coronavirus news,  there was an alarming day for me. There were events that happened that brought me back to a time in my past that was difficult and hard.  I am pretty springy. I have a moment of sadness, embrace it and then bounce back to being that happy girl. On this particular day the weight of sadness, fear and anxiety overwhelmed me. The people that love me came around and cared for me in the best ways that I needed. I was pretty blessed to have these people on this day because I needed my people.

I also received four phone calls that day. Calls from my sister, my daughter, and two friends. Calls to just chit chat and ask how I am doing.  There were many moments on this day that I just could not help thinking how much we need our people. How we need to go back to talking to each other, hearing our voices, and having that important face to face time or ear to ear time.

Now fast forward to today. A nation under orders to be in quarantine status.  It is my turn. My turn to listen. My turn to ask questions, "How are you?  What do you need?" My turn to look at my phone list and check in with my people.

In talking to my daughter after the Nashville Tornado. Her experience of hearing the Tornado alarms and realizing there was little time. She had a neighbor call her telling her to run fast to their house and get in their basement. Scary and frightening and still recovering from those events.  Friends sent home from their jobs and kids home from school. Then another friend struggling in a relationship.  Making calls and checking in because we need each other.

As we all settle into these next few weeks, we can use our technology options to stay connected. To write, to outward process to share the incidentals of the day. We Need Each Other.  We are a resourceful bunch and what we have to give may not be in dollars, but we can give our words of encouragement, we can listen to the struggles another is facing and yes, if you have extra give a few rolls of toilet paper.  We can each do our part because at the end of each day, We Need Each Other.

Famly, Friends, Siblings for Life

It has been one of my greatest joys to spend my time being a mother. These kids have been in each of each other's lives. I have often said that I learned to be a good friend by first being a sister. I, being the middle of five kids. Each of my five kids have lived in a home where each person is celebrated for their unique individual personality. The unique design straight from God.

How do you celebrate each individual child in your home?  I look at Emerson below. Since the boy could hold a guitar, a microphone, a mandolin, and pluck his little fingers at the piano he has loved music.  Along with Elliot and Emily. Three out of five is not bad for the gift and passion for music. We have scoured many garage sales for instruments to practice on. Encouraging those musical passions.

My children have learned to give and to take, and to wait and to share. And if you asked each one of them today who their best friends are, all five would say each other. I witnessed something on Mother's Day weekend. Young men who are caring and thinking of each other. I use to pray that someday when they all grow up they would want to hang out together, be friends, and desire to be in relationships with each other. The Saturday before Mother's Day Ethan asked his older brother Elliot, and his wife Sarah to coffee. He then invited Eric and Emerson. There was that split second when I almost said, "I want to come." But I held back. Today was that prayer being answered. Ethan had some birthday money and he wanted to take his brothers and Sarah to coffee.

They are all growing up. These pictures found in my archives. Pictures I had no idea I had. When I found them, I just stared at each one. Their faces and the joy of being brothers many years ago and still today. I pray that as the years go by they will always look back on the friendships they had with each other growing up.

Elliot and Emerson, my oldest and youngest building Lego's together. Believe it or not this picture has not changed much, they have only gotten bigger. I have been asked over the years what I have done as a mother to build these friendships. Emily is not in these pictures, but she, too  just as much part of the sibling friendship factor. What do I do?  I think the most important part of mothering my children was to teach them to serve each other. Teach them to be helpers to each other. Teach them to always speak kindly to each other and teach them to apologize to each other.

Each of them will always remember the little chairs facing each other. If you had a conflict, even at a young age, you would be asked to sit in a time-out facing each other. The instruction was that both had to talk to work it out and come to a mutual agreement. And then they could invite me into the conversation to assure that all was well.

There will always be days when we struggle at a parent. There are many sleepless nights, or waiting for curfew, or homework, or reading.  All those days will soon pass and one day you will look back and ask yourself what did I teach my children? Teach them to be friends with each other and they will have friends for life. 

This is my friend...

The heart Marie wears is in memory of her little baby girl Arie. She still hurts as does her husband. Life does not provide answers for the things that go wrong in this world, but God is still working in our lives every single day. He knows the unknowns and when we are seeking after Him, we can take joy is what is to come.

This is the first time in many, many days that my sweet friend is smiling and having fun. I love how she is so open with her loss and is trying her best to make sense of what makes absolutely no sense at all. But life is moving forward and we are all trying to make it in this world with the trials and tribulations.

This picture was taken at a dinner party at my house. It was loads of fun and the best food, flowers, and not so terrific dessert. Not because of my doing (except the dessert), but because my awesome neighbors love to share their blessings and talents.