It's been a long time since I've come here to share my heart...
Aside from being housebound for most of March, April, May, and June, because of a global pandemic called COVID-19, aka The Corona Virus, we've been counting down the days in excitement for the upcoming wedding of Matt and Grace in early August.
In April they closed on the purchase of a home, which we're soo very excited about! They'll live within a 10 minute drive from us and Grace's parents, and they are also within a short walking distance from our older son and his family. As Matt has expressed, we too are excited for all the gatherings they look forward to hosting in their home with family and friends. We're soo very thankful they are rooted here, surrounded by family and friends that will be an ever present source of love and encouragement. We could not be more thankful to the LORD for giving them such a gift.
Matt, with Grace's help, began making preparations for him to begin staying there before they marry. A few photos were captured... <smile>
Their house backs up to a pond, which makes for a peaceful and serene background to their lovely home. Already, Matt and the boys, John, Luke, and Ethan have fished and caught a few Bass and Brim.
They didn't keep them, but threw them back to their habitat.
When Matt and his brother, Mark Stephen, were young, Dad gave each of them a wooden tool box for Christmas one year, with some tools in them. The idea was to add to their box over time, so they'd each have a collection of tools already started when they began needing them.
It brought joy to me to visit one day and see Matthew had taken his tool box with him. He was working with some of his tools on a few of his projects...
Grace, Katherine, and Anna spent that same day painting their bedroom...and the final outcome looked really nice! Grace went with the lower color.
Another project Matt began working on soon after he purchased their home and a mattress, was to build a bed frame. We are soo proud of his expense of only $150 in materials...
and the finished product of his time and labor.
One day after work, Matthew invited me to join him in doing some yard work, and of course, I loved going to help him.
Matt began spending the night away from home a few weeks ago in his new home.
It's been a bitter sweet feeling to miss him and be proud of him at the same time!
As his mom, I wish we could always be together.
I wish empty nesting were not soo hard and sad for me!
I have soo enjoyed our season together, but I truly am also looking forward to watching him enjoy his new season with Grace.
Our first two have fledged away and our last two are flapping their wings.
I think, I hope, Matthew will be back a few more times before he leaves permanently.
He's been back twice so far, and I've told him he's welcome to return home for a sleep over anytime... <smile>!
The first night he left, he asked me,
"Mom, will you be okay if I spend the night at my house tonight (1st time)?"
I asked him, "Will you be okay if you spend the night at your house tonight?"
He said, "I'll be fine."
"Then I think I'll be fine too!"
*HUG*HUG*HUG*
Then he said, "I'll be back in the morn to pick up lawn equipment."
Ha!
I'm thankful he's been soo very considerate and caring of me through this transition.
He's always said he's never wanted to leave home, but we all know it's time.
That first night he left, I told him how proud I am that he is leaving home with God's blessing and ours.
It's a huge blessing for us to know he took his time and waited on the LORD to give him a bride who also waited, patiently, on the LORD to grow her for him, their faith and mature their friendship/relationship, resulting in an engagement.
Thank you LORD that Matthew's leaving is not bitter because of haste or rebellion. Any sadness we feel about his departure is only because we hate to see him leave at all. We'll miss his presence in our home terribly, but we're thankful he hasn't gone far. He visits often and loves us well by texting and calling to check on us.
What a gift and blessing Matthew is to us.
Please bless Matthew in his coming and going, and in his leaving our home to cleave to Grace. We are thankful she is eager to join our family, and we are eager welcome her, to watch them become their own family.
Help us, please LORD, to trust You through the adjustments that will come as we give them space to learn their own unique togetherness.
Please help us to stand back and enjoy this gracious blessing from your hand, to watch how their love for one another will grow and flourish by your sovereign plan for their marriage. We look forward to watch how they will grow in their walk with You and one another.
May our focus be:
I will extol You, my God and King,
and bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You
and praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praise,
and His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall commend Your works to another,
and shall declare Your might acts.
Psalm 145:1-4
Again, LORD, thank you for the many ways You will grow Matt and Grace through this new, life changing season of oneness with You!
When Dad and I were married in 1987, a dear friend from church, Lucy Parker, painted a plate for us that had this quote on it...
In homes where God is first,
It's obvious to see,
Those unions really work
For marriage still takes three.
I've since found the entire poem which reads...
I once thought marriage took
Just two to make a go
But now I am convinced
It takes the LORD also.
And not one marriage fails
Where Christ is asked to enter
AS lovers come together
With Jesus at the center.
But marriage seldom thrives
And homes are incomplete
Till He is welcomed there
To help avert defeat.
In homes where God is first
It's obvious to see
Those unions really work
For marriage still takes three.
Author unknown
