motherhood

What will be said of Me?

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I have a wonderful privilege of gathering with some amazing women every other week to spend time talking about the things that we care deeply about.  We discuss the season of life we are presently in and look for quality ways to navigate the many challenges and opportunities we encounter everyday. We talk about learning to say our “best yes”, to make sure we find ways to re-fuel in order to be the best version of ourselves, and we look at focusing on those things we consider the highest priorities at this time, using them as a good filter when choosing how to best use our time.  These conversations are always rich and encouraging.

Last night we spent our time talking about Legacy.  We were all able to point to a person in our life who impacted us in a powerful way. Each one of us teared up simply talking about it! We could clearly see that without the gift of that person having touched our lives we would not be the women we are today.  Then we turned our attention to the fact that each one of us could be “that” person in someone’s life.  Down the road when a group of women gather, perhaps our name with be the one mentioned when expressing appreciation for key impact on their lives.  This is what leaving a Legacy looks like.  Lasting impact.

In a small study written by Dr. James Dobson, he expresses Legacy this way:

“Legacy is what future generations recall about you. You are a patriarch or a matriarch and your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will take what you have done with your life and build on their own lives.  It is the continuation of your ministry and influence (both positive and negative) beyond your lifetime, reflecting what you value and what you believe is important.”

Wow, does that mean that the choices, behaviours, values, and traditions we do ( or don’t) intentionally choose will be passed on to our future family? You bet!  Think about your family of origin; is there a legacy you feel compelled to carry forward?  Perhaps that legacy was unhealthy and you now have the chance to make choices that will turn it around in your generation.  Choosing to leave a good and lasting Legacy requires intentionality, long-term vision, strong values, and time spent building rich relationships.  We all have a choice as to the Legacy we leave behind.

Look at your life today and answer this question: “Who influenced you to be who you are today and how does their Legacy encourage you to leave behind a Legacy that continues to bear good fruit in the lives of those you dearly love? Take time to write out the type of Legacy you would like to leave behind and then make choices consistent with your hearts desire.  🙂

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” ~ Shannon L. Alder

Our Little Girl~

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I’ve only known for a month, only a month, and yet my heart melts knowing she is on her way.  I imagine her little nose and a sweet mix of her parents features; this make me smile. She will change our family forever.  Our first grandchild. 🙂

My heart longs for her life to be full of joy, peace, laughter, and safety. Yet, I know she will experience challenges and sadness as she grows into the amazing woman God has designed her to be. Because of this, I will bathe her life in prayer and along with her parents, reminding her again and again that she was designed by a God for a meaningful purpose.

………and then……….I will spoil her, play with her, read to her, cook with her, play Hide n Seek with her, pray with her, dance with her, sing with her, count stars with her, color with her, play make believe with her, ride bikes with her, and attempt to kiss away every tear!

Most of all, I will trust God for her sweet little life because I know He is the one who created her, knows every hair on her sweet little head, and loves her, already, more than I can even fathom!

So, sweet little one~ we await your arrival.  🙂

“Strawberry creams and wonderful dreams,

Ladylike airs and teddy bears,

Fairy tales and wedding veils,

That’s what granddaughters are made of.”

Newsflash: Call me Grandma! :-)

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Remember the game where you and a buddy would hold your breath and wait to see who could hold it the longest?  As the minutes passed there would finally be a huge GASP and the participants would take in the much needed air!  That has been me for the past 10 weeks!  For the past 10 weeks I have been holding my breath, carrying a secret that has rocked my world!! I can finally let it out! WE WILL BE GRANDPARENTS IN APRIL!  The joy of this news is indescribable.  First I cry, then I rejoice, and then I cry.

Legacy.  The  family DNA  of the Koops and the Salciccioli family is being passed on to a new generation, into this new precious life.  My heart is stirred deeply at the thought of this.

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Watching Dave and Azlan walk into this new blessing; seeing them tearily recognizing God’s sweet favor for them and acknowledging the love of family that surrounds them, has been sincerely heartwarming.

I am 54….I got here pretty fast…my baby will be a daddy for the first time and that churns up so many emotions. Yet as I watch Dave and Azlan I am moved by their maturity, their love for their unborn child, and the care they have taken as they approach this new season. They will be amazing parents.

I know, when they look into the eyes of the child they have created together, they will be smitten at such a deep level; love more deeply than they have ever loved before.  I cried learning they were pregnant, and I am sure I will cry when I hold our precious “beloved child” for the first time!

Call me Grandma or granny, I do not care………….just CALL ME to babysit, snuggle, care for, and support this precious little life…….My arms and heart are abundantly ready!

Overwhelmed by God’s favor!  Excited about the season ahead!

I am a Millionaire~~

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I am on vacation with my family…On the island of Kauai. This fact alone is enviable and I apologize if it even remotely appears I could be bragging.  However, this trip is not what makes me a millionaire! Rather, it is the people I am sharing this experience with that makes me feel incredibly rich!

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Today we spent 6 hours on a lovely beach; the sun, palm trees, and amazing, warm waters were sincerely lovely BUT the sweet conversations, deep laughter, family banter, rough housing, and the love expressed remind me again, I AM RICH!!

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My family fills my heart.  These individuals are kind, smart and interesting. Watching them interact, respond kindly to those we encounter, and listening to their thoughts and engaging ideas, make me a MILLIONAIRE! It does!  I am deeply grateful and I do not take this precious family for granted!

I pray that when you experience your own families you feel so rich, so fortunate, so blessed~~ Aloha, my friends! 🙂

Mother love is a “crazy kinda love”~

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Years ago when our sons were younger we took a family trip to Orlando where we spent some time at the Universal Studios Theme Park.  Back in “those days” a show call Fear Factor was really popular.  Because of the shows popularity the theme park had a live show with a large audience on site.  Greg and our sons thought it would be fun to audition to be on the show that day; they thought it would an adventure to do one of the challenging physical acts!  I was supportive of their idea and thought it would be fun to watch them do something fun like this!

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We arrived at the auditions on time and learned that the guys were actually too tall to participate in the physical challenges BUT the show producers did have a couple other challenges for the family. The only catch was that MOM needed to be a part of the show! What?  Um…I don’t think so!  But I have a crazy kinda love for my family and said that I would be a part as long as my role did not include bugs!!

Greg and David were offered to be in a competition against another father and son to “drink” down a horrid mixture of worms, old milk, and other awful ingredients!  Oh yes, they were up for the challenge!!

As for my option, well, you see there was this chair with a plastic box where I was to sit.  My hands would be strapped to the chair, my eyes would be covered, my head encased inside the plastic box. There was a large spinning wheel that the host of the show would allow my oldest son Nate to spin.  Around the wheel there were pictures of snakes, spiders, worms, scorpions, etc.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

My sons involvement hinged on my agreeing to participate~~ that crazy kinda Mother love kicked in again and I heard myself say “Yes”!!  Greg and Dave went on to win their competition and received the cheers of the crowd and a plastic  I Ate A Bug Mug.  I, on the other hand enjoyed a crown of scorpions with my son cheerfully looking on!

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Being a mom is such a gift. Sometimes there are challenges, tears, and discipline. Sometimes there is joy, celebration, and shared fun memories. Being a mom has brought me such incredible joy!

I wish a rich blessing to all mom’s who have also loved deeply and stretched way beyond their comfort zone simply because of their Crazy kinda Mother love!!!

Happy Mother’s Day!