Tag: memories

Renewed and Restored

purpose

March is known as the month where spring emerges; where grass starts to turn green, where flowers are in bloom and the leaves of trees begin to appear. March is kind of like the renewing season, a restoring of what once was but went away and is new again.

For me, March has always been a great month of celebration. When I was in high school, March was the month that my now-husband asked me to be his girlfriend. Mind you, it took him 45 minutes, standing in my parents’ driveway, to ask me to be his girlfriend. And the fact that I was in the shower when he arrived (I had a banquet to attend that evening) and I stood in that driveway with him with wet hair, no makeup and mismatched clothes, and he still asked me anyway…yep he’s a keeper!! 🙂

Two years after we had been dating, another great thing happened in March. His little sister was born on our exact anniversary (bet you thought I was going to say we got married…haha…keep reading).

Looking many years into the future, another great day in March arrived…our wedding day! We got married 4 days before the date of our dating anniversary. And last weekend, we celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. I’ll let you do the math on that one to see how long we’ve really been together!! 🙂

So for us, March has always been a great time of year, with many things to celebrate. But last year, March took on a whole new meaning for us. Added to our month of great memories and celebration came sadness and disappointment. Last March was when we found out we were pregnant and then three short weeks later, found out we were no longer pregnant. What was once a great month had been shattered and our hearts broken into thousands of little pieces.

A year has now passed and the healing continues. I look back on this past week with excitement for our anniversary and all that we’ve accomplished in our 11 years of marriage. But I also look at this past week with a sadness that still resonates in my spirit; a longing for a hole to be filled and for something to take away the void that remains. The time is ripe for God to renew and restore us and for our broken hearts to be mended in a way that only God can.

As this blog was percolating in my brain this morning, the scripture I kept hearing in my spirit is found in Malachi 3:10. This scripture is mostly known for the references to tithing, but this morning I kept hearing over and over this one specific part, “…and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.” POUR OUT BLESSINGS. This is going to be my scripture of renewing, of restoration…God is going to pour out his blessings on me and my husband and the family that He is going to give us and it will be BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS!

The loss will always remain and the memory will always be there, but I stand at the ready for God to pour out His blessings on us that will be beyond our wildest dreams.

Friendship Memories

Awhile back I wrote a blog about this being the year all my friends and I turn the wonderful age of 40 (see The year of 40). I talked about how despite the negative connotation that comes with turning 40, I would refrain from using any of it on my friends, because as we have all learned, we’re only as old as we feel!!

I frequently get lost in thought and sometimes my mind wanders back to the days of simpler times…times when I wasn’t concerned about what day is payday and when my bills are due and other fun stressors that come with being an adult. On those days when I get lost in thought, sometimes my mind wanders back to the days of being a kid and a teenager and all the fun I had with my friends growing up. So, as this 40th year of life comes blasting forward, I thought I’d share some of my childhood memories with you and my 40 year-old friends!

To Tosha, I remember the countless hours we spent on that lemon twist jump rope toy you had. We would jump around on that thing for hours trying to see which of us could get the most jumps in a row.

To Tammy, I remember having fun being neighbors and playing jokes on your little sister, Sherry and how we NEVER got away with anything because she ALWAYS told on us!!!

To Mandy, I remember riding our bikes up and down the street and then me going across the street & you climbing through your back fence to play in the park that was just for our neighborhood. We’d play for hours & have the best time with everyone else in our neighborhood.

To Leah, I remember playing with Barbie’s at your house. I was always so jealous because you had the coolest Barbie accessories, like the Barbie dream house, the Ken doll and Ken’s cool car!! We’d also swim and lay around your pool for hours.

To Melody, I remember when you first moved to Lampasas in 1st grade and we did that Easter skit in our class. I think I played the Momma hen and you were the baby chick that broke out of the shell (the trash can) at the end and went, “Peep, peep!”

To Barbara, I remember the play we did in the 4th grade, although for the life of me I can’t remember the name of it. But, you played the main character (the damsel in distress) and you were hilarious in that role!!

To Delana, I remember when we were in Kindergarten and I tried to help you put toys away so we could start class and you got mad at me and punched me in the mouth!! Hmmm, maybe that was the start of my dental problems…hahaha, just kidding!!

To Marci, I remember the playhouse in your backyard. That was the coolest playhouse. We would spend hours playing in there with our tea parties & whatever else we made up while we were in there.

To Janna, I remember sitting in your room, listening to music and playing board games. I think we played the Game of Life more than any other, dreaming about how we wanted our lives to turn out…our husbands, the number of kids we’d have and our dream jobs.

To Carrie Jo, I remember all the band trips, parades and practices in the wonderful (ha!) and humid August summers.

To Kellie, I remember sitting next to you in band in junior high when I thought it was a great idea to switch from the trumpet to the French horn. Not only am I glad I came to my senses on the instrument, but also that we became fast & lifelong friends with too many memories to name!

To Cristy, I remember walking around your neighborhood and playing at your house. I also remember the nice Mustang you had when we were old enough to drive…it sure was fun cruising Key in that car!!

To Dana, I remember all the times we used to drive around in your little gray car during lunch and listen to “Black Velvet”. Every time I hear that song, I always think of you!!

There are just too many memories to name! Cruising Key on Friday and Saturday night, walking to Storms after school when we were in junior high & also going to Gattis and ordering cinnamon breadsticks. I thought of those and so many others while reminiscing over these memories!! We’ve been friends for so long, I just pray our kids are taking the time to make memories with their friends that they’ll remember for a lifetime.

Thanks for indulging me on my trip down memory lane! And to my 40 year-old friends I mentioned, what memories do you remember!?!