Friday, September 21, 2007

My family, my life, my loves


Hi sweet friends! I have spent several days this week thinking long and hard about "life." I mean the BIG questions of life as a wife and momma. A fellow Christian, Bible studying mom, and tremendous woman of faith lost a lengthy battle to cancer this week and has left behind 4 children and an amazing husband. And when you follow someones journey of life and now death, you find yourself spending a lot more time thinking about who and what matter most to you and where your time is spent. And.....I am recommitting myself to my family, my relationship with Jesus Christ, my church and my friends.

I want to truly leave a legacy of faith and love for my sweet family and that takes time, love and a committment to give them my best. I need to slow my bootie down and really focus on them. I mean let the "things" go in the house if my kids are wanting to just be with me or talk with me or just play with me. I'm seeing that it gets less and less as my kids get older that they want to play with me. I don't hear my 11 yr old asking me to go throw a baseball or football with him!!

So, I am praying for God to speak clearly to me each and every day as to what my focus should be and where my time is spent. Go back to the basic question....."Is that really important RIGHT NOW?" I don't want this short time with my children to be over one day and I feel like I did not give them my best. I won't be perfect. But, I do want discernment and awareness to their needs. And then give them my best and all of me. Who knows, maybe I will get out there and throw a baseball and football with some boys that can take me down! We would laugh and have a ball and whats so wrong with that??!! I just love my family and I just love my life and I just love the many blessings God has given me right now. I'm gonna show my gratitude by lovin the fire out of 'em all!!

Thank you Jesus for my hubby and my sweet Dylan!!



My oldest, Clay, and I look and wonder, where is the time going??



Tyler, I love you dearly!!


I know you love your families and the people closest to you. Make time for them and tell them often how much they mean to you!! Life is meant to be lived and lived to the fullest.
Have a blessed weekend.....

13 comments:

Jackie said...

your family is beautiful. what sweet pictures. hope your weekend is great. take care.

AbbyLane said...

what beautiful boys you have! sweet post...thanks for those words...i've been experiencing the same sort of feelings, but for different reasons and a different season in my life...nonetheless Jesus sure knows how to connect people for words they need to see!! thanks!

hope you're having a great day! :)

Angela Baylis said...

What a beautiful post! I'm so sorry about your friend... and I'm glad you are taking your time to cherish your family during this difficult time!

I can tell you are a great wife, mother and friend to all! You are leaving a great legacy!

Much love, Siesta!
Angie xoxo

connorcolesmom said...

Fran,
What a beautiful family!!
Thank you for that reminder to focus on what is important. I love spending time with my boys - all 3 of them!!
I watched as my hubby played baseball with my 7 and 3 yr old. They laughed and had the best time!! Building lasting family memories - priceless!
Much love,
Kim

Profbaugh said...

Oh I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I'll never understand why some people are taken so early in life. One of those questions for God when I get in Heaven.

Your family is fantastic and I love how you've taken the time to really reflect on the important things in life--family and your relaitonship with the LORD. You know it all boils down to those two things. Treasure what you have Fran. And kiss those beautiful boys on their cheeks for me!!

~Cheryl

Speaking Thru Me Ministries said...

what a beautiful post and fmaily. thank you for reminding me to cherish all the moments!!

love, Leigh

Shelly said...

Sweet words wise women.

And your boys are too darlin'!

Patty said...

What cute boys you have!! I loved this post. I have two teenage sons. 19 and 17. The time flies by so fast.
I am sorry to hear about your friend. I am a cancer survivor of 4 years now!! It saddens me every time I hear of someone dying of cancer. May God touch her husband and children and bring them His comfort!!

Thank you for reminding us to focus on God and our family.

Unknown said...

Ok, first of all, I had read this post a few days ago and then didn't have time to comment, but now I am. Death just seems to do the same thing to me. It makes me introspective and drives me back to the basics.
Your family is beautiful! Boy's totally ROCK! Your boys are so cute!
And WAHOO for San Antonio! Ok, here is what you need to do...contact Cheryl over at Profbaugh and find out which siesta blocked rooms in the hotel we are staying at and then reserve one for you! I am already staying with Cheryl but would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have you near by! (I told Jackie the same thing...I really want you guys to be with us!) We HAVE to have some down time and not just see eachother at the events! (Big ole Girls Night In at the Hotel!!) I am so glad I will get to meet you Fran...God is SO good!

Kristen said...

I found your blog via the LPM blog...
What a beautiful family. I have lost 2 young friends to cancer who left behind children and husbands. My heart and prayers go out to you and her family during this time of loss. Rejoicing that she is lifted up and with our Jesus!

My sister also battled breast cancer and is five years out - Praise Him! That was a time in my life when I realized too that the house could have a few dust bunnies and it would be ok. You will live a legacy sister!

Alana said...

Wise words and constantly needed reminder.

Emmy said...

Hi Fran!
Wow your post touched my heart so much! Beautiful family! I am SO sorry about your friend! Lately I feel as if things like that have come so close to home for me too...death, sickness, sickness of my dear friends child...tragedy...such a broken world...sometimes I just want Jesus to hurry up and come! I started thinking and longing for that time where there will be no more death, sickness, tears...or FEAR (big for me!) I can't wait!

Thank goodness though that He doesn't leave us alone out here in this broken mess of a world we live in! I just went to hear a POWERFUL speaker, Robert Rodgers, the other night that lost his wife and 4 children in an accident all at once...wow can you even begin to fathom that? His testimony of Gods grace throughout the whole thing was incredible! My friend wrote about it on her blog check it out...www.momofeleven.blogspot.com....anyway I don't think I'll ever be the same! So thank you for your beautiful post...I think God has really been trying to speak to me about all of this lately! We can get so "busy doing nothing" that we miss out on the real JOYS and Gifts we have been given! I too have been reminded how precious our famlies are and to appreciate every second with them...you never know! God bless you and your family precious Fran! Emmy : )

A Place For Ministry Wives/A Place For Me said...

Your family is precious! :-)


I blog so you can get a glimpse into my life as wife, mom of 3 boys, and someone who simply wants to bless others along the way. Have fun and be sweet :)


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