Monday’s Makes Me Smile – It’s either that or cry! ;-)

Some of you know exactly what I mean – and are feeling the very same way right now! 😉 This is a big season of life change in our home. Abigail is (and many of my friends’ children are) beginning her senior year of High School today.

Last “First Day of School” in the Walker family… Abigail’s Senior year, and her very first time EVER to pose for the “official pic” & leave for school without her brother by her side. #Godhasgoodplansforher

And I know of lots of us who are sending our first borns (or last borns) off to college this week and the next… and we are finding ourselves in that daze stage where we are in the middle of the joyful prep, then think about what we are really doing… then catch ourselves staring… then tears pool in the eyes… then we have to shake it off, remembering that this is right and good… say a prayer for our child’s future, then switch to thankful-mode for this stage and this child and get back to making the college preparations. {Those of you have walked this path before know exactly what I mean… right?}

So to lighten the mood a bit, I thought I’d put together a few funny pictures depicting this stage of life. Because my son is the one leaving this year, these are about boys and their moms… but maybe all of us can get a chuckle from them. 😉

This is still the best:

Old Spice Mom Song

Click here if you can’t see the video.

This isn’t funny at all… but isn’t it true? (Cue the tears)

But here is a good piece of advice: Now, if you can’t get a speedy text reply from your son, maybe you can try this method:

And always, this is the truth: haha

Oh, our children… among the thousands of other hopes and prayers we have for you, we definitely wish for you these two things:
Number One:

And Number Two: We hope you’ll always remember to do this –

haha!

And in the mean time, we’ll all be holding it together for the next 12 days and:

True??!

But seriously… I joke about this, and while there are those emotional melt downs going on both in my head and in real life… the Lord has been reminding me that my focus must continue to remain ON JESUS – and NOT ON ME! This is the only way these changing days ahead will be navigated with wisdom, peace, and joy.

When I look at “my loss” or “my change” or “my anything” then I become merely a self-centered and self-focused mom who is managing her family and home with an “all about me” mindset that serves no one but myself. This is not about me. This is about the new stage in our children’s lives and all God has planned to do in and through them. These days ahead should be filled with joy over what God has set before them – and us.

So mamas… let’s get out from under the covers, take our eyes off of ourselves and set them back on Jesus and His Word, and march into the changing days in front of us as the women of valor God has created us to be. Many have gone before us, and many will follow. This is our time. We can do this. It’s our calling, and we will go forth in the JOY and the Strength of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 12:1-3
The Voice (VOICE)

12 So since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before,an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us.

We may feel alone, but we aren’t. We are surrounded by an army of witnesses. They have run the race of faith and finished well. It is now our turn.

2 Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.

3 Consider the life ofthe One who endured such personal attacks and hostility from sinners so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.

The Voice (VOICE)The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Mamas, let’s don’t grow weary and lose heart! Let’s pray for one another and encourage one another. I’m SO thankful for those of you who are prayer warriors for me during this stage of life, and count it a privilege to pray for you as you walk through your own jungle roads ahead.

And it’s a sweet gift to also know and remember that Jesus TOTALLY understands our “mama heart” when we feel this way… and will let us wallow in it WITH HIM for just a bit. 😉

With love and appreciation for each of you ~ (and didn’t mean to leave the men out of this one… but sometimes, the mama-hearts of us girls just have to be addressed). 😉