Choosing to dance.

My Mother's Day.

My mom was out of the country.

My grandchildren and oldest daughter were 12 hours away.

And this was my first time to not have any of my girls with me in church on Mother's Day.

It was not a "normal" Mother's Day.

But I danced anyway.

Even though at first it was an odd kind of mother's day, I pulled out my new favorite twirly skirt that  I bought for $6 on clearance…..
and I danced.
Letting go of the sad old song "but this is how it used to be" and twirling to a new melody.
One I like to call "The best is yet to come."

Before you think how awesome that is let me just tell you..

I haven't always danced when my world felt odd.

No there have been times where I climbed into my bed, pulled the covers up and slept the day away. I'm not immured to succumbing to the blue funk and dwelling on the negative stuff instead choosing to see the blessings in everything.

But I can guarantee you there has never been a time when I was glad I slept through the moment.

And there has never been a time I regretting dancing.

And my day just kept getting better.

I had a gen-u-ine Mother's Day Miracle and our FaceTime actually worked!

We talked with the grand kids for over an hour!

And I actually got a picture with all three of my girls after all!

There were pretty flowers.

And lots of food.

There was back porch swinging.

Handsome dinner guests.

Beautiful cards flocked in glitter and lots of presents.

And there were macarons.  Not to be confused with macaroons. 

There is a big difference in case you didn't know.
(I just found out not too long ago myself)

And then the Lord wrapped up the day with this pretty scene.
No filter.

I was blessed beyond measure.
Undeservedly.
And I'm so thankful.
The best is always yet to come.
I'm thankful He's given me a new song to dance to.

Traditions and change

  

This will be me and Nick's first Christmas in our empty nest.

Our first one without any of our girls sleeping under our roof to wake up with us on Christmas morning.  Sigh.  Bittersweet for sure.  We are finding ourselves in a new season that brings lots of change.  Change is the opposite of tradition.  And one thing about us Holdens….

  We love traditions.

I grew up in a family who loved them and I've continued on many of them with my girls.

We have many.  Our High kick tradition.  Our porterville night….just to name a couple.

What makes traditions so special?  They evoke memories….moments in time that we can go back to in our hearts and minds that tie us together with those we love and hold dear.  I can't see a pack of silver tinsel…the kind that's in a box that are stringy individual strands… without it whisking me back to my childhood and our tradition of putting up the Christmas tree together. We always had real trees that my daddy cut down from the woods and decorating it was a big event.  Me and my brothers would throw the tinsel on it in clumps and be so proud of it.  I never understood how those clumps would magically spread out over the tree in perfect placement overnight as we slept. 

Traditions are the glue that keeps a family together.  Especially around the holidays.  They give us a reason to make family a priority on our calendars when the season gets so jammed packed with places to go and parties to attend…because it's what we've always done….I means, going over to Aunt Dot's for Christmas Eve gumbo is just how you do Christmas.  No questions asked. Right?

Well, I want my girls to look back on our holiday traditions with joy and fondness.

I  never want our traditions to become burdens and if I'm not careful, as a mom to three grown daughters, that is exactly what can happen.

You see, it is in my nature to want my girls and their husbands at my house for every event over the holidays. 

 To be here for Thanksgiving to sign my table runner each year.  And to be here the night we decorate the tree.  And to be here on Christmas Eve as we enjoy our annual crawfish ettouffe as we open gifts.  And to be here on Christmas day to chill out in our new pj's and look for the pickle on the tree.   And to be here on New Years Eve so we can bring in the new year together.  And to be here on New Year's day to eat black eyed peas and pork roast.    I would love for them to be here for everything. To have them in my nest just like it was when they were all three little girls.

But they're no longer little girls. 

They are grown up women who now have two families to celebrate the holidays with.  Double the blessing. Double the fun.  Double the celebrations.  And I  am so thankful for that.  I'm thankful all three girls have in-laws who are interested in their lives….who want to be a part of their lives.  And who also have traditions of their own.

So what does that mean for me and my traditions?

It means sometimes we make new ones if we have to.

It means being flexible.  It means not being bound to certain day of the year.

It means if the day we can all actually be together to gather around the table and offer up thanksgiving to the Lord for all He has blessed our family with doesn't happen to fall on the fourth thursday of November, then I'm ok with that.  If it means eating etoufee three days before christmas instead of christmas eve….that will be ok too.  If it means doing something entirely different all together…then bring it on!

I'm thankful for the work of grace the Lord has done in my heart to free me up!  I want to my girls to be freed up too….to be able to enjoy every second that we get together as a family during the holidays. Soaking each other up and time together.  And I want them to be able to have wonderful memories and traditions with the other side of the family too the Lord has given to them.  I value them so much….my girl's "other" families.  They are blessings to me and Nick  and we are so thankful for the way they love our daughters.

So when I got my ornament for this year from Lisa Leanord's Designs,
it couldn't be more perfect.

You see, this year my girls all have different last names.  

All three of them this Christmas will be a Mrs.

Mrs. Sirven

Mrs. Linton 

 Mrs. McMullen

But no matter what, they will always be a Holden.

And that is something that will never change.

Now wether or not they will be here the night I get to hang this lovely on the tree is unknown.

But through God's great grace at work in my heart, either way will be okay.

I pray as the holidays are approaching that you will let God work in your heart too.

To accept things that are new this year in your life that you know are gonna shake up your traditions that you so love and cherish…. Ask God to help you embrace the change instead of just enduring it.

I promise He won't disappoint you.

ps.  If you would like a beautiful keepsake ornament to commerate the work the Lord is doing in your heart, Lisa has been so generous to give a discount for y'all.   

Use the code VERYMERRY15   for a 15% discount in her shop.

 She has gorgeous jewelry too that all have meanings behind them along with a new line of prints and cards that are darling. She is a precious woman of God who loves to make Him known and cherishes her family with a fierce love.  Check out her blog and look her up on instagram,  I promise she will bless you.