Welcome, Little One and More

There's a group of cards I have the most difficult time making, and that's baby cards. When I sit down to make one, I am absolutely inspired-less, don't ask me why. Maybe it's because I don't like the papers out there for babies???? Maybe it's because I don't have any "baby" type stamps? Maybe it's because I don't have any babies in my life right now and don't have anyone specific in mind when I make one???? Who the heck knows. But I was thrilled when I managed to squeak this card out last weekend! I even broke out an oldie-but-goodie stamp set from SU too. Just doing my part to help the "green" movement that's so popular these days.....using a "must-must-must-must have stamp set more than once...!

The stamped image in the lower right corner is actually mounted on the inside of the card on the pink polka dot paper. I used a square punch to punch out a square (novel idea, I know) and then mounted the stamped image right in the middle of it on the inside. I'm gettin' fancy in my old age, aren't I?

I also wanted to share a little photoshop'd image I created earlier this week for my youngest son....remember how I shared in my last post about how he has been having a rough summer???? I finally uploaded this photo that I took a few weeks ago when we were ALL having a rough day, and decided that it would look great with an inspirational quote on it, one that lifts him up. He was actually sitting on the rocks next to the St. Croix River in Hastings, MN watching a train cross a bridge.

But he looks so solitary and a little lonely, doesn't he? I think it's a powerful picture, very emotional. It definitely tugs the heart strings, at least for me. I am hoping if you click your mouse on top of the picture it will enlarge for you so you can see it better. The quote says, "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is STRENGTH."

Two more days til D-day. Departure Day. We are all experiencing such a range of emotions here that if one of us looks at the other wrong, we snap. I think each of us just wants the day HERE. NOW. Let's get the ball rolling. Nothing is holding us back but time now. We're ready. Well, I don't think we're "ready" in the "everything's packed" sense of the word, but we're ready emotionally, at least for the actual move. But for the thought of having my first born actually leave home? I'm not sure I'll get my head around that emotionally for a while. I have to be honest and tell you I am sooooooo worried. About everything. Worried that College-Freshman Son is not going to be able to get by without his mom telling him what to do at every juncture. Worried that he won't be able to handle the workload. Worried that his roommate is going to be a crazy druggie who doesn't do anything but party. Worried that College-Freshman Son is going to party. Worried that he won't have any friends. Worried that he is secretly thrilled to be getting out of the house and leaving us. Worried that he'll never come back home.

I know, all irrational fears. I realize we've laid the best foundation for him that we could, and now it's his turn to draw on that foundation to build his new life. We've controlled his life long enough. Now it's his turn to control his own life. And I know he thinks he can do a better job of it than we can (don't they all at this age?). But can he really? I can only pray that what we've given him is enough. He now has to draw on his inner strength and do it himself, with us on the outside ready and willing to help him if he needs it. It's that crazy loss of control that is driving me batty. How did the rest of you moms with college kids give up that control that you've had on their lives for so long? I guess I was more of a control freak than I ever thought I was. Although I secretly think ALL moms are control freaks, because nothing would ever get done if we weren't!

My tummy is in a constant state of upset just thinking about it all the time. I just want the day to be HERE. I want this new chapter in our lives to begin so I can stop worrying. I guess I need to reread the chapter in Matthew (6:25-34) that talks about the fruitlessness of worrying. Verse :34 sums up the chapter the best.....So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Amen.

Hugs,

Amy