Dear Sweet Friends,
I am simply so thankful for the blessing of being mother to Hannah and Justin, without exaggeration the biggest blessing in my life, shared with my best friend: Scott. Thank you to God, from whom all blessings flow.
After the long drive home (45min) from dropping Hannah off at Westmont, during which I sobbed, I went into her empty room and sat on her bed looking around. Although I had walked by this room filled with boxes, packed and ready to go, many times it was now without Hannah. My child was raised, this chapter was over. My sweet girl would no longer live under my roof. Thoughts drifted: Had I done enough, told her enough? Was I a good enough mom? I drifted off to sleep on her bed....
As you moms who have adults in college, this was a rite of passage.
Hours of introspection produced one thought...
Though I wasn't a perfect mom (duh!) I have an amazing relationship with my daughter, and the time serving the Lord together with Hannah in Inspired was a large part. In fact, looking back it was the single BEST thing I did with Hannah, beginning with our writing the book. Why? simply: time, serving others. (Sidenote: I do not write this with pride, there are clearly other ways to spend time together that are wonderful and blessed!)
I do write this however, to encourage you: This matters.
This matters.
Mentoring, hearing amazing speakers, other fabulous spirit filled moms walking beside my daughter, encouragement, crying with my friends, arguing with Hannah over little things, dragging her to a few things, scones, setting up and tearing down~6 hours per time, teenage friends that are a treasure now to her, God: it makes up the fiber of who she is.
This matters.
Dannah Gresh asked Hannah to write about her feelings about "boundaries" and purity for her blog. She did. HER feelings. (I'm a SHOUTY CAPS girl, btw) Wow, I read the two pages of her "boundaries". I cried. My daughter heard, soaked in, understood and has HER own viewpoint of what she will and will not do. When I asked her if she was ok publishing it, she replied a quiet yes mom, It's who I am.
This matters.
When she had a hard time with a personal issue she was crying to me on the phone, quoting back to me a speaker that I didn't even think was that great, almost verbatim. Although she was crying (HARD) I said...Wow, you were listening!!! Not only did she hear all 14 speakers we had before she went off "into the world" she HEARD.
This matters.
She was relating a conversation with her roommates at college, and in her dorm. Very personal stuff...She called me at 11pm (I was of course, asleep) because she had to talk to me: MOM, I love you, you are the best mom. I didn't realize how blessed I was or how hard mother daughter relationships were. I heard so many stories. I told them you were my best friend and I could tell you absolutely everything and everything (TRULY) I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you. (wow, to a moms ears is there anything more golden)
Lastly, this matters for eternity.
She goes to the scriptures for advice. When she is in pain, needs advice, direction: She prays and seeks God's will.
I am grateful for Inspired31.org because it is the fabric (not me, but the other women who make it work: Our Steering) of Inspired women that poured into my daughter and helped God make her into who she is today.
Thank you. This mattered to me. This mattered to Hannah.
You matter. Your daughter matters. To me. To Inspired. To God.
Will you consider joining us for the retreat.
Sheri is offering $45 valued DVD on mother daughter relationships if you register in the next 3 days! FREE.
We are keeping $99. rate until Dec. 24
What better gift could you give your family, than the investment in your relationship?
I can't think of one!
With love, from the depths of my heart,
Roxanne
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