Decision day is approaching. Decisions about the future. The process as a bystander in this college quagmire has been disappointing, and that's being generous. My heart has broken more times than I want to admit over the past 6 months and its not over--sending a child away is not easy. I've already done this once. Part of me has already begun the grieving process. It doesn't really matter to me where I send my nestlings, it hurts to see them go.
Making decisions that affect your future are never easy. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Especially when you truly love people. Especially when you have dreams that you believe are good and right dreams but did not turn out exactly the way you thought and then someone says to you...
"God has a plan".
Really?
Well, God, I'm not so sure about this. Not At All. Because everything has been done on this end for a long time. Obviously we are failing sinners daily, meaning, mistakes and sometimes not always the wisest choices are made, but every single day we are doing are absolutely best. I'm just wondering how you are going to show up and...
~pay for this one
~fix this test
~honor this commitment
~heal this heart, soul, gut, back, leg, foot~~~ you get the picture.
When you watch someone you love suffer, whether it be physically or emotionally or both, and you can do nothing? Of course I've prayed, that's a given.
You begin to really wonder... God, do you give a shit?
Really?
And, yes, I've said that to God. And yes, even dropped the F bomb for the very first time in my life with God. Because
I've entered into a season in my spiritual journey where:
1. I'm raw
2. I've lost faith at times
3. I question
Very Very huge admittance for this rule following legalist.
And God knows it. And if hes God, the spirit will have to handle it.
Right God?
I've discovered its absolutely amazing what we can be going through internally and still...
~go back to work
~host parties, and I mean good ones.
~host holiday full family meals in all the regal-ness that entails.
~travel to Boston, DC, NY, FL, CT (Yale), Boston..again (Harvard) just to name a few places in amongst the summer travels to the beach, ocean, family, work, daily errands that bore us all to tears.
~have a 5 year old who started kindergarten, going through those emotions of letting go and doing this thing called 13 grades all over again
~becoming a grand parent
~lets not forget, planning a wedding, bridal shower, grad party, & prom celebration in oh, about 4 short months not too long ago, accepting my first born being gone for good.
~babysitting
~cooking, cleaning, buying all presents for all holidays for 7 people, wrapping all said presents, (ok, did not realize until this Christmas what a feat that actually is!!!.....oh, and stocking stuffers, making 2 new stockings for the newest additions).
These are only a couple of things I've been up to.....
No wonder I feel as if some days I'm off kilter.
And the days when people are not happy, because there is never a day when all goes smoothly. If there has been, I've written about it in either my journal or shared it on facebook.
Is it any wonder in the midst of all this I spend time simply begging God for some presence? Some truth? Some understanding? Some wisdom? Some Grace? God please show up?
I can't tell you how many times I've prayed that in the past 6 months. And a scant few times I've felt like I was heard, but mostly I've been disappointed with the outcomes of my prayers.
I'm just being honest God.
So, where does this leave me?
I can't give up my faith. It's too much a part of my being. I've lived with God far too long to give up completely.
So I call it a "journey". A polite way of saying-this sucks right now.
Its like 2 a.m. in the van on the way to Florida and I'm thinking... WTH....why are we doing this? But when we arrive in Florida at the timeshare, it's like---AHHHHHHH----GLORIOUS!!!The condo, the pool, the weather, the people, GLORIOUS.
I'm waiting for the AHHHHHH GLORIOUS!
With God, at the end of this 2a.m. ride called life right now.
I'm holding out for the glorious destiny.
I've grown faint, but I'm not giving up the race.
I'm trusting for that exceeding abundance that will be more than I hoped for or dreamed of, for me, for my husband, for ALL my kids, but especially currently for my dear dear daughter,
Elizabeth Grace.
But its 2a.m.--and I'm trapped in the van, knowing the end is in sight, but disliking this leg of the "journey".
My prayer today is as always for myself, my husband, and the children:
Protect Us
Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, Intellectually. Keep us from harm. Keep us safe. And please show up in tangible ways that there is no mistake its you working for our good.
Amen&Amen.
Much love from my open heart to yours.
Julie
Friday, April 29, 2016
Friday, March 4, 2016
I'm a Trusting Person
I will bring you hope and a future.
I know your comings and your goings. I know what is about to be said before your say it. I am protecting you when you don't even know it. I love you.
May they be strengthened, may their love be deep. May they be blessed exceedingly abundantly more than we could hope for or know.
May you run on the wind like an eagle. May you always soar in whatever you do. May you not grow faint or weary. Always know, you are loved with an unimaginable love, from both your Fathers. xoxo
Your union is sacred. Marriage is sacred. Plans for you, hope for you, a everlasting future for you.
As Carl and I talked recently on the coach one night we came to the conclusion. We are very trusting of others, but how much do we really trust God? We have trusted the young men in our homes to love and care and honor and respect our daughters, to be faithful only to these jewels of ours. We have trusted Daniel's kindergarten teacher to care, educate, and nurture him. We trust our employers to pay us every 2 weeks. We trust our lights will come on because we pay the bills. We trust our coffee pot each morning to give us our delicious daily drink. We trust that our cars will start each morning and get us to where we need to go.
But how much have we trusted God with things we have no answer for?
I especially am always wanting to get to the other side of:
graduation
the wedding
the pregnancy
college apps
work day
to the next pay ck
to be on vacation in Florida in April
the summer
the winter
the fall
mud season
Just to name a few things...
because I want to know.
I want to know how it all turns out and I hate the wait...HATE THE WAIT.
The waiting makes me nervous, yes, I know that's a choice...
the waiting requires trust. Trust in things I cannot see, feel, hear, touch, or taste.
Even though, Ive been reassured through all those words above, under all those beautiful pictures, of all those beautiful people I love more than life. I get anxious about the future.
Today, Today, I will trust. I may not feel it.
But I am going to start doing it. This trust thing.
Trusting in the fact that I know God knows. He loves more than I can even imagine. And when I sit back and look over the next year, I will be amazed. I will look back on this blog post, and here that still small voice...."See I told you so....please, TRUST ME."
I'm not alone.
Much Love to you all,
Blessed this morning.
Trusting this morning.
Jewels .... as the hubster calls me.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
The Best Things About....
Carl and I had the chance to attend a performance last night at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono to see one of our all time favorite comedians, Steven Wright. He's a dry humorist, you must listen closely at times to what he says, and he's got THIS VOICE...its the Steven Wright voice, his signature. And he's a riot, and he's slightly inappropriate, and that just makes him all the more funny.
When I met my husband I was 18. Somewhat naive, but not stupidly so. Innocent in a way, but not new to the rodeo of dating. I was a flirt, he was charming. We danced until 1a.m., and he tells me, after he questioned me as to what I was doing and I said I was going to be an Education Major in the fall, he was basically sold on Julie Erb. He said he always wanted to marry a teacher because he was going to be a math teacher and he wanted our time to be spent together, and when he had kids, he wanted to spend time with them and his wife as a family. Yup, that party frat boy knew what he wanted his life to look like when he grew up. And, he says, I was gorgeous and funny, and well, that about sealed the deal for him that night.
As we walked across that very same campus last night that we both attended together all our academic lives I had this bubble of happiness well up in me. There really is nothing I have not shared with this man. We even recreated a Prom experience when he was student teaching where we dressed up and chaperoned a Brewer Prom so that we could say we had the best prom night ever... and it was so much fun. We went to class together, shared a car together, lived on campus together for a year, (LONG ENOUGH), we worked in the same mall together, we studied the same field of work together, shared the same philosophies on educating children together. He will tell you I had a much better study/work ethic than he did. He procrastinated, and I plugged away every single day, but we both graduated. We married, we lived together, we spent hours on Sunday afternoons chilling out together after our one good meal a week at my mothers house happened. Those Sunday afternoons cured what ailed us after a long week of school and work.
I love our story. I love that we traveled together. We drove everywhere we wanted to go. Before children, we always went to Boston for First Night on New Years Eve. We always went away every single year for our anniversary to the White Mountains, then to Canada on a whim to stay at different bed&breakfasts, visiting all sorts of cool places. I was 40 before we made our first trip to Florida as a family. I remember thinking, and saying, Thank You so much for always making this life possible. We've been to NYC multiple times with the girls, to Williamsburg VA. We love Boston, but DC is my favorite city, Carl's too, all that history. We love it.
Last night made me remember our beginnings. And all the best things about that beginning. All those shared experiences. All those memories.
Thank You Steven Wright for your humor. And returning to a place that Carl and I could go to and experience just a little bit of nostalga.
We have both changed and grown up just a little since that time walking around UMaine campus. But, we are still Carl&Julie. We are still those kids who love each other madly, even though we don't have the same amount of time we used to get to spend together. I mean, we were basically inseparable. That time grew our roots. Those early years, all that time together, at young ages, created a bond that could not be broken, for any reason. I'm so grateful now for that time together. And, I would have loved it to have started sooner...
Remember the good times today, and Create more good times in the now.
I know I plan to.
Much Love from our nest to yours.
Sincerely,
Julie Robbins
When I met my husband I was 18. Somewhat naive, but not stupidly so. Innocent in a way, but not new to the rodeo of dating. I was a flirt, he was charming. We danced until 1a.m., and he tells me, after he questioned me as to what I was doing and I said I was going to be an Education Major in the fall, he was basically sold on Julie Erb. He said he always wanted to marry a teacher because he was going to be a math teacher and he wanted our time to be spent together, and when he had kids, he wanted to spend time with them and his wife as a family. Yup, that party frat boy knew what he wanted his life to look like when he grew up. And, he says, I was gorgeous and funny, and well, that about sealed the deal for him that night.
As we walked across that very same campus last night that we both attended together all our academic lives I had this bubble of happiness well up in me. There really is nothing I have not shared with this man. We even recreated a Prom experience when he was student teaching where we dressed up and chaperoned a Brewer Prom so that we could say we had the best prom night ever... and it was so much fun. We went to class together, shared a car together, lived on campus together for a year, (LONG ENOUGH), we worked in the same mall together, we studied the same field of work together, shared the same philosophies on educating children together. He will tell you I had a much better study/work ethic than he did. He procrastinated, and I plugged away every single day, but we both graduated. We married, we lived together, we spent hours on Sunday afternoons chilling out together after our one good meal a week at my mothers house happened. Those Sunday afternoons cured what ailed us after a long week of school and work.
I love our story. I love that we traveled together. We drove everywhere we wanted to go. Before children, we always went to Boston for First Night on New Years Eve. We always went away every single year for our anniversary to the White Mountains, then to Canada on a whim to stay at different bed&breakfasts, visiting all sorts of cool places. I was 40 before we made our first trip to Florida as a family. I remember thinking, and saying, Thank You so much for always making this life possible. We've been to NYC multiple times with the girls, to Williamsburg VA. We love Boston, but DC is my favorite city, Carl's too, all that history. We love it.
Last night made me remember our beginnings. And all the best things about that beginning. All those shared experiences. All those memories.
Thank You Steven Wright for your humor. And returning to a place that Carl and I could go to and experience just a little bit of nostalga.
We have both changed and grown up just a little since that time walking around UMaine campus. But, we are still Carl&Julie. We are still those kids who love each other madly, even though we don't have the same amount of time we used to get to spend together. I mean, we were basically inseparable. That time grew our roots. Those early years, all that time together, at young ages, created a bond that could not be broken, for any reason. I'm so grateful now for that time together. And, I would have loved it to have started sooner...
Remember the good times today, and Create more good times in the now.
I know I plan to.
Much Love from our nest to yours.
Sincerely,
Julie Robbins
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Psalm 139....for my clan.
When you walk into my home I have a bulletin board that I filled this fall with some of the people I love the most along with scriptures I feel pertains to them and covers them with blessings. Psalm 139 is a universal scripture that runs along the side of the bulletin board for all of us in this nest. This morning I was reading Psalm 139 as part of my morning reading of a devotional and verses 15 & 16 spoke to me in a way that I sensed God. For Real.
My journal entry as follows:
10/26/15 Tuesday
Psalm 139: 15 - 16.
You have seen everything before it happened. You knew my daughter's body. You know how it was formed. You knew the intricate delicacies of her unformed beginnings.
You Knew.
You Know.
So please- help us to know what to do to help her here on earth. Because I feel inadequate when she's in pain. I don't know what to do. I'm guessing and trying and trusting others.
You know when teeth and bones decay. You know when minds begin to forget. You know when we are about to give birth.
You, as God, already saw it happening.
Please teach me how to respond. Help me to fully understand and trust how much you already know and have planned for each one of us.
What it will be like to live debt free..You already have seen it.
What will it look like to watch another child get married. Done. And You already know the date.
When will this grandbaby come? You have already seen this child's face while being knit together in her mother's womb.
Who will be there for the son in our old age? Will we be alive to share as much life as possible with this love child of older age? You already know and have seen and will be caring for this sweet son.
If, as God, you know. My requests seem almost silly.
But.
I will request, because I don't know. And I'm doing my best to trust, be engaged in the present, planning for the future as well as I humanely know how.
I continue to request:
Health for my children.
Beautiful, Loving, marriages for each one of them.
Success that uses their gifts.
Protection from anyone who tires to bring ruin or destruction upon their lives.
That all of us would be protected spiritually, physically, relationally, emotionally.
As I pray for and love on these people you have blessed me with, I also ask for your guidance continually for me. For my health, spiritual and physical. For strength during the many changes that always seem to be happening. And for an over flowing abundance of Grace and Forgiveness as I daily am choosing to do my best, but maybe does not look like I am.
Thank you God, in Advance.
Because You already know it all anyway.
Love, Julie
Blessed Daily even when I need a root canal (2) and I have a flat tire. Because, God, you already knew those things were going to happen, and so, in the midst of my crazy, I will trust you.
My journal entry as follows:
10/26/15 Tuesday
Psalm 139: 15 - 16.
You have seen everything before it happened. You knew my daughter's body. You know how it was formed. You knew the intricate delicacies of her unformed beginnings.
You Knew.
You Know.
So please- help us to know what to do to help her here on earth. Because I feel inadequate when she's in pain. I don't know what to do. I'm guessing and trying and trusting others.
You know when teeth and bones decay. You know when minds begin to forget. You know when we are about to give birth.
You, as God, already saw it happening.
Please teach me how to respond. Help me to fully understand and trust how much you already know and have planned for each one of us.
What it will be like to live debt free..You already have seen it.
What will it look like to watch another child get married. Done. And You already know the date.
When will this grandbaby come? You have already seen this child's face while being knit together in her mother's womb.
Who will be there for the son in our old age? Will we be alive to share as much life as possible with this love child of older age? You already know and have seen and will be caring for this sweet son.
If, as God, you know. My requests seem almost silly.
But.
I will request, because I don't know. And I'm doing my best to trust, be engaged in the present, planning for the future as well as I humanely know how.
I continue to request:
Health for my children.
Beautiful, Loving, marriages for each one of them.
Success that uses their gifts.
Protection from anyone who tires to bring ruin or destruction upon their lives.
That all of us would be protected spiritually, physically, relationally, emotionally.
As I pray for and love on these people you have blessed me with, I also ask for your guidance continually for me. For my health, spiritual and physical. For strength during the many changes that always seem to be happening. And for an over flowing abundance of Grace and Forgiveness as I daily am choosing to do my best, but maybe does not look like I am.
Thank you God, in Advance.
Because You already know it all anyway.
Love, Julie
Blessed Daily even when I need a root canal (2) and I have a flat tire. Because, God, you already knew those things were going to happen, and so, in the midst of my crazy, I will trust you.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
One Hour
We sang this in church this morning. Take a listen to Fernando's rendition of it on UTube. Love.
I love to wander.
I have this desire to go. To leave. To travel and to try new things. To meet new people. To find something more interesting, newer, different. And, there is nothing wrong with that.
But, I am prone to neglect the things I love, along with neglecting myself.
Not on purpose, per say. Very unintentionally, really. But in my effort or desire to think I need something more... something new...something more interesting...I begin to search for "that" instead of recognizing what I already have.
And then I get this text from my husband, while he's serving at church, and I have already gone and come home.
"Thinking of you as I take communion. You are intertwined in my concept of Jesus and every communion I dwell on you as my love as I also listen and think on the elements of communion. I love you dear."
My response? "God has blessed me with you. You are my Jesus in flesh every day."
Lord, help my wander lust. Help me when I feel bored with this life. Let me know, I don't need more people, places, or things. You have already given me all I need. My purpose is clearly before me.
I am grateful today for my one hour a week at church.
To some, that does not sound like much. It sounds like you are barely trying. Sitting in a chair for 1 hour a week. That's not much of a sacrifice of time and how can one possibly get anything important for life in only one hour?
My One Hour reminded me today of my humanness.
of what is most important.
of whom I love.
of my wander lust.
of my prone nature to do things that may not be beneficial to those I love the most.
of my need to refocus.
of the wonderful opportunity I have to sit DOWN for one hour next to people I love, and listen to my pastor's heart, and his dreams for his flock.
One Hour can make a difference.
"Little is much, when God is in it.... labor not for wealth or fame...." a little hymn from childhood, in a church, I spent many One Hours in.
I love my One Hour on Sundays. I miss my One Hour when I am away. Thank you to all that make these One Hours happen. You are making a difference in my life.
Sincerely,
from the Nest,
Julie (who loves her 1 hour.)
Sunday, August 30, 2015
A Kindergartener, A Senior, A Grand Mother....
I JUST read a post about a very sweet dear gal who was trying to deal with the fact that her son would be attending Kindergarten this week...I read her post and began to tear up.
I have been in denial that I have also reached the point of my son attending school. I just realized this morning as I awoke that it was THIS TUESDAY he was going to school, not next Tuesday...denial much?
In addition to my Mt. of D'enial I have a lovely daughter who will be a Senior. She already has big plans for June 13th, 2016, which I believe is the day after graduation... LOL... she's a planner. I have told myself already, she will be out of state. I won't see her until Thanksgiving. then Christmas for a month, then possibly again in May when college is over, but who knows? She may stay where she's landed and work and begin her brand new life seperate from us, me, Mom. I tell myself I am okay with all of this. I say its normal. I tell anyone who will listen, let them go when they begin high school, you are SUPPOSE to be transitioning out of their lives... SUPPOSE TO!!! She's strong, independent, knows what and whom she wants, its extremely clear about how she wants her life to go. After a lengthy conversation last night about commitments, her relationship, how she views life, etc. At first I wanted to cry, because I thought, she's so different than me, but then I thought, no she's NOT. She's actually much like me. A lot like me, actually. Her honesty, her love, her fierce reasoning, her sass, strength, loyalty, supportive nature, all will bode well in her future endeavors, and I seriously can barely wait to see it all play out.
My lovely title of Gram to be bestowed on or around November 20th is almost unbelievable. I see the belly of my daughter growing, and I still don't believe it. I see the ultrasound picture, and I'm like, is this real?? How?? And then I have these moments of absolutely knowing she will be fine. And I wish I could do it for her...and that's when my Mt. of D'enial has to come down. I told someone recently, if I could go through labor for my daughters, I would, so they would not have to feel pain. The idea of my kids in pain, whether it be heartbreak or body breaking pain from a back surgery, or living in pain because of a back surgery, or going through labor, and giving birth pain, just about does this momma in. I would endure anything for them, ANYTHING.... yup, Mt. of D'enial must come down.
After a recent message at church I felt led to create a space with pictures of my family with verses attached to said pictures on a bulletin board as you walk into my home. Its actually quite nice. I'm still working on it, as I have several pictures I want to add to the collage. At one point in my reading of the quotes I have next to each picture, I felt this nudging in my spirit. Like this small voice that said, I had you do this for you, so YOU would be reminded daily, I've got these people you love more than anything in this world in the palm of my hand. Their futures, their hopes, their dreams, their destinies. COVERED. Thanks God. I do need to be reminded daily. Hourly. Moment by moment, at times. I do not need your worry, or control, or tears, or stress. Take your own advice, Let Them Go.
This growing up parenting is far more challenging. I will confess. The letting go? Very Hard. Waiting to get to the other side of the next 6 months? Mind numbingly crazy. Seeing my grand girl after she's been born? You mean I just have to WAIT for all these things to play out??? GAH. Talk about trusting. Talk about letting that need for control and predictability to make my days go well? Gone. or that need needs to get Gone.
So, as you engage with your littles, let me tell you this. There will be things you miss, and there will be things you don't miss. And as they grow, and meet people whom they love, oh, that is THE BEST part about parenting growing up children. When your family expands? THE BEST.
But, the only way all the good happens is for them to grow up, leave the nest, begin their own journeys, whether that be the first day of Kindergarten, Senior year, College, Marriage, New State, Baby, or Traveling to far away places, and you miss them terribly when they go. But, its the only way for them to get to where God wants them to be. To Leave you.
On Tuesday, I begin another Letting Go Journey.
Jeremiah 29:11 tells me God already has big plans. I just need to keep praying and he will draw near to me, help me to let go, support, love, and encourage. I do want to do well with that!!!
Love to you all,
From this changing Nest to yours.
I have been in denial that I have also reached the point of my son attending school. I just realized this morning as I awoke that it was THIS TUESDAY he was going to school, not next Tuesday...denial much?
In addition to my Mt. of D'enial I have a lovely daughter who will be a Senior. She already has big plans for June 13th, 2016, which I believe is the day after graduation... LOL... she's a planner. I have told myself already, she will be out of state. I won't see her until Thanksgiving. then Christmas for a month, then possibly again in May when college is over, but who knows? She may stay where she's landed and work and begin her brand new life seperate from us, me, Mom. I tell myself I am okay with all of this. I say its normal. I tell anyone who will listen, let them go when they begin high school, you are SUPPOSE to be transitioning out of their lives... SUPPOSE TO!!! She's strong, independent, knows what and whom she wants, its extremely clear about how she wants her life to go. After a lengthy conversation last night about commitments, her relationship, how she views life, etc. At first I wanted to cry, because I thought, she's so different than me, but then I thought, no she's NOT. She's actually much like me. A lot like me, actually. Her honesty, her love, her fierce reasoning, her sass, strength, loyalty, supportive nature, all will bode well in her future endeavors, and I seriously can barely wait to see it all play out.
My lovely title of Gram to be bestowed on or around November 20th is almost unbelievable. I see the belly of my daughter growing, and I still don't believe it. I see the ultrasound picture, and I'm like, is this real?? How?? And then I have these moments of absolutely knowing she will be fine. And I wish I could do it for her...and that's when my Mt. of D'enial has to come down. I told someone recently, if I could go through labor for my daughters, I would, so they would not have to feel pain. The idea of my kids in pain, whether it be heartbreak or body breaking pain from a back surgery, or living in pain because of a back surgery, or going through labor, and giving birth pain, just about does this momma in. I would endure anything for them, ANYTHING.... yup, Mt. of D'enial must come down.
After a recent message at church I felt led to create a space with pictures of my family with verses attached to said pictures on a bulletin board as you walk into my home. Its actually quite nice. I'm still working on it, as I have several pictures I want to add to the collage. At one point in my reading of the quotes I have next to each picture, I felt this nudging in my spirit. Like this small voice that said, I had you do this for you, so YOU would be reminded daily, I've got these people you love more than anything in this world in the palm of my hand. Their futures, their hopes, their dreams, their destinies. COVERED. Thanks God. I do need to be reminded daily. Hourly. Moment by moment, at times. I do not need your worry, or control, or tears, or stress. Take your own advice, Let Them Go.
This growing up parenting is far more challenging. I will confess. The letting go? Very Hard. Waiting to get to the other side of the next 6 months? Mind numbingly crazy. Seeing my grand girl after she's been born? You mean I just have to WAIT for all these things to play out??? GAH. Talk about trusting. Talk about letting that need for control and predictability to make my days go well? Gone. or that need needs to get Gone.
So, as you engage with your littles, let me tell you this. There will be things you miss, and there will be things you don't miss. And as they grow, and meet people whom they love, oh, that is THE BEST part about parenting growing up children. When your family expands? THE BEST.
But, the only way all the good happens is for them to grow up, leave the nest, begin their own journeys, whether that be the first day of Kindergarten, Senior year, College, Marriage, New State, Baby, or Traveling to far away places, and you miss them terribly when they go. But, its the only way for them to get to where God wants them to be. To Leave you.
On Tuesday, I begin another Letting Go Journey.
Jeremiah 29:11 tells me God already has big plans. I just need to keep praying and he will draw near to me, help me to let go, support, love, and encourage. I do want to do well with that!!!
Love to you all,
From this changing Nest to yours.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
My Top 5 Places on Earth
I spent a glorious day yesterday with a new friend and her two children. She mentioned to me she wanted to go to Popham Beach, had never been, and was looking for something to do this past Saturday. I made a post on facebook, she said, "Lets do it.", and away we went with her children, myself, and Daniel. I have always said Popham Beach was my favorite place on earth, introduced to us years ago when the girls were babies, by our dear family friend, Bill Cumming.
I began thinking about my Top 5 Favorite places on earth and Why they are my favorite places.
1. Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg, Maine. We were introduced to this beautiful ocean in Maine by our dear family friend, Bill Cumming upon his return to the Pine Tree State. I remember our first visit, being in awe of the ocean. I remember Bill telling me its where he came to feel connected to God. At the time, I did not connect to that concept, some 18 years ago, but I do now. I said to my friend Lisa, I feel the most peaceful near water, specifically the ocean. The predictability of it, the sound of it, the feel of it, the smell of the air, the sand on my feet. The calm of Lisa and I sitting in our camp chairs, watching the children play, eating grapes and Nilla wafers. The utter simpleness of that moment. I told her, this is a place I feel God. I don't think I can adequately explain the feeling, but its my place. I think it would be nice and good and right if everyone could find their "place" they connected with God. Popham Beach is one of my places of connectedness to the Creator.
2. The Declaration of Independence. I remember the first time Carl and I went to see The Declaration of Independence at the Capitol in Washington D.C. I believe the girls were ages 7 and 9 years old. We went into the room where it was and there was a hush in the room. A reverence I will never forget. The girls stilled themselves all on their own, I believe realizing the serious nature of what we were able to view. Connecting with the history of our country. Another God moment, really. Afterwards Carl and I shared the same exact feeling. That was a "communion moment". Carl responded, I know, I felt it. Like we are connected to the ages, a sacred document, a sacred experience. Exactly. Absolutely sacred.
3. Camp Wakonda. I am not even sure where this camp is located, but it was my childhood camp and I know it was located in Maine in the boondocks..(If you are not a Mainer, you do not know what "boondocks" are, suffice to say, for Non Mainers..."the middle of nowhere"). I began attending this camp at age 10, and continued all the way up through my teen years. As an adult, and well into our married years, Carl and I worked at this camp, volunteering our time as camp counselors. I looked forward to this camp every single year. My Dad would give me $100 every Christmas, along with a pair of flannel pajamas, and I would save that $100 because I knew camp cost $80 for the week, and I knew my mom could not pay for both of us to go to camp, so I saved that money each year so I could go to camp. This place was key to my emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual development, oh and of course, relational developments.... LOL.... ;) who can forget Faith McClesh chasing us out of the bushes at teen camp with that flash light of hers..... get to your cabins, ladies..... I got engaged at this camp. It was a lovely day. Many a lovely memory, many!
4. The Woodward Inn. White Mt. of New Hampshire. Carl and I went here on our honeymoon, and returned to this spot every single anniversary weekend for years. I remember the night we spent after we got married in a Portland, Maine hotel. It was horrid. The bed was a rock, and we had no idea how to operate this very very very cold blowing air conditioner, and I forgot to eat that whole day, and I had no idea why I had such a headache. BUT the minute we got to the Woodward Inn, it was awesome!!!!! The food at the inn was scrumptious, the mountain setting, the room, the pool and hot tub, and of course, Carl was always engaging and funny, and it was wonderful that we got to go away. I would love to go back to that place some day and bring all the children. So many good memories of times spent during our pre-children years. I loved the way we always celebrated that special day of May 20, 1989. First Best Day of My Life. My marriage.
5. My Home. My home over the years has been many places. 818 Ohio Street apt 6 and 34, Littlefield Ave in Hermon, behind Dysarts, the corner of Birch and Howard street in Bangor, Milo, Maine, 15 Third Street, Howland, Maine. And finally..... 168 Leighton Street. The one constant in all these places has been my husband, Carl Robbins. So, I guess, my "home" is where ever he has been, and though we never plan on moving again! (THANK GOD!!). If we ever had to move, as long as he was with me, I would be fine, I would be happy, it would be "home". I love my children and whom they bring into our lives, but they have their own lives, or will, and will have their "homes". I'm glad my home is with Carl. For all our short comings, and disagreements at times, we bring each other a stability and joy no one else can. I love you my dear. xoxoxo, The Wifey. Thank you for always making our houses and apartments "home" with your presence.
Love to you all, and wouldn't it be fun if you could list your top 5?
Blessed in the Nest.
Happy Summer Day.
Julie.
I began thinking about my Top 5 Favorite places on earth and Why they are my favorite places.
1. Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg, Maine. We were introduced to this beautiful ocean in Maine by our dear family friend, Bill Cumming upon his return to the Pine Tree State. I remember our first visit, being in awe of the ocean. I remember Bill telling me its where he came to feel connected to God. At the time, I did not connect to that concept, some 18 years ago, but I do now. I said to my friend Lisa, I feel the most peaceful near water, specifically the ocean. The predictability of it, the sound of it, the feel of it, the smell of the air, the sand on my feet. The calm of Lisa and I sitting in our camp chairs, watching the children play, eating grapes and Nilla wafers. The utter simpleness of that moment. I told her, this is a place I feel God. I don't think I can adequately explain the feeling, but its my place. I think it would be nice and good and right if everyone could find their "place" they connected with God. Popham Beach is one of my places of connectedness to the Creator.
2. The Declaration of Independence. I remember the first time Carl and I went to see The Declaration of Independence at the Capitol in Washington D.C. I believe the girls were ages 7 and 9 years old. We went into the room where it was and there was a hush in the room. A reverence I will never forget. The girls stilled themselves all on their own, I believe realizing the serious nature of what we were able to view. Connecting with the history of our country. Another God moment, really. Afterwards Carl and I shared the same exact feeling. That was a "communion moment". Carl responded, I know, I felt it. Like we are connected to the ages, a sacred document, a sacred experience. Exactly. Absolutely sacred.
3. Camp Wakonda. I am not even sure where this camp is located, but it was my childhood camp and I know it was located in Maine in the boondocks..(If you are not a Mainer, you do not know what "boondocks" are, suffice to say, for Non Mainers..."the middle of nowhere"). I began attending this camp at age 10, and continued all the way up through my teen years. As an adult, and well into our married years, Carl and I worked at this camp, volunteering our time as camp counselors. I looked forward to this camp every single year. My Dad would give me $100 every Christmas, along with a pair of flannel pajamas, and I would save that $100 because I knew camp cost $80 for the week, and I knew my mom could not pay for both of us to go to camp, so I saved that money each year so I could go to camp. This place was key to my emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual development, oh and of course, relational developments.... LOL.... ;) who can forget Faith McClesh chasing us out of the bushes at teen camp with that flash light of hers..... get to your cabins, ladies..... I got engaged at this camp. It was a lovely day. Many a lovely memory, many!
4. The Woodward Inn. White Mt. of New Hampshire. Carl and I went here on our honeymoon, and returned to this spot every single anniversary weekend for years. I remember the night we spent after we got married in a Portland, Maine hotel. It was horrid. The bed was a rock, and we had no idea how to operate this very very very cold blowing air conditioner, and I forgot to eat that whole day, and I had no idea why I had such a headache. BUT the minute we got to the Woodward Inn, it was awesome!!!!! The food at the inn was scrumptious, the mountain setting, the room, the pool and hot tub, and of course, Carl was always engaging and funny, and it was wonderful that we got to go away. I would love to go back to that place some day and bring all the children. So many good memories of times spent during our pre-children years. I loved the way we always celebrated that special day of May 20, 1989. First Best Day of My Life. My marriage.
5. My Home. My home over the years has been many places. 818 Ohio Street apt 6 and 34, Littlefield Ave in Hermon, behind Dysarts, the corner of Birch and Howard street in Bangor, Milo, Maine, 15 Third Street, Howland, Maine. And finally..... 168 Leighton Street. The one constant in all these places has been my husband, Carl Robbins. So, I guess, my "home" is where ever he has been, and though we never plan on moving again! (THANK GOD!!). If we ever had to move, as long as he was with me, I would be fine, I would be happy, it would be "home". I love my children and whom they bring into our lives, but they have their own lives, or will, and will have their "homes". I'm glad my home is with Carl. For all our short comings, and disagreements at times, we bring each other a stability and joy no one else can. I love you my dear. xoxoxo, The Wifey. Thank you for always making our houses and apartments "home" with your presence.
Love to you all, and wouldn't it be fun if you could list your top 5?
Blessed in the Nest.
Happy Summer Day.
Julie.
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