I’ve decided not to do my L.I.S.T. for October – I want to reflect on a few things and who better to reflect with than you, my faithful readers and friends! October was a month of Learning, Inspiring, Soul-satisfying Things; however, I want to be a bit more serious about my sharing because it’s possible other’s can relate.
First things first. I ♥ October. Every.single.thing.about.it.
Until five years ago.
On a beautiful, normal, sunny, “October-is-my-favorite-color-kind-of-day,” my mother, 86+ years old set out to the hair salon to have her bi-weekly ‘do! Thirty-six hours later, she entered into the gates of heaven.
I’m not going to re-hash this story BUT FINALLY my mid-September funk has been identified! On October 27th as my sister, cousins, and I group-texted from 7 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. the Holy Spirit light bulb shined on me! We were texting fond memories of our mother, grandmother and then at 7:29 the posts got serious because you see THAT was the very minute Teresa Marie Savard Chamberlain had her breath taken away by the God of the Universe! Our text chat ended and I sat there.
R E L I E V E D.
And THAT was my a-ha, Holy Ghost moment.
O! My sweet Jesus – there it was. The conundrum solved. Let me share:
In 2012, we had a 36-hour window to process the obvious fact that our Mother was going to die and I believe come mid-September I began living/grieving her pending death. And, when 7:29 a.m. October 27th arrived I sensed a relief of sorts – it was tangible for me this year. I even said, “Now I can move forward – Mother’s gone.” Not sure how September 2018 will find me but I am hoping and believing for freedom from the funk!
Other than “THIS” we had a blessed October, including: my birthday, an outdoor wedding on a perfect Fall day, our new Pastor stepped into his role at church, Write 31 Days and Haiku, hubs’ cousins’ reunion, and the most marvelous time of all – a mini-vacay on Bald Head Island a/k/a Paradise. It is the first time I actually felt sadness leaving a place as I sat on the ferry, positioned the phone for a selfie, and headed back to the mainland and reality (photo above).
The pics below are just a sampling of the glorious time we had on BHI! Thanks for the ramble – you all make writing a healing balm!
The picture of us is at the October 14th wedding. The circled cloud is from a sunrise look-about on BHI – it looked just like an angelic being in flight – it really was incredible!
The ocean and dunes were magnificent. As we left the ferry in the golf cart (no vehicles allowed on BHI) the first to greet us? A zillion Monarch butterflies on the Cosmos. It was Butterfly Paradise!
The gorgeous sunrise and the Bald Head Island Lighthouse “Old Baldie.”
Our friends and innkeepers David and Cheri Miller. What a blessing these two are!
That’s it y’all. October 2017 is a wrap! xo
This week I’ll be linking up with:
- Inspire Me Monday
- Glimpses of His Beauty
- God Sized Dreams
- Jennifer Dukes Lee
- Tea and Word
- Seeking God
- Porch Stories
- Coffee for Your Heart
- Tune In Tuesday
- Heart Encouragement
- Dance With Jesus
- Fresh Market Friday
- Thought Provoking Friday
- Counting My Blessings
Look at you go girl. November 1st and already, your 31 days book is on the market!
I find it interesting that you identified your September funk and I pray that this will be the end of it. Life events have more impact on us than we realize don’t they?
BHI looks glorious. I sure enjoyed your pictures from your trip there. Is this a possible retirement destination for you? You do know the significance of butterflies don’t you? 😉
Happy October. I will try to be as energetic as you and get my month(s) in review up this week.
Blessings friend,
PK
Life events surely do. BHI was paradise – no we are not retiring there unless we win the lottery of which we don’t play. LOL!!!
Love your obedience to listen to the Holy Spirit! Loved this post!
Love you more!
XO
Tammy
I learned the hard way NOT obeying His still small voice!
That was a good time chatting and sharing about Mother. We will always miss her, want to call her and ask her “Ma, do you remember…”
And I believe we will always celebrate that time on that day but hopefully it will a joy next year and not a burden.
Abiding in Him!
Sestra
It really was a healing moment.
I love the way you write, blessings to you x
You are kind, Rachel.
Wonderful that you’ve identified the source of your funk — and these are cautionary words for me to keep in mind for next year. I always enjoy your looking back over the month posts.
Michele, yes because losing our Mums have many parallels. xo
Beautiful photos, and wonderful thoughts from the Holy Spirit here! He is so good to reveal truth to us, isn’t He? Praying much blessing for you going forward from here!
Thank you Bettie – that means a lot to me.
Susan, grief does have a calendar. Days leading up to the heaven day of our loved one bring memories, and we look back with tears. One of the first steps of knowing we are moving forward from mourning to joy (as GriefShare calls it), is understanding where the funk starts. Your family texting is a beautiful way to support and comfort one another as you remember the legacy of your mom. ((Hugs))
“Grief does have a calendar.” Oh I like that, Debbie.
I can not yet fathom how I will handle when the day comes for my own mom to pass. We are so close. I like what Debbie said about the calendar though. Being able to read of other’s experiences can help in a way because it sheds light and shows hope when it can be hard to wrap our heads around the possibility of it. I love your pictures! You look like you had a glorious time!! I do hope we can meet one day. I count you a friend, friend! Here’s to new seasons and freedom and peace.
Don’t even “go there.” Grace will be available when Grace is needed.
Sometimes the one thing we have to do before moving forward is to ‘go back.’ Like you found, there’s sometimes something that has us tethered, and until we can identify it, process it and let it go, we cant ever really go on. Thanks and blessings on your family!
Yes. Now to move forward. xo
Isn’t it so amazing how God has wired our brains/hearts to be sensitive–even when we do not see it–to the memories our hearts hold dear, Susan?! I know of many people who face similar milestones or thresholds in a year or period of a year and it takes them years, like you, to identify what made them so sad during that time. I’m so glad God helped you to figure this mystery out and to truly move on. After all, I’m sure that you’re mother would want you to move on–toward all the good God is doing currently in your life, my friend! Thanks for sharing a piece of your heart on this October review!
Beth – I’ll miss your linkup but we will still visit one another’s blogs!!! xo
Grief is a lifelong process isn’t it? Looks like you had a great trip though.
Yes, it is, Tara.
Ah, that Grief that shadows aspects of our lives. As time goes on, for the the most part, it is a fond memory; but there are times when it can hit us right between the eyes. (Like Sunday, listening to Pastor Tim talk about how one couple received the miracle we stood in hope for 5 years ago. It opened what I thought was a scar but , I guess, it was a scab. The tears are less today but still close.) There is a ‘grief season’ in our lives when we have loss. So thankful that you are obedient in your writing, friend.
A scab…good way to describe it.
Beautiful! I love the open, honest, transparent way you share glimpses of your life with us. So encouraging ❤️
I can’t be anything but honest, Beth. Thanks for coming over.
A lovely read from my lovely friend. I miss my mom, too – her birthday is Nov 15 – she would’ve have been 100 – died at 95. I got a lot of her traits – not just the good ones… love the island pics. we are going to Greece for Thanksgiving sans children. Not sure why – yes I do– that’s how the man in plaid planned it! I decided not to complain… No turkey – just feta cheese and olives. xx
Just Feta cheese and olives – can I come? Everything is betta with feta!