~Lost Change~ - Faith Sisters Scrapbooking Gallery

I kinda went outside the box in regards to my use of the word ~change~ But just like the woman that was looking for her lost coins, I too was transformed & changed and rejoiced at the end of the searching process. Thank you again Dahlia for yet another amazing challenge~!

LAYOUT: Lost Change

SUPPLIES:
Cardstock: & Patterned Paper: Blue Raised Print, Blue Metallic Plain, Brown Metallic Plain, Translucent Plain: Sparkle Kit by Club Scrap
Font: Batang
Adhesive: Vario: EK Success; Vellum Adhesive Runner, Zots:Therm O Web
Embellishments: Sticko Style Chipboard Letters: LetterPress by Ek Success; Dark Charcoal & Amber Satin Chalk: Colorbox; Brads, EmbellishmentTags, Embellishment Cutouts: Sparkle Kit by Club Scrap
Other: Various Coins

JOURNALING:

To me, being a mom meant that for over 20 years my life was completely intertwined with the lives of my children. I went with Meg and Jim to play dates at the park and trips to the zoo. I was Meg’s Brownie and Girl Scout leader and Jim’s Cub Scout and Troop Leader. I was room mom for both their classes all thru grade school. I was in charge of the Nursery at church when they were babies. I taught Vacation Bible School and some of their Sunday School classes. I drove Meg to all her ballet classes, rehearsals and performances. I drove Jim to all his soccer, baseball and basketball practices and games. And even when they were able to drive themselves to all these, I was still involved in their activities. I sewed tutus and painted sets for Meg’s ballets. I made banners and bought trophies as team mom for Jim’s sports. I went to every one of Meg’s ballet rehearsals and performances that she danced in. I went to every practice, game or meet that Jim competed in.
So when Meg went off to college, even tho she just went to UC Irvine which was only an hour away, it was a tremendous change. I was somewhat lost in what to do with myself without her activities being a part of my life too. My only saving grace was that Jim was still home and I continued to be involved in his sports activities. When Jim went away to college, he went to the University of Arizona. And now we were talking another state, hours away by car or plane. And suddenly our house became an empty nest. And I was lost…totally and completely lost! My life had revolved around my children all this time and I did not know what to do with myself if my life was not a part of theirs. I searched all over for just who I was…what defined me as a mom and wife…what made me the person that I am.
And it was in this process of losing myself that I found myself.
Just like the change that has fallen beneath the cracks of the cushion in the sofa, in order to find the coins you have to turn the cushions over. The treasure is there, you have to delve deeper, look deeper inside to find them. And so it was with my life. I had to delve deeper into myself to find out just who ~I~ was. I had to look deeper into myself to find out just what made me…me~
Yes I was still Meg & Jim’s mom, but part of being a mom is knowing when to let go. And it was time for me to let go. I had taught them the best I could, given them the skills, principles and beliefs to make their own way in the world. It was time to let go and let God be totally in control. And with this letting go was a peace. A mother’s peace in knowing that God was in charge, that God the Father would look after my children. I am no longer lost change, but part of the rich treasure of God’s kingdom.
Bible Verse:
What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost. Luke 15:8-9