daughters

A Day without Mood Swings

| Laura Lee Bonde
Our trip to Magic Mountain 9/14/15: full of challenges that never moved us!!
Our trip to Magic Mountain 9/14/15: full of challenges that never moved us!!

Yesterday was a blast!! I spent the day with my daughters at Magic Mountain, and I don’t think we’ve ever bonded so well before, and the funny thing was a bunch of things went wrong, which would usually trigger frustration, irritation, arguments, etc., but even though things went wrong in the natural, nothing disrupted us in the spiritual.

Amongst the things that went wrong…

my free tickets were for a Six Flags in Vallejo, so the tickets were not accepted (we had to buy them);

both my sandals (with six straps each) flew off on the second ride we went on (X2), so I walked away barefooted;

we didn’t get on our first ride until 1:20 pm (and the park closed at 6:00 pm);
etc.,

and that ‘etc’ contained a long list of mishaps, but nothing changed our moods, which was a first for us. In the past, when we’ve been together, if something went wrong, one of us would get grumpy, which would set off another one’s mood and so on, but yesterday, none of our moods changed. It was so peaceful!

The only way I can explain our wonderful experience in the midst of confusion is that, deep within, we each knew there was a much bigger picture, and with Katie having moved out, we each appreciated our time together much more.

From the moment we all got together, the giggling and laughter began. It was so good, so needed, so wanted. It just was a wonderful way to put a lot of things into perspective.

As I live through life, God’s word just makes more and more sense. He really IS amazing! Oh, and as soon as we are able to afford it, we’re going to see “War Room;” Carolyn and I’ve seen it, but Katie hasn’t. I’m super excited to bond with my girls with that movie.

If you have anyone in your life who’s walked away from God, don’t worry; they’ll be back! Trust me; I know!

Craving Goodness

| Laura Lee Bonde

Sometimes, I don’t understand how to fit in or if I want to. Sometimes, it feels like people make life seem harder than it needs to be. Sometimes, my parenting is questioned, so I question my parenting. Whatever the thoughts may be, I always remember to look at them through God’s eyes and only ponder thoughts that are in line with heaven. Continue reading →

A First and Last Meal

| Laura Lee Bonde

On Saturday, Katie told me (with much excitement) that she and her boyfriend had been approved for a place and would be moving in together at the end of the month. [The first place fell through.] When I received the news, I didn’t cry. I thought, “Oh, maybe it’s because I cried the first time around,” but I was wrong…way wrong. Continue reading →

“Never Empty”

| Laura Lee Bonde

no one sees
the closeness of You
in me
in You
complete

behind closed doors
as You Father me
in You
in me
complete

my heart cries out
Your Love pours in
and changes thoughts
to let go of sin

life of freedom
freedom of life
in You
through me
complete

“When the Heart Won’t Talk”

| Laura Lee Bonde

there are times when the words seem locked in my heart
but I know I hold the keys to release them
so why don’t I

for most everything
I’m transparent
but there are things about parenting
I keep hidden

could it be because my mind sets on where I failed
could it be
I know that the person I was isn’t who I am now
so expressing this heart would only be healing

a mother’s heart
full of so much
overflowing with so much love that never runs out

Healing Truth

| Laura Lee Bonde

As many of you know, yesterday was Katie’s birthday, and I was broke, but I “knew” money wasn’t important in celebrating her, so I had no doubts we would all have fun together, and I had been looking forward to giving her a very special card.

Back in March, I had found this beautiful card with all these red tulips surrounding a beautiful white one. Tulips are my very favorite flower, so this card caught my eye, and having the white tulip amidst the red ones was the picture of me standing in the blood of Jesus, purified, redeemed, restored, so I bought the card to use for my own.

Shortly after, I was scheduled to dance at Beach Chapel for Easter. All my kids went, and I was so excited to dance with God in their presence (for the very first time). After the service, I was going to write about the awe of it all in my special tulip card to remember forever. Well, after the service, all of that changed. Continue reading →

Panic Mode

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday was full of things to do: give Carolyn and Katie rides, continue with flags, straighten out the insurance stuff with the hospital, tend to my foot, etc., and often times, I expect myself to do everything, and when I don’t, I come down pretty hard on myself.

In giving the girls rides, I was expected to pick them up: Carolyn at nine at night and Katie at ten forty-five at night. Piece of cake, right?! Well, everything else in my day went pretty smoothly, but by the end of the night, I was tired and in pain.

When Nathan and I returned home from picking up Carolyn, it was time to change my bandage, so I set everything up. This time, after changing it, it hurt more than usual, so Carolyn suggested I lay down. I agreed because I had been tired and just wanted to sit up in bed and read with God. My phone was almost dead, so I left it charging in the living room.

Can you tell where this is going? Continue reading →