Are You Afraid of Dying?

I got a call Sunday that my grandma passed way.  Dealing with this type of phone call is difficult.  Initially I was shocked, but it wasn’t until later that I was flooded with all of her mEmoRies.  Moments like that hit you out of nowhere and it seems like no matter what you do, you can’t keep the tears from running down your face.  I know that she is in a better place and will finally reunite with her husband.  But does that keep me from hurting?  Definitely not, to say the least.

How do you cope with death?  It is such a hard thing for anyone to talk about, let alone experience with a loved one.  I find it ironic that I am even typing this to you.  Six days before my Grandma passed, Doug and I were talking about how we felt God initiated a lot of our coNverSatioNs regarding heaven over the last 6 months.   We had watched the ABC special “Heaven—Where Is It?  How Do We Get There” and had given the “Heaven Is For Real” book to our children for Christmas.  When we had talked about it again last Monday night, Doug asked me if I had this weird feeling God was preparing us for a death.  I answered, “Yes”.  It was such an unsettling feeling.  I was scared.  But I’m glad we had talked about it because we both agreed that regardless of when and if it was going to happen, we now had a clearer idea of what hEavEn is like and feel more confident in addressing this to our children.

As I was wondering what my Grandma was experiencing in heaven, I happened to run outside to get something, and this is what I saw. Heaven IS for real!
Even though I know these things, am I still afraid of dying?  Of course I am.  Talking and thinking about dying is difficult (and scary), but it is important so you can be better prepared for when it happens. Just remember this–when we lose someone from this world, we should be thankful for the time that we spent with the ones we loved, and not sad for the time that we didn’t.
Much love,

Lara

{Freedom To Be “Me”}

Hi Suede Sofa FriEnDs!  Good Monday morning!!

It’s been 10 months since Lara and I started this blog and one thing we really endeavor to do it to be real, transparent, and give hope.  Lara says that “LiFe presents our posts.” and I would have to agree.  We try to write about life and all that it brings as those circumstances come our way.  Today I’m thinking about a situation that occurred yesterday as my family was getting ready for church.

I sent my girls upstairs to get dressed.  When Belle, my 4-year-old picked out a cute ruffled {SuMmEr} dress I was willing to oblige, as I knew she could wear a sweater over the sleeveless dress.  When I picked out some cute tights for her she had other ideas – casual mid-calf tights with black sparkly shoes with the glitter worn off.  This was not what I had in mind for her at all.  I wanted her to look “CuTe”. {And to be warm as it is the middle of January!}

Can you relate?  I love FaShiOn and when I see the cute kid catalogues with the kid models looking so put together, I want my kids to look well dressed like that.  But my kids don’t share my same ideas on StyLe.  So a decision had to be made.  Would I allow my child the freedom and independence to have a say in what she got to wear or would I insist on her wearing what I wanted her to wear, so that she {and ultimately I} can look good?

I understand there are some decisions where my kids won’t get a VoTe {principles, morals, modesty, etc.} however, in the little things that really don’t matter I’m trying to let them have a say in the matter.  Maybe you are past the 4 & 5-year-old stage and your issue is what college they will attend, what career to pursue, how your adult child conducts their life.  Are you giving your kids the FrEeDoM to be themselves, express themselves, and chose for themselves?  That is easier said than done, I know.  Frequently, I tell my girls that they will always be my “BaBiEs” – even when they have babies of their own.  And being able to have input in their life may just be part of parenthood.  But parenthood is also about respecting the gifts, temperament, interests, and UniQuEneSs that God has placed in each of my kids.  So, some days I’ll have to swallow hard, smile, and let them express their uniqueness because when they are grown and on their own, in their heart I want them to know, “My mom gave me the freedom to be “Me”.

:)

Robynn~

P.S.  I hadn’t intended this to be a “piggy-back” post on Lara’s post a couple weeks ago titled “Me”, but it sort of is, so check it out by clicking here!

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{Start Your Own Collection}

We are all familiar with the collection of 100+ figurines in GrAnNy’S curio cabinet.  However, before you write off “collections” consider collecting just a few of your favorite items such as ViNtAgE spoons, autographs from you favorite people, AnTiQuE fishing lures, concert tickets, John Deere toy tractors {my dad had that collection!} or seashells to name only a few.  Here are some other ideas:

Vintage baseball GloVes.

Baseballs.

Globes.

PlaYfuL items such as these Pez dispensers.

Vintage cameras.

RoOsTeRs.

Favorite Childhood ToYs.

Figurines such as those from Willow Tree

Old Telephones or Typewriters.

BoTtLeS.

What’s your PaSsiOn?  What warms your SouL?  What things, when you see them, instantly take you back to a fond memory in your life?  Find those things you loved as a child or have grown to love.  {Just the hunt may be exhilarating!  Winning a bid on EbAy can be a thrill!!}  They will bring back memories, will be a good conversation piece and be something that just makes you feel HaPpY!

P.S.  Many of the above photos were taken at GoOd Ju Ju, a favorite antique shop of mine in Kansas City.  Click here if you want to see the road trip that Lara and I took to Good Ju Ju last June!

Find Out Who Your Friends Are

Over the course of your life you develop numerous friendships.  Family friends, elementary school friends, high school friends, college friends, work friends, neighborhood friends, parenting friends, and the list goes on and on.  In recent years the use of Facebook has become a way to rekindle friendships that fell to the way side or even ignite friendships with people who at one time were just acquaintances.  In our busy day-to-day lives it can be hard to Be TheRe for all of these friends or to even set aside a time to get together and catch up.  However in the back of our minds there are always those friends who you know would drop everything in an instant if you needed them.

Over four years ago I delivered my son three weeks early after being induced for preeclampsia.  One day after I returned home with my newborn I was rushed to the emergency room with dangerously high blood pressure.  I spent the next three days hooked up to a magnesium drip to get my blood pressure under control.  I was already feeling the onset of postpartum depression (click to read my story) and all of the medication I was now taking made me completely disoriented.  I was in and out of sleep, my vision was blurry, and my head felt like I had been hit my a truck.  While laying in my hospital bed missing my newborn baby boy I looked at the door and was able to make out the outline of someone walking in.  I knew immediately it was my friend Jessica and in that moment I felt peace.  Jessica and I have known each other since we took dancing school together at age four.  We’ve been through so much together and no distance or circumstance has ever kept us apart when it CoUnTs.  That day in the hospital I couldn’t talk or even see her clearly, but that didn’t matter.  She sent my mom home to shower and sat and read magazines while she watched me rest.  She called in sick to work that day because she knew I needed her and to this day I am GrAtEfUl.

The Tracy Lawrence song “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” has always reminded me of our friendship.  I am sure you all have your own “Jessica” in your lives and can relate to the lyrics.

~Robyn (Jersey Girl)

Live-It List Hidden Question of the Week

Which friend can you count on for all of life’s ups and downs?

Comment below to receive 1 point.

For more details: http://thesuedesofa.com/2011/10/02/win-a-coach-purse-the-details/

I’m Not There

Do you ever read our posts or talk to someone and think, I am NOT feeling it or I am NOT there?  I have moMenTs like that. Someone may share with me their weight loss journey or new cleaning routine, and in my mind I’m thinking how exercise and cleaning are the last things on my mind right now!

We all need time to shut off our mind now and then.  Often times the bEsT mEdiciNe is taking a break from it all!  Can I hear an “Amen!”?  There are days I need silence.  No to-do lists, no challenges, and no radio or phones ringing in the background.  I just need to escape.

Your escape may be as short as an afternoon, or in certain areas of your life, it may be for months or years.  The good thing about being surrounded by people/things that inspire you is that they are there when you are ready to tackle the world again.  We can’t escape forever, but after we catch our breath, the resources for a pOsiTive outlook on life will be there to greet us when we are ready.  Better yet, these resources may be a pleasant surprise and assist you in an area of your life when you least expect!

So if you are currently on a getaway, know that you are weLcoMe on our sofa anytime.  We are happy to have someone to share our thoughts with and completely understand if you aren’t quite there yet :)

~Lara

{Mental Drag}

One of the things that I have observed about myself is that living in a space that is DisOrgaNizEd and mEsSy is a huge drain on me mentally.  For that reason, one of the first things I do when I need to get a project completed is make sure my surroundings are in order.

Are you having difficulty getting MoTivAtEd?  If so, are you living in a mess?  If you answered “YeS” to those qustions you may want to consider trying to clean up YoUr SpAcE.  I know for me, it’s as if MeNtaL SpAcE is taken up when I am living in chaos, but a clean and organized space stimulates CrEaTiviTy and mOtivAtiOn.

What is your “mental drag”?  It may not be having a messy space, but whatever it is, what can you do to EliMinAte it or greatly ReDucE it’s effects?  Doing so may be just what it takes to get you moving in the RiGht DiRectIoN! 

:)

Robynn~

{God’s Not Freaking Out, So Relax!}

I like this popular poster originally printed during WWII. It is a great reminder to "Remain Calm Everyone."

This post is for the person whose life seems CrAzY and out of control.  If you’re not there, you can read it anyway, because although you may not find yourself in that PrEdiCeMeNt today, eventually life cycles through and you’ll be there.  I’m not being negative.  It’s just the reality.  And it’s just part of the CycLe.

Not forever.

Not the end of the world.

This too shall pass.

And best of all, in your chaos, remember that God is not freaking out.  He’s CaLm.  So, carry on.

;) Robynn