Grief

Grief is an interesting emotion.  Have you experienced it?  Losing both of my parents seems to bring grief closer to the surface.  Some loss that makes me sad ultimately brings the thought, "Haven't I lost enough?"  However, grief is a part of love, as I have found.  Folks can be alive, still in your life, yet you grieve for the loss of a special relationship.  Trying to let that grief flow instead of bottling it up is painful but necessary.

But then......I lift up my eyes and see that all is not lost.  I have today.  I have choices.  I have sunshine and beautiful clouds to look at.  I have health.  I have enough.  My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is always here, always available for me to cry out to, always ready to comfort me and remind me that This Too Shall Pass.  He is my rock.  He helps me turn Grief into Gratitude.

| BeckySeagroves.com

Now the Marines

Dad - Army
Brother - U.S. Naval Academy and then 20 years in the Marines
Sister - Navy
Husband - Air Force
Son - Air Force
Now daughter - Marines!!!
Proud of my family who has and will serve this great country, the United States of America.

| BeckySeagroves.com

Mom

Good morning!

I am Becky Seagroves.

May 19, 1969, Rebecca Jeanette Petitt made her appearance.  I was born to an incredibly strong woman who had all 3 of her naturally, with no drugs.  She trained herself how to breathe deeply during contractions.  I can remember her telling me she could inhale for 1 full minute.  Isn’t that incredible?  Mom had some trouble delivering me as I had the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck and was born blue.  As you can see everything turned out ok and I didn’t have any brain damage…..I think.  J  I am the youngest of 3 children, the surprise!  My brother is 7 years older than I am.

After my scary beginning, I thrived under my parents’ love and discipline.  My mom and dad were great role models for a good marriage.  There was a lot of laughter in our home.  One of my favorite memories of Mom was when we had a bubble blowing contest and Mom’s gum bubble popped all over her glasses and she laughed! 

Mom and Dad were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who lived their faith.  They didn’t preach at us, but showed us by their actions what honor, integrity, faithfulness, forgiveness, and Christ’s love were.  I can remember “the look” Mom would give me when I was out of line.  Did you get “the look?”

When I was 9 my Dad transferred us from Grand Island, NY, to Lake Charles, LA.  Whoa!  Big change!  I remember my mom’s strength as she had been uprooted from friends in NY and how she waited on the Lord and grew spiritually as she waited.  The Lord rewarded her attitude and patience with wonderful new friends in LC.  But she had to wait……..

Because I was the youngest, I had a very special relationship with my folks, especially my mom.  As I grew up, married, and had children of my own, I would call her and tell her all about what was going on with us.  She always had time for me.  I loved that.

Fast forward to 4 years ago.  My dad was already in heaven and Mom’s mind was being slowly taken by dementia.  Dementia is an interesting malady.  It strips all pretenses, walls, fakeness and leaves the true you behind for all to see.  My mom did not speak much, but she could smile.  She could not communicate with sentences, but she hummed when she was happy and content.  She hummed when she heard my voice.  She would say thank you to her caregivers when others with her same condition were rude.  Her true self—her strength, graciousness, manners, joy—never left. 

I am challenged by that.  If my soul were laid bare for all to see like hers was, what would be there?

If your soul was laid bare, what would we see?

I want the world to see my faith first, my heart, my compassion, and I want to make my folks proud.  What do you want the world to see?

| BeckySeagroves.com

Happy Veteran's Day!

Glenn Arden Petitt
James Seagroves
David Petitt
Ruth Petitt
and most recently
Nathan Seagroves
Thank you all for sacrificing your most precious commodity, your time, for my freedom and the freedom of this great nation, the USA.
I love you!!

| BeckySeagroves.com

Need a confidence boost??

Try this......
Stand with your feet hip-distance apart.  
Inhale and raise your arms overhead at shoulder width.
Close your eyes and take 10 long, deep breaths.
On your last exhalation, draw your palms down and together in the middle of your chest and turn the corners of your mouth up in a smile.
Take two or three more deep breaths, exhaling through your nose. (Patty Onderko, September 2014 Success Magazine)
Feel more confident, right?

| BeckySeagroves.com