Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Sweet Surrender


photo by angela

I was 19 when I had my first baby, 20 when I married my Husband. I was fortunate to be a stay at home mom. We raised four beautiful children together. Twenty-two years later, I guess you can say, I am experiencing "empty nest syndrome." My youngest is still at home, and going to college, but she does not need me in the same way. She is becoming her own; cutting those strings. Being a daughter, sister, momma, wife, friend and grandma is all I have ever known. Now, I have to stretch out my wings, feel the air, and know that the wind has shifted. It is time for me to take a new flight. I still hold all of these roles in my life. But for the first time I am discovering things about myself. It is exciting... A little scary. It may take me a while, but when I do surrender, it has been and always will be sweet.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous.
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us- it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

~Marianne Williamson

31 comments:

  1. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

    Denise...this is beautiful

    and Angela....Whooooooo Hoooooooo!

    XOXOXOXOX
    Darlene

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  2. i think the sexy woman on the beach certainly helps with the beauty of it all...

    *wink, wink*

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  3. I feel like a proud Frister

    xoxo d

    :D

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  4. Where did you spring from then...welcome welcome!!!
    Loved your sweet comments.
    Awesome blog banner...ocean happiness colour.
    I'll be back!
    xo

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  5. Welcome in Bloggie land :)

    Love the banner, and your words. They are beautiful.

    I know i'll be back!

    Sophie

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  6. Welcome! It's always nice to have a new addition. Can't wait to see what ways you can teach me to surrender...

    xo

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  7. Hello Angela :) I just found you through the link on Darlene's blog. I love what you've written and quoted. I have that book and have read those words many times... one day it will sink in...!
    I am in the same boat as you, having been a stay-at-home Mum with my son for many years. Now he is 16, I am in my 40s and things are changing...
    Glad to have you with us in blogsville, it's a wonderful place to be! :) Gorgeous blog you have, too.
    Please give Darlene a huge hug from me next time you see her! ;)

    Hope this is the beginning of a wonderful experience for you :)

    Hugs,
    Suze x

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  8. Hello! am I your first visitor from the UK? I found you through Darlenes blog,welcome to this rather addictive pastime of blogging!your blog is very pretty, I will come back soon!

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  9. Hi Angela - Welcome. What you wrote is very nice. I'll be back. BTW - you are one beautiful lady!

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  10. Hi Angela, and welcome. I stopped by from Darlene's blog and will check in again.

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  11. Hi Angela. Welcome to blogging. You couldn't ask for a better mentor than Darlene.

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  12. A hearty greeting and sincere welcome to you Angela. I came here from dear Darlene's and can see this will be yet another wonderful blog to visit. It's an amazing community, so glad you joined in.

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  13. AhhHHHH, what a Beauty Full place to visit, another sweet place to come to and get inspired! Yes, letting go, it's hard sometimes! Hug Darlene for me, a bear hug please! Welcome to the Blogging world Angela! You will meet many new friends! God Bless YOU! xo, Cinda

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  14. Hi Angela,
    It's nice to meet you! Just to let you know, you are not alone with the empty nest syndrome thing. I am going through that myself right now. Have fun with blogging and I will be back for a visit!

    Teresa
    www.cowgirlstellasstudio.typepad.com

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  15. Hi!

    I have used these same words on my own blog. They are wonderful and wise, to be sure.

    Welcome to blogland. I hope you find it to be the beautiful growing experience so many of us have. ;)

    :)

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  16. Ohhhh THANK You Everyone! I woke up this a.m., and what a wonderful greeting!

    Darlene WILL be getting hugs from YOU through me. Give me excuses to love on that beautiful lady!

    She has encouraged me to start this blog for sometime now. I have seen with my own eyes how it has changed her life. It is a good thing. I am excited to see where this will go. I am a little nervous though, I guess you could say I tend to be on the shy side. So, this is very "out of the box" for me!

    Thank you for all the kind words!

    angela marie

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  17. What a wonderful first post, Angela! I well know the feeling of the empty nest - my son has been on his own for eight years now.

    You will find lots of willing friends here in blogland to keep you company :)

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  18. Welcome to Blogland, Angela Marie! It's an incredible force...
    Angela Faith
    www.threadcatcher.blogspot.com

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  19. Welcome!
    Congratulations on taking the plunge! Your words made me think of my most recent posts.
    I hope you enjoy blogging as much I do!
    All the best,
    Lee

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  20. Welcome! We're so glad to see you here in blogland. Your banner is beautiful and your post lovely.

    I look forward to more from you.

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  21. Welcome to blogland...it's a wonderful place!!
    We're happy to have you :)

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  22. Hey Sweet Surrender....the least you could do is comment on MY blog beings that you ARE MY best friend!!! And the fact that I introduced you to blogland, the blogettes and bloggents...I'll sweet surrender you!

    *wink*

    Your bff,
    xoxo Darlene

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  23. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment.
    Welcome, it's nice to have you with us..!

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  24. Hi, welcome to blog world. I enjoyed reading you. May you live long and prosper.. p.s. I love that quote by Marianne Williamson. I'll be checking back for more musings from you.

    sandy

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  25. Dear Angela,
    Welcome to the community! I'm so glad you joined Darlene in this adventure of creativity and connections.
    Much peace, JP

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  26. Congratulations and welcome, youll love it I am fairly new aswell compared to the season travellers.
    But its a wonderful place and that was a great first post.
    Shazza x

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  27. angie...are those your ankles?!
    love you!

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  28. Littlesister .... yes, those are my ankles.

    love you right back more!!

    p.s. give my boys some Tia~ loves

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  29. Angela Marie,

    Hey! You're a blogger now! I found you through Darlene's blog, from Yolanda's blog, from the comment you left her! I'll be checking back often! So glad you decided to join us! It will be fun to "Ponder" together!

    Cheryl

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