You Too...

Some of my past students were in town last week and we decided to get together for dinner.

We talked and ate and laughed for about 2 1/2 hours and when I realized it was 9:00 pm (on a school night) and that I needed to get my kids home and in bed, I felt sad because I didn't want to leave them.

But we said our good-byes anyhow, and on the drive home, my kids and I started talking about what our favorite things were about Nancy and Debbie and Jules. And at one point during the conversation, Courtney Lee said, "Nancy and Debbie and Jules don't seem like regular women - they seem like really special women that want to take really good care of other women."

And from there, our converstations took a different turn. From there, we started talking about the kind of women that my girls wanted to be when they grew up, because really, there are only two kinds:

1. The kind of women that discourage, shut-out, gossip about, and tear-down other women.

2. The kind of women that encourage, embrace, build-up and love on other women.

And if I'm just being honest, I spent a lot of years feeling like being a woman was a weakness. Feeling like our emotions and our vulnerabilities and our complexities were all flaws, but then one night awhile back, I was laying on the couch reading Captivating by John Eldredge and at the time, I was really struggling to 'get' the message the author was trying to impart, but then I came to a single sentence in the book where the author was describing Eve, and his description literally made me gasp and sit upright:

"She was the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God."

And then I read it again, only this time with that prickling feeling I always get under my eyes right before I cry.

"She was the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God."

And then I read it again, only this time I couldn't see the words very well through the tears.

"She was the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God."

And then I read it again slowly, trying to commit it to heart.

"She was the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God."

And as cheesy as it sounds, that one sentence started to heal so many things in me.

Us women are amazing. No, astonishing. We're the crescendo. And its our emotions and our vulnerabilities and our complexities that make us so astonishing.

So as we talked in the car about Nancy and Debbie and Jules and about what kind of women my girls wanted to grow up to be, Coley said, "Hey, what about me?" to which I replied, "Sorry Charlie, God finished creating EVERYTHING and then He decided that all of his creation wasn't complete without us women - because WE are the final, astonishing work of God."

And then we went home, brushed our teeth and put on our pj's and when both of my girls said their prayers that night, they prayed about becoming the kind of women that encourage, embrace, build-up and love on other women.

I want that so badly for them.

I want them to know that their emotions and their vulnerabilities and their complexities (when used correctly) are exactly what makes them so beautiful.

And I want you to know it too Debbie (My kids took all of these pictures with Nancy's Canon 5D Mark III and I held my breath the whole time, hoping none of them would drop it.)...

And you too Nancy...

And you too Jules...

And you too Marilou. And you too Nikki and Aurora and Julie and Jacki and Mary and LaVonne and Beth and Joni and Lisa and Nicole and Tammy and Michelle and Kate and Janette and Jennifer and Helena.

And you too...

Comments

[Melissa L.]

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

[Rachel]

I think I've read this 3 times in the last 15 minutes, then shared it with everyone I could. Thank you!

[SandraA]

Love it!

[RachelG]

Yours is the only blog that makes my eyes burn with tears. I just love you Karen! :)
And also, I totally pictured you looking out of your screen through a magnifying glass, Romper Room style!

[Karen]

This post really touched me. What a mature young lady Courtney Lee is to notice that in your friends. I love that you have these type of conservations with your children. You are an amazing parent because you take the time to parent. You listen to them and discuss things with all of your children. You listen to their prayers and that is so important. I love that they are already praying about the type of ladies they want to grow up to be. Thanks so much for sharing your life with us. You are amazing Karen Russell and never forget that.

[K]

Love that. Thank you.

[Kate]

And you too. You foster that environment on your site, in your comments, and among your friends and blog readers. I'm now well past a 7 on the emotional scale and I'm at my desk at work. Thanks for the extra boost to get through a slow afternoon.

[janel]

Your wisdom always amazes me...what a special post! Thank you for sharing.

[Marilou]

How is it you make me cry so freaking easily? I love you to pieces. I'm steaming mad I live on the opposite coast. Miss you. And thanks. I really want this for all of us!!

[young nanny]

I love what God is doing in you Karen. What gifts you are passing on to those around you just by being obedient to His calling is a blessing. Bless you xx

[LaVonne]

Love you to bits, Karen....
How did you know that I really, really, really NEEDED to hear this today?? (and lots of other days, these past few weeks....)
Thank you for this gift of this post today.

[Nancy B.]

Your girls - and Coley - are well on their way to being just those kind of people. They are sensitive, observant, kind, caring, and being around you and Josh, are becoming wise beyond their years. You make us all want to be in your family. :-)

[karlalala]

smooch!!

[Aurora]

Thank you for your words and for adding some sunshine to this cloudy cold day in my neck of the woods. I miss you and all of those fabulous ladies you mentioned. Big hugs Karen!

[twebster]

just so you know...you have ALWAYS been the #2 kind of woman to me...and I have always been truly blessed to call you my friend. I miss you. I love you. The end.

[DanaL]

Karen I check/read your blog daily. And I absolutely love the things you say. You say things I feel but cannot articulate or identify. Sooooo looking forward to workshop next year. See you Sept 2013 :)))). You are awesome!

[Jen Fike]

I love this!

[Joni H]

Karen your words are always so insightful, but you need to make sure you keep your posts between a 4 - 7 because I really don't want Kate to get too emotional at work. Miss everyone terribly. As always, I love this post!

[Helena]

YOU are astonishing Karen. I love you and miss you A LOT!!!

[Beverly]

Read this yesterday and thought you might like it: Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains.

[Jules]

I love how you weave these amazing lessons into your kids' lives. What could have been a quick conversation about a fun evening turned into a meaningful lesson they will always remember. The women I've met because of you have brought me so much joy; they nurture my heart and make me want to be a better person. I miss you and all the mentioned ladies already!! I love you guys!!

[Lacey]

Yay, Debbie! We LOVE her and I feel so blessed to call her my friend. And, my boys think she's pretty awesome, too .... actually, they got really happy to see photos of her on your blog! :) And, thank you for sharing this statement that describes women as this part of God's creation. :)

[mandy friend]

eeeekkk!! SO glad you read this! i recommended that in a post of yours a while ago { though i'm sure you didn't read it because of me;)}, amazing, huh? a life changer for sure!

[Mannie]

I too have a little girl, and it is also my prayers that she will become the kind of women that encourage, embrace, build-up and love on other women. Thanks for the reminder.

[Kelli]

You are so insightful!
Cole and Ross will be amazing because they have you as a mom!

[Nicole]

Oh Karen- I so needed to hear this today. Its been such a rough week at work and this just MADE my day. I called my mom and shared it with her and it made her day too.
You are definitely the kind of woman that lifts others up- even people who dont know you. I am so lucky to know you and to call you friend. Thank you for lifting me up and imparting those words of wisdom. They took me to a 10 on a day when I was feeling below a 4. They may be my new mantra.
Love you and miss you much my astonishing crescendo of a friend! XOXO

[Jacki]

They are pretty special women. Glad to know them and you. Miss you all.
More parenting with intent... love these stories.
Your girls are so blessed to have you, and your boys too- boys are pretty special too (had to add that as a mom to 5 awesome boys!)

[Jakki]

How amazing..

Amazing that your daughters recoqnize the beauty in these women.
Amazing that they recoqnize that THIS is who they should model themselves and how
Amazing that they have a wonderful woman to foster them into the right direction

[Nicky from Okotoks]

Nothing like bringing tears to your eyes!!

[Sam]

Thank you, I needed that.

[tara pollard pakosta]

How beautiful!!!!
and Coley, you are pretty ASTONISHING TOO!
tara

[Tammy]

Karen, I have read this post so many times and I'm at a complete loss regarding words that will even come close to saying how this post has made me feel. So thankful and blessed to have met you and all these wonderful and astonishing women. You have all changed my life!

[Julie E]

Miss you!!

[Lisa]

Oh how happy I am to read a little glimpse of this conversation with your girls. You are raising such beautiful amazing young women who will be examples to all those that see them...and they will lead by their example. Love you and your girls!

[Melinda~]

Beautiful Karen. Thank you for sharing this wisdom, I'll keep it in my heart:)