Thoughts on a Birthday

I realize that one of my last posts was a bulleted list of thoughts.  I have been shameful on here and have not had a post in months.  I promised myself that I will get back to this more frequently.  I said, “Self, it is a good outlet for all of your random thoughts. Get back on it.”  Unlike some people in my house, I did not roll my eyes at what I said. 

I thought this was a brilliant capture of me around age 4.
I am sneaking around in a garage trying to grab an animal and love it and
squeeze it.  Poor kitty. Oh how I loved animals...

There is reflection on some things that have changed or have become more noticeable in the last year or two.  So here are some random thoughts from today, which is actually my birthday.  I was born on Lincoln’s Birthday and two days before Valentine’s Day so that makes it easy for loved ones to remember.  Ha ha.  One would think…

Birthday thoughts and this season of life:

1.      Birthdays keep coming

2.      I guess #1 is a good thing because it means I am still here.

3.      Two out of three kids recommend reminders of a parent’s birthday because they can’t remember it.

4.      My dog and cat may love me the most around here (I live with some middle school kids, people).

5.      The laundry and dust bunnies don’t stop for birthdays.  Bless the laundry and those dust bunnies.  It means I have some people and creatures living here.

6.      In fact, attitude does not stop for birthdays.  See #4.

7.      I realize I need readers, stretching, good shoes (read: great insoles), sleep and patience MORE than I did a year or so ago.

8.      Adolescent hormones can really be a ‘Debbie Downer’ on most days.  Who are these Jekyll-Hyde people anyway?

9.      Friday’s tend to arrive with a big sigh of relief…until you get the social agenda of your Adolescents.  Why am I traded more now as a Chauffeur instead of a movie night buddy?

10. In the past year I have used so many passwords on tablets, computers, accounts, televisions, iPods and other things that plug in or use batteries.  I am seriously depleting ideas.  Please send me some new passwords.

11. I think my doctor roster has expanded. So has my need for vitamins.

12. I view appliances –both large and small—as an army of steel support staff.  This year I have had a hard time keeping my staff.  They have quit on me.  Big ones.  Shhh, don’t tell the refrigerator.

13. My stretch ‘Adolescent Social Hauler’ is known as The Beast.  The Beast is 9 and needs to keep with me just a few years longer.  I love The Beast more now than I did before.  It had a bad run with a giant buck on the interstate last fall. It saved me but needed many repairs.  The Beast is good and accommodates all of those growing long legs, extra friends, carpool and miscellaneous gear that must be carted around for three kids and the family.

14. Living in the ‘selfie generation’, none of my kids will take selfies with me.  I really don’t ask unless I have on makeup.  I am prepared but ultimately shut down. #Ineedpics

15. I crave wisdom more now.  I look to books, wise counsel (including our parents!), prayer and God’s Word.  Oh boy, parenting will really get you into some wisdom-searching, won’t it? While I am definitely flawed, I am certainly gonna work on things.  Like Lysa Terkeurst says in her book, The Best Yes, I am going to “show up to practice.”  Wisdom is hard work.  I need to practice it every single day.

16. I find I need to verbalize why I am grateful all the time.  Early this morning, I wrote in my journal three things of gratitude for today.  Here is what I wrote:

1)     Glad for birthdays so I can be grateful.

2)     Glad for the gift of family and friends who pray for me and love me.

3)     Glad for God’s love and The Word to guide me.

Until we read again, safe travels on your journey today.  May you find a moment to get your readers out, avoid some hormones and reflect on a bit of gratitude.

Me and my pony Duchess.  Circa maybe 5th grade.
Animal lover, horse lover.
Did not always love the brother in the background when he bothered me.
The days of sibling aggravation--you were always  one step away from getting punished.
Love you, Bro!

With Joy,

Tracey

“The Lord makes firm steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” – Psalm 37:23-24

To learn more about the book I mentioned, go to http://thebestyes.com/

Or check out Lysa TerKeurst’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLysa

Can You Imagine Fear?

Yesterday was Halloween and I hope you had a happy one!  It is funny this time of year when we all get a kick out of spooky things.  My kids each have different personalities when it comes to being scared.

My oldest, the Honey Badger, is now very casual about being scared and scary movies.  He has always enjoyed some scary things, starting young with an obsession with Scooby Doo.  Honey Badger has now moved on but would still enjoy a thriller even though he is “over” trick-or-treating.

My middle child, the Comedienne, loves being scared and thrills even though she is the most quiet of the bunch.  It does seem to make sense as she has the crazy sense of humor and can totally take a joke.  Comedienne likes to plot to play jokes and will aggravate her younger sibling by jumping out to scare her.

My youngest, the Feisty-Smiley One,  does not like to be scared, does not like very scary or spooky movies, and prefers to go upstairs with someone else this time of year.  Enough said.

Upon the chance to secretly deliver ‘Boo Bags’ to neighbors houses recently, Honey Badger passed on the adventure.  The girls were eagerly jumping up and down at the chance to deliver a small sack of Halloween nonsense to unsuspecting friends.  If you are unfamiliar, ‘Boo Bags’ are whatever you want to throw in a sack—cool candies, trinkets, candles—and take at dark to a friend’s house.  You secretly leave the bag, ring the doorbell and RUN so you are not busted as the Boo Bag deliverer.    Then that person should head out the next night and pay the favor on another friend and it goes on!  So they load up and head out.  I hear that when they make a run for the car, Feisty-Smiley One will just push sister out of the way and get herself in the car as fast as she can.  She is out of breath and semi-shaken.  Comedienne arrives in the car…cool as a cucumber and laughs quietly.  I think we will have to keep our eye on this one!

So that brings me to fear and how we handle it.  This stuff is all fun and games but how many of us really experience fear?  I was reading a post from a friend of a friend.  Her dad is going through a terrible battle with cancer.  He told her he could not sleep the other night and it was hard to catch his breath.  I have only experienced this really once (slightly) and it was terrifying, but I am not facing the same health struggles.  I can’t imagine how he felt. 

She goes on and explains the next part and it just hit me hard.  During this fearful episode, he began to talk out loud to the Lord.  Then he prayed Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Wow.  So many things flooded into my mind.  During this scary, fearful struggle, he calls out and claims his faith and trust in the Lord.  He is comforted by the victory of GRACE.  Her dad knows that the One who gave the biggest sacrifice for him knows his pain and will comfort him. 

She continues and explains he was really grateful for knowing scripture and her continued prayer request is that he will be able to keep his heart rate under control while going through treatment.  I sat with tears in my eyes.  I was so moved.  More than ever I feel I need to arm not only myself, but my children with the gift of a library of verses to help them through life’s struggles.  Sure, they memorize verses but what about verses they can use as swords against fear?  What about verses to light their path?  What about verses to shield from indecision or controversy?   Well, I have lots to do, Ladies and Gentleman!  I thank God for people who share their struggles with others and how the Lord speaks to them or comforts them.  So many times, they don’t realize how much they make a difference.

Hope your Halloween was not so scary!  May the Lord comfort you today!

With Joy,

Tracey