Eleven years ago..

Eleven years ago today I woke up late, with eyes puffy from crying the night before. Some family members had upset me. Eleven years ago I drove to the hair salon, butterflies in my stomach, to get my hair pretty. Eleven years ago today I ran out the front door to greet the FedEx man with a hug. He stood there, looking stunned, wondering why this woman with the beautiful (at least I thought) hair was hugging him and screaming in excitement. He just didn't understand the peace he brought me -- the joy that would set the tone for the next 11 years. It was only a piece of paper, how could that bring me joy?
You see, he brought a copy of my birth certificate. Yes, it took a trip to Tennessee on the way from Lincoln to Columbus, but it meant I was free to travel to out of the country. (It wasn't until a year later -- after the 9/11 attacks -- that I would need a passport to travel to Jamaica.)
Eleven years ago today, I married the most amazing man in the world. He is my best friend. He understands me, sometimes even more than I understand myself. He helps me learn to be patient. He helps me to step back and see the big picture. He helps me to realize that the small things are not things to lose sleep over. He helps me to love others for who they are and to look for the good in them. He loves me unconditionally.
That piece of paper the FedEx man brought arrived just in time to head to the church and marry Tracy and allow us to leave for a week to begin our life as husband and wife.
What an amazing day! Much like the weather today. But my heart is much fuller. I didn't know that was possible.
But yes, Tracy, it IS possible: YOU MAKE MY HEART SMILE!

Be Still and Know...

"Be still and know that I am God." Wow. How hard that is to do. I have been trying to instill those words in my mind, my heart and my being for some time now -- especially when it comes to parenting. It's challenging, though, when I am bombarded by the pressures of life: wife, mom, nurse, teacher, referee, cab driver...the list goes on.
But when I do take the time to "be still," I'm amazed at how much He blesses me. It might come in the feeling of a weight, a burden, being lifted. That moment where I pause and remember why I love my children so much. That moment when I have that fleeting feeling of why I married this wonderful man 11 years ago.
Don't get me wrong, it's a struggle to "be still." But when I do, oh how He touches my life. In turn, my life (hopefully) touches someone else when I see all He has given me. God is good!

Getting me into trouble

"(Cookie Monster) is trying to get me in to trouble," LaRue came crying down the stairs. Really? How can he be doing that?
How funny I thought? I think that's my excuse (albeit unspoken or hidden) when I do something wrong.
Satan got me in to trouble.
The tv got me in to trouble.
That box of cookies got me in to trouble.
That gossip magazine got me in to trouble.
And, finally, (and maybe the one I try to justify the most), the salesperson got me in to trouble.
How easy it is to blame others for our mistakes and sins. LaRue was blaming Cookie Monster for "getting her in to trouble," but little one, why are you even out of bed at this hour I wondered?
It reminded me of the many times I have failed to take responsibility for my own actions. It made me think of a loved one who's stuck doing that consistently in their own life.
So many Bible stories come to mind when I think about how easy it is to fail to take responsibility for my own actions: Adam blaming Eve, Eve blaming the serpent, Abraham and Sarah...the list goes on.
Thankfully, I have the promise that God forgives all of those sins, or my failure to even acknowledge them. I am also quite thankful that He has given me the desire to teach those same principles to my little babes.
That way, when someone is "trying to get me into trouble," they will know WHO to turn to and where to turn AWAY from.
Sweet dreams LaRue, Cookie Monster, Farmer Boy, the Princess and God's Grace!