1-1-13

Lamentations 3: 22-23

I can't tell you how glad I was to read this verse today.  I am the kind of person that lives my life thankful for new mercies EACH day.  Not because I live to mess things up, but because we are human.  This means that by nature, we stand to learn something about ourselves...daily.  In kneeling before the Lord each night in prayer (or laying in bed...whatever you do)we have the opportunity to reflect on our day.  How did we act?  How did we speak to others?  Did we reflect Christ and show his love as much as we could?  And finally, what could we have done better?  Reflection is a time to look back and see what we did in our day that helped make someone else's day better.  I know for me personally, I can look back almost daily and see what I like to call "construction zones".  The flashing lights and orange barrels indicate areas in my life that need work.  But...in reading my devotional this morning (New Year's Resolution), I saw how Jeremiah looked to God (By Choice) during times of trouble.  He decided to turn to God after blaming him for his troubles.  In doing so, he realized that "his storm didn't cease, but his discouragement did".

I can look back on the times in my day when my language was less than flattering or when my head practically spun off my body yelling at my children.  We all have moments in our days when we lose control. The good news...

Because we are loved, we can say...tomorrow is a new day and by choice...I'm going to work on making that better.

The storm...(stress, job, kids, marriage, finances, illness, etc.) isn't going to cease (immediately), but the discouragement will-

when we turn to God.

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3

Joy

This

is

what

JOY

looks

like.

Happy New Year's EVE!!!!  

Ten Things....

Coach and I had the opportunity to go out last night for the entire evening...without our kids.

This is a big deal for many reasons.  Mainly, because we've had kids with us for the last 13 years.  We dated for about three months before we decided to get married.  We were engaged for all of five minutes when we moved our wedding from January of the next year to September.  We were married for all of three months when we got the news we'd be getting a stork delivery in nine months.  Ever since...we've had kids with us.  It is a rare moment when we get time without one of the three of them.

Last night, we were given this golden opportunity.  It was so nice.  I don't say that in a "we can't stand our kids" sort of way.  I mean it in a "we finally had time together" sort of way.

In reflecting on this experience (something I do quite frequently) I decided to list the top ten things I learned from last night.

1.  It is amazing how much you can cover in a conversation that is uninterrupted.

2.  It is really good to laugh...at each other...at ourselves...and at our life.

3.  Shopping is not something Coach likes to do, but he loves me enough to do it.

4.  Car shopping (or car browsing) is something that gives us both major anxiety.  However...with one headlight that chooses when to be on and a steering wheel that squeaks when you turn...it is something we're both going to have to face doing sooner than later.  

5.  I love my husband more than I take time to realize.  In the chaos of our lives...we sometimes forget why we fell in love in the first place.  When he holds a door for me...when he holds my hand so I don't fall down (which happens a lot in these certain grey boots I have)...when he laughs out loud at my crazy ways...I remember.

6.  A grown up dinner followed by an adult beverage and frozen yogurt is a great date.

7.  We have come a long way since Thanksgiving 1997.  Those who've been with us through that entire time would whole heartedly agree.

8.  Our kids drive make us crazy...but, they are what continued to come up in all of our conversations.  :)  They are our loves and pretty much, our entire life.

9.  A night out every once in a blue moon is a good idea for any married couple.  Getting away from "the norm" helps you remember who you are as a person and not who you are trying to be for everyone else.

10.  There's no place like home.  Home isn't just where you live.  Home is where your comfort lives.  Home for me isn't always our living room.  Home is a place where your heart swells with love.  Being with Coach...with our kids...with our life...that's home.  And there's no place I'd rather be.

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3

Be still...

If you ever get the chance...

If you ever get the chance to sit down and read a book with your child...you should.  

If you ever get the chance to watch your children while they are sleeping...you should.

If you ever get the chance to hug your child after a basketball game and to tell them you are proud of them no matter the outcome of the game...you should.

If you ever get the chance to watch your child in a school music program, spelling bee, or activity...you should.

If you ever get the chance to tell your kids you love them before they walk out the door...you should.

If you ever get the chance to thank your parents for all they've done for you in this life...you should.

If you ever get the chance to spend time with your friends for laughter and tears...you should.

If you ever get the chance to thank your children's teachers, coaches, and mentors...you should.

If you ever get the chance to watch a sunrise or sunset...you should.

If you ever get the chance to sit by the beach and soak in the beauty of the ocean...you should.

If you ever get the chance to make cookies with your Granny...you should.

If you ever get the chance to do something to help another person...you should.

If you ever get the chance to be a part of something special in your community that helps others...you should.

If you ever get the chance to smile at a stranger...you should.

If you ever get the chance to forgive someone that has hurt you...you should.

If you ever get the chance to tell someone about God...you should.

If you ever get the chance to hold a newborn baby...you should.

If you ever get the chance to slow down...you should.

In this life of unpredictable happenings, we have to take the chances we are given.  This weekend was full of times when I couldn't keep the tears from falling.  I cannot wrap my mind around the events that took place in Connecticut on Friday morning.  I don't think anyone can.  I can't understand it nor can I find an explanation for it.  All I can do is make changes within my own life for the better.  I can do this by finding a way to let go of the worry and fully trust God, loving my family, and taking every opportunity to show them how much I love them.  I can do all that I can to inspire them to be loving, forgiving, understanding, compassionate, good people.

If you ever get the chance...

Be a good person.

Make a difference.

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3

Grateful

I am amazed by the generosity of the people in my life.  Not that I think people are heartless or anything.  Just that they are willing to go the extra mile to do something good.

The holidays are a crazy, busy time.  We barely have time to get our own shopping done.  We barely have the money to pay for our own holiday expenses.  Yet...people find the time to shop for others.

The holidays can bring out the absolute WORST in people.  The impatient, the cranky, the ungrateful.  They are all out there.  They make shopping miserable and make gatherings unpleasant.  What we have to remember is that we have no idea what makes those people act the way that they do.  Generally, Grinch like behavior stems from a much deeper hurt.  Who knows what makes the holidays a struggle for some.  It isn't ours to know.  But it is ours to pray for.

The holidays can also bring out the BEST in people.  My living room is proof.  A couple of years ago when I was still doing daycare in our home, a friend of mine and I got to talking about those less fortunate.  I decided with the help of social media, I would see if there was a desire for others to take part in a toy drive. The first year was a complete success.  People wondered why we were collecting toys, but they didn't let that curiosity stop them from hitting the stores and delivering their toys.  We spoke with a few representatives of the school district and shared our toy collection with them.  The rest were wrapped and taken to the EMS building for others to hand out.  It was such a bittersweet feeling dropping off the toys.  I was happy to take all of those toys with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction that the need was filled.  However, when I saw the amount of toys gathered for families who are doing without...I realized the need for assistance in our community.  It is a humbling experience to say the least.

Last year, we decided to try the toy drive for a second year.  My thought was simply if there was a need, it would be filled.  If the toys didn't come in as well, then it wasn't our mission to do the toy drive anymore.  Within a few weeks, the toys were piling in our living room.  Families were taking their kids shopping and dropping sacks off daily.  The need was there and the need was met.

Just last week, Coach mentioned that we didn't have as many toys this year as we had in the past.  I told him that it was okay because I knew if the need was there, it would be filled.  I am confident that this was never my plan to begin with.  When God puts something on your heart, you have two choices.  You can ignore it or you can act on it.  I acted on a plan much bigger than anything I could have put together on my own.  The proof is in the fact that when I came home tonight, our toy load had almost doubled.  This doesn't account for the toys we gave to the district today for them to add to their wonderful collection.

So many people have given of their time, their money, their prayers, and their support.

I am blessed to say that this year's toy drive was another HUGE success.  Thank you to all who have donated.  YOU are the miracle in someone's Christmas.  You are a blessing in their lives and in my life as well.

Referee of 3

It's Okay 12/12/12

It's Okay...12/12/12

1.  It's okay to look at the mess in your house and pretend that you don't see it.  

2.  It's okay to have a stack of toys taller than your "small" six year old in the middle of your living room to benefit others this holiday season.

3.  It's okay to pick up Pizza Hut for dinner.  It is always a fan favorite and there are no dinner dishes to clean.  (at least not from tonight)

4.  It's okay to wrap Christmas presents in bags.  Sometimes...it's even okay to tape them shut rather than use tissue paper.

5.  It's okay to keep all of your Christmas cards sealed in a basket because you feel so guilty that you haven't gotten yours done or sent yet.

6.  It's okay if you don't get your Christmas cards out until 2013.  (Right?)

7.  It's okay if you are supposed to bring a snack to a party and you buy chips and salsa right off the store shelf.

8.  It's okay to drink as many cups of sugar free peppermint cream coffee as you'd like to keep you awake to write the 8 page research paper you've been avoiding since November.  

9.  It's okay to get a giant Hershey's chocolate bar from your secret angel and say loudly for others to hear..."I'll NEVER be able to finish this!", and then eat the entire thing by yourself.

10.  It's okay to cry when you feel sad, or happy, or angry, or frustrated, or exhausted, or whatever.  I promise you...it's normal.  (if you are me)

11.  It's okay to close your eyes and breathe...but, not for too long or you'll fall asleep.  And who has time for sleep?

12.  It's okay when you realize you didn't do anything special at 12:12 on 12/12/12.  One minute of one day of one month of one year.  It's a special day, I'm sure.  But so were 9/26/98...and 9/23/99...and 2/14/02...and 10/26/06.  As much as I would have liked to stop at 12:12 and notice...it didn't happen.  And that's okay.  God knows the moments we are supposed to stop and notice...and I'm so thankful for that!

Have a blessed day!

Referee of 3