Texting Pick Me Up
January 27, 2012 By Tracey Leave a Comment
I was moseying along during the day yesterday, minding my own business – actually I was cleaning a bathroom. Such is the glamorous life of a mom expecting a house full of couples for a good old fashioned deep Biblical discussion.
Part of me wanted to fore-go the cleaning and just let my son’s mess speak for itself – “This is our home, we do live in it and our guest bathroom happens to also be my 15 year old son’t bathroom and he nor I have done our chores for nearly two weeks!” I know…that’s kinda yucky, but we were out of town, he was staying with friends and we are all still trying to catch up!
But gee, company was coming. It might shock you to learn I decided not to run the sweeper…I really am so over the “my home must be perfect to be a good mom” lie!
So…any-who I hear the familiar “ping” on my very old iphone and I bolted towards it to see who was wanting to connect. You do that once you have a child in college – truly… any connection from the former occupant of your daily home and heart life is craved.
There to my hopeful eyes was a text from my girl, my Freshman in college, my “I do miss you mom” girl…and here is what it said:
“$96,261 a year, what the average homemaker is worth. According to…hmm, the people on the radio who were talking about taxes and money and stuff. Just thought you might find that interesting. Love you momma!”
You Don’t Matter Lie
January 25, 2012 By Tracey 1 Comment
Safely tucked away in my familiar surroundings of home I thrive, as God and I stroll along peacefully together. Comfortable, quiet, easily heard. When my home is filled with family, friends and laughter, that too is a reflection of God’s love for me, therefore I am at ease.
It’s when I leave the sanctuary of my home that the doubts always come, the pressing in on my formerly perceived clear calling from the Lord. It is as if all the blooming that occurs as I bask in His presence instantly wilts when I face the world.
Childhood insecurities, work environment remembrances, fear of pharasitical judgement…all result in my confidence lying crumpled in a heap. The bashful ten year old girl emerges and the thoughts that my voice does not matter paralyzes me. What He whispers in my heart that surges through me as life giving truth that must be boldly shared…becomes a fuzzy remembrance.
“Not me.”
Why do I allow the world to so easily cloud and stop short, even stunt, the growth that the sonshine nurtures?
I yearn for the power to break free and boldly, without fear…obey.
God is able.
Multi-Generational Mom Gathering
January 23, 2012 By Tracey Leave a Comment
Last week I was scurrying around trying to wrangle a large group and keep them engaged and entertained…it was hard work, but well worth it when I saw how much fun they were having and how well they were connecting.
Nope, it was not a group of kids…it was a group of moms! Amazingly, even though MomLife Today was founded in 2008 this was the first time we had all gathered together to meet and dream about our individual ministries and the ministry of MomLife Today.
I hope you will join me over at MomLife Today, where I share the profound effect it hand on me to meet these amazing moms.
It is truly amazing that I met so many of these moms on line and that God uses social media for His purposes!
Roof Crashers
January 12, 2012 By Tracey 2 Comments
There are times in my momlife where I sit in amazement of who my children are becoming.
He sheepishly walked in from Echo – the Wednesday night youth gathering at our church – and as he looked up at me I could see emotion in his face. He grinned slightly and averted his eyes. My mom senses picked up on something…something big.
“Are you OK?” I inquired.
“Yeah…well…it was a really good night,” he offered.
“Have you been crying?”
“Um…yeah…I am just so happy, and blessed…to have such great friends. After church we gathered in a circle and we prayed for each other and I just kept thinking how blessed I am to have such amazing Godly friends. I told them we were going to be known as the Roof Crashers from on.”
Spend some time reading Luke 5:17-26 and you’ll see the enormity of that proclamation.
This is the same boy who at age five was screamed at on the playground, “Go away – we don’t like you, we don’t want to play with you.” The same boy who has received a good amount of ribbing because he chooses to step away when conversations go south. (Which trust me moms, amongst boys, happens more than we would all like to admit!)
As I have pondered my sons sheer joy over who he spends time with I am reminded that we all need to surround ourselves with authentic relationship.
Do you have Roof Crashers in your life? I encourage you to stop right now and pull out your note cards and write each one of them a good old fashioned hand written note of gratitude and let them know just how much you love and appreciate them.
Come back to visit and I’ll share with you just why I think that son of mine has the desire to seek authentic relationship…it does take some parental modeling, but obviously it is worth the effort!
Interviewing A Model
January 11, 2012 By Tracey 1 Comment
I really enjoy interviewing people for MomLife Today because being able to share what others are doing to glorify God, that in process speaks into the lives of moms, makes me silly happy!
Confession time…knowing that I was interviewing an International model made me feel silly awkward…like my former awkward pre-teen self. No pressure there…sitting on camera opposite a woman who has been on magazine covers. Gee thanks.
I chose, yes chose, not to “go there” with the comparison trap…and approached the interview with a brave, and yes, happy heart! I even got silly happy because Rachel Lee Carter is a “true beauty” and is an amazing mom and has a passion to speak into the lives of teens (and their moms) about the importance of modesty!
If you would like to “meet” Rachel Lee Carter hop on over to MomLife Today and you can see my video interview and listen to her on FamilyLife Today!
New Territory, Instruction Needed
January 10, 2012 By Tracey 5 Comments
Laughter and revelry have filled my warm, cozy home for the last 27 days. Not so much more than any other passing of 27 days. Just sweeter somehow.
She was home again. My daughter. My “I’m a freshman in college” daughter. Who is more woman than girl now. Who is more reflective and forward looking now.
This is new territory for me. Territory I knew was coming, yet as with any challenging journey no matter how well prepared one thinks one is…there are surprises along the way.
“Mom…I am so happy. I love my friends and miss them so, so much.” Smiling at that proclamation I silently wonder, has she said that to her friends about me? Probably not.
But that’s ok. That means I have done my job of mothering and preparing well.
I am propelled back to the three-year-old daughter, being dropped off in a new church classroom, the easy way she hugged me goodbye and bravely walked into a new room, not knowing a soul. She moved forward into that new territory bravely, I wondered why she forged on without even a glance backward.
Then, and now, I know it is because she is content wherever she is because she knows she is not alone. She has been taught that. By her father and me.
I hear her in her room when she chats with her Heavenly Father; I have seen journal entries she has chosen to share. I have seen serenity, peace and tranquility revealed when she puts pencil to sketch pad.
Still…there is that part of me that wants to hold on to the girl I was given and keep her all to myself.
Heavy sigh.
Oh what must my Heavenly Father have in store for this amazing daughter of mine? I pray He gives me the ability to face her future with as much grace and strength as she possesses.
A contented smile grows in gratefulness for the gift of motherhood and the well worn leather map that I use to chart the course each day – His word. Without it I’d be lost and lonely.
Disappointing A Friend
January 9, 2012 By Tracey 2 Comments
Friendships are hard because each friend has her own set of expectations based on her life experiences, life circumstances and personal needs.
Lately, as I have been coaching my teens on their friendships, it has caused me to analyze my own friendships.
It pains me to say it, but at times I fall short of what it means to be a caring friend. Try as I might there are times when I get so focused on my life, the needs of my family and my responsibilities that I let a friend down.
And that makes me very sad.
As I have tried to analyze why I manage to be such a thoughtless friend at times I think I may have deduced a portion of the problem. Upon graduation from college I moved away from my family. I learned that the only way I could survive separation from them was to compartmentalize my relationship with them. When I am with them and speak with them I am fully with them. When I am not with them or don’t speak with them for a while that does not lessen my love for them, it just means that when life is busy, they hear less from me. When life slows down again we connect and pick up right where we left off.
In my mind I have always felt that even close friendships are the same way. I so enjoy being with friends, building relationships, playing hard and loving fully when I am with friends. But not spending time with or talking with friends for days or even weeks at a time does not lessen my relationship with them, at least not as far as I am concerned.
However, I am learning everyone does not see things the way I do. Some friends really need a more consistent connection or they begin to wonder if the friendship is faltering, or if there is some sort of problem.
Bottom line…communication of expectations and needs is key, that and a healthy measure of understanding towards each other and the realization that the way we view friendships may be different…not wrong, just different.
Am I making any sense to anyone out there? Please share your thoughts with me!
Rest, Relaxation and Roaring To Go
January 6, 2012 By Tracey Leave a Comment
Ahhhh…my time away from social media was glorious.
Which may seem just wrong from someone entrenched in social media.
But it’s not.
It is honesty from one who is determined not to be ruled by it or dependent upon it for my self worth.
There are a few changes on the horizon and some amazing relationships God is growing.
I am delightedly grateful for whatever 2012 holds and looking to the One who guides my steps for EVERY baby step or giant step He directs…even the social media one’s.
It is ALL His you know…every bit of it.
What You’re Saying