Gotcha 11 Years Ago

Happy Gotcha Day to my now teenager!  Boy was she mad to see me 11 years ago, but I was already in love.  She came into my life just at the right time.  Phew... all the lessons this girl has taught me over the years.  So glad God knew I needed her.  Happy Gotcha Day turkeyloohoo!!

Complicated

S took this picture of us at church today.  She sent me the pic and all I could think of was how it reflected just two simple people in a beautiful church appearing to lead a simple life together...

Hahahaha!  Our lives together are anything other than... simple.  Even the fact that S was actually willing to take the pic was another reminder of our not so simple lives (smile).  We both have a multitude of issues and obligations with our kids and our jobs that consistently keep us from spending time with each other.  Fortunately, we do manage to spend time together every Sunday in church remembering that we serve a faithful God.  I was moved to tears this am reflecting on all God has given me.  I felt super grateful to have all of my children and the man I love in church next to me this morning.  Something I do not take for granted.

As a family, we will be attending a memorial service tonight for one of T's friends who chose to end his own life this week.  Wish I could shield my kids from this tragedy that hits so close to home; however I cannot.  I will choose to cry with them and remind them that God has great plans for their lives.  I will hug them all a bit tighter.  Most of all... I will thank the Lord for this not-so-simple very complicated life He has blessed me with!

Take Two

Ended the night with another stellar performance :) Lots of fun and proud of my little dancers.  And of course more flowers for the princesses!!

Performers

The girls had their very first dance show today.  They were so cute!  Both of them were thrilled they were able to wear makeup and get all dolled up for their big performances.  Two shows in one day.  Here's pics from the matinee show.  Oh and as you can see, their favorite part is getting the flowers... Thanks Papa and Grandma :)

Trick or Treaters

We ventured over to the rich neighborhood behind us again this year.  Complete with decorated houses and full size candy bars! T looked super creepy and he even scored some candy himself;)

Fwd: We Must Consistently Hold Up That Which We Desire to Become

We Must Consistently Hold Up That Which We Desire to Become

There is an oft-repeated parable that goes like this:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

He continued, "The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

This is a helpful story. An important one. And there is wisdom we can learn from it.

But that story came to mind as I was thinking recently about another truth in life we need to be equally aware of. The countertruth is this:

There is a "default" position that each of us have in life. This default position does not need to be fed to grow, it just is. And unless that position is fought against (almost constantly), it will be the state that our lives always unintentionally default into.

Think about it in this way. Many people struggle with healthy eating habits. They want to eat healthy and they know they should. But eating healthy only seems to happen when one is focused on it, battling against the default position of too much sugar and too much food. Healthy eating habits (or dieting as an example) only happen when we purposefully lift them up in our lives.

If I'm not purposefully eating healthy, I'm eating unhealthily. The default position is poor eating habits. And it feels like a constant battle—one that must be fought every day— to pursue what is good and right and healthy.

In this case, that wolf does not need to be fed in order to win. It will always win, unless I constantly lift up better habits.

The battle is not against equals. One position is, unfortunately in this case, the default position of life.

Now, this is just one example (one that I think a high percentage of people can relate to). But this idea extends far beyond the things we eat. And they differ from person to person.

One person may be inclined to laziness, another to workaholism.

One person may be inclined to poor physical fitness, another to vanity.

One person may be inclined to overspending, another to selfish frugality.

Other default positions that come to mind include: selfishness, jealousy, misplaced ambition, envy, pride, arrogance, or a contentious spirit.

Each of these, it seems, tend to be the default position of our lives. And only if we consistently war against them will we have (and retain) victory in becoming the person we desire to become.

If generosity is not consistently lifted up in my life, I too often tend toward selfishness. If resolved focus is not consistently lifted up in my life, busyness and distraction become the norm. If love and appreciation for others is not consistently pursued, envy will again show up.

One might realize this truth and respond by saying, "Then what's the use of trying to change?" Others will reflect upon it, examine their own life for unhealthy defaults, and proceed forward resolved to consistently hold up that which they desire to become.

Be the latter.

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