Quiet Moment

I am taking a few minutes to myself this morning.  That's about all I have today.  In fact, it's one of those days when I probably shouldn't even be doing that. 
I am going to make a statement that will come as a shock to my mother....I am not perfect. 
I have shortcomings and struggles.  Some that lately have begun to really get me down.  I suppose some of my frustration comes from my first-born personality that thinks I have to do everything just right...everytime....the first time....in every situation....always.  Of course this is not reality, but I sure wish it could be.
I wish I always treated everyone, in all things and all times, with love.  I wish I never let anyone down or caused anyone hurt feelings.  I wish I could always walk in forgiveness and mercy. 
I wish I knew how to handle every relational situation. 
I wish I knew exactly how to handle each and every situation I face as a parent, so that I could walk away knowing that each decision was the right one.
I wish I was the perfect wife, daughter, granddaughter, sister, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, niece, and friend.
I wish sooo much I was the perfect parent. 
But most of all I wish everyday I could live in such a way that God would say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Yesterday, I was driving and listening to an old Third Day CD.  One of the songs resonated with me in a fresh way.  It's my prayer today.  If only I would put God above everything in my life, He would provide me with grace enough for all of my shortcomings.  And, He would fill all my gaps.

"Father in Heaven
 Lord may your name be glorified
 Above all others, above all this world
 Above everything else in our lives
 For nothing else in all of this world matters
 But to live our lives for you and you alone"
                                                              - Third Day

Homecoming 2011

Third Day...Live

Finally was able to see one of my all time favorite bands in concert. 
It was great fun! 

By design, it was a total girls night. 

Hannah and I each brought a friend. :) Jorgia, Hannah's best friend from church, along with her mom Jeannie.  Jeannie and I were middle school camp counselors together.  

Middle school camp.

One whole week.

Not my most favorite memory.  If it wasn't for Jeannie, I might not have made it. (LOL)  So, she is super special. :) 

The opening band was Tenth Avenue North.  The girls were more excited about them than the headliner.  But Jeannie and I were teenagers in the 80's, so the southern rock sound of Third Day was much more to our liking. :) 

We had seats on the floor, so I was able to get some great pictures.  There aren't too many voices I like better than Mac Powell's.  Awesome!
Third Day has SO MANY great songs, that they couldn't have possibly played them all.  So, even though they played for an hour and a half, it went way too quick.  And, I didn't get to hear all of my faves. :(

Time to break out my Third Day CD collection.

Life's Curveballs

I wish I would have believed my mom when she told me years ago, that raising a toddler is much easier than raising a teenager.  At least then I could have in some way tried to prepare myself for the tumultuous time that is called the "teen years".  These words will forever be cause for me to shudder...and buy my parents extra nice birthday presents every year.  (They deserve some kind of extra perk for raising three teenagers into adulthood.)

Each child has their own way of going through this process.  Jessi isn't quite there yet.  We'll see what it looks like when she arrives at that point.  I withhold comment.

 Hannah is making her way through at a most pleasant pace.  Only a few minor bumps, nothing a seasoned mom like me can't handle. :) 

Joey walks the teenage journey in a big way.  Loud and bumpy. 

Oh, how I love that kid, but he puts me through it sometimes....and not always his fault.  This week was like that.

Last Sunday and Monday he passed out 4 times.  Scared the living daylights out of us. 
Took him to the doctor, who promptly diagnosed exhaustion and dehydration, due to the fact that he'd had a virus and has been running 25 - 30 miles a week, plus up late studying.  Not enough sleep, not enough fluid.
Bad Mom Award, right here. :(  Ugh.  I felt pretty low.
Just for good measure, Doc felt we should run some blood work and an EKG. 
"We need to make sure.  You know student athletes drop dead sometimes of an undiagnosed heart condition."
Yeah, thanks Doc, don't remind me.
Unexpectedly, (I really thought the tests would come back fine) the nurse called the next day to tell us his EKG came back abnormal.
"Tracey, he cannot run until he has an echocardiogram done to find out what is going on."

Unfortunately, the two days it took to get him into the hospital schedule for the test, caused him to miss cross country districts. 

Try telling your passionate varsity runner he isn't competing in the district meet.  Not a fun conversation...at all.  But, if something was wrong with his heart?  I wouldn't want to have to tell him he had to give up running.  Running is life to him.  Missing districts was bad enough.

It ended his season.  Thankfully, he is only a junior.

However, late Friday afternoon, we got the most blessed news.

The cardiologist could find nothing wrong with his heart!

Praise God!  

He just said our son is too skinny and needs to gain weight.

Once again, I felt like a bad mom.  How can you keep weight on a kid that runs all the time?  Plus, more food?  Really?  He eats me out of house and home as it is.  Need a different plan.

The ending of this chapter in the scary, tumultuous times of raising my first teenager is a bit funny.
After hearing the good news, Joey went out and ran 1 1/2 miles as fast as he could.
Even funnier?

He timed himself....

new personal record. :)

Happy 17th Birthday Joey

Joey,
I always get so sentimental on your birthday. 
Of course, today is no different.  Today my first born turns 17 years old.  Where does the time go?
I remember, in detail, the day you were born.

I truly thought you were the most beautiful little baby I had ever laid eyes on....and of course you were.  Well, that is until your sisters were born.  Then you had a little run for your money. :)

Your dad looks like he wasn't old enough to be a father.  He was 26, but looks about 18 in that picture. :)  He was so nervous that night, but after you were born, he really was a natural.  Fatherhood suited him well.  Saturdays were your days together.  I worked every Saturday, and he loved the time the two of you had together. 

And, then right before our eyes you started growing like crazy.
 

Time rolled by so quickly, and we were celebrating your 1st birthday. 
And, then we blinked and you started Kindergarten.

You were the cutest kid in your class...by far.  And, I am not even a tiny bit biased.  Really. :)

I wish I could have somehow slowed the process up a bit, but that's not how life works.  You kept growing and changing.

More birthdays passed...

And, you stopped looking like a little boy, and much more like a young man.
 But, you've never lost that electric smile that lights up my whole day...every time.  You have brought a joy to dad and I that only you could have given. 
Happy 17th Birthday Joseph!

With Much Love,
Your insanely sentimental Mom

Dave's Half Marathon

Dave decided not to run a full marathon this fall.  He opted for a half this time. 
I am still in awe of anyone who can do it.
I missed him going by at the start.  This event had about 4000 runners, not near as big as the one he ran in the spring.  This is the half way point. 

Coming by on the home stretch.  Checking his watch to see if he was going to make his goal time.  He made it.

We couldn't be prouder of our marathon man. :)

Hang-Ups Continued

I was trying to think what else I could add to my list of annoyances, and this next one needs no elaboration, so this post is short.

Wal-Mart.

Enough said. :)