curious …

I’m curious.

Why does it take a tragedy or death for us to “hug our children closer?”

Why does it take a devastating act from someone else’s spouse for us to be thankful for {and stop nitpicking at} the one we married?

Why does it take a rock bottom experience for us to finally “get it” and change our ways?

Why does it take a tragic, terrorist act for our country to turn to God?

And then why {sometimes} are these revelations so quickly forgotten?

I’m the first to admit I take an awful lot of things for granted. My children’s love. God’s grace. My everyday blessings.

What if those things were suddenly taken from me? Would I have regrets? Would I wish I’d done things differently? Appreciated just a bit more?

I’m avoiding picking “one word” this year. And also avoiding a “this year I’m going to …” post.

That said. As the year changes over, I can’t help but appreciate the potential of what a NEW year brings.

New perspective. New appreciations. New blessings?

And apparently just a few deep thoughts to start me off in the right direction!

How about you? Are you pondering any deep thoughts as we head into the start of a fresh new year?

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Posted in deep thoughts, random

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a few of my favorite things …

I’ve been a bit obsessed with a few new things lately and thought I’d share the wealth!

First up … this gorgeous mug from my instagram friend Aedriel! It’s my new favorite go-to mug. There’s just something about it that makes me happy when I’m sipping my coffee.

Ohmyglory! This creamer is heavenly! I’ve never been a “creamer” type coffee drinker. Sugar, yes … I typically like me a little coffee to go with my sugar in the morning. But someone recently turned me on to this creamer and I love it so much I’m skipping my morning Starbucks run! It’s seriously that good!

And these crazy looking things? Fuzzy fingers.

If you’re OCD about the grime your phone picks up, you will thank me big-time for telling you about my new friend … the fuzzy finger! Not kidding. A couple of swipes across your phone and it’s crystal clear. Also works swimmingly on sunglasses {another OCD issue I have}.

One last word … Voxer. I’m telling ya … Voxer’s where it’s at! Given this situation, my fingers aren’t so nimble these days, so I’m not exactly what one would call a texting queen.

And since I’m not what you’d really call a phone-talker either … Voxer is perfect for me {and ahem, anyone who’d like to connect with me}. I wish everyone were on it! Seriously.

Voxer let’s you leave someone a “voice mail” {on the Voxer app, not on your phone} without having to actually call. I’m not sure what’s with me and actual phone calls … it’s just something I have a strong aversion to. In fact, I called one of my friends recently, not sure what the situation was, she answered concerned, telling me she was on a call but hung up when she saw it was me because she figured it was important knowing my dislike of an actual phone conversation. Yeah, I’m kinda that bad!

Anyway. I love, love, love Voxer. I can leave my teen a message and not worry about her in the middle of driving and reading a text. She can respond easily {although, she’s not the fan of Voxer that I am}. I’ve been staying connected with her … some days it’s like she’s sitting right in my living room as we chat and share what’s going on! I’ve also been able to stay connected with my sister … something neither of us are too good about.

And so my friends … these are my new favorite things … any of them pique your interest?

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Posted in random

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the adventures of cheeto

I couldn’t be happier to announce … Cheeto has left the building!!

But let me start at the beginning of this tail tale …

Once upon a time two eighteen-year-old twin birthday princes caught a snake in the yard. They soon figured this snake would need something to eat, and decided to visit the local pet store to buy said snake his dinner.

Meanwhile back at the boys home, a queen and her four princesses appeared in search of a birthday party.

When the twin boys arrived home with the snake and it’s dinner, three little princesses went into superhero mode and decided to save said “dinner.”

The princesses found a box, some bedding, changed dinner’s name to “Cheeto, the mouse,” and brought Cheeto home to their palace at the end of a very fine birthday evening.

All was well and good until Cheeto decided to make a run for it and escaped his new kingdom.

Cheeto proceeded to live for about two months in the palace, roaming freely, and leaving tell tail tale signs that he was alive and thriving.

The queen had a few enchanted encounters with Cheeto while he was loose in the palace. But try as she might, she just couldn’t trap free the little bugger. Did I mention little Cheeto had a rendezvous in the queen’s been one evening. Um, yeah.

It was then the queen got smart and hopped on Amazon to get herself a real trap! Finally the box with a smile on it arrived. A smile indeed!

Cheeto seemed to spend most of his time in the palace … um … cheetos, so the queen thought the pantry the best place for the trap. With no such luck. Until one evening, one of the palace princesses heard little Cheeto in the pantry. She called out to the queen, who called the bravest princesses out of bed, “Come quick! Cheeto’s in the cheetos and y’all need to catch him.”

I’m telling you … crazy ensued in that pantry! And little Cheeto escaped by the hair on his tail chinny-chin-chin!

The princesses were certain little Cheeto often rendezvoused in their bedroom and insisted the trap would best be utilized there. And sure enough my friends!

At 2:00am the princesses woke the queen to inform her Cheeto had been trapped! Blurry-eyed, but excited, the queen stumbled jumped out of bed and headed to the trap.

“Ah-ha! Now I’ve got you!” she thought to herself … aloud. “Let’s git him outta here!” Apparently the queen loses all dignity at 2:00am. And she, with the princesses following, marched straight into the neighbors yard and let little Cheeto loose.

The moral of this story? God save the cheetos queen! Also? Just go with the whole circle-of-life-thing the next time your princesses want to rescue a snake’s dinner.

Posted in random

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a letter to my sixteen year old self

Did you know? Emily Freeman released a sister … or should I say daughter companion for her Grace For the Good Girl book. It’s called Graceful, and it’s lovely.

In honor of it’s release and all the things our young-girl selves are faced with, Emily’s challenged us to write a letter to our teenage selves. You know, knowing what we know today, what would we tell our mall-hair-leg-warmer-wham-loving selves? She’s hosting a link-up and there’s all kinds of fun to be had over there!

So this is me … writing to my 16 year old self.

Sweet girl,

You need to know … you are enough. And there’s a man that loves you more than any boy or man ever will … His name is Jesus. Do you know, if you could just grasp that now it would save you a whole lotta pain!

But I suppose no. You are a stubborn one, aren’t you? You do like to find things out yourself. Experience it yourself. Fail, or not fail, on your own accord and by your own will.

You’ll learn a lot because of that will. You’ll learn good things and you’ll learn bad things. What to do, and what not to do.

You want so desperately to be liked. So desperately to fit in. You’re not popular. You’re not smart.

But you are enough. In all the awkwardness and angst of your teenage-self … please know you are enough.

 

You really should pay more attention to your schooling, homework, and education. Yes, I get it … all you dream of being is a hairstylist, and you don’t think school really matters. But guess what? It kinda does. And yes, you will go on to be a hairstylist. But guess what? It won’t be all you thought it would be and eventually you’ll go on to do something else. In fact, you’ll go on to do lots of something else’s.

Oh and sweet girl, for the love of God would you listen to your momma and marry a boy who loves Jesus? Although, you’re not walking in His love, so how are you to know how important this life detail really is?

And little girl … don’t be in such a hurry to get married. You still have a lot of growing up to do. You’ve got issues girl, that need to be worked out.

But if you don’t listen, and you do go ahead and marry your high school sweetheart and best friend … and if that marriage doesn’t work out … know that you’ll get one of God’s greatest gifts from that relationship, your precious babygirl Taylor Rio. And that girl will go on to amaze you with her courage, strength, grace, love for the Lord, stubbornness, and her own strong will … every.single.day!

Oh! and when she’s young, she may not care for the whole mom-and-dad-were-children-of-the-80′s-and-your-middle-name-is-from-a-duran-duran-song-her-name-is-rio, but trust me, she’ll dig it when she gets a little older.

Tracie, please believe me … you are enough.

You’ll go on to do things you’ve never dreamed of. You’ll get your pilot’s license. You’ll own a business … two of them! You’ll be a photographer. You’ll be a writer … you’ll even have your very own author’s page! You’ll go on to accomplish much of whatever you set your heart and mind on.

You will also walk through valley’s of pain. Valley’s so deep … so wide … so painful that at times, you think it might kill you. But sweet girl, by then you’ll have found a Savior that loves you deeper and wider than any valley you’ll walk through. And you will lean on Him like your life depends on it … because it does.

And you will get through. You’ll get through it all. With grace, faith, love, and forgiveness … you’ll get through it all.

Your battles, your courage, your faith, and your strength will encourage and inspire others who watch you … most importantly your children. You’ll have four girls. Four.

Close your mouth … yes, you! The one who doesn’t babysit because you don’t like kids! You’ll be the blessed mommy to four beautiful girls. And they will love Jesus. And you will love those girls ’til the end of the world. They will exhaust you, and frustrate you, and you’ll wonder if you’re doing it right. But they’ll hug you, and love on you, and tell you you’re the best … and you’ll go to bed thanking God for the blessing of those little ladies.

Tracie … at 16, you think this is it, this is life and there ain’t no more to it … but sweet girl, your life hasn’t even begun. I promise you from the depths of my soul, what God has in store for you, hasn’t even begun.

He will go on to show you, all the days of your life, you … sweet girl … are enough.

Posted in encouragement, random

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for narnia … for emily …

Emily
11.15.96 – 8.10.11
Born to Eternal Life

Sweet angel Emily … the memories you’ve left behind continue to fill our hearts and minds. You, sweet girl are so dearly missed. So dearly, dearly missed.

Your mom, dad, and Kiki are doing their best to face each day with faith, strength, and grace, but at times grow very, very weary. I continue to cover them in prayer … lifting them before God asking for peace and continued strength. They love you forever Em and have been left with a gaping hole in their hearts. I pray for the day when they’ll see you again.

Thank you for your legacy. Thank you for who you are and what you did with the very short time you were allowed here on earth. You’ve touch me and so many others with your sweet, quiet, yet crazy spirit!

Remembering you today … and always …

Posted in friends, quote, random

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