On Lacey and being 27

It just seems like yesterday I had Lacey.  We lived in a trailer in Norman, and Carl was almost finished with college.  We were toddlers, having a baby.  I turned 23 in May, and had Lacey in June.  I am fortunate she was such a lovely baby.  We were clueless, bringing that baby home, but somehow we managed to raise her to toddlerhood, then beyond.

Yes, I know I'm attractive, I just pushed that 8 lb baby out.

Aww, toddlerhood, starting her "beast" years.  (These are her words, not mine).   Any video of Lacey will find her snapping at the camera, mean and cranky.  Maybe it was because she was presented with a little sister, right after she turned 4 years old.  Maybe it was because she was a snappier dresser than I and was always dressed great, and a tad embarrassed at her 80's lookin' mama.   You know how most kids go through a "I don't care how I look" phase?  That was NEVER Lacey.  She always brushed her teeth, her hair, picked her room up (for the most part), because as I have come to find out as I have grown up (along with her) that I birthed a "GOLD" daughter. 

just a tiny reminder of that attitude

We've been taking COLOR personality tests at my work, and as I have learned the different color wheel, I realized right away that GOLD is my Lacey.   Golds like to make lists, and find nothing but delight and joy over being able to make the list and check things off on the list.  Nothing makes a Gold happier than a spreadsheet.  An organized means to an end.  Nothings upsets a gold more than to have a fly by the seat, hang on to your hat, "nobody died" and that's good enough approach, to a completion.  And guess what color her mother is??  That fly by the seat, hang on to your hat, kinda gal.  No wonder she was cranky.  She needed lists and organization, and her mom, well her mom lost the list. 

I've watched Lacey go through an incredible season this last year.  She turned 26 on June 20, and lost her baby on July 10.   She never slowed down from July on. She spoke with grace and beauty, at the Children's Miracle Network gala, 2 short weeks after we lost Laynie.   She decided to go back to school and get her masters degree, and started in August.  She went to school and worked part time with me, until about November, and to our joy, she started working with Children's Miracle Network, and gets to share Laynie's story Every Single Day.  She is now working on her 2nd semester of masters program, thinking she is going to change her mind and get a degree in Family Counseling/Grief  (who better, might I ask?) and is going to be dancing as a "Star" for the Miracle Families in the CMN's Dancing for a Miracle Gala in August.  I'm amazed at her strength.    God's carried her through this entire journey, and Lacey has never questioned why, just ok, Lord, take me on this journey and I am yours.   That's powerful and significant.   That's Lacey.

For someone that made me gain, in nine months, 50 pounds and most of it mexican food from El Chico, I am forever grateful.  She is my best friend, my accountability guru, my partner in humor, my shopping buddy, my biggest source of belly laughs around.  How lucky am I that all that is in the form of my Gold packaged daughter...

Lacey, you are a joy.

Love me some Lacey...

Started young being a comedianne.

On being a branch...

It is no secret I love my church.  Since the very first time I stepped through the doors about 7 years ago, I've been a "Lifer".  At first I was a "consumer", always there, but never participating in the "serving" portion.  It was only when I became a "contributor", and started serving in Lifekids, did the church become "My church".  It is a one of a kind feeling.  Sometimes that feeling is overwhelming when you have 18 2 year olds demanding attention all at once, and I had more snot on my shirt, than I did in my nose, but, seriously, plugging in and being "Part" is the only way to go.

When we started attending Lifechurch years ago, we drove from Midwest City to Oklahoma City campus, and upon meeting Craig (one of our first visits), he heard where we were from and announced to us  "Oh, I have BIG plans for MWC".... and after attending my first service in Midwest City today, Craig is so right.

If you haven't attended Lifechurch, then you might not know about us.  We have 15 campuses that you can attend.  If you are in South OKC, Yukon, NW OKC, OKC, Edmond, Tulsa, Bixby, Owasso, or in Tennessee, New York, Florida and Texas, we have a campus for you.   Now, if you aren't in one of those places, then we still have a campus for you, and you are staring at it right now.  Yep, online.  THat is how "Cool" we are.   And there is a time to fit any schedule.  Saturday at 5:00 and 6:30, and Sundays at 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 and 1:00, and a Sunday service at 6:00.  So there is no excuse.  Unless you are handcuffed to a chair, being held at gunpoint, there is a service that fits your time schedule. 

Today's message, at the new campus, and I am happy to say that both services are PACKED, so I have to think that a 3rd service is right around the corner.... was about REMAINing. 

I have talked about this so much in a few of my past blogs, I feel like I am beating a dead horse, but I can't believe how easy life is, when you are "REMAINING' in Christ.  You are so connected, so part of a plan, so firmly dwelling, that a lot of this daily living stuff, that used to overwhelm me, seems kind of...well.... lame.  The stuff I used to worry about.... holy smokes, I wasted more of my precious time worrying about stuff that didn't happen that the time I could have been "Being a branch", I blew.

I've made a lot of terrible mistakes in my life, and when I look back on all of them, it's because I wasn't "Connected" to the vine.  I was so far from God's plan for me.  It's easy to be swayed to do the wrong thing, to choose the wrong path, when you aren't connected to the vine.  I like being a branch that lives a healthy, full, loving life.   And it comes much easier, when the vine is near your heart and soul.

Can you tell I love church?  It was so fun seeing so many familiar faces.  The drive is always really fun too.  Some of the profound statements made this morning, supplied by Kip... "It really takes longer (to get to church) when you hit all  the red lights."   (uhm, ya think?)  and Hallie, chimed in to add, after discussing the temperature and how it was still 100 degrees at midnight last night....  "Does it cool down at night, you think, because there is no sun?"...  (wow, kudos to her teachers).    And then when we get to church..... so many familiar happy faces.   All those branches, waving to you, welcoming you in to the fold.... that's what I am talking about.   Church that makes you leave changed.   Every. Single.  Time.  

God is good..... you are all invited.....

On Pictures and Posing

I told Lacey that when I turned 50, I wanted to take some "Real" pictures together.  You know, "Real" pictures.  Not our snapshots that we take almost daily, but true live, real, honest to gosh pictures.  So we called in long time friend, Katie Bond Begley, and she did us proud. 

Now we are goofy, and we like to have fun, so I'm amazed we got more than a couple of good shots.  Thank goodness we picked a very patient photographer.   Here are a couple .....

We clean up good.  Plus, we are natural posers, camera hams that really enjoy taking pictures.  Weird, I know. 

Here are some of the funnier ones that I really really loved more than the "posed" ones....

"Mom, press against me and stand up.  What? ..  Do it.  uhm, Ok" 

It was fun, and we are goofy girls, but now I have some beautiful pictures that I will cherish as I get too old to do this anymore....

Then there were the ones that Katie caught our true faces, and you can almost read the love oozing from me

but my favorite now is this one.  I love this picture of us, it is totally who we are.  Blessed, that's us. 



Hail, yeah.

When you live in Oklahoma you expect tornados.  That just goes with the territory.  And with tornados come lovely little ice from the sky... also known as Hail.    My pretend boyfriend, meteorologist Rick Mitchell

(let's just stop for a moment and pay homage to my fake boyfriend....sigh)..  Is in my front room most evenings when bad weather is a-comin' (just like any GOOD self respecting boyfriend should be.... protecting their women folk)  ... anyway, back to the story....

I arrived home from work, and of course, the weatherwomen of all weatherwomen, MY MOM, informs me that we are going to have some terrible weather.  TERRIBLE, she insists.   Well, it's 100 degrees outside, and there isn't a cloud in sight, so I send her home with a "Okey dokey", to which she sniffs at me, and leaves.   When mom sniffs, you know you have done messed in your oatmeal.   But, it was too PRETTY outside to have any significant weather, right, right, Right???   Well, it is Oklahoma. 

Here is the best way to show you what happened.  THis Youtube video by a neighbor one mile away, shows it best.  At 2 minutes and 36 seconds in, it happens, so just hang in there... and get ready for the videographer to bless some poop when it really hits....  Ok, get your umbrellas and fasten your seatbelts...

See, in Oklahoma we don't mess around!  Here are some shots of our house when it was done....

My front yard

Mom's house got popped pretty good.. you can see her siding tore off and her flower pots all blown over.  Her trash can was down the street too.  Kip was across town and as she drove home she got more horrified the closer she got... here was some of what she saw only 1 mile away....

trying to drive across Norman

power lines down EVERYWHERE! snapped like twigs

speaking of twigs...



Anyway, she got home, and Grammie and I were standing out in the yard to our ankles in hail.  Totalled our roofs, garage doors, patio covers, but we were so lucky.  Two weeks earlier, our dear friends lost their house in the El Reno tornado.  We got a flick on the cheek, they got spanked.  And I think they had the most powerful message ever from the sign they retrieved from the wreckage....

The most important things in life AREN'T things...



So, we were lucky.  Had a great story to share, new roofs out of the deal, plenty of ice for everyone, and quality time with Rick Mitchell.   Gotta love Oklahoma weather....

On Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my daddy.  I was so sad that he never got to meet Laynie.

Now, I'm thrilled that they are together.

And someday, I will be with them... never to part again.

Buried Deep

I have been reading through the bible this year. Committed, faithful, everyday. Something I should have been doing for years, and just never took the time. Until God made sure I had plenty of time, and in my desolation, as many of us do, and the only time many of us do, I turned to God for comfort. I read and meditate on Him everyday.

So the last few days, as life is gettting back to "Normal", I've slowed down the reading. And started to feel disconnected and "sad", if you will. I couldn't understand how I could be "Sad", when I am finally getting back to work, getting my "Life" back.

And as I saw my bible laying by my bed, waiting on me to pick it up and gain my spiritual nourishment, it clicked. I picked up my bible, starting reading where I left off and immediately read what I needed to hear..

"If you would have to go through your house and put all the scripture pictures, the worship music, the encouraging books, any kind of religious material.... and strike a match and burn it all.... would you be buried deep enough in your walk with God, and your knowledge of His word, to be able to pull from your inner resources and stay strong in this world?"

That hit me like a ton of bricks. Here I am, only a couple of days from reading God's word, and I'm feeling disconnected. How many bibles do I own, and have only scratched the surface?? We are reading The Shack in my lifegroup and discussing it, and we talked about God's love last night. And how deep and abiding His love is for us. Though we make mistakes again and again, He is always waiting, with open arms to receive His children back to Him. So much of my life I pictured God as a "Heavenly Gestapo", (if you will), doling out sentences, sending people to Hell. I never "Got" the incredible way that He loves us. Yes, bad things happen. Things happen to get our attention. Things happen of this world that don't make sense. But through it all, through every bad thing, God is there... to carry you and guide you and Love you with a love that has no end. All you have to do is pick up your bible and do your part.

What if you met the most terrific person in the world and wanted to get to know them better? You ask questions, you text, you talk, to spend time in their presence.. well, I've discovered the only way to have my relationship with God, my father, is to Text him (prayer), spend time in His presence (bible and worship music), and have a RELATIONSHIP with Him. What if you only talked to your significant other one time a week ?? (Sunday for an hour, two at the most ??) How long would that relationship last?? A true relationship takes effort and commitment.

Christine Caine said "You have to have your feet firmly planted in God's word, so when the trials of the world Hit you, you are so secure, nothing can shake you". I want that security, I want that peace that only comes with knowing Him.

So, I'll pick up my bible and read on... safe in His pocket and ready to re-enter the world. Buried so deep in His love, nothing will shake me.

It's a problem solving, life changing, love giving, soul sustaining, Life Giver. #1 Bestseller. All you got to do, is pick it up and read it.

On being Half a century

I turned 50 on Monday.  I remember when my mom turned 50.  It was a BIG deal.. she was so...... O.L.D.  Now that I am here, I can say with unwavering certainty, that 50 is NOT old.  50 is just getting started. 

Now there are drawbacks to being 50.  You forget what you are saying in the middle of the sentence.  Your dark lovely hair is now a silver tinted mass.   You can't see squat without your glasses.  The worst part is taking them off and forgetting where you put them, and being unable to see them to find them.  That's cool.   I've always been a bit of a swan, falling at the most awkward times, and that hasn't stopped with age.  I tripped over the gas hose at the station last week, and fell (after hopping and pulling my hamstring trying to catch myself) straight to the ground, taking out my elbow and my right hip.  I still haven't quite figured out how I scraped my left elbow and sprain my right hip, but that's how it turned out.  I used to could fall and be ok, but it took 2, count them, TWO days to start feeling like my old self.  That old commercial... "I've fallen and I can't get up"  rings true.  First thing I thought of when I fell was, "Crap, wonder who saw that", so I knew I wasn't too hurt.  Still worried about "how it looked to others".  

But other than the falling, the blindness, the hair color, the massive chin hairs that grow for no particular reason and at the speed of sound, the hot flashes, and the bladders inability to cooperate on ANY level, during a huge laugh, a sneeze, and just forget about jumping or running, All that?? just pesky little flies in the scheme of life.  Because the good stuff far outweighs the bad.

Your kids are growing up, and becoming your best friends for life.   You actually realize your parents absolutely ARE the smartest things out there and you listen to them....in some cases, they even come to you and ask your opinion.  That's HUGE.  You're relaxed about your house, your hair being fixed every second, and things like what's for dinner?... How about nachos?? are greeted with a resounding  "WOOHOO." 

You get grandbabies that rock your world.  You watch tv and look at the youngsters on the screen and critique them on what they should do, because you've been there and MADE those mistakes. 

God took me out of the fast lane for the last 8 months and made me be STILL.  He made me appreciate life, money, my family, my short time on this planet, and made me understand how everything COUNTS.  Every decision, every plan, every thought, it all counts.   I was rushing through life, not even realizing what was passing me by, until God took everything I THOUGHT I valued away and made me realize that laughing with your kids over P B & J's, walking through your yard actually APPRECIATING the fact that you have a yard, all these things count and are big deals. 

50 is going to be a good year.  And a good launching pad... for the rest of my life.  I'm all about 50.  Fabulous, freeing 50.  Bring it.