Blink

I was cleaning out my Google Drive today and this picture stopped me in my tracks. My eyes filled with tears. This is our middle boy when he was around 2, holding his day-old brother in the hospital. Everything about this picture ruins me. The pudgy fingers, round cheeks, tiny sneakers and closeness…all of it…

This is a snapshot of a season that was so very wonderful and yet so exhausting!

The tears are not because I miss this time of life. Are you kidding!?

Weight gain, pumping, nursing, schedules, strollers, diapers…the list is so very long.

The tears are because back then I was in control. I really was. I set the schedule, I made the meals, I buckled them in, I managed their social calendar and planned their activities – I knew where they were all the time.

And now, well – it’s so very different.

Our boys are now 16, 14, and 11. Is it still awesome? SURE! But control is a slippery concept I can SOMETIMES feel.

People ask me what it’s like to raise teenagers. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

Think about riding a roller coaster. That long, slow ride up the first big hill. You know, when you hear every single click of the wheels against the railing and feel the weight of the struggle against gravity. You’re on edge, waiting for the rush – constantly looking over at the people around you. You vacillate between tears, laughter, and absolute fear.

Okay, that feeling on the way up? That’s what it’s like to raise a baby and toddler. A constant battle with physical, mental, emotional exhaustion and keeping things under control.

The journey up feels like it takes FOREVER – but really, the drop at the top is what you remember. You are suddenly completely out of control and surrendered to the loops, twists, and unknowns.

That next part? That’s what it feels like to raise a teenager. To NOT be in control of how they are driving, who they are talking to, and what they are doing at school. We are involved. We ask questions and have great conversations – but the control? Well, the control is shared and slowly moves from me to them.

It. Is. CRAZY!!!!

When they drive away from the house or come home telling you about a girl they are taking to a school dance…you realize that you are along for the ride a little more than you thought. It’s such a great ride – but it is so very different.

I will end with this – I read these words in my devotion this morning:

“Affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel. Thank Me for everything, though this seems unnatural – even irrational. Gradually you will begin to ascend, recovering your lost ground. When you are back on ground level, you can face your circumstances from a humble perspective. If you choose supernatural responses this time – trusting and thanking Me – you will experience My unfathomable Peace.” – Sarah Young “Jesus Calling”

So wherever you are on the ride of life. Trust Him. He’s with you – every hill, drop, loop, and swerve. You are not alone and this part of the ride doesn’t last forever. Try to take a deep breath and enjoy it – there’s always a reason to ascend above our circumstances as we “ride” on the wings of hope that only our Creator can provide.

Hug your kids because you’ll blink and the ride will be ending. Regardless of how you feel – be thankful.

Kasey

It’s Time

So it’s been a month. I find it ironic that I’m writing this post on April Fool’s because I’m reflecting on that one night when I felt like a fool, was treated like one, and have continued to struggle BECAUSE of some fools.

Here’s what happened…

It was March 1st and I went to the gym to run.

I put my bag in my locker, went up to the treadmill and about 10 minutes into my run I started to feel sick to my stomach. I almost stopped but decided to push ahead and scolded myself for eating before coming to workout.

IF I had stopped and gotten off the treadmill I would have looked out the large windows, down onto the parking lot, in time to see two men getting into my car and driving it away.

You guessed it – someone went into my locker and took my wallet and keys out of my bag. They passed keys to their buddies and stole my car, my identity, and my peace of mind.

The picture at the top of this post is the actual screen shot of my text to my husband – crazy.

So let’s get some perspective…

The PEOPLE in my life – the most important parts of my life – are safe and that’s what matters the most.

The POSESSIONS in my car were trashed, stolen and well – I’m not sure how glad I am that OnStar actually worked. I’m not sure I ever want to drive that car again – but here we are, trying to make the best of a really stinky situation.

Now for the application part…

It’s been a month and even though we recovered my car that evening, I still don’t have it back. The people who took it did so much damage it’s been a bit of a nightmare trying to talk with the repair shop, the assessor, and the insurance company. So I’ve learned how to appreciate the role others are playing in my crisis. I’ve learned to communicate without questioning and remind others how important they are to me and to the solution behind this problem.

I have been going to this gym for almost 3 years and I have never placed a lock on my locker – no one does. I trusted the system and people too much. You have to scan your card to get in so I just assumed no one in the locker room would have anything but good intentions and that I was safe. I guess that was foolish of me. I won’t be trusting anymore and I wish I could say our gym was doing more to let people know about this situation but I think they just want me and this whole thing to go away.

My children have been watching us this whole time. They watched us cancel our cards and deal with my identity being used to buy tons of medication (I’m assuming used to make drugs) at a pharmacy.

So I sit here and think about the people who did this. I call them fools not because they are worth less than me – we’re all equal in the eyes of God – but their actions show them to be people driven by actions that embody both the noun and verb forms of the word. They fooled me – they tricked and deceived me. They were fools to think they’d just be able to walk away with my car and my wallet.

Between OnStar and the police, their fun was cut short – but who has suffered the longest and the most? Me. Not them – me.

I guess that’s what happens when bad people do bad things – but I won’t let them win. It’s been a month and I’m still driving a rental as the repair place and State Farm work together to help me get back to “normal”.

I’ve started praying for these people and I’ve found comfort in the fact that God is responsible for evening the scores – not me – and it is clear these people have bigger issues and problems in their life than I do.

So I walk away remembering what is REALLY important – people and relationships. I let go of my anxiety and my desire for retribution every day – not sure when that will get easier but I have faith it will.

I hope your April Fool’s Day was calm and that you are living in a safe, secure world. We can each find things to complain about but really we should be focused on the things that matter most and be thankful for what we have.

For now I will be a bit more cautious when leaving my keys and wallet and I’ll listen to my gut (literally). I don’t want to live with a negative mindset or in fear – but my reality has been disrupted and my security has been broken. It could have been so much worse and I’m thankful it wasn’t – but even at this small level of inconvenience and frustration – I’ve gained a new appreciation for what it means to live in a world where selfishness causes pain and it makes me sad.

Let’s make this world a better place. Let’s meet everyone with a smile and a handshake and think the best of them. That way the fools that stole my car and my wallet don’t win. We aren’t going to be fooled into thinking they are the majority and I will continue to hug my kids and count my blessings every single day.

Stay safe. Stay strong.

Kasey

What Race Are You Running?

The headlines seem to be littered with people and groups pointing fingers at each other for telling a truth, telling a lie, or not telling enough. So I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and air my own grievances with the phrase,

“Slow and steady wins the race”

We all know the story of the tortoise and the hare. It’s a story I tell my children and my students in order to model the character traits of persistence, humility, and yes – hard work .

We’ve all known our share of “hares”. Those people at the office or play group that seem to effortlessly live life and are so “quick” with their wit, money, looks, or talents that they make everyone else feel like they’re poking along, struggling to make it.

We’ve also known our share of folks who act like a tortoise. They take their time and think before they speak. They see the big picture and are okay waiting for their reward.

Which one are you?

Both have fantastic traits and they have their downfalls.

So here’s my problem with this “tail” (haha, see what I did there? Homophones anyone!? No? Just me – the English nerd? Okay, moving on)…

The truth is – the hares of this world usually win the races. At least the short ones. They win because they are sometimes loud, pushy, and confident. But do they win every race?

No.

I’ve learned to appreciate the tortoise in my life – my husband. Do NOT for a single minute think that he is weak, slow, or clueless. He is my rock, my guide, and I am in awe of who he is as a man and father.

If you haven’t guessed already, I tend to be more like the Hare in this story. And I have to be very careful not to dismiss or overlook the tortoises in my life because they have figured something out that I am still pondering.

They know what race they are running.

I tend to run, all the time, with everything I do. I go all the way. If I’m not careful I won’t stop, look back, or even consider who I might be blowing past and leaving behind. As age as set in my “speed” has slowed and I am so very thankful.

I still love to be challenged, I love feeling the wind from the energy of a team working on a project or the way my intellectual muscles are stretched when I learn a new skill – I LOVE the race of “new”. But here’s the problem – It’s tough for me to feel like I’ve crossed the finish line.

I finish one race and I’m on to the next. I remember it had been a week since my second book had been published and we were driving in the car. I started talking about an idea I had for a center that would serve immigrant families and students while working with local school districts and Universities. He literally pulled the car over, put it in park and with love in his eyes but exhaustion in his voice he said, “I love you, but sometimes it is exhausting being married to you! When will enough be enough?”

He wasn’t scolding me. He was really asking…because he is a tortoise. He sees what really matters and what I’ve accomplished and he appreciates every minute of it. He supports me 100% but he is my compass and my guide when it comes to knowing what I should and shouldn’t put my energy toward.

You see, in my opinion, the “hares” in our society typically DO win the race (and that’s the real rub with this story line). They get the attention and influence decisions, but sometimes I wonder if they are running the RIGHT race.

I guess I’m just coming to a place where I not only appreciate, but I have started to look for the Tortoise on my team, the Tortoise of the group that will help everyone be steady – and MAYBE slow. But sometimes slow is okay.

Do we need to appreciate and think more like the Tortoise in this story, instead of always rewarding the Hares of this world? Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE a kid who wants to just jump in and pour their energy into every idea that comes into their mind. That kind of energy keeps the Tortoise from falling asleep and being left behind.

So can we agree that this story is great, but there might be a bigger lesson waiting for us within it’s plot line?

No matter how we run the race – fast or slow, consistent or scattered – we need to first ask, are we running the right race?

If we are – it becomes a little less important to emphasize who wins. It’s more about how we help each other finish.

So if you’re a hare and your child is a tortoise – slow down and soak in their wisdom and perspective – it’s quite refreshing.

If you’re a tortoise and you’re being driven to the edge of your sanity by a hare in your life – I would challenge you to let them energize you. They have a drive and imagination that will cause you to find color in even the most grey days.

We need each other. This race can be EXHAUSTING! Instead of comparing how the other is running the race, maybe we should just shout a word of encouragement or sit and listen to each other’s journey.

To the tortoises out there: Be patient with the hare in your life. They mean well and they need your still, constant presence to bring them back to earth when their heads are in the clouds. You need their energy and they need your calm.

To the hares out there: Take time to recognize and appreciate the tortoise in your world. They are not trying to hold you back or slow you down. You need their perspective and they need your energy.

Now let’s get out there and run the race the best way we know how. Keep your head up and keep going because if you’re raising the next generation, you’re already in the most important race of all – you’re shaping the future. I’m here for you and I appreciate you. Slow and steady might not win all the races, but maybe we can all start to ensure we are running the RIGHT race.

On your mark, get set….GO!

 

Turn That Frown Upside Down!

In case you needed an extra reason to smile today…

smarter moms

Happy Valentine’s Day to all you wonderful, hard-working, precious Moms!  To celebrate this awesome day of love I thought we’d enjoy some great thoughts from Jill Savage, creator and director of Hearts at Home.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember how and why to smile. But during the sleepless nights, sweatpants and no shower days, and chaotic afternoons – we have to make ourselves SMILE!

Here are Jill’s 10 Reasons to Smile – just in case your sweet kids weren’t reason enough 😮

Enjoy!

10 Reasons To Smile

1. Smiling makes you more attractive.

2. Smiling changes your mood.

3. Smiling is contagious.

4. Smiling relieves stress.

5. Smiling boosts your immune system.

6. Smiling lowers your blood pressure.

7. Smiling releases endorphins.

8. Smiling makes you look younger.

9. Smiling gives the appearance of success.

10. Smiling helps you stay positive.

Go smile at someone!

Kasey

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How do you spell love?

A thought about showing love…

smarter moms

Quick, think back to all the goofy, puppy-love feelings you experienced the first time you fell in “love”. Whether you were 5 or 15 we all know the fluttering feeling in our stomach that happened when that someone special brushed our hand or looked our way.

Love can change form as we age. It feels, sounds, looks and even impacts us differently.

Valentine’s Day has come and gone but I hope we never stop thinking about how to show love to the people in our life.

We can read books about types of Love Languages and we know what it feels like to be loved, but sometimes it can be difficult to show love to the people we’re around the most.

One day I was truly fed up with my toddler and called my mom in desperation. I remember saying, “Mom, I don’t even LIKE him right now – he’s driving…

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