Tell THAT Person Thank You

 It was the fall of 1988 (if my memory is right....if not, my dad can call me on this), and it had been about a year after my mom's death.  My dad decided that he would take us girls (Carla, Sheila, and I) on a vacation to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.  I remember clearly two things from that trip:  a motel room and a comedy act.  I remember the motel room because it was a trucker's motel and probably the seediest motel I have ever spent a night in my life.  (Good try, Dad!)  The comedy act I remember....well, that is a little different....

I was 17 years old, and I don't think this was a vacation I wanted to be on.  I was living the aftermath of the trauma of losing my mom in a tragic farming accident.  I was not in a good place.  But at the Renaissance Festival we stumbled upon an interesting comedy act - two guys who called themselves "Puke and Snot."  Their names alone captivated me to sit down and listen.  Their use of puns, easy back and forth one-liners, and the way that they laughed at themselves within the comedic routine relaxed me to the point of laughing - really laughing.  This moment of laughing was the first real laughter I had allowed myself after my mom died.  It was the moment that I had a little hope that I would feel again and be able to laugh again.  And this was all due to two guys who called themselves, "Puke and Snot."

Fast forward to 2003 (it may have been 2004), and Darrell and I decided to go to the Maryland Renaissance Festival.  I looked at the program and found....."Puke and Snot."  It was comforting to me that they were still doing their comedy show, but I still was not at a place where I let it affect me emotionally.

So this past weekend, I happened to be in Maryland visiting friends and they wanted us to go to the Maryland Renaissance Festival.  We arrived and were deciding what to do when I said, "Well, I could always see if 'Puke and Snot' have a show."  My friend opened up the program and......there they were!  "One of the longest running acts in the history of Renaissance festivals."  I had to go.  I found the stage and enthusiastically sat through the whole show.  Same "puke"; different "snot".  Some parts of the act were familiar, some were updated.  I laughed a lot.

After the show, I felt strongly that I should go and thank the original "Puke" - Mark Sieve.  I went up to him, introduced myself, told him a condensed version of my story, and just thanked him for what he does and how he gave a 16 year old a reason to laugh in 1988.  He was very touched, gave me a hug, and told me that my story was not the first that he had heard, which made me happy.  I walked away, knowing that I had done the right thing and that that thread of my life had come full circle.

So, some things I have learned....
1.  Always tell people when they have touched your life and thank them.
2.  God has a sense of humor - sending a Renaissance festival comedy act called "Puke and Snot" into my life when I most needed to laugh - thank you God!
3.  After a trauma or a tragedy - you will feel again, you will laugh again; but it may take time.

Psalm 34:18 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

    and saves the crushed in spirit.

A Look Ahead 2018-2019

This 2018-2019 school year....well, it's a big one for us at the Jerome house. 

In November, this one will turn 13

In February, this one will turn 18

In April, this one will turn 16

And then we will have our first graduation

I started praying and thinking about this year last spring.  Not obsessively, but with intentionality - going into this year filled with milestones, last-firsts, and the emotions of graduating a first-born - I wanted to be prepared.  God is in control of this year and I know that He wants me to be present for whatever lies ahead.  So, I said "no" to some opportunities, scaled back my hours at my part-time job (thank you to Monica!), and did some organizing this summer.  

So, there may be a lot of pictures on social media, and there may be few pictures and updates on social media...I do not know.  What I do know is that I am living each day with certain priorities and everything else.....well, if it gets done - bonus - if it does not get done - it wasn't important.

That being said.....Evan is a Senior, Ann-Marie is a Sophomore, and Alec is a 7th grader.  And I am so very thankful......

Numbers

I saw a picture of three beautiful ladies on Facebook this week, and through comments on their posts I realized that these were my mother's high school classmates and they were celebrating their 50th class reunion.  50!  And then I realized, that is how my mom would have looked, at age 68 (because today is her birthday).  And then I stared thinking about some big numbers coming up for me that are to be celebrated and remembered.

It all started with the number 7......being born in 1972 and my sisters were both born in the late 70s....I am partial to the number 7:

In November, 1987, my mom died in a farming accident.  30 years.  That is a long time without a mom.....but also a long time in learning how to trust the Lord and appreciate the people He has brought into my life to support, encourage, and love me in her absence.

In September, 1997, I married my best friend.  20 years next month!  It is hard to express after 20 years and 3 kids how much we have been through and how much deeper my love is for him.  We can see how the Lord has carried us through so much and we are so very grateful.

In February 2007, we moved to Pennsylvania and in September 2007, we bought our first and only house.  10 years!  The longest Darrell and I have lived in one place, apart from our growing up years.  Western Pennsylvania was never a place I envisioned myself living, but for all of its quirks, it has been good to our family.  God has blessed us and our children with wonderful friends.

And 2017 has been an amazing year, filled with unique travel opportunities and a huge goal reached for our family - a new beginning we hope.

A couple thoughts on these numbers.....these are just numbers, but it is good to remember and acknowledge what you have come through, not to dwell on the past, but to press forward with perspective from the past.

Finally, a thought I read on Wednesday's Word from Paul Tripp Ministries:

"Your faith must not be tied to your daily circumstances, but to the Lord, whose eternal presence, promises, and provisions are never altered by daily circumstances."

A 16th Birthday

So this guy turns 16 tomorrow....and it is a milestone for this mom that makes me a bit emotional.

You see, my mom died just short of 3 months before my 16th birthday.

Does this make me sad?  It used to, but not anymore.  It makes me grateful that I get to see my oldest turn 16.  To be honest, losing a parent at a young age can give you a different perspective, and the perspective that I choose to have is thankfulness.  It is a privilege to be a mom to three kids....it is a privilege to have a family.....it is a privilege to get up each day and face whatever I need to face.  I am incredibly grateful to God for the gift of knowing my oldest longer than my mom knew me.  I do not know how that sounds to someone who hasn't experienced a loss, but it is how I feel.

So here are some other things I am grateful for on the eve of Evan's 16th birthday;

• how Evan has taught me how to listen more and talk less (although I am still working on this).
• the passion Evan has for life - for growing in his faith, playing his sports, working on his school, and caring about his friends
• I am thankful for Evan's friends, they are each wonderful people that I love having hang out at our house.
• that Evan and I forgive each other easily.....we are both firstborn children and analytical thinkers....so we have to forgive each other often!
• how much Evan cares for his family....I could not have picked a better older brother for Ann-Marie and Alec
• that Evan talks freely to his dad and I.....the conversations are something we all enjoy (o.k., maybe his siblings don't, but the parents do.)

So Happy 16th Birthday to our Evan.....we are so very proud of the young man you are growing into!

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Jerome Family Update 2016

I get to this point of the year and love to look back at what our family has done in the past 12 months. So here are our highlights for 2016:

Darrell's sister, Toni, turned 60 and we were able to celebrate with her.

 Ann-Marie finished her Level 5 year with a 5th place finish on floor.

Evan completed his freshman year playing basketball with the Plants & Pillars Basketball team.  Basketball continues to be his favorite sport.

Alec also played basketball for the first time with the 4th-6th grade team.

 School continues on at the Jerome Academy.....

 Ann-Marie babysat all summer for the first time.  We fell in love with this little guy.

 The second kid in our family had to get glasses.

 Ann-Marie turned 13!  Our second teenager......

 And I was able to fly back to Iowa to celebrate my sister's 40th birthday.

 We enjoyed a trip to Kalahari.....

 And we always enjoy being outdoors....

 We were able to buy a second vehicle, for which we are very thankful for.

 We snuck in a couple of visits with our friends, the Shullenbarger family, and ran a very hot, "fastest mile" race.

 Alec participated in gymnastics and soccer, as well as soccer camps and stayed busy with friend activities.

 We undertook some home improvements, which ended up including replacing our roof and front porch.

 Ann-Marie stays busy with activities with her gymnastics friends....

 We visited Kennywood as well as Waldemeer, which was new to us.  We were able to also spend a day at Lake Erie.

Our biggest trip of the year was driving across country visiting my family from Illinois to Colorado!  We were able to see all of my family along the way, make some amazing memories, and Darrell attended his New York Life conference in Denver, Colorado.  The drive was long, but the time with family and adventures we had were precious and worth it!

 The new school year started out in Colorado, with Evan starting his sophomore year with PACyber on the road.  Ann-Marie is in 8th grade and Alec is in 5th.

 Evan participated in another year of soccer.

 We celebrated our niece's wedding.  Congratulations to Jacob & Natalie!

 Alec celebrated his 11th birthday.....

 Ann-Marie started her Level 6 gymnastics year with winning 1st place all-around in her age group.

We were able to get family pictures taken (thank you Christy Grace Photography!)

Merry Christmas to you and your family!  And we pray that you have a wonderful New Year!