flying high…staying grounded

I saw this quote and had to smile. These pictures remind me of the joy of flying high. These kids model risk-taking, expressing happiness and freedom in movement. There is something so delightful in watching my nieces and nephews play at a level that I can only dream of. I wonder how they learned to be so flexible. I wonder how they learned to trust that they would flip back onto their feet if they flipped their body over. 🙂

So, the directive is to fly high and stay grounded. I was a kid who lived much more comfortably with my feet on the ground. Yet I have never lost the wonder for those who fly high. There is something in the thrill, the surprise, the skill, and the amazement when they take off, but also when they land.

I am grateful that even though I was never comfortable doing the flips and jumps like my nieces and nephews, my parents encouraged us to have our feet on the ground and live as free spirits who follow our dreams and passions. To live this way is a thrilling adventure.

I wonder how your life adventure is unfolding. What stories do you have about flying high and staying grounded? After all, sharing stories and inviting others to live life fully is a thrilling adventure! ❤️trish

Act Two (Acts Two)

Rarely do I want to post something for you to listen to, but tonight, I can’t get away from the idea. Our Worship was so good today, and the sermon felt like such an honest call to God’s people.

If you need a good listen, I invite you to click on the link and listen in (Starting at 19:00). I hope it speaks to your heart as well! ❤️ trish

 

Seed planting and waiting for fruit bearing…

Today, I enjoyed the day with my niece and her fiance. It was a combined housewarming and engagement party. Olivia is creative in her decor, and so much of her style is about creating and speaking to her heart in beautiful ways.

Olivia works remotely from home and has this curtain in her window…

The day you plant the seed…is not the day you eat the fruit.

I find this to be such a hopeful and encouraging phrase. It reminds me never to stop planting and never to stop anticipating the harvest of seeds planted. It is about being faithful in the work and patient in the waiting. As I grow older, I believe those may be the two areas in which I have learned the most valuable lessons: faithful in the work and patience in the waiting!

I wonder where you have planted seeds and celebrated the fruits. It is my hope you never stop planting! Fresh fruits make the world a better place! ❤️ trish

 

Cleared and released

I did not anticipate hearing the doctor tell me that I did not need to schedule a follow-up appointment would make me feel so good.

I had my first double gastroc release surgery for my heel pain on January 27, 2023, which proved unsuccessful. This had me in double boots for 12 weeks. I had my first knee replacement due to complications from being in boots in late May 2023 and my second knee replacement in early October 20203 due to a floating bone spur. December 20, 2023, I had another Achilles repair where they severed the tendon, shaved the bone spur, and anchored the tendon back into the heel. I did the other heel, the same procedure as in December, in February 2024, and have finally been cleared and released.

I went to the car and sat for a few minutes, reflecting on my community’s tremendous support, both prayer and meals. I could not have made it through without my village.

It was a long year, but I experienced kindness, goodness, and abundant blessings during struggle and hardship. Have you ever been given a season of hardship that, looking back, you can call an unexpected season of goodness?

It will be good to get my muscles strong again! ❤️ trish

 

Gratitude on a hard day…

At the end of each day, I reflect with gratitude on what I could experience and the people I could spend time with. Sometimes, there are specifics; other times, there is an overall sense of peace. Some days, gratitude comes easier than others.

Today was a more difficult day for me. My heart is tender as the anniversary of my Dad’s death (5/21) approaches. I don’t always have it on my mind, but it seems to be in my body’s memory.

I am feeling emotions that come in waves, and I am choosing today to name them as something I am grateful for. I remember in my early 20s when I felt numb to my heart, and I prayed that God would awaken my feelings. I am thankful that I can live into (and out of) my tender spaces.

Today, I especially felt the hardships of others. People I love face complex spaces. What is someone in their early 20s supposed to do when education did not come easily and now their earning potential can not cover the cost of rent in our city? What do we do when Section 8 is closed to new applications? How do you foster independence when those hurdles feel too big to jump without resources that are not realistically accessible? I believe that where there is hope, there is possibility. I have not lost hope; therefore, I believe we will find a way!

I am grateful that the birds will sing in the morning!❤️ trish

Take time to breathe…

What a beautiful day in our part of the world. The temperature was perfect, the breeze was gentle, the sun brought a gentle warmth, and the sky was blue.

I had a hectic week, but in the beauty of today,  all the time spent in meetings, all my task lists, and all the possible outcomes seemed to fade. I was again struck by the natural benefits of a perfect weather day. Of course, we have our share of them in the spring, summer, and fall, but the real discipline comes from creating space to enjoy it!

The tragedy of life is when we miss the beauty that is right before us.

Take time today and every day to marvel at God’s excellent design. ❤️trish

 

Learning Together

Recently, I became a mentor at our Church. Pastor Kristy sent us such good prayers for our youth. I posted it to share it, and I realized it was long and packed with so much good.

So I reread it, and this section contained the words that resonated with my heart.

Lord, You said let the little children come, 

And we give our children to You.

May they ask questions 

With no easy answers, 

In today’s world there are so many questions that could be asked. These questions do not have easy answers. May we be mentors who create space for questions. Give us the courage to let the questions sit without answers so we can wonder and learn together.

And may we be rooted in You, 

Firm enough in our foundations 

To sit in the mystery with them. 

May we remember that by sitting in the mystery together, the truth can be discovered and/or revealed. May we be mentors who build trust so the mystery is a place of invitation and curiosity May we mentor all the children in our daily lives in how we engage them in their questions!

Help us learn together. 

❤️trish

 

Happy 15rh,,,,

Dear Johanna, If a picture is worth 1000 words, I have so many words to share the joy you bring us. Each photo shows the extraordinary joy in your smile and personality. I know your days are not all smiles, and I am so proud of how you have grown in managing your emotions. You can handle the curve balls that come your way in stride. I am so proud of where you are in your emotional spaces as you begin year 15!

You are a hard worker. You know what it means to work for what you want, whether tennis, golf, or saving for something. You work hard, know how to save, and remain generous. I love that in you and am so proud of you. Never lose your generous spirit!

 

 

 

 

Your caregiving skills have gone up ten notches as you have assisted me through my two knee replacements and two Achilles surgeries. Bless you and Evy for always showing up and bringing just what I needed. Thank you for your willingness to wash my hair, refresh my ice packs, manage my meds, clean the house, or

sit and be. Your presence is a gift!

I hope you enjoy this next year, which will be filled with lots of time with Nub,  driving, babysitting, and playing tennis. This fall, you will have another baby second cousin who will be all about you!

I am the luckiest Aunt in the world. Always remember how much I love you, and never forget to live each day fully. Be brave and full of courage, and ask for what you need when needed!

I love you so my dear one!        ❤️

   

Synod 2024

True Confessions: I am committed to blogging every day for one year. I am on a 163-day streak. I wrote this last night during a reading break from my Synod Agenda. I then fell asleep reading and did not post. So tonight you will get two blogs, one written last night and posted tonight and one written tonight and posted tonight. Then I will be back on track!

In just a few weeks, I will serve as a delegate to the Christian Reformed Church Synod. This week-long commitment involves participating in dialogue and decisions that will shape the direction of the Church for the future. It is an intense week of long days. The agenda is heavy and it is clear that yet again, the division in the denomination is significant.

Tonight, at the end of our Council meeting at church, the leadership team asked if they could pray over me. My initial internal reaction was to tear up, for the idea of being prayed for and prayed over is very touching and dear to my heart. I also felt a wave of anxiety as I realized that when I stand for an extended period with my eyes closed, my balance may not be outstanding, and people may recognize that I am swaying a bit.

As my friends and fellow leaders encircled me and reached an arm out, I bowed my head and closed my eyes. I felt each person’s strength stabilizing and holding me firm. I heard the words of the prayer, asking God to provide tenderness for my heart and wisdom to discern, courage to speak and rest at night, and energy by day. In the prayer and embracing the feeling of strength from my friends, I wept in gratitude for a community that cares, prays, and loves me so well as I prepare to use my voice to speak out in the ways God has convicted me to represent His Church.

I welcome you to join me in extending your arms of strength and your words of prayer for the prep work and spirit-led deliberations the week of Synod, June 13 to 20, 2024. ❤️trish

 

My Mom…

We all have or have had them, and almost everyone has a mom they would call their own. We may have come by them differently. Some of our Mothers may be original, or we found them through adoption, and some may be borrowed or shared, but I hope you know the love of a Mom.

My Mom is a woman of strength, honesty, humor, and generosity. She is always in the process of knowing herself more fully. Her story began in a family of 12 children in the Netherlands. At age 10 they immigrated to New Jersey. She lived so much by 10 years old. So much of who she is today was birthed from the early stories and we are shaped by her life. She has nurtured so many people. We are so grateful she is ours and nurtures us! There is a song by Wes King I used many years ago for her Christmas gift. The lyrics continue to fit her today! (See the video below)

I am grateful to share alot of life with my Mom. She lives fully each day and acknowledges how she misses the presence of my Dad in her life. She gives her all to her children, grandchildren and their worlds and her great grand children. And she acknowledges as she is now in her 80’s, her energy wanes more quickly than it used to. She works part time, participates at the gym, is active at Church and enjoys visiting with her friends, attending book clubs and engaging her neighbors.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom….I am grateful for you every day! I love you!