A present that I got for myself was a new journaling Bible. God has been giving me strength during this difficult season of my life.
As I said, I went back to Sweet Blessings scripture writing plan at the beginning of this month. Oldest was going through his first break up so I needed to know how to give him encouragement.
After the death of my mom, I went on a hiatus of reading/ writing the scriptures. I’m now back.
My take away with this verse is that really you can’t please everyone. God will take care of those who oppose you. I’m not talking about physical harm but sometimes he’ll remove them from your life. You don’t know they conversations they are having about you so why should they be in your life. Don’t worry about them. Don’t allow them to take up residence in your brain.
I know as being flesh and bone humans we can’t always help letting people take up residence in our head. We need to pray to God with our worries. He’ll take them from you.
I’m dealing with that right now. I know of a few people who oppose me because of me trying to help them in a way they thought was threatening. It was more of me telling them I’ve been there. I know what it felt like being the one who was not favored. Please break that cycle. It’s not healthy. I was also trying to make sure one of their loved ones got some help because they were threatening self harm.
Even though I am left wondering why don’t they like me, I need to let it go. They don’t know me and my story. Only God and I know the story and my intentions.
To be honest, when I bear witness to this situation, people who do know me are so confused because I’m known for being kind and caring.
As I was driving to work on Thursday, I decided to put K-Love on the radio. They were talking all about the pledge drive which was annoying but I needed to listen to some feel good songs.
I understand that they need to raise money for the station. The annoying thing for me is that I just wanted to listen to music so that I could calm my soul before walking into work.
The one song they played was God Only Knows by For King and Country. Oh, my goodness that song spoke to my soul. It described how I was feeling right after Mom died.
I’ve included the two different versions of the song. I love both of the versions. Dolly Parton has such an angelic voice that she adds another dimension to the song.
Now, back to my story.
This is something that I actually have felt for a few years. That my story is not known by many people. They see one side of me and that side of me is only a small portion of my book of life. I get frustrated with the phrase White Privilege. I do understand that it does exist and I have benefited a little bit from it because people don’t judge me because I’m white. I’ll take that. However, I was not given anything because I’m white. Instead, I worked hard for it. No one knows except for me and God the story of my late teens/ early 20’s. However, that’s another story for another day.
Today, I’m speaking about the story of the relationship between my mom and myself. Our relationship was not one of me being able to confide in her. I often felt disappointment and sadness because she did not protect me from the people who hurt me physically and mentally. Or the times as an adult, I felt a sense of neglect when she was not there when I needed her most. It’s another story that only God and I know.
While the song played, tears just flowed down my face. Music therapy is so important to me. I believe in listening in music to calm my soul or to find something that I can relate to at that moment in my life. I found a song that described how I was feeling 2 weeks ago and for the days that followed.
When I got to work, I still felt teary eyed so 2 of my co-workers allowed me to cry on their shoulder.
God’s right there when I need him. He lets me know that I am special in his eyes. He lets me know that I am loved. And he let me know that he knows how I feel and it’s okay. It’s now time for me to tell my story so I can help other people who struggle with these same feelings.
The day after
my mom’s death, my aunt and I went to the funeral home. Afterwards, we made
memories. We visited Aullwood Garden and just talked. Then I took her to my 2
favorite places in the city – Wegerzyn Garden and Second Street Market. Places
I had gone with my mom.
While at the
Second Street Market, we stopped at the one stall to get my cousin a charm. I
saw that the charms in this stall were mostly Christian based.
It was at
that moment I decided I needed something to remind me that even with all this
chaos in my life that I needed to rejoice that I’m still alive.
At first, I
got this huge bracelet and charm but realized that it would be too much of a bother,
so I returned it for a much smaller charm and chain.
So, what was
on the charm that I needed it to remind me to rejoice in the day? It was the
name of a book in the Bible with the chapter and verse. No other words.
The charm
says Psalm 118: 24 which reads “This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad
in it.”
So simple but
also so perfect.
That Bible
verse has been a favorite of mine for almost 30 years.
In 1990, my
youth group decided to go on a mission trip to the Over-the-Rhine area of
Cincinnati. Not a good place to be for preteens and teenagers.
I was 15
years old. Still very naïve about the world because this was before Internet.
We learned from word of mouth or experiencing the world.
Everything
had bars on the windows. Doors were constantly locked. No one went anywhere
without an adult. It was serious business.
Anyway, I
remember painting in some hallway and singing the song that is reference to that
song “This is the day that the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in
it. And be glad in it,” on repeat.
That was the
moment that that verse began to define my world. Now did I always rejoice every
day. No, my next chapter of my life, college years, was not without trouble. I
didn’t always rejoice every day. However, it is a verse that has constantly
been by my side no matter if I have forgotten it at that moment.
So now, I
have a bracelet with a charm with a simple message. Find something to rejoice
about during the day whether small or big. For example, yesterday I could rejoice
that I got to see the beautiful leaves as Hubby, and I took a walk through the
woods. Or today when an angry child calmed down because I was acting silly.
Those are moments that I need to rejoice.
My path right now is rough. It’s full of rocks and sharp thorns. However, I can look for some beauty along the way.
Lately, it seems as though those are more and more days like that.
However, it is usually moments that are fleeting. Not the entire day.
Today was one of those days.
Listening to my son rant and rage about how he is feeling about the whole breakup has broken my heart. He usually has a kind soul who loves life.
I put on P!nk’s Hurts 2B Human album and played the song Hurts 2B Human on repeat and just bawled my eyes out on the way to work. I was a truly hot mess when I got there this morning.
I did listen to a few other songs but I played that song about 5 times.
I encountered some really stupid drivers on the way to school so that didn’t help. One of which pulled over in my lane and slowed way down so that he could get into the other lane so he could get off at the next exit. Luckily there was enough space between us so I could safely slow down.
Four of my co-workers allowed me to rant about the situation because I needed to get it off my chest before the students came in for the day.
Then the day started. I got hugs from students. One in particular gave me a hug several times throughout the day.
I escorted a student to class because he couldn’t figure out how to be sneaky so he wasn’t caught by me, the hallway patrol.
I had some good intervention sessions. In fact, I had some awesome ones. Then there were the ones where I am left in bewilderment on how disrespectful the students can be to each other and me. The one group sees me twice on Wednesdays so they made up for their not so good session. I don’t know why they were so bad during math intervention.
Listening to students get excited about what we were reading made my day. I had students asking questions and wanting to know more and other students using context clues. Those make an Intervention Specialist’s heart soar.
A student decided she needed to hang onto me as I was trying to lock my door. She has no concept of personal space.
During dismissal time, one of my students from last year showed up at the building. I got to talk to her and her mom for a while. It was such a sweet conversation. I love how she asked me if I had traveled anywhere lately.
I also found Swt. Blessings scripture plan for this month. It’s about finding comfort in God. I read today’s Scripture from 2 Corinthians 4: 7 – 9. It gave me comfort during this time.
So although at the beginning of the day and at moments throughout the day I felt as though I wish I had stayed in bed, I would not have had the beautiful parts of the day.
The sunrise today – So gorgeous!One of my former students posted this today on Facebook. It popped up in my notifications. What a great message.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
Right now, we are dealing with the Oldest’s first break up. We are perplexed to the reason(s) why. Even though, we are feeling despair. Him more than me. Mine is more my heart breaking for him. I need to remember that God will comfort me. I need to not feel the despair. He will always be my comforter. I need to take my troubles to him in Prayer.
Dear Lord, Please shroud me with your blanket of comfort. Allow me to know that what I’m feeling is human feelings. It’s fleeting. It’s only a small blip in my life. I need to remember to lift up my burdens to you instead of allowing them to overpower my thoughts. Please offer the Oldest and I comfort. Him so that he can remain strong during this time of confusion and heart break. Comfort me so I can give him the best advice. In Jesus name, Traci
Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my sister’s death. I honored her memory by releasing a balloon at a local park.
I went to a local park to release the balloon instead of at her grave. When I go to the Wegerzyn Gardens, I feel a lot of peace. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous.
The forecast was for thunderstorms all day. So I did not get the balloon until I was on my way from work. Even though we did have some rain during the day, it was only overcast while I was at the park. Luck was on my side.
Thank you for sharing in my special private moment.
Have a magical day,
Traci
P.S. Tell your loved ones that you love them. Tomorrow is not promised.
Warning: This blog post is going to be raw and real. It’s difficult for me to type up but necessary.
Some of the details are going to be a little blurry.
August 28, 2016 was a regular Sunday. I had church in the morning. Then we were going to eat dinner at my mother-in-law’s house. I had cooked balsamic pork roast for our dinner. After dinner, the boys and I were going to go to see a Weird Al concert. The Wee One had been to his first concert. This was going to be the Imaginative One’s first concert.
My phone rang. When I saw it was my mom, I decided to wait to call her back since we were going to sit down and eat. Then my phone rang for a second time. It was her. I knew it must be important since she immediately called me for a second time.
I answered it. That’s when she told me that Tanya had died. I remember walking into my mother-in-law’s family room and sinking into her maroon chair after getting off the phone. My body was numb and I might have yelled No. No. Hubby ran into the living room to comfort me as I tried to say the words that Tanya had died.
I was so numb.
My niece walked in from a Christian concert so bubbly and talking a mile a minute. I remember someone telling her that what had happened.
I remember sitting on my mother-in-law’s rocking couch calling my best friend, Angie, to tell her that Tanya had died. Then I went outside to the front area of the house to call my friend Molly. While I was on the phone, the police from where my mother and sister lived called me. They told me to get over to my mother’s house as soon as possible.
I remember sitting down and attempting to eat some of the dinner I cooked but not being able to. I know I took a roll with me since I had to drive to their town.
Before I left, I wrote a vague Facebook update asking for prayers. I didn’t want to put it out that Tanya had died until I got a hold of my aunt.
I took the longest way possible to my mom’s house. It should have taken 45 minutes at the most. Instead it took me close to an hour or longer to get there.
One of my co-workers kept in contact with me to make sure I had support while I was driving to my mom’s.
Once I got there, my mom looked as though she had aged 20 years. She seemed so frail and fragile. It was so sad.
(There is more to the story from the time I was at her apartment. I don’t want to share it now. Maybe I will share the rest of the story later.)
Mom was going to go home with me and stay with me until we could get her a new place that was closer to my house.
We went and got gas from the local Speedway. I called my mother-in-law when I went inside to go to the bathroom. She went to get some new clothes for my mom to make sure she was comfortable after the events from the day.
We drove home. Suddenly I noticed rain clouds so we got off the highway and drove the side streets the rest of the way. We needed to stop twice because it was raining so hard that I could not see the road. In my grief stricken mood, I should not be driving when it was raining so hard.
After we stopped the second time, we drove through Wright State University’s campus. I remember seeing a doe while we were stopped at the stop sign.
Finally we got home. My mother-in-law showed up with the clothes. Mom took a bath.
I walked into my garage and tried to call my aunt. I was finally able to get a hold of her. She made plans to come to Ohio to help support us.
I never ate that roll. My blood sugar ended up tanking out in the middle of the night.
That night began the daily can’t sleep all night for the majority of the month of September. I had to sleep with my stuffed Pumbaa from the Disney College Programs so that I could get any sleep.
My life changed that night. For almost 39 years, I was a big sister. Now I am an only child.
Tanya now visits me as a Monarch butterfly instead of me calling her on the phone. I will forever miss her.
Dear God,
Please grant me peace as I remember Tanya’s life on Monday. Grant me peace when I go and celebrate her 40th birthday next week.
In Jesus’ name, Traci
Traci
P.S. The boys did go to the concert. In my haze, I got a hold of one of their friends. We offered my ticket to him for free. It ended up being his 14th birthday present from us. He became a Weird Al fan after the concert.
As many of you know, I have a monarch butterfly tattoo on my left shoulder. The top of the tattoo has purple dots because that was my sister’s favorite color. One top wing has 2 dots which represents the fact there were 2 of us and she was 2 years younger than me. The other wing has 4 dots which represents the fact that her birthday was on September 4th. Our birthdays were also 4 months apart. I was actually 2 years 4 months older than her.
Why did I get a Monarch butterfly on my shoulder? One year ago on August 28th, Tanya left her Earthly body for her Heavenly body. Every since her death, I’ve seen Monarch butterflies when I’ve needed her.
Today’s post is going to list the special times I’ve seen a Monarch butterfly since August 28th, 2016.
August 30th – We were cleaning out her apartment. I was sitting in my car when a Monarch flew by me.
September 2nd – Right after her funeral, a Monarch flew by my aunt and myself.
September 5th – I was waiting at Young’s Dairy for my family from Pittsburgh. A Monarch flew by me.
Sometime in September – During dismissal duty, another Monarch flew by me and up into the sky.
Last weekend in October – Hubby and I were visiting Louisville to give me time away from all of the pressure I was feeling. It was the 2nd month anniversary of her death. There were a lot of Monarchs flying around purple flowers.
Thanksgiving – This one was truly when I realized it was her. I cried tears in the bathtub in Cabana Bay Beach Resort because I was missing her. Later that day, I was at the entrance of Animal Kingdom. I saw a Monarch butterfly. Then at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I saw another one by giraffes. She knew I love Disney and giraffes.
August 5th – I finally visited her grave. Later that day, she visited me when I was working at a tent for DeMolay and Rainbow. We are both majority members.
August 20th (Today) – I was missing her. I went to talk to the Imaginative One who was outside. Suddenly a Monarch was flying around the yard. When she came to visit me, she would sit outside on our little patio.
Also in June – I was walking on the beach on the 10th month anniversary of her death. Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. No one was there. I know it was her telling me “Traci, I’m here with you. I’m walking through life with you.”
Even though I know she is still with me, I still miss her. I often have the urge to call her because I want to talk to her. No one will ever understand the feeling of emptiness that I feel.
During the next week, I’m going to be sharing my feelings as the year anniversary of her death approaches.
Here’s the schedule for this coming week:
Monday – Menu plan Monday
Tuesday – Dealing with Grief Post – Don’t know what yet
Wednesday – New series – My visit to Rochester, New York
Thursday – Writer’s Workshop
Friday – Dealing with Grief Post – Don’t know what yet
Saturday – More of my Folly Beach trip
Sunday– Dealing with Grief Post – Don’t know what yet
6. Share a favorite quote (or group of quotes) that you enjoy and describe what they mean to you.
I’m actually going to share a hymn not a quote.
This summer I had a chance to visit many places. One of those places was Letchworth State Park in Castile, New York. It’s been rated as the number one state park. The park has been described as the Grand Canyon of the East.
We stopped throughout the park so I could admire the views. Lots of photos were taken during our time during the time we were in the park.
The lyrics from “How Great Thou Art” haunted my mind during our visit to the park. Is though the lyrics were written about Letchworth.
This was taken at the bottom of the Helena Trail. So beautiful and peaceful.
“How Great Thou Art” was my grandpa’s favorite hymn so anytime I hear the words I think of him. He was a father figure of mind who was one of my heroes. I was fortunately to have him in my life for 28.5 years.
