Am I Truly Thankful

Am I truly thankful for all that you have done. How often through my day do I ungraciously run. Allowing pessimistic thoughts to flow through my veins expecting productivity when what I speak comes out in negativity. Criticism first to my tongue, It should be dripping peace to each and every Young.

Am I truly thankful for all that You have done? The puppies that lay squirming from that little stray. You have given them to us to brighten up our day. Even if there are 8 your timing is never late!

Am I truly thankful for all that you have done? For my spouse after 6 months we were married, through years of coaching life was harried. Now a calm You have placed upon us. His being home is a bonus and a plus.

Am I truly thankful for all that you have done? The messes all around me Lord are so frustrating! Where is this peace that You afford? That is when you plainly say, “I answered your prayer for a family that day.”

Am I truly thankful for all that you have done? If I took the time to write all of the things You have done for me, I would be here all day long. You have blessed me with the gift of song. Yet another gift you gave. God help me daily to behave.

Am I truly thankful for all that you have done? My being at times a challenge can be, but yet again, you placed me exactly where you want me. Encouraging, loving, shepherding and listening. I can see your brow on the cross was glistening. With the love You poured out, your very life. Help me to see life as a blessing not just filled with strife.

Am I truly thankful for all that you have done?Let this day be in me which was also in Christ. Let me be last and You be first. Let my heart beam and with Your love, let it burst. Let it overflow. Let words of peace around me glow.

God, go before me this I pray. Go before me this new day. Let me see Your hand of power, reach every one of us this very hour.

I am truly thankful for all that you have done.

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The Shades of Disarray

The Shades of Disarray

By Tara Young

Many shades of disarray I can plainly see.

Why can’t my home be as tidy as I wish it to be?

The hours we read and played today. The laundry piled up high.

To say that I am not discouraged would be a great big lie.

Yet in her eyes I see a glow as first words she read out loud.

Her voice squeaked and screeched as she yelled, “I read! Mom! Aren’t you proud?”

These moments that I have with her are shades of disarray.

The cleaning and the folding will be done as I pray.

Pray that I am worthy of this child placed in my heart.

For in my womb she did not grow, but God gave her a fresh start.

So when I see the disarray, I shrug my shoulders and sigh.

I will get to that, but now, her joy is nigh.

If I wait until she naps, a lot more things get done.

Right now in my shades of disarray, she just wants to have some fun.

 

NEVER! EVER! Sleep in. Saturday morning humor

Before I post this… just know that the lesson was learned! NEVER.EVER. Sleep in.
This morning, the kids were quiet as we slept in. (which is NEVER)
Tk bursts in at 8:15 saying, “Daddy, is now a good time for you to fix the chicken coop door?” Sammy’s says, ‘Are the chickens out?’ as he bolts upright in bed. “Nah, Sierra is holding the door til you get out there. I have to pee so, bye.” Sammy fixed the door and Sierra meandered in. I asked her if she fed Angel and she answered, “Yes, I fed her. Remember I told you that Tekoa found a frog? Then she had it in her room playing with it?” Um no, I don’t recall that. Then I walked into the laundry room that was littered with yellow flowers and Inara said, “Mommy, I put them in there because they were so pretty.” Well dear one, we don’t leave flowers all over the floor. Take them outside. Then as I was making coffee. I put the filter in, coffee too and realized I forgot to put that other thing in. The part that holds the filter. Fixed that, turned on the pot and started breakfast. I turned back around after a moment to see that I had not put the pot in! AH! 🙂 Good Saturday morning 🙂 Blessings and full belly laughs I pray for you!

Angel 2 Snakes 0

After dinner the two big girls went out exploring the back 5 of the property.  They came running back panting excitedly! “Angel saved our lives!” “Angel was snuffing a snake for us!” “She saved us!”

Of course, you don’t take that quietly. (well on the inside I am SCREAMING, but on the outside I have the raised eyebrow thing going on.) Sammy asks the good questions, “What color was it?” “How big was it?”  They said it was a long red, yellow and black snake.  (There are a Few snakes that I know… Coral red and yella kill a fella and a rattlesnake.)  From their description, the former seemed to be the one.  OF course, I have a freak out moment in me heart.

The girls are screeching for us to come see the snake Angel killed. So rubber boots, a hoe and some enthusiasm and we were off!  On the way we did some berry picking and when we arrived, we saw her prize. She had done her duty and she was done with it.  We reminded the girls again that they have to be ever vigilant with where they are and what they are doing. Always watchful and aware. We kinda have to do that in life don’t we? Be aware and alert. Watching for the enemy who seeks to steal kill and destroy?  (John 10 and I Peter 5)

We are praising God for the safety of our kiddos and thankful for Angel! (and still thankful for our property even though there are snakes.)

the family nobody wanted. A must read book!

The Family Nobody Wanted

My cousin sent me this book as we have adopted 3 children. I didn’t read it right away because just the title alone is sad to me. As we have gone through each adoption, we have learned that nothing is EVER the same. 🙂 You are probably saying some smarty pants comment right now like “duh” or “seriously?” but you never know what to expect with adoption. Heartache and love go hand in hand.

Life changes so differently for each side of the family. This book made me laugh, cry, doubt, and lean more on God. He truly is the one who makes all things happen in His time.

I highly recommend this book to those whose hearts are blessed by adoption, to those considering adoption or those who work with foster care children. Rather, any person who loves should read this!

Have a wonderful day.

Tara

Being a Coach’s Wife

Hi, My name is Tara.

I was a Coach’s Wife.

Just recently my husband has changed professions. Rather he quit coaching and is teaching.(He has always taught school of course, but now he is “just an English teacher”)

 We have been married for almost 17 years and I have been in each of the situations below.

Read on sweet coach’s wife and be encouraged.  I didn’t ever really do all of these at once. I don’t have a big enough plate for that!! 

These are the things that I have learned the hard way 😉

1. He wants to be with you as much as you want him to be home.

2. This is the way he can provide for his family.

3. He needs your support.

4. Surround yourself only with people who are supportive of his job because if you are not, you will begin to resent him.

5. Take your children (if you have them) to as many games as you possibly can. Sit where he can see you when he looks up to see you, watch his face beam with appreciation and love. Being there for the “Friday Night Lights” can be really fun.

6. Take meals to him on the weekends when he says is a good time. (If they let ya do that sort of thing.) Even 5 minutes of seeing him will refresh your heart and his.

7. Try not to complain about his job to others. He is doing all he can to enable you to stay home. (That was my situation as I was home- schooling our children)

8. Send sweet notes with his meals.

9. Remember, you married a coach. (Even if you didn’t, it is his job now.) 🙂

10. Don’t hold a grudge because he is doing his job. Try to encourage him by saying things like, “Honey, (sugar, baby whatever you call him. haha) I love the fact that you are working so hard for us. It is hard but I support you.”

11. Get a shirt with your last name on the back for you and your little ones. Craft stores often have sales so you can get an inexpensive one and do one yourself. I embroidered one for each of the girls but can’t find the photos! 😦 If you don’t have those options, wear the school colors.

12. Be specific with what you need from him. If you don’t calmly tell him what you need, he doesn’t know because he is so tired.

13. You are a team. Have fun 🙂

My thoughts while he was coaching were very self-centered.  “What about me?” “Why am I alone?” “Why does he get to have all of the fun?” He told me later that he wished I had been more supportive. (I was supportive, but the whole grumbling, ranting, wife thing didn’t do anything to help him or my situation. It doesn’t build up anyone!)

Truth is, you are alone for this season. This is life and you have to deal with it. Try to make it easier by being positive.

This is a reflection on my past.

I am hoping and praying you learn from my mistakes 🙂

Blessings on your journey friends.

Tara

Young Family 5

Angel:1 Headless Snake:0

Head of Ranch Security

Gentle correction or gettin’ knocked on your rear?

Do you ever get that gentle correction from the Lord? Or do you just get that earth-shaking wake up call that knocks you on your rear letting you know you are being disobedient.  God uses whatever He chooses. It is not always a disobedience that He is correcting, but it may be that I am not spending enough time in the Word so He can speak to me. Sometimes He uses those, “AHA!” moments. Sometimes He does use illness. Sometimes He uses other people to let me know that I am falling short.  Sometimes He speaks directly to my heart.   This is what I got today…

Not in these words exactly but the Lord impressed this on my heart. “Tara, you sure are sick.  In the last month you have been in severe pain with a ruptured ovarian cyst and you now have the flu.  I am trying to get your attention here.”  “Yes Lord! I am listening.” As I lay on my bed He truly spoke to my heart and said, “I miss you dear one. Where have you been? You don’t even know where your bible is do you?”  UUUUUMMM well since you can’t lie to God, I said, “No, Lord I sure don’t! I am so sorry, please forgive me.

Wonderfully forgiven I sit here typing.  Then He let me know that I need to write about this. So here it is.  It doesn’t matter what situation you are in always make time for God. While you are on your back hacking up a lung, spend some time in prayer.

When needy children who are clawing and pawing at you surround you, read them a verse from the Bible.  (Not the rain down fire and brimstone people!) Pray a blessing of peace over them.  God’s word never returns void as it says in Isaiah 55:11 NLT “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

God has been trying to get my attention. It seems rather painful right now, but it could have been worse.  The CT scan shows no more cysts. My flu will eventually go away.  My husband and dad have been super heroes helping me.

God provides.

He never leaves us. He is, He was and Always will be. He is the provider. He is the Rock. He is everything to me.  He heals all my ills, affords me with great care. He never leaves me with a burden I can’t bear.  I am never alone. He is always near. He will never stop bending to me His listening ear. Unfaithful am I to share this truth.  May I be more like your beloved Ruth.

Forsooth. Gotta love that word!!! I wanted to use it in my poem, but, was unable to. I Used it in a random sentence.  🙂

Any way. Listen to the Lord He is pretty awesome!

Just being nice

So I had that cyst that ruptured 2 weeks ago and now the flu has descended.  3 of our 5 have the flu and that is including me. 😦 Poo poo we have the flu! I was at the clothes line hanging out clothes and this little poem, dorky and short came to me. Poetry seems to ooze sometimes so whatever and however silly it is, I write it down!

Poo poo we have the flu. I hope it doesn’t make it’s way to you! 

Yes, it is dumb, but it is now out there 🙂  hahaha

On to the just being nice part of this post.  We are living at my parents while we are waiting for God to provide our home. They generously moved into their fifth wheel trailer next to their home so that our feisty five could move home.  The other morning it was literally freezing, not something we are used to. 🙂 My dad is a nice guy and would honestly give the shirt off of his back to help someone.  He came in and started a fire for the girls and I since we are under the weather. That was kind and thoughtful and generous and loving. Thanks Dad!

He also held one crying kid while I took the other in for her flu test. Thank you God for my dad and for making him nice!

So give being nice a try 🙂  Do something for someone else today. It is fun to do and fun to receive!

Keepin’ the fire burnin’

Our family has undergone a lot of change in the last year and half.  We adopted. Our car died along the road last Christmas and we had to purchase another vehicle. God gave us the money to pay it off.  We put our house on the market. (with false expectations on my part that it would sell in one week! It took less than 80) My husband was offered a job. Quit his job. Took a huge pay cut.  We sold our house. Packed our house. Moved our family across town to live with my parents for an undetermined amount of time. We put a bid on some property only to find out it had a well that belongs to someone else for 99 years and about 4 acres of the 10 has easements!

So, date night? Pffft!  We had one in June as we celebrated our 16 year anniversary. 🙂

That is good considering but you know it isn’t what it should be.

Sammy asked my mom to watch the girls and we had our first date the other night when we went out for one of our favorite foods! Indian! We had a wonderful time together and we talked about life in Africa where we lived and learned to cook and love Indian food. We talked about life now as we are walking an a path entirely dependent upon the Lord which is where we should always be!

Just like the fire in the picture, we need to keep the fire going with our friendships, our mates and especially God. Without Him we are nothing.

Relationships take time.

It took forever to get this fire going this morning!  Kindling, paper, more kindling! It didn’t just start right up. Building a good fire takes time and patience. (Not gasoline people!)

Take the time today to rekindle your old flame with your spouse. Make a phone call to someone who is on your heart. Cry out to the Maker of Heaven and Earth and ask Him to restart the flame in your heart.  Live in the warmth His love brings!  Stay warm my friends!