Turning 35 or Turning Into My Mom...

For as long as I can remember, my Dad has teased me that when I turned 35, I was going to turn into my mother.  He joked that my mom all of the sudden had my Grandma Lois' quirks once she turned 35.

It used to really bother me.  Mostly because I saw myself as other.  And I still do.  There are a lot of times when I feel like I see the world differently and interact with the world quite differently than anyone else in my family.  I am my own person and I have my own personality... but on the eve of my 35th birthday, I'm thinking about the ways I'm like my mom.  And for the many reasons I'm thankful that there are parts of me that just might be turning into my mom.

My mom loves to make friends.  And so do I.  We used to joke that we literally couldn't go anywhere without running into someone my mom knows.  Or that she'd never met a stranger.  I, myself, have been accused of using the term "friend" a little too liberally.  But I like that I quickly accept others into friendship.  And that I am able to have friends from many different places and life circumstances.  Relationships are important to us.  One of the things I am most grateful for is that my parents are genuinely interested in my life - and want to know my friends.  And, I love that we share so many friends. 

My mom loves our family deeply.  And so do I.  My mom is loyal and cares deeply for each member of our family.  She longs for everyone to know that they are known, loved, and appreciated.  I am so grateful for my parents intentional and significant involvement in my nephews' lives and for the way they help take care of sick family members.  If you are a part of our family, my mom prays for you to know that you are loved most by Jesus.  And so do I. 

My mom invites others in.  Hopefully, so do I.  There's room at the table.  There's a bed to spare.  There's a place for you.  There have been a few seasons in my life when our home was shared with my Great Aunt Jayne or a family from our church.  Those experiences taught me a great deal about how to generously invite others into all of your life. 

My mom is gifted teacher.  And its also a gift I believe I've been given. While my mom's gift is most easily seen in a classroom setting (at school or at church), she also enjoys informally mentoring young teachers and moms.  I mostly prefer to use this skill through modeling and mentoring.

My mom loves children.  And so do I.  My mom has a special gift with small children and I think God gifted me with a special gift for tweens and young teenagers.

My mom loves water.  And so do I.  I love that my mom taught me to swim as a baby and gifted me with so many experiences with water - competitive swimming, boat rides, a backyard with a pool, and "Perrycations" at the ocean.  Being in or by water brings us both great joy. 

My mom has a sweet tooth.  And so do I.   I swear I inherited my inability to pass on any opportunity to eat a cinnamon roll.   

For as long as I can remember, one of my deepest desires has been to become a mom.  I have always known that my mom loves me deeply.  She tells me and shows me all the time that I'm loved.  And I hope that I can be a great momma... just like mine. 

He Said...

He Said…

I’ve been playing ultimate Frisbee as a fun hobby for several years now.  I haven’t improved much – and it’s a little embarrassing that I can no longer call myself a beginner.  However, occasionally it works to my advantage.  Usually, whoever is guarding me isn’t too concerned about the Frisbee being thrown to me.  Because, well…. It doesn’t happen a lot.  Mostly that’s on me, I still haven’t figured out the best routes to run and I’m still really slow.  But it’s also because it’s not guaranteed that I’ll actually catch whatever is thrown my direction.  So mostly ultimate has become a great place for me to run around, getting great exercise and being around a different group of interesting people.  I’m there to have fun, not focused on perfecting my skills.  And I have a lot of fun.

We were halfway through the game; and I slipped away unnoticed from the person guarding me.  I managed to make the right run, clear line from the handler to me in the end zone.  He made eye contact and threw the disc.  And I started repeating in my head…. Just catch it.  Two hands. You got this.  And simultaneously… whatever you do don’t drop this.  Don’t screw this up.  I took a deep breath, and crocodile clapped my hands around the disc and quickly pulled it to my chest. 

He looked at me, laughed, and smiling said, “I believe in you more than you believe in yourself.” 

And it’s true.  He trusted me.  He released the disc and sent it soaring to me.    And for the rest of the game, all I could hear in my head was “I believe in you.” “I believe in you more.”  And I soared with confidence.

And all I kept thinking is how much I want that to be what other people hear in their heads when they are on my team on the field, and in life  Friend – I believe in you!  I believe in you more!

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Reading Log for 2018

Again - I mostly post this for my own benefit - but again the books in bold are the books I recommend from what I read this past year.  My goal this year was to read books that were written mostly by people who were not white males (nothing against them, just they've typically written most of what I read and wanted to expand my experience).  I succeeded.  This challenge led me to find out more about life for North Koreans, explore Latino authors, and pick up a couple of books about race.  I actually read all of these as my current travel entertainment has been changed to podcasts.  

1. Historicas Biblicas de Jesus para Ninos (Jesus Storybook Bible) por Sally Lloyd-Jones
If you haven't read the Story Book Bible, I highly recommend it.  It brings the Bible to life (and shouldn't just be for kids!)  Yes, I read the whole thing in Spanish because I gifted it to my godsons and wanted to be able to say I'd read the whole thing first.  

2. Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
3. Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague
4. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
5. The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera
6. I am not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez
7. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
8. My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor is on the US Supreme Court.  Her autobiography tells her story of adversity and triumph.  She has had to prove herself worthy for most of her life and has a great perspective as she sits on the bench.  There's very little legal talk - its her life story, and I recommend it.

9. Belong to Me: A Novel by Marisa de los Santos
Seriously, just read it.  Incredible characters and great character development.  You keep wondering how all the stories are going to intersect - and its just beautiful.  Thanks Joanna Crossett for recommending it!

10. The Girl With Seven Names: Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee
This is an incredible story of perseverance and will help you appreciate all that you have!

11. Booked by Kwame Alexander
12. The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right by Lisa Sharon Harper
13. It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume
14. Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving
15. Going for Kona by Pamela Fagan Hutchins
16. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
It's a story about a Holocaust Survivor - but its a page turner.  

17. The Giver and the Gift: Principles of Kingdom Fundraising by Peter Greer & David Weekley
18. Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World that Loves to be Noticed by Sara Hagerty
19. The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race by Jesmyn Ward
20. All the News thats Fit to Tell and How to Tell It by Amy Young
21. Let's Get Lost: A Coming of Age Novel by Adi Alsaid
22. Stars Between the Sun and the Moon by Lucia Jang and Susan McClelland
23. Ashley's War: The Untold Story of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
24. The Single's Guide to Thriving by Lina AbuJamra
25. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
26. Scary Close by Donald Miller
27. Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff
It's Bob Goff - so seriously do I need to say more?  Be challenged.  Laugh. Enjoy his adventures.

28. Praying for Your Children by Elmer Towns and David Earley
29. She is Free: Learning the Truth about the Lies The Hold You Captive by Andi Andrew
30. Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado
31. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
32. Love in a Torn Land by Jean Sasson
33. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
34. Everything Happens for A Reason and Other Lies I've loved by Kate Bowler
A young mom who is diagnosed with stage four cancer honestly talks about how facing death has changed the way she experiences God and well-meaning people.  It's raw and vulnerable and a great help for anyone who has a friend or family member who has cancer.