I LOVE THE ROCKIES!!!!!

Alrighty, then! Way to go, Colorado Rockies!!! I am SO STOKED!! I can't even tell you how happy I am right now! My team has won the LEAGUE!!!! They're headed to the WORLD SERIES, BABY!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was giving Scott a bad time on the phone (he's in Arizona!) about being a Dodgers fan. I told him that he didn't get to experience this euphoria all us Rockies fans are experiencing right now because the Dodgers have been around for so long. There is no way he could have ever experienced the joy of a first-time League win...let alone a sweep!! For some reason he just groaned. HAHAHAHA!!

Seriously, though? I am so stinkin' happy! I lived in Colorado their Inaugural year, and every year Scott gives me a bad time about my "choice of teams." (Notice his hasn't been much better lately?) But this year? Not THIS year, Sweet-ums! Who's going to play in the World Series? The Dodgers? The Los Angeles-we missed it by this much-Dodgers?

(Dodger cry-baby blanket)

I think NOT! It's the ROCKIES!!! The We're-this-close-to-Heaven-Colorado-Rockies!!!

By the way ~ if you watched the game, did you see the sign right at the end? It said, "Is this heaven? No, it's Colorado!" I'm on the phone with Scott watching the last of the game with him and we see that sign and I burst out laughing and he says, "There's your sign, honey." From day one I have raved about Colorado. I loved living there, and would move back in a heartbeat, but there are no paper mills there. So...Scott has had a saying that he shares with many people whenever I start going on and on about Colorado (much like I'm doing now). He says, "Yeah, Trayc's going to get to Heaven one day and she's going to be walking with Moses and the guys, and she's going to say...'God? It's nice, but it's just not Colorado.'" What can I say?



So...as homage to my soul's home-state, I'll share some of the reasons I love Colorado:

10) Whitewater rafting doesn't get much better than going through the Royal Gorge
9) Air Force Academy Football Games! (teaching at an all-girls school this was a TREAT!)
8) How many military bases are there in Colorado? Let me count them...1, 2, 3...more! (I was single when I lived there! I can put that on here!)
7) So many beautiful places to see and experience the awesome beauty of our Creator
6) Colorado Springs ~ Garden of the Gods, Focus on the Family, Old Town, etc, etc, etc
5) Denver ~ Opera, Coors Field, that funky Mexican Restaurant that's pink on the outside, and my introduction to Macaroni Grill! (love it still!)and, of course, the Traildust Steakhouse in Englewood
4) Dew Drop Inn in Pueblo (best pizza EVER!!!!)
3) Celestial Seasonings in Boulder
2) The most AMAZING Blue skies you will EVER see!

1) Royal Gorge and Rocky Mountains ~ I lived at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains ~ I miss waking up and looking out my window at the mountains 2 miles away.

So those were just a few...and I know there are WAY more! I miss my days in Colorado and wouldn't trade the memories for the world! Songs bring me back there...Cotton Eyed Joe brings me back to Crocodile Rocks every time...and I can still hear "my girls" laughing and singing whenever I hear songs from "Sister Act" or "Annie."

As you can see, the Rockies winning the League Series is a big deal to me ~ thanks for letting me blog about my soul's home-state.

Apples of Gold

UPDATE: I didn't check the link earlier, so I've fixed it now if you want to check out the other blog. If it still doesn't work, the address is: http://www.tbds.blogspot.com Have a great day!

Hey all ~ there's a new blog in town! It's something I've wanted to do for a while, so it's about time it's done. All you have to do to get to it is click on the title of this post ~ "Apples of Gold"

It's not really a blog ~ it's more of a devotional page. I write something called "Treasure Box Devotionals" for an e-newsletter for moms called "Emphasis on Moms." I love doing it ~ opening up God's word for people to be encouraged, taught and challenged by. It seemed natural that they turn into a blog....

So, each week...or sometimes day...(that's my goal ~ to do it daily)...there will be a new verse or passage posted along with a short little thought bubble at the end.

In doing this I simply pray that you would be encouraged in Spirit and in deed to draw closer to Christ and all His beauty and might.

Pete's Health

Thank you all so much for your prayers. One thing we have discovered, and it's a good thing, is that Colon Cancer is not as scary as it sounds. Thankfully we've come so far in knowing what needs to be done to "get it" that the Doctors don't sound like they're too worried about this.

THANK THE LORD!!!

From what we've been told Pete will probably start with Radiation treatment, then surgery, then chemotherapy to finish it all up. When I asked Scott if the doctors had given any idea of the severity of the prognosis his reply was, "it sounds like they're saying, 'let's take care of this and you can get on with your retirement.'" So that's a good thing.

It just seems so strange to hear the word "Cancer" and not have it carry the horror or horrors that it has in so many other instances. My friend, Jennifer Withe, experienced the same thing when she found out she had breast cancer a few weeks ago. She had a mastectomy, will go through chemotherapy, and will continue to live her life. I never cease to be amazed at the abilities God has given us to fight and cure disease.

So, the future looks bright, and I thank you for your prayers.

F-I-L

Please pray for my family-in-law. Last week we found out Scott's Dad has Colon Cancer. He sees the specialist today to find out just how far advanced it is as well as discussing necessary treatments/surgeries/procedures and other options. Thank you for praying!

When I let my mind "go there" I can't help but be overwhelmed with sadness on a number of different levels. There are so many wonderful times we've had with Pete, and I treasure some of our conversations we've had while on vacation with he and Cathy. One in particular has us standing at a railing at the resort in Canada while we were staying there before the Foskett 50th Family Reunion. I enjoy hearing about his years growing up and his sharing tidbits of Scott's grandparents. Having come into the family from out of the blue it's a special gift when he takes the time with me to open up the past and the memories he has with his family from before I was a part of it all.

He's not gone, he's very much alive, and I thank God daily for the opportunity the boys have to have Papa Pete as their Grandfather. His work ethic is unmatched and his love for his family is huge. This is not a small thing that is easily taken for granted...quite the contrary. He is also my husband's best friend. Scott said the other night, "I don't quite know what to think of all this...." I can tell that he is simply not allowing himself to "go there" and to pray in faith that God can heal his Dad. He had come home from New Mexico the day I found out. I had gone to pick him up at the airport, and we were going to have lunch as is our tradition when he comes in and the boys are at school. When he walked up I could tell there was an extra weight on his shoulders. I thought it was work-related as I've seen it a few times when everything hits at once, but as he got closer I could tell this was something deeper. He had tried to call me right after he had gotten off the phone with his parents, but I was unavailable so I asked him why...that's when he told me...you could have cut the air with a knife. It wasn't tense, it was a feeling of overwhelming grief of the unknown. And there's so much more unspoken....

Thank you for praying. We appreciate it and covet them now more than ever.

ADD-ON:
Here's an e-mail update we've received from Pete & Cathy just a moment ago...

"Pete and I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support and love this last week. We have heard from so many via telephone, e-mails, cards, personal visits and people praying with Pete on the phone. It is so encouraging knowing so many are thinking of us and praying for us. Please continue to pray for courage for us as we begin right away with meetings with doctors and procedures.
We have met with the specialist this morning. We will be coordinating Pete's treatment with 4 different doctors right away, who will discuss with each other and us the best plan of attack. Each day we will probably be knowing more. First, Pete will have blood work drawn and a CAT SCAN done immediately. Then with those results and the information we now know, the oncologist will decide which will come next, but it will probably be radiation first, then surgery and then chemotherapy. Those procedures should all be beginning within the next 3 weeks.
Again, thank you for your love and your prayers for courage, for patience and for a peace that passes all understanding as we begin to take the path down this road with courage and with a strong faith that God will see us through.
Love, Cathy and Pete"

Me? A Strong Willed Wife? .......maybe.

In going through some of my old posts I saw this and saw that I hadn't posted it. I wrote it back in July, but realize it still is pertinent...I'm still a strong-willed wife.

**********************************************************************************

It seems like God must get really sick of my character most days! I am a stubborn, bull-headed and opinionated woman who thinks I know what's best for everyone involved. I can tell you how to parent your children, how to love your husband, how to lead your small groups and blah, blah, blah.... No wonder I can turn my husband away with a single word or bring tears to my children's eyes with a look when I'm so focused on myself.

I write this as a confession. I am a strong-willed wife, mother, and friend. I'm sure I was a strong-willed daughter and sister, too.

Hello. My name is Trayc, and I'm a strong-willed wife.

Lord, help me!

This doesn't come about randomly. I podcast Midday Connection from Moody and Dr. Debbie Cherry is the guest I'm listening to right now. I have gone into a slump of discontentedness in the last few weeks ~ tired of a marriage with two people who are opposites from each other and don't know how to truly let down our guards with each other. Tired of children who, once they get around other people, decide to show everyone where my parenting weaknesses lie. Tired of having to change my lifestyle and complete diet just to be healthy enough to live. This Midday is the answer to my prayers ~ and it's not at all what I want to hear!
**************************************************************************

Submission: Insights from a Strong-Willed Wife
Debbie L. Cherry, Ph.D
“My husband is just not the leader type. It takes him forever to make a decision. If he won’t lead then I guess I have to.”

“I know my husband can lead because he’s great at it at work. But at home he just lets me do it all.”

“I wouldn’t mind letting my husband lead our family…as long as he does it the way I would.”

Have you ever found yourself making comments like those? If so, it’s very likely that you are a strong-willed wife. There are some amazingly wonderful things about being blessed with a strong-willed personality. And as long as those traits are controlled by the Holy Spirit we strong-willed wives can bring changes to the world around us and do amazing things for the kingdom of heaven. But those same traits can cause some serious difficulties as we are trying to have a marriage that follows God’s ordained authority structure in our marriages. As strong-willed women, we struggle to let go of control and really allow our husbands to take their God given role in our homes. But it is something that we really have to learn to do if we want a marriage that God continues to bless.

Strong willed women think fast, move fast and make decisions fast, and expect others to do the same. But when our husbands don’t meet these expectations we tend to step in and do it for them. What if your husband would be willing to make more decisions but you don’t allow him the time he needs to do so? And what if the decision he makes isn’t the same one you would have made? Would you still let his decision stand? Many husbands may be more cautious and slow in their decision making but that doesn’t mean they won’t or can’t lead. A husband who has never taken the lead may need to take on this responsibility in stages, just as you will likely need to release your responsibility and control in stages.

So if you are ready to start letting your strong willed personality work in your favor and really start using your personality to honor God and your husband, here’s some things to help get you started as you learn to let go of control and let your husband lead:

1. Talk openly with your husband about what you plan to work on: This will help your husband know where to join you in prayer about the changes you are going to be making. It will also help him be aware of the areas you are working on and be available to give praise and encouragement along the way. And finally, open communication is necessary so the two of you together can identify what areas you are going to start handing the reigns over to him in first. If you don’t discuss this and you just decide to release the reigns without him knowing it’s his turn to pick them up and lead, then the whole family could go running out of control with no one in the leadership role.

2. Stop doing everything: Once you and your husband have talked about the areas where you both want to start making changes, then it’s time to step back in those areas and give him the space and time he needs to take the lead. As you back off, remember that over time your husband has probably become dependent on you to do it all because you always have. So be patient and wait for him to do what he has said he will do. How far you have to back off will be different for every marriage. But I assure you it will be further than you are comfortable with.

3. Set realistic expectations for you and your husband: If you expect perfection (as most of us strong willed wives do) from either yourself or your husband then you are setting both of you up for disappointment. Not only will husband not be perfect as he tries to learn about godly headship, but you also won’t be perfect in your attempts to let go and let him lead. If you set realistic expectations you will be able to see your successes as steps forward and your failures as learning experiences.

4. Take ownership of your behaviors: This means that you will have to stop blaming others, stop denying the behaviors, and stop avoiding responsibility for your behaviors. All three of these are things that we strong-willed wives often do. We have to learn how to take ownership of our part of the problems that come up in our relationships and when we do we need to learn to apologize and seek forgiveness for them.

5. Stop criticizing: We strong-willed wives tend to focus on our way of doing things and saying things as the right way (and sometimes the only way). When people do it differently we feel it necessary to correct them. But learning to control our tongue will make a huge difference in our relationship with our husbands. The key to this step is to learn to accept your husband’s differences and to understand that different does NOT mean wrong. If you continue to criticize your husband or redo what he’s done, you undermine your attempts to let him lead.

6. Praise often: The other side of controlling your tongue is learning to give praise on a regular basis. You need to learn to look for the good in this man that God has blessed you with, and be open with your praise. Make a conscious effort to look for things that he does or traits that you see in him that are praiseworthy and shower him with these comments. Say things that let him know that you trust and respect him and his ability to lead your household. These statements will make him start to feel like the man of the house again and like the man God created him to be.

7. Strive toward unity: Biblical submission has as its ultimate goal a stronger and more intimate marital relationship. It’s about blending into one flesh and setting aside our selfish desires. We are on the same team and working toward the same goal. So when it comes to decisions within your home, the ultimate goal needs to be unity. To experience this unity you will need a plan of action that the two of you have agreed upon and that keeps you moving in the same direction. The plan can take several different forms as long as you come up with it together, both agree that it is a workable solution and then follow through with it.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debbie L. Cherry, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the CEO of Today’s Family Treasures. http://www.tftreasures.org/
Article is adapted from her book: The Strong-Willed Wife: Using your personality to honor God and your husband. NavPress, 2007.

Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/marriage/11544585/