"Trey Tuesday" - December 25, 2018

Merry, blessed CHRISTmas!

This Christmas "Trey Tuesday" brought to you by Jay.  He posted this last night on Christmas Eve....a day we will never ever forget.....<3 

8 years ago today my life was changed forever. Trey was diagnosed with cancer. Know this, God has been so good to us throughout the battle, his death, and our life moving on. You can stare at the worst life has to offer and see the light. #cancersucks #Godisgood ps-that netting is supposed to be over his port bandage, not his stomach.

"Trey Tuesday" - December 18, 2018

Bear?  Van? 

Baby names expected to be popular in 2019 may contain animal names or sneaker brands?!  Internet research for this post was verrrry interesting!  This is a great concern of mine as our daughter and son-in-law are expecting a baby in March!  Our first grandchild!  There is going to be a lot of love and attention wrapped up in that little name!

What names are important to you?

Democrat?

Republican?

Introvert?

Extrovert?

Vegan?

Paleo?

The list these days is endless....

Let's go back to the manger.  The tiny baby Jesus.  Born to redeem mankind for all time by His tremendous, unfathomable love for YOU!!  The Great I Am.

Who do YOU say that He is?

"For to us a Child is born,

to us a Son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of His government and peace

there will be no end."  Isaiah 9:6,7

"Trey Tuesday" - December 11, 2018

Travel Partner

Can you imagine the conversations Joseph and Mary had on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem?  About eighty long miles....leaving their homes....ready to have a baby....through the desert.  We can't begin to imagine what that was like!!  But....they had each other.  New in a controversial relationship, they endured.  They were called on their journey by God.

Just like you have been called!  :)

Who is your Travel Partner?  Who helps you hear God's voice?  Who has been with you through your long journey?  Who has helped to support you through your "desert"?

Immediately upon Trey's diagnosis, Jay and Rachel knew they needed each other.  They needed to support their children.  And they needed you: Team Mitlo One!  :)  Thank you, even still today, for being amazing life Travel Partners!  <3 

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19

"Trey Tuesday" - December 4, 2018

Feelings

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Buttttt....does it FEEL like Christmas?

Cold weather?  check
Crowded stores?  check

Pressure to shop, wrap, cook, clean, work, play, eat, and sleep?  check

Let's not focus on all the negative feelings of the Christmas season, but let's consider the feelings that show the world how grateful we are for the gift of Jesus!

How can you set commercialism aside and savor the simple message of the love of God this CHRISTmas?  

Trey loved to give gifts - (he loved to take them back, too!)

Can you sing carols at a senior home?
Go to a Hallmark-style tree lighting?

Invite a friend to your church service?

Be patient and smile while shopping?

Donate toys with a Bible message?

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him."  I John 4:9

"Trey Tuesday" - November 27, 2018

Soup's On!

Cold and windy day?  Grilled cheese and Tomato soup!

Flu symptoms?  Nothing like mom's Chicken Noodle!

French Onion, Bisque, Butternut Squash, and many others - soup is the ultimate comfort food.

What is it about soup that makes it so special!?  It's a lot of work!  Soup needs time to simmer.  Hours to develop.  Patience to bring out the best.

Hmmmm.....that sounds a lot like relationships....A variety of "ingredients" mixed together, heated on the fire, over time, until blended together to bring nourishment and fulfillment!

God never intended us to be just like each other.  Let's celebrate our differences!  Honor one another's giftedness!  Embrace what others can do better than you can!  Then don't be afraid - go ahead and jump in to some hot water and allow God to do His work!  <3

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."  Romans 12:4,5

"Trey Tuesday" - November 20, 2018

Magnifying Glass

Make sure you have your magnifying glass ready for Thanksgiving Day!  No, not to inspect Aunt Gertrude's cooking and cleaning, but rather to give appropriate thanks where thanks is due!  :)

Psalm 69 tells a painful and honest story with great faith and love.  Despite the heartache and pain, the writer gives thanks!  How can that be?  With a proper focus on God, HIS strength, HIS perspective, HIS steadfast love is enough to carry and support you.

Just like Trey and his little life, many of you are battling cancer, or surgery, loss, betrayal, fear, depression, and much, much more!  But you are not alone!  Together, let's approach this Thanksgiving holiday with not just a little appreciation, but hearts of thanks strong enough to magnify God!

"I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving."  Psalm 69:30

"Trey Tuesday" - November 13, 2018

Like a Lollipop

Life is like a lollipop!  :)  Think back to the days when you received a special lollipop, filled with all its glorious sugar!  There was nothing better than having permission to dig in!  You savored that sweetness - even the sticky sweetness all over your face!

I was reminded of this simple truth as I missed Trey in a deeper way on a recent trip to Pittsburgh.  I walked in to Jay and Rachel's house and it was quiet...and grown up.  The sugary sweet sound of Trey wasn't there.

Yettttt.....the super sweet memories were everywhere!  Photos, stories, smiles, and tears helped us to remember that season of life.  Ohhhh, it was glorious while we had it!  Sweet...and sticky....and soooo much fun!  It didn't last forever, though.  Like a lollipop, the special treat was only meant to last a short time.  God reminded me to be thankful for each precious memory - and each memory yet to be made.

Life is a series of "lollipop" moments.  That is the best we can hope for this side of heaven, but one day, we will meet Jesus face to face and enjoy the never-ending, unconditional, oh-so-good-for-you sweet gift of eternal life!

"Above all, love each other deeply"  I Peter 4:8

"Trey Tuesday" - November 6, 2018

Stinky, but Safe

Have you ever held a chicken?  No, not a cute little fluffy chick. I'm talking about holding a full-size hen in your arms - feeling the feathers and the skin and the bones.  You'll see, chicken wings are far more than a tasty tailgate food!

Up close and personal you can lift the feather-filled wing and observe God's handiwork! However, chickens are farm foragers, so their feathers are not always clean.  They survive weather, predators, and barnyard antics.  And they have the debris and aroma to prove it!  Yet....this is where they hide their young.  This is where they protect those fluffy chicks from harm.  It may seem to be a stinky place right now, but it is good and safe and right for their strength and growth!

Hmmmm....Let's see what the Bible says about that: "how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings"  Luke 13:34  God wants to surround and protect you, just like that mother hen!  Your circumstances may be stinky at times.  The feathers may feel rough.  But beware: the barnyard fox is out there prowling.  Cuddle up and rest assured.

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.” Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."  Psalm 91:1-4

"Trey Tuesday" - October 30, 2018

<insert name here>

Online and paper forms always ask you to insert your name for accurate information.  At the doctor's office there is a mountain of paperwork which requires you to insert your name for proper identification.  Rarely, however, do you insert your name for inspiration.

The other day, though, I was reading a Bible study that asked me to insert my name in to Scripture.  For every, 'you', 'he', 'she', etc. I was to write my own name as I copied the Bible verse.   That inspiration brought God's Word to life right out loud!  It's as if I was eavesdropping on God telling someone about me!  Try it!  

Here are a few verses to get you started.  Imagine the comfort this first verse would bring to Jay and Rachel:
Isaiah 43:1 - "I have called Trey by name; Trey is Mine."

Now it's your turn!  :)

Hebrews 13:5 - "Never will I leave (insert name here); nor forsake (insert name here)

I John 3:1 - "How great is the love the Father has lavished on (insert name here), that (insert name here) should be called a child of God!"

Isaiah 43:4 - (Insert name here) is precious and honored in God's sight....I love (insert name here)

"Trey Tuesday" - October 23, 2018

Stop Trying So Hard!

What are you working on these days?
Finding a new job?
Finishing your degree?
Improving your health?

Getting your house organized?

Stopping a bad habit?

Trey and his family fought cancer.  Trey won!  He is in Heaven!  :)

How do Jay and Rachel and Joe and Bella survive the loss of their little boy? They don't even try to manage this great grief on their own.

How hard have you tried with your burden?  As hard as you can?  Even harder than that?  How is that working for you?

I have an idea!  Actually, the idea is from God.  He doesn't want us to try harder.  He doesn't want us work at it more.  He doesn't even want us to hire someone to do it for us!

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." 

Zechariah 4:6

"Trey Tuesday" - October 16, 2018

Cold and Cranky?

Has the weather changed where you live?  Have you exchanged flip flops and shorts for jeans and a hoodie all in one week?!?

The effects of Hurricane Michael blew our way last week.  It was a dark and dreary rainy day....again.  One afternoon I stopped by our local Wawa - similar to Scheetz for all you Wawa deprived readers! :)  Many other people were after the same coffee pick-me-up!  The front door was bustling!  However, instead of crowds of people grumbling their way in and out, everyone was so friendly!  "Thank you!" "Thank you!" "Thank you!" as people held the door for each other.  "Hello!"  "Hi!"  "Have a great day!" as shoppers smiled and walked past each other!

What a breath of fresh air!  The kinds words helped me to forgot that the weather was so dismal!

In order to reflect the light and love of Jesus, how can you share a warm welcome wherever you go this week?

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  Proverbs 16:24

"Trey Tuesday" - October 9, 2018

Noise!

We live in a very noisy world!  Weather reports, political ads, flu shot warnings, and much, much more bombard our senses all day long!

More importantly though, what kind of noise are you making?  Do you know that God call us to make noise?  He wants to hear from you!  :)

Check out Psalm 100. Whether you are at school or at work or at home, start your day making some noise!  A joyful noise for the Lord!  :)

Psalm 100

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into His presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, He is God!
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

For the Lord is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations."

"Trey Tuesday" - October 2, 2018

Survey Says...

Last week we did a quiz quick about preferences:

Dog or cat...summer or fall....coffee or tea.

There are no tallies or totals or prizes.  It was simply a social experiment.

How did you feel when "your favorite" showed up in the thread of comments?  Did you feel like your team, "won"?  Did you think, "Haha! Nobody likes the other choice"? Or maybe you realized how different you are and you didn't fit in to either category....but yet others replied the same way so, in essence, you are not alone?

Companionship....Togetherness....Similarities...Differences...What a beautiful world we live in!  Let's tolerate - and even celebrate! - God's unique creation found in each and every person!

Trey could not have been more different than 99% of the people he encountered in his life.  He was a young boy with a deadly disease.  That could have been a very lonely place to be, but Trey didn't know.  He didn't care!  He loved, and teased, and laughed with everyone!  :)

How can you extend the gift of companionship to those around you this week?

"Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."  Colossians 3:14

"Trey Tuesday" - September 25, 2018

A Quick Quiz

Last week we shared sweet stories of Companionship - the precious blessing of togetherness....But what about when people/co-workers/families/neighbors are just soooooo different and soooo difficult to be near?!

Let's do a fun little quiz!

Please Reply with your preferences/favorites and we'll tie this together next week:

Dog or Cat?

Summer or Fall?

Coffee or Tea?

"God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."  I Peter 4:10

"Trey Tuesday" - September 18, 2018

Universal Need

Companion - Friend - Buddy - Confidant - BFF...Whatever you call one, we all need one....or a few...or many!  Being in a relationship is a universal need.  We need that special someone to laugh with, cry with, grow with, walk through life with....and sometimes just to smile and hold hands with.

I had the blessed opportunity to visit with a family friend yesterday - our 88-years-young neighbor who has been widowed for years.  He looked different yesterday, though.  More content.  More relaxed.  He had someone by his side.  His "dear friend", he called her.  I knew she "existed", but it was my first time meeting her.  We walked down the hall together, the three of us.  I peeked over to watch them...and they were holding hands!  My heart skipped a beat!  The sheer innocence of it took my breath away!  They both knew the deep love of romance and marriage from days gone by, but what I witnessed yesterday was the ultimate universal need for companionship fulfilled.  It was precious!

However, somewhere deep inside I knew the scene looked familiar.  God opened my eyes....and my heart.  It was a throwback moment to Trey in Kindergarten....holding hands with his best friend...his "girlfriend".  They didn't know the deep love of romance and marriage, but they both knew the universal need for companionship!  It was precious!

"Above all, love each other deeply" I Peter 4:8

"Trey Tuesday" - September 11, 2018

Go Fund Who?

Have you ever participated in a crowd funding opportunity?  Did you know someone directly affected by the cause?  Or were you responding to a public plea?

We've all heard heart warming - and heart wrenching - stories of monies greatly appreciated - aaaaaand stories of monies greatly abused.  So what are we to do?  

Let's do a little homework as a response to 9/11 memorials.  Or before Hurricane Florence comes to call.  Or before the next diagnosis.

How can you help?  It's going to cost you something.  And I don't mean just money.  It's going to require you to get a little closer to the situation....and to people.  Go ahead.  Call that distant relative.  Knock on your neighbor's door and check on them.  Have conversations with long lost friends.  Give to organizations you personally know...and trust.  Yes, it's going to take a LOT longer - and be a LOT messier - than swiping your card or writing a check from the comfort of your own home, but your financial investment will reap huge rewards in your and their personal and spiritual journey!

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."  Hebrews 13:16

"Trey Tuesday" - September 4, 2018

Fighting Words!

How far would you go to fight for your position?

Tomato/Tomahto....Toilet Paper over/under....Toilet Seat Up/Down?

The answers to those questions are easy. 

But...what about serious life issues?

Discrimination

Politics

Cancer

What about the most serious life issues of all:

The Lord and His calling on you and your family.

Are you willing to fight?

"Don’t be afraid of the enemy. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."  Nehemiah 4:14

"Trey Tuesday" - August 28, 2018

Rum, Spit, and Garbage

That about sums up my Friday night!  Sounds like fun, right?  Well, it was!  It was a night up at the mountains filled with family, food, fun, and friends!  :)  But don't judge!  Rum, Spit, and Garbage are all names of card games we played!  :)

I hope you didn't judge my title.  Maybe you did and you scrolled right on by.....

If you had passed Trey in the grocery store or at the park you might have walked right on by past him, too.  He didn't look like a boy fighting a terminal illness inside.  And yet...if you looked at his insides, there was a nightmare brewing!  

However, if you looked at Trey from the inside out, like God does, to see his heart and capacity to love - you actually might have been afraid to receive one of his verrrrrrrry zealous hugs or kisses!  :)

God had His hand all over Trey's little life.  Trey lived without giving or receiving judgment.  People were always willing to love on our Young Warrior!  Can we say the same for those we work with?  Live with?  Live near?  Sit beside at school?

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another,"  Ephesians 4:31,32

"Trey Tuesday" - August 21, 2018

Goodness!

Did you see it today?  Did you look for it?  Did you expect it?

Goodness is alllllll around us:  in the amazing and beautiful things - in the every day happenings - and even in the tough times.

I had a day today filled with goodness....the goodness of friends, laughter, sweet treats, and encouraging words!  :)

Trey enjoyed the goodness of his family, his "girlfriends", his hospital visits, and Peppa Pig!  :)

Where do you look for goodness?

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  Psalm 23:6

"Trey Tuesday" - August 14, 2018

Available Anytime

We set appointments to meet with clients.

We schedule meetings to brainstorm problems with coworkers.

And we attend those infamous back to school nights to meet the teacher! 

"There is a time for every purpose," notes the Scriptures (Ecclesiastes 3:1), but I am sure your doctor's office doesn't feel the same!  Schedules, appointments, and waiting, waiting, waiting for your brief opportunity to get your questions asked!

But....do you have a friend who is always available to you?  No appointments necessary?  Come visit anytime - without warning!?  Text or call anytime of day or night?  Bring on your happy, your sad, your nervous, and your mad?

This, my friends, describes the blessed ministry of prayer!  :)  God is ready and waiting any time of day or night to meet with you, brainstorm problems, answer questions, counsel you, and hear the cries of your heart!  No appointment necessary!  :)

"I call on You, my God, for You will answer me"  Psalm 17:6

"Trey Tuesday" - August 7, 2018

Microwave Reflections

Do you appreciate your microwave?  I sure do!  LOL!  But not in the way you would expect.

Our microwave is built in to our upper kitchen cabinets, so it is at eye level.

I did a lot of my parenting via Microwave Reflections!  :)  I could literally see what was going on behind my back by peeking at the microwave.  Strategically positioned in the next room, I could even maneuver an angle to actually observe, "who started it!"  :)

What does this have to do with Trey?  Plenty!  :)  Because Trey was taken from us at an early age, all that we can do is reflect and remember.  We reflect on the good times, the scary times, the sad times, and we know that God had - and has - everything under control.

But what about the time we have with our other loved ones?  Do we rush through our days so fast that all we can do each evening is crash in bed?  Is our budget so tight each month that all we do is dread the future instead of planning new ways to avoid the same patterns?  And when do we celebrate allllllll that God has provided for each one of us!?

In the Old Testament, the Israelites built an Ebenezer:  a wall of remembrance.  They didn't have microwaves!  :)  "Thus far the LORD has helped us."  I Samuel 7:12

"Trey Tuesday" - July 31, 2018

Celebrate Life!

Jay and Rachel and Joe are at high school Young Life camp, and Bella was entrusted to us for a week of "Camp Cathy"!  :) We have enjoyed time together playing cards, cooking, sliming, trying to train animals, driving (don't tell Rachel!), and eating lots of ice cream!  :)

I asked God for an opportunity to talk to Bella about Trey.  To ask her what it was like having lost a little brother to cancer.  Especially now that Bella is a 13 year old young lady.   Well, God answered my prayer!

After a busy day, Bella was open and comfortable and very much at peace and trust talking about Trey.  Bella said that they rarely remember the Trey days in a sad way!  :) They often laugh about something Trey said or did.  They share stories and sayings of Trey's!  They are happy about the days that they had with Trey!  They celebrate his life, rather than mourn his death!  :) What a beautiful way for Bella and her family to navigate the journey God has set before them!  <3

"Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."  Isaiah 35:10

"Trey Tuesday" - July 24, 2018

Phone a Friend

Remember the game show that allowed you one chance to, "Phone a Friend" and ask for help?  The contestants needed to wait until they were totally desperate in order to reach out and ask for that one little morsel of help.

Life isn't really like that.  We can ask for help any day!  :)   When was the last time that you slowed down enough to allow someone in?  Yes, yes, I know....it's easier to do things yourself.  Easier.  Faster.  More simple.  More private.  Quieter.  Butttttt.....in God's divine fashion a wonderful math equation unfolds when we allow a friend in close.  Burdens lessen, troubles divide, treasured moments are multiplied, and blessings are added!  Plus....it's good practice for trusting in God's provision.

Soooo...What's on your plate?  What is too heavy for you to bear alone?  What skill set do you need?  Who can exponentially bless your efforts?  It's time to phone/text/visit a friend.

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  Galatians 6:2

"Trey Tuesday" - July 17, 2018

A Test

Did you ever hear the saying, 'Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Jesus'?  It's one of those sayings that makes you say, "Hmmmmm....."

Do a quick test:

What makes you smile?

A refreshing ice cream cone?
A perfect score?

A sunrise?

What makes you laugh?

An evening with friends?
A questionable joke?
An internet video?

What brings you joy - true, Godly, warms-you-to-the-heart, Joy?

A precious baby?

An answered prayer?

A victory after battle?

Can you feel the difference?  Smiling and laughing touch us on the surface.  Joy reaches deep in to the heart.  Trey shared joy everywhere he went - chemo, check ups, surgeries, etc.  Strength from the Lord could be seen in Trey's life.  It made Trey - and those around him - feel better!  :)

How are you and those around you feeling today?

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  Proverbs 17:22

"Trey Tuesday" - July 10, 2018

GPS


Do you name your gps?  What voice do you hear when you tap in to your favorite map app?

On a recent trip to Maine we relied heavily on the gps on Waze to navigate the journey to our remote destination. It was wonderful!  Until....."she", our Waze voice, directed us down every back, windy road ever created.  At the end of a longgggg journey the last thing we expected was traveling any road that includes the word, "Narrow"!  What we didn't know was why "she" was directing us this way.  What were we avoiding?  What were we missing by going the back way?  Yes, we gained headaches and stomachaches, but we arrived safely at our destination!

GPS...hmmmm...God's Protective Solution.  We may not understand it.  We might not predict the way.  We may not even want to go that way.  God, however, has a much bigger, better view.

Believe you me, I'm not endorsing blindly following your commercial gps...ever...but I am highly recommending totally trusting our Almighty GPS...every time!  :)

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord.  With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 16:8

"Trey Tuesday" - July 3, 2018

In the Weeds

Ever feel like you are lost in the weeds?  Tangled and stranded in the web of overgrowth and briars?  Whether it's work or family or friends or health, we all feel lost in the weeds from time to time.  What is God doing when we're stuck there? 

I learned a lesson in the weeds this week.  This is one of my favorite seasons: my black raspberries are ripening daily!  I prepare for this in the springtime, trimming and supporting stalks, keeping the plants off the ground and off each other.  I also spend hours weeding so my precious berries can receive the most sunshine and rain.  I want the best for them!

Until this year.  I was out picking berries when I ventured over to a new berry patch I had started last year.  It is small.  I didn't get around to weeding and "helping" this row of plants.  The stalks are hidden amongst the tall, wild weeds.  The plants look lost and forgotten.  And then I saw the berries!!!  The biggest, darkest, juiciest berries were nestled safely in the thicket!  They were warmed by the sun, but not dried out.  They were protected from the hungry birds and the deer.  There in the weeds, they were thriving!  They were growing stronger than the others!

Ever feel like you are lost in the weeds?  Tangled and stranded in the web of overgrowth and briars?  That may be right where God is growing you!  Right where He needs you to be for you to shine for Him!

"Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them."  I Corinthians 7:20

"Trey Tuesday" - June 26, 2018

Thanksgiving in June

If we can celebrate Christmas in July why can't we celebrate Thanksgiving in June?

We don't have to wait until November to be thankful.  Count your blessings today! 

But wait!  Be careful when you give thanks.  No, "Thanks, except for...."  or "Thanks, but..." or "I'll be thankful when..."  Keep your excepts and buts out of this one.

For example:  Have you been genuinely thankful for this week's weather?  Not in light of the rain we've had, or before the heat that's coming, but thankful for this glorious weather....right now.

Or your car.  It gets you where you need to go.  Safely.  Yes, it could be bigger/nicer/shinier/quieter/faster/cooler/etc.  But be thankful today.

Or your beachbody.  Or your almost beachbody.  Not only if you were a size ____(fill in the blank).

Or even your unpleasant situation.  Finances.  Relationships.  Health.  Comfort.  Peace.  Joy.  Winning.  Sleep.  Work.  Play.  Thank God for all that He is providing for you right now.  Right this very moment.  He IS providing for you!  :)

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:12,13

"Trey Tuesday" - June 19, 2018

The Grid

Is On the Grid the opposite of Off the Grid?!  If so, then how did we all suddenly land ON the grid?!  Why do we now have to choose to go OFF the grid?  Orrrrrr get thrown off the grid?

Last night a wild rain storm blew past our house, knocking our power out for 6 hours.  A dying cell phone battery coupled with no electricity landed me....off the grid.  I tried some mundane what-can-I-do-on-my-laptop-without-wifi coping activities, yet God kept calling me away to the intimate and wonderful, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."  Mark 6:31 It was in His Word, and in prayer that I could take a deep breath, have a "conversation" with God, and realllllly wait for and listen to His reply.  That precious time carried me throughout my evening, my night, and many times throughout my day today! 

Power outages can get us off the grid.  So can camping. And air travel.  And so can sickness and trials. While God has you there, go ahead. Turn off. Tune out. And listen to Him carefully.

"Trey Tuesday" - June 12, 2018

Roller Coasters

It is officially summer time!  School is out!  The sun is shining (sometimes)!  Poison ivy and critters abound!  And trips to the amusement park on are the agenda!

How hard do you work at riding a roller coaster?  Your role is to buy the ticket and sit down.  That's it!  You then get to enjoy/endure the ride!  :)

Can you fathom that our spiritual journey is much the same?  We don't need to white knuckle life.  God promises us in His Word that He will fight our battles for us.  He will protect us.  He will never forsake us.

So...drop your fears and worries in to God's ticket box.  Sit down.  Put your seatbelt on and trust the Conductor!  :)

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."  Exodus 14:14
"The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."  Ephesians 6:10

"Trey Tuesday" - June 5, 2018

Hall Pass

Oh, the great ticket out of class!  Whether it's a paper ticket, a laminated lanyard, or a good old fashioned chunk of lumber, hall passes verify that you are FREE!  :)

Why did we love those hall passes?  They symbolized that we had permission to take care of our needs.

But that was in high school.  And then we became adults.  We got busy.  And stayed busy.  Neglecting our needs.  Our health.  Our relationships.  Our walk with the Lord.

On Sunday I was honored to give a child his first Bible.  What joy!  :)  He was in sheer disbelief that he was allowed to actually keep his Bible!  (He was also amazed at how heavy it was!)  I should have told him it was his hall pass for life, but he was a little young for that lesson.

What about you?  Go get/find your Bible.  Are you amazed?  Are you overjoyed?
God in His Word is the Greatest Hall Pass ever to take care of your needs!

"This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose Word I praise,in the Lord, whose Word I praise,"  Psalm 56, 9,10

"Trey Tuesday" - May 29, 2018

Pucker Up!

You know the old saying:  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Trey didn't know the saying, but he lived it!  :)  God allowed Trey to have cancer.  By the miraculous grace of God, Trey never knew he was sick.  He didn't know he had been given lemons.  However, Trey made the very best of hospital stays, surgeries, ports, doctors, nurses, and the endless attention a charming little boy attracts!

Do you have a recipe for lemonade?  Do you watch them make it at the fair?  What is needed?  Lemons. Check. Water. Check.  However....these make lemon water.

You can't make lemonade without sugar = the sweet stuff of life.

In Trey's little life, people were his sugar.  Parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, extended family, countless friends (and strangers!) around the world!  People are what turn sour lemons in to sweet lemonade!  :)

What's on your plate?  What's in your glass?  Need a little sweetener? 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love"  Hebrews 10:24

"Trey Tuesday" - May 22, 2018

Time Out!

Wouldn't it be nice if someone gave you a Time Out today?  A time when you had to go to your room - alone - with no cell phone - no TV - no computer!  A Time Out and away from everyone and everything!  Time to take a deep breath, check your perspective, and maybe even sneak a long blink!  :) 

Does that make your heart race imagining a break in your productivity?  Or does it feel like a dream come true?

Many of us know the Bible story of Jesus calming the storm, but do you realize how that story begins? "That day when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along..."  Mark 4:35-36  Jesus gave Himself - and His disciples - a Time Out!  :)  Without all of His work being finished, Jesus needed to get away from everyone for a short time!  What did He do next?  He slept.  Even though the disciples had expectations that Jesus should be calming the storm, Jesus knew His calling at that moment was to rest.

I recently read:  Our lives have gotten so cluttered up with things we think we “should” do, we can’t figure out what we were meant to do.

It's time to put yourself in Time Out.  Off the grid.  On the boat with the Lord.

"Trey Tuesday" - May 15, 2018

Don't Wait!

Trey's birthday was a few days ago.  He would have been 10 years old!  My heart just can't handle imagining Trey as a 10 year old!  He will forever be a spunky 6 year old in my heart!  My mom often says that Trey packed a LOT in to his 6 short years.  He didn't wait.

Life is hard.  Life is short.  Aaaaaaand life is long.  Too long to wait until one day....

So, in honor of Trey's birthday, go ahead....don't wait!

Eat dessert first!

Laugh til you cry!

Pray boldly!

Sing out loud!

Give a BIG gift!

Think deep!

Work hard!

Rest harder!

Daydream!

Take a long walk!

Have a long talk!

Whisper secrets!

Get a new pet!

Do a huge favor!

Create with courage!

Hug harder!

Dance longer!

And always love more!

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  John 10:10

"Trey Tuesday" - May 8, 2018

What's the Difference?

Coke or Pepsi?

Vegetarian or Vegan?

Ford or Dodge?

What's the difference anyway?
(There are PLENTY of differences to those who care deeply about their choices!)

God has created a beautiful world filled with extraordinary people who make up a unique mosaic!  Where would we be if we all made the same exact choices?  What would we look like?  What we would sound like?  How would we ever learn!?  (Please note:  I am not bringing sports teams in to this analogy!)  :)

I was talking with a friend the other day about how much I love the Psalms.  Through the years, the poetry, the flow, the comfort, the guidance of God written in the Psalms has taught me so much about Jesus and His love for me!  My friend, a business executive, laughed and told me that the Psalms were a little too soft for her!  She preferred Proverbs - filled with warnings and consequences, cause and effect, helping her to understand how Jesus wants her to live!

I LOVE IT!  Even in God's Word we can learn and grow according to the way God has created each one of us!

So...what's the difference?  Everything about us is different - just as God intended us to be!

"For there is no difference...—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  Romans 10:12-13

"Trey Tuesday" - May 1, 2018

Baby Birds

We have a finch nest built in our front door wreath.  The birds carefully crafted the nest, laid the eggs, and then patiently sat and waited.

Well, the baby birds are born!  :)  I see their little fuzzy heads and yellow beaks begging for food whenever Daddy or Mommy visit......which.....isn't often!  Well, it isn't often enough for me!  Most of the day the nest sits unattended.  (by the parent birds)  I, however, pace and peek, making sure the babies are OK.  I worry, too.  Yes, the parents bring food many times throughout the day, but shouldn't the parents be protecting the babies?  Keeping them warm?  Sheltering them from predators?  (shielding them from the crazed homeowner taking endless pictures?!)  :)

Somehow, without my help, the baby finches are juuuuuuuuuuuuust fine.  The parents are doing what God created them to do.  I don't need to worry.  Or watch.  Or wait.  I just need to trust God's design.

I watched a video of Trey today.  Silly, resilient, strong Trey, stricken with cancer.  I watched.  I worried.  I laughed.  I cried.  Trey was just doing what God created him to do.  I just need to trust God's design.

Take today's verse to heart in your life.  And in the lives God brings to your front door!  <3

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"  Matthew 6:26

"Trey Tuesday" - April 24, 2018

Let's Go Team!

The fields are alive....with the sounds of soccer and t-ball and baseball and softball!  As spring is springing, teams are springing up everywhere! 

Tshirts, hats, minivan stickers - there are lots of ways to unite as a team.

We need teams.

We need each other.

We need those who complement us....those who can do what we can't...when we can't....Those who hold us accountable...and hold us up....hold our hands...and hold our mouths shut.

Team Mitlo One has been a bond across time and miles, supporting Jay and Rachel and Joe and Bella and Trey since the devastating news on that Christmas Eve.  But you know what else?  Being on Team Mitlo One has helped me to be a better team player on other teams.  Teams that noone ever wanted to be on....teams that are still fighting for an earthly win, and teams that mourn an earthly loss, but celebrate a heavenly win!  Sometimes I wonder why God would choose to use me on those teams, but I always find peace and encouragement in knowing that with a Coach like Jesus, we are guaranteed that He will provide a win!  :)

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,"  Colossians 2:2

"Trey Tuesday" - April 17, 2018

Like a Brother

Do you have a friend who rides this roller coaster called, "Life" with you?

Someone who loves you even when you are unlovable?
Someone you can lean on - sometimes literally?

Someone who is so close you can talk 24/7?

Friends can be so close we call them brother. Siblings, of course, can be brothers.  The Bible tells us that, "there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother."  Proverbs 18:24  

Imagine Joe and Bella having Trey as a brother.  A little brother.  A typical little brother to play with, fight, with, laugh with, live with....until one day....cancer takes your little brother away.  Where do you turn?   "there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother."  Proverbs 18:24   

Maybe God has allowed your sibling, spouse, parent, job, health, house, comfort to be taken away... Where do you turn?  "there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother."  Proverbs 18:24  

Jesus loves you even when you are unlovable.

Jesus is ready for you to lean on Him.

Jesus is listening to you 24/7.

Jesus is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Always.

"Trey Tuesday" - April 10, 2018

Have You Heard?

Have you listened outside your door lately?  Have you heard the birds singing?

Despite the dreary weather we've been having, the birds are doing what God created them to do!  They are singing!  :)

Trey battled cancer, but Trey never knew it.  He laughed and played and flirted every time he visited his girlfriends/the nurses at Children's Hospital!  He was just doing what God created him to do!  :)

Are you singing?  Are you doing what God created you to do?

"Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord."  Psalm 150:6

"Trey Tuesday" - April 3, 2018

Gold Star!

"You did a great job today!  I am so proud of you!"

When was the last time you heard those words?  How does it make you feel to hear them?  I think we can all use some good news this week....Here is a Gold Star for perseverance, commitment, good attitude, willingness, and team spirit!  :)

Optimism is contagious.  Smiles beget smiles.  And laughter begets laughter.  Just ask Trey's family!  Trey's endless jokes and "deals" and smiles brought such joy to our family!  And the memories and videos carry on that joy!

You may not be a cute, charming, lovable, irresistible, handsome little 5 year old boy, but God has given you YOUR joy to share!  What are you waiting for? :)

"shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of life... So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. "  Philippians 2:15,16,18

"Trey Tuesday" - March 27, 2018

Let's Go for a Walk!

I think we are all ready for a nice springtime walk in the park!  It has been a long, cold winter, right?  Bring on the sunshine and warm air!

We have just 4 days left in March.  How will we spend them?

As we prepare for Easter, let's walk the final steps with Jesus through the book of Matthew, chapters 21-28 :

Palm Sunday began the Holy Week journey for Jesus.  He was then met with disrespect, had His authority questioned, was betrayed, arrested, disowned, mocked, beaten, ridiculed, and crucified.....that's a whole LOT worse than our recent snow and cold!

However, it seems like so many people are suffering these days.  Cancer diagnoses are becoming more and more common.  Personal and cultural issues are tearing families apart.  And there is illness.  And tragedy.  And death.

BUT WAIT!  Sunday's coming!  :)

Keep reading until Matthew 28:6!!

"He is not here; He has risen, just as He said."

Thank you, God, for that Easter Sunday promise fulfilled!

Thank you for that hope!

Our journey with Jesus continues well beyond the Good Fridays of our lives.

Trust Him who knows the end from the beginning.  The One who will provide the right path to walk, every day of your life!  

“Peace be with you!”  John 20:19

"Trey Tuesday" - March 20, 2018

Spring!

Take a look around - no, wait!  Let's take a look around, but not look out the window at the snow!  :)

The signs of springtime are all around us.  We have added hours of daylight to our days. The robins have returned.  Cadbury eggs are back in the stores!  Even shorts and flip flops are available!  And of course, Rita's and Dairy Queen kicked off the season with free treats!  :)

Yes, the temps are low, the ice and snow are falling, and the shovels and snow blowers are taking up space where the yard toys and baby pool belong!  But....the truth is that today does mark the beginning of spring!  Feel it or not, it's true.  Looks like it or not, it is. God will provide the warm days and picnics and bare feet right around the corner!

“Surely He has done great things!

Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice.Surely the Lord has done great things!Do not be afraid, you wild animals,for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.The trees are bearing their fruit;the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.Be glad, people of Zion,rejoice in the Lord your God,for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful.
He sends you abundant showers,both autumn and spring rains, as before."  Joel 2:21-23

"Trey Tuesday" - March 13, 2018

HELP!!

We use the word, 'help' everywhere:  Information desks, books, movies, music....even the blue Walmart vests boast, "How may I help you?"

But why is it so difficult for us to ask for help?  Asking for help shows that you are resourceful and that you know how to find answers, right?  Then why do we view it as a weakness?

Children naturally ask for - and accept - help.

Older, and wiser, friends know their limits and when to ask for help.

So what is wrong with the rest of us?  We bite our tongues, dig in deep, and struggle all alone.  What relationships and blessings are we missing out on when we pridefully and fearfully refuse to ask for help?

Take a look at the attached picture.  Trey needed help in order to make the basket.  He and Jay look pretttttty happy working​ together!  

Try it tomorrow.  Ask for help.  And stir up a little joy!  :)

"let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works"  Hebrews 10:24

"Trey Tuesday" - March 6, 2018

Bubbles!

Research shows that there is no angry way to say "bubbles".  OK, my research was Google, but try it!  :)  There is something about the word that sets your mind at ease!

There is so much pain and sickness and grief and fear and brokenness in our lives lately, I thought perhaps today we could focus on some happiness.

You know another word that is difficult to say in an angry way?  Grandma  <3

And the phrase, "You're right."

And of course I can't say, "Trey" without a sweet smile.

Bubbles won't take away the burdens of your heart, but they will refresh you, if even for a brief moment!  :)

"Those the Lord has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away."  Isaiah 51:11

"Trey Tuesday" - February 27, 2018

Gold Medal Winners!

The Olympics are over, the athletes can now rest.  They have fought their fights.

They have finished their races.

This past week, Billy Graham finished his race.  He can now rest with Jesus.  And with Trey.  And Poppi.   And Alice.  And Allan.  And Richard.  And Clarence.   And Joe.  And Helen.  And Jim and Patty.  And Bill and Nancy.  And Susan.  And Kathleen.  And Molly.  And Ellen.  And teeny tiny babies.  And many, many others!  :)

It brings me comfort and joy to imagine my loved ones together in the presence of Jesus!  Let's continue to paint the image of this joyful family reunion!

Who is your Gold Medal Winner now resting with Jesus?

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing."  2 Timothy 4:7,8