Who Doesn't Like to Be Booed?

Last night, I came home late in the evening from my Bible study. There greeting me at the door was a wonderful surprise. A cute, little pumpkin filled with assorted candy, gum and special treats. I was like a kid in a candy shop. I love surprises! I really do. I unlocked the door, dragged my sleeping husband off the couch to take a picture. I then pulled out the note that read:

Who doesn't like to be BOOED? I rummaged through the package looking at all the carefully selected treats and then I realized, "Wait, this isn't for me! Its for the kids." So, I tucked the gift away from finding to reenact the surprise for my children the next morning.


This morning, my alarm sounded at 6:30 AM, and with ease, I jumped out of bed. In great anticipation, I placed the surprise back out on the porch and headed to my kid's rooms to wake them up. One by one, "Its time to get up. I have a surprise for you. Get dressed, get ready, and I'll show you." There was a buzz of excitement brewing through our household this morning, and it was an instant shot of motivation for the early morning rise.


By 7:15 AM, all five were ready and waiting by the front door. Guesses of a new car, vacation, even Grandpa being home early from Africa were offered. I like that my kids think big! The best way I knew to surprise them was having them all close their eyes and count One, Two, THREE….Open!

They screamed in delight. Ethan, our oldest, read the letter to the group, and then I shared the best news of all.  Not only do we get to enjoy all these treats, but we get to BOO someone else. I told them my plan, and their smiles widened.

Who doesn't like to be BOOED!?  I thought about that and took me back to my childhood days when I had a terrible accident on my bike. It was September of 1983, and I was six years old. We were living in Springfield, Virginia at the time at 6777 Turlock Drive. Our house was a butter cream ranch with a walk out basement that lead to a gated backyard. Many great memories of playing on the swing set and the mini playhouse which was once transformed into a snack bar for our neighborhood circus. Those were the days!

Turlock Drive was a steep road that emptied out to a culdesac at the end. Our house was at the perfect start point to ride your bike allowing gravity and momentum to push you to swift speeds requiring very little peddling. I know because I tried it, and one day momentum was not my friend. As I got about half way down the road, I noticed a car pulling out of the driveway ahead. Needing to slow down quickly, I slammed on the brakes of my banana seat bike and went head first over the handle boards. Ouch!!  It was not a pretty site. I landed face first and ended up looking pretty beat up with a large goose egg on the right temple of my forehead and huge scrap down the front of my nose.

 

Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, but kids were pretty cruel at school because I remember being teased saying I had chocolate all over my face. God, however, had a way of bringing some joy to my life during this time. Thirty years later, I can still remember my Mom calling me upstairs. "Carolyn, come here." I met her at the front door where I was instructed to look outside on the porch. There sat a special gift package filled with stickers, pencils, erasers and candy just for me! Oh how my heart danced with glee as a thoughtful neighbor had surprised me. It truly brightened my day, the season, and its funny how all these years later, I can still feel that joyous memory.

So, who doesn't like to be Booed? Everyone needs encouragement in their life, and as I look at how a thoughtful gift, a friend lunch, a needed hug, a welcoming smile, an encouraging word, a favorite Starbuck drink delivered or a pay it forward at the drive-thru can make such an impact on an encouragement deprived society.

Let's boo the socks of each other. Lets be people that are constantly looking for ways to encourage others. So, many times, we wish that it was us being booed, and there's nothing wrong with that. But I do believe the greatest joy comes when we seek out to bless others.

Proverbs 11:25 tells us "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Let's take the BOO challenge. Ask God today who you can encourage and how you should do it. Because after all, "Who doesn't like to be Booed?"

Dear Mom.....I get it

Dear Mom,

Its hard to believe its been four years since we said goodbye. In some ways, it seems like just the other day when we got the call. Words that I wasn't ready to hear, "Its time." As hard as that moment was, I am grateful that I had those last hours to be with you.

Four years has also felt like a lifetime. Days and years that are now void of your presence. Moments that I wish you could share with me as I watch my children grow up. I've learned a lot over these years without you, and I just wanted to say, "I get it".

Just the other day, Bec and I were talking about our busy schedule. Running our kids from here to there, juggling the games, practices and the impossibility of being in more than one place at once. We both agreed we don't know how you did it, but we get it. We now get while you were always carting your laundry around, folding it in the van as you watched the boys played baseball because you didn't want to miss a thing.

We get it after a long day, how many times you were doing this all on your own while Dad was out to sea. No wonder there were days your patience ran low. We get it. Oh do I get as a mom, some days I just feel spent. I think I'm still adjusting to the fact that I'm actually an adult, a wife, a mother. No one actually handed me the adult card. It seems surreal sometimes as I watch my children growing up. I've learned so much from your example, and I get it.

I get now why you would stay up way into the wee hours to catch up on the housework. I often find myself doing the same because waking up the next morning with an edge on the next day feels much better than pots in the sink and the piles of laundry. I've taken on some your habits like emptying the trash far too often, but I rarely pick up lint. And I'm no where near the laundry folder like you were!

I get it now why many times your vacations became road trips to visit family and friends. We moved around for so many years, and there is something nostalgic and wonderful about going back to see our old homes, schools and friends from past days. I've enjoyed too reliving the memories as now I am getting older.

This year, I had my 20 year class reunion, and went back to the Cape. What fun to see classmates from some many years ago and catch up. I enjoyed taking Mike by my old high school, Snake Pond, Osterville Baptist Church but couldn't get on the base to see our house. We spent the day with Yvonne and her family too. 

And just the other day, I got a text from Meredith as the Floskys were at Disney World. You know my friend, Sherida, from 5th grade?! She recognized my in-laws at the park. Meredith sent over a picture asking if I recognized this face. All because of my Facebook posts. Can you believe it? Twenty-eight years later? I was jealous I personally didn't get to see her, but Disney sure got it right "Its a small world after all!"

I get it now why you baked the pumpkin bread every year, pretzel rings at Christmas and those gooey-bars. Such enjoyment to see the family so delighted to smell it baking in the oven. You'll be happy to know that your pumpkin bread is the grandkids favorite!

I get it now why you learned when you were sick to finally ask for help, let people in and ask for forgiveness. Life is too short to carry grudges and not build relationships. I'm working to get those things right, Mom.

And Mom, I finally get how much of a staple you were in our lives. Our family has not been the same without you. All the little Joanne-isms are things I now delight to see in myself and my children. I appreciate your ability to be so organized and multi-task. I have recognized that was a gift you passed down to me. We may not have always appreciated you untying our shoelaces, but I get it. I have a lead foot like you when I drive, but I still don't think I could ever walk as fast as you. Although, I'm enjoying a lot more walks these days. Its been good for the soul.

I see how the little things you did like folding our laundry, dropping off junk mail and dancing to your favorite song were your joys. We still have dance parties from time to time, and I miss having you as my dance partner. I get why having your family over to enjoy a meal even if you didn't actually sit down to eat with us (well sometimes you did when we told you to) were your ways of showing you loved us.

So, I'm sorry that its taken me so long to get it. But oh I see it now, and I'm grateful for the years that I had on this earth with you, the legacy you left for my family and the hope that you shared with me in Jesus. I can't imagine what you are experiencing right now in heaven. But I get it....that I will see you one day. That my hope and rest comes from having Jesus in my heart. Only He has gotten me through these years without you.

Finally, I get it....that life is but a breathe. Its just a fleeting moment. So, I'm living to make every moment count. I get it. You lived and taught me that. I miss you. I love you and forever you will be cherished in our hearts. Until we meet again...

Your Grateful Daughter,
Carolyn 


 Our last family vacation with Mom...summer of 2011 Story Book Land


Mom's Pumpkin bread was a must bake this week, and an all time comfort food in this house. The tradition lives on.