My Feminine Side

I’m a collage of my relationships, experiences, and choices.

The choices I’ve made have influenced my present situation and will impact my future.

My experiences have taught me what to continue doing and what to stop doing (like jump down a trash chute at age 23…I don’t do that anymore).

And my relationships have greatly determined the direction and quality of my life.

These relationships include best friends, girlfriends, failed friendships, mentors, acquaintances, teachers, coaches, and family. I’ve learned a good deal about life, decisions, friendship, the future, and faith from each of these in proportion. Some of the most significant voices shaping who I am have been the moms in my life.

My mom’s mom, Gram Spratt, taught me a valuable lesson about focus. Gram Spratt always took us kids duckpin bowling once a month or so. I was ok but not good enough to stay focused when I was actually bowling. I had this habit in the midst of my bowl of looking over at the bowling alley video games. This lead to very few strikes (of any pins). At one point Gram Spratt called me out in the middle of my approach, “Todd, stop looking at the videeer games!” This rocked me to my core. I can’t go bowling without her instruction ringing in my ears. I’m focused when I bow nowl but the lesson has given me insight into accomplishing goals and plans – eyes focused on the video games never knocked down any pins.

My dad’s mom, Gram Lesher, used spinach to teach me the benefit of trying in the midst of intimidation. Gram and Pop always served at least one unfamiliar food or casserole during meals. The one that changed my life was boiled spinach. Boiled spinach looks nasty. It looks like your serving the Swamp Thing’s hair cut. Whenever spinach was served Gram Lesher always told us we had to try it 10 times before we could say we didn’t like it. Here’s the brilliance behind the requirement: it takes about 10 bites to finish a serving of spinach. I never got to the place of not liking spinach because I always finished it. I had nothing to make faces at on my plate. Brillant!

When it comes to the intimidating, Gram Lesher taught me that trying it before giving up on it may lead to liking, growing, or learning from it. Without spinach who knows if I would have liked snowboarding.

My mom is wealth of wisdom. I could spend the next couple paragraphs gushing but at the top of the list is that mom has taught me how to thank and encourage. Every time I received a gift of some sort whether money, clothing, or toys my mom made me write a thank you card immediately. Writing thank you notes as a kid is a major gift-buzz killer. But the requirement developed a habit that I’ve tried to keep in tact today. People not only want to be appreciated but they want to feel valued. Cards, emails,and  text messages are great ways to encourage, thank, and bolster someone’s self-esteem.

Does writing notes to people sound annoying? Try it 10 times…

Then there’s the mom of my son, My Sweet. One of the main things that indicated that I was supposed to marry her was when I realized she was strong in the areas of my weakness. I have become a better person because she has offered me her strength. As we celebrated her 1st year of motherhood I spent sometime reflecting on her as a mother. One of the beautiful things about Abbey is that she reveals the character of God. God uses her to reveal His nature. As I’ve watched Abbey raise, nurture, and take care of our boy God has shown me that He is perfectly selfless. Abbey has given up a lot for the benefit of her boys. God gave up His boy for the benefit of all people. Allen’s mom, here, has strengthened my weakness in faith.

Here’s to you, mom’s in my life. I am who I am, for many reasons, because of you. Thanks!

:: The French Pressed Four ::

: Mother’s Day :: A great day that should be celebrated everyday!

:: Chiles :: Chips + Salsa + Fajitas = Chips + Salsa + Fajitas (Get Some!)

::: The Forest Hill Church Community :: Showing major support for the high school Dominican Republic trip…you all are better than the #1 at Chick-Fil-A!

:::: Mini Godzilla :: Allen’s walking!