For Showing Me Purpose

Don't you love it when God gives you the words you needed to hear just at the time you need to hear them?  On this particular day, the words I read spoke to me in a reassuring, uplifting way when my physical strength was not where I wanted it to be.

It had been a packed weekend to say the least.  I found myself stumbling about in my robe on a Sunday morning, feeling as if I could not get going. In my family, we just don't miss church unless you are sick, working, or a valid reason.  Not that I have to go by a strict rule, but I do miss church if I miss church.  Not go to church because I am too tired?  That seemed like a lousy excuse...

There were things that had to be squeezed in my calendar, and this was the weekend that worked out for two important must-dos.  We had already had to cancel an earlier ATV Safety Rider Course due to bad weather months before.  Then, I had the photo shoot I knew I had to squeeze in at Photogenic with Clay Spann (did not want to miss this opportunity), and open dates on both our calendars were limited. 

So, I keep my booked date to head to North Mississippi to speak at an elementary school on a Thursday.  It was great to work with a local Pilot International member/leader, and teen Anchor members while speaking to the kids during the Safety Week they had planned.

The following morning, I head out bright and early, with my good friend and hair stylist, Heather, to Dothan, Alabama for the much anticipated photo shoot.  Heather and I both had an amazing time watching Clay do his make up magic, and that made the more than twelve...yes, 12 hours traveling that day worth it.

After getting in bed sometime after 2:30, I am up later the next morning getting ready for the 4-H ATV Safety Rider Course.  I am happy that it worked out for a committed 4-H mom and extended family to take part in the hands-on riding course!  It is a great refresher course for me as well, and I knew it would be fun. 

Then, as I sit in my robe on Sunday morning, I resign to stay home, read my Bible, and go back to bed while my husband and our kids to church.  I open my Women's Devotional Bible, still exhausted, and not knowing what I am going to read.  It opens up to the book of Isaiah and a devotional titled "For Showing Me Purpose".    It begins....
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"I AM grateful, God, that I have finally come to realize your purpose for me.
Just when or how this came about I can't say....Maybe because life is so filled with defeat and heartbreak, we find ourselves turning to you, yielding ourselves to your will, fighting less furiously for selfish, often empty goals. And when this happens we find that you have turned our sufferings and our failures into little stepping-stones.

Looking back, we see them ...and looking about, we see there are results. There are signals, heartening little affirmations, unexpected proofs.

However humble our circumstances or undramatic our talents, our true purpose has been revealed. We were meant to be this person at this time and place. Not only for ourselves, but for you and other people- we were meant to make this particular contribution to the world.

And so we must do it well. Do it with faith and patience, with all our strength and passion. And in so doing discover who we really are."

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From the book of Isaiah:
...I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

I pray this is an encouragement for you, and a reminder to you of your purpose at this time in your life. Whether a lifetime of teaching children, or a short time of being a neighbor to someone who needs a friend.  No matter what it is, do it with faith and patience, with all your strength and passion.

Blessings,
Traci

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Closing one chapter, beginning another

Life is full of stages and chapters, isn't it? Well, my husband and I are at a stage where we are closing one chapter and beginning another.  I have stepped down from my career and position as 4-H Agent to take on the position of full-time mom and wife.  We are all full-time already, aren't we?  However, we had some gaps that needed to be filled with both of us having demanding careers.  I am blessed to have had the time to work with some amazing people in Extension from all across the state, and with the best university....Mississippi State University!  And now I am blessed to have this time to devote to my family.

As far as 4-H goes, 4-H will still be a part of our lives, as I will be a 4-H volunteer for Cloverbuds (my kids' club for their age), as well as find some other things to do...including volunteering at the school and promoting ATV Safety wherever I can.  All of us in 4-H know that volunteers are what keep the organization thriving, and I am thankful for all of our local volunteers, both past and present!


Those who know me know that I will fill each day at home to the fullest!  I foresee fun summer "assignments" for the kids.  My love of art and art background has always given my kids an opportunity to make a big mess and create something special.  Paint, paper, scissors, glue... I can't wait! 

I look forward to remaining active in the community, and devoting some time to some projects that I  have interest in.  I will just be able to shift things around, and work around my family, which I think will allow me to be more efficient.

I am very excited about this new chapter, even though I felt a little tug of sadness as I worked my last assignment this past weekend at our district horse show.  MSU Extension has been a wonderful family for the last five years, and the friendships formed will remain.

Speaking of friendships...I look forward to new friendships formed at the Mrs. International competition!  Yet another wonderful chapter...

Until next time, wishing you safety, smiles, and a great chapter in your life!

~Traci

The Challenges of an Everyday Mom turned title-holder

Well, let me say I am still alive and kicking!  I hope you have seen me on facebook in the last few weeks.  Even so, facebook does not reflect how busy things have been for this mom, 4-H Agent, and state Mrs. titleholder. 

From the time my kids were born, I always knew being a mom was a full-time and very demanding job.  Like many of you, I did not take the task lightly, choosing the educational toys, reading the books, etc.  Then, just a few years later, add to that a great opportunity for working with youth, and you have a super-busy mom just like many of you I know! 

Now, I never would have guessed or dreamed I would have taken an opportunity to be Mrs. Mississippi International, and then go on to prepare for the Mrs. International competition. 

But, here I am, and I am so thankful for the opportunity God has placed before me.  I could not have planned this myself (I was too busy!).  But God knew He had a job for me, and that I was ready for the challenge.  I may be using the word ready lightly.  Although there are times when things have just fallen into place better than I could have imagined.  Then, there are times when I feel like I needed double (okay, maybe triple) the hours in a day!

There are the events to schedule, locations to find, dresses to shop for, fittings to schedule, emails to answer, phone calls to return, preparations, practice, and don't forget exercise!  (Then, there was the pulled muscle, or whatever that was that had me in tears until I saw my chiropractor. Followed the next week by the blown blood vessel).

Yes, we women are masters at multi-tasking.  Getting ready for early morning drives for appearances has added a new dimension.  While 4-H events on weekends, or a variety of things on your calendar is typical for a 4-H Agent, showing up as Mrs. Mississippi International does require a little more planning.  The perfect shoes must be selected (not just my Ariat boots, unless in the arena; I miss you, dear boots), eyelashes, crown, sash, photos, as well as helmet (for my platform), safety information, and the right earrings (which I left at home, I think, along with those extra bobby pins).

My multi-tasking has been a little crazy at times. I can do leg exercises while blowing-drying my hair, and even decided to add holding sliced cucumbers on alternating eyes while doing the exercising and hair.  I must say the little extras are worth it sometimes.  I was surprised to be told at a visit to a school that they knew I wasn't a teacher because I looked "too rested".  I had to smile because it was a very busy week, and I had used my cold green tea bags from the fridge that morning on my eyes...glad to know they worked!

Thanks to great friends and family, I have been able to juggle the variety of blessings much better than I ever could have alone.  And they make me feel and look much better than cucumbers and green tea bags could any day.

Blessings to you from my thankful heart,
~Traci