Unfinished Business

Unfinished business. That is the slogan of a local high school baseball team this year. I was thinking about that statement and I could not help but share my thoughts...

The spirit of competition is fueled by unfinished business. We are finishing the business of winning that state title we lost by just two points last year. We are finishing the business of winning a decade of championships. We recruit to finish business with the next big athlete on our team. We condition ourselves physically to finish the business of that marathon goal. We meet with that coach just one more time to perfect the skills that will help us finish the unfinished business. We sacrifice, support and pray to finish the business of the dream realized. We train, we push, we cheer, we pursue. We are persistent at finishing the business that fuels our competitive spirits.


24-25You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

26-27I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)

So what I think about all that is this...as a wife, mom, woman and daughter of God I have unfinished business. As a wife I have the unfinished business of supporting my husband today. I have unfinished business as a mother to love, encourage, and build up (even though I have moments of pure insanity:) my children. As a woman I have dreams that God needs me to realize and accomplish whether professionally, personally or spiritually. As a daughter of the King of Kings I have the unfinished business of acting as His child. I have business to do in my neighborhood, and in the community that we live, and with the family that I love. I have unfinished business to proclaim His name through my daily actions and the way in which I live.

Ladies our husbands my be coaching up teams to finish unfinished business or training to finish the unfinished business of atheletic achievement in the professional ranks, but we...we are facing our own unfinished business. You have business you know needs finishing. Finish the business of serving your family today. Finish the business of loving those around you. Finish the business of supporting your husband everyday. Finish the business of following that dream or reaching that goal. Finish that business of doing the daily "blah-ness" of life with vibrant tenacity. Finish the business of planning that vacation, or slowing down long enough to SEE what is going on around you. Ladies let's finish the business at hand!

18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20

Unfinished business huh? I say we finish it! :)

Love to you today,
Cari

Bathroom Break...

Today I was remembering a funny story about a bathroom break that I am hoping you can relate to. And get a chuckle out of...

This was something that happened when Toby was the FCA rep for TCU but I know it will happen again. Especially as a coach's wife. We were headed to the SMU/TCU football game and I was armed and ready with my Mary Poppins bag of goodies. I had supper, snacks, camera, coloring books, crayons, toys and a partridge in a pair tree. Toby spent the game down on the sidelines so it was just the kids and me in the stands. As we are making our way down to our seats of course we are getting some looks. I mean I look like I am ready to go backpacking across Europe with the pack I have on my back. I am trying hold on to a very active infant and aid my then 2 1/2 year old down some very steep steps. We finally make it to our seats and I start to unload the bag of goodies. I get Ainsley's baby bib on and I am about to feed her some baby food when my Cade says, "Oh, mommie I have to go to the bathroom!"

Huh? Ooookkkkaaayyy?!?! Don't know if anyone can relate to this but I say okay at least 500 times a day!

So we re-pack the backpack and climb the stairs to the bathroom. We finally make it in to the bathroom and get to a "clean" stall. To which I am saying "Please don't touch anything." Of course they are both touching things faster than I can say Baby Wipe so I am trying to hurry us through this little potty break. As we emerge from the stall I am re-packing, trying to wipe the kids down and pull up Cade's pants when I realize there is this woman standing there. She bends down to my level and with the kindest heart says "Honey, do you need some help?" All I could do was chuckle. We must have been quiet a sight sitting there on the bathroom floor.

The moral to this story is you just have to laugh. I could have been really offended by her comments but what was I going to do, we were sitting on the floor of the bathroom, my son was having major underwear malfunctions, and my daughter was moving like a spider monkey. We were hilarious, and yes probably looked like we needed some help.

It was a moment in time. And I just laughed, and the woman laughed. It ended up being a sweet moment. As wives and mothers we have a lot we are balancing. I thought I was so prepared with my Euro pack of tricks, but I didn't anticipate the bathroom break by myself with two kids. I am realizing there are lots that we won't anticipate. But if we just laugh and embrace the moment they can turn into the sweetest blessings. What I do know is that moment made me human. I try to be super wife, super mommie and super woman but truth be told I am just as human as can be. I have to rely on the Lord to get me through those unexpected bathroom breaks with Joy!

"A joyful heart is good medicine.." Proverbs 17:22

So when you are thinking you are all alone in the middle of a bathroom break with your kids and tons of stuff falling out everywhere remember, you are not alone. I am probably doing the same thing with my kids :) And although I don't know much, I know that God is with me too. He sees us battling and trying to take on the world and He promises not to leave us alone in our weaknesses. Stand strong sweet ladies and laugh! Laugh a lot!!!!

The Journal of a Wife...

Seems like yesterday when we were all together at Simply You Cafe in Colleyville, Texas. We heard some incredible wisdom from Jane Armstrong, who together with her husband Neil have influenced so many through time spent on the staffs of Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University), Chicago Bears and most notably under Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys just to name a few. What a rich blessing that was to gain insight and understanding from such an amazing little lady!

And then we were so honored to hear some great advice on how to be The Organized Wife from The Coach's Wife herself, Carolyn Allen who has written the book The Coach's Wife and developed such a successful ministry for wives all across the country! She has been a coach's wife thirty-two years to Randy Allen, head football coach at Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. Please check out her website when you get a chance...and sign up for the network she has created!! It is so fun to connect with other coach's wives across the country! As well as having a great time to fellowship together with sweet friends!

One of the items in your gift bags that day was a journal. I had gotten an idea from another wife to take a picture of your family and place that in the front of the journal at the start of the season. Then journal about the highs and lows of life thoughout the year. When the season is over snap another photo of your family and see where you are! Just thought I would give a little reminder and encourage you to start one if you haven't already. It has been a great outlet for me as we are starting a new journey at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where Toby will be the Secondary football coach and Recruiting coordinator. I am planning on posting some entries on this blog...should be entertaining! :) And I would love to receive "entries" from your journal to post. We all need to know we are not alone in this life as a wife! If you have a short entry please email me!

You are amazing, strong, confident women that are juggling a lot and I am honored to call you friends! Keep up the good work!

Just a few pics from our last brunch!

An organized life....at least that's the goal...

I have a huge passion to get organized. I revisited some past posts/journal entries over the last year and this idea came up again, so I thought I would share it with you. I want more than anything to be the mom and wife that has a place for everything. That not just a place for the stuff that is out in the open but the stuff that could be hidden in a messy closet (which I am ashamed to admit I have a terribly messy closet right now!) or stuffed in a junk drawer to which I have as well. Like I said it is a passion, a work in progress. I have a desire to lead an orderly life. That even down to our garage we could be "orderly". And although I so wish the picture to the left of this post was my garage, it is not. :)

"Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers." 2 Timothy 2:14 I don't know if anyone out there in the E-void can relate, but as a woman I disorganize, junk out, clutter up and "wrangle about" life. I reject sound trust filled, orderly faith and I disorganize life with human eyes, ears, and understanding. But there again I press on to Jesus just as I am sure you do. But with what diligence we have to press. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed handling accurately the word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

Today, the thought on my heart is this - Jesus is the One and only who can order my life. Yesterday I fell to disorganized thoughts, but today I can PUT ON the ordered, unshakable word of Truth. "Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you."
2 Timothy 1:13-14

I have posted this before, so if you are reading this for a second time I am praying it will hit you like it did me when I re-read it....it is a goal and I will continue to press on to Jesus. You have someone in the journey with you! Keep going!

Praying for and loving you today!
Cari

L-A-B-O-R of love continued....

Okay ladies so I thought I would finish up our labor of love thoughts...

B-uild a life together:
*Try to make him laugh
*Learn to do the things he loves to do
*Make life an adventure, don't stop dating or pursuing each other
*Don't pout, just plan it!

---I have to do an insert here...I know it is hard not to pout, especially when they have not been as available as we would all want...but I can say that I have wasted a lot of precious moments, however brief they may be with pouting and refusing to communicate...It is so much better to communicate, be available, and then be willing to make a plan or roll with the punches....as always thoughts or ideas on this would be awesome...how do you Build a life together with your husband?

O-ffer yourself to him:
*You can chase! Be impossible to resist!
*Don't do totally out of your comfort zone, but live a little! Keep life interesting!
*And this doesn't just mean physically. Offer your WHOLE being to your husband. Body, mind, heart and soul.
*Again, don't pout just plan it! If he is not romantic, meet him in the middle and give a little. You can be creative.

R-espect him:
*Give him the proper place in your home
*Speak highly of your husband to your family
*Allow him to be the head..you can be the neck!!
*Honor his day, respect what he has to do and all the pressures he is dealing with. Again, be the compliment. Don't repress your feelings, just communicate. But do it without nagging!
*Good communication is key, give him a chance to serve you too...let him know how can respect you, serve you and love you better...they don't know if you don't tell them! Bless their hearts!

The last part of this encouragement is found in a quote from Phyllis Altop, wife of Hall of Fame coach and FCA baseball National Director David Altop. "We interrupt this marriage to bring you the _____________ season!" You fill in the blank to what sport/activity that you feel interrupts your marriage, then make a choice to labor in love alongside your husband this season. It truly depends on your ability to make a choice to work TOGETHER!

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

Praying for you, love you and would love to hear from you!
Cari

Save the Date: January 17, 2009!

Ladies we have our next brunch scheduled for January 17, 2009 and have Carolyn Allen, who wrote the Coach's Wife, coming to offer some great encouragement! These are great opportunities to relax and connect with other wives. Please start letting other wives know and make a plan to come and enjoy a beautiful brunch, some great fellowship, gifts for you and strength for the journey! Stay connected and watch for details.