13 years ago today

April 15, 1998 is a significant date in my history.  It's a date that for many years I wanted to forget.  But now it's a date I look back on with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips.  Watch and see.


Tracey Crosby: To Live is Christ from Reston Bible Church on Vimeo.

Alan has been trying to get me to write down my testimony for years.  I just couldn't.  I wanted to, but the words just wouldn't come. 

After I heard Ann Voskamp speak at the Relevant conference last fall I felt like it was time to start sharing my story.  Because story is all we have.  If I am keeping my story quiet how can I give full glory to God?  The God who spared me from my first suicide attempt on April 15, 1998.

So, back in February I called the Director of Women's ministry at our church and invited her over for coffee.  I had no idea what I wanted to come of it but I thought she was a good place to start. 

What came from our 3 hour coffee date was twofold.  She invited me to video tape my testimony and share it at our women's retreat.  (Which I wasn't attending because of a sweet, smiling, nursing newborn.)  She also asked if I would be interested in co-leading a post-abortion bible study.  WOW.  I never expected either of those things to happen over 3 hours of coffee. 

I needed to get some distance between myself and San Francisco before I was able to share all this, but what an amazing God we serve that he allowed me to.  Little old me.

Gypsy Mama gave us the prompt "On Distance" for 5 minute Friday today and even though this story has been a lifetime in the making, this post wasn't. 

Five Minute Friday: If you met me

If you met me, I would probably strike up a conversation immediately.

I love getting to know people and hearing their story.   I have a story too, and I would love to share it with you.  

Connecting with people is my gift and it fills me up. I feel God’s love when we connect.

If you met me, I would probably say something that would shock you, something that would encourage you and something that would make you laugh. It wouldn't be my goal, but it would most likely happen.

This post was inspired by The Gypsy Mama. I love the way Lisa-Jo is setting us free from blogging perfectionism by hosting 5 Minute Friday.

p.s. I know my header still says March, I'll get to it :) 

Five Minute Friday: Waking up

"They say that waking up is hard to do..."  I love singing my version of that old song to my littles when they wake up crabby.

They usually wake up slowly with snuggles and smiles.  But on the mornings they are fussy and cranky they need even more snuggles and smiles from me and sometimes a song. 

This year I have been waking up to Jesus and the way he wants me to step out in my faith.  I feel like until now I have been hogging my faith and His blessing for myself and my family.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to share my testimony by video at our women's retreat.  I'll be sharing the video here soon!

This post was inspired by The Gypsy Mama. I love the way Lisa-Jo is setting us free from blogging perfectionism by hosting 5 Minute Friday.  And, she has a squishy, sweet, 6 day old baby girl...go see!

Share. Care. Love. Disciple. Mentor.

What is my part?  I have felt a tug for some time to get involved. 

Do something.  Be used.    And most importantly, to not let the testimony of my past be wasted.  

I was first prompted a few years ago when a friend approached me to mentor her for a time.  Whoa.  I need a mentor was what I thought.  But God. 

Well, now it’s a few years later and I have been to the Relevant Conference and I have heard God speak through Ann Voskamp’s words:

Why do I need your story and why do you need your story?

Because story is a way that the Spirit of God can bind our wounds.

It is in story, we meet the Spirit of God. The reader meets the Spirit of God in the reading of story — the word made flesh in your life. The writer, you, meets the Spirit of God in the writing your story – the word made flesh in your own life.

And so today, I responded to the prompting and took a step.  I met with a leader from our church and the discussion has started.  To use my story.

{Time is up. Gypsy Mama encouraged us to whip up a post in 5 minutes. And I did it wrong because she said use a photo prompt. And this might be the first post I've written without a photo. I am so rebellious.}


Okay, fine.  This photo has nothing to do with this post but it was taken the other day and I love it.