Please excuse the noise!

Today I went to my scheduled massage appointment. I walked in and checked in like normal. As I sat down and waited for my name to be called. I quickly noticed  a couple upset clients at the counter. One lady was talking so loud it made me feel uncomfortable. I felt so bad for the girl behind the counter. She was so angry and I wasn't sure why! I noticed on the counter a small sign that read... Please excuse the noise. I didn't hear any noise... So I was clueless what was going on! Then I heard her say, "That was the worst experience I have ever had and I want my money back" The associate was trying so hard to validate her and calm her down but nothing worked. (I don't know about you but I always say a little prayer in those situations)

My name was then called and I went back for my massage. As I walked to the room, the therapist said, "I apologize ahead of time for the noise...There is construction going on next door and it is not your typical massage experience...So I am telling you now in case you would like to reschedule"

I was thinking, how bad could it be?? Well, it actually was minimal for a moment so I figured since I am already here...lets just go for it! So I get all prepared and the therapist comes in and begins the massage. All of a sudden I hear a jackhammer and about 20 different people hammering at different times and saws and metal and banging... almost enough noise to make it comical! The therapist said, the offer is still on the table if you would like to reschedule. I thought for a moment and decided I would just go for it! I just said turn the music up as loud as it goes.

The massage begins and the noise only got louder and more consistent. I could hardly relax and it truly was rather annoying!  So then I thought to myself what if I focus my attention on the music and the massage and try to  tune out the construction noise. I tried and I immediately hear a jackhammer begin...I try again and I hear banging  louder than at first! But I had already made a decision to stay so I just dealt with it.

I laid there and continued to focus on the music and the coolest thing happened... When I let go and chose to relax anyway (no matter how noisy it was) and chose to tune into the music instead of the construction noise the hammering noise phased out and the music seemed louder. I focused on the massage and enjoyed every minute of it! I realized that I actually was enjoying the massage more than normal.

I couldn't help but think about the world we live in and how there is so much noise. So many things that are pounding and banging for our attention. So many things going on and we cant seem to feel the peace and quiet that we desire. We want all the bad to go away and don't want to have to endure the hard.

But actually what I realized was that I couldn't make the noise go away. I could either check out or endure it. Since I chose to endure it... I learned a valuable lesson! Isn't that how life is too! Even though we have to endure hard things we always learn valuable lessons that make us stronger than we were before.

Every single day we hear of more and more "noise" that we can't make go away. But we have a choice to check out or endure it and make the best of it! With the construction noise full blast today I learned that focusing my mind and attention on the better part (which today was the massage and the music) that the bad part just kinda crept away. Still there... but  did not affect me! In fact, it was one of the best massages I have had.

And now the best part... I walk out to the counter, and the same girl that was getting chewed out by the upset lady before I went in asked me how my massage went. I told her that it was wonderful! She looked at me with a crazy face...she was not expecting that response at all. She smiles and says you are the first person to say that! I said well it was a bit noisy but I just focused on the music and it was wonderful! The manager was right there and comes over and does something on the computer. She says mam..he just gave you a free massage!

Another reminder that the reward is after you endure!

Find JOY amongst the noise and
seek the GOOD no matter what!

I have TWINS!!!

Eight years ago when Hayley was in the 4th grade. I picked her up from school and on the way home she was telling me about a boy in her class that was really funny. She began to talk about him and said she feels bad for him a lot. I proceeded to ask her why. She told me that he always gets in trouble and he doesn't even do anything! She said it reminds her of her brother Kolby who would often get in trouble and everything was always blamed on him! I listened to her and told her that was sweet of her to be nice to him despite how other people treated him.

Hayley continued to come home talking about this boy. I didn't even know his name. So after a week of hearing her talk about him I felt like maybe there was something we could do to help him and maybe ease Hayley's heart!

One of our traditions every single Friday was to go to Braums for ice cream. Hayley and Kolby always looked forward to this and they knew having a great week at school earned the Braums trip. So I told Hayley to tell the little boy at school that if he could do good for a whole week and not get his name on the board that I would talk to his parents and see if he could come with us for ice cream.

Hayley was so excited to go back to school to tell him! She came home that day and reported that he was soooo excited and was gonna be good. Well, it was a success! He didn't get in trouble!!! Friday came and as I walked up to the school Hayley , Kolby and two boys run up to me. The boy from Hayley's class is smiling from ear to ear and he says, "HI, I'm LaMorie and this is my twin brother Morie." I respond, "Oh!!! Well, did you do good this week?" He said, "YES" So I told him well then you get to come too!

And it all started from that day! Everyday after that Morie and LaMorie came over to our house after school. They played and ate dinner and even began to bathe and get homework done at our house. Shay would load up their bikes in the back of his truck and take them home every night. For the rest of the year that was what we did.

The coolest thing was they had the same exact birthday as Hayley...September 22! So we celebrated three birthdays on that day!

Then one day their dad came to our doorstep and said that they were moving and where he was going the boys could not go. He asked if they could stay with us for a week or so and then when he was settled that he would come get them. THREE YEARS LATER...... The twins were still apart of our family and living with us!

I had been their legal guardian (they called me mom)  for three years while they lived with us and we were going to adopt them. Then out of the blue their mom was trying to get them back. She succeeded and they have lived around with her for the last several years.

We still got to have them on Christmas, Thanksgiving and in the summer through the years!

There is quite a bit that I am leaving out just for the sake of other peoples privacy...But the bottom line is they are my boys and we have loved them like our own since they were in 4th grade! I'll never forget that Friday and their smiles...We love them and always have!

They are now almost 19 and they still call me mom and Kolby and Hayley call them their brothers.
Sometimes you don't have to be blood to be family!

LOVE MY BOYS!

Find JOY in loving others! You never know who is meant to be in your life!