Tag Archives: #82

Throwing Mountains into the Sea

22 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Christianity, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Writing

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I often text encouraging Bible quotes to my kids. Yesterday, Jake said, “Keep them coming. I like them.” This morning, I found the above Scripture quote and texted it to Jake. It seemed appropriate for a type one diabetic and rookie in the NFL nearing the end of pre-season games (when players face potential cuts due to the league’s 53-man roster limit.)

One reporter, grading the rookies said this about Jake, “His time with the team is about up unless he pulls a miracle out of his hat.”

I wanted to tell that guy that our God is a God of miracles and my son is awesome, but I remembered that Jake is an adult and well, it’d be weird if I texted Bible quotes to reporters or yelled at them. To my kids relief, I swore I wouldn’t call their coaches or interfere in their sports business as soon as they grew bigger than me. (Age eleven for Jake.)

So, in spite of the reporter’s comment and the mountains in his way, Jake assured me he isn’t worried and that he’s entrusted his future to God. After a few more minutes of my preaching, Jake gently suggested I call Betsy or Nick and give them a pep talk. I got the “message” and told him maybe I needed the pep talk myself.

I don’t think anyone has ever thrown a mountain into the sea. It’s one of those Bible quotes that’s really hard to accept because you can’t take it literally. Who can throw a mountain into the sea? But God’s power can move mountains. God’s power can make the impossible become the possible. And prayers matter. And I guess if God wants that mountain to be in the sea, and it needs to be there, He can do it. But the mountain becoming a seafaring vessel and dissapearing on the horizon because of my faith? Hmm…

…though I pray and have peace about my son’s future, I’m flailing in my own troubled sea of uncertainty, wondering if I should continue fiction writing. Can I make it as a novelist? Why am I so uncertain about my future, my life, at my age? Am I such a late bloomer? Why can’t I get it together?

My angst might have something to do with my agent sharing rejection letters from publishers. They are like that reporter not appreciating Jake’s ability.

I understand that Stephen King and many other well-known authors received hundreds of rejections before getting their novels published. Yet, I question myself when I get a rejection, even those my agent calls “thoughtful” ones.

Yes, I have mountains in my way. I question if God really wants me to continue this path. I’ve worked as a journalist and freelance writer and have had some success in nonfiction in the past. Seriously, perhaps I should consider a different path.

It’s not defeatism, I tell myself, but rather contemplating on whether this path is the right one. Maybe it’s a “when a door closes, God opens a window” thing sometimes. Perhaps I should quit beating on this door and look out the window at other options and opportunities. Really, how do we know the difference? Are these mountains meant to be climbed over or throw into the sea or are they blocks God has placed in our way to divert us to where we really need to be?

Jake expressed peace about God’s plan for his life. I know he’s working really hard right now, often exhausted by the physical strength it takes to do what he does, and most likely even more tired of everyone (including me), giving him pep talks.

I am encouraged by his faith, endurance, confidence and willingness to embrace the “now” and the open possibilites of his future. And so, before I turn away from the mountains in my path, I’m going to pray for both of us, considering these lyrics to this wonderful song:

Chorus: Lord move in the way, that I’ve never seen before

Cause there’s a mountain in the way and a lock on the door

I’m drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore

So Lord move (move), or move me.

Please pray for Jake during this critical time in his life and for my intentions. And if you have a mountain in your way, let me know, comment below, and I’ll pray for you, too. The road toward our goal is often rocky. Dark mountains throw shadows onto our paths and loom mightily before us. It’s scary stuff. We need each other and God to get us through it all. With God, prayer, and support from each other, we can throw mountains into the sea…or at least climb them and reach new heights…and then…perhaps the sun will be shining on the other side. Anything is possible with faith.

NFL and Unicorns

07 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Diabetes, Family, Football, Jake Byrne, Social Media Information

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It’d be nice if writers could just write and not have to be twisted around the tumultuous crazy social media kaleidoscope. I blog. I Facebook. I tweet. I LinkIn. I Pinterest. I even have a Klout account now. Klout is a social media that measures influence online. I just discovered, according to Klout, that I am an influencer on NFL and Unicorns.

I really “lol’d” over that crazy discovery. Though my son is a rookie in the NFL, to show how much I know about the NFL, here’s the conversation with my daughter after Jake’s first pre-season game:

Betsy: “Hey Mom, how’d you think Jake did?”

Me: “I don’t know, but he looked really good on TV.”

Betsy: “I know. He’s so cute, isn’t he?”

Me: “Especially when his helmet pushes his cheeks together. Wish I could reach through the TV screen and pinch them. He should stand beside Drew Brees to get more face time.”

Betsy: “Or maybe he should focus on the game.”

Me: “Yeah, you might be right about that.”

Sorry Klout, I’m no expert influencer in the NFL. Since Jake played both offense and defense in high-school, it took a year of college football to finally get that being a tight-end means Jake plays on offense, which means watch for him when his team has the ball. But if Klout could measure a mom’s love and pride for her children, I’d score 100. (We’ll get to the part about me being an expert unicorn influencer in a moment.)

So, the update on Jake, according to Jake, is that the first game went well. Our boy is now in Foxboro, Mass, practicing and getting ready for Thursday nights game against the New England Patriots. Watch it and you’ll see what I mean about how cute he is on TV…I mean, how AWESOME of a player he is. There he is signing autographs.

New Orleans Saints tight end Jake Byrne (82) and tackle Marcel Jones (70) sign autographs after training camp at their NFL football training facility in Metairie, La., Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

I think I’ll let Jake be the NFL influencer in the family. But, I’m seriously thinking about cornering the market on unicorns.

I saw these two unicorns in the field the other day.

Surprised? It’s true! That photo is not photo-shopped! After all, I’m an expert influencer on unicorns. Just ask Klout. I know what I’m talking about. Trust me! I wrote a blog about unicorns once. I have influence!

 

 

 

Also, found this photo on this website:

 

 

Candy, Barbie Dolls & Football: Does God Care?

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in Christianity, Crooked Lines, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne

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An interesting quote from my son Jake is: “Some days, it’d be nice to go back to the days when all I had to worry about was how much candy I was going to get that day. Meaningful words coming from a type 1 diabetic and a rookie with the New Orleans Saints. (Nick on left, Jake on right)

When my daughter Betsy (below) is overwhelmed, she whines, “I want to play Barbies with Jake and Nick.” (In defense of Nick and Jake, though Betsy calls them Barbies, the boys had G.I. Joe figures. Right guys?!)

I’m still keeping Nick’s toys in a tote container in the corner of a room in the basement, though the days are gone when he’d pull out the army dudes and Hotwheels and stretch out on the race car rug.

I miss the days when I was in charge of candy, and a trip to Wal-Mart always meant buying a Barbie outfit and two .77 cent cars. (If the kids were good, which they always were).

Now, Nick is preparing to make a college decision and maybe graduate early.

Betsy is making her final preparations to fly off to London to study for a semester.

And Jake…well…

An NFL player?

Still trying to wrap my mind around all of this. How can I let these babies go off and do big people stuff? I want to give them candy and set them on the race car rug where they belong. But no, they’re playing big people games (like professional football), taking off to new places, and avoiding sugar to stay fit and healthy.

After Jake’s few weeks break between rookie camp and regular season camp, he had to pass a timed fitness test. Not passing meant being cut from the team. I’d really been praying for Jake and was delighted when his text came in that he’d passed.

Later, while at my small neighborhood market, a store employee asked, “How’s the fam?” I reported the good news from Jake. I explained how we’d been praying and how Jake said he felt God was running with him.

The man asked, “Do you think God really cares about this stuff? Like football?” It was not a challenge question, but an inquisitive thought.

My answer: “Sure He does.”

God is within us and beside us on our journey on this earth, and He does care about all that happens in our lives. He’s a loving Father who cares. He’s our Savior who shed blood and died for us. He’s the Holy Spirit that speaks and guides us. He is our Creator, who has a plan and purpose for each of us.

Specifically, does God care about football? Well, although I hope God is a Saints fan, for sure, he’s a Jake, Betsy, Nick and you and me fan. Perhaps He cares more about what Jake does with football. Through playing football, Jake hopes to inspire and encourage young people with diabetes. That’s a worthy cause. I think God cares about that. Type one diabetes is a challenging disease for kids as well as their parents.

God cares about all of us-our dreams and plans-and there’s Grace available to help achieve our God-ordained and God-blessed goals. Hard work and prayers help.

It’s going to be a tough road ahead for Jake as a rookie in the NFL, for Betsy flying off to a foreign country, and for Nick leaving high school and entering college. I’m sure they will each have moments of wishing all they had to worry about was candy and what Barbie (ahem…G.I. Joe) was going to wear. Being an adult is tough, It means heard work, pressing on no matter what. But don’t worry, God is with us, running beside us, through it all.

As a Mom, I just need to let go…and remember my kids are big enough and so is their God. More than candy and toys, now they mostly need their mom’s prayers.

J is for Jake and Juvenile Diabetes

11 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in A to Z Challenge, Diabetes, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne

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In the hospital room, I threw another shredded, soaked tissue into the trash. Tears had been gushing from my red, puffy eyes non-stop for three hours. My newborn son was about to have a blood transfusion. Jake was my first-born. I didn’t realize babies weren’t supposed to be yellow until it was almost too late. His soaring bilirubin counts even incited fear in the doctor. “Get him to the ER now!” she had ordered over the phone, after learning his test results.

Two nurses prepared an IV to be put in his head. Then came the crash! I jumped and nearly choked on my sob. The nurses gasped. We all turned around stared at the incubator with dropped jaws. The glass incubator door had swung down.

Jake had busted open the door. Totally true story. He’d squirmed a bit sideways and kicked it open. I have no idea how. Neither did the nurses. I guess he wasn’t having any of that blood transfusion stuff. I quit crying. My boy was going to be alright.

Turned out Jake’s bilirubin counts, at that point, began to come down and he wouldn’t need the blood transfusion. Jake grew up a happy, loving, big boy, with extraordinary strength, even doing chin-ups on the swing-set at age four.

In his sophomore year of high school, life changed for Jake. He was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. But Jake didn’t want a pity party, he wanted to play football. He had dreams of earning a football scholarship. The doctor told him if he took care of his health, he could still play. That’s all he needed to hear. The picture below shows him thinner, at the time he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“Maybe God wants me to have diabetes for a purpose,” Jake would say, whenever I got weepy over his illness.

When his coach hinted at him being on steroids when he quickly began to beef up, he said, “No coach. I’m on insulin.”

Jake kept moving on, going the extra mile in work-outs, preparing for the next game. I never saw a child so determined. He never doubted he wouldn’t realize his dream to play college football.

Jake recently completed a four years football scholarship at the University of Wisconsin as a starting tight-end.

My type 1 diabetic child is now preparing to kick down the door of professional football. He had a great Pro Day and is now awaiting the NFL draft. Watch ESPN on April 26 to see what happens.

Before his Pro Day, I told Jake, “You’ve worked really hard. You already own the talent and skills necessary to go that next step. Pray and go. You’ll do great.” He confidently said, “I will Mom.”

Psalms 37:4 says,  Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

God gives all of his creation gifts to succeed and achieve the dreams of their hearts.  Consider David standing before that Philistine giant, Goliath. That’s what I call maximizing every gift God gives you to conquer the impossible. Don’t doubt. You can’t burst through doors by staring at them or leaning against them weeping. You gotta kick them down sometimes.

With prayer and determination, I’m busting through the door that says, “Novelist.” That’s my plan. I’m going to do it! Jake is  my inspiration.

Infant Needing Blood Transfusion Kicks Open Incubator Door. Diabetic Teen Gets Football College Scholarship and Becomes an NFL Player. Shepard Boy With Slingshot Kills Giant. Author Holly Michael Wins Literary Awards.

Strange headlines?  Not for the determined. Not for the fighters. Not for a person after the heart of God.

Bring on the doors! Let’s kick them down. What are the desires of your heart? What door do you want to bust through? Anything is possible. Pray and Go! And kick down that door!

***Update: Jake signed with the New Orleans Saints! How fitting! Go Jake!

NFL Aspirations and Novelist Dreams: Follow the fairytales as they come true

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in Football, Jake Byrne

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I don’t remember the dream, only the worried face that popped into it. Jake. My four-year-old. Why was his face in my dream? Minutes later, a tap on my shoulder woke me.

“Had a bad dream, Mom,” Jake said.

I lifted the covers, pulled Jake close, and kissed the top of his head, amazed at this strange connection that allowed my son’s fears to travel from his dreams into mine.

Mom’s have connections like that with their children. Sometimes a prickle of worry regarding one of my kids will flash in my mind like a sudden rainstorm pocking up a calm lake. I stop, drop, and pray. Most times, I discover those feelings were on the mark, and my child needed prayers.

Jake had dreams of becoming an NFL player. What little boy doesn’t? Then as a sophomore in high school, he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Jake refused to accept it as an obstacle. He wanted to play football on a college scholarship. He pushed himself hard: extra workouts, more discipline, never missing a practice. Jake gave his diabetes and his football dreams to God.

“Maybe God want’s me to have diabetes for a greater purpose,” Jake often expressed.

For the last last four years I’ve watched Jake start as a tight end for the Wisconsin Badgers. (Jake Byrne #82) Now, Jake has an agent and a good shot at the NFL.

Like my son, I proclaimed lofty dreams when I was a child. I wanted to be a novelist. I held onto that goal, learning and improving my writing skills in spite of rejection letters and self-doubt obstacles along my path toward publication. Now, an agent is reading my novel.

Jake and I aren’t sitting back, biting our nails as we wait for our dreams to happen. I’m working on my second book, blogging, and preparing to become a novelist. Jake’s preparing for the NFL draft.

If a boy with type I diabetes can work hard and become an NFL player, then his mom can be a novelist. Lofty goals? Fairytales? NFL player and Novelist. Sometimes we just know what we want and with God’s blessing, hard work, a little God-given talent, and support from others, it can happen.

Mother and child connections. Funny we’re both, at the same time, standing at the cusp of our dreams becoming reality, ready to wake up and be the people we were meant to be.

Follow my blog as I share about connections, hope, and writing. I’ll keep you posted about my book and other books to come and how Jake fares in the upcoming draft.