Tracie

Tracie

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Happy New Year 2017

I hope all my friends had a happy new year. I am embarrassed I did not sent out Christmas cards or even a letter. I realize most of you know the in's and outs of my life from facebook. I just thought I would bundle it all in a bog post.... so here goes...

It always seems it is at Christmas and new years when we reflect the most about our lives and the year that is slowly being left behind.  We started the year out with 3 students in the house and seems we are ending this year that way too :) We are celebrating Christmas in January with our kids because of Aaron's upcoming surgery right after Christmas. With him being in pain, we thought it would be best financially. I have never had my christmas decorations up so late :)
We rented a beach house this summer with our kids, my brother n law and his family and my mother n love. It was in Lincoln City for 6 days. We had alot of fun laughing and just being together. We joined a new church called All Saints, and have enjoyed getting to know our new church family. The great thing about being a christian is that it does not matter where you worship, you can still be friends with your old church family. At least I would like to think so.

Tracie- I am almost done with school, This is my last quarter, I have to say this is one of the few times that I have been proud of myself. I have worked hard to get to this point, I did not think I could do it, but I am doing it!!! I took a rode trip to California with my aunt to visit my cousins. While I was there I saw Luke Bryan in concert, got a tattoo after leaving a voicemail for my husband I was getting one:) That was a very memorable trip, might have to make that a yearly thing.


 The greatest news for me is that I got hired on at Legacy Health Systems. I am a Clinical Services Specialist, it is a fancy name for a receptionist who does so much more than answering the phone and checking in patients. I think I am really going to like it.




Aaron-
has continued to work on his masters. He has had continuous back pain for about a year and it took 4 cortisone and epidural shots to meet with a surgeon and a CT scan to realize his back was broken. So they scheduled the surgery for Feb 20th 2017. But being the determined wife, I called the scheduler and got Aaron on waiting list and his surgery was moved to December 27th 2016. He had surgery and everything went really well. It is always hard for the spouse that is waiting for your person to get out of surgery, but I had friends and family there and that was comforting.




Alex- is a junior and will be 18 this year. YIKES! He is taller than me but still has that big heart for his family. He was really worried about his dad in surgery, he does not show his feelings on the outside much but I know when he is worried. He has been so helpful chopping wood so we can have fires during this very cold season. He is thinking of joining the army or Airforce when he graduates. He did not do wrestling this year because school with homework has become a little overwhelming.
I believe he will be successful in whatever he does!




Braden & Alyssa- these kids are so busy with work and Braden's school that we do not get see them much, but when we do we enjoy every minute. Alyssa got a promotion as a lead supervisor at her job which helps with extra money. They are always hiking on their days off taking beautiful pictures. I keep asking for a coffee table book of all their pictures, maybe someday I will get one so I can show off their pictures to all my friends. Braden's been doing some side photography work to earn extra money. If anyone wants pictures done let me know, I will hook you up.. Here is one he took on one of their many hiking trips..


Kayla- is still living in Kelso. She has a job at the goodwill in Longview and works alot. We don't talk much because she is still out finding herself. I ask all my prayer warriors to continue praying for her. We missed her for Christmas this year, but we miss her all the time actually. I pray God will guide her path and she will find what ever she is looking for.

So this is us, our life, our journey which will continue till God calls us home. I will leave you with this....
Every time a door closes and new one opens, Life is like that... when you are in some kind of trial God is there with you and he is preparing you for another as you come out of this one. He does this so you will draw closer to him.


Love, 
Aaron & Tracie




Sunday, May 1, 2016

Feeling Greatful

Summer is almost here, it is one of my favorite seasons. I love watching everything in spring bloom, getting ready for summer pleasure. My gardens growing every day, we will have lots of corn for Aaron for sure. While preparing for this summer season I have watched and listened to some of my friends going thru some struggles. I feel like my struggles just do not matter compared to theirs. I realize I am so thankful for my life and the air God gives me every day to breath. God could take me anytime, so I while I am still here I am choosing to appreciate life. I have a husband who loves me unconditionally, he has been my biggest cheerleader while I have been going to school. I have 3 kids who show me love all the time and continuously have me laughing.


 I am in awe that my youngest will be 17 in 4 months, and is asking about driving and researching cars...lol I am just really feeling grateful God has always kept my family and I safe, he has always provided and he is always reminding me thru songs and scripture how much he loves me. I love the song, "lead me to the cross", one of my favorites.
I can't wait to call our friends and invite them over for bbq's, berry picking, beach trips and putting my feet in the sand. I love summer!


Plus I found and awesome deal on a patio set on Craigslist so I am ready are you?

                                               My family is full of laughter and love!



Thursday, March 17, 2016

New year

It has been a while since I last wrote, the New Year has come and there have been a few changes. Aaron started a new job at a place called NARA. He really enjoys it, and he's back with some old co-workers he liked working with. He just celebrated his 43rd birthday, he and I spent the weekend at the beach in Lincoln City. We had a good time just being together. 
Alyssa is busy with work and Braden is super busy with work, school and lots of homework. We don't get to see them much due to their busy schedules, but when we do we treasure our moments together. 

Kayla- is still in Longview working and living life. We get to see her every couple months, she just turned 19. How time flies by, can't believe sometimes how time flies by and our kids are all becoming young adults?

Alex- is enjoying school, he did wrestling this year for the first time. He really enjoyed it. He is towering over me, Hope he is done growing. Trying to get him to start thinking about what he wants to do after he graduates. School can be a challenge for him and so not sure if he will continue on to college or military. Alex was diagnosed with a condition called- Ocular Albinism, which is where he is missing the white behind his eyeball. So he was looking in the military but was not sure if they would take him with his vision issue. We will see. He is looking for part-time work, I think he is realizing everything costs and if he wants to do something he has to raise his own money.

I think I consider myself as a dabbler. I like to dabble in multiple things. I say that because I am going to school, volunteering at hospital and I went to an orientation for Make a Wish Organization.
I have finally made it to my 2nd year at Clark, I was kind of bummed to find out my last 4 classes are so spread out that it will take me till next winter quarter that starts in January for me to graduate, So in next March I will be done with my AA degree in Billing and Coding. I started volunteering at Salmon Creek Legacy hospital 1 day a week. I quit working at Fred Meyers on Dec 31 so I could concentrate on my school and volunteering. It does make a difference in our income a little, so we have had to learn to conserve as much as we can.

Now onto something that is weighing on my heart…
So in January we left our church after 4 years. I met a lot of fun, loving people. My husband and I are very passionate about being conservative Christians, doing what God wants us to do. Now I know people out there are judging us, I am a Christian and can still be fun even if I have certain beliefs. We are looking for a new church and have not found one yet, but we still get up every Sunday and go to a church. My husband can be more passionate about certain things than I, I always support him because that’s what wives are meant to do.  Husbands are to support their wives also and that’s one of many things that makes a fierce marriage. God has a plan for us, was it for us to leave our church of 4 years? Not sure, but we must trust God and see he will lead us. One thing I did notice about our old church is some of the people who acted as my friends at church never reached out to me to see if I was okay.  It made me sad and question our friendship…That made me realize how important it is to reach out our brother and sisters to see if they need anything, or how can we pray for them. It is sad actually, because no matter where you worship, your still sisters and brothers in Christ. If I saw these people in public somewhere, I would not ignore them or treat them bad because I still love them. Isn’t that what God wants us to do?

I leave you with this…
Everyone has some kind of trial they are going through, don’t forget about them because it hurts them. You may not realize that it is even important that you remember them, but it is. Christians need to stick together in this dark world.


Proverbs 17:17- A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity

Monday, December 21, 2015

Larson's Christmas Letter

Dear friends and family,

I have never been this late with my Christmas letter let alone writing it online. So the cards are in the mail and here is our Christmas letter.

Aaron- graduated with his BS in counseling  and is working on his masters, he finished his first year with all A's of course. He is strengthening his counseling career with working at several different drug and alcohol centers. He recently had a second interview with an organization called NARA. So we are praying that he gets the job, hours are a little better and more time with family. 

Tracie- is still in school and will be done hopefully in September with a degree in Billing and Coding. I am hoping to get some kind of job in a hospital or clinic setting. I am adjusting to our new home in salmon creek. Its a little farther from church so sometimes its hard to get to some functions at church due to busy schedules and distance. I am still working part-time at Fred Meyers and they have been very good about my school schedule.

Alyssa 21- she got married in august and so we have a new family member. It has been great getting to know our new son in law. They are in early stage of marriage, so they are busy with work and spending time together. Anytime we get to hang out we cherish it. 

Kayla 18-is still in Kelso, she is working at Papa Murphy's and is living life. She is still a child in an adult world to me, but she is doing as well as can be expected while on this adult journey. She does come to visit often and it is a joy to have her in the house.

Alex 16-is a sophomore at Skyview and he is really enjoying it. He is doing well academically and is in wrestling this year. Its his first year wrestling and even though he hasn't won one match yet it is the experience he is gaining. He has been so busy with wrestling that he has missed youth group alot and that is always a concern that he is getting fed. So we continue to speak into his life and feed him the best we can.

God has been so good to Aaron and I, he has protected us from illness, harm and is always providing for us. He provides a roof over our heads and the finances to be able to provide for our kids when needed. He has kept our kids healthy and blessed us with 4 kids that makes us laugh and still feel young. Aaron and I love our family so much and enjoy any time that we get to spend with each one of them. It is humbling to sit back and see what God is doing with each one of their lives. 
I ask you to pray for each of them, one is on their own journey,one has a hard time making friends, one needs more hours at work. So thank you to those who are constantly speaking into their lives. They will someday look back and be forever grateful for you!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Tracie

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Not sure what title to give...

I love my life, I love that God has given me the responsibility to be a wife, a mother, a sister and a daughter. What I struggle with is God's calling for me. I want to be nice, not selfish, loving, a good listener and most of all I just want to be pleasing to my Father.

You would think that after 20 years I would recognize that not all people change for the better. The reason I say this is because I have struggled for so long to see the positives in her and they are there. Its just the negatives out way the positives. There has been so many negatives in my life with her that she now has used that negative attitude on my kids.They have made their own opinions of her. I broke away for the last time, I have chosen to surround myself with positive and not negative. It has not been easy, I have been mad, cried and I have yelled at God and asked him why he chose her and I to be a team? What was he thinking? Because I am not the way she is, I have been told, I may look like her but I am nothing like her. I try not to judge people, I try my best to love all people, I try and keep friends, deep friendships, and she does not have those things. So I feel sorry for her, I realize shes lost, she needs to draw closer to God. He teaches, He loves, He forgives and He wants her. It seems all I can do is pray for her and hope she finds happiness in her life.

I do have to say my fault in this relationship was I was a wild child, looking for for love in all the wrong places, wanting to go find myself way to early, I was disrespectful at times, I lied, I used her for my benefit at times. All the while she was good to my kids when they were younger, she took me in when I could not make it on my own as a single mom, she loved me through my tears. Somehow the relationship turned destructive. I can not name a specific date because it came in waves, seasons, things would be good for a while until I did or said something she did not approve of. She is not capable of communicating calmly, instead she attacks until she gets so riled up you can not get a word in. So how long do you live with this? What's the plan God? I'd like to know....

I believe the relationship is not good for me or my family, I believe having safe boundaries is a priority when it starts to affect your husband and kids. So I will not say I do not cry or I do not get angry sometimes. Especially when I found out my dad had to go to hospital 4 days ago and he was unresponsive twice in the ambulance, I did not get a phone call from her, I got a call from someone else. How do I handle this?

I cry, I get a little mad, I pray to God and ask him what do I do?
He says, "Wait...Wait on Me"!


Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD;

 Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD


So looks like I am waiting on God to handle this situaion...




Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Tracie's Corner: Two little girls grew up apart and now are togethe...

Tracie's Corner: Two little girls grew up apart and now are togethe...: So one time sitting on my grandpas lap, we were looking through his bible. We would always go through the list of birthdays he wrote down to...

Two little girls grew up apart and now are together!

So one time sitting on my grandpas lap, we were looking through his bible. We would always go through the list of birthdays he wrote down to see who has a birthday coming up. This one time I asked him, "who's Jenny, gpa"? He said, "oh just a friend".
I remember that conversation like it was yesterday. So one time after Aaron and I got married and we moved to Vancouver, I received a phone call from a young woman. She said, "hi, my name is Jenny and I am your sister". Wow! That memory of sitting on my grandpas lap came back right after she said that. She had found out about me and had been searching for me.I think I was in shock and a little leary, until I saw her. I wouldn't say we look just alike,  we both have the olive skin and dark hair. She got the tall gene. Our dad was like 6ft. I anxiously awaited her to be my face book friend. We have exchanged Christmas cards, birthday gifts.
It was last year on my  42nd birthday that Jen flew in as a surprise for 1 night, It was so much fun, it became a reality.

After that 24 hours with her, I knew I wanted to know more about her and her family. So I went for 2 days to Kansas. I haven't flown in a long time so I was a little nervous, let alone flying by myself and switching planes. It was good for me. When I got there I got a text that these little people were waiting for me!
I was so excited, I felt like a kid at Christmas. They made me a sign that said, "welcome Aunt Tracie". We went to the market and saw lots of different booths. 


 We went trick or treating, then ended the night watching the Royals game.


We didn't go maybe as deep as I had hoped but I know there's time for that. I feel a little cheated of my childhood, Noone telling me about her.She found me and  I am so thankful for her. 
Its so hard being so far away form each other. Its expensive for our whole family to fly and stay in hotel ect.. But Aaron says we will find a way. I really want to get to know my niece and nephew and I have a brother n law who is a smart....just like my husband,
 I am so happy I got to go.. It was the leaving that was hard even 3 days later I still get teary eyed because 2 days was just not enough time.  My mission is to  remember birthdays and holidays and make an effort to stay close to her. To know her heart, I want to know her fears, what makes her sad, what makes her happy. I want to help put joy into her life. I want to be a part of her life. She has made room for me and for that I am forever greatful.