Category Archives: Uncategorized

March 22, 2016 · 5:00 am

Happy Birthday To My Life Loving Boy!

Jett opener

Oh, Jett Takle. He steals my heart every single day. Really, he does. I don’t know another soul who loves life more….except maybe my dad. It amazes us all how much those two are alike.

jett dad.jpg

They dance alike. They give the exact same silly faces. They believe every moment is a moment to celebrate.

Jett dance.jpg

He just LOVES life and celebrates every little thing. Anna asked him a couple of days ago, “Jett, what’s your favorite holiday?” He responded, “I LOVE ALL OF THEM!” It’s true. We’ve been marking off the holidays leading to his birthday and will continue to acknowledge the ones that follow. ALL OF THEM.

Kindergarten has been quite the year. His creativity got the best of him when he was given a red and blue crayon and asked to write the consonants in red and vowels in blue. His teacher peered onto his paper to see he had drawn Spider-Man instead. And, when he learned the author of his book was named Dr. Seuss, he exclaimed, “Whoa! He’s a doctor AND he writes books? Wow!” Mercy, I love him. He’s gotten the hang of it all now, and his teachers shout, “Amen.” A lot of his success this year is due to his pure excitement and joy over how amazing everything is. Oh, for us all to be wowed by all the things. To never lose our wonder for creation.

Jett santa.jpg

Jett Takle, you make everyone stop and celebrate life. When life gets busy and chaotic, and I’m rushing here and there and everywhere, you are my pause. You take my face and turn it towards yours, and you tell me something you think is so cool. You make me pull over on the side of the road, so you can pick daffodils. I will be sitting and thinking of a to-do list, and you will bring me the shiniest rock, and say, “Mom, is this rock special?” And, I will touch the earth, and pause.

The thought of you growing up nearly rips my heart out. I have loved every single second of your first five years. I know I will fall in love with you even more in the years to come. But, I will never forget your first five and how you have made me remember how amazing everything on this earth is. How amazing it is to celebrate every little thing. How amazing it is to stare at stars. How amazing it is….

to dance.

to turn an ordinary evening into a hilarious night.

to make up songs with a guitar by the lake on a Sunday night.

Jett guitar.jpg

to get closer to the people you love and say, “I love you.”

Jett Anna.jpg

Jett Jh.jpg

to see beauty in a weed and call it a flower.

to run as fast you can through a field, because, you can.

Jett running.jpg

to tell someone “you did a great job.”

to eat chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice-cream.

Thank you for teaching me that life is worth the pause. Thank you for teaching me to be an observer of life. Thank you for teaching me to celebrate every little thing.

Because, every little thing is worth celebrating.

YOU are worth celebrating.

Jett life.jpg

You are forever my sunshine, forever my favorite super-hero, and forever my JOY.

Happy 6th Birthday, Jett Takle.

The best is yet to come. But, I’m pretty sure you already know that.

Love,

Mom

2 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, life, Motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Tagged as amazement, awe, birthdays, celebrate, life, little things, pause, raising boys, wonder

March 16, 2016 · 7:41 am

Peace, Be Still.

You may not believe this, but, I am the queen of second-guessing. Especially when it comes to making big decisions for our kids. I second-guessed leaving Oklahoma City in 2010. I second-guessed over and over moving to the farm. I continue to second-guess myself, even after I have clarity and peace about a decision. It’s what I do. It’s also how I wear Kris Takle out. Kris has the crazy ability to see clearly and have peace about situations. It’s like he walks out this trusting the Spirit within him thing or something. Crazy, huh?

In making a big decision for our children recently, we both felt peace and had clarity. Kris doesn’t waver in this. I waver like Jett Takle on the toy aisle who can’t decide which toy he wants. What if he chooses this toy and then wishes later he had chosen the other toy? Oh, the humanity! So, last week, I asked Kris to pray over the decision. The one we had already made. The one we both had already felt good about. That one. He looks at me and says, “I’m not praying over that. I will pray over YOU.”

Part of me wanted to give him this look Anna Takle gives me when she’s appalled. Instead, I said, “Oh, my gosh! That’s what I needed to hear!”

You see the problem wasn’t the decision. Quite often the problem isn’t even the problem. The problem isn’t the situation. The problem isn’t the circumstance. Most of the time, the problem is me. It’s you. It reminded me of this story:

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:35-40

Clearly, Jesus wasn’t worried about the storm. The man was trying to sleep. So, when He spoke, “Quiet! Be still,” he wasn’t speaking to the storm. He wasn’t speaking to the circumstances. He was speaking to the disciples. If you really read into it, you will see, He was calming the storm WITHIN them.

Kris was calming the storm within me. Often times, we don’t need to ask God to change our situation. We don’t need to ask every person on the planet for confirmation of a decision. We don’t need to speak peace into a decision or circumstance. Instead, we need to speak peace into our own lives.

You already have everything within you that you need to be at peace. So, speak to your own soul. Say to yourself, “Peace, be still.” And, trust in the One who has never, ever failed you.

Seven Is Golden

I love you. I mean, I love everything about you. I even love how you scare me a little before you open your mouth, and I have no idea what you are about to tell someone. I love your tenacity. I love how you are mesmerized with the oddest of things. Like mummies. And earthquakes. And the Rosetta Stone. And chess. And cooking.

Of course, I think cooking is odd.

I love how you adore your father. How he can do no wrong ever. I love how you look up to John Henry and melt when he wants to play a game with you. I love how you say, “Jett is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I love how you want a “Girls’ Day” with me as often as you can get one.

I love your boldness.

I love how you love going to church. I love how you raise your hands and worship your Creator. I love how passionate you are about who God is in your life.
And, I love how you aren’t afraid to ask the hardest questions about faith.

I love your sense of humor.

I love how we can laugh together so hard at the same thing. And, you catch my eye, and we connect on a different level. You know. Like a friend level.

You are my best friend, Anna Takle.

And, you are my favorite lunch date.
It’s just hard to fathom that when I stare across the table now, I don’t see this anymore:

I don’t see the little girl with bangs holding tightly to her doll named Jenny.
Instead, I see this:

A beautiful, young lady growing into all that God has for her.
Happy 7th Birthday, Anna Marie.

You will always be my favorite girl.

6 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Motherhood, Uncategorized

Tagged as birthdays, daughters

February 2, 2011 · 5:00 am

The NCML Project – Day One.

How did y’all do with the NCML Project yesterday? I had already failed twice before my breakfast had digested.

Me: “Gah! I hate pop-ups on the internet!”

Kris: “Sooo, are you complaining?”

Busted.

The morning progresses, and I talk to my mom on the phone. I might complain a little, and I might say something like, “I might just quit (I ain’t tellin’ y’all this part.) My momma later sends me this text:

“God said to not let the word ‘quit’ go through your head. You are where He wants you. And, you need to read my friend’s blog today at dustytakle.com.”

She also added, “I love you” at the end to try to lessen the sting, I’m sure.

Complaining is a really bad habit. And, apparently, I complain A LOT. We don’t think we are complaining. But, a mere sigh of exasperation is a complaint, ya know? This NCML Project isn’t going to be easy. And, Kris Takle LOVES making me accountable for it. But, I’m not quitting. It takes 30 days to form a habit, right? Is it still 30 days? I don’t know. Anyhoo, I’m going to keep it up until the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart is pleasing to my Creator. Amen.

Another good way to overcome complaining? To focus on the blessings and gifts in your life. I mean, how could anyone complain when they get to witness moments like this on any given day?

A sweet, little, punkin boy (with his four-legged buddy) watching his daddy clean up a Little Tikes car that has stood the test of time.

Let’s focus on our blessings today. Maybe, that’ll help?

And, don’t worry, I’m not going to be titling every post The NCML Project Day Whatever. That would be torture. Not that you’d complain about it or anything.

2 Comments

Filed under gratitude, Kid Stuff, life, Spiritual Journey, Uncategorized

Tagged as blessings, complaining, gratitude, Little Tykes, thought life

April 26, 2010 · 6:00 am

The Secret of Her Success.

My young athlete scored 8 of her team’s 11 goals at Saturday’s soccer game. She told her Nan,

“I just turned on my speed and asked God to help me. But, don’t tell the green team.”

When I later asked Anna if she prayed to ask God to help her, she responded, “No, I didn’t pray, I just asked Him.”

This is where her knowledge of God becomes relational. Where talking to Him becomes second nature. And, that makes a momma’s heart happy.

Except for when she shouted, “We win! They lose!”

Today’s Parenting Lesson: Humility.

2 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Kid Stuff, parenting, Uncategorized

Tagged as humilty, Kid Stuff, parenting, relationship with God, soccer

January 14, 2010 · 6:00 am

I Kind of Want to Break Out Rocky I-IV. But Not V.

Never Rocky V.

I did refrain from my awesome dance moves, while Anna Takle wasn’t about to give up her microphone.

So, in honor of a new AI season, I give you my two favorite rock stars.

Those lyrics can be tricky.

These lyrics? Even trickier.

And, I have no good explanation as to why it looks like Christmas morning in my family room with all of the pillows, drums, and other paraphernalia lying around. Except, Christmas was only a few mornings ago. Or something.

Whatev’.

13 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Randomness, Uncategorized

Tagged as American Idol, Christmas, Kid Stuff, Rock Band 2, Rocky, Wii

August 5, 2009 · 6:00 am

Finding New Ways To Connect.

I’m learning that how I connect with my children changes from year to year. I used to always be able to connect with John Henry by simply snuggling with him on the sofa in front of a movie.

Snuggling just isn’t cool. Not always.

When I read John Eldredge’s Wild At Heart almost seven years ago, I knew this day would come. I knew one day, I would have to modify the way I nurture my son. Because, he is a future warrior. And, I want him to be comfortable being the man God created him to be. So, I’ve had to find new ways to connect with him.

Here is one.

JH - Mom

Nothing says love like a fight with super soakers.

Especially for a six-year old boy.

JH - Mom 2

I’m pretty sure I won this round. And, he can’t wait for a re-match.

It’s my prayer that if I engage in things with him that he loves….in activities that make him feel good about being a young man, he will be comfortable sharing his heart.

And, I want his heart more than I want his obedience. Because, when I capture his heart, obedience simply follows.

I am not a perfect mother to my son. I fail often. I think I probably fail far too often. But, I don’t want to. I want to take the time to put down my insignificant distractions and get soaked outside with my beautiful, blue-eyed boy. God has entrusted me with John Henry. And, I love him so, so very much.

What is one way you connect with your kids?

13 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Tagged as connecting, John Eldredge, Motherhood, parenting, raising sons, super soakers, Wild At Heart

May 19, 2009 · 6:00 am

Where The Streets Have A Name.

When I spoke at Eagles Way Church on Mother’s Day, I boasted explained how Anna doesn’t put her fingers in her ears when we pray for her any more. You see, I recognized this as a huge step forward in her walk with Christ.

Well, she fell off the prayer wagon the other night when she did it again. I do understand that this is somewhat of a bedtime stall tactic, so I have to explain the importance of prayer to her once again.

However. It could very well be the result of her new look.

And attitude.

Anna - bandana trio wp

Another good reason why I better parent intentionally.

A completely random sidebar: Do not call Bigmama during Dancing With the Stars. She will NOT talk to you.

Okay. That’s all.

4 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Motherhood, parenting, prayer, Uncategorized

Tagged as Kid Stuff, Motherhood, parenting, prayer

April 13, 2009 · 6:00 am

For The Lack of A Clever Title, We’ll Call This One “Easter.”

The Lord knows I’m too tired to write anything coherent and too sugared up to be taken seriously. Of course, that’s never stopped me before. We made a quick trip to Georgia to spend Easter weekend with family. Upon my arrival, I was bombarded by this monster that I apparently created.

He is my dad. And, y’all, he is on The Twitter. Now, I will not deny my love for The Twitter. But watching my dad learn all things Twitter is something I never expected to happen. When I told him he could just type “w” for “with”, he responded, “Always?”

No. Only on Saturdays. Do wha?

Well, I must admit. I am proud of him for joining the Twitter Revolution. So welcome to Twitterverse @JBurenGoss.

We had an enjoyable time in Joe-Ja. (That’s for you Cindy Beall.)

Here are a few of the grandkids with Farmor, Kris’ mom. Farmor is Norwegian & Swedish for “Father’s Mother.” Just so ya know.

The kids are always excited to go to the farm. But when an Easter Egg Hunt is thrown into the mix, it’s like taking a trip to Disney World but without the $29 hamburger and $100 t-shirt.

And, a few pics from Easter Sunday…

That’s my mom with Anna and me. Can a sister get a loan on a bottle self-tanning lotion? I need not show those legs again in public without some serious coverage.

We headed back to Oklahoma too soon after Easter lunch. This was the scene by the time we reached three-four-O. (That’s my fancy pilot talk for 34,000 feet. Impressive, isn’t it?)