Emily broke her arm.  I’ve uttered that phrase about one hundred times over the past week.  Actually, gravity and centrifugal force broke Emily’s arm.  She slipped while doing a round-off at gym on Monday night.  The Vegas Odds on Emily breaking something before her brother were 75 to 1, but somehow she managed to beat the odds.  Life can be funny that way.  Emily didn’t just break her arm, she managed to break the all-important growth plate at her elbow.  Emily’s Type III Growth Plate Fracture pretty much epitomizes the phrase, that’s a tough break.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

The bones of children and adults share many of the same risks for injury. However, a child’s bones are also subject to a unique injury called a growth plate fracture. Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage tissue near the ends of long bones. The growth plate regulates and helps determine the length and shape of the mature bone.

The journey that is our family life is sort of like a one-man-band playing a song, while riding a bike and juggling bananas.  If you a jam a stick in the spokes, it could get ugly.  Emily’s tough break was a bit of a stick-in-the spokes for us….

After our consultation with a Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon in Atlanta, we opted for a surgical procedure that will greatly reduce the risk of Emily developing any complications as her arm heals.  That procedure is set for Tuesday at Egelston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, so say a little prayer for Em J (as we call her).

When the doctor’s elaboration on Emily’s injury culminated with a surgical treatment recommendation, Emily glanced up at me with her sweet brown eyes and conveyed a clear nonverbal message to me… Do you think he knows that I’m sitting right here?!  I hear him talking about manipulating my broken bone, and I know that it’s going to hurt when I wake up!  And what about a pink cast?!  When can I get a pink cast?!  I’m done here Daddy, can we go shopping now?  Yep, Emily is brilliant at descriptive facial expressions…

It was an interesting week.  In the scheme of things, this is not a huge deal.  However, Emily has been tough and resilient as we have faced this little hiccup.  Life is going to deliver some tough breaks to us, we just have to be ready to respond.  When it comes to the tough breaks in life, it truly is our response to them that matters the most.  We are emotional beings, so our response to the tough breaks will draw out our emotions.  The first emotion that typically bubbles up is self-pity.  It’s alright to experience a little self-pity, it’s what happens next that matters….

After we work through the inevitable emotions of a tough break, our progress begins with a renewed focus on the things actually within our control, and letting go of what we can’t control.  To a degree, we’re all control freaks.  This renewed focus can be a beautiful thing.  When setbacks occur, they are often accompanied with an opportunity.  One specific opportunity that may accompany a physical injury, or ailment, is some time to slow down and re-energize.  For me, like many of you, injuries and ailments have always forced me to develop my patience, which is sometimes lacking….

Tough breaks are a part of life, and they’re rarely as simple as mending a broken arm.  No matter how difficult a setback may be, there’s really only one way to respond:

Overcoming the tough breaks in life is a process of accepting them, facing them head-on and embracing the somewhat educational healing process.

Have you, or one of your kids, ever suffered a broken a bone?  How did the recovery process go?

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.  Jeremiah 17:14 TNIV

Three step program for forgetting about your broken arm: #shopping #icecream #QTwithmama http://t.co/omdTlWMM

January 11, 2012 7:45 pm via VisibliReplyRetweetFavorite

@jeffreyjeffords

Jeffrey Jeffords

It’s that time of the year when we reflect on the past, and dream about the future.  A new year is a milepost that stirs quiet contemplation, strategic planning and maybe even some soul-searching.  We should pause to celebrate the personal wins of 2011, and we should consider our growth opportunities for 2012.  Those opportunities forge and refine our annual goals….

Many of us will aspire to further our careers, deepen our relationships, restore our finances or reinvigorate our health in 2012.  We will hit the ground running with new diets, fitness regimes, reading plans, savings plans and perhaps new career paths.  These are certainly worthy goals, but we must first embrace and build upon some important core goals…

These core goals remind us that life is not all about us.  They remind us that our capacity to achieve big things begins with a heart to help others achieve big things…

Chasing our dreams and pursuing our goals begins by showing the people closest to us that we believe in them.

I make it a priority to recognize the unique gifts within my wife and children, and to encourage them to develop those gifts.  Our core goals should begin with the core people in our lives.  For example, my wife, Amy, is a fierce mother and a creative Family Ministry Leader at our church.  I want to support her, and challenge her, to continue creating the innovative family ministry environments at Longleaf Church that she’s uniquely capable of.

My oldest daughter, Anna, has incredible wisdom for a kid her age.  Emily, my middle child, is the most socially adept person that I know.  My son, John Harmon, has a fiery passion for soccer, and is determined to become the best player that he can be.  In 2012, I’m going to help my kids develop their unique gifts, and direct them in a positive way.  For example, I’m going to talk to John Harmon after all of his soccer games this year about true toughness, a team-first attitude and responding to adversity with wisdom and determination by leveraging the great example set by Tim Tebow.

As far as I’m concerned, these are my most important personal development goals of 2012; to believe in, nurture and inspire the people closest to me.  As an extension of this people development premise, I also feel accountable to encourage and nurture the talents of those that I work closely with.  While you likely agree with my family first approach, you might be wondering how it is that I equate strategically investing into my family to my foremost personal development goal….

I’ve learned that putting others first, and serving people well is a transcendent purpose in life, and business.  I’ve learned that a healthy foundation at home is more valuable than great stockpiles of gold.  I’ve learned that God opens doors for us while we are opportunistic about serving others.  I’ve learned that opportunities come to those who honor their responsibilities to invest themselves into the people closest to them.

I have some important personal and professional goals in 2012, but my core goals are about shepherding the hearts of those closest to me.  That foundation not only sets my loved ones up for success, but demonstrates that there’s a prevailing truth at play in my life; that my Heavenly Father believes in me and saved me by grace.

Was there someone in your life who believed in you, and nurtured your talents in a powerful way?

Well friends, I can practically taste the turkey and the dressing!  My family is actually taking our show on the road this year to celebrate Thanksgiving. We’re traveling up to the North Georgia Mountains to enjoy a Family Thanksgiving Retreat.  It’s going to be a great time featuring lots of good food, daily campfire conversations, some hiking and maybe even some fly fishing.  Thanksgiving always renews my gratitude for the simple blessings like good food, good friends and memorable family times.

My wife, Amy, is already prepping Thanksgiving dishes!  Amy is in charge of the critically important cornbread dressing (aka stuffing), the sweet potato casserole and A CARAMEL CAKE.  She is an amazing cook! My sister, Ashley, is baking casseroles galore, so this is definitely shaping up to be an awesome feast!

I was tasked to sit down with Grandma Jeffords today and get step-by-step instructions for preparing Giblet Gravy.  Traditionally, the giblets that give Giblet Gravy it’s unique identity come from farm raised chicken parts, namely gizzards and livers.  I’m not sure about your household, but liver and gizzards are not typically on our menu.  Maybe we should try them with Mac N’ Cheese sometime…  Anyway, Grandma Jeffords has adapted her Giblet Gravy over the years, and she now excludes the traditional chicken parts.  Gizzards or no gizzards, Grandma still manages to get the consistency and the taste of her Giblet Gravy just right!

The phrase,”all the trimmings”, is fully-expressed when Giblet Gravy is presented in a gravy boat alongside rich dressing and a juicy turkey.  That’s the real deal!  That’s a meal that’s sure to beckon an afternoon nap.  Grandma has been cooking from the heart for so long, it’s hard for her to articulate  cooking in terms step-by-step directions.

Cooking is all about instinct for Grandma, and her measurements are neither metric, nor customary.  I asked Grandma about how long one should cook the gravy before adding the precooked ingredients, she replied “as long as at takes for the gravy to thicken up.”  I suppose that you’ve just got to have the touch.  Here’s Grandma J’s recipe for Giblet Gravy:

Grandma Jeffords Vintage Giblet Gravy
(Adapted for those who have not yet acquired a taste for gizzards;-)

Ingredients: Chicken Broth, Flour, Eggs, Turkey or Chicken, Onions, Celery, Seasoning

Precooked Ingredients: Four Boiled Eggs, One Large Pinch of Pulled Turkey or Chicken Wing Meat

1. Mix two or three tablespoons of flour with 5-6 cups of broth in a saucepan and bring to a low boil.
2. Mix in a few chunks of onion and celery, along with a dashes of salt and a few dashes of pepper.
3. Cook on low until gravy begins to thicken (15 minutes or so).
4. Strain out the onion and celery chunks out if you so desire.
5. Stir in boiled eggs and meat, then simmer for 5-7 minutes.
6. Serve hot in a vintage gravy boat alongside turkey and dressing!

Happy Turkey Day People!  God Bless You!  What’s you favorite Thanksgiving Dish?  Please feel free to share the recipe in the comments section of this post!

When we think about all of the different types of goals and mileposts that we pursue in life, we often visualize numbers that are multiplies of ten and one hundred.  We often quantify our goals and measure our successes in increments of ten.  Ten is not just a significant integer in mathematics, but science, time, sports, music and even in the bible.

Ten squared equals one hundred, and one hundred is perhaps the most recognized integer of all.  One hundred is the basis of percentages; per cent is Latin for per hundred.  One hundred degrees Celsius is the boiling point of water.  One hundred has many sports connotations, it represents one century, and it’s frequently used in business and politics as an important benchmark.

Ones, tens, hundreds and thousands are fundamental measures of life.  We often see life in terms of mileposts that we can celebrate and goals that we can strive for…

This is actually my 100th blog post on the Fried Grits Blog.  When I started blogging, I wondered if I could write one hundred articles that would be helpful and relevant to people.  I decided that if could author one hundred posts, that would represent a pretty decent milepost and perhaps make me a more legitimate writer.  At some point, I quit worrying about how many posts that I could write in a week, or a month, or a year and I just committed to a guiding principle, or more aptly put, I made a promise to the people who read my blog:

I promise that my blog will offer conversational reflections about life that are authentic, relevant and helpful.

I took that promise seriously, and my 100th blog post just slipped up on me.  As I pause to consider my blogging milepost, it has me thinking about how we set and measure our goals.  It has me thinking that perhaps we have a drift towards being too rigid about the particulars, and we wind up boxing ourselves in, short-changing our faith and limiting our potential.  I’m a big fan of goals, especially nice round goals.  However, life rarely follows our specific timetables, so it seems that those who achieve the most are those who keep moving in the right direction, honoring their principles and learning from their mistakes.

When we set out to do something, we want to do it the right way.  The means never justify the ends if it involves compromising one’s principles.  If we set out to do anything significant, we will make mistakes and learning from those mistakes is how we grow and fuel our future successes.  People who place their trust in Jesus Christ commit to a direction in life, then they adapt to His revelations and respond to His providence along the way…

The street address of our new home in Houston County is 100 Forest Lawn.  That’s a pretty cool street address.  I like it.  When my family decided to move to Warner Robins, we were mission-driven and family-centric.  We had a dream for what life would be like as we planted Longleaf Church and raised our family in our new community.  However, the particulars of our adventure were a bit cloudy from the outset.  Yet here we are, two years later, still mission-driven, still family-centric, still learning from our mistakes and absolutely thriving in our adventurous life defined by faith, family and friends!

I’m not at all discounting preparation or goals planning… Numbers matter, but following a path that’s defined by guiding principles and bold faith is what leads us to exponential opportunities…

Have you ever set a goal to do something one hundred times?  Did you reach your goal?  Why, or why not?

Well, did your family rack up on goodies last night?  Unfortunately, mine did.  John Harmon wore his soccer cleats trick or treating, so he was hitting about 3.5 houses per minute.  I’m gave my kids two apples plus two Flintstones Vitamins for breakfast this morning to counteract last night’s sugar intake.  That should work, right?  Sugar rushes notwithstanding, I do love the simple fun of seasonal activities like trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, making s’mores and navigating corn mazes.

The fall season is such a fun time of the year, and now that trick-or-treating is a wrap, it means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner!  This is a season of outdoor festivities and family fun.  This is a season for us to celebrate our blessings, replenish our souls and focus on doing something intentional for others.  This season seems to bring the second wind that we need to closeout the year strong on all fronts.  We should take full advantage of the seasonal opportunities afforded to us for sharing some simple, fun activities with family and friends.

My family recently went out to Lane’s Southern Orchards to enjoy their very well-designed corn maze.  Lane’s is an iconic part of the culture around Middle Georgia.  Lane’s is primarily a massive peach packing operation, and they offer visitors an engaging cultural experience at their 5000 acre farm.  Visitors can get a behind the scenes glimpse of their operation, shop in their bountiful country store, or dine-in their country restaurant.  The homemade peach ice cream is ridiculous good.

The corn maze is definitely one of those unique seasonal opportunities that friends and families can enjoy together.  The objective of the corn maze at Lane’s is not to simply navigate your way through it, but to locate certain characters within the maze.  The characters are identified by sign posts, and adventurers are equipped with a map.  The perspective inside of a corn maze can be disorienting.  The tendency is to move quickly, and that often leads adventurers to a dead end.  Moving quickly through a big corn maze will almost certainly lead you to a place that you just can’t find on the map….

One of the lost sign posts at Lane's

When I visited the corn maze with my family, I noticed an observation platform near the center.  I knew that’s where I wanted to go.  I wanted to see the maze from a better vantage point.  The view from the observation platform was rewarding.

I spotted a few of the sign posts, so I was able to point the kids in the right direction.  The kids were grateful for the navigational guidance, and I really enjoyed the view.  As I watched them tromp through the maze, it was a profound reflection of what’s at stake for this generation of kids as they navigate the much larger maze of life.  It’s incredible how simply investing in fun can develop into such a big platform for positive influence….

Before enjoying a cookout and s’mores this past Sunday, the Middle School kids from Longleaf Church visited Lane’s corn maze along with their fantastic leaders (including my amazing wife who planned the event).  As a parent, you just can’t beat the impact of friends, family or small group leaders at church who invest in your kids and reinforce the values that you’re working to impress upon their hearts.  Much of that investment comes in the form of small relationship deposits, and there’s ample opportunity for those this time of year….

The Longleaf Church 6th Grade Girls having fun with some superstar leaders (one key leader, Paige, is not pictured)

Just being silly....

Follow the leaders....

Do anything fun with family and friends in October?  What is your favorite Halloween Treat?  Did you visit a corn maze this year?