"To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect--to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatiently; to look for, but not to fret at the delay; to watch for, but not restlessly; to feel that if he does not come, we will acquiesce, and yet to refuse to let the mind acquiesce in the feeling that he will not come."
29 December 2010
Patience
Posted by Tracy Dear at 9:47 AM 1 comments
10 December 2010
Generational Pattern
My daughter was in counseling for a while to help her deal with anxiety (fear). I was considering taking my son to the same counselor to help him learn techniques to deal with anger. Who do they remind me of?
No matter my struggle to deal with fear Biblically, my daughter still does. No matter what I try to teach him about anger, my son still slams doors and clenches his fists.
We hung out with a nice Christian family (I don't consider us to be a "nice" family, I guess) yesterday. Their three year old stared in shock at my 5 year old when she didn't come the first time I called. Their ten year old stared in confusion when my oldest two were sniping back and forth and bickering over Lego game rules.
I'm tired of people praising me with the modifier "for your situation" all the time.
I am just always surprised to see how disfunctional we are sometimes. Argh. This morning I took my youngest two to the grocery store on a bagel run. No, they hadn't had breakfast yet. Two meltdowns. Not a pretty picture walking back to the car.
But then James came home from his VA disability appointment. He had a sleep study to verify if he had sleep apnea. The nurse told him that they would monitor him for three hours and then wake him up and put him on a CPAP machine if neccessary. When he was awakened he asked her if he passed. She said that, no, he actually failed miserably, that only 30 minutes had elapsed and he had stopped breathing so many times that they were putting him on the CPAP then.
That is great news! He will get a machine next month and it's nearly certain that his disability will be adjusted. But BEST OF ALL, he got a full night's sleep last night and woke this morning refreshed and optimistic. When he did so poorly on the test he realized anew that I've been keeping him alive for 9 years.
I didn't know this till recently, but
Major signs and symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Loud and chronic snoring
- Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
- Long pauses in breathing
- Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spend in bed
Other common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Restless or fitful sleep
- Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
- Moodiness, irritability, or depression
This sounds JUST LIKE James. How exciting to think that a CPAP could improve our lives so much! He was cheerful, hopeful, and laughing. His face was open and inviting. It was so nice.
I'm honored that you would read New Mercy and
I would love to hear from you through comments!Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 2:18 PM 1 comments
Labels: anger, depression, fear
08 December 2010
Early to Rise
God making us a beautiful sunrise each morning and us sleeping through it is like making a cup of coffee for a loved one that it is left to become cold.
God longs for us to meet with him each day and pour out our worries and hopes. If we slighted our friends and family like that for months soon we would be left alone.
I'm honored that you would read New Mercy and I would love to hear from you through comments!Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 9:53 AM 0 comments
Labels: sleep
05 October 2010
Good Pride
I am so proud of my man lately. He has been taking steps that are really adding up! Let me brag on him for a minute.
- He watched all four kids for the first time ever while I went away on women's retreat for 2 days!
- He took the kids to small group for church- by himself- when I had a homeschool meeting- and it was "our" first visit!
- He spontaneously helped some guy unload chairs at church
- He has been serving on the usher team for over a month!
- He signed up to be a part of the breakdown team for the local elementary school's harvest party- from 9:30 till midnight
- He's been home a ton- not out wandering
- He's been parenting the kids and loving on them.
- He's been cooking for me! (want more of that? read these cooking love stories)
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
I'm honored that you would read New Mercy and
Posted by Tracy Dear at 11:21 AM 1 comments
22 September 2010
Human Trafficking
Posted by Tracy Dear at 7:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: horrific world
14 September 2010
Hermine
Our house is one story and inside, the water got to about 6-7 inches. In the backyard, it was a raging, 5-6 foot deep river and in the front it was about a foot deep but really fast. When we looked across the street at our neighbor's dry yard and house, we wondered if we'd have to carry the kids over there if the water continued to rise. In the backyard, our 12 X 20 shed moved 60 feet, plowing over the chicken coop and smashing it against some trees. Then it landed on top of the disc-gold goal and stopped. Thankfully, the doors didn't open and it wasn't washed clean.
I'm honored that you would read New Mercy and
Posted by Tracy Dear at 12:38 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hermine
06 September 2010
Powerpoint Prayer Presentations

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
It's pretty short, so I'm going to bring index cards and have them write it out twice. Once to keep in the car or their purse and one for home as a bookmark. I'm going to tell them about how courage is important in so many aspects of their lives: witnessing to others, making new friends, befriending new/unpopular kids, dealing with pushy people who try to change your values or convictions, or for when you have to stick to your beliefs when it is hard.
This next part is sort of blog cheating because I didn't come up with this post. But it was so good, and so fun to read (I like humor) that I had to share an amazing post with a lesson for all us bloggers who think we need to catch God up on the background details before we actually get down to what we'd like to pray about. "Lamb"
I'm honored that you would read New Mercy and
I would love to hear from you through comments! Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 10:26 PM 0 comments
Labels: OT scripture
31 August 2010
Listening
The school and its extracurricular clubs have started up. As homeschoolers, we meet not so much for the club aspect as the friendships that accompany them. One of the clubs we do is called "Keepers of the Faith" and the other is "Contenders for the Faith." They are the girls and boys versions, respectively, of a kind Christian scouting program.
This year I am the "Spiritual Leader" of my daughter's Keepers group. I will spend the next week listening for God to tell me which scripture I should propose for the girls to memorize. This group is ages 9-16.
I need to do a concordance study for the word trust too. I've been relying on myself when I shouldn't. Was reading John 15 and felt a little like the dried up vine. Just need to abide more consiously!
I'm honored that you would read New Mercy and
I would love to hear from you through comments!Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 5:25 PM 0 comments
Labels: trust
12 August 2010
Wonderful Praises
Well, hello... thanks for coming back! I have gotten some comments recently- even a note on Facebook! from readers that actually wanted to interact with me. Wow. It's so exciting to hear from some of you. It really encourages me to come back and write again.
Here's the latest news: James, who lost his job last November, found out about something called the post 9/11 GI Bill. In addition to paying for your school costs, it also pays a stipend to cover bills so you can focus on studying. Ours is enough to cover the rent and the car payment! So half of our problems solved.
Hopefully, the other half of our problems will get fixed as the weather here in Texas (heat index of 110* lately!) cools off and more people have weddings that need catered, so the catering companies will call him to work more often.
I know you will rejoice with me when you hear THIS news: James went with me to a foster care certification class this month!!! He is getting his TB test (ok, it's for his college course, but we need it for foster too!) and talking much more readily about it with me.
I actually went and talked to the girl who teaches the class to ask her if I am crazy. I feel a maternal, crazy strong pull to a sibling group in Dallas. It's a brother and sister, I've never met them, but I think about them all the time. I even looked up how to get an extra seat for my van so I can fit everybody. She said many times, those are the kids you are supposed to have, and many times they are just the tool that finally gets you to come in and start the certification process. I don't know, I just know that they updated their picture online and they are so big now, I feel like I'm missing important parts of their life.
When my firstborn smiled up at me one day and I saw a little white line of her first tooth, involuntary tears sprang to my eyes as I realized how fast the time was passing. The same thing happened when I saw the new picture of these two online. *Sniff*
I'm honored that you would read New Mercy and
I would love to hear from you through comments!Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 11:33 PM 1 comments
Labels: foster care, praise
04 August 2010
Still Here!
Not to much to say that I can put into words before bed. Bedtime comes so quickly when I'm this tired. I donated some sleep time to the maintenance of my home and I'm just done for the day. I wanted to just say hi, I'm still here, to those of you that mentioned that you miss new posts when you check back. Glad to know that there is someone out in blogland reading me! I have a little list of stuff I'd like to share, and I'm going to get on it this week. Thanks for thinking of me!
I've been working full time at a local daycare until James starts school Aufgust 23rd. The GI Bill gives us a housing allotment so hopefully our struggle with unemployment will ease some. My heart has been hurting with all I have been seeing in the daycare system, how the parents and kids (and teachers too) struggle.
Posted by Tracy Dear at 10:51 PM 0 comments
28 June 2010
My Dream Car
What does it mean that I desperately want a white 10-passenger van? What is the underlying desire that makes this behemoth car so appealing to me? I've been pondering it, and have come to some conclusions.
Posted by Tracy Dear at 9:13 AM 0 comments
Labels: children, foster care, husband, waiting
25 June 2010
Angry Moms
I am reading a good book right now... it's one about angry Christian moms.
21 May 2010
Mental Work
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 5:41 PM 0 comments
Labels: marriage, Romans 12:12, waiting, wife
04 April 2010
Hello (sheepish)
I must confess. I realized through a few interactions that I have some blog lurkers who I actually know and see in real life. Then when things went downhill last month, I realized that they would read about it here. Now, these people seem to love me anyway, but it was a little startling to realize they had read the contents of my heart and not left a comment or anything to let me know. A danger of blogging. Also I was so exhausted that I couldn't even stay up past 9 or so. So these things combined to prevent me from posting at all recently.
"Living and dealing with a drug addict can be devastating. There's no easy way to find out, no way to soften the blow. Deciding how to proceed with your friendship or relationship with someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol is tricky, and it often feels like all the pressure is on you to figure out a way to not only save your relationship but the person who is suffering. Unfortunately, this usually ends with both of you living in pain and perpetuating a never ending cycle of abusive behavior-the addict abusing him or herself and you.
Whether or not you share a home with the addict in your life, you are subject to the instability and unpredictable behavior that accompanies their addiction. Lies about their drug use and whereabouts, stealing from you to pay for their habit, abusive behavior when they're under the influence or when they are recovering from a stint of using followed by profuse apologies and promises that everything will get better... It's an endless cycle, and it's one that can keep you in a whirlwind. The only way to end this cycle is to guide your loved one to the help that they need to get better. They can't do it alone and you can't do it for them.
A codependent relationship occurs when you are involved with a drug addict or alcoholic and enable their behavior. That is, you lie for them or cover for them when they lie, make mistakes or don't show up for work due to their addiction. You make excuses for their behavior, give them money or in other ways take care of them even though they can-and should-do it for themselves but don't because of their addiction. You believe you are helping them but ultimately you are only enabling their addiction and depleting your own resources, resources that you have no energy to renew." (From the Canyon.)
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 1:20 PM 2 comments
Labels: boundaries, perseverance
26 March 2010
Winning Him Without Words
I have been enjoying these ladies and their encouragement on Facebook. Their fan page is called Spiritually Unequal Marriage, and they have a blog of the same name. The book isn't due until next year, but you can get a lot of great words from their blog.
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 9:11 AM 0 comments
18 March 2010
Timeless
Hopefully, what I've written here is timeless and you can enjoy a lot when you surf my topics from the sidebar. Sorry it's been so long; a few posts are percolating...
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 2:22 PM 0 comments
16 March 2010
Steward
I've been trying to look on "the bright side" of doing childcare again. I'm trying to look at it like someone is paying me to look after my own kids in a better fashion.
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 11:23 AM 0 comments
Labels: children
08 March 2010
Unrequited Love
Although I am usually loathe to refer anyone to Wikipedia, it had a few good poems about unrequited love, and this nice quote:
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 8:54 AM 0 comments
Labels: children, choose life, foster care, John Piper, quotes
02 March 2010
It's Hard to be a Big Girl
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Bible study is good. Fellowship with other Christian women is good.
Anger is bad. Resentfulness is bad.
Forgiveness is good.
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 7:16 PM 0 comments
Labels: anger, forgiveness, hope, wife
26 February 2010
Pregnancy Watched by God: Part 2

Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 6:20 AM 0 comments
Labels: choose life, God's heart, my story, prayer, separation, waiting
23 February 2010
Pregnancy Watched by God: Part 1
I can count a million times I just had tears streaming down my face. I just was falling apart, silently, because although I was pregnant with another child with this man who sat beside me, my husband of nearly 10 years, I was unable to voice the thoughts that were running through my head. I was stunned. Was losing this baby to be my next trial? Why was everything so hard? Why did I have to endure so much? I didn't want to have any more rain in my life. I didn't want to learn any more about how God was enough. I wanted a breather from hard lessons. I wanted to learn something in the classroom, from the book, not from the heart-wrenching, gut-tearing, sob-inducing street I had been wandering. When I heard the lines I was just falling apart in rebellion. Did I give the baby to him then? No; I think it was when the long, long celebration of God's holiness came at the end of the song. My mind was a swirl of questions and complaints and then the words broke into my consciousness again- Holy, holy, holy… Oh, ladies, the Lord our God is holy- he is holy! He holy, just and pure even if we lose our baby. He is the Lord God Almighty even if our marriages dissolve. He is holy. He is holy. He is holy. Our situation and how we perceive it does not change God's character. He is, He was- He will forever, BE. We can bring him glory no matter what our situation. We can rage and shake our fist and clutch the things we hold dear- even good things like babies and marriages. But He can get more glory when we trust him and know him to be good and holy- even when we are losing everything and falling apart.
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through…
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You?
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray...
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory! And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You, Jesus, bring the rain.
I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain. You who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me, whats a little rain?
So I pray…
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory! And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain…
Holy, holy, holy…
Holy, holy, holy…
is the Lord God almighty
is the Lord God almighty
I forever sing
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God almighty
is the Lord God almighty
everybody singing
Holy holy holy…
is the Lord God almighty
is the Lord God almighty!
you are holy (holy, holy, holy)
you are holy (is the Lord God almighty)
Is the Lord our God, is the Lord our God...
"Bring me anything that brings You glory!
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You, Jesus, bring the rain."
Holy, holy, holy…
is the Lord God almighty
is the Lord God almighty
I forever sing
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God almighty
is the Lord God almighty
everybody singing
Holy holy holy…
is the Lord God almighty
is the Lord God almighty!
you are holy (holy, holy, holy)
you are holy (is the Lord God almighty)
Is the Lord our God, is the Lord our God...
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 11:40 PM 1 comments
Labels: children, choose life, holiness, loss, lyrics, marriage, my story, separation, suffering/ sacrifice
22 February 2010
Great News
Hey there you faithful few! Guess what- James got a job! Woo-hoo!
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 11:43 PM 2 comments
Labels: praise
19 February 2010
New Phase
I have to tell you, James and I are doing really well right now. Although there are the stressors of lack of income, and his method of job searching, I know we are on the same side of the fence. It makes me glad. He threw the most excellent party for me for my birthday last week. I invited everyone; he was in charge of the food. Oh it was great! Here's the menu:
- tortilla chips
- guacamole
- mango-jalapeno salsa
- hummus
- cream cheese-pesto ball
- fancy flatbread-cracker thingys with sesame seeds
- Tom Kha (Thai soup- chicken, lemongrass, cilantro, mushrooms in coconut milk broth
- Thai appetizers (frozen from store); black rice rolls, 2 kinds of seafood rolls
- Chocolate cake with chocolate icing
- Italian rainbow cookies
- Pepperidge Farm cookies
- shortbread
- m&m's
- Thai-seasoned cashews
- citrus blend jelly beans
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 9:24 PM 1 comments
Labels: praise
18 February 2010
Please pray for me. I am feeling a little underwhelmed. I'm hoping that you will be distracted from my quietness by exploring the new navigation bar and the new layout... Thank you.
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 12:07 AM 1 comments
16 February 2010
New Look!
As my first year blogging comes to a close I decided to do some renovations.... what do you think?! I'm pleased, floored more like it. I LOVE the new layout. There is only one sidebar now, and all the helpful info can now be found in the navigation buttons at the top of the page! Take a look around- become a subscriber- enjoy the new look! And tell me what you think!
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 10:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: my story
15 February 2010
Courageous!
"When it comes down to it, I believe that living out biblical submission in this culture requires far more backbone and brains than acquiescing to popular reason. It’s one of the most radical, courageous, and intelligent things a Christian woman can do."
(link to entire post)
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 5:57 AM 0 comments
10 February 2010
Revisit with Me
Enjoy this post from last April with me....
"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" Hebrews 12:1
Persevere: verb; to persist in a state or undertaking in spite of opposition or discouragement. Synonyms: to carry on, persist, hang on, follow through. Antonyms: quit, yield, falter, hesitate, give up.
"One of the most disastrous tendencies, that seems to be gaining strength year by year, is giving up too soon when life gets tough. What is happening to perseverance? Well, homes can't be homes at all if they are dissolved when problems come. If they are to endure, it means sticking to homemaking when it all seems bleak. Everybody feels unhappy at times... We all admire and enjoy those who have accepted life's boundaries, built within the framework, and become rich and wise, full of love." (From For the Family's Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone's Life by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.)
When James and I were separated, and the months stretched on and on, only two women of all the women who played a part in supporting me through that time-- only two counseled me to stick with it, be true to my vows, trust in the Lord, suffer for a time, be faithful... persevere. The women in my life had a lot of ways to love me- silence, an ear; angry on my behalf, vengeful; confused, questioning; weeping with me... one of my dear friends at long last said something like 'divorce him and never date again until your children are grown!' in such a voice of conviction and certainty that I was silent and shocked. Well, when you ask for advice, you get it!
Both of these dear women who counseled perseverance had known both James and I for at least a half dozen years. Knew us in the AF, before we moved to Texas. Maybe that had a part in it. But they each started their counsel with phrasing along the lines of 'This is so painful and awful, and isn't God's will for you or James or your marriage. But in the Bible I read, it says to stay. It says to love. It says to wait and trust.' The pain in their voices on my behalf, yet their faith in God and his Word-- it put sandbags against my faltering resolve. It bolstered my ability to wait and trust. It gave me strength to continue the race that had been marked out for me.
Is there someone in your life that needs bolstering? Is it an uphill race for someone you know? Please comfort them with a Godly comfort. What does this person seem overwhelmed by? Is there a way you can step in for a moment with relief?
"He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Prov. 11:25
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison an you came to visit me... I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:35-36, 40
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief... will arise from another place... and who knows but that you have come... for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 10:01 AM 1 comments
08 February 2010
Own it!
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 6:05 AM 1 comments
Labels: boundaries
05 February 2010
Bleh Bleh Bleh
Dear readers, I am pretty tired.
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 6:01 AM 2 comments
Labels: daily life
03 February 2010
No Smell of Smoke
I am meeting with friends each Tuesday to study Beth Moore's study called Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy. Tonight was so excellent... here's a recap.
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 6:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Beth Moore, trust
01 February 2010
HEY, TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY!
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 1:30 PM 2 comments
Something Beautiful
In your ocean, I'm ankle deep
I feel the waves crashin' on my feet
It's like I know where I need to be
But I can't figure out, yeah I can't figure out
Just how much air I will need to breathe
When your tide rushes over me
There's only one way to figure out
Will you let me drown, will you let me drown?
Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I'm in reach
'Cause I am down on my knees.
I'm waiting for something beautiful
Oh, something beautiful
And the water is rising quick
And for years I was scared of it
We can't be sure when it will subside
So I won't leave your side, no I can't leave your side.
That's a band called Need to Breathe singing "Something Beautiful" - Man, the lyrics are great, they're what make the song, but the way he sings it, the lines roll into each other and it's just amazing. It's my next favorite song. The uncertainty, the line... "how much air will I need to breathe when your tide washes over me" is so me.
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 12:56 AM 0 comments
Labels: Gods presence, lyrics, trust, waiting
29 January 2010
Choose Life!
Here's the notes of how I spent my evening- with my latest copy of World magazine. I love it, it gives me a Christian take on today's news- but this pro-life issue was a tiring if riveting read.
"Well, now we come to a family issue that we must have the courage to confront. Tonight, I call America--a good nation, a moral people--to charitable but realistic consideration of the terrible cost of abortion on demand. To those who say this violates a woman's right to control of her own body: Can they deny that now medical evidence confirms the unborn child is a living human being entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Let us unite as a nation and protect the unborn with legislation that would stop all Federal funding for abortion and with a human life amendment making, of course, an exception where the unborn child threatens the life of the mother. Our Judeo-Christian tradition recognizes the right of taking a life in self-defense. But with that one exception, let us look to those others in our land who cry out for children to adopt. I pledge to you tonight I will work to remove barriers to adoption and extend full sharing in family life to millions of Americans so that children who need homes can be welcomed to families who want them and love them."
Teresa (Tracy) Dear
Posted by Tracy Dear at 6:48 AM 0 comments
Labels: choose life