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What busy days these are ...and I know several of you can relate to not always having time to post or completely keep up with other blog friends posts! But I hope to catch up with most of you a little at a time.
But I wanted to share with you something special...actually two...
On Sunday, I was privileged to be among ten or so other family members on my husband's side to witness first hand and pray along side a sister who was committing her life and heart to the Lord. I think all of us were in awe to just be able to there, much less be used in any small way...
Even my girls were able to witness her prayer and it is something none of us in that room will probably ever, ever forget. We are rejoicing along with the angels right now...
So, in a way, this is a spiritual birthday as it marks a new birth in Christ.
On Wednesday, my mom celebrates her 82nd birthday. Hard to believe...(and for her, too!)
I plan on getting her this week to have her spend the night and then when we take her back, the girls and I are taking her to a surprise destination! (Shh...I have to be careful, she reads my blog!)
But I hope to tell you all about it afterward!
For her 80th, I wrote a longer, detailed post about her which you can see here.
In the meantime, Mom, I wish you a very happy birthday.
Thank you for always being there for me...for your prayers and guidance...and for being one of my very best friends.
I love you and so grateful to still have you in our lives!
~Tammy
I just am in a bloggy fog this week. Between the rainy weather, a headache yesterday, hormones and, well, Election Day...I've been in... hey, I've just made us up a new phrase: Blog Fog. So, when I saw that I was given this award from e-mom over at Chrysalis, I felt so blessed.
If you haven't stopped by there yet, you're in for a treat. She always brings up such fascinating topics and has such words of wisdom from the Word. She is also our "home base" host for the monthly "Marriage Monday"! Thank you so much, e-mom!
Here are the rules:
1. Only five people are allowed.
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. One has to be a new follower of your blog, or live in another part of the world.
So, though it's hard to narrow this down to five, but this time, I'm choosing:
1. Mamaology
2. Susie's Space
3. Country Girl at Home
4. Dawn Writes
and a new friend,
5. Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
And here's a meme while I'm at it...
I'm not exactly sure if I did this one already a long time ago...but then, I'm in a Blog Fog and all... so I'll go ahead anyway:
Where Were You?
20 Years ago:
I was working as a preschool\ day care teacher and absolutely loving it, while living with my mom.
Dating now and then, but not a lot.
I had just lost my father in June of that year, so still grieving and helping my mom through her grief.
15 Years ago:
Just met the man I would marry and we were in the process of falling in love!
Yep, things were pretty exciting for me 15 years ago this fall...
10 Years ago:
It was in in this month of November- ten years ago- that my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child!
I remember though we had prayed and planned exactly for this, some nervousness was mingled with our excitement. My husband had just left the Navy and was still seeking employment. Not to mention, first time parent jitters!
But we were praying and trusting God, and very thrilled over it all.
Although my mom already knew, we announced the news at our big Thanksgiving gathering.
5 years ago:
Well, this gives my age away, but I was 40! Knowing I've always loved nostalgia and the 1940's era, my husband gave me a 1940's birthday bash and it was truly one of the best birthdays I've ever had!
(He even wore his sailor uniform!)
And hitting this milestone was also made easier because I was still nursing my second baby, who was nine months old. You just can't feel over the hill when you're nursing a baby, somehow!
One Year ago:
Well, pretty much exactly what I'm doing right now. Homeschooling my girls, attending the same church, and trying to keep the socks in the laundry from multiplying faster than bunnies.
And like last year, I'm trying to be the woman God wants me to be, sometimes falling short but glad He still loves me...and working on relaxing and appreciating all those "little moments" in life.
If you would like to do this meme, especially if you find yourself in a BLOG FOG...please do...I tag YOU!
And feel free to take my new, hip phrase I've invented because I know it will be sweeping blogland in no time!
Blessings!
As she stood underneath the canopy that sheltered the department store entrance from the pouring rain, she wondered...
Here she was...about to meet some stranger whom she had never seen in person- not even a picture- and supposedly spend the whole evening with him.
Oh yes, she knew what some people would say...to stoop to meeting someone through those dating ads showed signs that you were "just plain desperate".
Was that true? Was she really desperate?
No...she had had her fair share of dates in her life. Even boyfriends.
But then, let's be honest. Turning 30 for a woman who knew she wanted to marry and have children could give a tiny sense of...um...was panic the right word?
No...too strong.
Concern. Yes, that was it.
She had concerns.
Some might also say that by calling an ad someone had placed in the paper that began with, "Christian male, 32..." was not only fool hearty, but just not trusting God enough.
But she had prayed about this whole thing, and it had just seemed right. Was it His leading?
She really had felt that she should reach out a bit more and not just passively sit back and wish.
And because of the fact that by doing something like this felt completely out of her comfort zone, perhaps she was actually having faith... having to step out in faith in all this!
She glanced at her watch as the summer rain continued to splatter over the cars in the parking lot in front of her. He was suppose to meet her here...right here.
But this was not his town, it was hers...so maybe he was a bit lost. Or hung up in traffic. Or...something.
Her thoughts drifted back to their first phone conversation. Somehow, they had seemed to just "click"...and had ended up talking for two whole hours. She remembered thinking, "I may meet this guy and he may not be someone I could ever feel romantic towards, but either way, I think I could definitely be friends with him."
As she pondered all of this, she noticed a young college age guy step out from the department store and stand, apparently waiting for the rain to let up. Somehow a conversation ensued...and it didn't take long to notice that this kid was flirting with her. She smiled and made small talk, as she anxiously peered intently at each passing car, looking for the one her blind date had described on the phone.
"So, you're meeting a date here?" he was saying. "Well, if he doesn't show up, he's an idiot. And you're welcome to go do something with my room mate and me..."
She smiled in spite of herself. She would never go off with this man-child, cute as he was, in a million years. And did this kid who probably just started driving a few years ago even have a clue how old she really was? Despite her now growing anxiety of being stood up, it was a nice ego boost to be flirted with anyway...in the pouring rain...
While she waited.
After declining sweetly his invitation and the young guy made his way into the downpour bidding her good luck, she glanced at her watch again.
Just how long should a gal wait, anyway? Some people now days had mobile phones, but neither she nor Mystery Man owned such a luxury.
Just when she was about to call it a day, she noticed a little car drive by very, very slowly in front of her, the driver seeming to peer questioningly at her. She knew in that split second that this was him...and hurried over to the passenger side as the car completely slowed to a stop.
She heard him say her name as a question, just as she was simultaneously asking his name.
Something about him immediately seemed like an old friend.
And on top of that...oh yes...he was kind of cute...
He explained that all this time, he had been waiting at the other entrance. Yep, there was indeed more than one, and they had each been patiently waiting at the opposite ends.
Having planned to eat at a restaurant right there at the mall where they were meeting, she was actually getting into the car with him to drive over, without even thinking.
That was breaking RULE #1 in meeting strangers....and it completely went against her cautious personality!
But somehow...somehow she just kind of knew.
Knew what, she had no idea...
But on that rainy fourteenth of August, fifteen years ago today, it was actually the beginning of an adventure that would last for the rest of their lives.
Happy 15th Anniversary of the Day we met, Sweetheart.
I'm participating once again in Marriage Monday and this month's topic is:
How Recreation Impacts Marriage
This topic got me to thinking back years ago...when it was just the two of us.
So...back in time to the newlywed years...
Since my husband was in the Navy, and we were now living clear across the country in Virginia, we were eager to take advantage of exploring the east coast whenever we could. This didn't happen as often as we liked, due to the fact that his ship was always going out to sea.
In fact, right after he returned from the first big 6-month deployment, and as an early 1st anniversary celebration, we went away to a fancy B&B. It was just wonderful...
But then again, any place probably would have been wonderful together after six months apart!
We went camping a time or two, took off on countless day trips,
Sometimes as far as Richmond or Washington D.C., several hours away.
(Ahh...those were the days... when gasoline wasn't liquid gold!)
We took one memorial Thanksgiving weekend, and drove up to Pennsylvania, exploring the Amish country, seeing the Liberty Bell, stopping at Hershey, and our favorite, most meaningful place, Gettysburg.
(How I wish I could find those pictures!)
Good times.
And...Tiring times....Cranky times...Romantic times.
Yep, even before children, it was all that and more.
It seems back then, that we did manage to go and see so much, in spite of the fact that his ship was always coming and going. And one time, his ship did go to NYC, and in that case, it actually provided a chance for us to see New York together for another whirlwind weekend!
But one of our favorite couple times of all, was actually after we became parents.
In 2005, for our 10th anniversary, we hesitantly left our two little ones (ages three and almost six) with family and good friends, took the vacation money we had been saving for a few years, and went to Hawaii for a whole, entire week.
You see, despite our little excursions over the years, we had still never really had a true honeymoon. In fact, the opposite might be true...so many forced times of separation during our early years!
So, as we approached our 10th anniversary, we were now on the heels of the diaper and nursing stages, and all the various joys and stresses that accompany new parents. Our taking this one week for ourselves alone was like a refreshing renewal of who we were as a couple.
Not to mention, there were no responsibilities for either of us except checking into hotels and shaking the sand out of our towels for seven whole days!
Seeing some sights, swimming and snorkeling, attending luaus...but spending countless hours just walking hand in hand on the shores of Maui as the setting sun dropped lazily into the sea.
That anniversary week was probably even better than it would have been ten years earlier right after our wedding. Not only now did we feel even more appreciative of this break from daily responsibilities...but we now had actually lived together as man and wife, through the good times and bad.
Our love, though far from perfect, had taken root.
These days, we don't always find time for regular date nights like we really should...but we do try to steal away occasionally.
We did go away for a weekend after Hawaii alone together to the San Juan islands and it was an incredible time...
Most recently, when the girls were at a Saturday six-hour church "day camp" event, my husband and I had the most fun just going for a simple bike ride together through the woods, then stopping at a bagel place- just like we did pre-kids, back in Virginia.
Whether it's been as extravagant as Hawaii....or as simple as a bike ride alone together....finding time for us as a couple has always helped serve as reminders to relax, renew, and most importantly,
treasure one another in the every day schedules of life.
To visit more Marriage Monday participants, stop by our wonderful host, Chrysalis!
As another Mother's Day arrives, I realize just how much I truly have to be thankful for.
Pictures seem to say it best for me right now...
My oldest was just two and a half when this was taken...and trying to feel the new yet-to-meet baby kick...
One of my favorite Mother's Days ever, two years ago...
We ate at a charming restaurant outside on the patio, then strolled the grounds and gardens, pausing to pose by this vintage pick-up.
The weather that Mother's Day was perfect...as was just about everything that day.
Not a day goes by when my two girls don't say "I love you, Mommy"...and my six year old will tell me this at least 30 times a day. Yes, I know how blessed I am.
Then I rewind back in time...
And think about the wonderful mom that I was blessed to have...
She was always there to love me unconditionally- and still is.
We were just there today, visiting with my 81 year old mom as my husband finished putting in her floors for her.
Outside of going out for mochas and hot chocolate, and bringing her cards and little gifts, we did nothing out of the ordinary for most of the day.
Yet, it was good to just see her on this Mother's Day weekend...
Oh, I can worry from time to time about the pressures of being in "the sandwich generation"...smack in between looking our for my elderly mother while parenting young children.
But really...for right now...it's nice to be snugly tucked in-between a loving mother who is still with me...and two wonderful little girls who shower me with affection daily.
There's not a cozier feeling on earth.
Happy Mother's Day!
She was born in 1927...before the Great Depression even began.
During WWII, she was a teen, helping to plant victory gardens and gathering recyclables for the war effort.
She graduated from William Jennings Bryan college...taught Kindergarten...and then met my dad when she was age 30, beginning a new stage in her life.
She's been a devoted mother to me from the very beginning.
I was her only child...and she faithfully cared and taught me through the years, always ready to listen whenever I needed to share my heart.
And years later, after I was grown, she and my father received their ministers' licenses together and began working in prison ministry in the last years of his life.
Through my adult years she's been my very best friend...and during my first married year when my new husband was deployed for six months, she flew across the country to be with me for the holidays in Virginia.
She came again during his next deployment, and together we toured local sights, even driving together to Mt. Vernon...and spent many hours of "girl talk".
She was finally blessed with her first grandchildren...and they love her dearly.
Today marks her 81st birthday...
Happy Birthday, Mom!!!
We're literally counting the days until our big road trip to California.
And just so you and all the burglars lurking out there can know, today marks 26.
I still remember the excitement waking up at 5 am one morning in July of '77.
And as a fourteen year old, taking my first road trip to California -complete with Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm and Sea World- was about the only thing that would make me feel giddy about such unheard of hour in the morning!
We had the car all loaded and headed out...stopping in Eugene to pick up my nephew. I tell you, I can remember the excitement as he joined us in the car as if it were yesterday!
All the way down, we played games like Hangman, told stories and laughed...and occasionally plucking a plum from the ice chest between us in the backseat.
The "getting there" was almost as much fun as the destination!
Almost...but of course, not quite...
I think I've shown these pictures before...but now that I'm starting to feel just a little giddy again as we continue our countdown, it's fun to look at these memories.
Since I am an only child, my dad thought it would be fun to take my nephew, Randy - his grandson from his previous marriage- who was just three years younger than me.
We always got along amazingly well, so not only was it a good experience for R., but I had a lot more fun having another kid along than I would have otherwise.
(And even though I was a teen, I was still very much a "kid"!)
Here we are in Knotts Berry Farm, posing with a true native American Indian...colorful, don't you think?
By the way, this same nephew is now a Navy chaplain, and has a beautiful family close in age to our girls. He lives in California now, so we'll be getting to visit them on this same trip!
As I begin to pray for this family trip, not only do I pray for safety, but for a wonderful, bonding time for all of us.
For them to enjoy the journey almost as much as the destination...which holds hugs from Snow White and rides on teacups...
and that someday, they'll be looking at pictures from our first long road trip years from now... and feel the excitement all over again.
Well, today was back to school for us here at home...and let me tell you that as wonderful and relaxing as our Christmas vacation was, I didn't come back to schooling feeling all refreshed and ready to tackle a new season.
I guess the two weeks off made me completely out of condition because I'm tired!
Do public school teachers sometimes feel this way, too?But other than that, things went pretty well today.
And now I'm here stealing a moment while the girls and their daddy play Wi*. Actually, they discovered that you can custom design yourself as player, picking out cartoon hair, eyes, ect...so now their designing me.
I told them to surprise me...just make me look good, please.
I know that sounds vain, but since I'm approaching another birthday this month (and one of those "half-milestones" I'm not thrilled about) I want at least the virtual me to look great! ;)
OK...here's our virtual family.
I'm the cool looking gal on the end...my five year wanted to be the tallest. Oh well. 
Lest you think all we do in our spare time is play this new family obsession, you'd be only partly right.Remember that our oldest received a gently used violin for Christmas?
We decided to scrape together some money for lessons for a few months for her. They start later this month, but in the meantime she likes to get it out and experiment a bit.
I've never played this elegant little instrument...piano has been it for me, and only that just a little. But I was able to pick out the first four notes of "Twinkle, Twinkle" and then showed her...so now we amaze ourselves and our family with performances of those first four notes many times over...;)
I know, we're holding the violin, our hands, and our fingers all wrong...but thankfully her first lesson is in just two weeks. We'll try not to learn any new notes before then.
On a final note... (get it...note...?) ;)
I hope to do something special on the blog for my birthday in two weeks...just not sure what, yet! But I'll let you know soon...
I have to do something...the whole idea of turning this age is just...strange! :O
Remember when you just couldn't wait until you turned the next number?
Long, long ago...
Here I was, celebrating my 7th birthday party at Ferrill's Ice Cream Parlour...
Smiling shyly as they all loudly sang...
And I can still remember all the girls names at the table.
And diving into the huge "community" sundae which resembled Mt. Shasta...sitting there...waiting just for us!
Blessings!
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