Happy Birthday Lindsey ...

Day 7 ...

Well ... today's post will definitely not top yesterdays post ... just so you'll know ... ha!

Today ... was a beautiful day ... we were in the pool all morning and early afternoon ...

We've had breakfast by the pool every morning ... this was Nana having her morning coffee ...

Then ... Mom and I went to "the mall" (actual name - ha) while Nate and LeAnna went to play miniature golf ... LeAnna won! (a given) ...

When they came back to "the mall" to pick us up ... they came in for some shopping as well ... and LeAnna ended up at the Wacky Bear Factory ... where she created "Lindsey" ... this place is equivalent to Build A Bear ... but with blinking red hearts that go in the bears ... very cool effect ... anyhoo ... that was a highlight for LeAnna ... especially knowing that "today was Lindsey's birthday" ... amazing! ha! She's so funny ... and when she made her wish when the heart went into the bear ... she wished for a big cake! ha! LeAnna LOVES cake ... thought that was too funny ...

We went to a mexican grill for dinner upon LeAnna's request ... called Jalapenos ... I was NOT impressed ... and made me miss Tequila's even more (our favorite Mexican spot in Nashville) ...

then ... back home to just lounge ...

Like I said ... a lazy day and not much to post ...

Tomorrow is our last day on the island ... besides leaving on Saturday ... so tomorrow's plan is to do a Dolphin Cruise ... and squeeze in some more swimming and beach time ... if the weather is good ...

tonight's weather ... BAD ... severe weather for a bit ... all is calm now ...

happy day ... tammy

A Savannah Kind Of Day ...

Day 6 ...

Today we got up EARLY and went to Savannah ...

We got in line at Paula Deen's restaurant and waited about 45 minutes to get reservations ... I was so happy that we got them for 11am ... some of the bigger parties had to wait until 2:30 to eat ...

After getting on the list ... we started shopping ... LOVE shopping at the little shops in Savannah ... especially the Kitchen Store On The Square ... neat place ... and for a bit you could get lost in kitchen oblivion ... found "neat" small items ... that you can't just find anywhere ... I love that!

We had to be back in front of the restaurant at 10:45 to wait for our name to be called ... they called us a little after 11am ... wasn't bad at all ...

The food was very good ... we all had the buffet ... and the hoe cakes ... oh my goodness ... with maple syrup ... did I say "oh my" already?! AAHHHH ... better than pancakes! Yikes! AND the garlic cheese biscuits ... AAHHHH ... Nate even put syrup on that! ha! So ... yes ... he's going to kill me ... but here's a few pics I'd like to share! hahahahahahah ...

and ... gelato at the Riverfront in downtown Savannah ... hmmmm ... I can't wait to see how Sunday goes ... weighing in for the Biggest Loser finale ... for those of you who don't know ... our church has been doing Biggest Loser for like 13 weeks ... there will be a mens winner and a ladies winner ... like $500 or $600 each ... very cool concept ... especially for the winner!

We did the "Old Savannah Tour" for the rest of the afternoon ... it was very hot but partly cloudy so it wasn't as bad as last year ... last year ... a little over 100 degrees ... horrible!!! Anyhoo ... the history tour is always very interesting to me ...

One thing "interesting" to me today ... this morning ... standing in line for reservations ... I walked past a building ... called ... "Sorry Charlie's" ... VERY old building ... you gotta remember ... Savannah is one of the oldest cities in the U.S. ... 1700's ... anyhoo ... I found it interesting that ... a sign on the door deemed the building a hazard and was unsafe ... and then ... on the window ... was this ... a petition to renovate ... AND the hearing for that was ... today at 2pm ...

I know ... I'm weird ... it's the craziest things that I find amusing ... oh well ... now I'm wondering "how it went" ... ha! This particular building was on the same row as Paula Deen's Restaurant ... just neat stuff ... to me ...

oh well ...

AND ... we went into Paula Deen's store after lunch ... and Bobby and Jamie Deen were there ... very exciting to say the least ... I got in line to get my pic made ... VERY funny experience ... that can only be explained to a choice few ... ha! oh well ...


It was a nice day ... VERY tired ... indeed ...

On our way back ... we went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner ... it was very good dining ... we left FULL!!!

So ... when we got back ... Tammy laid down for a cat nap ... Nate and LeAnna went to the beach ... Nana ... not sure what she did ... I was napping ... =0)

I got up and took a bike ride after my nap ... I'm really enjoying my bike this week ... just wish we had "Hilton Head bike trails" in Nashville! hahahaha!

oh well... it's been a long day ...

tomorrow ... not sure ... depends on the weather ... we have 2 full days left to enjoy ... and we have to squeeze in pool time, beach time, golf, and a dolphin cruise before we leave ... so I guess we'll just see what the "weather" allows for tomorrow!

happy day ... tammy

You Never Know What The Tide's Going To Bring In ...

Day 5 ...

Today was a perfect day for "sunning" ... we were in the pool all morning ... got out and ran to a couple of stores, then back in the pool this afternoon ...

We had a wonderful dinner here at the house (thanks Nana!) ... and no, that's not the reason we brought her with us! ha! However ... cooking is her favorite thing to do and you should be able to do your "favorite things" while on vacation ... right?!

Anyhoo ...

This evening we went over to the beach ... to watch the sunset ... we sat awhile and watched LeAnna play ... then decided to walk down to the water one last time before leaving ... there was this guy standing beside us with a fishing pole ... but about 6 feet out ... about knee deep ... I was sort of laughing at him ... thinking ... what in the world is he doing "fishing", at sunset, with the tide rolling in ... hmmm

THEN ... all of sudden, he starts running out of the water and we see what's on the end of the pole ... a SHARK!!!! A baby one ... but still ... a shark! AAHHHHHH!!!!!

So I stated waving my arms to get Nate's attention ... and I start pointing at the guy with the pole ... he sees the commotion and jumps on his bike and luckily grabs my backpack for me ... we gathered around him while the shark was twirling on the line and jumping around ... I took some pics ... they aren't the best because the shark was in motion ... however ... I was so excited ... so ... dumb me ... I had to "touch it" ... ha! the guy saw me approaching it slowly with my finger ... and he pushes it to me ... AAHHHH .... crazy ... anyhoo ... was a very exciting evening ... he had caught it with squid on his hook ...

okay ... so I'm thinking ... tide rolling in ... knee deep ... SHARKS! Baby ones ... yes ... but they grow into BIG ones!!! AAHHHH ... and they still can bite right?! Anyhoo ... Okay ... so that did it for me ... not going out in the ocean anymore, while the tide is rolling in ... at sunset ... past my feet getting wet ... well ... maybe my ankles ... but ... wow! a Shark!

So ... that was the highlight of our evening ... other than having to coat myself in aloe vera because of sunburn!!!! Ugh!

Tomorrow - we're going to Savannah! Eating at Paula Deen's Restaurant ... I think we've already blown our diets just thinking about it! oh well ... we can get back on track Thursday - right?! It is vacation ... Nate just knows he's got to weigh in Sunday for Biggest Loser Finale ... ha! oh well ...

Happy Day ... tammy

Shopping, Biking and Beaching ...

Day 4 ...

We all slept late this morning ...

Nate still got up and rode his bike and ran on the beach ...just later than his "norm" ...

We had breakfast ... got dressed ... and listened to the pouring rain!!!!! SO ... we decided to do some shopping today ..

We shopped all day ... literally ...

The rain finally stopped and the sun came out for a while ... we came back home ... Nate and LeAnna got in the pool and we fixed dinner ... grilled out and ate by the pool outside ...

Then ... Nate, LeAnna and I rode our bikes for a while and went over to the beach for a while ... found some shells, built a sand castle, found a jellyfish ... and watched the sun set ...

Came back ... and joined Mom - watching the 2 hour finale of the Bachelorette ... she's been watching all season, so she caught us up and we watched with her ...

Another lazy day ... but we had fun ... and that's what it's all about ...

Hoping for some SUN tomorrow!!!! Planning on going to Savannah on Wednesday ... Mom has never been and we're excited about taking her to Paula Deen's restaurant and store ... and to do some touring ...

A "funny" at the beach this evening ... we were walking on the beach ... and LeAnna said ... "Man, I bet it took a long time for them to get all this sand here!" ... ha! I said ... "Baby, God put it here" ... she said, "oh" ...

happy day ... tammy

Nothing Like The Salty Dog ...

Day 3 ...

This morning ... was lazy ... for me ... Nate however, was at the beach at 7am ... ran 3 1/2 miles ... and was back before I woke up!

We had breakfast here (thanks to Nana) and then we all got in the pool ... about 2 1/2 hours ...

This afternoon, we went to Harbor Town ... love going there ... we did some shopping, and ate at the Salty Dog Cafe ... a MUST if you're in Hilton Head ...

When we returned to the house ... our bikes had been delivered! We rented bikes for the week ... Nate and LeAnna rode for a while, down to the beach ... I rode for a bit and then back to the house with Nana ...

I have an eye "issue" ... woke up this morning with a "dry spot" ... doesn't happen as often as it used to ... not fun ... been putting drops in all day ... very red, very bloodshot, very swollen, very sore ... very hurting! oh well ... always something huh?!

Tonight ... nothing ... just relaxing! We thought about doing ... nothing ... but then thought ... nah ... we'll just do ... nothing ... so ... looks like we're doing "nothing"... ha! Fine by me!

happy lazy day ... tammy

YES - We Are There Yet!

Day 2 ...

We made it ... after LeAnna asking at least a million times "are we there yet?" ...

We arrived around 4pm this afternoon ... I was really nervous ... you just "never know" when you purchase a place 6 months in advance on the Internet ... however ... we found a very reputable site, which came highly recommended ... fears are calmed ... all is well ... and we love it! It's so nice ...

We are spoiled already by the large bedroom ... "our" bedroom at home is one part of our house we are not that excited about ... it's the smallest bedroom we've ever had ... anyhoo ... this one is so very nice ... but I think the master bathroom is my favorite ... large walk in shower ... stone ... 2 shower head with stone seat across one side ... very nice ... 2 separate sides with sinks, 2 closets and separate potty room ... ok ... so ... I'm happy with the bathroom ... ha!

Anyhoo ... the house is great ... we're loving it already ... and we have our own pool ... LeAnna is REALLY excited about that! That was the first thing she did when we got here ... IN THE RAIN ... oh well ... excited ... the weather is not looking all that great for this next week ... hopefully we'll get some sunshine at some point .... we're just happy to be on vacation! Rain or Shine!

We have NO agenda ... have NO clue what we're doing tomorrow ... I LOVE IT!!!!! We definitely have a list of things to do this week but don't have a clue "when" ... ahhh ... fine by me!

If you've never been to Hilton Head Island ... it comes highly recommended by all of us! We love it here ... it's SO laid back and relaxing ... we can't wait to start relaxing! ha! I'm "trying" ... it might take me a couple of days to unwind, after the stress of life at home ... work has been CRAZY ... anyhoo ...

Happy Lazy Day ... tammy

Happy Boom Day!

Summer Vacation ... day 1 ...

We left EARLY this morning ... and had several errands before we got started ... which included, taking Princess to "her" vacation home (Granny and Papaw's), breakfast and Nate had a job in Murfreesboro on our way out of town.

Finally ... we were on our way ... UNTIL, we reached Monteagle ... there was an accident - car caught on fire ... so ... we were at a perfect standstill for at least 30 minutes, sitting on the interstate ... not fun - when you haven't "learned" why you're sitting there, until the traffic starts moving and you pass the "scene" ...

Made it to Atlanta ... did some shopping at one of our favorite places to shop there ... Filene's Basement ... found some deals ... was happy to be there ...

Then drove to Stockbridge, GA where we have family ... The Barlars ... they grilled out for us ... we had a great dinner and YUMMY chocolate pie ... (yes ... for those of you interested - Nate had some and yes ... this is the last week for Biggest Loser) ahhem ...

Had a relaxing evening of chatting, catching up ... and Jim and Nate took the kids to see the fireworks ...

We are very tired ... and are ready for a good nights sleep ...

Tomorrow will be easy ... Hilton Head Island is only 3 1/2 more hours away ... and we can't check in until around 4p ... so we will take our time tomorrow getting there ...

Anxious to get there and check it out ... even though we have pictures of the house ... you never really know until you get there ... so a bit anxious ...but, I'm sure it will be fine ... last year, we drove around the area that we are going to be staying... so - hoping it will be okay.



Happy Independence Day ... tammy

Flying Time ...

LeAnna - Hilton Head Island - Summer 2007

Looking at my "list" ... you would NEVER know or think that I was leaving for 9 days on Friday ... AAHHHHHHHH!

There are NOT enough boxes checked ... maybe that's because I keep ADDING boxes of things to do!

I am, however ... looking forward to leaving on Friday morning .... I do plan on blogging, maybe not everyday ... but journaling some while we're there ... I just hope my bags get packed! ha!

LeAnna's anticipation level is at an all time high at the moment ... she is SO ready to start packing ... she's really looking forward to our trip.

I just can't believe it's July already ... I know I act like "time" and how it "flies" is such an amazement to me at times ... but ... well ... it is ... "time flies" ... just like I know that "time will fly" and vacation will be "over" and I'll be sitting right back here at my desk ... again ...

... hopefully ... with a rested body and clearer outlook on "life" ... sometimes "life" just takes it out of you ... I look forward to vacation every year ... a time to clear your mind ... a time to leave "life" as we know it (especially WORK) and live like a "bum" for a week or so ... no agenda (especially hidden ones) - ha! no place to be (except by the pool with a book) ... an "easy" house to clean (all our stuff won't be there - just our suitcases) ... only cook if you want to ... eat out if you want to ... shop all day if you want to ... build sand castles if you want to ... just ... R E L A X ! ! ! !

ahhh ....

I can feel the sand between my toes and the wind blowing on my sun kissed face ... already!

Yep ... I need a vacation ... very tired at the moment ... work has been CRAZY ... looking forward to just stepping away from here ... even if just for a bit.

Happy Day ... tammy

obligating "me" self ...

4 days and counting ... well ... actually it's not the days I'm counting ... it's the "things I have to do" that I'm counting ... SO much to do ...

I don't even know where to start ... packing has not even entered my mind ... LeAnna however, packed a suitcase about 2 months ago! I laughed and told her that she was welcome to keep it packed but she might want to wait a bit ... well ... the "week to pack" has finally arrived!

I have "news" ... by telling this news ... it obligates me ... and I guess that's the reason I'm stating this tid bit of info ... for anyone who knows me well ... knows that I have NEVER gotten rid of any of LeAnna's clothes ... ever ... from birth! I have close to 20 large Walmart plastic tubs full of clothing ... yep ... running out of space to store them ... SO ... I've had some friends that have obligated themselves to "helping me" with this effort ... SO ... I'm having a consignment sale in September ... I have set this "near future" goal of September to make it more attainable for me ... I have finally dealt with all my "hormonal moments" for keeping these articles of clothing and I'm moving on ... it's sad for me ... but I'm ready ... I think?! We'll see when we start going through it all ... AAHHHHH .... praying I don't back out!

The clothes are really not doing me any good just sitting here ... especially when there are others who could get good use of them ... some of them were never worn ... some of them 1 or 2 times ...

oh well ... I'm just going to do it!

It will be a two day sale ... sometime in September ... I plan on having some other friends join me ... so there should be LOTS of children's items for sale ... it will be here at the house ... I will send out an "official" invite for it soon ...

In the recent few years ... you couldn't have paid me anything to get rid of her clothes ... I went through so much for her to be here ... and I just couldn't bring myself to do it ... there will be a few that I will put out and save for sentimental reasons ... for her to have when she's an adult ... a Mommy ...

SEE?! here I go ... getting nostalgic already!

I CAN do this ... I WILL do this ...

I'm sure there are plenty of "readers" out there saying ... oh my ... what a silly girl ... and I'm ok with that ... I have to live with "me" ... so I've done what I've done to live with me ... and now "me" is ready to move on ...

"thanks" to my friends who have understood my "me moments" and have supported along the way ... much love to you ... =0)

Okay ... so ... much to do ...

happy day ... tammy

Catch Up ...

I think this is the first time since I started blogging that I've gone over a week without posting. I have been sick for the last two weeks, coupled with the fact that work is overwhelming until the first of July ... well and beyond really ... but a deadline must be met by 7/1 ... so ... it has been work night and day ... I'm just looking forward to vacation in one week! We leave next Friday ... for a very much needed break!

A lot has happened in a week ... but i'm too tired to detail it all ... however ... the ducks went away last Saturday ... LeAnna cried so hard because she was upset they went away ... I cried so hard because I was happy they went away! I have to admit ... I was NOT fond of the ducks! Oh well ... we didn't purchase them - they were given as a gift ... so ... for any of you out there ... ever thinking of getting us a gift for whatever reason or occasion ... please ... PLEASE ... save yourself the time and effort and don't buy or give us ducks! Much and many thanks in advance!

Okay ... so ... the voice is still not back up to par yet ... however ... it seems to be getting better everyday ... if I could only just shut up I might get better! Do you know how hard it is to NOT talk ... my hands got restless, so I had to start back up! ha! Anyhoo ... getting better ...

My TO-DO list pre-vacation ... has several to-do lists of their own! oh my ... crazy I tell ya!

My little boxes are not getting checked off as quickly as I would like ... I'm fearing the all dreaded task of making the "what I didn't get done before vacation and will have to-do when I return" list ...oh well ... it happens ... I'll just have to deal and move on!

This morning we had our little marathon thingie for the biggest loser group at church ... at a place in Ashland City ... we had a great turn out ... and my little lucy bug decided to ride her bike while we walked ... well ... she woke up not feeling so hot ... and was sounding a bit like me ... coughing, and allergy type symptoms ... we went anyway ... however, she didn't eat much and after about 20 minutes into it ... she threw up! Yep ... so ... that meant ... a 20 minute walk back to the truck! Ugh ... not fun ... but ... she got better and after eating at Merriman's Tea Room she seemed better ... she's really not felt well today .... took over a 3 hour nap and has moped around a lot! I'm hoping she's better tomorrow ...

We are having our 5th Sunday Service tomorrow ... meaning one morning service and then fellowship groups meeting at some point in the afternoon or evening. We combined our group with another group and are meeting here tomorrow around 1p ... should be a great time of grilling out and great fellowship!

I still have many boxes to check on my "before I got to bed on Saturday night" list ...

happy weekend ... tammy

Growing Up ...

Today ...

Our adventure took us to The Monkey's Tree House!

LeAnna took Kaitlyn along and then we ran into a friend from NCS ... so they had fun playing together ...

I however, took advantage of the "couch" ... and read a book!

Very nice afternoon ...

I took some pictures ... and when looking at these ... I realized ...

my baby is growing up!

For so long I've looked at her as such a small, helpless, needy creature who still needs Mommy to exist! - ha! I'm finding out ... that's not the case ...

don't get me wrong ... there are times when I can't be out of her sight ...

but looking at this picture ... I see a much older LeAnna ...

this picture took me to a glimpse into the future if you will ... and I saw something very cool - but not sure if I'm really ready for it yet ...

I saw a grown up LeAnna ... a very dependent LeAnna ... who only wants "Mom" on her terms ... oh my ... I'm not ready for that yet! I still need to be needed ... and I still need to give ... I still need to comfort, help, give, kiss, hug, love, ... all the little things a little growing girl needs from Mommy ...

Am I ready for this? I'm not so sure ... yet at least ...

However ... she proved it this evening ... when "at Nana's" where she is spending the night ... I was walking out to go home and she said, "but Mom, I'm going to miss you" ... now Mom is right next door mind you ... so it wouldn't be a big deal to just walk out Mom's side door into our garage 10 feet away ... so I just said ... "you'll be fine ... I'm right next door"!

I still NEED her to say that she "might miss me too much to stay" ... because one day sooner than I would like I'm sure, she won't be upset that I'm leaving her somewhere ... she'll be happy I'm leaving!

So ... this picture made me realize that yes ... she's growing up and I can no longer look at her and view her as a baby ... she's far from that ...

I'm glad though ... I think it's the coolest thing to see her developing and growing into her "own".

We are almost 1/2 way through our summer ... can you believe it? ... I can't! ... one more week and we'll be 1/2 way though ... it's passing FAST!!!!

We leave for vacation two weeks from today and I am SO ready! However ... I have SO much to do before we leave ... I'm just hoping I can get it all done ...

So ... here's to a "grown up" day ... tammy

A Well Traveled Path ... not because I have to ... because I want to.

My heart is heavy ...

My friend who I've been blogging about in regards to her Dad being ill ... passed away yesterday. When I posted on Sunday about wondering if this was her last Father's Day with her Dad ... I didn't have a clue it would be this soon. Cancer is no respecter of persons ... it's a nasty word that makes most people stop and pause when it is mentioned. I don't like the word myself ... it's a scary word to me. It seems SO prevalent right now with so many people we know.

Coincidentally, I ran into my other friend that I've been speaking of lately as well this week ... so good to see her and check up on her after this last Sunday ... we're having lunch soon and I can't wait to catch up with her.

Both of these friends are traveling down a road that I have been traveling for 10 years now ... I've crossed all those paths that most people cross when dealing with the loss of a loved one, but specifically a Dad.

I'm reminded of my "comforter" post this week as well ... and shows me even more that realization I had and accepting that responsibility of being a comforter. There were so many that were there for me in the last 10 years, many I'm sure who knew exactly what I was facing, many who didn't know - but made attempts out of kindness.

God help me to comfort those in time of need especially in the areas that "I know", and could comfort with understanding.

Work is unbelievable right now - the reason for lack of frequent postings. I'm dreaming of a summer vacation however, and it's just two weeks away! Ahhh .... can't wait!

happy day ... tammy

The Mystery Of The Missing Voice ...

So ... good thing you are reading this ... because if you were listening to this ... you wouldn't hear me!

I started feeling a little rough last Tuesday or Wednesday ... just a simple sore throat - figured it was sinus related ... anyhoo ... by Friday ... it was a full blown "something" ...

We had a Mystery Dinner Theatre at church this weekend and my character called for a lot of speaking ... hmmmm ... I began to get worried ...

My doc called me in a z-pac on Friday afternoon (thank God for Lisa!) ... I was in a tizzy about getting sick and having to speak my parts on Saturday night!

Well ... got to practice/dress rehearsal on Friday evening ... not feeling my best ... trudged through ... got very hot ... don't know if I had a fever, or if it was the costume ... by the time we left there ... we had not been gone 2 minutes from the church when just all of a sudden ... I couldn't clear my throat ... when I would try it would end up in a high pitched wheeze ... the night got worse ... it felt like I was choking and my windpipe was closing in on me ... apparently it was I found out later ... at one point I thought I was dying ... Nate said - you're not going to die! ... BUT ... when you're trying to just breathe normal and CAN'T?!?!??! Hello ... I was ready to write good-bye letters!

So ... anyhoo ... after a VERY exhausting night ... Nate called our doc friends and he met us at his office Saturday morning ... after a breathing treatment, a pill and a steroid shot in the rump we left with a hand full of MORE meds ... "his goal" was to get me talking by Saturday night ... only thing was ... I was not allowed to speak for the rest of the day ... ha! easier said than done ... but I did it, and ... believe it or not ... my voice "slightly" came back 10 minutes before the play started! Crazy I tell you ... I couldn't believe it! I was in such a panic! And I KNOW the director was!

I made it through the evening ... was up all night Saturday night coughing ... but was much better than Friday night with NO meds ...

I have this inhaler that I'm using every 4 hours to keep my airways open ...

So ... my diagnosis ... double ear infections ... and Pharyngitis ... apparently the drainage from my ears are affecting my Pharynx and vocal chords and so I sound like the Penguin on Toy Story when his "sound" tore up ... ha! wheezy ...

Today has not been much better ... as far as coughing and my vocal ability ... AND wouldn't you know ... in a 4 day period that I'm sick ... I would have a Play to speak in, a Client (which I canceled today), a call to do background vocals in a local studio, and a request to do some recording for my job!

AAHHHHH ... I'm telling you ... this is my crazy life!

So ... that's where I've been ... going crazy!

REALLY not feeling well and SO hoping this goes away soon!

Yesterday was Father's Day .... it was my 10th year without my Dad ... it's a day to celebrate Nathan and LeAnna, and my father-in-law now and we did ... very thankful for these two special men in my life ... but I still like to take time to "reflect".

I still think sometimes about getting a gift for him ... or see something silly that I think he would like ... pick it up, smile and then place it back on the rack. The "miss" never goes away ... it does get easier however ... it's just a term you come to live with ... and move on ... but the "miss" never goes away.

I worried more about my friend who spent her first Father's Day without her Dad yesterday than myself. The "firsts" are always the hardest. My heart goes out to her ... and my friend who has a very ill parent ... wondering if she celebrated her last Father's Day with him. I remember all these feelings my friends are going through ...

I read something at my Mother-in-law's house while I was there on Saturday ... I picked up a book and flipped through it ... I stopped on a page and it stuck out to me ... I read it and then read it again ... it spoke to me ... it simply said ...

"God does not comfort us to make us comfortable ... He does it to make us comforters".

wow!

A gentle reminder ... that all these trials and things I've been through, go through, going through ... are only to make me stronger and to help others ... so I can REALLY truly understand what someone else is going through ... we truly are HIS hands and feet ... He uses us to get His point across sometimes ... that He IS real and is really there, even when we think He's not or that no one is there for that matter ... He sends a special someone who truly understands and blesses us - a "comforter".

That's what we are supposed to do ... be comforters. It's SO much easier to understand someone who is going through something when you've been there yourself ... you actually KNOW HOW to sympathize. I know it's harder for me when I "try" to understand a friend who confides in me when in reality I don't have a clue what they're feeling and have to just say generic phrases to them that truly come from the heart but not from understanding.

Anyhoo ... at least there are some fringe benefits to our trials ... helping others at some point and time down the road.

In Honor ... Happy Father's Day 2008

happy day ... tammy

Happy Birthday Papaw!

The family met for a nice evening at Long Horn Steak House in Rivergate ... Happy Happy Birthday Papaw ... you are much loved!

happy day ... tammy

Letting Go ...

My heart is heavy today ...

I have a friend who is losing her Dad ...

and I also have a friend who is in the process of facing her "firsts" without her Dad.

... and my heart goes out to them today ...

I know "exactly" what both of them are facing at this very moment.

I know the "wait" of what one friend is enduring "not knowing" when he will slip away ...

and I know the "hurt" and "grief process" of what my other friend is going through today too ... one minute you're crying ... the next smiling because you remembered a special moment ... the next your angry with questions of "why" ... the next ... crying again. It's a crazy process.

Because I have been there ... I can be there ... for both of these friends of mine. I am totally sympathetic and feel so for them today.

I am praying a special peace for both of these situations today ... that only God can give ...

... totally - only Him.

respectfully ... tammy

Blogging Is Good For You!

I found this today and thought it very interesting ...

"Why blogging is good for you" ... click here

happy day ... tammy

Pause and Enjoy ...

In my "hurry" of the day ... trying to "get it all done" ... making everything just "so-so" as my mind would have it ... although it doesn't always turn out that way - still helps to have a plan in mind ... I paused "just for a very small moment" this morning ...

to take a picture!

I know ... "I don't take that many - so I have to squeeze them in when I can"

HA!

oh well ...

anyhoo ...

This morning ... I was running out the door - and saw my camera laying on the side table ... I turned and went back, put everything down in my hands ... grabbed my camera ... and asked LeAnna to "sit" for only ONE moment!

Just a moment ... I said ... it won't take but a second ... it's important ... to me ...

I must freeze this moment in time ... so when I'm not in a hurry, I can come back to this moment via this picture and reflect.

Yep ... this fast paced world we live in ... time is getting away from me ... us ... everyone ... it's CRAZY sometimes the way we live ... and I for one, don't take the "moments" that I should take to pause and enjoy!

I guess there is a lesson learned in just about everything we do ... either you try to "do it again" ...or you learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat it.

I am happy today, that I stopped, turned around ... and captured this moment ...

crazy as it sounds ... I know there will be a day, I will be so glad I took the time ...

and for a moment ... as I snapped this picture of my beautiful little girl ... I stopped, took a deep breath ... and soaked it all in ... you probably didn't notice it, but time stopped for just 10 seconds ... and then started back again ...

yep ... a moment ... frozen in time ... for me to enjoy later.

happy crazy day ... tammy

Just A Swingin' ...

yikes ... CRAZY day ... the "diabetic" part of my life anyway!

Last night my pump ran out of insulin and I was at church ... so ... high sugar last night .... then ... slow sugar at 4am ... then high sugar at 7am ... then low sugar at 12 noon! UGH! Yep ... sugars were "just a swinging" today! NOT a fun part of my life! And I guess it didn't help that I had a full busy day that contributed to all of that! OH well ...

back on track and all is well (for now) - ha!

sometimes ... you know ... you just ... well ... anyhoo ... sometimes ...

.... moving right along ...

So ... had breakfast with two lovely ladies from church ... very nice time ... at the Pfunky Griddle ... it was my turn to pick a place for our connect group and so ... we had a Pfunky good time! Then did a little shopping at Curious Heart ... very unique place and we all left with special treasures ... some bought, some - just new ideas ... =0) It was nice to spend time with one another, relax and get to know one another better.

LeAnna's adventure for tomorrow is the Bicentennial Mall ... however, it's supposed to be SO very hot tomorrow ... UGH! We might just be there long enough to eat lunch! I think it's a neat interesting place, but I'm afraid she's going to get bored ... first - I had to explain that it wasn't a "mall" where you shop ... then, had to explain that just because it's like a "park" doesn't mean they have a playground ... hmmm ... this is going to be very interesting!

Oh well ... it's beside Farmer's Market ... so I'm planning on picking up some fresh veggies and fruits! yum!

so surely something good will come out of it! I think at this point ... it's the simple fact that we're getting out of the house for a while and doing "something" this Summer!

happy day ... tammy

My Treasure ...

Sunday ... we had a service of honoring our graduates at church ... this included college, high school, and kindergarten. We honored 4 graduates ... there were 6, but the other two weren't able to attend.

It was very nice ... it was actually "one of those days" that I had waited for a very long time.

During LeAnna's open heart surgery time (3 years ago) ... I remember the kindergartners that were honored and I started anticipating LeAnna's "turn" then.

There were comments made about how "we probably wouldn't have enough pictures" for a powerpoint ... and we laughed about it ... knowing that I have like 5 million or maybe a few more ... but I refrained ... knowing that if I had used all I wanted to, I would also have had to provide popcorn and coke, because it would have been "home movie night" at that point!

anyhoo ...

we ended up with a 20 slide presentation ... I thought that was pretty good considering that I narrowed it WAY down ... ha!

the point being ... acknowledge, honor, and show support ... happy moments ...

and that's what it was!

The speakers, Daddy, Granny and Aunt Judy all did a wonderful job of honoring our little graduate ... THANKS so much!

I, however ... did not speak ... although, I had PLENTY to say ... and I spoke to LeAnna before and afterwards of how proud I was of her ...

I did not want to embarrass her or my"hormonal"self or anyone else there for that matter ... by getting up there and making a complete fool of myself ...

it was bad enough that I sat in the audience and cried the whole time.

not to mention the chain of events that led up to the service ...oh my ... not even going to talk about it ... it's not worth even thinking about all that happened again ...

so ...

mad at myself for NOT speaking ... because I would never want her to think that Mommy didn't want to or had nothing to say ... BUT I would have been even MORE mad at myself if I had of ... so I saved myself from feeling like a blubbering idiot!

anyhoo ... we've come a long way ... very long way ... to get to this special moment in time ... and I am MUCH appreciative of all the moments God has given us that have led up to now.

There was a time that I questioned if I would even have a LeAnna to dote over ... so I don't take any special "moments" in her life lightly AT ALL ... by no means ... however ... I wanted this evening to be special and "happy" ... and that's what it was ... thanks to me NOT speaking.

I do have lots to say ... and sometimes go off the "deep end" or so it would seem sometimes ... but ... I can't help how I feel about her ... and when you've been given a treasure, I would be a fool not to cherish my treasure ...

I have been reading so much lately of different ones losing their "treasures" ... oh my ... my heart goes out to these parents ... I sit and cry with them as I read their blogs ... I can't even imagine my treasure being taken away from me ... God would have to take me with her ... I don't think I could stand it.

I sit and pray for these people that I don't know ... that God will give them some sort of peace and understanding that can only come from Him ... because how can anyone understand your treasure being taken from you?!

I can't begin to understand ...

That's why I accentuate every moment with careful attention, knowing that moment could be one that "someone" looks back on fondly with remembrance.

you just never know ...

happy heavy heart day ... tammy