No Cavities ...

Evening ...

Today ... LeAnna was out of school ... "teacher in-service" day or something ... so she got to sleep in! Nice ...

However ... only for her! Not for me!

Princess had me up EARLY to go out to potty!

Oh well!

... And then I felt guilty for wanting to go back to bed ... so I didn't!

Today ... LeAnna had a dental appointment ... not a big deal ... other than she is supposed to take 3 doses of antibiotic one hour prior to her visit ... and the prescription had run out ... but the doctor finally called at about 9:30 this morning and all was well ...

So ...

We went to Walgreens to get the prescription ... and while we were waiting in line ... she starts asking questions ... and when LeAnna starts asking questions ... oh my ... you never know where the conversation is heading! So ... she starts inquiring about her medication ... wanting to know if it was the "pink" kind ... wanted to know if her chin was going to go numb ... etc ...

The last time we were at the dentist they numbed her real good for some fillings ... and she HATED that feeling ... she hated it so much that she rubbed what looked like a carpet burn spot on her chin, while the feeling was coming back that afternoon!

So ... lots of questions ...

Anyhoo ... I decided to be honest with her ... and explain that everytime she ever went to the dentist for the rest of her life ... she would always have to take an antibiotic due to having surgery that involved her mytral valve ... and that if she didn't take the antibiotic she was at a higher risk to develop endocarditis - a VERY hard to get rid of bacterial infection.

again ... more questions ... =)

But ... I got to thinking ... I'm not going to camouflage this ... plus, I've always been this way with her ... never tried to cover anything up ... and USUALLY she accepts it and is fine ... you can't just tell her "no", you have to tell her "why" ... =) She's always been that way ... and for the most part, once she gets the details, she's okay.

I remember as a child ... 8 years old ... I was admitted to Baptist Hospital for a period of two weeks and two days and my parents were told I was a diabetic ... one morning the nurse walks in and gives me a shot ... okay ... I put two and two together ... I'm in a hospital, you're supposed to get a shot ... right?! So, then EVERY morning they come in and gave me a shot ... never once telling me - "Look, you're a diabetic, your pancreas doesn't work, you have to take shots for the rest of your life, and you're probably going to have some complications" ... nope, not once, never, nada!

SO ... I had to FINALLY "get it" one day and realize that this is going to have to happen EVERYDAY!?!?!?!?

So, I'm very upfront with LeAnna ... just so she "knows" and is not surprised ...

Oh well ... all was well at the dentist appointment ... no cavities! and she was brushing well ... Yea!


Princess had an appointment at the beauty shop today ... she went in looking like a mop, and she came out looking more like a poodle! She is just 1/2 poodle and she looks somewhat like a poodle, but this cut they gave her, she REALLY looks like a poodle!

With all the "mop" gone, she looks like she has a dropped a little weight! ha! Oh well ... you know us girls, we always feel better with a little weight off ... and she's been prancing around - purple bows and all!


Okay ... going to turn in now ... I think! I really have SO much to do ... but ... oh well ... I will leave you with this to ponder ...

"A woodpecker can peck twenty times a second."

I know everyone will rest better after knowing that tidbit ...

tammy

Make It Count ...

Saturday Evening Post ... =)

Today we went to Indiana for a funeral ... most people don't refer to a funeral as being "good" ... but this was a very good funeral ... this man was loved by many and was SUCH a good man ... just hearing what his friends and family had to say about him ... just made you want to know him on a more personal level than you already did ...

I wept, several times ... just "knowing" what it feels like to lose a Dad ... what it feels like to lose a grandfather ... what it feels like to lose a friend ...

Wow ... hate to say "been there done that" ...

... but I have.

Like I said ... it was such a good funeral service ... and when you've lived that kind of life, and have had that kind of impact on so many people ... it just makes you feel good!

My heart is heavy for the family ... the day of the funeral ... after all is said and done ... you are just so totally exhausted that you can't even hardly remember your head hitting the pillow ...

... but it's the next few days and weeks ahead when it all really starts sinking in ...

... and my heart is heavy for each of them.

I'm sure most of you know my situation with my Dad's side of the family ... and I think of it often ... and everytime I do ... I still get that weird feeling that I've been coping with since November ...

My grandparents had 4 children ... a son (my dad), twin daughters (14 months later) and a "surprise baby" YEARS later that died at birth.

My dad was the only child who had children ... so I was the only child, grandchild, niece ... etc ... imagine ... ha, okay enough ...

anyhoo ...

The WHOLE family has passed away ... and it happened within a 14 year period. LeAnna and myself are the only "limbs" of that tree that are left!

So ... yes ... I understand "loss", "death" ...

death, not a fun word ... actually, funerals are very hard for me ... seeing my whole family die in such a short time frame (mind you - the family I spent the most time with as a child)

gone ... poof! Adios! the whole stinkin' family! Doesn't make sense to me some days ... but hey, I'm realizing more and more everyday, this is LIFE!

So, for me ... days like this are "reflection days" ...

good and bad ...

Get ready ... my next statement is going to seem SO profound ...

but ... "death is so final!" ...

SO final ... in the fact that with some family members ... I sometimes wonder if I said everything I should have said prior to their death ...

And then ... the thought of "what do you say" ... final words ... last thing they will hear from you ... did it make sense? did it count? was it worth even wasting you breath?

AAAHHHH .... yes, I've had these thoughts ... so think about it ... if you we're given the name of a person in your life and was told they were going to die and you had one last thing to say to them ... what would it be? Yep, ponder that awhile! Not easy, never easy!

BUT, because of all the deaths we've had ... it makes you a little more cautious about what you do say when you leave them ... what if it's the last time you ever spoke to them? Would that little "spiff" you had "really matter" ... in the grand scheme of things, probably not.

Don't really know why I'm sharing all of this ... but maybe it will help someone reading this ...

Make every moment count with those you love ... take EVERY opportunity to make a good impression or say something positive ... never leave anything left "unsaid" ... trust me ... you WILL regret it if you never get the opportunity to say it to that person. Been there, done that too!

There's nothing worse than thinking, "man, I should have said this, or that, or done this or that, etc."

Regret ... another word that's not fun! We all have it at some point in our lives ...

I'm just more aware of it now ...

Whew ... okay ... heavy ...

On a lighter note ...

We were in the van on our way to the funeral today ... and I found a picture of LeAnna from when she was a baby ... "somehow" it was in the van ... maybe from the move? Who knows ... anyhoo ... I'm looking at this picture ... and she's laying there, looking at the camera, aproximately 6 months old ... and she has sponge rollers in her hair! We were oo'ing and ah'ing ... when I happened to look down at the bottom right corner ... it was todays date, exactly five years ago! Ha! Then ... I turned around and looked at LeAnna ... she's standing there looking at the picture and she has hot stix in her hair! Oh My Goodness ... a "moment" for me and I don't have my silly camera! ha! ... it was almost as if she were looking into a mirror and seeing what she would look like five years from that day ... or vice/versa ... looking into a mirror and seeing herself five years prior! Yep ... a moment ...




I have a client tomorrow that I have to get ready for ... so ...

happy Saturday evening, tammy

"Do Not Open Until April 27th" ...

We had Christmas tonight ...

Four months and two days ... Nate has been waiting to use a Christmas gift I gave him ...

Chris Botti tickets at the Sympony Hall ...

WOW!!! What an evening ... it was so nice ... an incredible evening of Jazz music ...

Chris Botti is a trumpeter ... And he is phenominal ...

And the drum player ... WOW!!!! I think he was my favorite ... Billy Kilson ... Wow!!!! So good ...

The Hall was absolutely stunning ... so nice ...

Did I mention it was a very nice evening?! =)

We went to dinner before at Bricktops ... and then to the concert ...

Very relaxing evening ...

Did I mention it was such a nice evening?!

OKAY ... ENOUGH ALREADY ... right?!

I can say ... "been there, done that ... got the t-shirt" (literally) ha!

Busy day ... got my van back ... it has been in the shop being repaired ... (4 weeks now) was SO ready to get it back ...

Tomorrow we're heading to Indiana ... a dear friend of ours father passed away ... bless his heart ... such a sweet man ... he will be SO missed!

Merry Christmas Nate ...

Happy Friday/Saturday ...
tammy

Positively Delicious!

Good Afternoon ...

Okay ... so ...

This morning ... I ran to the grocery store after dropping LeAnna off at school.

I wasn't really rushed, although "lots" on the agenda today ...

I took my time, browsing the isles ... being a little more "choosy" for my few items I needed.

I got to the register ...

waited in line ...

THEN ... finally, it was my turn ...

The lady checking me out ... had a bright cheery smile ... and seemed eager to make conversation ... although ... it was as if she didn't really know what to say ...

SO ... she started making comments about my food "choices" ...

For example ... she said ... "Oh, cake mix ... I'm going to buy me some cake mix ... it's a great weekend for cake" ...

Okay ... is there something I need to know ... like ... is there a certain temperature ... the perfect weather, etc., for making a cake?!

Anyhoo ... then she proceeds to add ... that she doesn't put icing on her cake ... just eats cake!

Cool ...

Okay ... nice

So ... then ... she eyes my choice of "dog bones" ... (I picked up something new for Princess - flavorful, all-natural, organic, veggies and beef bone ... or something ...)

Anyhoo ... she scans it says ... "Oh, I buy these for my dog" ...

THEN ... she says, "They are DELICIOUS" ... all the while, rolling her eyes back and acting as if she could taste it ...

I looked at her and I said, "really?!"

Then I busted out laughing right in her face ... she was a bit taken back and then she realized what she had said ... and said, "I mean ... that's what she told me" (she meaning her dog) ...

AGAIN, I said, "really?!"

Now ... blushing, she said ... "I mean ... well ... (stammering around) uh, when I give them to her, she goes under the chair and doesn't come out until it's gone."

By this time, the bag boy is laughing at her ... and we all stood there and laughed together ... knowing she had just really had one of those "moments" ...

BUT ... in her "endeavour" to make me (the customer) smile today ... she TOTALLY succeeded ...

Because you know what? She reminded me of "me!"

... SOMETIMES in trying to make someone smile, I have done the same thing ... oh well ...

ha! made me laugh ... and if this world needs anything, it is a "positive" instead of a negative ...

So she made a difference today ... she made an effort ... she decided that she was going to have an effect today on someone ... a positive effect ... and it worked!

In her "decision" to be positive and nice today, obviously it worked ... why? Because it had an effect on me, enough so, that I'm sharing it with you!

Just a SMALL reminder ... that you never know what you're going to say, act, or do that has "some kind" of effect on them, whether good or bad ... and it might as well be Positive!


FYI ... My "Get Clean" tip for the day ... Did you know that you can dust with Basic H? Two drops of Basic H mixed in 16oz of water in a spray bottle ... (which lasts for awhile) can be sprayed on the furniture you normally spray "Pledge" (I'm a Pledge fanatic) ... wipe off with a microfiber cloth ... it will cut your dusting duty drastically ... it not only "dusts well" ... it also has a type of anti-static substance in it that actually repels the dust, meaning, you don't have to dust as often!

WOW !!! The many uses of Basic H ... LOVE IT!


Happy Thursday,
tammy

Get Clean ...

Good Afternoon ....

After "Earth Day" this last Sunday ... AND a GREAT plug for Get Clean products (by Shaklee) on Oprah last Friday ... thought I would share this with you ...

I hosted a Get Clean party in my home about a month ago ... LOVE these products!!!!!

And if you ever start using them - you will too!

Mainly because, #1 - they work!

and #2 - they are non-toxic and TOTALLY safe around my LeAnna!

She LOVES to help Mommy out around the house ... in the past - she would say, "Oh, please let me spray, please let me help, etc." ... and I would have to say no ...

NOW - she can help!

LOVE, Love, love these products ...

If you're interested at all ... if you know about the Get Clean products, or want to know more about them ... give me a shout ... you can email me (tammybat@comcast.net) ... and I will give you some more info!

The Basic G - I am MOST excited about! It's a non-toxic, SAFE germicide!!!!!!! Wow! AND it kills a page full of viruses, infections, etc., and stays on the surface you spray it on for 3 DAYS! - Vs Bleach, which stays only 1 hour on a surface!!!! WOW! That sells me right there!!!!!

The Basic H2 ... wow! A MILLION different uses ... I have 4 pages of print out with uses for the Get Clean products ...

Basic H2 on your windows!!!! NEVER been cleaner, streak-free, etc.! SUCH a major difference! AND ... it's only 2 drops of this stuff in 16 oz. of water .... CRAZY ... just doesn't make sense ... BUT works SO well!

Can you tell I'm sold on it?!

PLUS ... Basic H2, fully concentrated ... can be rubbed on your arms, legs, etc. (any exposed areas) when you go outside (especially the kiddos) and you will not get bitten by the little pesty pests out there! =)

There are SO many uses for this stuff and I am so sold on it! You can't even imagine ... you can even take a bath with it and you won't have a ring around the tub! ha! AMAZING STUFF!

Hey ... even Oprah uses it! =)

Let me know if you have questions ... be more than glad to answer any questions ...

There's a special right now on some of the products mentioned on the Oprah show ... if anyone is interested ...

This morning was Teacher Appreciation Day at school ... the parents got together and took food for all the staff and set it up for them to eat on today ... SO much food! Great turn out! The kids ... bless their hearts ... couldn't understand why they couldn't "partake" ... =)

Then the Clay Lady showed up ... and they made pottery for the Mommies for Mother's Day ... =)

I also took some pictures today of the class and each individual student for an "end of the year" project ...

Busy, busy day ...

Have a happy Wednesday ...
tammy

My Happy ...

My delight ...

my joy ...

my glee ...

my happy ...

That's what I feel when I look deep into these chocolate brown eyes!

They are so pure and chocolate looking, that they remind me of a china doll's eyes, that have been painted on, the way they shine and glisten.

I snapped some pictures of LeAnna this morning before we left for church ... I love natural lighting and I love the way the sun pours in through the windows in our family room on a bright sunny morning ...

Thank you LeAnna for little reminders of God's miracle of life that I see in you ...

Sure makes me smile ...

Try to find a "happy" in your life today and then thank God for the beauty of it in your life.

Some days ... it's these little "happies" that keep us going ...

Happy Sunday,

tammy

Bunny Love ...

Good Late Night / Early Morning ...

Today (Saturday) was a nice, pleasant day ...

We woke up and had breakfast (that Nate prepared) ...

Did some laundry ...

Straightened the house ...

Went to lunch ...

Had a client at 3:30pm ...

Went to the mall ...

Had dinner with friends ...

Had a nice day ...

Nate and LeAnna accompanied me this afternoon to photograph a client ...

The client brought along a baby bunny rabbit ... how sweet is that?!

LeAnna fell in love! And carried the bunny around the whole time!

We've thought about getting her a bunny ... but I'm afraid that Princess might have Easter Dinner!

Yikes!

Oh well ... the mmerrrrr ...mmmeeeewwww talk .... on Thursday ... was a "surprise 40th birthday party" for my friend Regina ... her husband has been planning this event since January ... and used me as an accomplice! She is a Pampered Chef Rep ... and I agreed to have a show ... she mailed out 21 invitations to "my show" and I turned around, called them all and canceled! So ... on Thursday afternoon ... we waited until she left her home, on her way to my home ... then I called and gave her the sob story (literally) about a family crisis that had come up and that I was going to have to cancel ... I had her feeling so sorry for me, that she even told me she loved me! ha! Afterwards ... LeAnna and I got in the car and drove to the restaurant to her surprise party! ... she told me later that she even had special prayer for my family! hahahahahaahah! It was too funny ... and I was just happy to help make it happen!

...........................................................

I think I'm ready to lay this body down ... whew! Tired ...

Happy Evening ... tammy

Flutterby's and Capatillers ...

Good Afternoon ...

Today was LeAnna's "snack day" for her B.I.P. week ...

We made caterpillar and butterfly cupcakes ...

I stayed this morning for snack time and took some pictures ... the kids were SO excited! And when they saw me take out the camera they were all posing and asking for their picture! It was too funny ... so here's a few ...

LeAnna and I have been calling them "Flutterby's and Capatillers" this week ... we even made up a song about them ... =)

I love having these opportunities ... you know ... the ones that I always dreamed about having ... and for a while ... it seemed EVERY mother on earth was having these opportunities except for me ...

SO ... enjoying myself ... and NOT taking for granted moments like these ...

Yes ... spent all afternoon yesterday, baking, icing and decorating ... BUT ... in the grand scheme of things ... it was such a small effort towards an awesome memory that we'll have together.

Happy Friday ... tammy

Imaginary Bees and the Paper Boy ...

Good Morning ...

So ... this morning ... EARLY ... WEE Hours of the morning ... we wake up and LeAnna is laying in the middle of the bed with us ... Nathan asked her what was wrong ...

she hem-haw's around and then says ...

"There was an imaginary bee buzzing in my room and it landed on my knee" ...

So then she asked him to take her back to her room ... and then wanted him to sleep with her ...

I guess the "imaginary bee" might come back ... =)

ha!

THEN ... when leaving for school ... we were pulling out of the driveway ... and LeAnna notices the paper laying in the driveway ... (I ordered the paper because of a "special" they offered ... I thought it was only for weekend ... but apparently I ordered it for everyday) ...

So ... she says ...

"hmmm ... we have mail in the driveway" ...

I said ... "no baby ... that's the newspaper" ...

then she says ... "I guess the little boy on the bike doesn't come to Nana's house" ...

I was like ... "WHAT?!?!?!?"

Then I realized what she was talking about ...

ha!

And I said ... (laughing VERY loud) ... "they don't deliver the paper on bikes anymore ... they use their cars now"

hahahahah!

Several kid movies she has seen ... shows the "quaint little, perfect town", with the perfectly blue sky, and manicured green lawn, and the little boy with the backward baseball cap, white t-shirt and blue jeans, riding on his bike, making his morning deliveries ... swirling the paper through the air ... the paper landing either in a bush or on the roof ... "typical, same scenario each time" ...

Anyhoo ...

"We paint the picture ... everyday ... right?!"

They only know and perceive what we teach them, show them, tell them ...

If we could only stop and think before EVERYTHING we said or did ... tough job being a "parent"!


Since this is LeAnna's B.I.P. week (Beary Important Person) ... we are taking snacks to school tomorrow ...

So this afternoon ... we are making Cupcakes with Caterpillars and Butterflies on top!

We'll post some pictures tomorrow ...

Lots on the agenda today ... another one of those "mmm-erew-mmmm-eeee" days ... I could possibly fill you in tomorrow about this one ... =)

So ... happy Thursday ... tammy

Starbucks Anyone?

Good Afternoon ...

Okay ... someone is really bored to sit around and come up with stuff like this ...

How about some Starbucks

1. CLICK ON THE LINK (COFFEE MACHINE BELOW)
2. PUT THE COIN IN THE VENDING MACHINE
3. CHOOSE YOUR DRINK
4. CLICK ON THE CUP WHEN IT IS READY
5 CLICK ON "APRI" ENJOY!
Don't forget to click on "APRI" in the last box !!!

COFFEE MACHINE



Lovely huh?!

Happy Wednesday ... tammy

A Piece of Peace Please ...

Good Morning ...

Better today ...

Knew it would be ... =)


There are just some things better left unsaid ...

I have this cute little pillow I purchased ... that reads ... "A closed mouth, gathers no foot"

ha!

SO true!


Anyhoo ...

Hating this "Monday Massacre" that took place at Virginia Tech! Just completely horrible!!! I've been reading about it, watching interviews on line, etc ... I just can't imagine ... and my heart is going out to those parents ... the one's who lost a child and also the parents who for hours, sat wondering if one of the 11,000 people on campus yesterday belonged to them! ... oh my goodness ... and it's the worst in U.S. History!

What in the world?!

What was this "Cho" boy thinking?! Obviously he "wasn't"! But, what would drive this boy to do such a thing?! What is this world coming to?

Just horrible!


God bless these families affected ...

"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace." - Psalms 29:11

Happy Tuesday ... tammy

Monday Bites ...

Evening ...

Mmm-rrr- mmm-rrr... (mouth and lips moving) eeee-rrr ... eeee -mmmm ... (without saying a word) ...


That would be me ... biting my tongue today ...

Yep ...

Sure can't blog about it! ha!

So ... Anyhoo ...

It's a Monday!

Better day Tuesday ... right?!

Good Evening ... tammy

The B.I.P. Girl ...

Good Afternoon ...

Last night was LeAnna's "Spring Show" at school ... they performed a few songs and then they had a magic show ... popcorn and lemonaid. We got to tour their rooms to see what they've been up to this year!


This next week happens to be LeAnna's turn to be B.I.P. (Beary Important Person) ... which means ... they do a board all about them with pictures and info ... and they also get to share a special snack one day during the week. So the board was done early and was up last night ...


The theme next week is caterpillars and butterflies ... so we're going to make some treats that go along with the theme .... =)

Kaitlyn and her family came to see LeAnna last night - she was so excited that someone was coming to see her sing ... LeAnna was so excited to show Kaitlyn her room ... they had a blast!



It's supposed to rain ALL weekend!!! eek! ... next weekend is supposed to be SUNNY and between 70's-80's!!!! Yea!!!! I have to keep up with the weather for clients! Had to cancel one due to rain this weekend and reschedule for next weekend!

We had tile work done in our kitchen this week ... it should be complete this weekend! Excited to see it finished! Slowly but surely - getting things done ... =)


Happy Friday ... tammy

Happy Anniversary LeAnna!

Good Afternoon ...

LeAnna woke up this morning and said ...

"Today is my Anniversary!"

I never thought of it that way ... so it took me by surprise ...

But ... two years ago today, she had Open Heart Surgery.

We are SO thankful and blessed that she is doing so well. She is healthy and her scar is just slightly raised ... just a "reminder" that all is well now.

I have not told anyone this ... and didn't even tell Nathan until today ... I wanted to surprise LeAnna today and didn't get it done in time ...

But I wrote a book ... just a small children's type book ... I've been wanting to do it for a long time ... and finally just did it! It's all about her open heart surgery.

It's titled ... The Open Window.

Renee had found a place on line that will print books for you and emailed me the info ... I started looking into it ... and actually started a book for my blog. I've got the whole first year now in a book. So I started thinking ... I could put "my little book" into print as well .. so that's what I'm doing.

I'm excited to get it in print ... just for her to have. Was really disappointed in myself that I didn't have it to give to her "today" ... on her "anniversary" ... =) But you know ... I've had SO much time on my hands lately ... ha!

Anyhoo ...

Just SO thankful today for a healthy, happy 5 1/2 year old (which was official yesterday) ... yesterday, the 11th, she was 5 1/2.

So ... much to recall today ... I can't even begin to explain to you what I was feeling two years ago today ... It was very surreal ... almost as if we were just watching a movie that day "of us" ... I remember going through the motions that day ... but it was almost like we floated through the day ... I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was the prayers of our family and friends that carried us that day. Because if I stopped and actually thought about what they were REALLY doing to her in surgery ... it was about more than I could handle. Even now, it's hard for me to think about it.

Thankful that what was once an "open window" ... is now closed.

Happy Thursday to my "Thursday's Child" (day of the week she was born) ...

tammy

Do I Have A Confection?

Good Evening/Morning!

Just a few thoughts from this VERY long day ...

First ... It's been SO busy today ... WOW! Lots going on ...

But as I finish out this late night ... editing this evening ... I recall a couple of cute things my LeAnna bug has said over the last couple of days ... and have to smile ...

... Sunday ... after the Drama ... we had communion ... "normally" the piano/keyboard sits on the stage ... but due to the Drama ... the piano/keyboard was sitting on the floor beside the first pew on the right side ... So ... during communion, LeAnna goes over and stands by her Daddy who is playing ... after the ushers pass around the communion plates .... she leans over to Nate and says, "Daddy, I want some crackers and juice too"! ha! Guess her breakfast had worn off ....

... then ... later at Nana's ... she complained of her ear hurting ... she says to Nana ... "Nana, my ear hurts, do you think I have a confection?" ... ha!

... THEN ... today ... driving home from an errand ... she says ... "Mom, if someone gets shot with a gun, do they die and go to Heaven?" ... (oh my ... where in the world did that come from?!) ... so I said ... "Well, it depends if they're saved and know Jesus" ... so she sits there a minute and then says ... "Well, what if they don't know Jesus?" ... I said, well, then I guess they go down there (and I point down) ...

... so later I was telling her Daddy about our little conversation earlier ... she just so happens to have been born with "whisper 2000" ... she overhears the conversation and when I got to the last part about her wanting to know what happens if someone is shot with a gun and doesn't know Jesus ... from somewhere in the house she shouts out "they go to hell!"

Oh My Goodness ... thought I would die then! ha!

Yikes!

There were several other things she said today ... but at the moment I can't get past the last comment I shared with you! ha! Oh well ... probably wouldn't top it anyway ...

Happy Tuesday Evening ... Going to try and find my way to bed now ... =)

tammy

Good Morning ...

Another Easter, come and gone ...

Our Drama at church went well ... it was very moving!

LeAnna had one little part - didn't think she was going to do it at first!

At practice/dress rehearsal on Friday evening ... it came time for her to walk up on stage ... and the "smoke machine" started doing it's thing ... ha! She made it to the stage, and then turned around and went back to her seat!

I went over to her ... she associated the "fake fog" with smoke ... which she associates with fire ... and she doesn't do well around either one!

SOOO ... after explaining what a smoke machine was ... and that it was "pretend" - not real ... and no fire would start from it ... she said she would particpate.

So Saturday evening I was a little worried, but she did just fine. Black velvet outfit and all! hahahaahah!

She had to wear solid black from head to toe, so when they turned out the lights, all you would be able to see was the battery operated candle they had in their hands!

For a month now I've been saying - "I can't believe my child is wearing all black on Easter Sunday - and VELVET at that!" ... the only thing she had solid black was velvet, and I wasn't going to go out and buy something new for "two minutes of fame"! ha!

Ended up ... SHE NEEDED THE VELVET! It was SOOOOO Cold!!!!!!

So it all worked out ... black and all! =)

Nashville had a record high temp last weekend and record low temp this weekend!

CRAZY weather!

LeAnna's not feeling well today ... trying to decide if she's "really sick" or if it's just her allergies acting up ... we were in the wind/cold this weekend ... who knows! We're doing Triaminic and Benedryl ... we'll see!

LeAnna was excited to wake up yesterday morning and find "The Easter Potato Head Family" on the front porch! We didn't do candy ... Nana and Granny did candy and then we had an Egg Hunt yesterday afternoon ... where she got plenty of candy without "the Easter Bunny" adding to it yesterday morning! ha!

It's a Monday (again!) ... gotta get at it ...

Happy Day ... tammy

Opportunity ...

Good Afternoon ...

It's Good Friday ...

At first thought - I thought "why would they call it Good Friday" ... when they crucified Jesus on this day.

But after thinking more about it today ... this was something that had to happen - so that we would have opportunity for redemption, opportunity for life everlasting ...

Thank God for "opportunity"!

So ... I guess ... it is "Good" Friday ...

I guess it's all about perspective for me today ... because when I put it into the proper perspective, it's then easy for me to say "Good Friday", because to me ... the crucifixion is the most horrible, nasty, disgusting thing that could ever happen to anyone! The story of the crucifixion seems so "bible story" (which it is) ... but like reading it in a book, etc ... that might be hard for some people to believe ... when in fact ... this event actually happened! And it happend for you and for me!

Wow! Amazing!

What an opportunity ... an opportunity that so many people choose to ignore or even realize!

My hope today ... is that you have recognized "your opportunity" in what Christ did for YOU!

Happy Good Friday ... tammy

Week At A Glance ...

Good Morning ...

Busy week this week ...

Monday - had a wreck
Tuesday - had a party
Wednesday - had an anniversary
Today - don't know what I'm having yet ... hopefully, nothing major! ha!

And to recap ...

Monday's wreck ... hit by a girl, very young, not her car, no insurance ... thankfully, no one was hurt (other than me being VERY sore) and her vehicle was fine ... mine - not driveable ... BUT, the good thing is ... shouldn't be too much to repair it.

Tuesday's party ... it was a Get Clean party ... had a pretty good turn out ... great products ... had a great time ... an old friend of mine from elementary school came ... WOW! That was neat ... the rep from Shaklee gave several demonstrations of the products ... very impressive ... she also did her "own" little experiment ... she went to McDonalds in 1998 (yep - 8 years ago) and purchased a hamburger and fries ... left it in the bag, put in in a plastic box in the trunk of her car ... wanted to see "what it would do" ... she showed us (8 years later mind you) what it looked like .... AAHHHHH - it was still in tact ... the WHOLE burger, bun and french fries ... if you shellacked it, it would make great play food for kids! ha! Unbelievable experiment ... in other words ... not much nutritious value there ... and think what it does in the body! AAHAHHH!

Wednesday - our 15th Wedding Anniversary ... I got 15 red roses delivered to the house (LeAnna saw them sitting on the front porch and didn't come tell me) I just happend to be walking into the foyer and saw them through the side window panel. She was like, oh yeah - saw those a while ago! ... I also got a certificate for a 1/2 day at Escape Day Spa! Wow! Can't wait to utilize that! That might have to happen like ... tomorrow! ha! ... we had reservations at Flemmings last night ... the food was SO good! Oh my ... the bill was SO large! ha! Wow! Thank God Anniversaries are once a year - we might be doing "McDonalds" if they were any closer together! NOT!!! ha! I usually eat steak about once a year and last night was my night! ha! I'm a chicken kind of person ... anyhoo.

Also - yesterday ... was Princess' one year anniversary with us ... Princess was my anniversary gift last year ... so she has been lovingly referred to as the "love dog" ... =)

She went to the beauty shop yesterday ... got her hair done, her nails done ... Nate picked her up and brought her home ... he forgot to remind them to put bows in her hair ... I like bows in her hair, because besides her collar, it's the only color on her! ha! I thought about dying her brown, just so we could see her eyes! =)


Today - working ... then this afternoon, going to a fellow photographer friends studio ... we have purchased some new DVD's that we're going to be watching together ... we opted out of a pretty big seminar in town due to conflicts in schedules and decided to order the DVD's ... fun!


LeAnna has her big Egg Hunt at school today ... however, the candy will probably have to be heated up in the microwave before partaking! ha! It's SO crazy weather right now! Three days ago, we're dying because it's 89 degrees!!!! Today ... well ... let's just say, when we came home from dinner last night ... my Mom had little tents over all the flowers! ha! Only supposed to get up to like 59 or so today! Yikes!


And last, but not least ... today would have been my Mama Neely's 97th birthday ... we all miss her so much ... just knowing she's not here, sending up those daily prayers for us ... writing those special poems, making those special heirlooms to pass down to her family ... what a lady ...

Happy Birthday Mama Neely.


Gotta get busy ... Happy Thursday ... tammy

Easter Duds ...

It's Sunday ... April 1st !!!

And no one played an April Fool Joke on me today! =)

Today was "Easter" for us ... as far as Easter dresses ...

Next Weekend we have a play at our church called "What Sin?" ... on Saturday evening and Sunday morning at 10am if anyone is interested ...

LeAnna is in the program and has to wear ALL black!

SO ... since her Easter outfit is definitely not black ... we wore Easter outfits today and took pictures as if it were Easter Sunday! =) Gotta have the memory! right?!

Anyhoo ... Her Nana had bought her 3 new Strausberg dresses for Christmas and she had a choice of pink, purple or aqua blue ... she chose the blue ... which really worked out great ... because we all matched today ...

I have fond memories as a child ... my Mom always made sure I had a new dress for Easter ... it's a special memory that I like to recall ... you know ... new purse, new white shoes, springy type of dress, etc ... and sometimes I would get a flower to wear on Easter Sunday morning from my Dad ... My Mom always made sure she had the means to get me a new dress, even if she wore something old ...

And even today ... she makes a WHOLE lot more money now than she used to make back then ... and she still loves buying an Easter dress ... only now it's for LeAnna bug ... =)

So ... I'm having a "Get Clean" party this Tuesday evening ... anyone interested - let me know and I'll give you more info ...

So ... since I'm having this party ... I'm in a bit of a panic to get my new house in order ... first time anyone has seen it ... you know ... want everything to be just perfect ...

WELL ... ah ... no ... not going to be perfect ... still "tweaking" things around here ...

PLUS ... we have more renovating we're going to be doing in the next few weeks ... so everything will not be perfect ... drives me crazy ... but hey ... oh well.

So ... yes ... tired ... very long day ... and had some sugar issues this weekend which makes me even more tired than usual ... I think I'm heading off to bed now ...

Happy Sunday ... tammy

Wisteria Lane? ...

Good Afternoon ...

This week has flown by ... wow! Just about as fast March did!

I had to take another picture of the side yard ... the wisteria ... oh my ... loving it ...

It is SO pretty ... "thanks" previous home owners!!! =)

It's SO much of it!!!! As you can see it's getting on the roof and starting to grow up into the house ... got to take care of that FAST!

Wow!

LeAnna got a card in the mail this week from cousin Nena in Florida ... she sent along one of Mama Neely's poems ...

Thought it was appropriate ...

We miss her so much ....

LeAnna teared up the other day ... saying ... "I miss Mama Neely" ....

I do too ... it was SO encouraging to get a card in the mail VERY often ... with a word of encouragement or a poem written "just for me"!

Makes you feel sort of special!

She sent stuff to LeAnna ALL the time ... we have them all ... I know she will treasure them in years to come ...

Happy Spring Friday Day ... tammy

Spring

The cold winds blow

And bring the snow

And winter's frigid blast

At last is gone and rushing in

It's spring again at last.

Mild flowers growing

Renewed life showing

In carpets of green on the hill

How beautiful the picture

A time for adventure,

God is in charge of things.

Mama Neely