Cookie Swap ...

Okay ... so ... yesterday was such a nice surprise ... 74 degrees and not raining!!!

love it!

Even though I didn't get to go outside and play yesterday ... I admired "outside" from my kitchen window ...

AND ...

the tree you see out the window in the picture below ... is my favorite tree that we have! I have admired this tree for years from my Mom's house ... I was so happy to gain this tree when we purchased the house ...

however ...

this tree ... sits right in front of our driveway, next to my Mom's house ... AND some of the branches have decided to take a break and relax on my Mom's roof!

Not good ...

So ... she hired someone to come look at the tree ...

Yesterday, while in the kitchen cooking ... I heard a large sound in my driveway ... Mr. Tree Man had a mean piece of machinery and was CUTTING DOWN PARTS OF MY TREE!

OH my ... I was SO disappointed!!! BUT ... parts of it were dying and the other "relaxing parts" needed to be removed from Mom's roof ...

so ... very sad ...

BUT ... Mr. Tree Man PROMISED that it would grow back even prettier ...

I sure hope so ...

Sure like my tree!

I had to take a picture ... at this moment, I was standing there admiring my tree out the window and thought ... "I need a picture" ... thus the picture ...

The colors are so yummy! AND still flipping out that it's this pretty in December ... it was SO green in October and even November!

So yep ... enjoyed "my tree" on a rare warm day in December ...

Yesterday was my annual Cookie Exchange Party ... I didn't have it last year ... so this year made my 5th ... it has always been so much fun ...

We had a great time last night ... lots of cookies to taste and all so good!

Silly me ... had in mind to do some pics of the party and was so busy "hostessing" that it slipped my mind until my guests started leaving ... oh well ... I got a few pics ... but not what I really wanted ...

Here's what I chose to make ...

"Oatmeal Scotchies"

very good ... very different ... very interesting ...

Nate really liked them ... and that's a lot of "matter" in this household!

Here's my recipe ... if anyone would like to try them ...

"Oatmeal Scotchies"

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 cup butterscotch baking chips

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix thoroughly the sugars, oats, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda and salt.

Add 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1 beaten egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix until completely blended. Add butterscotch chips.

Form 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet

Bake at 350 degrees until edges are lightly browned, about 10-12 minutes.
Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

(important to remember - as SOON as you see brown edges be prepared to remove them ... if they get too done, they're not good! Soft is better.)

The exchange was voted on by secret ballot ... we had first place prizes for:

* Best Tasting

* Best Presentation

* Most Original

Here were the winners ...

Best Tasting - Allison Barlar for Chocolate Ginger Hugs

Best Presentation - Renee Camacho for Praline Snickerdoodles

Most Original - Joy Young for Chocolate Candy Canes

Everyone did a great job ... we had a lot of fun!

Everyone left with a little holiday token thank you for coming prize ...

This evening we have our Christmas Dinner at church ... so more cooking today ... yea! Busy, busy ... it makes the holidays fun ...

Happy Days ... tammy

Humoring Myself ...

If I even tried to describe my day ... you would probably not believe me and say that it was all made up! I'm trying to tell myself this ... so hopefully, in a bit I'll believe it myself! From the moment my feet hit the floor ... all day long ... even up until my grocery store experience! My day was just indescribable ...

so ... I decided to humor myself ... and humor all of you at the same time!

hee - hee ... click on the following link ... enjoy!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1294986870

happy days ... tammy

Secure ...

Tonight I had a "moment" ...

We went to a Christmas program at DJ and Karla's church tonight ... very good by the way ... it was called "The Elevator" ... very moving ...

Anyhoo ... afterwards we went to dinner and then home ... LeAnna was asleep when we arrived home and Nathan took her to her room and put her in "her" bed.

She hadn't been there two minutes when she came into the kitchen ... all upset ... she wasn't really making sense ... I kept asking her "what?" over and over ... finally I realized - duh, Tammy - she's half asleep ... but I started understanding what she wanted ... so I took her back upstairs and tucked her back in ...

She was scared.

All alone.

Upstairs by herself.

She said ... "please, will you lay down with me? Just until I fall asleep and then you can leave."

I agreed, although my "thoughts" were ... I have SO MUCH to do before I can go to bed ... I've worked on the Christmas Program all day today and had pictures to edit too ... (thus the reason it's 2:30am and I'm still working) ... knowing I still had to finish all of this before I could lay my head on my pillow and actually go to sleep!

I laid there ... listening ... her breathing was heavy for a bit from where she was so upset ... so I put my arm around her and pulled her close ... thinking, "go to sleep - I've got so much to do" ... but the longer I laid there ... I realized ...

I'm doing the most important thing right now ... over and above ANYTHING else on my agenda for the rest of the evening ...

Nothing else matters at this moment, except me laying here ... holding my baby girl ... being her "security" even if it is only until she falls asleep ...

So I laid there ... thinking ... basking actually ... in the moment ... realizing once again ... for moments like these ... I cried many a night ... praying ... literally begging God at times ... for my very own baby to love, help feel secure ... hold in the middle of the night when she was scared ... and to think that I would actually be "so busy" that I was wishing those precious moments away! How dumb of me! And all those times I "said" ... "I would never take my baby girl for granted" ...

yep ... big reality check moment for this long awaited to be Mommy!

So I laid there a little longer than necessary ... just holding her ... and basking ...

Thanks again God for my "promise" that came to me in the form of LeAnna. Even though my promise took longer than I thought necessary, I just didn't see "the end" and that it really was perfect timing. Help me to never take her for granted in any form or fashion ... or any of my family members for that matter. Because I've quickly learned over the last few years ... that there is a season that includes every living thing ... and how quickly things change and people fade away, and sooner than not into eternity. You are perfect and I'm so grateful for your perfection in Your Will in my life ... amen

happy daze (at this point) ... tammy

"My Worst Day Ever"

Today ... LeAnna had her first field trip ... that I had forgotten about until I was reminded yesterday when I took LeAnna to school. We paid for our admission tickets over a month ago and it completely slipped my mind.

She was so excited and could hardly wait to load onto that big old bus that she's wanted to ride "her whole life"!

Riding a school bus has been a discussion we've had for about 3 years now - and today ... it happened!

The field trip was to Grinch on Ice at Opryland ...

I decided to drive and meet them there ... also realizing yesterday ... that LeAnna had her annual check-up at the Cardiologist this afternoon.

So ...

Nathan woke me up EARLY this morning ... and said ...

"you have to take LeAnna to school again today"!

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

Not in the plan ... but had to make it part of the plan ... anyhoo ... we were up and out the door ... ON TIME ... thank goodness ...

So ...

got me some breakfast and met the group at Opryland at 10:00 a.m. ... got in line ... got assigned 3 children (which included LeAnna of course) ... and then ...

we waited ...

and waited ...

and waited some more ... (all outside)

One hour later ... yep ... one hour ...

We got to go in ...

which led us to a line to get huge parka's to put on ...

well ... one of my little kiddos' parka didn't fit ... and I didn't notice until we were ready to actually enter the exhibit ...

SO ... I asked an employee for help ... and the group left us ... while we waited ... and waited ...

FINALLY ... they brought her another parka ... which I barely got buttoned on her ... (these kids were already layered to the hilt with clothing, scarfs, jackets, coats, hats, gloves, etc.)

We get to enter ...

okay ... NO ONE told me that it would be 9 degrees in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh ... hello?! I dressed warm ... but NOT For 9 degree conditions!!!!!!

They keep the temp between 7-14 degrees at all times and 9 for us!

We were already frozen from standing outside for an hour at 38 degrees ... then to walk into 9 degrees?

Ahhh ... no!

Anyhoo ... I pushed those girls through that exhibit so quickly - I almost (almost being the operative word here) felt bad!

THEN ... we get to the next to the last room ... and the little chick-a-dee with the tight fittin' parka says ... "I wanted to slide on the ice" ...

My first thought?

"listen here sister - my toes have turned purple, are so numb that I think one just fell off ... and my hands ... well ... I know if I pull off my gloves my appendages will remain in the gloves" ...

But no ... I said ...

"really? are you serious? do you really want to go back? ... we might get left ... everyone is moving on to the next room ... are you sure?"

chick-a-dee says, "yes!"

Alrighty then ...

The ice slide was the 2nd room we went in - which meant ... WE HAD TO GO BACK 3 ROOMS ... and to think ... we were only one room away from being at the end!!!!

I pushed her up the ramp and said, 'HURRY'!

LeAnna and her other little friend were so mad! They kept saying, 'why?'

I smiled and said, "you guys want to slide?"

they both, in stereo said, "NO!"

I tried snapping a few pictures here an there ... I didn't get too many ... oh well ...

At one point - waiting on chick-a-dee to "slide" ... I turned around and LeAnna had HUGE tears rolling out of her face ... I thought she had hurt herself (one of the rules on the way in was - "keep your tongue in your mouth - you will stick to the ice if you try to lick it" ... okay ... this tells me that "someone" tried to do this for them to give us this "common sense" piece of advice!) ...

So ... she had not stuck her tongue out, or fallen, she was just SO cold and couldn't stand it any longer that she started to cry ... I just knew at any minute that they would freeze on her face! I wiped them away and started looking for "chick-a-dee" ...

FINALLY - she made her way down the slide (which we missed - because she came down the opposite side from where we were standing) ... oh well ...

THEN ... the teacher says ... "can you take a picture of "mr. stuff?" - he wants to slide" ...

alrighty then ... I just wanted OUT OF THERE ...

So ... we went to the side to wait ... he never showed up ... she finally went up to the top to find him ... after about 10 minutes ... she said (he's next) ... next thing I knew, they were beside us ... HE NEVER CAME DOWN - HE WAS SCARED! ...

okay ... folks ... whatever!

I rounded up my 3 and we practically ran to the exit ...

The last room was the nativity ... it really was pretty ... but by this time ... the girls were literally dying ... so I snapped one pic and we left!

When we got outside ... it actually felt warm outside ... well ... considering the ice bucket that we had been in for the last 1/2 hour ... we were VERY warm at 38 degrees!!!!

LeAnna and I got to leave as soon as we were out ... so we ran to the van ... and she immediately started crying again ...

real tears ... non-stop ... I even had her take off her shoes and put her feet on the hot vent for a minute to try and warm up ...

THEN in the middle of sobs ... she said she had to potty!

GREAT ...

I was NOT about to walk back in that place and sit her down on a 9 degree toilet!

Anyhoo ... we went to McDonalds ...

used the restroom and then decided to stay for lunch!

We get our food and we're sitting there and she says ...

"today is my worst day ever! ever Mommy! When I get married and have a little girl and she asks to go to the Grinch on Ice, I am NOT taking her!"

Bless her heart ... I was feeling her pain ...

she is so funny! and such a planner - thinking ahead like that for her little one! ... ha!

Then ... we headed to the doctor's office for her appointment.

They did all the normal tests ... (which made her a little nervous) but she did fine ... and they said "all was well ... see you next year!" ... With her starting school, the only new info he gave us today, was for us to make her coaches, teachers, etc. aware that when she "needs to rest" (during activity) to make sure she was allowed to do so ... and to also take plenty of breaks during activity and that she would have to "learn" her limits. (which the doc made the comment that all children should be allowed to "rest" when they felt it was necessary - but this is not always the case).

So ... it's been 2 1/2 year since surgery ... wow - has passed very fast!!!!

We are very blessed ... and very thankful for a healthy LeAnna!

It has been a day ... and to LeAnna "her worst day ever"! (then she came to me this afternoon and changed it ... she said ... the "ice" was the only worst ever part)

oh well ... the "bus ride" there would have been field trip enough for her!

I think, before obligating myself to another field trip, I will find out all the particulars beforehand ...

we live and learn ... and today was a very chilly lesson!

happy days ... tammy

PJ's In Public ...

Ever imagine being in public in your pj's?

Well ... I have, I did ... I was ... well ... I would like to have been!

It all started EARLY (well late) this morning ...

I awoke to two strange noises ...

an annoying solid tone that kept getting louder and a phone ringing at the same time!!!

It was the alarm clock and Nate calling to say "GET UP"!

It was 7:10 a.m. and he was NOT home!!! What?!?!?!

AND ... he informed me that not only was I late getting up - that I had to take LeAnna to school ...

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

Okay ... I'm in a complete fog ... I was up at 1:30 putting my insulin pump back in (ran out of insulin) and wasn't feeling well (stuffy, allergy mess, etc.) ... so I took a Clairnex (which has a dizzy/sleepy effect on me -thus the reason I take it at night) ... big mistake!

oh my goodness ... NOT only do I have to fix breakfast, fix a lunch, and help LeAnna get dressed ... I HAVE TO FIX MY HAIR AND GET DRESSED ... and look presentable ... we can't just "drop off" at the door ... we have to physically walk her in!!! Oh My Goodness ... WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!!? AND it's 7:10 a.m. ... have to leave the house in 35 minutes at the latest!!!!

SO ... fast mode this morning ... however, we did it .... and ON TIME!!!

Wow ... so ... I had just got in the van ... shut the door and was putting the key in the ignition and was thinking ... "man, I deserve McDonald's after this" ... ha! I had just started the car and the phone rang ... it was Nate ... MAKING SURE I was on time!!! =0)

He said, "want to go to Cracker Barrel?" .... ahhh - Yea!

So ... nifty ... prayers answered and meal paid for too! =0)

So ... I get there before him and get a table ... once again ... alone ... at Cracker Barrel ... "waiting" ... weird thoughts occur when this happens to me for some reason ...

So ... the hostess sits me at a table beside the fireplace .... Ahhhh ... so warm ... cozy ... I'm really enjoying this ... wow ... nice ... and after about 2 minutes of realizing the effects that the warm fire is having on me ... I start to drift ... and imagining ... as if I were in my own living room ... in a cozy pair of pajama's ... sipping hot chocolate with those itty bitty marshmallows and shaved curls of chocolate dancing in my cup ... while the crunch and sizzle of the fire takes hold of my senses and the warmth overwhelms me ... ahhh .... this is the life ...

then ... I hear a faint voice ... "would you like some coffee?" ... and I'm thinking ... "wow, a cracker barrel waitress waiting on me in my living room in my pj's" as I look up at her with a glisteny glaze ... and then realize where I'm at and it took me off guard and I said, "no, unsweet tea" ... Argh..... how dumb is that?! She probably thought, "what is this chick on?"

ha!

oh well ... nothing like getting lost in the moment!

So ... yes ... at "that moment" I could have easily worn my pj's to Cracker Barrel and had a nice breakfast by the fire!

LeAnna wasn't that excited about going back to school ... and sure didn't want me leaving her ... but she was fine ...

Tomorrow is a field trip to Grinch on Ice ... AND had forgotten that she has her annual cardiologist appointment tomorrow as well ... yikes!!!!! Busy, busy.

Life ...

happy days ... tammy

In A Holi-Daze ...

Back from the doctor "again" ...

She looked pretty bad this morning, but by the time we got to the doc, she was getting better ...

They diagnosed her with "A Typical Fifth Disease" - meaning not typical ... and the doc noted that LeAnna was her first patient to have the lacy red rash on one side and slap cheek look on the other ... normally it's both sides ... anyhoo ... then the 2nd thing going on was undetermined ... but she thinks she was bit by something that caused the 5 pimple like bites and the swollen cheek so bad.

We're on steroids, so whatever it is - it should clear it up.

Whew! I feel much better ... the doc felt much better - I think she was a bit challenged, which makes it fun for everyone! =0)

Anyhoo ... I am not feeling my best today - hoping I'm not coming down with something myself ... for now I'm contributing the way I'm feeling to being tired and stressed from the last couple of days. We'll see I guess ...

Happy "holi-daze" ... tammy

Swollen Sweet Cheeks ...

Here's LeAnna this evening ...



Anxious to see how she'll be in the morning ... the rash doesn't bother me as bad as the swelling ...

Don't you hate it when you're babies are sick?! And you feel like there's nothing you can do?!

worried nights and happy days ... tammy

Clueless In Swollen Cheek City ...

Okay ... went to the doctor with LeAnna ... they don't think it's Fifth Disease ...

She's thinking a skin rash virus ... there is one going around ... also strep is going around like crazy ... every patient seen this morning had strep ... so they did a strep test ... no strep ... the doc was actually disappointed - she could easily treat that!

She brought in another doc for a 2nd opinion ... she told me to come home and make picture documentation so that we could compare it this evening and in the morning ...

Her cheek is actually drooping and holding fever ... it's pitiful ... she wanted us to keep a close watch on it and call immediately if there are any changes ... she did not want a staph infection to develop .. AND she said, "don't go home and start looking stuff up on the Internet, you'll just flip out ... okay ... too late ... ha! I had done that before going to the doctor!

So ... we're doing a antibiotic topical treatment, taking Benedryl, Claritin and Motrin ... and just waiting!

Notice how swollen?

Pitiful ...

Just the "not knowing" what it is - is about to drive me nuts!

Kaitlyn's is both cheeks - which would make you think more Fifth Disease ... she has an appointment this afternoon ... just weird that they both developed this at the same time yesterday after spending time together on Friday ... guess we'll see what her doc says.

Oh well ... always something ...

We DO NOT lead ordinary, boring lives ... sometimes I wish we did - just to catch a break! ha!

OH well ... I'll post later with progress - or for her sake, hopefully "no progress" ...

happy days ... tammy

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas ...

Long time no post ... but then again, my "crazy life" would be the main factor in the contribution of this cause.

So ... since last post ... we've had several happenings around here ...

We've taken down ... okay ... wait, retract ... I've taken down fall decor and put up Christmas decor ... although ... Nate did help with the wreaths on the windows outside that required going on the roof out of LeAnna's bedroom window! Yep ... I threatened to close and lock the window and was even bold enough to ask what he would do if I did so! ha! I couldn't help myself - it was "a day" around here trying to put up the Christmas paraphernalia and he was not "in the mood"! Got to be in the mood to have successful Christmas decor placed appropriately throughout the home! Yep ... anyhoo ... he also put up the family tree in the bonus room and even put some ornaments on! Looked very nice ... this was all in preparation for a Christmas party we had here at the house Saturday evening ... in order to "kick off" the season, you've got to have up some decor ... right?!

hmmm ...

anyhoo ... LeAnna had a birthday party/sleep over Friday evening to attend for her friend Kaitlyn ... I took LeAnna out of school early Friday and we went and had lunch with Kaitlyn at school in honor of her birthday - it was a surprise - she didn't know we were coming! That was cool!

So ... birthday party Friday night and then to Granny's on Saturday morning ... Granny took LeAnna and Dawson on the Polar Express train ride down town ... 4 1/2 hours later - POOR GRANNY!!! They had a great time, but I think they were tired, worn, and hungry when they returned ... LeAnna then spent the night at Granny's house! She had a BIG weekend!

THEN ... I went to Granny's to get her dressed for church this morning and I noticed a bump on her face ... my thoughts ... "hmmm - a bug bite?" .... so we went on to church ... later ... she started breaking out in a rash on her face and neck and more bumps! Thank God for a doc at church! I got her out of Sunday School to look at LeAnna ... she determined that it appeared to be something called Fifth Disease ... a viral infection that is contagious and once the rash appears, they've had it for a few days and are not "as" contagious ... yikes! So ... now ... low grade temp and home - no church tonight and no school tomorrow! And a phone call to the pediatrician in the morning!

AND ... Kaitlyn has it too!!! So ... no telling where they got it from! Yikes! Yikes! Yikes!

Always something around this household ... oh well ... sure makes life interesting!!!

So ... our party ... we had a few games ... one was ... two couples were chosen to wrap a gift as a couple ... the only catch? They could only use one arm each! Yep -- team work! Congrats Jerry and Allison for winning!!! They make a great team!

Then ... we had asked everyone to bring a gag gift ... and we played dirty santa with them ... way too funny!

Here's Nate losing one gift and gaining another ... funny how they seem to be meant for each other! ha!

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves ... we had a great time ... it was nice to kick off this Holiday Season on the 1st of the month ... sort of put me in the mood to start shopping, baking, wrapping gifts, etc. ...

Here's hoping all is well in your corner of the world ...

happy days ... tammy

Crazy ...

Here's my lucy bug ... we did some family pics this weekend for hopefully a Christmas Card ... THANKS Renee for helping out - couldn't have done it without you!

So ... have you ever been in a situation ... where ... you looked like you were doing something that was SO not you ... yet ... you weren't really doing anything wrong?!

Okay ... not making sense ...

So ... today ...

I went to the liquor store ...

yep ... well ... sometimes .... you just gotta do what you gotta do ... and today was one of those days!

First ... I had to take mom to work ... which included a tour of Nashville and 4 stops along the way ... one of those stops included the liquor store!

Yep ... not used to going to the liquor store ... but ... mom insisted! ha! (she has 50 Christmas Puddings to make today)

anyhoo ...

Mom was an old pro in the liquor store ... she had everything she needed and was at the counter paying and I was still trying to decide on one bottle of Sherry for a dish I've been wanting to try ... and a good friend of mine told me not to buy it at the grocery store - it makes the dish taste like rubbing alcohol ... so here I am ... not having a clue ... so this nice lady walks up and asks if she can help ... whew - glad she knew what I needed ... she chose one and handed it to me ...

So out we walk, my one bottle in hand (brown bagged) and her $100 worth of Jack Daniels!

So funny ...

Yep ... weird situation ... and the whole time I'm thinking ... "if anyone sees us coming out of Belle Meade Liquor, oh my ..."

so ... yes, there were people standing around in the store and outside of the store - minding their own business ... but I felt very impelled to say "Sweet Potato Bake and Christmas Pudding", while holding up the brown bag! Like they care! But I sure did! And then there's mom wagging a whole box of Jack out to the van! Barely can walk due to her knee situation ... it's not funny - but yet at the same time VERY funny! oh my ... bless her heart ... looked as if she had been nippin' a little herself ... bless her heart ...

Anyhoo ...

Just one of those odd situations that you get into sometimes ... oh well ...

Crazy day, crazy morning, crazy night last night ... crazy, crazy - my life! I would try to explain, but I'm tried of thinking about my crazy life right now ... so ... anyoo ...

Yep ... crazy day ...

so ... getting ready for a little shindig at the house this weekend ... having a few couples over to start the holiday season ... we've asked everyone to bring a gag gift ... I've found one, but I'm in search of another one ... anyone have any ideas?

Can't wait to see what else is looming around my crazy corners today ...

happy days ... tammy

More Than The Turkey Was Stuffed ...

Are you stuffed?

I'm stuffed!

Still stuffed from last Thursday!

We had about 22 people at our house Thursday - we made a menu and everyone contributed to make up our Thanksgiving Dinner ... and it was all so good! We didn't do turkey ... I know, I know ... BUT ... we had chicken and dressing, honey baked ham and pork tenderloin -- umm ... ummm ... good! We had a pile of desserts - which there was no room in the kitchen for desserts - so I set up a small table in the foyer ... ha! loved it ... at one point I said - man ... I would love to wake up every morning and there be a table of desserts in my foyer! ha!

What am I saying?! NO I wouldn't! Okay ... I know it's Monday ... BUT ... I'm actually watching what I eat today ...

okay ... so I've watched breakfast go down so far and I'm anticipating lunch ... ha! oh well ... told you I couldn't start a diet on a Monday! Tuesday is the better choice and Wednesday sounds even better! ha!

oh well ...

Had a pump issue last night and was up a lot during the night ... part of it! So ... today - I'm a bit loopy!

Anyhoo ...

I was so excited about having Thanksgiving at our home this year (our first one at this house) and got all excited about decorating (my favorite time of the year) ... that I took the time to take pictures before the guests arrived and then forgot to pick the camera back up and take any of the guests! How dumb is that?!?!?!?! I'm so dumB .... oh well ... I'm starting to snicker about it now, but was not liking myself too much after everyone left and I realized what I had done (or not done!)

It was a good day!

Although - I was SO tired!!! I was wiped out on Friday and well ... Saturday I found myself TRYING to stay motivated ... =0)

Better now ...

Yesterday we did family pictures here ... oh my ... it was non stop from the time we got up until the time we fell into the bed last night and then ... the pump issue ... so I was back up from 2a-4a ... NOT FUN!

OH well ... it's this weird thing called LIFE!

So ... here's a few pics of the 'beginning' of our Thanksgiving ... yikes! Still can't believe I didn't get pictures ... however, I did take some video footage of everyone eating ... it's really hard for me to think of doing both ... so ... at least we have some video of the day!

Here's hoping you and yours had a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday/Weekend and that you took some time to reflect on what's important in your life ... family, friends, many many blesssings, and LOTS of good food! (had to throw that in there, it is important right?!)

happy days ... tammy

Thanks Day

Tuesday was Grandparent's Day at school ....

Nana, Granny and Papaw were all able to attend with her ... I went with them so I could take some pictures ... =0)

She had a cute little program - it had a patriotic theme and each group took turns singing. It was a nice morning ... afterwards, she went home with Granny and Papaw!

Here are a few pictures from the event ...

LeAnna is growing up WAY too fast for my comfort level ...

I couldn't help but "think" the whole time I was standing in the gym, - listening, watching, taking pictures ... that ... this is the beginning of many times in this gym that I will be listening, watching, taking pictures! And that these moments were the ones I had waited for SO long ... to be able to do this kind of stuff! Everything in her life, I totally enjoy and try not to take for granted each special moment ... for there was a time that I would sit and dream of the things I am privileged to do now ... so ... yep ... tears sprung forward (of course) they didn't actually pour out - I stopped that by looking up at the ceiling and out across the gym like there was a purpose for doing this ... =0) ... anyhoo ... nope I wasn't really invited to this event - ha - but ... someone had to document with pictures! =0)

Tomorrow - today actually - I know ... it's late ... this is the first opportunity I have had to get on the computer ... been super busy today ... got 22 people coming tomorrow - today ... =0)

I found a little something that interested me ... thought I would share ...

President George Washington made this national Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection, aid, and favors ...

Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of the United States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, and is, or that will be; that we may all then unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country, and for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

Years before this proclamation ... there was a Governor Bradford in 1623, three years after the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth ... that wrote a proclamation to all the Pilgrims to recognize Thursday, the 29th as a rendering of thanks to Almighty God for all His blessings ... and was to be done between the hours of 9am - 12 noon.

We're celebrating on the 22nd of November, in the year of our Lord, two thousand and seven, at 1:00pm ... =0)

Happy Thanksgiving ... tammy

Framed Thoughts ...

In my lifetime ... I have taken thousands and thousands of pictures, literally.

And I got to thinking about this today ... I really, seriously, do have an issue ... I really am "snap happy" as I refer to myself to clients - and at times the client would look at me, with this "how in the world will I be able to choose" sort of look ... but I have strategized about this forever and came up with being "snap happy" so as to provide 20-40 very good poses instead of "well, you paid for 40, but here are 2 good ones" sort of thing ... which happened to me when LeAnna was a baby and I vowed to be different! ANYHOO ... not case and point - but ...

Ok ... so ... I got to thinking about this today ... how ... I really do take LOTS of pictures ... and LOVE all of the picture I take of LeAnna and have TONS and TONS of really good ones ...

BUT ...

There are only a rare few that I actually choose to frame.

When you frame a picture ... it's normally because #1 it "means something" to you, has significance, it's worthy of hanging.

AND ... everyday you pass this "framed" picture, look at it over and over. And when you look at it over and over, it brings up a memory of significance. It might strike a chord of contentment, or a chord of laughter, of love, and even at times strike a chord of pain.

Although, I have many pictures that I absolutely adore ... there are those few special ones that mean enough to display, keep at the forefront, for memory recall every time I pass it.

hmmmm ...

In my quiet time this morning ... a special thought was placed within me ... about my "thoughts".

Whether I know it or not ... I have actually "framed" thoughts in my head.

Good ones and bad ones ... but they are there, nicely framed and positioned just so-so in the corners of my mind.

I have thoughts ALL day long ... but certain ones I choose to frame ...

Some of my framed thoughts are happy thoughts ... "make me smile" thoughts.

But ... most of my "framed" thoughts lately have reeked of negativity. ... not by choice ... well ... yes ... by choice I guess ...

It's easy sometimes to frame the wrong kind of thoughts I guess ... and then everyday, I pass by those framed thoughts of negativity ONLY because I hung them there!

Dumb me ... I'm complaining about this issue and I am the only one responsible for framing my thoughts of negativity!

Yes ... I guess it's normal to have negative thoughts, but it is so not healthy to dwell on them and actually take the time to think about them enough to go out and have them framed only to have them hanging around up there for me to pass by them everyday and dwell there!

Whew ... okay ... earth to Tammy ...

Anyhoo ... guess what I'm trying to say is that ... I am analyzing myself a little bit today ... and trying to make a conscience effort to take down some of the "negative" artwork and replace it with more "positive" artwork (thoughts).

It is really easy to think there's no one else going through what I am going through in this WHOLE world! Right?! oh well ... another one of those dumb thoughts that should never have had the first nail driven in the framework!

But hey ... we live and learn ...

So ... I decided to focus on someone else who might be worse off than myself ...

And wouldn't you know ... the opportunity presented itself just today!

I had another appointment at the eye doctor this afternoon ... I was sitting by myself in the waiting room, waiting to dilate (ha - almost sounded childbirthish -huh?!) ... pondering "thoughts" (yep - good ones and bad ones) ... and an older gentleman sitting across from me got my attention and started talking ...

I had spent all morning in a doctor's office with my Mom being seen by an ortho surgeon, who told her she would need total knee replacements in both knees at the first of the year ...

so I was already tired and worn and really didn't want to talk ...

BUT ... he was by himself too and looked like he really needed to talk to someone ...

so I listened and answered his questions with yes, no, hmmm, oh wow, bless your heart, really?, I'm so sorry ...

and then the thought popped into my head ... (and I'm glad I did not say my thought out loud) "man, if I were you, I might just open that window right there and jump!" ... ha!

Bless his heart ... this guy was pitiful ...

the really weird thing about this was ... he was a diabetic, was on an insulin pump, had been having hemorrhages, had gone through some laser surgeries ... basically my story, but his was a WHOLE lot worse ... his body had become insulin resistant, and his body was rejecting the insulin ... they had given him a 5x strength insulin of what I was taking ... in essence and in comparison to the strength I take, he is taking 912 units of insulin per day in his basil rate, which means when he eats he has to pump even more!!!!! OH my ...

I take 21.5 units per day in my basil rate - this is not much, definitely not much in comparison.

... and suddenly my issues didn't seem as significant.

They called his name ... he stood ... and I wished him well and to hang in there ... and then he said to me ...

"I understand what you're dealing with" ...

Wow!

Suddenly I'm wanting to take down a few of my "framed negativity" thoughts and replace them with thoughts of compassion and concern for my "brother in HIGH need" of something!

Who knows ... maybe he was there today just for me ...

And who knows ... I might still try to pick up some of the negative frames from time to time ... but at least I have given it a name and recognize its effects.

Framed thoughts ... hmmm ...

interesting to me ... might not make sense to anyone but me ... but hey ... this is my journal ... so I guess it doesn't have to make sense.

Anyhoo ... guess I need to let those thoughts of negativity be "fleeting" and start framing more positive ones.

And ... the doctor visit ... well ... no 'new' changes ... and the blood is clearing ... so we wait ... one more month ... go back ... and he mentioned "some laser surgery" ... wow! Two weeks ago he was talking the "major" surgery ... and now just some laser ... which I've had done several times before ... in office ... uncomfortable ... but not too bad ... doable in comparison with being admitted to a hospital and being under the knife for several hours!

this helped to feed my "positive" thoughts today ...

thanks God!

happy days ... tammy