Still ...

Still amazed: at our miracle - LeAnna

Still getting used to: being a Mommy (still learning everyday and loving it!)

Still loving: my new house

Still proud of: my perfect A1C tests (sugar levels) during my entire pregnancy with LeAnna (never happened before)

Still not proud of: not completing college

Still hoping: for a cure for diabetes

Still worried: about my future health

Still never going to: be a size 0

Still pretending: that I’ll get in great shape again. (working on it though)

Still reading: Level 1 and Level 2 books with LeAnna

Still wanting to read: a real book, from front to end, in one sitting without interruption

Still interested in: photography and bettering myself in it

Still not interested in: EVER seeing any type of "display" on ice (as in the Grinch on Ice sculptures)

Still looking forward to: our family vacation

Still not looking forward to: the death of anyone near and dear (been there, done that - it's tough)

Still failing: to get the diabetes in tight control

Still grateful for: every single day of life

Still praying: to get to see LeAnna grow up and be happily married with a family of her own

Still not believing in: diets of any kind

Still believing in: Jesus

What are YOU still doing?

* * *

Be still and know that I am God ~ Psalm 46:10

Happy Days ... tammy

In The Beginning ...

Happy New Year ...

Don't you love the first day of a new year?!

I do!

It's fresh ... it's new ... it's clean ... it's a brand new start on all those things you said you were "going to do" last year!

It's simply "another day" ... but it just seems so "beginning" ...

So ... In the beginning ...

Tammy goes to the gym!

Tammy gets in shape!

Tammy loses weight!

Tammy feels great in 2008!

(speaking in faith at this point)

Nate and I are remodeling our bonus room as our Christmas gift to each other ... and as of today ... we have all the painting done, new crown mould, and carpet on the way (Thursday or Friday) to be laid (hopefully) on Saturday!

We are really excited about our "new" room ... it's already a major transformation ... amazing what a little paint and some trim will do! (pics later)

So ... on a "break" today ... we ran to get some lunch and pick up more supplies at Lowes ...

Nate turned into McDonalds and said "what do you want?" ... we ordered ... paid ... got our food ... and pulled off ...

THEN ... he drove to the gym (where he purchased me a 6 month membership as a Christmas present) and said, "we're eating our McDonalds in front of the gym!

Okay ... that was a serious guilt trip! And wouldn't you know?! The gym was OPEN!!! So - being my first time there, we went in to check it out!

Very nice and I'm actually very excited to get started ...

It's an all ladies gym and they have a pool with pool aerobic classes, tons of equipment, tons of classes, tanning, massage therapy AND child care!

Okay ... I "think" I can do this ...

As with any new type of exercise, I have to be extremely careful and start slow (thank goodness) - ha ... so my insulin regimen can be adjusted for the exercise (my body is very sensitive to insulin and my sugar drops quickly).

I know it will be good for me and I DO want to get in shape ...

So ... here's to January and "trying"!

In "thinking" today ... I was reminded of some of our 2007 highlights ...

January
- Mom's surprise 65th birthday bash! It was huge and she was so excited!

February
- Purchased and closed on our current home and started renovating
- broke tooth in half, had it pulled and got a dry socket and infection in the jawbone - HORRIBLE!!!!

March
- MOVED!
- had an allergic reaction to some cleaning chemicals and ended up swollen all over and at the doctor (DURING THE MOVE IN) - oh my!

April
- Chris Botti Concert at the Symphony Hall (one of Nate's Christmas presents)

May
- LeAnna graduated pre-school

June
- LeAnna lost her first tooth!
- my "new" kitchen sink unattached itself to the granite and fell to the floor - 1 hour before 13 people were coming for dinner! (hard to forget this moment!)

July
- LeAnna was in an issue of Paula Deen Magazine
- Vacation to Hilton Head - best family vacation EVER!

August

- LeAnna started Kindergarten

September
- LeAnna lost her 2nd tooth
- LeAnna started cheer leading
- LeAnna started piano lessons
- Neely Family Reunion in Gatlinburg

October

- LeAnna turned SIX!
- LeAnna had her first game (cheer leading)

November

- had Thanksgiving Dinner at our home
- actually had some family pictures taken!

December

- LeAnna got Fifths Disease (a-typical of course!)
- had a Christmas party
- had a Cookie Swap
- started remodeling our bonus room

We had a great year in 2007 .... lots of memories ... lots of good ones, some bad ones (as you can see above) ... but all in all ... great year!

I'm "expecting" a great year in 2008 ... PRAYING our condo sells SOON!!!! (yep - still on the market) ... not a very good subject right now ... hmmm ... I'll even throw in dinner once a month - cooked, home-made meal to the lucky homeowners ... if SOMEBODY will just buy it! yikes!

Anyhoo ... I'm not one for "resolutions" - don't even care much for the word ...

however ... I do like the word "commitment" and that I'm striving for ...

Happy New Beginning ... tammy

Tasting Some Memories On The Last Day Of 2007!

Today ... being the last day of the year ... I can't believe it ... can you believe it?!

Nate had one small job in Lebanon this morning ... so we went with him ...

We had breakfast first and then on to Lebanon ...

And to my surprise, when getting off the exit ... I remembered someone telling me about Pepe's Pizza Company moving to Lebanon - so I made a quick phone call and found out their location ...

After Nate's job, he took me there ... they were open! yippee!

If you've known me for a long time ... you know that my Mom and Dad had their own pizza company during my childhood and Pepe's was the supplier ... AND there were ALWAYS people at our house ... eating pizza! AND there was always pizza in the freezer ... it was a "staple" in our house just like milk and butter.

Anyhoo ... NOW, since moving to Lebanon, they sell to the public as well as businesses.

I walked in and immediately was taken back to my childhood ... the smell was the same ... and the many days that I went with my Dad to pick up supplies all rushed back ...

A moment ... my moment ... Nate didn't really get much out of it ... but, he did let me enjoy my moment.

My "moment" turned into a 2 hour job!!!! They only sell their products by the case ... which meant enough supplies to make up 24 pizzas! YIKES!!!!

So ... I made up all 24 pizzas - cooked one and put the remaining 23 in the freezer ... which will keep for 6 months ... nifty! (so if you show up at my house unexpected and you're hungry? - you're getting pizza!)

The first 30 minutes was delightful! All those cardboard circles I remember ... all spread out with crusts on them ... and the sauce ... as soon as I opened the can, I immediately remembered the exact way my Dad taught me how to make them ... he had a "technique" and we DID NOT deviate ... =0)

I realized today WHY he had "technique" ... it was to make everything go further (pinching pennies where we could I guess) - ha!

1 heaping large spoon full of sauce

1 1/2 hand fulls of seasoned cheese (yum)

9 peperoni's

it was very amusing to me that I remembered all of this as soon as I opened each bag of ingredients ...

However ... after a while I realized that I needed to "add more" ingredients to each pizza and I still had stuff left over ... oh well ... live and learn ...

Nate wasn't real impressed with the pizza ... said it was okay ... and it wasn't the best I've ever had either, but tasted better to me -because I was tasting "memories" today.

All the ingredients were original that I got today except for the crust - that has changed.

Anyhoo ... nice little memory of going WAY back for me today ... and it was fun "tasting memories" today in my kitchen, all by myself!

Happy New Year ... it's almost 2008!!!!

happy ... tammy

We're Having A Party Jesus and It's All About YOU!

Our Christmas morning started at 7:30am ... I did not get to bed until 4:30am ... so 3 hours was going to have to do me for a while ... because with all the festivities of the day - I didn't go to bed until way after midnight on the 26th!

Oh well ... we had fun!

This first picture is on Christmas Eve at Nate's grandmother's house in Clarksville ...

Christmas Eve ... "before bed" LeAnna did the Santa plate and milk all by herself ... I honestly had forgotten about it ... the funniest thing was ... she decided that Santa would enjoy 4 Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies ... so she prepared it and left it out ... then she got ready for bed ...

At some point I came back into the living room and the cookies were ALL gone! "Santa Princess" had crumbs on her mouth and looked pretty guilty! Too funny ... PLUS I didn't need the cookies and would have eaten at least half of them in guilt of throwing them away! =0) The Lord works in mysterious ways ... =0)

Christmas Morning ... Nate could not wait to give Princess her presents ... she LOVES squirrels and has become fascinated with them since the Summer ... and they tease her and she them ... it is SO funny to watch her with them ... the squirrels are known to her as "her friends" ... when we use this term - she barks like crazy and wants to go outside .... only to chase the air around the yard looking for "her friends" ... SO we couldn't wait to do this ... Nate sat them on the fence row (where they sit and tease her) and then we let her outside using her phrase "go see your friends" ... she starts running around the yard and looking for them ...

it took her a bit ... THEN she spotted them ... so funny ... she jumped on the fence until one fell off and then she attacked it and ran around the yard with it!!!! They are now her new favorite toys ... Princess had a great Christmas!

Here's LeAnna getting ready to open stockings!!!!

Everyone had "stuff" in their stockings except for Mommy ... or so she thought ... Daddy even admitted that he "forgot" ... but to my wondering eyes would appear? ... Nate made use of the foam pieces and created his own version of "gift cards" ... and boy am I going to redeem them!!! yipee! Thanks Nate!

LeAnna got an iPod !!!!!

... and a new dress-up dress ... (notice the fire in the background? we found the "yule tide channel" on Comcast ... complete with crackling sounds and soft holiday music)

... at Nana's with her new American Girl Itty Bitty Baby ...


"she says" ... her favorite gift of all ... her dress up closet ... (it was the cheapest gift ... only proves one thing ... "it don't take much" to make 'em happy!) ... we simply put up a shower tension rod between the two walls in her playroom hallway to the window and hung a curtain and beads ... then attached two sheets of mirror with liquid nails ... then attached a rack with several hooks on the wall and purchased some small white hangers ... voila! A "new" dress-up closet!

... so happy!
... loving this "privacy" in her "new closet" ... she decided to read a book!

... running through the beads ...

... so excited!

Christmas evening at Granny and Papaw's ...

... a new trampoline from Granny and Papaw ...

Kaitlyn came over and we took out some time to honor Jesus' birthday ... we made Him a cake ... and cupcakes (that they helped decorate) ... and the decision was made to put a heart on His cake!

I asked them what we could give Jesus as a gift ... after them naming some things that a normal 6 and 8 year old would come up with ... I suggested that we give Him some of our "time" ... We took some "serious" time out to think of some special things that Jesus had done for them this year and we took turns sharing ... then ... we took turns praying ... they were actually serious for a moment and came up with some pretty good things to pray about and be thankful for.

THEN ... it was time to blow out the candles and eat cake ... Somehow, all of a sudden, it was a funny thing to blow out the candles with their nose instead of blowing with their mouths ... LeAnna has had some allergy issues ... so you can only imagine her "special gift" while trying to blow out the candles this way! ha!

THEN ... Kaitlyn accidentally rammed her cupcake into her nose ... they both thought this was so funny ... so LeAnna wanted to try ... so while trying ... Kaitlyn assisted LeAnna's cupcake into her nose a little faster than planned ... which in turn caused a bit of a riot around the kitchen ... sorry Jesus ... it was all in fun too - hope you enjoyed your party as much as they did! ha!

Still hoping they got "the point" ... oh well ... there's always next year to stress the point ... but the way I look at it ... God loves humor and I'm sure He got a kick out of this!

Happy Birthday to Jesus! You're party was swell ... had a great time!

My gifts ... nice ... excited ... Nate and I decided we weren't really buying much for each other this year and that we would put our money toward our bonus room ... we ended up with enough money to do it and ... that we are ... the painting started today and will be finished tomorrow ... the carpet arrives Monday ... yea! So excited ... bought a table and chairs for the bonus room as well ...

I also got a nifty little hand held video recorder HD ... very excited about this ... just haven't mastered the use of it yet ... getting there ... hopefully I'll be able to upload a few clips to share soon ...

Nate also got me a pair of tennis shoes and inside was a bar code for my key chain that entitles me to 6 months at a ladies gym here in Bellevue ... although I had casually mentioned checking it out ... it would be VERY easy to take this gift as a major hint ...

hmmm ...

No excuse now huh?!

So ... new year ... new body ... let's hope so ... YIKES!!!!!

Now ... it's time to take down all of this Holiday Cheer and get to work!

happy days .... tammy

Hustle and Bustle ... and Merry Christmas ...

I've already been to bed once ... had to lay down with her so she would go to sleep ... SO anxious ... and SO nervous about Santa coming down our chimney and coming into the house ... I even ended up saying "Santa is not real, it's all make-believe, Mommy and Daddy are the ones who leave the presents in the middle of the night" ... she STILL said, "will you almost close the bedroom door and just leave it cracked" ... and while sitting up in bed, she would keep looking over at the doorway ... oh my ... bless her heart ... it took her FOREVER to finally go to sleep and by that time I fell asleep as well! While Daddy was just working away upstairs on one of LeAnna's presents! The plan was to get her to sleep and then we would work on the project together!

hmmm ... sounds like it worked out great to me! ha!

Anyhoo ... I woke up, ironically, at 12:25am on 12/25 ... hmmm ... time to get up and finish what had to be done before bed!

By this time, Nate had fallen asleep on the couch ... had to wake him up ... once I found out that one of Nana's gifts had to be put together with "tools" that I do not have ...

Now I'm really awake ... once this project is complete - Nate "officially" goes to bed and I'm WIDE awake!!!

So ... I start cleaning ... cleaned just about the whole house, minus the floors, due to noise level at wee hours of the nocturnal!

There has been SO much hustle and bustle ... I had to have everything just right for in the morning - only to have MORE hustle and bustle ...

but hey ... that's what it's all about right?!

So - yeah ... it's almost 4am and I'm blogging ... ha! oh well ... I'm trying to get myself sleepy ... I'm pretty wound up at the moment ...

I'll be so tired in the morning - I'll have to prop my eyes open with toothpicks!

Christmas Eve (Monday) we went to Nates Mom's side of the family for dinner and gift giving ... the food was great and had a nice time ... some of that side of the family we only see once a year - and it's interesting to see the changes in everyone from year to year ... almost as if you are reviewing a book and turning the pages a year at a time ... since you don't see them much during the year.

It's odd ... for instance ... at my Mom's church where I grew up ... when I stopped going to church there - I still imagine everyone the way they were when I left ... so now, when I return and the kids are all grown up, etc. it's an odd feeling - like - what happened? When did you grow up?!

oh well ... inevitable I know ... but odd realizations I have huh?!

okay ... so ... busy day tomorrow (today) whatever ... yikes ... it is late ...

A "late thought" ... I feel very blessed this holiday season ... especially when I look at others around me, other situations ... and feel so fortunate to have my family, healthy ... to have a home, roof over my head ... to have peace ... to have joy ... to have a wonderful husband ... a wonderful daughter ... a wonderful mother ... I think of those less fortunate who are "looking" for the peace, love and joy that I can honestly say that I feel in my life ... hurting people who don't have family, don't have a home, don't know God who gives peace, love and joy ... just knowing that there are small children who will wake up in the morning with not just presents or even "a" present under the tree ... but will have a parent who will be scrounging for food for breakfast ... it brings me to tears as I ponder these thoughts ... my heart goes out to my cousin Billy, who as we speak is on the way to the airport to go back to Iraq ... leaving his family on his two week leave to go back to this country and fight for my freedom that I have THIS day because of people like him. and ... even though I lost my Dad almost 9 years ago, at least I had a Dad for 28 years ... I am very thankful and humbled at this moment ...

All of these feelings that I feel and have mentioned above ... are only because the TRUE reason for the Season was born and the true celebration today should be honoring Jesus' birthday.

Nathan and I discussed this evening (last evening now) that we should start a new tradition this year ... at some point during the day tomorrow ... we're going to make a birthday cake and celebrate His birth literally, and give Him, as a gift, our time. Mainly to teach LeAnna the true meaning of all this celebration at this time of the year, that we've turned into mainly just "hustle and bustle"!

It's truly all about Him! How would we feel on our next birthday, if everyone decided to celebrate "someone or something else" on OUR day ... hmmm ... doesn't sound too appealing ... because on "our" day - we want it to be all about us, right?!

hmmm ... makes one stop and think ...

SO ... in saying all of that ... I truly hope you are blessed this day and take some time to remember the true reason for the season ...

Blessings and a very Merry Christmas ... tammy

Some Holiday Happies ...

Okay ... can you say crazy busy?!

Yep ...

Crazy busy ...

However ... in the hustle and bustle ... I have found two things that have made me happy this Christmas Season ...

1 ... a cheap, new way to organize my ribbon ...

I purchased a 5 level pants hanger at Target for $4.99 ... and started putting my spools of ribbon on it ... it has been so convenient for wrapping and when I'm finished - I can hang it in the closet where my wrapping paper is stored!

Yep ... delightful!

I haven't had opportunity to add all my ribbon ... for that, I'll have to purchase another hanger ... but this is a start on the road to ribbon convenience/organization!

My 2nd happy is this ...

I purchased some foam Christmas shapes for LeAnna's class project - the junk buckets at her Christmas party ... had some left over ... so I decided to attach them to my packages and voila! - Nifty name tags! (and 1/2 price right now at Michaels - the whole basket of them was like $3)

You know, it doesn't take much for me ... and these are two of my happies that I wanted to share ...

My LeAnna bug wasn't feeling her best on Friday ... she actually didn't complain the first time that she was feeling bad, just kept having to go to the bathroom ... hmmm ... THEN ... at 5:45am this morning (Saturday) she woke up sick!!!! Eeek .... BUT thank goodness, she was only sick for the morning ... by this afternoon she was much better and actually fine tonight! SO very thankful for that!!!!

Christmas is not a good time to be sick ... so I'm a happy camper this evening ... just PRAYING no one else gets this !!! Eeek ... again ...

I have almost completed my shopping ... just a few quick things tomorrow, along with my grocery shopping and I'm done!!!! yea!!!!!

I've got to cook a few dishes for a lunch on Monday, breakfast on Tuesday, dinner on Tuesday and breakfast on Wednesday ... thus the trip to the grocery is inevitable for tomorrow!!!

Happy Christmas - Love, Joy and an EXTRA dose of Peace ... tammy

Tis The Season ...

Today was LeAnna's Christmas party at school and her Christmas program this evening ...

The coordinator for today's party asked me to do crafts for the party ...

We made "junk buckets" ... (at the last minute) ... found the buckets at Michael's for $1 right before the party ... and peel and stick Christmas foam pieces 1/2 price ... perfect craft! I bought some paint pens ... and there you go ... junk buckets (also made up at the last minute! ha! after thinking about it later ... I probably should have called them "stuff buckets" ... instead of "junk" ... oh well ... that's what will end up in them - JUNK!)

and ... I had pictures printed of her class, attached them to a flip card and let them write "My First NCS Christmas" on the front.

Then ... I gave each child two whoppers (chocolate malt balls - not burger king) and asked them to eat one and hold one ... then I read them a poem about the reindeer leaving "little gifts" on their lawn on Christmas Eve ... and that I had packaged them up some special "reindeer poop" just for them! ha! Then told them to eat the other one ... the boys loved this!!!

Then ... we made magic reindeer food ... okay ... short story ... I had not officially decided on what I was doing for crafts until last night ... so it was crunch time for me to get it all together by 1pm today ... so I had everything timed and planned out ... I get to Walgreens to have the 13 4x6's printed and wouldn't you know they changed their way of doing things! What did they go and do that for? ... So ... instead of "instant print out" ... I got put into the system and was given a ticket to "wait" ... AAHHH ... not good ... I still had to go purchase the reindeer poop and the "magic" part of the reindeer food! So ... while "waiting" for the pictures to print ... I thought ... I'll just try and finish my shopping at Walgreens ... it was 12:45 and I was getting nervous!!!! Party started at 1pm ... so ... I found the whoppers ... my only item left to purchase was the "magic" ... which was supposed to be colored sugar crystals to mix in a scoop or two of oats ... and wouldn't you know ... Walgreens didn't have such a thing ... figured they wouldn't, but I was sure hoping ... anyhoo ... time to search for a replacement item ... I went up and down the candy aisles 3 times ... found nothing ... THEN ... I remembered something from childhood but couldn't remember the name of it ... just knew it was colored, powder (basically sugar) in a paper tube ... I asked a lady standing in the aisle for help ... she immediately said "Pixie Sticks" ... and then I remembered ... yep ... that's it ... but ... wouldn't you know it ... NO PIXIE STICKS!!!! What in the world? ... I have no time to go to the grocery to buy colored sugar crystals ... so I kept looking ... I looked twice in the "food aisle" ... nothing ... for some reason I went back one more time to the food aisle ... and I spotted some raspberry crystal light sugar free single packages ... this would have to work ... it worked okay ... colored sugar crystals would have been MUCH better ... but hey ... anyhoo ... one little girl named Hope ... got a little "magic" in her eyes ... not sure how ... oh yikes ... bless her heart ... I'm sure it was burning ... then I started feeling bad for the "make shift magic" ... yikes! Even at the end of the party ... she was still walking around with a wet towel dabbing at her eyes! Oh my ... bless her heart!

So ... the party went well ... the kids had so much fun making their junk buckets and I'm sure the parents will enjoy the pictures more than they will ... oh well ... it's all about making some memories ...

(this is Chick-a-dee ... mentioned in a previous post ... SHE IS 5 YEARS OLD ... what in the world?! What is wrong with this picture?!) I know Mommy is short and Daddy is not too tall ... but her parents must be the jolly white giants! =0)

Ms. Green gave all the kids presents (which they couldn't open until they went home) ... LeAnna opened her gifts up as soon as we walked in the door ...

These kids are so funny ... one child was missing ... so LeAnna made his bucket for him and we put it up for when he returns ... they all seem to really get along ... they are all big buds!

Ms. Green gave LeAnna an artist apron with her name monogrammed on it and crayons, markers, etc. in the pockets! What a perfect gift ... because we got LeAnna an art desk for Christmas ... so nifty cool! She was SO excited to get this apron!!!! LeAnna loves Ms. Green.

This evening was LeAnna's program ... we took time to spruce her hair up ... got her dressed up ... got there early (first ones in the class) ... Granny and Papaw came ... we "tried" to get good seats ... a bit hard to see ... so we're sitting there ... waiting for it to start ... finally they come in and the Kindergarten is the first to perform ...

They sing two songs ... O Christmas Tree and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ... then they walk off and are sent to the their class ...

That was it ... over ...

what?!

we were looking at each other ... like ... "is that it?" ... oh my ...

Oh well ...

So we got up and left ...

There was a musical "Eddie The Elf" being performed by the 3rd-5th grade ... but she's going to see it in the morning ... so we left.

best buds ... LeAnna and Jordyn

So we went to dinner with friends ... the Barlar's ... which meant JADEN!!!!!! LeAnna was dying ... she was finally having dinner with Jaden ...

Very shy at first ... well, Jaden was shy ... LeAnna was trying to hug him! ... ha! Then they started talking and playing ... and all was well. We had a nice time.

So ... tomorrow is 3 hours at school and then CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!

She's out for 2 1/2 weeks!!! Wow!

Yes ... I had the moment this evening ... the one I knew I would have ... while sitting and watching my baby girl sing with all her peers ... I'm getting really good at choking back the tears and diverting my attention elsewhere for a second or two to regain my composure ... the first school Christmas program ... another one of those "I waited for so long" moments ...

Anyhoo ...

Enjoying my moments ...

LeAnna's Mom's Moments ... sometimes they're crazy, sometimes they're funny, sometimes they're sad ... but all are happy to be here in the moment moments.

I trust you are enjoying your season and making some good memories of your own ...

happy days ... tammy

An Angel From The 80's ...

What a busy weekend!!!!

Wow!

Saturday was crammed packed with festivities ...

We had the Batson Christmas Saturday afternoon ...

so while getting dressed and fixing LeAnna's hair ...

she picked up the mirror ...

and said ...

"Mom ... you made me look like a girl from the 80's"

WHAT?!?!??!

That's what I asked her ... I said ... "what did you say and where did you hear that?"

ha!

Took me by surprise ... because I WAS a girl from the 80's!

Still not sure where she would come up with that term ... anyhoo ...

So funny ...

Our Christmas program was last night at church ...

Christmas in the City ...

LeAnna was an angel ...

and she took her part serious!

here's Kaitlyn (Mary) and LeAnna ...

The only direction we gave the kids (other than where to stand) was to SING!!!!

ha!

At one point ... LeAnna leaned over Mary and Joseph and was acting as if she had just delivered the "good news" ... ha!

Nana got to attend ... and she told me today she thought I had worked with her prior to last night ...

The kids were way too funny ... our "cattle" got a little crazy ... one little cow pushed Mary and Joseph aside and sat right between them. I was in front of them trying to softly sing in the microphone and when this happened - I picked up the camera and took a picture - too cute!

Then another one stepped away from the "herd" and stood out front ... then along came another cow and pushed him ...

ha! What a "cow poke" ... hee hee

Anyhoo ...

The typical manger scene ... was once again (I'm sure at many churches) not only to remind us of our dear Savior's birth ... but quickly became comedy central!

The poor sheep looked like they had been shorn at the altar! There was white batting everywhere from the sheep costumes

ha!

oh well ...

The purpose was served ...

... to remind us all ... that one day a baby was born ... that would grow up ... and would take away the sins of the world.

Today was rather busy ... and I had another eye doctor appointment this afternoon ...

Good news! Surgery was NOT mentioned and he said it was improving and he didn't want to do anything right now ... to come back in two months!

Yea!!!!

AND ... I read below the 20/20 line in my left eye ... last time I was there, I read nothing on ANY line! hallelujah!

I was excited ... so when leaving the office ... I told my doc "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Merry Everything" ...

He said ... "I ain't marring anything!" ... ha!

The suave doc just admitted he wasn't married! He looks a bit suave and would appear to be a Beverly Hill 90210 doc at first glance! ... I've always wondered if he had a wife ... now I know ...

Had another one of my "moments" at the doctor's office today ... it was very profound ... and really not worth mentioning ... just "thoughts" in my silly head ...

I was sitting there waiting to dilate ... and while doing so, I put down my reading material and decided to just rest a bit ... I was about to the point that I couldn't read anymore anyway ... and I looked down and noticed the gentleman across from me ... and his shoes ... which I immediately began to analyze ...

hmmm ... I've always heard and often quoted ... "a man's shoes tell alot about him!"

They were somewhat of a dress shoe, but very old and scuffed up pretty bad ... I quickly assumed that they were "once" a very nice pair of shoes - perhaps for church. Then rising above the shoe I noticed denim pants ... and he was an older gentleman ... so ... hmmm ... looked like to me, he was wearing a pair of shoes that he found some comfort in.

Then ... noticing his wife next to him (I'm assuming ... both had on wedding bands and were sitting side by side) ... her shoes were short boots ... appeared to be new ... black, with a front zipper ... and in very good condition ... for an older lady, these shoes were pretty trendy. Wonder if they were comfortable? Or if they were more for show? Her clothes were well put together and trendy as well ... hmmm ...

I'm so stupid ... after this analyzation ... that I can be good at ... I thought to myself ... you are so lame ... anyhoo ... fleeting thought ... back to the analyzing ...

so then ... I start looking all around me ... for more shoes to ponder ... (hey ... I've got another 30 minutes to sit here while my pupils expand WAY past their normal limit) ... plus ... I'm only seeing large objects right now ... so ...

one lady ... appeared to have on a pair of socks with rubber soles on the bottom of them ... I had to stare at her feet for a bit ... this took a little more time to analyze ... because lot's of questions started popping in my head ... to the point ... that I opened my mouth to ask her one ... ha! stopped myself! She would think I was totally off my rocker! But I really wanted to know where she purchased such a pair! They were very odd looking.

Okay ... so by this time ... I start looking over my shoulder to the people behind me, trying to get a glimpse of their shoes ... my OCD is starting to kick in and I'm feeling the need to see everyone's shoes in the room ...

I start spanning the room ... noticing shoes ... wondering if they are wearing them for comfort or show or for why in the world at all with that outfit! ha!

Okay ... needing a distraction right about now ... then ... I notice my own shoes! OH wow ... yikes! I reach down to pull up my knee high boots that appeared to everyone else as calf boots and started looking at the hill and the toe ...

Oh my ... what do my shoes say about me?! Okay ... so now we're to this ...

AAHHHH ... I need somebody to talk to ... my silly, stupid mind is wandering ... it's GOT to be the drops ... they have soaked into my brain and have caused me to react this way ... right?!

I'm so dumb ... I just need new boots!

Presto ... problem solved!

Anyhoo ... my "thought for the day" ... was gained from all of this nonsense ...

We all come from different walks of life ... we all get there the same way, with our feet (well most of us) and everyone wears shoes (well most of us) ... and to me ... our shoes say a lot about who we are ... comfort or show? well taken care of or scuffed? worn down shoes from hard work and or play ... trendy shoes that kill your feet but sure look like the "latest" to everyone else! Dusty shoes - that look like they were chosen from the back of the closet and thrown on at the last minute while running out the door, with no time to wipe them off. Is this an organized person? Or chaotic? Or just doesn't care?!

Worked with two gentlemen bosses several years ago ... who ... one wore the above mentioned (dusty, unkept) type shoes ... and the other wore shoes everyday that was polished and shining!!

To me ... it makes a difference ... and really does say a lot about a person.

Moral to my thoughts ... make sure shoes are not only comfortable, but are at least wiped off and presentable!

You never know when crazy people like me are sitting around you staring at your shoes and having weird thoughts about them!

I think it's been a long day ... I think it's the drops ...

happy days ... tammy

The 12 Days of Christmas ...

Okay ... I thought the week started out bad ... you can't even imagine yesterday!

Computer problem city!!!! And I have to have my computer to work ...

Crazy day ...

After several phone calls to Comcast and someone at my job for help, then several trips to the store for different parts ... my computer FINALLY was fixed at 7:20pm last night!!!!

Yep ... very frustrating ...

Anyhoo ... just one of those things ... just not a good week for "one of those things" to happen!

Oh well ... LIFE

So ... yesterday we started "12 days of Christmas" at our house ...

Our version ... consists of 12 small presents under the Dining Room tree (this tree is really just for decor ... all our Christmas presents are under the big tree in the Bonus Room)

Each day (count down to Christmas) ... LeAnna gets to choose a gift from under the tree to open! Boy is she having fun!!!! They are very small items ... but ... it's exciting getting to actually open a present!

December 1st we had presents under the tree ... and she was moping around, acting all sad ... she just couldn't stand the fact that there were presents, wrapped, and sitting! Curiosity was killing her!!!! That's how I came up with this little 12 days of Christmas thing ...

AND ... it's SO nice to watch her open ONE gift and sit and actually play with it, admire it ... and then sit and wonder what are in all the other presents! Christmas morning ... she usually opens one, and puts it aside and opens the next ... a bit overwhelming on Christmas morning ...

So for her to be able to enjoy each gift, even though they're small ... it's nice.

If she could "handle it" ... it would be nice to just let her open up a present everyday until Christmas and then only have one left to open on Christmas morning ... not sure if she would go for that!!!!

We've also started singing "on the first day of Christmas my Mommy gave to me ..." and her goal is to remember from day to day what she opened ... so on Christmas we can sing all 12 days, hopefully from memory!

Exciting ...

happy days ... tammy