A Wedding, A Funeral ... and some Crazy Love!

it's been a whirlwind since I last posted!

There was a funeral, a wedding and LeAnna was a flower girl ... all in the same day!

The funeral was supposed to happen on Friday and it got changed to Saturday ... at 2pm ... which happened to be the same time as the Wedding ... so ... LeAnna and I went to the wedding ... Nate went to the funeral ... I hated to miss it ... but I had no choice ... LeAnna was in the wedding and I was photographing it ... I sure hated Nate missed LeAnna being a flower girl ... but he had to speak and play at the funeral ... she did so good ... I was a bit worried ... she has been a little shy lately and I didn't know if she would get up there and flip out or what ... however ... once I told her that I would be practically walking down the isle with her and up on the platform with her ... she was fine ... the bride wanted me up close and personal ... and I was ... ha! ... at one point ... I found myself standing beside the minister! hahahaahha ... I then thought "what am I doing?" ... and I moved over to the side! ... gotta get those ring shots! =0)

anyhoo ...

here are a few pics of my little lovely one ... I was very proud of her ...

uncle Wade ... I was so happy for him Saturday ... because he's happy ... but it was SO weird for me ... seeing him with someone besides my aunt Mary ... I guess because "knowing" there was a funeral going on at the same time and I wanted to be there as well ... that I was thinking of Mary's funeral not to long ago ... oh well ... life happens ... and we move on ... I'm just happy he's happy now.

Mother's Day ... a very cool day ... a day I've celebrated since I was born (whether I knew it or not) someone helped me celebrate it for my Mom! =0)

it's a day ... that I waited SO long to celebrate for ME!

I watched all my friends celebrate this special day ... and I celebrated with them ... wished them well ... even gave gifts to some at times ... but after the celebration was over ... after being very thankful and appreciative of my own Mom and Mother-In-Law ... I would then "alone" wallow in my misery and self-pity due to my "motherlessness" feelings of not being a mother myself!

I remember all the Mothers being asked to stand and then the ushers would pass out small gifts to them to honor them being a "mother" ... and I longed SO bad to be able to stand and get my prize ... sounds so stupid right?! AND I would have Sunday School children run up to me and bring me colored pages and be so proud to present them to me ... I was SO appreciative and loved everyone ... but I wanted MY very own child to run up to me and give me a scribbled drawing ... and I wallowed in this for years!!!!!

So on Mother's Day NOW, I don't take it lightly when I'm handed a small gift from an usher ... it means something to me ... very special ... and when my little baby girl runs up to me with a handful of weeds she's just picked or a page she just colored ... I melt and I savor every moment!

I can SO sympathize with the women who long to mother their own child ... it's a feeling that is VERY difficult to explain it's meaning ... it's a craving you just can't satisfy ... and what is SO cool?! is that God put it there ... it's a God-given nature to want to "mother" ... and I am SO glad and very happy thankful that He satisfied my craving 6 1/2 years ago!

Isn't it crazy?! Crazy that you could feel that kind of love that you feel towards a child?! The kind of love that one minute could rip you apart ... and the next minute feeling like you would give your everything for it?! yep ... crazy love!

I'm just so humble and thankful that He gave me the "desires of my heart" ... very grateful ....

and so ... on this Mother's Day weekend ... happy happy happy Mother's Day to all of you celebrating today ... and to those dear ones who WANT to be able to make this day your very own ... hang in there ...

Friday ... Nate was off and we had several errands to run and was out picking up gifts for our Moms ... so we were running a little late and Renee offered to go pick up LeAnna ... she was at the school turning in applications for the kids ...

when we arrived to the house to pick her up ... LeAnna presented me with a huge vase of flowers and a card ... oh my goodness ... Renee will never know what she did for me ... all those times that I did that for other friends of mine ... those memories came flooding back ... and I am very humble and thankful ... thanks Renee for making my day ... and the card? oh my ... GOT ME!!!! Renee asked LeAnna what she wanted to say ... LeAnna said ... "I like the way you love me" ...

WHAAAAAA WHAAAAAA (crying REAL tears now) ... Man .. that got me!

Whew! Okay ... better now ...

So ... Happy Mother's Day to all of you ... very special people ...

love, love and happy day ... tammy

Regret or Relief?

Death ... it's a word that I have issues with.

It's so "final" - profound I know.

This evening we got word that a lady in our church was nearing death ... we dropped everything 'literally' ... I even had bell pepper chopped up in the skillet and was starting to prepare supper ... and we got dressed and hurried out the door.

I really thought we were going to say our final good-byes, and then leave to go on to church ... however, we were only there about 30 minutes and she passed away.

I wasn't really prepared for that ... I wasn't expecting that at all actually ... and when it comes to "death", especially when it's due to a long, drawn out illness ... that's how most of my family members passed away ... with me right there watching ... so when I'm faced with this, all of those memories come rolling back in ...

so this evening was a bit overwhelming to me to say the least ...

My true "really effected me" death experiences started 16 years ago today actually ... how ironic ...

my aunt passed away "suddenly" ... she was my favorite aunt on my Dad's side (his sister) ... we had a lot in common ... we shared "diabetes" together ... both diagnosed at the age of 8 ... she died at 42, 16 years ago today.

I was with her when she passed away ... not easy ... very hard actually ...

we were at a Mother's Day luncheon at church ... she started having chest pains, we took her to the hospital ... she never came home ...

since then ... I've had hospital and nursing home duty with extended illnesses before passing away with my grandmother, father, granddad and aunt ... this was VERY taxing ... and VERY hard when you're the ONLY child in the family. LeAnna and I are the only living ones left in that family tree. Weird to think about actually.

So ... my heart goes out to this family ... it's been a very difficult road for them ... I totally sympathize ... and NO ONE can comprehend until you've "been there done that" with a family member. Days like these you HATE to see coming, but at the same time - there is such a relief that you feel too! SO many emotions balled up into one moment ... and I think we saw them all this evening at the home of this dear lady ...

So ... because of this happening today - it took me back to my own memory of my aunt because of it being today ... and then also of my other family members, especially my Dad ... WHY did he suffer? I think the hardest thing is watching them lay there and suffer and question why can't they die? My stomach is in knots right now just thinking about it ... we found 3 or 4 loaded guns in the house that we didn't know about when my Dad passed ... he mentioned several times of taking his life because he was in SO much pain ... I am SO THANKFUL he didn't ... but I hated that he suffered so much. At times I questioned the same things myself ... why?!

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to me ... I guess the songwriter felt the same way about some things when he/she wrote the song "We'll Understand It Better By and By".

The hardest thing for me is watching a dying person struggle to take their final breaths ... knowing that "breathing" is the MOST natural thing we do ... and that we take it for granted on a daily basis .... because we just know it's going to happen ... you're going to breathe whether you actually think about doing it or not! it just happens! but this evening ... watching Sis. Huddleston breathe her last breaths ... some of them were 30 seconds apart ... until she took her final one ... it just makes you stop for a moment and realize, "this is it" ... no more ... no more chances ... no more opportunities to say what you should have said ... no time to "make up" or "make it right" ...

I struggled with many things the night my Dad passed away ... SO many things I said to him in his final moments, I stood over him wishing I had said them SO long before then ... hoping and praying I hadn't waited too late ...

My only advice I have to whoever it may be ... is ... say it now, make it right now, don't wait until there's no opportunity to do so ... even if it's trivial, and so small that you wouldn't think it would matter ... BELIEVE ME, no matter how small it is in your mind, it's magnified a million times at the death of that person and YOU are the one who's got to live with it - the other person is dead and gone and will have no recollection of it ... you however, will live the rest of your life with either "regret" or "relief" ...

yep ... been there done that ...

so this evening ... my heart is heavy ... very full ... full of memories ... full of sadness ... full of regret ... full of relief ... all types of emotions balled into this moment.

I'm hoping and praying that if you are faced with a similar situation that you are full of "relief" instead of "regret" ...

definitely something to ponder ...

respectfully ... tammy

If It Itches ... Scratch it!

so ... where do you begin a post when SO much has happened since you last posted?!

well ... Sunday was packed with things ...

- sunday school

- baby dedication

- kaitlyn "baptitized" (her cute way of saying it)

- sis. flora long's 100th birthday celebration

- open house (got an offer, we counter offered, waiting to hear)

- evening church

- dinner afterwards to celebrate miquela's birthday

Monday ...

well ... was a blur ... worked like crazy ...

for family night we went to see NCS's performance of Aladdin, Jr ... too cute.

Tuesday ...

field trip to the zoo ... ALWAYS an adventure going on field trips with kindergartners!

the parents that attended were assigned students ...

my two were LeAnna and MacKenna

here are a few pics from the day ...

The "real" monkey's at the zoo!

ok ... this was the funniest thing ... we're at the petting part of the zoo ... and there were goats ... well ... all the kids were petting the goats ... and this one little goat was at the end of the fence by himself ... all of the other goats have their heads hanging over the fence with the kids petting them... this one however, had his better half hanging over the fence ... I found this odd and started walking towards it ... to my surprise ... he started moving back and forth and used his head to help him move easier ... he was scratching his behind on the fence post! I started laughing SO hard ... I was dying ... I would have given anything for a video camera at the moment ... I did take a few pics of him moving back and forth ... but pics do not do it justice ... hahaahahahha ... oh well ... if you've got an itch ... scratch it!

we had a great time ... but I was very happy that we got to leave when it started getting really hot!

I have been so crazy busy with all my jobs the last couple of days that I'm not sure if I'm coming or going ... I'm ready for it all to slow down just a bit!

but until then ...

happy day ... tammy

Encouraging The Unassuming Invisibles ... is the "true" Art of Encouragment.

today ... I was invited to attend a special get together at my home church ... they have a monthly ladies get together called "Women In The Word". Sis. Tinney was the special speaker today ... and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

she spoke on the "art of encouragement" ... she mentioned how things that we say ... whether good or bad ... will have an effect on the person we are speaking them to. And I thought ... how true that we never seem to forget the "true encouragement of the spoken word" or the "true discouragement of the spoken word" ...

so I sat there thinking as she was speaking of how someone "effected" her at 11 years old. someone said something to her that she has never forgotten. what was said, left her with a question in her mind as to how the "speaker" meant it and to this day she's never forgotten it. it made her question her confidence level about herself ... and obviously, patterned her life somewhat, all over those few small words that just "popped out" of someones mouth and as an 11 year old, wasn't sure how to take it.

hmmm ... so I began thinking ... you know? ... there are things that stick out in my mind that people have said to me through the years ... that are STILL there. some good ... some bad ... and yes, I have to admit ... effected me. For me to still remember something said to me at 8 years old, and for me to STILL toss that around in my head? yep ... had an effect!

Man! Makes one stop and think ... and to SERIOUSLY and carefully choose every word that comes out of the mouth towards someone else ... and ponder it a bit before popping it out ... will this hurt this person? will this uplift and encourage this person? will I leave them WONDERING for the next 30 years what I REALLY MEANT!

I have BIG issues with perception! So many times ... we say things without thinking and honestly mean NO harm at all by them and think SURELY they will take this right (as an after thought) ... and then only to find out years later that something "you" said, they were offended by. Ah man, that is horrible! And I've been there ... didn't have a clue that someone felt indifferently towards me, only to find out that something that was said years ago, was taken wrong and feelings had gone unattended by this one little unassuming comment. This happened to me recently and I was stunned ... I never would have had a clue, had they not approached me ... which I am SO glad they did ... WoW ... you just never know ... I was SO sorry that they felt that way but was very relieved that they came to me, so I could plead my case and make things right. I think they were very relieved too, and felt much better after coming to me.

So ... art of encouragement ...

I really liked one statement she made ... she said, there are SO many people in this world that become invisible in this world ... mainly because someone years ago, said something to them that hurt them and they never forgot it or let it go. And because of it, they walk around with low self esteem, no confidence in themselves and lead invisible lives ... and WE pass them by everyday unassumingly, keeping them invisible. Like the single mother of three, who is not able to purchase and wear the "trendy" clothes, who has more than her share of bills and no help from a spouse because he left her. Like the not so attractive, verbally beaten down bag lady at the market, who bags groceries for a living, probably because she doesn't feel like she could do anything else. These people are the way they are, because of the "spoken word" good or bad, spoken years prior that made them who they are. When who we "normally" give the encouragement to are people with the "trendy" clothes on, or the ladies that don't have "so many" issues, or lending the words of encouragement to the "executives" at work instead of the "people who clean the toilets".

when all they need is a word of encouragement. not a "general" word of encouragement, but a SPECIFIC word of encouragement, meant just for them, that when said, would be taken personally (in a good way).

I was definitely challenged to "specific encouragement" ... and to give more of it ... especially to "unassuming invisibles".

Yep ... it was nice today to be reminded that when you "think" you don't have a "so-called Ministry" ... the Art of Encouragement is a wonderful ministry to choose. And anyone can do that - if they so choose to.

I was glad I took time out of my busy life to attend this morning ... it was an encouragement all in itself!

happy day ... tammy

digging in the dirt with HAIRY the potter!

Today I went to a special lady's house from my church and spent a couple of hours with her. We had the best time! She was so excited about our date ... she planned a very nice morning and it was a total surprise as to what we would do! The only details she gave me were, "wear something you don't mind getting a bit dirty and bring your camera".

When I arrived, she placed a special apron that someone gave her, around my neck ... and said ... "we're going to re-pot some flowers!" which we did ... and I found out that she had been nurturing them for a while and decided to "un-pot" hers and helped me re-pot my very own pot to take home ... how special is that?!

I really enjoyed walking around her house, her showing me things that were special to her ... and just getting to know her. I see her at church just about every time the doors are open ... and we smile and hug ... and exchange pleasantries ... but ... as I've said before ... when someone invites you into "their" private space, their home, their life, etc. ... it means a lot!

Yes ... I got a lot out of today ...

first, it was nice just to "get out" of the house, take off work for a few hours ... second, I got to know "better" a very special lady ... third, she taught me some things I didn't know ...

and the pot of flowers was such a nice gesture ... not only did she give of her time to spend with me, she gave me something "of hers" that was of importance to her ... something she had been nurturing and caring for ... and she shared with me, for me to bring it home and share with my family.

Thanks Sis. Special Lady ... for "giving" to me today ... what a blessing.

happy "hairy potter" day ... tammy

Working and Wishing ...

May 1st!

It's Kindergarten Graduation Month!

She graduates on Sunday, May 18th ...

I'm a wreck about "Summer" already!

When she comes home from school, she comes in the door saying, "I'm bored! I need someone to play with" ...

oh my ... I can only imagine how summer will be!

AAHHHHH ....

I've already decided to "structurize" our summer! We are going to have things to do around here and then certain days of the week we'll have things to do outside the house ... hopefully this "will help" some maybe?!

Yesterday ... Aunt Betty and Nena left to go back to Florida.

They have been here 3 months and the reason for their trip was to help Mom.

They have been invaluable to Mom and I - and for that we are most appreciative!

Mom was very emotional yesterday over them leaving ... I felt so sorry for her! She cried a lot off and on throughout the day.

"the house feels so empty and I feel so alone" ... that's how Mom felt.

Bless her heart ... I asked her if she would like LeAnna to stay with her last night. She GLADLY accepted and loved the idea!

So I asked LeAnna if she would like to spend the night with Nana.

her response ... "what in the world will I do with her if she gets up in the middle of the night?"

ha!

Ends up ... we both stayed with Nana last night!

We'll see how tonight goes ... Aunt Judy might stay ...

I guess we'll take turns until Mom feels comfortable "moving about the cabin" in a big ol' house by herself. I think her fear is falling and no one there to know about it!

You know ... we just live SO FAR away ... it would take all of 10 seconds to get to her if need be.

oh well ...

This is the schedule until she is more comfortable.

So ... just working ... and working ... and working ...

and wishing ... and wishing ... and wishing ...

THAT I WAS NOT working ... and working ... and working!

hmmm ... 63 days and counting until vacation!

wOO - hOO

happy day ... tammy

Cinderella, Shattered Glass, and Slit Wrists Because Simon Says ...

Yah ... I know ...

When I said "busier than a one armed paper hanger" last week? Well ... it got worse!

I really wanted to post on Sunday evening once we FINALLY arrived home ... but I was so tired, I went straight to bed.

Saturday - Cinderella was performed at the Renaissance Center in Dickson ...

LeAnna and Kaitlyn enjoyed themselves ... and Kaitlyn fell in love with the Prince in the short time we were there. Here he is signing her playbill ...

This was some interesting art displayed at the Center, paying homage to Alice In Wonderland ...

I was really excited to finally be able to attend the Renaissance Center ... been wanting to for a while - will definitely go back!

I had clients picking up pictures before and after the performance Saturday ... so Saturday was very busy at my house!

Then ... Sunday happened ...

-Sunday School

-quick lunch

-open house at the condo - had a looker, sounds promising - still hoping and praying for a call!

-"Simon Says" performance at the Becton's church

-Choir Practice

-Sunday evening church

-dinner with friends

yep ... another very busy day! But a very pleasant one!

Monday ... normally a day of "getting back to a routine" ... well ... work happened and not much else! Then a birthday dinner for Aunt Judy!

Today ... hmmm ... well ... CRAZY ... and that (crazy) is becoming part of my "norm" around here!

I had to leave my house all day for not wanting to talk about it reasons ...

stayed at Mom's ... and worked the best I could without my computer ...

I had to make a run to the grocery store for Mom this morning ... she needed "bulk" items ... so Aunt Betty and I went to Costco at 9:45am ... only to discover that they do not open until 11am (with my gold member status - not sure how golden that is!) ... so ... left and went to Sam's Wholesale ... got in the door and I couldn't find my stupid Sam's card ... hmmm ... Nate took it out of my wallet! ARGH! Had to get a temporary card made just to shop for 3 items!!!!! AAHHHHH ... Sam's didn't have everything Mom needed ... SO when all else fails ... I guess ... go to Walmart?! I really don't prefer Walmart ... but had to do it! Anyhoo ... Whew!

So ... this afternoon, Mom asked me to make a Blender Chocolate Pie to take to someone for her ... SO ... I did ... however ... when returning home with my blender this evening ... the pitcher part fell off the base that remained in my arms and shattered all over my kitchen and dining room! Do you know how thick blender glass is? VERY! Glass flew and a piece landed in my thumb - OUCH - pulled it out ... not a big deal ... until I started to clean up the mess and slit my wrist on a large jagged edge of glass sticking up! Okay ... I was at the point of slitting my wrist - but only in theory, NOT actually proceeding with it! Anyhoo ... finally stopped bleeding, calmed it with a band-aid ... good as new now ...

oh well ...

like I said before ... my life is SO boring and lacks action ... so I occasionally do things like drop my blender and slit my wrists ... JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT!

whatever!

okay ... so ... THEN ... to top it ALL today ... I got a phone call that I HAD to attend a meeting this evening for the subdivision - a director's meeting ... the President of the association could not arrive until 8pm so I (being the sucker that I am - was voted in as Vice President of the association last Fall) had to attend at 7:30 to cover until the President got there ...

Yep ... NOT where I wanted to spend my evening from 7:30 until 9:00 this evening!

However ... the good news is ... I am home ... home sweet home ... and SO tired that I can't even sleep!

hmmm ...

anyhoo ... just a "glimpse" of my "Moment's" lately ...

Maybe I can come up with something exciting to talk about tomorrow!

happy day ... tammy

Empty Eggs + Lost Stones + Wild Flowers = Simple Treasures ...

Yesterday (Wednesday) ... I took Mom, Aunt Betty and Nena to the Copper Kettle for lunch!

Yum-meeeee

a cool little meat/3 beside David Lipscomb University.

Had a great lunch and afterwards went over to our new Whole Foods in Hill Place ... OH MY Goodness!!!!

At Publix ... they have an end space on one isle with organic type foods ... but imagine an entire grocery store as big as Publix PACKED with everything healthy and organic!

I have to admit ... if my camera had of been with me ... there would be pics to post ... the way they arrange the veggies and fruits ... MAKES you want to buy them ... well me anyway ... I have issues at Target ... because everything is SO color coordinated and neat that it makes me want to BUY way TOO much each time I go ...

anyhoo ... Whole Foods ... definitely an experience ... I did buy several items ... and used some already ... I was VERY happy that LeAnna actually TRIED some new organic strawberry yogurt and even liked it!

So ... I pick her up from school ... and this is the 2nd day in a row that she has had me drop her off at the front of our subdivision and she jogs home!

I drive slowly right beside her and turn the radio up for her to have music ... SHE MUST HAVE SEEN that commercial on TV where the wife is doing this and the husband drives along beside her playing music ... probably not ... but it made me think of that!

anyhoo ... she thinks this is the coolest thing ... AND I think this is the coolest thing ... because if you asked me to jog UP our hill through our subdivision - I would politely decline ... it's a rough hill ... EASY to go down it ... but coming up is a different story ...

fun ...

so ... when she got home ... as soon as she walked in the door ... she says, "I'm bored, I have no one to play with" ... oh my goodness ... I was like "REST" ... you've been going ALL day ...

anyhoo ... we went outside for a bit and I sat on the front porch reading a magazine while she "hunted" for items in our yard ...

this is what she came up with ...

1. A robin's egg

2. A stone out of someones ring

3. Pretty flowers ... she flipped out when I told her that the yard was being cut Thursday ... she started panicking and picking ALL the flowers ... after questioning her WHY she was doing this ... she thought that the flowers wouldn't be back until next year and she thought they were so pretty! I was happy to tell her that they would be back NEXT WEEK! Along with the weeds ... too bad she doesn't have a thing for weeds!

oh well ... she was excited with her "treasures" ... and couldn't WAIT this morning to take the Robin's egg into class to show her friends ...

Thanks LeAnna for reminding me ... that if we would take time to stop and literally "smell the roses" ... that we would be amazed at what treasures we would find ... not that they are treasures to anyone else ... but whatever makes YOU happy is a treasure.

happy day ... tammy

DecembeRadio Kind Of Evening ...

Whew... busier than a one-armed paper hanger!

So ... a funny ...

Yesterday ... Princess had an appointment at the "beauty salon" ... so we're going into Petsmart .... and she discovers a cage of birds ... so ... we had to stop and let her jump up on the glass ... fun for her ... terrorizing the birds ... then ... we start walking to the back of the store towards the groomer ... this whole time, she has been right by my side, as always, eager to keep up and be EVERYWHERE I'm at ... (she even goes to the bathroom with me - TMI, I know ...) anyhoo ... all of a sudden, the leash tugs ... I turn around and she is sitting on the floor with her back legs up in the air and it appears that I'm DRAGGING her! So ... I said, "No, Princess - let's go" ... I figured maybe she either - 1. didn't want to go to the beauty salon, or 2. wanted to go back and terrorize the birds ... however ... it was neither ... it was #3 (choice not noted) that actually turned into #2!

AAHHHH ....

she was POOPING!

and I was dragging her through it!!!!

Oh MY ...

yep ... in a 9 foot area, there were 5 poop logs on the floor!

I was SO embarrassed ...

I looked ahead of me and the lady behind the counter just pointed to a small kiosk on an end isle and I turned around and ... how convenient ... a "poop station" ... there were wipes, baggies, trash disposal, Purell ...

So I grabbed the "necessities" and started wiping up ... thank God for firm poop! - however, it took me two trips to the "station" to get it all cleaned up!

VERY embarrassed ...

and ...

it's like this all the time ... I just don't share everything!

oh well ...

life

So ... last night ... went to The Rutledge ... a live music venue on 4th Ave. ...

This week is GMA week and one of my favorite bands right now (Nate's too) is DecembeRadio ... and they were there!

Oh My Goodness!!!! It was SO good ...

Woo-Hoo ...

Some friends invited us to go and we had a great time ...

Doors were supposed to open at 7pm ... we were there at 7pm and had to wait until 8:30 to get in ... AAAHHHH ...oh well ... still had a great time ... we didn't leave there until 11:30 ... there were three bands and the one we wanted to hear didn't play until last (go figure) ... I told Nate, we could have stayed home, put LeAnna to bed, watched the news and then left to come down here! ... ha!

It was nice to just get out and do something like that ...

Ok ... I must move on with the busy"ness" of the day ...

happy day ... tammy

Childhood Profanity Can Be a GOOD Thing ... at the right moment ...

My friend Allison invited me to attend this with her last night ...

It was SO super cool and I had the best time ...

I LIVED for concerts in my 'teen' years ...

I remember having a subscription to CCM Magazine and the FIRST thing I would do (after scanning the front cover and index) was flip to the back and look over all the upcoming concerts in the Tennessee area ... I would circle the ones I wanted to attend ... call friends and see who was interested and then immediately make plans to go ..

I attended so many ... and it was SO much fun ... this was a definite highlight of my youth.

So ... when Allison called and asked if I would like to go - I was like ... Oh yeah! And then the memories started flooding and I was almost giddy about it ...

The concert was to benefit Mercy Ministries and to celebrate their 25 years in existence. Just hearing the stories and learning about them, was very cool. To know that a lady, Nancy Alcorn, had a vision 25 + years ago to have a home for girls facing "crisis" in their lives and giving them a place to go "free" and offering them "hope" when they got there ... amazing ... AND it's non-funded by the government ... "on purpose" ... if they took money from the government, they would not be allowed to share the love of Jesus with these girls ... and Nancy knew that's exactly what these girls needed ... issues with eating disorders, drug addictions, cutting, teen-pregnancy - help they "could not" get at a mental hospital, she could offer through Jesus.

Wow ... very enlightening, and a very heart-touching experience.

The music was SO incredible ... we stood up a lot of the time, "cheering the artist on" so to speak ... =0)

It SO took me back ... I remember how good it felt to be with all my friends, having a great time and doing something my parents approved of! ha! Jumping around, screaming out after the song was over ... clapping and hollering like a crazy person ... not a care in the world, other than being in the moment ... yep ... it all came back ...

I had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed myself ... except this time ...

I'm older ... I have a husband at home, a child at home, more responsibility, a house of my own to take care of ... all of the fringe benefits of becoming "older" ...

So the thinking "this time" wasn't as "carefree" as when I was a teen ... but because it's been so long since a good concert - it just took me back!

We had the best time ... and Israel and New Breed ROCKED!!!!! Oh My ... to hear them in person, when I'm so used to just hearing them on the iPod ...

it was great!

Afterwards ... we went to eat at Mafiaozas ...

however ... on the way ... we're sitting at the corner of Wedgewood and 12th Ave. South ... and a homeless person comes up to MY window, slams his hands on the window and I literally thought I would die ... I was SO startled by this ... Dianna in the backseat saw him coming and all she could do was say, "aahhhhh" as he got closer ... and all I saw was two large hands slam against my window ... oh my goodness ... apparently I immediately reverted to childhood profanity and all I could get out of my mouth was ... "AAAHHH - you Dumb-Dumb!" and then I turned and pushed Allison's arm and said DRIVE!!!! However... we were at a red light and there was a car in front of us ... and I guess by pushing her arm it would cause her to push the gas pedal and would make a swift exit ... (as I was coming out of my seat) ... and I all but excreted waste in her seat!

Yep ... it was horrible ... and I was scared to death! Thank GOD the door was locked! It just didn't matter at that point ... as far as I was concerned ... he was coming through the window after me!

oh my goodness ...

everyone in the vehicle were laughing their heads off at my childhood profanity outburst!

It was pretty comical after the fact ... but ... "dumb-dumb"? Where did that come from?! OH well ...

funny ...

We didn't get to the restaurant until around 11:30 or so ... we had the best time ... and I wasn't delivered home by our designated driver (Allison) until 1:37am ...

woo-hoo ... it was definitely a GNO to remember ...

It was nice "thinking way back" to the younger years ... but I love my life now and wouldn't have it any other way!

Thanks to all our husbands who took care of the kiddos while we were having a GNO!

(but now that I think of it ... the husbands don't come in with "thank you's" to us when they have a "guy's night out" ... hmmm ...) oh well - Thanks Anyway!

happy day ... tammy

A Day Of New ...

Craz-eee - biz-eee ...

I had a client today at the Bicentennial Mall ... very interesting place ... I have never been there and it is such a cool place ... definitely want to go back ... can't believe I haven't experienced this before ... check it out here

Mom ... returned the "crock pot" ... the business - "Linens N' Things" in Rivergate ... they were very kind to her ... and yes, they believed her ... and were very sorry ... they didn't even ask for her receipt! Mom asked them if they "look" in returned boxes upon return ... and the guy said, "normally, yes" ...oh well ... Mom said ... "I bet you will from now on for sure!" ...

So ... she returned home with her brand new crock pot ... BUT not before opening it at the front counter and pulling every piece out and checking it ... it was packed so tight, they had trouble getting it all back in the box to close properly ...oh well ... she wasn't about to leave without doing so ... and rightly so ...

Went to the Bound'ry for dinner this evening with friends ... we sat outside at a table with a fire pit ... beautiful night for it ... had a great time ... ambiance was very nice ... "another" never been there, but want to go back. Here's their info

And ... doing breakfast with Karla in the morning ... at a new place called Fido's ... "another" new place for me ... their info

hmmm ... I suddenly feel like a "tourist" ...

ha ...

oh well ... a day of "new"

happy day ... tammy

It's A Crazy Life ... but ... It's my life.

Okay ...

so ...

last night before bed ... had our clothes laid out and ready ... lunches packed .... backpack packed and ready to grab on the way out the door ... it's the big field trip to the Renaissance Center in Dickson Tuesday morning ...

However ...

LeAnna woke up with a headache ... which turned into more of a migraine ... she was hurting so bad she was crying and complaining a little too much for my comfort level ... she doesn't do this very often ... so I was worried ... I had NO Tylenol in the house ... but I had Motrin ... hmmm ... well ... she didn't want to eat ... I got two bites of cereal down her ... which ended up not being enough I guess ... she took the Motrin and went and laid down ... Motrin is SO hard on your tummy on an empty stomach.

I called the teacher to explain what was going on ... she was expecting me to take pictures today of the kids for the scrapbooks she's making to give each child at the end of the year (thus the reason I'm at school a lot taking pics) ...

no answer ... so I left a message and my number for her to call ...

well ... the phone rang and it was her ... however ... I was in the bathroom with LeAnna holding a cold rag on her head while she was throwing up!!!!! Bless her heart ... eek ...

So ... got her settled back in bed ... and called her back ...

once again ... had to leave a message ... and "again" ... told her that I wasn't sure if I would make it I would have to see ... but to call me and give me details of what to do about our tickets, etc. ... and left my number "again" ...

Now ... a knock at the back door ...

it's Aunt Betty ... coming over to tell me that LeAnna's teacher keeps calling at Mom's house!

ha! oh my dear goodness ...

remember my last couple of days? CRAZY Monsoon!!!

well ...

the number that I gave the teacher to call me back? Was MOM'S ...

Not ONCE ... but TWICE folks!

How dumb is that?!!?!??!

Yep ... definitely feeling the effects of my downpour ...

Anyhoo ...

She got sick a few times ... but after the headache went away, she was fine ... and has been eating normal since lunch and feeling fine ...

YIKES!!!!

Always "something" ...

My life is SO boring ... I just don't understand why we never have any excitement or anything out of the ordinary happen around here!!!

Such a boring life ...

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHH ....

anyhoo ...

the day started getting better ...

LeAnna started feeling better ... and I even got a call today about the Condo ... Woo-Hoo ...

The taxes however, have bummed us ... BUT ... Nate decided to contact our Accountant at the last minute (literally) ... to have him look over our Turbo Tax mess that we tried to do on our own ...

as of a little bit ago ... we got a call stating that we owe a little over a $1,000 less than what we had conjured up on our own!

woo-hoo!!!!!!

Thank God and the Accountant

A funny "dumb" today ...

I decided to try a new recipe ... which ended up being an original ... since I was lacking two key ingredients that it called for ...

however ... it went well and we liked it with the replacement ingredients! And that's all that matters I guess ... that you please the palate of your family ...

anyhoo ... the "dumb" part ...

I asked my Mom if I could borrow her "NEW" crock pot ... mine's smaller and I wanted to try her new BIG one that she got ...

anyhoo ... "sure" was her reply ... so I haul the box in the house ... NOT paying attention to what it actually looks like on the outside of the box ... just that it was "something new" to play with!

SO ... remove it from the box ... noticing it was shut with only one piece of tape on one side ... mental note made but nothing registered ... then started to remove it from the box ... and noticed there was no lid on the top but just thought, it's somewhere else in the box ... moved along ... took it out and thought ... wow this is a bit dusty ... probably from the packaging it was packed in ...

and of course I always wash anything new before using ... so moved it over to the sink and removed the pot from the crock (or whatever) and when I laid the pot in the sink to start washing I glanced over at the "crock" part and noticed it was dirty - like food had been cooked and spilled over into it ...

WHAT?!?!? how dumb is that? I thought Mom said this was new ...

hmmm ... maybe she used it and forgot she had ... she IS medicated ...ha! (big joke right now ... that's her crutch for everything - "I'm medicated")

so I thought ... well ... before I use this thing, I need to wipe that out ... so I started cleaning the inside of the "crock" part and as I was cleaning, turned it around to the back ...

AND ... the whole back is caved in and THEN notice it's not even sitting in it's base properly ... it can't because it's broken!!!!!

WHAT?!?!?!?!

Back to the box to look at it ...

NO LID ... anywhere ... AND ... it's white ... the box (that I didn't notice before) pictured a Stainless Steel crock pot that was a WHOLE different model and make than what was sitting on my counter top ...

WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!?!

And poor "medicated" Mom thought it was a GREAT deal ... for $49.99 on sale from $69

Okay ...

Some dumb idiot (sorry) ... packaged up their wedding gift crock pot from 20 years ago, with no lid and dented in and packaged it back up in a "different" box and returned it to the store ...

probably the week after Christmas when the checkout lady was way TOO busy to actually open the box and CHECK to make sure there was indeed a crock pot enclosed ... it could have been a box of rocks!

Hmmm ... what does this tell me?

Some dumb idiot ACTUALLY got away with this ... and is probably at home RIGHT NOW ... rummaging through his garage or who knows ... the neighbor's trash ... looking for JUNK to box up and return to the unassuming DUMB BLOND at register #1 ... only to leave with BRAND NEW items ... which means ... innocent "medicated" Mom's will come along and purchase neighbor's junk ... and WHO KNOWS ... might even give it as a gift!

Can you imagine?

If Mom had purchased that as a gift and gave it to someone for their wedding?

Oh My Goodness ...

dying thinking about it ...

Anyhoo ... she was SO upset ... that her and my aunt and cousin got in the car and drove back to Rivergate to return it ...

Can't WAIT to hear what they say ... my "fear" was that now that this box was actually going to be opened up in front of the DUMB BLOND at register #1, that she might think that MOM rummaged around in her garage or in the neighbor's trash to try and "pull one over" on her and NOT believe her ...

oh my ...

only my family ... only my life ... only me.

There are SO many details I leave out about my crazy life ... I seriously don't think anyone would believe them all!

ha!

happy crazy day ... tammy