Saturday, November 22, 2008

Baby Grands and Oreo Turkeys

This post is a part of the Thanksgiving feast at L.L. Barkat’s Seedlings in Stone. Join us at the table. When you do, drop a comment by L.L.’s blog to let her know. L.L. will link to you in the Thanksgiving Celebration post (and Christianity Today and High Calling Blogs will link back to said post, so their readers can check out the full celebration).
Baby Grands and Oreo Turkeys
One of my greatest joys at this season in my life, is the time I get to spend with the grands. My little gang of three keep me on my toes spiritually, physically and emotionally. Challenging me daily with a unique wit, wisdom and faith that is often found in members of the pint size set. They prove time and again that out of the mouths of babes God will be known and praised.

The fall and winter after my daughters death, a large part of me wanted to hunker down, stay indoors and hide from everyone in hopes that I could ignore the annual parade of holidays until it passed.

The one-two celebratory combo of Thanksgiving and Christmas held some of the sweetest and most cherished memories of times spent with my girl. Lauren was a self proclaimed homebody, who loved her family and revelled in all occasions that brought the family together.

I made the silly assumption that because we were so recently bereaved, no one would expect the usual Thanksgiving fair. Those who usually graced our tables would make other plans to spend their days in more joyful surroundings, with brighter spirited people.

I could not have been more wrong.

This family of mine barraged me with request for all their favorite dishes, I had parties inviting themselves to dinner as well as their latest love interest. We were to have a crowd.



What was wrong with these people?



Despite my intentions to sit out that inaugural year, my family had other ideas.

With help from my dear husband along with emails and phone calls from in laws and outlaws we assembled a menu, filled the cupboards and prepared for the pending celebration.


My family had high expectations and good intentions-committing to do everything they could to make this festival of thanks go smoothly and with little effort on my part. There were many promises of what would be done and how they would help, promises that ultimately were broken as most fell into their normal holiday habits that included watching lots of football, Christmas movies and naps by the fire.


But not the wee folk.


Seems my baby grand girls would have no part in my boycotting the holidays. My girls begged to know what we would be having and how they could help put on this party.


From decorating the house to baking pies my two K's hijacked every plan I made to sit the season out, instead setting a course for a holiday wrapped in true thanks.

At just over 2 1/2 years old, these two little sprites were formidable.

It was Thanksgiving by golly!


They knew what to expect if we were doing this holiday up right and they were tenacious enough to keep me from collapsing on my memories and shutting the whole thing down.



To that end, these two girls were on me all the time: my kitchen, my bedroom, my bathroom, my world. From early in the morning to late at night they seemed determined to miss nothing.



With my two little sous chefs and Paw Paw in tow, we went about preparing a Thanksgiving feast.






We measured, stirred, whipped and baked.





The girls wash dishes, shucked corn and deviled some eggs.



We read volume's of thanksgiving books, played lots of birdie in the nest





all when we weren't


swinging and sliding all over our backyard and everyone else's.



My crew painted, colored and had all manner of tea parties that effectively filled every






dark corner of our big ole house with waves of love, laughter and other reminders of how much we truly had cause to give thanks for.



Those two girls wore themselves out with it all...they were so determined to be thankful!





By the time we actually sat down for dinner that year my heart overflowed and I dared to mention the unmentionable...the empty chair....




As with many families we traditionally take time to share something we are grateful for before going to God in prayer.

I was first to take a turn.


I thanked my loved ones for putting out all the effort, changing their plans and pushing so hard to be there in a home that no one in their right mind would want to be in - the home of a dead girl and her grieving family.



What kind of fun could that be?


Where's a cause to celebrate and give thanks?




Yet they came, made me stay, face my loss and ultimately blessed me so. It was a bittersweet day of thanks.


What a family I have!


I am blessed and abundantly so!


This year, no one will be traveling over the river and through the woods to this Maw Maw's house. It is not our turn to prepare their feast.

Instead, we prepare for a party of five.


Baby grand and I have been busy creating menu's, writing grocery list and making decorations including place card holders made of Oreo turkeys all while anticipating the baking of our first pumpkin pie this season.

For this I am thankful.


My son and daughter in love are expecting again...a miracle in itself as Elizabeth has unique medical anomalies that have kept her from successfully carrying 3 other pregnancies to term, so we lift them up in prayer and praise God.


For this I am thankful.


Same precious daughter in love gave her heart to Christ earlier this year and has been waiting to be baptized here in Georgia. Lord willing, Elizabeth will take this next step of faith when the family comes to stay throughout Christmas and New Years.

For this I am so thankful.


Little Man K has been living with his Mama full time for almost 3 months now, they seem to be getting along well.


For this and so much more I am thankful and ever







Now it's your turn, please share.



How has God blessed you and what is your testimony of thanks?


Sunday, October 5, 2008

Surrendering the Secret

About half of American women have experienced an unintended pregnancy, as a result more than one-third (35%) will have had an abortion by age 45.

That's one in every 3 women.

These gals cross all races, socio-economic groups and beliefs. If you have not trod this path, then chances are that woman next to you has.

1 in 3.

The reality is there are millions of women out there - believers and unbelieving, that because of the nature of their situation are reluctant to
to reach out and believe they have reason to hope.

My dear friend Melinda at Traveling the Road Home has an incredible give away.
Please stop by her blog, leave a comment and see what you and yours can do to help spread the word about Surrendering the Secret .


I am praying that everyone that swings by this page has the courage of conviction to Do something. Don't click away and pretend you didn't know or understand...not this time.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Hold Fast to What God has Done for Us

We had an incredible time at Bible Study today as we continued in our study of


"Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On".



We didn't play so much golf, as cool temperatures combined with intermittent rains kept most indoors. So you know, the combination did not dampen our spirits.

We will be playing more as we prepare to support The Bethany House by way of participating in their Annual Golf Tournament.

For the most part, this group of ours would not be easily mistaken for serious golfers.

We are serious about having fun and spreading salt and light wherever we can...but serious as in keeping score and who wins, who loses. Not so much!

Supporting The Bethany House may give us a few more opportunities to shine a light in a few dark places..

We are really enjoying the study, not to mention camaraderie as we discover the many ways God refines and sifts us. We have learned He is into A's, big time and if we don't get the benefit of a trial or struggle, we will find ourselves back in it until we do.

One of several elements we are encouraged to use as we weather these storms is gratitude and praise.

Remembering what and where God has delivered us from, perhaps keeping a gratitude and praise journal. As you face various trials you can hold fast to what God has done for us in the past and know that He will do no less in the future.

"Through faith in Jesus we have received God's grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God's glory. And that's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us."


In closing, enjoy the following testimony of lives that have Praising Him in the storms and come out on the other side, with the abundance of blessing.


God bless you,
tammy

Monday, September 8, 2008

joy, triumph, victory and funny hats

I recently received an email addressed to Inga…that’s right, Inga.

If memory serves me right and most of you know, sometimes…
it doesn't...but if it did
I was kind of thinking the name Inga was of Swedish origin.

You know what?

It is.

Having recently spent a lot of time and money with The Geek Squad as my laptop was severely sick; I was in no mood to inadvertently open a virus from some stranger looking for a Swede.

After further consideration, I got to thinking…
I do drive a Volvo, I have very blue eyed and I’m about as blond as you can pay to be.

Ummm...Inga?

As I pondered the possibilities, I reflected on a few Swedes I've known or know of.

There’s Heidi: I read the book as a teen and loved Shirley Temples cinematic interpretation of the girl.

Swedish? Check!

Of course let’s not forget Abba!

What kind of list ‘o Swedes would be complete without Abba?

“Momma Mia, here I go again, Oh my…” Oops! Sorry…I couldn't help myself.

In the sports world we have Björn Borg, Annika Sörenstam and, an…oh yeah,



Annika!

Now there’s a connection!

Someone out there in web world, very cleverly found some 6 degrees of separation between me and




Annika Sörenstam...The ultimate golf super hero (for girls)!





Let me share my reasoning.

Of all the golf tips and suggestions bantered about these last few months, it’s those practiced by Annika, when executed properly, that never fail me.

The best advice of all?
is really good…lean in a bit closer if you can.

Whenever Ms Sörenstam putts, no matter her distance from the hole,
she keeps her head down


for the duration of her swing , start to finish…including her follow through.


This ‘Titan of the Links’, never looks up until

she hears that rewarding ‘clink’ of the ball as it drops into the hole.



In my early days…back in May, when I debated ‘be?…bee the ball’ , and other such nonsense…talk amongst my golf buddies was all Annika.

Struggling to make a putt with a swarm of honey bees trying to pollinate my ball, I overheard a golf Buddie share this little gem,


‘Keep your head down like Annika’.


Uh?

‘Yah! You ever watched Annika? She never looks up, always keeps her head down. She doesn't need to know where it’s going once she hits it. She knows how big her swing should be and what her efforts should produce, and it usually does.’


I try hard to keep that lesson in mind and ultimately, anytime I’m able to execute play similar to my Swedish golfing guru, I see dramatic improvement in my game.

As our group continues studying Stormie Omartians’ “Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On “ , I can’t fail to make the following connection.

The greatest progress we’ll ever make in our moment by moment, daily walk with God, is when we keep our heads down, our mind on the mark and do what we know to do whether we feel it, see it or not. That’s faith.

If we’ll just let go, do the thing the way we know to do it and trust God, He’ll take care of the rest. Keep in mind, God is not obligated to let us know where we’re going or even why. He requires we be obedient to His instruction, follow His lead and move on, one step or stroke at a time.
He’ll adjust our swing if need be, remember; this is not about ‘just doing it’, but instead doing it with, through and for Him.

“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” Hebrews 12:1-3

As we focus on the prize, not losing heart or forgetting where our help comes from, we are assured of completing this ultimate game with the consummate partner and coach. All that will remain are shouts of joy, songs of triumph,

dances of victory

and

funny hats?


I can hardly wait!

How about you?

Got your club ready and your head down?

Friday, August 15, 2008

Every 8 Seconds

**Please forgive me if you read my other blogs.
I am duplicating my posts as this subject is worth redundancy**

A group of Siesta's from around the country and over seas, joined together to compile a 338 page cookbook.

Now this is not just any ole cookbook.


This grassroots culinary catalog has an abundance of delectable recipes, beautiful photography, plus an assortment of family stories and sayings to boot!

Take a look at the index to get a feel for what's inside.

Filet Mignon with Blackberries...Yum!



The real treasure is that all proceeds will be donated to Life Outreach International whose ministries include drilling water wells in third world countries, where every 8 seconds someone dies from a waterborne disease. Those effected most are children...many of whom die before they reach the age of 5.

With so little, we can do so much!


The Siesta created this book in honor of Beth Moore and the entire Living Proof staff, who are big supporters of providing 'Living Water' to the all the world.

Consider giving books for Christmas, Birthdays, Newlyweds, a Teachers gift...you get the picture.

The cookbooks are $18 each with an additional $6 for shipping. There will be a discount in shipping cost for orders of two or more books.


We've installed a little button on our web bar that will allow you to place an order for books with Holly of Crownlaiddown. Holly is the lead Siesta, who organized and produced the entire project, for her we are most grateful.

Once you press the 'Order Here' button, you'll be brought to an order form. After completing the form, press 'send' to have the information sent to Holly, who will then contact you with a total and various payment options.

Pass it On!


We quickly forward inspirational stories and videos via email all the time... as we lift prayer and praise for the content shared...this should be no exception.


Pass it on, let others partake of the blessing.