Forgetful

Are you a forgetful person? I sure am.

There was the time several years ago when I forgot my friend's baby shower. You may be thinking, "That's no big deal. It can happen to anyone." What made it so bad is that I was a hostess! I had spent the day before making food for the shower. The food was sitting in my refrigerator when the call came questioning my whereabouts while I was out shopping.

More recently, I forgot to go to a workshop that I signed up for and paid $25 to attend! Not only did I hate that I missed the workshop, but I also felt bad for the friend hosting the workshop. She was even kind enough to refund my money. I hope others attended.

Then, last week I went to put clothes from the washer to the dryer only to discover that there were WET clothes already in the dryer! Who knows how long they had been there. Obviously, not only had I forgotten to take them out of the dryer, I never turned the dryer on to begin with!

We so often think of forgetting something as a bad thing. Often it is. In the above instances, forgetting was definitely not a good thing. However, there are times when forgetting is a good thing. It can even be the best thing. Little Man recently asked me about something that he had done in the past. I honestly didn't remember it. At the time of the offense, he asked for forgiveness, I granted it, and didn't give it another thought. I told him that he too needed to forget about it.

Do you realize that is how God is? He can be VERY forgetful. The key is forgiveness. We are told in Hebrews 8:12:

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

Basically, if I ask God to forgive me, not only am I forgiven but my sin is forgotten! Forgotten in the sense that He will no longer hold it against you. You really can't get any better than that. That is when forgetfulness becomes the best thing.

I pray that today you find JOY in not only forgiving and being forgiven, but in forgetting the past sin in your own life as well as in the lives of others. There are times when we would all benefit from being a little more forgetful!

Tami

God is Quite Funny

Yes, I believe that God has a sense of humor. That statement may have you wondering why I believe such a thing. Well, I have created a list to support my belief and since you are reading this I am going to assume that you would like to know why I believe what I do so here goes . . .

1. God created humans. Can you get any funnier than that?

2. I am a very "neat" person. My life motto is "Everything has a place and everything should be in its place - at all times!" I am married to a man, The Professor, who is well . . . ummmm . . . not that way. I also gave birth to two little people who are the messiest humans ever put on the earth.

3. I do not like to be touched. I have this comfort zone and I am only comfortable when I am the only person in the zone! I gave birth to this little person who loves to touch. For the first six weeks of life this little person would not sleep unless lying on my chest. Even though this little person now weighs almost as much as I do, this little person still wants to sit in my lap.

4. I am an introvert. You know, one of those people who gets rejuvenated by spending time alone. I homeschool my kids. Homeschool moms do not, I repeat DO NOT, get time alone! I also gave birth to this little person who follows me everywhere I go. If I go outside . . . if I go to the laundry room . . . if I go upstairs . . . if I go to the bathroom . . . you get the picture. I never, even in my own house, go anywhere alone.

5. I am not a morning person. I like to wake up and have a few minutes to breathe, not talk, adjust to my eyes being open. Well . . . you guessed it . . . I gave birth to a MORNING PERSON! This little person wakes up early and starts talking the minute another life form is heard. I am typically greeted with chatter before I ever cross the threshold of my bedroom. Waking up and slowly adjusting to a new day just flew out the window.

6. I really like to be in control. I'm sure that statement makes some of you laugh out loud. I truly imagine God chuckling at that statement or at least shaking His head, which leads me to one of my favorite Bible verses.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.   Proverbs 16:9

I often think that God uses this verse to get a good laugh out of me. I really like to have all of my little ducks in a perfectly formed row, everything organized, and just so. Our schedule this semester is a prime example of me getting everything "perfectly planned" and then it all going haywire!

I started the semester believing that I would be at home alone for three hours every Monday and Wednesday. The Professor has Monday/Wednesday classes and I "had" both kids signed up for coop classes on Monday/Wednesday afternoons. I had wonderful visions of peaceful, uninterrupted time to myself, and a sparkling clean, well-organized house with everything in its place. What a dream it was!

Not only was my dream shattered when a coop class did not work out, but now every Monday and Wednesday I get to make the five minute drive to the coop school four times per day! Perfect example that I really have no control at all. Once again, I am reminded that it was so silly of me to think I did!

However, in the midst of the messy, touchy, crowded with people world in which I live, there is JOY.

There was that special moment with my little one, who hates to write, laughing through his writing assignment because he found the paragraph he was writing to be so funny. I would have missed that if I was at home alone.

The hugs, oh the sweet sweet hugs, that remind me that even though my baby is no longer a baby, I am still needed and wanted.

Being followed everywhere I go. That one is reminding me that my little one still wants to spend time with me, values my opinion, and wants me to know what is happening in her life.

Those morning greetings remind me that God too wants to hear from me, spend time with me as I start my day.

In the messiness, I am reminded that those messy people are way more important than everything being in its place.

So, today, I am taking a deep breath and finding JOY in all the chaos of this wonderful life I live and choosing to cherish the time I have the privilege of spending with the ones I love.

May you have JOY amidst your chaos!

Tami

Can I Text You?

I have two kids who never - and I mean NEVER - stop talking. They both attend coop classes with our home-school coop. The minute they get into the car at the end of the day there is a battle for who gets to talk. I try to make them take turns, but I am not always successful. If you by chance have one of my kids in class, by the time the evening is over I know just about every detail of everything that went on in your class.

Honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way. Sometimes I get a little worn out, but if they are willing to talk then I am willing to listen. If your child is a friend of one of my kids and you are wondering what is going on with your child, give me a call and we can talk! LOL

Today, though, I really needed to help Little Man with his homework. He is taking a class that is way out of his comfort zone and needed a little one-on-one with Mom to get started on his assignment. Puppy had not used up all of her words. Poor thing. I told her that I really needed her to stop talking so that I could give Little Man my full attention. Again, she interrupted with something that was . . . ummm . . ."very important." How important? Well, on a scale from one to ten with ten being the most important it was about a ZERO!

Finally, I said to my sweet Puppy, "If you cannot stop talking, you have to leave the room. I really need to give Little Man all of my attention. You can have another turn later." To which she promptly replied, "Can I text you?" Oh that kid. NO! You cannot text me.

I wonder sometimes if God feels like Puppy wanting attention. We are going about our days moving here and there taking care of this and that with no regard for Him whatsoever. He is doing everything to get the attention He deserves and yet we continue to ignore Him. I know I am very guilty.

It is very hard as a wife, mom, home-school teacher, dishwasher, laundry service, taxi service, cook, and every other job we do to stop and just be still with God. The thing about it is that we are absolutely nothing without Christ. He doesn't want our attention for selfish reasons, but because time spent with Him will improve our very being. As we are told by Jesus in the book of John:

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

May you have JOY in being attentive to the call of Christ.

Tami

Friendship and Laughter

Yesterday was not the best of days. The morning started with my feelings being hurt, not once but twice. My mother-hen feathers were big and bold and they were ruffled!* That is not a good way to start the day.

To top that off, I had to make the 45+ minute drive down to UH to have new lenses put into Little Man's glasses. That in itself was not that big of a deal, but because a major change was made in the prescription for the left eye, Little Man had trouble seeing out of them. To confirm everything was how it was supposed to be, we had to go back and see the doctor again. Needless to say, the appointment took longer than anticipated. Since we had not eaten lunch prior to leaving home, we were both starving by the time it was all said and done.

Thankfully, God sees and God knows. Nothing is hidden from him. He knows when feelings have been hurt and spirits are weary. He knows our every need.

Late in the day, Puppy and I headed over to the lakes at the entrance of our neighborhood to check out lighting for her upcoming photo sessions. As we were walking around one of the lakes with Puppy snapping pictures, our neighbor was driving by, spotted us, and stopped to check out what we were doing.

She ended up hanging out with us for a while. We laughed, we talked, we walked, we laughed a little more, we stopped, we posed . . . Puppy snapped lots and lots of pictures . . . we laughed, we walked, we talked, and we laughed some more. I know the lady walking the circle around the lake for her evening exercise must have thought we were crazy. It makes me smile just to think about it.

I will say it again, God sees and God knows. Nothing is hidden from him. He knows when feelings have been hurt and spirits are weary. He knows our every need.

God knew that I needed to laugh. He knew that I needed a friend to show up. This friend didn't know that my day had started with my feelings being hurt. Until she reads this, she still doesn't. No mention was made. There was no need for her to know. But God used her just the same to bring light into the darkness of the day.

Spending a couple of hours of laughing about insignificant things changed the day. Puppy also got some crazy pictures that are very good blackmail material she could use against my friend and me. I'm thinking that we need to stay on her good side!

If your day is not going as planned, your feelings have been hurt, and you are frustrated, I pray that God will send laughter your way. It truly does change everything.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

There is JOY in laughter.

Tami

*Apologies have been made. Forgiveness is a good thing.

Celebrating the Kids

Have you ever noticed? Kids are EVERYWHERE! If you do not have one living in your home, all you have to do is go to the grocery store, Wal-Mart, the drug store, or just step outside your front door. They are EVERYWHERE!

There are tall ones,

short ones,

and in between ones.

Some are intelligent beyond their years

and others are working hard to keep up.

Some are star football players,

soccer players,

baseball players, golfers,

or basketball players.

Some are white belts,

yellow belts,

green belts,

black belts,

or somewhere in between.

Some can't walk across the room

without tripping on their own feet.

Others can't walk at all.

Some love math

or spelling

or science

or grammar.

Some hate math

or spelling

or science

or grammar.

There are ballerinas,

spelling-bee champs,

actors,

young scientists,

math whizzes,

and wallflowers.

Some talk . . . all the time.

Others never say a word.

There are some who like to

spin

and twirl

and dance

and sing.

There are others who like to

sit perfectly still.

Some like yoyos,

origami,

and computers.

Some like taking pictures.

Others like being in pictures.

Some are loud

and rambunctious.

Others are as quiet

as a mouse.

Some are dramatic

while others are dull.

Some are

the life of the party

while others

blend into the wall.

There are those who

can draw and create

while others have trouble

holding a pencil.

Some can't seem

to get enough sleep.

Others don't seem

to sleep at all.

There are some that

never stop laughing.

Others seldom

crack a smile.

There are those

who will never be able

to read enough books.

There are others

who will never pick up

a book unless forced.

There are others

who are writing books.

They come with

dark

medium

and light skin.

They come with hair that is

red,

brown,

black,

blonde,

and all shades in between.

And then some do not

have hair at all.

Some are healthy

while others are sick.

Some are fighting for life.

Some are losing the fight or

have already lost.

Some have brown eyes,

some have blue,

some have green, and

some have hazel that

just can't seem to make up their mind.

Some are in your life for your lifetime

some are there for a few years,

a few months,

a few weeks,

a few days,

a few hours.

No matter if you have one, two, three, or more, celebrate the uniqueness of the kids in your life. Rejoice that no two are exactly the same because they are all "fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14.

May you have JOY today in Celebrating the Kids!

Tami

A little encouragement can go a long way.

School started this week at our house. I enjoy homeschooling. When my kids were younger, we did all subjects at home with me as the teacher. Now that the kids are older, they either attend classes offered by our local home school coop, have private tutors or take classes online. However, there is one subject that I decided to teach myself to one of my little ones because it is a subject that this particular child really doesn't like. I want to oversee this subject and make certain that all bases are covered no matter if we enjoy it or not.

This week has gone well. It is off to a good start. I have learned that if I write down everything that is to be covered for a particular day and leave it for my student that my student will get up each morning and get right to work on that day's assignments. The most despised part of the subject is always left until last, but it is getting done. However, there is no smile involved.

I really like smiles and I like the people living in my house to have smiles on their faces. When there aren't smiles, I like to do what I can to bring a smile to the face. Yesterday, as this little one of mine just wasn't happy with the work that needed to be done, I grabbed that little face between my hands and looked into those sweet eyes and said, "You might hate this subject and not like doing the work at all, but . . . " At this point I was interrupted and my little one said, "But I have to do it anyway." I replied, "What I was going to say is 'you are very good at this subject. It may not be your favorite, but you have what it takes to do it and you are very good at it.'" That sweet little face got the biggest of smiles and said, "Really"? "Yes, really."

I have to say, today went a little smoother. The attitude in doing that assignment for the not-so-favorite subject was much improved. It is amazing how a few words of encouragement can change everything. Is there someone in your path that could use a kind word or two?

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24          

May you have JOY today in speaking kind words of encouragement to others.

Tami

A Tribute To My Daddy

As of today, August 9, 2016, it has been a year since we said our earthly goodbyes to my daddy. In so many ways it is hard to believe that it has been a year.  I still often think, “I need to call Daddy and tell him . . . ,” and then I remind myself that I cannot do that.

My mother, as well as a few others, wanted me to speak at my dad’s funeral service. That is not something that I felt like I could do for emotional reasons. Instead, I wrote out what I would say if I were speaking and let my mother read it. She accepted that. Now, on this one-year anniversary of his death I share with you my words about my daddy.

My daddy was a man who loved to serve. He was a hard worker and good provider for his family. If someone was stopped on the side of the road and needed help, he was the one to stop and offer help. He visited those who were in the hospital and those in the nursing home not because it was an obligation but because he loved and cared. He was the one who made certain all the widow ladies were taken care of. He had a heart for the people of Mexico and traveled to Mexico numerous times over the last 35+ years to build churches, homes, an orphanage and to minister to the people.

He was a born leader. As my family and I were putting together his obituary, I came to realize that there were very few organizations of which he had not been a part. He served his church and his community well.

I truly believed – as I think many others do – that my daddy could fix just about anything from broken hearts to cars to an antique windup jumping dog. He considered it a challenge to fix something that was broken and he was always up for a good challenge.

Everything I have mentioned are things that most everyone who knew my daddy already know. What you may not know is the daddy that he was to me. He was the ever present father who never missed one of my activities. He was the one who came running if I called out in the middle of the night. That held true not only while I was living under his roof, but also after I moved into my own apartment. He was the one who taught me not to accept handouts but to work hard for what I wanted in life.

He was the man who carried me down the aisle when I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of seven and then walked me down that same aisle when I married my husband 20 years later. He was the one who built dollhouses and treehouses. He was the one who climbed trees to rescue me from treehouses. (He did that more than once!) He was the one who moved me more times than I can count. He was the man who supported me no matter what, loved me, cherished me, and called me “Doll”.

He was the man who didn’t want to die because he didn’t want to leave my mother. He was the man who even in his illness was still trying to take care of others. He was truly a living example of the hands and feet of Jesus. He was the man who had the use of his hands, feet and voice taken away by ALS.

He is now the man whose hands, feet, and voice have been restored all because of his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. He is now rejoicing in Heaven. I am thankful that I have the hope of joining him one day.

There was no other man like my daddy. I was blessed that God chose him for me!

As we are reminded in Psalm 30:5, “weeping may stay for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”. Even though in so many ways we still mourn Daddy's absence here on earth, we rejoice in knowing he suffers no more. In that, there is JOY!

May you too have JOY in remembering your loved ones.

Tami