a parenting giveaway

As part of the writing team of Heart of the Matter Online, I'm delighted to be able to offer a giveaway of THREE TICKETS to the upcoming Parenting and Home Education Conference!

What could be more fun than attending an online conference from the comfort of your own home? And what could be more inspiring than listening to thoughts and ideas about teaching and training children from birth to teens using a godly perspective? Not only will you hear awesome speakers talking about a variety of parenting topics, but you will be able to ask questions, win prizes, download sessions, and connect in fellowship with other parents. Take a moment to read all about it at Heart of the Matter Conference

The dates for the conference are August 3 - 7 and as an attendee you will be provided with the software needed which is also Mac compatible.

Be encouraged! Spread the word! Leave a comment and I'll announce the three winners on Monday!

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

time to go

It is time.

Back in March when there was snow on the ground, we kissed our son good-bye as he headed off to basic training in the Army. Seeing him in July at his graduation seemed like a LONG time away.

But here it is.

Back in March we tentatively hoped to pack up the van with kids and take a week long vacation as we traveled to watch him graduate. However, that length of time plus gas for the van plus two motel rooms a night plus feeding our crew ended up not equaling what our finances are at the moment. Not only would we have the expense, but my husband would miss a week's worth of time of not being able to take business calls and be working.

The option pursued was having my oldest son do the surfing to find a cheap flight for my husband and I which would greatly reduce the cost and time away. With a direct flight booked for tomorrow, the last couple days have been spent on organizing to go as well as making lists for those at home.

It is time.

Almost five hours tomorrow will be spent driving to the airport to catch a flight to the hot and humid South. Once there, we will connect with our oldest son and family as they are driving there to be present, too. To say that there is excitement with this trip would be an understatement. I cannot wait to hug that boy of mine!

Since blogger has not been doing well lately with any of my scheduled posts, I've decided to take a mini blogging break during this time. However, since all of my readers regularly bless me with their encouragement, before I leave tomorrow morning I will post a giveaway to bless someone back.

May there be exciting events for you to look forward to in your garden, too!

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

a hot search

Google searches are always an interesting thing...especially when it comes to the words people use that land them on your blog.

I really did laugh out loud when I read a recent one for my site - hot.older.women

Perhaps you'd have to know me in person to know how funny those three words are when considering myself. It was amusing to find the few posts that brought up those words although the three words were not together and I think had to do with older children canning hot jars of something with canning being an art practiced for years by women or something like that. I'm guessing that certainly isn't what the person was searching for at all!

Interestingly, I'm beginning to think I could put myself in that category. It seems that I always feel cold and need to throw a sweatshirt or sweater on to warm up during the day EXCEPT for these recent short bursts of feeling hot. Mainly at night, but occasionally popping up very briefly during the day. Nothing too bad yet and I'm praying this isn't just a preview of what's coming in the days ahead, but will hopefully be the extent of my hot flashes.

And to think....my dear husband is sound asleep at night totally oblivious to the fact that he's sleeping next to a hot.older.woman

Yup, this will keep me giggling for awhile.....

Enjoy this summer day in your garden whether you're hot or cold!

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

listless dreaming

My life seems to be one of lists.

Lists in notebooks. Lists on slips of paper on my desk. Lists written on my calendar. Lists on emails in my computer. Lists stuck on post-it notes. Lists in my dreams. Lists just about EVERYWHERE!

On one hand, all these lists make me feel organized which once upon a time I was as a mother. Really, I truly was organized and without a plethora of lists. I can see that trait in my older children who witnessed it and incorporated it into their own lives. My younger children, however, seem to be incorporating the list making habit.

And yes, it would be a good idea to consolidate all these lists EXCEPT I tend to jot things down wherever I am on whatever is available which only contributes to the problem. So maybe I'll write on a list to combine lists and we'll see how long it takes for me to find that list and to actually do it.

You know, I wouldn't even have this problem if it weren't for the short term memory issues I seem to be having with this season of life :::sigh::: Do you suppose it ever gets better and I can become listless again?

In the meantime, off to work on the list found on my calendar for today.....

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

rain singing

Noting before bed that the weather forecast had only a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms through the night and seeing nothing on the radar, I closed my eyes listening to the sound of wind that was continuing from the daytime hours.

Rain. An elusive weather detail this summer. Highly valued but never making its appearance despite all the forecasted possibilities. Longed for with every fluffy slightly darkened cloud that passes over our day.

Dry. The garden is dust in between rows as I've carefully only watered plants. The grass is losing its glorious soft green and is turning muted brittle yellow. The lake is developing more beach as the waterline is shrinking with the sunshine's evaporating power.

Waking suddenly in the middle of the night to a sound that was no longer the wind of bedtime, I opened my eyes to the flashing lightning. The thunder rumbled and the rain came pouring out of the skies. Quickly I rushed through the house to close up windows as the lightning provided enough brilliance to mark my pathways.

Rain. Magnificent rain!

Opening my eyes to a wet world this morning, once again I'm amazed at how a middle of the night rain shower can liven up each and every growing green plant in my yard and garden. My heart sings with joy as I see the earth refreshed!

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the King above all gods." ~ Psalm 95:1-3

Rain or shine may your heart be singing in the garden on this day!

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

a bite beyond nasty

It had been over two weeks and there hadn't been a peep from my son in basic training. Not even a phone call over the holiday weekend. Nothing. It was primarily unusual because he's been an avid letter writer during his time away with the daily run to the post office being the highlight for us.

I calmly listened to those wiser than me who assured me he was fine and kept praying for him as I went about life trusting that God was taking good care of him.

So when I heard his voice on the phone last evening, well, my heart took a leap of relief! He sounded good and our less than five minute phone call went by in a flash. We covered the important stuff like the unfortunate news about his dog, the payment of his vehicle insurance and license, and connecting next week at his graduation.

Then he shared he quick prayer request. On one of their expeditions he had been bitten by something. After three days, it definitely required medical attention and it's believed that he was bitten on his hand by a brown recluse spider. He's taking antibiotics and packing the wound with gauze :::thud::: Doesn't sound like those little spider bites we get here! YIKES!

Could you please lift up a quick prayer that the healing will go well and swiftly as he does not want it to interfere with his airborne training which begins immediately after his basic training graduation.

Thank you! It would bless me as much as him!

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

come as you are

"If we imagine we have to put on our Sunday moods before we come near to God, we will never come near Him. We must come as we are." ~ Oswald Chambers

Don't wait. Don't wait until everything is just right to come before God. Don't wait until you've figured out this or that to come before God. Don't wait until you've taken care of a sin issue to come before God. Don't wait until after your vacation to come before God. Don't wait until after you move to come to God. Don't wait until you have some quality time to come before God. Don't wait until this grumpy crabbiness passes. Don't wait.

Come now. Come just as you are. He already knows absolutely every single thing about you, will forgive you, still loves you. He's available right this minute even though you don't have your Sunday clothes on. He's seen bad attitudes before and yours won't keep Him away. Life will never be perfect nor will you. So just come. He's whispering your name.

Come.

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~