Blessings

It is quiet in my house this morning. I am thinking of Thanksgiving leftovers and enjoying the silence of the day. Thanksgiving was a wonderful day with family. This week I have found myself reflecting on my journey of the past year. As I turned 44 this week and celebrated Thanksgiving with my family I realized how good God has been to us this past year. It is quite humbling to me. It has been a long year filled with uncertainity, financial stress, doubt and fear and through it all I found myself drawing closer to God. He was always there and taught me what true trust in Him is all about. I realize that without a doubt He cares for me and loves me through every trial and joy. So with that I thought I would share a few things I have been blessed by.

1. Scripture~ This year I took the challenge over at my dear siesta Beth Moore's blog to memorize two verses a month. I thought there is no way I can do this...I am not great at remembering things. Boy did God show me how wrong I was. I can proudly say I have memorized 22 verses and look forward to doing this again next year. It has had a profound effect on my journey especially in the dark days. I pulled out my index card notebook and popped open to a verse that spoke to my heart. I smile when I see verses in my devotions that are ones I have taken to heart. It has changed my journey with God in ways I never thought possible.

2. Birthdays~I turned a lovely 44 this week. I realized how much I have grown with God's help in grace and inner beauty. Wrinkles don't scare me. I just think of them life's lines of love. I am thankful for all that God blessed me with this year and I am thankful for the year ahead. I thank my friends and family who made me feel like a princess for a day and love me for my free spiritedness and let me be me.

3. Twirling~Who knew a little girl I met in Barnes and Noble would remind me to live life momemt by moment and live it with joy. I have been forever changed by God's whisper in that little girl.

4. Unexpected surprises~God never ceases to amaze me with the surprises that come about in our journey together. Thank you Lord. I am so humbled that you take the time for me and help me bloom. We know that is a life long project. I love you so much and I wouldn't trade this past year with you for nothing.

Those are just a few that came to mind. My dear friends I pray you had a lovely Thanksgiving filled with joy and love. As we gear up for Christmas, take the time to rest in God's arms and remember what Christmas is truly about. Until our teacups meet again, take care.

Blessings as always,
Tammy

What Happened To Thanksgiving?

I have always loved Thanksgiving. It is a time I reflect more than others on what God has blessed me with in the past year. Today as I was out doing errands, I saw lots of Christmas decorations up, music playing, and people checking their lists twice. A thought occurred to me as I observed all this. Thanksgiving seems to not exist. It's as if we go right from Halloween to Christmas. Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. But I have to admit I am not one who gets to into it until after Thanksgiving. I am not ready to listen to Christmas music, put up my tree, or wrap presents until after Thanksgiving. Maybe I feel more thankful this year because of all that my family has been through, but not one time today did I hear a kind word, see people helping each other, or anyone acting like they felt thankful for anything today as I was out and about. Now how sad is that? God has blessed us with so much and yet we act like we deserve to have all we want. I suppose what saddens my heart most is that even when I am getting my heart ready for Christmas, most people forget that the most important gift God blessed us with was His son. Do people ever really tell God thank you for His gift of love? Our society seems bent on focusing on what is in it for me. Give me more, more, more. It just made me more aware of how we need to have gratitude because let's face it, material things are nice but they are not the important stuff. Family, friends, faith, and God's love for us can't begin to come close to material things we will find under the tree. They will break, get tarnished, or no longer be liked. But God's love will stand the test of time. He never changes. He was, He is, and will be. I guess what I learned is that we need to remember that we need to take the time for others, be kind in our words, and most importantly share God's precious gift with others. So I hope you will take the time to say a word of thanks and amid the holiday rush, truly be thankful for the greatest gift ever. Until our teacups meet again, may your days be filled with joy and love.

Blessings as always,
Tammy

A Rude Awakening With A Daring Mouse

Well I couldn't bring myself to actually post a picture of a mouse. Let us just say they are not my favorite creatures. Of course I have often wondered why God made them with beady eyes and a long tail. I think it is the eyes that bother me. Needless to say living in an old farm house there is bound to be issues with mice. I being the big chicken I am of these creatures run to the nearest high cabinet I can and scream my head off and wait for my prince of a hubby to rescue me and of course get the mouse out of my house. This morning was really supposed to be just an ordinary Monday morning of getting ready for school. So much for that. I am not a morning person until I have had my morning tea. So much for that today. As I got out of the shower and made my way to the kitchen I thought I saw a shadow of something scurring, but thought it must have been my imagination because I didn't have my glasses so it was probably nothing. So much for trusting instinct. I was minding my own business and washing my face when I felt something scurry across my feet and looked down to see a mouse running for his dear life. Glasses or no glasses I knew what it was. I was screaming and stood on the toilet seat to wait and be rescued. Hubby did not come. How could he not hear me waking the whole neighborhood and I live in the country for gosh sakes. He finally came and said what are you doing? I said waiting for you to get the mouse. What mouse? The one that scurried behind my refridgerator. He said oh he is gone. So I think ok. I will be brave. I was brave for about one minute when dear son said there is mouse. Mouse was scared by tall son and ran my way over my feet again. I must give him credit he was a daring mouse. Well you know what happens now, more screams and climbs. Hubby comes racing in house coat and carrying a board ready to play hockey with a mouse. Meanwhile I am giving orders from my pedestal. Like how about getting a cat from the garage. Oh that is fine idea as hubby keeps playing hockey. Dear son brings in cat..not the smart one who looks at me like are you out of your mind or what? Dear son brings in smart cat who lays one paw out and gets the mouse and then says that is all you needed me for? Hubby was most disappointed hockey was over, I was relieved to have mouse out of house and heart to calm down, and dear sons just laughed at us all. What a way to begin the day!!!!! I am sure God gets a chuckle out of me every time but just wait until I have tea with and we discuss how mice should not be in heaven. Until our teacups meet again, I pray you have had a wonderful day.

Blessings as always,
Tammy

Growing

Most of us probably think we are at a point in our lives where we are no longer growing. After all we are adults. But really do we truly want to stop growing? Physically maybe but spirtually no. I was reminded today at church how God does not ever want us to stop growing spirtually. We are never too old to learn something new from Him no matter how many times we may have heard a particuliar verse, read something, or been through a season, He wants us to grow. Not growing doesn't allow our faith to do much but become stagnant and our wings go limp. As I thought about it, I thought that is why He is the vine and I am the branches. There are times I have to be pruned but to be fruitful I need to be with Him. He needs to abide in my heart and I in His. Without Him I am nothing. That was a lesson in growing and letting my wings soar that made me realize that means being in His presence and being still to hear His whispers. You would think by now I would have this lesson down pat, but it is still one I have to review and hear often from Him. I tend to get sidetracked or soar on my own path and stop growing so to speak. But it is because I am without Him. Being a teacher I tell my students we are never to old to learn and there is nothing more important than to be spirtually growing. Until our teacups meet again, I pray that you had a restful day in the Son.

Blessings as always,
Tammy

Being a Butterfly

Butterflies are such a beautiful creature that God has created. I love them. They seem so fragile yet they are so strong. They migrate 2500 miles this time of year. I can't imagine flapping my wings that long. I probably would have given up. But not the butterfly. They keep going because they know what is waiting for them is rest. As I was reflecting on this a thought came to me. If only we would have faith that kept going. It seems at times we see the mountain ahead and think there is not any way to get past this thing. Yet we forget God can move mountains. Faith as small as a mustard seed can be changed by God. We can fly to God's arms for rest when tired and weary and know He will handle the mountains. Rest in our souls allows us to go on. Rest though means being in God's presence to share our burdens, joys, and treasures. Through this we get the rest we need to continue on the journey. I have found in the past few weeks that taking time to breathe in God has been a wonderful charge for my faith. I can go on like the butterfly because I know the rich reward I have through Jesus. That is worth flapping my wings for. Maybe I could be a butterfly after all. Until our teacups meet again, I pray you had a wonderful day.

Blessings as always,
Tammy