Trekking with Me

Oh goodness!! I sit here in my cozy quiet room, "oatmealing" after a long Monday. I feel so stirred with joy, happy energy... yet not enough energy to actually go running or anything.  But... I do want to write.  It's been so long that my normal writing juices are not really flowing but I can't let this blog go dormant week-after-week, month-after-month! So... I will start with my " Golden List " theme I have used on occasion to see how it goes.... 10 Things I am thankful for Today.... 1.  I am so thankful for rainy days...weeks... well, it's been rainy and grey so long around here lately that we are beginning to called it "Seattle of the South!"  But...something about rainy days just feels cozy and romantic and I am embracing that!! 2.  Change of Seasons... This year I have noticed more how darkness falls so early...and, I have fallen in love with the soft lights of the city, the reflection of the lights on water, the way dusk quiets the...

The snow finally came!   Today, Sasha and I enjoyed a morning romp through the snowy neighborhood.  It's amazing how still and silent a walk through the freshly fallen snow is... it's truly delightful!  Here are a few snapshots: My Backyard! My little rosebush   A Magnolia tree rarely sees this lovely white stuff! Fence line covered in snow... Home Sweet Home My jasmine bush... hope it survives :-) Not even sure HOW I did this but this "snow falling" affect was not my genius technology skills!

Good Morning ~ It's a good morning: Saturday's are amazing gifts... I don't have to wake up to an alarm :-) It's time for a " Golden List " 1.  Spring in South Carolina --- there could be a hundred subtitles to this first point.... 2. A great roommate and friend She will hate me for posting this....  3.  Amazing cheese --- our Whole Foods were sharing samples of this cheddar cheese variety with sea salt in it... I may or may not have had a few more than my fair share. 4.  Bare Essentials Make up.... a new thing in my make up bag.  :-) 5.  Friends passing through town & a free meal to boot! 6.  Sasha: funny how a relationship grows with a person or group or animal in this case... :-) She brings me much joy. A recent road trip: Sasha always enjoys getting fries for a treat! :-) 7.  Communication: texts, emails, snail mail, facebook comments, blog comments... phone calls... yes.  More please. 8. ...

The Lord has really encouraged me this week.  It's been a week in which offensive moves were being made, moving forward without much assurance that this is what I am suppose to do yet believing moving forward is the right move, as opposed to freezing in my steps.   A few darts came flying in my direction to cause me some unnecessary fear; that is where God strengthened me to hold up truth, stand as His Girl, and keep stepping. This came home today, even more so, in my "Time With Abba."  Tucked away in Judges, chapter 7 to be precise.  The story of Gideon; it's worth a look if you want to go re-read it for yourself. The part that particularly grabbed me is squeezed between God slimming down his army to 300, and the ludicrous trampling of the Midianites with horns, broken pots and shouting in the middle of the night.  Here see for yourself in verses 9-15: "Now the same night it came about that the  Lord  said to him, “Arise, go down against the cam...

I have made a new discovery. I like raisins. Raisins and I have not always had an amiable relationship.  I enjoyed them in breads, homemade GORP, or in cookies, but standing alone, we tended to keep our distance.  Though, I would try to befriend them, as they are full of iron and said to be good choice snack, yet we never really hit it off.  I thought I stumbled on one kind that I did enjoy, golden raisins, but not enough to remember them at random. Anyhow, a several weeks ago I was shopping at Earth Fare; now you must know, a trip to Earth Fare is not just any grocery shopping experience.  I enjoy it with every sense of my being, it is medicine and joy to my soul to just think about going to Earth Fare.  Indeed, I love it!  But, the fare's at Earth Fare, make these trips infrequent and sporadic.  Still, it makes my heart smile simply to walk through the wonderful place. So, my last visit to Earth Fare, I happened upon some raisins at a good pr...

It's Spring Break in the district I work in.  I am thoroughly enjoying time at home, sleeping in past 6:30AM, sitting in my ugly orange chair sipping coffee and reading the Word, listening for Him.  The last few weeks have been laden with heavy worry which I posted about; it's such a gift to have time to rest, reflect, breathe, do my laundry, and roll my worries into His hands.  Slowing down helps me do that... naps do too.   So here are a few things I have done this week in my free time, besides three loads of laundry, pulling weeds and raking my yard, washing my car inside and out, organizing my kitchen (my new house mate helped, what a gift!), and going shopping at Trader Joes! I practiced a little photography! I just like this picture. :-) These looked like they were having fun in the sun on the Congaree River.  What do you think turtles say to each other?  Notice the turtle head sticking out of the water at the end?  Almost as if...

It's been a beautiful October Saturday.  I sure needed a Saturday.  A friend asked what my average week was like, and I had to admit an "average" week is non-existant at this point.  My new normal is still working itself out.  I am so grateful for work, and enjoy the variety of my days immensely, yet I would not mind a little more stability.  How thankful I am that God is unchanging!  He is my Rock, a sweet refuge to which I continually go.   Today I stayed home most all day and enjoyed a quiet Saturday.  This week I read an article that reminded me that the Scriptures tell us to live quiet lives, by  Donald Miller.   Do a word search on "quiet" and it may surprise you.  So today I embraced the quietness of having the day to myself.  After walking the dogs, and spending time in the Word, I started in on my Saturday housekeeping needs.  It was so nice outside, I opened every window I could: some of the windows in m...

I am about to throw some clothes in my suitcase and head out the door to land in NC tonight.  I whipped open my Apple to quickly check emails and the ADORABLE BLUE EYED WONDER was staring at me from my screen.   I had to stop and drink in the darling thing... he literally took my breath away.  This is my new little Nephew, Micah Troy.  I had fun snapping pictures of this hunk-a-chunk over Easter Weekend.  I showed this picture to a friend this morning... and snapped my MAC shut and ran out without closing the picture down.   What a beautiful delicious baby.  :-)  Soon he will be 4 months old... 4 years old... 14 years old... 44 years old... gulp.  So... i am capturing him now... to remember always.   :-)

How He Delights My Soul! Last night a dear friend and I went for a walk down on the Riverwalk.  It is one of my favorite places here in Columbia.  If I have not said it already, Spring is beautiful here!!  This Spring seems to be extra beautiful for the Lord has been pouring His Love over me in such a tangible way.  Truly Joy inexpressible! So much joyful juice is upon me that when I spill it over on a status quote on Facebook I am receiving funny questioning comments such as, "are you getting married?" or "Tammie, do we need to talk??" I love my friends.   No I am not getting married; I am simply growing into deeper Delight of My Husband for 34 years.  Jesus Christ has faithfully loved me through valleys and seasons and depths.  He has been tenderly showing me this walk truly has been a living relationship, a marriage, in spite of my complaining, my lack of understanding and seeing(believing!) or mis-belief, my stubborn dig-my-heels in moments, po...

1.  Rain to make my grass grow and the flowers bloom 2.  Ham & Swiss Omelette for breakfast 3.  I've lost a few lbs!! 4.  My cozy bed: did not want to get out of it this rainy morning.... 5.  My roommate: I love how God grows two very different people into friends :-) 6.  The gals in my church - "The Spice Gals" :-) You guys make my week!! 7.  A really good book to enjoy called June Bug . 8.  Hearing from an old friend! 9.  Health - I never want to take that for granted! 10.  Knowledge that God is OVER all things.... Big and Little. That means I don't have to worry, I can rest and live in Freedom! What are you thankful for today?

I had a little fun this morning on my walk.  I was dying to get out in the woods and take my clippers to cut back some vines so when spring REALLY springs I will still be able to find my way through the 100 acre woods.  I took my camera this morning... here are a few shots I got... I did not edit any of these either!! This was fun.... then guess who popped up on the other side of a big pile of railroad ties... Sasha! "Hi Mom! What a cool place to climb!" "How is this pose, Mom?" :-) I could not have gotten her to pose more perfectly... A few flowers are peeking out... the neighborhood is blossoming more, but this is  back in the untouched area...  We did see a LIVE doe, she was a good size too.... this is remains from a buck...  Not sure what happen to him.

Happy Wednesday! Tomorrow I get to get on a PLANE!! I am a little excited.  Now..., to get a few loads of laundry done, install my new oven, clean my room, plan for my pets care.... the list continues but I will stop there.  I am looking forward to a few days with my dear sister (in heart), Sue and disengaging from "my world" here.  Not that "my world" is bad, I have just been running on overdrive and going away will offer a nice reprieve. :-) I may not even take my computer... maybe....we'll see. I wanted to blog about something God did last week.   He is so incredibly amazing.  :-) You know how it goes, you find yourself in a season of joy, happiness, strength.  Or at least that was what I have been experiencing since December-ish.  It's as if God opened up a joy window in heaven and deposited some on my heart/head: it's glorious! Yet, if you have been trekkin' with me here, this hasn't just "happened" - He has been doing som...

I have come to a new understanding why being still is imperative to hearing from the LORD.   Enter Jake and Owen and their momma, Faith, and Eric, the dad.  I have the blessing of caring for Jake and Owen a few hours every week.  Jake is a special needs little guy, with autism and Owen is too much for words: how these little guys have captured my heart.   Faith with Jake :-) *Melts my heart* Over the past few months I have grown to admire and respect Faith and Eric both in their beautiful marriage and in their parenting.  Faith and Eric exemplify to me some very rare and very noteworthy parenting skills.  A few weeks ago as I observed Faith correcting one of the boys, I noted how gentle, yet firmly and quietly she disciplined her little boy;  I also noted how quickly he yielded - and he is only two!   Afterwards I commented upon her actions with O; she shared with me she had learned whispering from her gentle husband, Eric.  She said i...

I have been having some odd notions lately... odd desires to try something new (like trying a new sport/exercise), cook something different... odd dreams have been happening too. This idea hit me Sunday when I was trying to listen to the sermon.  It may have been the hunger building in my tummy as I had a hasty Sunday morning only downing a cup of coffee before I dashed out the door.  Or it may have been on account of watching too many $40-a-Day with Rachael Ray recently... bad show for me to watch as it only gets my travel itch irritated. Anyhow... though I have never made them, my brain started churning up images of crepes.  Go figure? Rachael Ray said they were simple and easy... hmmmm; my imagination had my pan heated in my mind before the benediction was said: amen.  Let's Get Home and Get some cookin' on! RR was right, they are simple and easy - AND unlike my report with pancakes they turned out beautiful the first try, and the second, and third...!! He...

This is what welcomed me this morning... !! Sasha was pretty psyched about this white stuff too!! Utterly.... beautiful... i love it. My little tree in the backyard... Some color... cool! Go ahead... just come out of that tree Squirrel!! I like this view...  Baby Kitty was not too happy about this snow stuff... she was hunting for a warm spot. Sasha and I went for a romp... we had a book to deliver, a good excuse to venture out! So pretty dressed in Snow :-) Kitty found her place.... Sasha just wanted to go on another jaunt! :-) I thought it was time for some hot chocolate....