Trekking with Me

I am part of a writing group.  My first challenge - is to write about school lunch.  What comes to mind when you think of school lunch? My mind travels back to my elementary school cafeteria, with it's speckled, shiny floors and columns of tables filled with kids chattering away.  Glowing light flowed through the long windows which lined the clean, boring creme-colored cement block walls.  A stage was on one end, usually with a dark heavy curtain pulled to hide the empty area. The serving area was on the opposite end.  That was where I would see a lady who attended my church; she always had a warm smile for me, under her tight graying bun hair, covered with a spider-web like net and a small paper cap.  Her name was Mrs. Hogan; in typical southern fashion, I called her by her first name, Selma, always with the respectful southernly title of "Ms." The cafeteria always seemed so very loud, so much so I would put my fingers in my ears.  A line of kids ...

My soul is so grieved over the loss of Robin Williams. It seems so odd that I would feel such grief over someone I did not personally know.  I know many grieve this loss, and deeply so. So this morning I stopped and asked, why does this affect me so? He connected with my soul. There was something in Robin Williams , the characters he brought to life, that connected with something in me.  He made us laugh indeed, but his dramatic performances also made us feel, there was such an authenticity in his characters.   Some of my favorite films were Patch Adams , Good Will Hunting , Awakenings .   Some of his roles were not exactly where I stand on my values and convictions, so I can't endorse everything ethically and morally.  Sadly and obviously, the spiritual state and direction of our culture is expressed in the arts.  Yet as an actor, he was able to embody and connect us to the cry of the human soul; he voiced, questioned, made us feel, ask and...

Because it's May and I have not posted one single thing in a few months, I figured it was time to blog. School is almost over, literally five more days of frizzy with pre-adolescents.  One look into every teachers eyes and you will see that we are all staring at the finish line.  This leg has taken every ounce of energy in all of us.  The kids are so ready to be free from school, books, teacher's dirty looks and visa versa. As this last week finally arrives, I am so thankful for the year behind, that victory and joy was experienced, and much was learned.  Honestly, I can barely wait to sift through and apply the lessons I learned from the blood, sweat and tears of the path behind me to the year in front of me.  AND I am greatly anticipating the weeks of summer in between to rest, revamp, reconnect, retreat, refresh and refill my depleted mind and soul and NOT think about school! Something I want out of this summer is a special time with the Lord.  I h...

Hey, did you know its International Happy day? I did not even know there was such a thing.  You either? Well, I am glad I am not the only one. It's been a while since I have written a noteworthy post; I know you all were enthralled with the snow day pictures and the New Year's update.  Yet I have not posted anything from the inner workings of Tammie in a while. Mostly, its because I have been run over by a full time job called teaching.  My days are very long, my work demanding in every way, and the end of most of my days look like me crashing on the couch five seconds after walking in my front door before going to bed a few hours later; very non-typical Tammie. Sailing is my favorite :-) So, I figure it was time for a heart-to-heart post: What is God doing post.  Simple, non-detailed answer: A LOT. So here's to keep'n it real: First, it's been a very hard year (school timeframe).  The "aha" moment for me in the Fall was, "it's a...

It's Valentine's day, a day to celebrate love and relationships.  From my red couch to yours, here are a few of my thoughts and endeavors on Valentine's day: First, I am enjoying another snow day, yes our third day at home because of the massive winter storm.  I am trying not to eat myself out of my house.  Funny how my appetite explodes when gray clouds cover the sky, a chill hits the air and activities are limited to movies, homework and reading.  Not that I mind that... Today, I woke with a peaceful happy heart and mind.  Joy gushed up upon seeing the sunshine glisten over the snow, especially after two days of cloud cover and lockdown.  I am suffering a bit of cabin fever so I was ready to move!  I cooked up my favorite pumpkin pancakes for breakfast.  This was a good morning for pancakes; I did not even burn them! Kitty and Sasha are enjoying me being home.  Kitty is still not use to these colder temperatures. ...

WATCH THIS Take Notes. Think about it. Re-watch it. Know: You Are Worthy

I have just begun reading a book called Searching For Home by M. Craig Barnes.  The first chapter has brought me to tears as he describes the common human plight and deep desire for home, that wells "up from the soul." The first chapter ends with these words about hope: " The entire biblical story depicts men and women roaming from one disconnected experience to the next, unable to be at home where they are, uncertain that they will ever find where they ought to be.  Eventually, we just built a tabernacle or a temple and occasionally worshiped a God who seemed far away. But just as God was never one to settle or remain in exile, neither can he resist entering the dark wood to find us and join us on our nomadic, meandering journey. We thought we were stuck in just another day through the purgatory or hell from which there is no escape.  But from the perspective of heaven, there is purpose and even direction to our days.  If may be hard, after all these years, t...

The sun is shining today.  It's cold for this southern, Florida blood gal, so each ray of sunlight gives me hope that Spring will come.  This morning as I drove the back roads to work, I felt a little dismal in my soul: the trees are naked, the sky was a little on the grey side, it's been overcast, rainy and dreary a few days too many for my taste.  Though I enjoy the change of seasons as opposed to the lack in Florida, I don't relish that winter seems to drag on.  I know blossoms and buds will soon enough burst but I just kind of felt the weariness of winter this morning.  I have other reasons for feeling a little on the down side of things today, that is just life sometimes.  But, I am having a good hair day. (smile)  I am enjoying my sub assignment today, though the first class viewed a movie that was emotionally moving. That happened a few weeks ago in another class who watched "Blindside": though I had seen that one before, somehow,...

I am half way through: February 14 is the half-way mark for my birth day.  It conveniently falls on Valentine's Day.  Not that I am pushing for my birthday to get here sooner, or even lamenting that it's going so fast, it's just one of those things that pops up in my head. Admittedly, this year, my 39th year, causes some shock waves; like a wake up call or something.  Not bad, but definitely something that makes me a little more alert to what I am doing, where I am going, and the decisions I make and why. Just a minute ago I read a question from  The Pioneer Woman's Blog . If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what age would you be? I can clearly say, I like where I am, right here, right now.  I have been through some tough waters in the last ten years, emotionally speaking.  I feel I am finally gaining some ground over fear, over hang-ups, insecurities and pits.  I am finally resting in who I am in Jesus, understanding that more, ...

I am noticing a trend.  Every few days or so, my schedule has a bubble: a sweet surprise of open time and space to float around.  It's unpredictable, so I usually take care of obvious needs - cook something big to provide warm-overs for a few days, clean something, check to see if my laundry is overflowing... and then maybe find time to curl up on the couch for a catnap, some time to listen, process, journal, and maybe blog! Recently I reflected upon the fact that I have not posted anything too heavy or deep.  I commented to a friend that my thoughts can indeed be weighty, yet they are floating down like the autumn leaves.  They need time to land.  And of late, there are so many of them that I am rather bewildered as how to pull them all together into a palatable, conceptual presentation.  They are all loosely connected, falling from the same tree. God is leading me into wonderful new and yes, old, places and lighting me up with understanding. It's a ...

I am finally having success with my pancakes.  My history with pancakes has been dismal.  You can even note the near-failure cakes at the bottom of the stack.  They are on the darker side.  Not the most preferred color for pancakes. Yesterday I had a perspective change.  My brain had grabbed onto a familiar thought that in recent months has turned into a cyclical pattern: round, and round, and round.  I am really good at ruminating.  Wish that burned calories: I would never have to go to the gym. As my brain seemed to buckle down in this cyclical mode, it was gently interrupted. "What is the base of your perspective?" From what belief are you looking from?  Uh-oh, my base was not on God's goodness or power. At about that time I noticed a big dark luminous cloud rolling into the horizon.  A few days ago I ran across a passage in the Scriptures that said we see God's power in the thunder and the rain. "Is the arm of the Lord too s...

"In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me (how often we feel He is angry with us...) your anger has turned away (How great is His compassion towards us!) and you have comforted me. (oh, His sweet comfort... Psalm 23 reminder... his Rod & Staff Comfort!) Surely God is my salvation;  I will trust and NOT be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. (I love how we grow into understanding Him as Savior.... day by day, little by little and sometimes by huge leaps and bounds!) With JOY you will draw water from the wells of salvation! (I LOVE THAT PART!) Isaiah 12:1-3 with some afterthoughts from me. :-)

I am a little behind this month in posting my Scripture memory verse.  My computer dying was the main culprit.  My posts are beginning to be few and far between; this does not mean I have nothing to write about, but that I have not had many precious hours to sit, marinate and digest all that is going on.... so much! This last weekend I went to FL.  I have much to share on that but for this post, I will post my memory verse... before I do that I have to explain why I chose it. I was so blessed to hear my younger brother preach this past Sunday.  Something he shared spawned the significance of my new verse challenge. Romans 6 tells us " Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness."   To borrow some of my brother's words, "... the way to freedom is through death..." ...

I have seen the span of celebration, congratulations, waves, cheers, and tears this week.  It started with a wedding... a friend had a baby... I said good bye to my dear from Tracy this morning, and just minutes ago I walked in from attending a funeral.  All within 8 days.  I am a little emotionally tired.  Emotions are such a gift, an imprint of our Creator...  emotions show us so much of who we are and who God is in us.   At this moment I am "oatmealing" - just sitting here doing nothin' - letting my brain go where it may, feeling these sober thoughts deeply...  listening to the stillness around me, breathing slowly and consciously.  It's a nice thing to do.   Kitty even seems to notice when I do this... she has joined me... she is good at this. "What do we have that we have not received."   I like that quote; Robertson McQuilken used that as his main point in the memorial message tonight.  It is still ruminating in my h...

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...

The theme of the retreat I went on a few weeks ago was on His Goodness. I was pretty happy as God has been magnifying his Goodness to me over and over and over again in the recent months.  It kind of ties into "His Favor"... the phrase I felt He gave me in January.   With this goodness theme, Psalm 23 has burst open for me.  This psalm has long been a favorite to me bringing me much comfort.  In the recent months He has brought my eyes to the last few verses.  (these are Tammie's paraphrased version) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear, you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me... You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows... surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.. If you put these verses together - picture them as you read them.... where is this table He has prepared ?  In the valley!  In the pr...