Verse of the day...

~ “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10



Monday, February 28, 2011

Show & Share...........

Good Morning all........................
How is everyone today? Sun is shinning .... coolness to the air.. but the sights of Spring are peeking through.

Track practice has started for Patrick. He has a bit of a head cold.. so that isnt any help to running.... :( He's a strong boy... he'll fight through it!
Michael and David are done with their "club wrestling tournaments" But I'll be signing all three boys up for more as I can so they can get some more experience in before season is over.
Ken is hangin' tough.... going through round 3 of chemo this week. Tired yesterday... but he did some errand running after treatment so that I think wore him out.
Me? well... I'm still doin' what I do............... I do the best to take care of my family! I'm crafting all the time... Mostly crocheting and knitting. Trying to fill charity needs and personal needs/wants. And of course spending time with God. I dont always give Him the time He deserves... but I do my best. I'm so grateful for His love!!!

So............ wanted to take a minute and show off a few things ................
This is a Doily'ghan. I'm creating an afghan for my mom for Mother's Day from a doily pattern. This pattern is a vintage 1951 pattern... .its very pretty... but I'm finding it something I have to really take my time studying through to get the count and sizing right. Hope I get it done in time..... and that she likes it!
This is a baby blanket I'm making. It starts out as a 5 point star...... moving out into a 10 point star. So far... I'm pretty happy with it!!

And this......................... this is a Prayer blanket made for a young lady.... in her 20's that was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. Ken met her 3-4 weeks ago as he always checks the floor he stayed on for new leukemics after any doctors appointment. He met McKenzie and her folks and was able to chat with them.... and then deliver this prayer blanket I made for her. Please keep her in your prayers. She didnt make remission first time around and is now going through another round of chemo.





hugs.... love... & blessings to all.......
.::Tam::.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Busy day of wrestling............

What a great day!!! All three of the boys wrestled in Club Tournament today. The 'Club Tournament' are neat... some are for K-6th grade... some for K-8th... some for 5-14yr olds... some for just High School.. etc. This one worked great! I was able to get all three of the boys signed up at the same tournament.

Patrick did great! Wrestled hard and concentrated! Pinned his first 2.........
won by points on his third match.......

Earning him 1st Place in his weight class! Way to go baby!!!


Michael and David also did wonderful! They each came home with a 4th place trophy! I'm so darn proud of them! All of them!!!

Looks good boys! These will fit nicely on your entertainment centers in your rooms!




hugs... love... & blessings
.::Tam::.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Conestoga HS Choir....................

Sings the National Anthem at the UNO Mavericks Hockey Game.

Here is the choir all in their maroon shirts getting ready to show everyone how awesome they are! ~ Patrick is in there somewhere .... hehehheee...... He has a great voice! ~
I cant begin to tell you how fantastic they sang! It was just beautiful! Very Proud moment!

Gettin' ready for the game... seats are fillin' up..............

The boys got a kick out of the Oscar Meyer blimp flyin' around............

Go Mavericks!!!!
Mavericks Win 5-2...................woohoo!!!



hugs... love & blessings
.::Tam::.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Granny Tissue Covers...............

Okay... so here's the deal.................. The boys sit in the living room and play on their laptops... or do homework... or just hang out... they will toss a box of tissues around as one of them need it. Michael will need a tissue... they are sitting next to Patrick... so he tosses the box to him...etc. Well.. recently ... they started just using a roll of toilet paper instead. Its easier to toss and catch.... :) As I sit and watch this ..... not really bothered by the tossing of the tissue... because they are just boys being silly..... I'm thinking... "hmmm.... would be nice to have that roll contained so it didnt unravel as it flew threw the air."
So............................... I made it a cover. :)
Its like a draw-string bag in design... made with the "granny square" style pattern. I pulled the cardboard center out of the toilet paper roll... and tah dah......................
The boys got a good giggle out of it when they got home from school today... but actually ended up liking it as it got tossed about several times tonight.

Here is a picture of my Kleenex box cover that sits in the kitchen..... and its new matching "portable" toilet paper cover.
I'm thinking of writing up the patterns to these and posting them on one of my "Freebie Fridays" Whatcha think? Anyone interested in having the pattern?


hugs...... love..... & blessings
.::Tam::.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Cute Pet Shots.................

Thought I would take up a post to show off a few pictures of the pets of our family.

This is Buddy. He is Christopher's puppy. Decided to lay next to one of my ceramic turtles to take a nap.

This is Daytona.............. he has gotten so big!

This is Lucky! Our sweet little Dwarf Hamster (Theodore) past away last month and David was just heart broken. He missed his little buddy alot. So off to the pet store we went... and this sweet little Guinea won David's heart.


This is Charlie. He's helping Patrick with his homework..... :)

And here is Charlie again........... hangin' out on his new best friend's (Lucky) cage.



hugs....love & blessings
.::Tam::.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

From Ordinary to Great.........

Anyone who studies God’s ways soon realizes they are quite different from man’s. Worldly wisdom says that extraordinary people and abundant resources are needed for great tasks, yet the Lord often chooses the small and insignificant to achieve His purposes on earth.

For example, Christ selected a rather unimpressive group of men as disciples, yet after being filled with the Spirit, they “turned the world upside down.” During His ministry on earth, Jesus fed thousands with a child’s meager lunch, and He viewed the widow’s two small coins as a greater offering than all the other generous donations (John 6:5-12; Luke 21:2-3).

God specializes in using people who aren’t naturally qualified to accomplish His tasks. Moses was a verbally impaired 80-year-old shepherd who liberated a nation. After Gideon hid from the enemy, God made him a valiant warrior. David was the overlooked youngest son who killed a giant with a small stone and became Israel’s greatest king.

God isn’t looking for impressive people; He wants willing ones who will bow the knee in humble submission. Being weak and ordinary doesn’t make you useless. Rather, it positions you for a demonstration of divine power in your life. He takes insignificant ones and delights in making them great.

Have you ever considered that your lack of ability, talent, or skill is the ideal setting for a great display of Christ’s power and glory? If you are willing to submit to His leading and venture into the scary yet rewarding territory of faith and obedience, He will do great things in and through you.



hugs... love.... & Blessings
.::Tam::.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Too nice to stay inside.............

A beautiful February day takes the family outside to play catch........


ride the rip-stick..............
and me sitting on the front deck.... sipping coffee...taking pics... and just enjoying watching the boys play!
hugs.... love.... & blessings
.::Tam::.


Friday, February 18, 2011

*State Wrestling Tournament*

Go Cougars!!!


The team warming up.........


Go Frank..........


You can do it Bill..............


Be tough Zach..................


up and out Tim................


Hang on Jim.................

Go .. fight... PIN ..... Mitch............






hugs.... love & blessings
.::Tam::.


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Going to *State*................

Conestoga will be sending 6 of their 11 Varsity Wrestlers to State!!!! Way to go boys!!!

* State Bound *
Tim ... Mitch ... Jim ... Zach ... Frank(not pictured) and Bill



I am so proud of our boys!!! With such a small team of Wrestlers... they have become very dear to me! Love you boys!


hugs...love... & blessings
.::Tam::.










Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Fight your battles on your knees........

There are trials in life that we immediately recognize as too large and too difficult to face on our own. They are beyond our resources and scope of influence, and they threaten to consume those things that are most important to us. The Father allows these struggles to shake our confidence to show us that "the battle is not yours but God's" (2 Chr. 20:15). He understands that it is only when we see His faithful character and leadership exhibited in our biggest challenges that we learn to trust Him with every aspect of our lives.

Are you facing a conflict that seems like a lose-lose situation? Are you heartbroken by someones accusations or crushed by the weight of your burdens? Your combat strategy must begin and end with getting on your knees and realizing that God is in control of your situation. He will handle everything for you if you will humble yourself and obey Him. However, you must stop being distracted by your own feelings and the details of your problem. Rather, put your focus on Him and what He can teach you. Surrender yourself completely to the Lord and trust Him with your struggles, because certainly you'll find that He is faithful to lead you to victory.


**Read Psalms 20 and 91 and note how others trusted God and found victory in Him.
**Get on your knees before the Lord and express your trust in His ability to handle the battle you are facing. Then, express your thankfulness for His help and leadership.




hugs.....love..... & blessings
.::Tam::.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

My little Wrestlers.................

David got his first PIN today. Oh... how cute he is! He took 2nd place in his weight class.
My sweet little Michael took 3rd place in his weight class!

I am so proud of these two........... well... Patrick too!!!! Wrestling is the toughest sport out there........... both emotionally and physically!!!





hugs... love & blessings
.::Tam::.
---

Friday, February 11, 2011

Snowed in Breakfast Casserole.....

This is what you do with a handful of eggs... some left over bacon and sausage and tator tots.... when you're snowed in and need to find things to make for meals to feed 7 people.


6 eggs
1/2 cup milk (maybe a bit more if you like)
left over bacon.... approx. 8 pieces
left over sausage patties... approx. 4-5
left over tator tots.... enough to cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan
grated cheese

Preheat oven to 350*
Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray
layer bottom of pan with frozen tator tots..... cook bacon and sausage.... and cut both in to small pieces..... sprinkle half of the bacon and sausage on top of the tator tots.
In bowl... mix eggs and milk unitl whipped well..... pour egg mixture on top of tots.. bacon & sausage. Sprinkle remaining bacon/sausage on top of egg. Sprinkle with grated cheese.... bake in oven 20-30 minutes until golden brown.

fun toppings...
*salsa
*more cheese
*syrup

ENJOY!!!




hugs... love .. & blessings
.::Tam::
---

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Some Finished W.I.P's.......................

Felt good to get a few things done this week! I still have a long list of WIP's... but one at a time I'm gettin' them done.


This project was a "drop what you're doing and get this started and finished due to an immediate need" project.
A Baby Blanket started for a friend of Ken's........................
..... and finished just in time for him to take it to the office to give to his friend!
Dishcloths for a friend.............. DONE

Charity squares for a friend........... DONE

hugs.... love... & blessings
.::Tam::.
---




Tuesday, February 8, 2011

His promise to provide

Good Morning....................
mmmmmm ............ feed your body.................. .........and your soul!

We all have needs. Each of us experiences times of physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, or financial poverty that make us wonder whether or not the Lord really cares about us. As circumstances become more severe and the days and weeks pass, we wonder why those areas of necessity continue to go unmet. We know that the Father is fully able to provide for us—so the questions arise, Why isn't God delivering us from these troubles? Is He truly going to help us?

Yes, He is. The Lord is both able and willing to provide everything you need. In fact, Romans 8:32 tells us, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" The Father takes great joy in meeting your needs and supplying the desires of your heart. Yet there is a condition—you must obey Him. So ask yourself: Are you submitting yourself fully to God? If you are, then you are certain to experience His abundant provision. Trust Him to transform your circumstances.


*Spend time in prayer asking God what He wants you to learn through this experience. Then praise Him as the source of every good thing in your life.

*This week, whenever you feel anxious, recommit yourself to obeying God and trust Him for all of your needs. Memorize Philippians 4:19 for further encouragement.



hugs... love... & blessings
.::Tam::. ---
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¸.•´ (¸.•´ . *¸¸.•¨¯`•

Monday, February 7, 2011

Prayers Needed!!!

Very dear friends of mine are heavy hearted as they just found out their 1yr old nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia this evening. Please .... prayers for Creed... his mommy and daddy... and the rest of the family!!!

Thank you so much!!! -
hugs...love & blessings
.::Tam::.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Little League Wrestling............

Michael and David.......... the two youngest finally had their first wrestling meet today. Oh my goodness was it crowded with little people ... but so cute to watch! Those little guys are a riot! heheheheheheee

Anyway.... here is Michael.... the one on the left..... he did well............. won 1 ... lost 2 Not bad for his first time on the mat!

Here is David.........also the one on the left...... won 1... lost 2............ So Cute!


hugs...love... & blessings
.::Tam::.

Friday, February 4, 2011

W.I.P's.........................

Just a post to show some things I'm working on....................

Round Short-row Tunisian dishcloth.....

Orange Prayer Blanket for a sweet little 10yr old named Colton who has Leukemia...........

Frogged purse..............
becoming a new purse............



thanks for stoppin' by......
have a great day!
hugs...love.... & blessings
.::Tam::.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Good Morning....................

****Hubby is home from the hospital!!! Aunt is doing well after surgery!****




God Is Good
God, the Creator, and the Author of the Bible, is perfectly good. God has never done anything wrong.
God is wonderful, and perfectly dependable. He has never let anyone down.
NAHUM 1:7
7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.
PSALM 145:8-9
8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

The Devil Lies
The devil wants us to believe God is bad: that He is mean, that He wants bad for us, and that He is holding out on us -- keeping us from enjoying good. But it is not true -- God loves you more than you can imagine.
JOHN 8:44
44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
The devil is a liar -- he works by deception. The devil tries to make us believe God is like him, and he is like God, which is, of course, not true.
Because of satan's efforts to distort the truth, many people's idea of God is actually what the devil is like.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:14
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
JOHN 10:10
10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

God Is Kind
LUKE 6:35-36
35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Someone said that God's great love could never be satisfied only loving those who loved Him -- so He is kind to the unthankful and evil people, too.
MATTHEW 5:44-45
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

You Can Trust God
1 TIMOTHY 4:10
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
1 JOHN 1:5
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
There is no darkness in God at all. He is perfect. There is no way He could be improved.
1 JOHN 4:8
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God is a God of love. He puts the interests of others first. He is not selfish. He wants the best for everyone.

Do Not Be Deceived
JAMES 1:13-18
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Obviously, even beloved brethren can be deceived (verse 16). Good and perfect things come from our Father God -- and He never varies or changes at all!


hugs.... love & blessings
.::Tam::.