Back home............

after a wonderful weekend with my Aunt... Uncle..... & cousins!

We had wonderful Thanksgiving! I almost think it was better than last year with them! :)

We ate too much... visited lots... and were just blessed to be together!

I hope everyone had a truely thankful Thanksgiving! I know I did!

I'm suffering a bad headache today.. so I will post more updates to things tomorrow!

Have a great evening!

God bless,

.::Tam::.

A Thankful Thanksgiving...

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfilment comes to those who

are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings!

God Bless........
.::Tam::.

Shelter from the Storms.....

Thunder and lightning of a powerful storm can rattle our house some night. As rain slashes against the windows and lightning lights up the dark sky...I have been woke up just long enough to make room for one or all of my sons to join me and my husband in bed. I know sometimes thinking with surprise that I didn't even know it was going to storm.

What a picture of my life lately. It's been a little over year of unexpected rain. Some just drizzles, but others, like the storm hitting me ... rattled windows with wave after wave of thunder and bursts of lightning.

What about you? Is there stormy weather in your life right now? Where are you finding shelter from the storms?

As I've turned to Scripture recently... I'm amazed at the number of times it reminds us God is our shelter. God knows that we will encounter hard times and His Word reminds us that the strongest and safest shelter is God Himself.

As always we have a choice: get drenched in the rain or seek shelter. You see, the storms of life can cause us to run toward God, but just as easily they can cause us to turn away. A whole range of emotions can leave us standing in the rain to get drenched: bitterness, anger, confusion, helplessness, or hopelessness. If you can relate to these emotions, you might feel badly for having these emotions, but don't let these feelings keep you from God.

Read the Psalms and you'll see that God can handle every emotion. Negative emotions are not a reason to turn away from God. They're the very reason to turn to Him, desperately wanting the kind of faith and strength only God can provide.

Keep turning to God, continue to tell Him in prayer how you feel, and leave your emotions with Him. As you do, you'll start to feel His nearness, His hope, His promise, and His comfort. If you find yourself returning to feelings of fear or hopelessness, just go back to God. Be honest in your prayers. Acknowledge that you're having a hard time, but that you want to trust Him in your circumstances. Know that He loves you and will consistently and constantly be your shelter from the storms.

Dear Lord, "Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings" (Psalm 61:1-4). In Jesus' Name, Amen

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



**"Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8**

Quick Show & Share...

This is a Duct Tape Bag I made for as a PIF (pay it forward)

Mystery Project:
Well... here's an update on my project. I received an email from my Aunt the other day with a list of guesses as to what I'm making (No... not a car seat cover... heehee) and asking if I was going to give hints as I go along. I didn't really think to give hints... but it seems like it would be more fun. Here is a pile of 25 squares I have done so far. I'll give you two hints as to make up for the first post.

1)The yarn I'm using is Simply Soft Caron ~ Autumn Red
2)The pattern is a Vintage Pattern from the 1950's

Okay... I'm off to get the boys ready to go to Chuck E Cheese for lunch. They get to run and play... I get to sit and crochet..................... happiness for both kids and mommy! Well and Ken too.............. he's one of the kids. :)

have a wonderful weekend!!

hugs..love & blessings,

♥.::Tam::.

and no Aunt Joycie... its not a kitty mat either................ heheheheheehehehee :)

Freebie Friday.......

Gold Star Coaster...



Yarn: Peaches & Cream Cotton

Hook size: I

Skill level:

Stitches used: chain (ch) , single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), half double crochet (hdc) slip stitch (sl st)


Rnd 1: Ch 4… 2dc in 4th ch from hook… *ch 2 … 3dc in same sp as the 2dc.* *repeat* 3 more times. hdc in top of ch 4 ( 5 sets of 3dc)
Rnd 2: ch3 … 2dc in hdc sp. *Ch1 … 3dc, ch2, 3dc in ch2 sp.* *repeat* 3 more times. ch 1… 3dc in hdc sp….. hdc in top of ch3.
Rnd 3: ch 3.. 2dc in hdc sp. … *ch1 , sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1, 3dc,ch2,3dc in next ch2 sp.* *repeat* 3 more times. ch 1, sc in ch 1 sp, ch 1, 3dc in hdc sp…. ch2 … sl st to top of ch 3… finish off.

Created & written by: ©Tammy Carlton - March 2011Do not sell pattern. Do not post pattern without link back to original.Coffeen’Crafts

* you can also make this pattern using Red Heart yarn in Christmas colors for fun tree ornaments and room decorations!*
have fun!!

hugs ... love & blessings,
♥.::Tam::.

**The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
~ Proverbs 10:22**

A little Catch-up......

I got a call the other day from my daughter informing me of a 'Blankie emergency'! My sweet 2 yr old grandson had finally put a whole in his blankie I made him when he was born. He carries it EVERYWHERE!
Being the grandma I am... I cant have my babies with out blankies... so I dived into my stash and immediately got to work on a replacement! Two days later ............ *whew* it was done. I made him a cover for a box of 24 crayons too. He's big into coloring right now. Its off in the mail and I'm hoping they get it today! I hope he likes his new blankie... its just like the old one .. just not broke in yet! :)

This is the new blankie

Box of 24 Crayons in a handy carrier

Give the teacher a gold star!!! David wanted to give his teacher a little gift to show how much he likes her and to thank her for letting him bring 'Guinea' home again this last weekend! So I made this Gold Star Coaster. He said it was perfect... so ............. *yay mom* heheheee

This is Guinea. Isn't he just the sweetest thing?!

You want to talk about cute............ check this out. Guinea and David fell asleep together!

Just a little show & share........... Another fish dishcloth. I think these are so cute and each time I make them in a different color.. they just get more and more cute.

Mystery Project

I thought it would be fun if I posted progress of a project without telling you all what its going to be. I will post pictures until its done. You can post guesses if you want.... or just wait and watch. :) I've never made this particular item before... so its kind of going to be a surprise for me too.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday...........
May your day be wonderfully blessed!

hugs...love & blessings,

♥.::Tam::.

**“give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18**

Prayers for my family........

as we mourn the loss of a family member! This is my cousin Lisa! She passed away Wednesday ~ 11 November 2009 from an aneurysm. She was only 45 yrs old. Please Pray for her husband and 4 children.

Although through the years of us growing up and moving away we didn't get to know each other like I would have liked.... that doesn't change the fact that she was my family and I loved her!

We love you!

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

Oh God, who brought us to birth,and in whose arms we die,in our grief and shock contain and comfort us;embrace us with your love,give us hope in our confusion and grace to let go into new life;through Jesus Christ
In Jesus Name ~ Amen

The perfect Hot Dog dinner...........

Yep................. we cooked our hot dogs on this really fun cooker! There was bowls of chili on the table... chopped onion... shredded cheese... sour cream... and good ol' ketchup & mustard. We had Frito's with our hot dogs.... and big glasses of milk. :)

It was Wonderful! Michael ate about 3/4 of his hot dog and a handful of Frito's... his tummy was still not quite back to feeling itself.................... but later in the evening... he came to me asking for a hot dog... he was hungry... really hungry............ :)
We warmed up the cooker and put on a couple hot dogs... he ate the whole thing and was one happy boy!

God is so Good!
Trust... and Faith!!! No matter what the issue in your life.............. Trust that God is in control... and have Faith that He will guide you through it safely!

hugs... love & blessings,
♥ .::Tam::.

**Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials ~ James 1:2**

God is AWESOME...

This is an update on Michael! As many of you know... he has been in a relapse from Nephrotic Syndrome for over a year recently. Well... as of a couple weeks ago... he had been completely weaned off the prednizone and heading for remission. Now you all also know that I myself have always believed that Michael was and is healed from Nephrotic.... but the Doctors with their knowledge and tests have continued to claim Michael to be ill. Anyway........ We celebrated two weeks ago with a "Nacho Night" This was a big deal because Michael has been on a very low sodium diet during this whole relapse. One of his older brothers and I created a Nacho Meal like crazy. Two different cheese sauce/dips... with all kinds of toppings and several different chips. It was a GREAT celebration............ we enjoyed Nachos and back to back Transformer movies 1 & 2.

So here is what is new. Friday we went for blood work again to see where Michael's albumin levels were since being two weeks off the prednizone.

The range of average normal albumin levels in children are 3.2 - 4.0

Anything higher than 4.0 means they are above the average and doing good... below 3.2 means there may be an issue that needs to be looked at.

Yesterday Michael woke up with an upset tummy. :(

Later in the day as he was resting ... I checked on him and felt he was Hot. I took his temperature and it read 101.2........... not good. So out comes the Tylenol and a cool shower. Ken called his doctor to find out what our steps should be with him. With the H1N1 flu out and about... we all know this could mean difficulties for Michael.......... well... as far as doctors are concerned. I know my baby is healed!!!!

Anyway......... she tells us to keep a close eye on him... watch for other symptoms... temp getting higher .... not going down... etc. The normal things you would watch for to determine a doctor visit. She also told us that if he needed Tamiflu he could have it.

So she didnt seem to concerned about him having a fever and such.... why you wonder.......... well let me tell you...................... remember that range of albumin levels I talked about? She had gotten Michaels test results back............... and her words........... Michael is in FULL remission... his levels came out 4.1

How Great is God........... huh?

So this fever and aches................. just Satans way of messing with us. He cant get Michael with Nephrotic... so he'll try other ways.................. NOT on my watch.... Not while God is in control of this family!

After tending to Michael all day yesterday ... keeping him covered up... and watching his fever... he woke this morning after a nice night sleep in mommy's bed ... :) with a temp of 98.2 ... Again...... how Awesome is our God?!!! Michael is feeling better today!!!

With all that said............... we will be having yet another celebration dinner tonight.

This time it will be HOT DOGS. Michael loves hot dogs and for the past year has had to miss out on them. Sure makes for a bummer of a summer during Baseball season. What goes better with a game of Baseball then a hot dog... right?!

Tonight we will have a fun night of hot dogs with some fun toppings. The normal ketchup .. mustard and diced onion items... .but we will also have some yummy chili ... shredded cheese and sour cream.... with a side of Frito's!!!!

I want to thank everyone who has and still continues to pray for Michael............. prayers are answered!!!!

Have a GREAT day everyone!

God Bless each and everyone of you!!!

hugs... love & blessings,

♥.::Tam::.

**Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5 & 6**

Veterans Day...

Thank you to all that have and still continue to keep us FREE!
God Bless you all!!!

VERY Proud Navy mom!!!

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

**And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5**

Christmas is coming.........

Here are just a few things I have made so far for Christmas fun. They were made for swaps!

Christmas Coasters

Christmas Bulb Dishcloth & Curly Wreath

I think I will make more of these for gifts. A nice kitchen set. Maybe a box with a dishcloth.. pan... & recipe book. hmmmm? And a Coaster set with a couple mugs and drink mixes.

Better jot these things down so I wont forget.......... :)

God Bless,

.::Tam::.

**And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5**

As seen on TV..... & in my kitchen......

Yep........... this silly gadget works! I have made several batches of Perfect Brownies since I bought this pan.

This morning I decided to get brave and try something else........... Blueberry Muffins. Well.. they came out Perfect! (as you can see)

This is little Matthew wishing he could have just one.................. *sigh*

So.......... if you have seen advertisement for this handy pan........ and wondered if it was really all that great..... I'm here to say.......... Yes it is!!! I have two of them :)

God Bless,

.::Tam::.

Freebie Friday...

Magic Hotpad........

Yarn: Peaches & Cream Cotton

Skill Level:

Hook size: I

ch 32

Sc in 2nd ch from hook THROUGH BACK LOOP. Sc THROUGH BACK LOOPS in each ch to end.

Sc 2 more times in last ch, so you will now be able to sc on the opposite side of the chain.

What was the front loop will now become the back loop. Sc in back loop of each ch back to the beginning.
Sc one more time in last ch.

Sc THROUGH BACK LOOP (where the needle is) of each sc around and around.

The two corners will start to curl - don't worry - as they should.

This is what it will look like as you keep crocheting around and around.

Crochet until you can fold the potholder so that the top edges touch. It looks like you may be there. Let's check...

Yep! Time to finish off, leaving a tail 4 times the length of the seam.

Sew up the seam. I go under one half of the stitch on one side...

and under the whole stitch on the other side.

There you have it - Like magic...... a hotpad!

God Bless,

.::Tam::.

Courage...

Do not be frightened or worried:
for I am your God and I'm always beside you.

Be determined and confident:
since you are mine I will always support you.

I am the God of love who moves on gently:
leading you, drawing you into all that is new and lovely.

All you need is available now:
let me carry you and bear you along in safety.

I am the Lord of love who comes to you in quietness:
there's no need for struggle or panic,

for I died for you in the cruelty of torture:
how can I let you suffer alone?

I am the Spirit of love to direct you tenderly:
I hold your hand and I will not hurry you.

We will go on together into tomorrow:
for I am with you and I won't let you go.

Be not afraid for I am with you:
I shall never abandon you wherever you may fall.

Only be strong and very courageous:
for you are mine and I will always love you.


God Bless,
.::Tam::.

Fear & Lies.....

Avoid fear, for fear is the consequence of every lie.

There are lies everywhere. Blinking neon lights, and sweetly penned secrets. A movie. A sermon. A Day after thanksgiving sale. How quickly we forget that the things we hear and see are making an impression. Like an empty place in the bed where a body used to lay,they’re wrapped up in the sheets, but they don’t need the rest. They can come without warning and talk for hours without a sound. Lies tell the future, insist on interpreting the past, and seem to always keep us paralyzed to the present. They can fill a closet with skeletons and invite monsters under the bed. Lies are strangers in friends clothing and fill your house when you’re alone.


The inevitable, unstoppable result of listening to something other than the truth. Cousins, sisters, brothers, parents possible even spouses perhaps? I’m not exactly sure the relation but I know that its a tie that binds. Feed one, and you nourish the other. Nurture a lie, and watch the panic grow. Forget the truth and welcome anxiety. Give up on hope, and welcome misery with open arms.

So then it should comes as no surprisethat the most recurrent command in all the Bible is this:“Do not be afraid.”Easy enough right? Well maybe it could be, but I don’t think we’ll ever live free of fear as long as fear itself is our problem. Fear is the consequence of a lie, Which means, if I find in myself some irrisistible anxiety, chances are, I’ve welcomed a lie into my heart. And maybe I didn’t exactly welcome it. Maybe I just forgot to close the door on some memory or I left the window cracked, but whatever the reason, if the lie has crept in somewhere, and has made its home where my faith has worn through, I must recognize it for what it is.

It should also come as no surprise then, that the work of God is belief. “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one whom He has sent.” Do we understand that fear isn’t something that we are meant to live with? Do we have any idea how free we would be if we could just believe?And trust me, I know. It’s not easy. In fact, its the hardest work any of us will ever have to do, but its the war we were meant for. Since we’re grafted into Israel as Romans says, that means we’re brought in to “wrestle with God,”for that is exactly what Israel means. So we fight to rest. We work to stop working. We war for peace. We run to stand still. Life is waiting for the ones who lose control. “taking captive every thought, and making it obedient to Christ Jesus.” Take captive? Yeah. Take it freaking captive. Smack that lie in the mouth and slaughter it with the Truth!!!

God Bless,
♥ .::Tam::.

**The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1**