When I Grow Up

When I grow up I want to be, now fill in the blank.  When I was little I wanted to be a mommy and a hair dresser.  My mom was an amazing mom, I see that now that I'm older and I have children of my own.  Of course when I was young all I saw was a mom who was always around and I never had a moments peace.  My mom passed away 11 years ago this month.  How crazy that it seems forever ago yet seems like yesterday. 

Anyway, I am a grown up now.  I don't FEEL old or anything, but I am a grown up with one grown child and a young one still at home.  What I can see now that I'm experienced and wiser than I was when I was a young mom is that the little things really do add up to big things.  What I'm talking about is as we are raising our children we really need to pay attention to the little things.  When they are babbling on about something it's really important to listen and respond.  Those little things are really important to them. 

Being a parent is a tough job.  It's also THE most important job you'll ever have.  We don't get do-overs with our kids.  Make today count.  I know that sounds so cliche but it's so true.  Put your electronics down and invest time in your children.  The time you give to your phone, computer, tv, etc is lost.  Gone forever.  Here's a few things to consider; take a walk, ride bikes together, go on a nature hike, put a puzzle together, play a game, color, or do an art project.  For your older kids; serve at a soup kitchen or food pantry, go to dinner with all cell phones off.  We need to re-connect with each other.

When your children are grown up, what will they remember?  What kind of grown up are you for them?  Does your example as a parent give them the desire to be a parent too?  

I learned how to sew on Youtube!

I've abandoned my page for SEWING!

The last 10 months I have learned to SEW!  I had a theory that the gift of sewing skips a generation.  Really, I have asked hundreds of women over the course of about 20 years.  9 out of 10 times if they sewed their mom didn't/couldn't but their grandma was amazing.  I totally bought into my theory, until recently!!! 

Sewing has been so much fun, a LOT addictive and it makes me think of my mom everyday.  I think of all the times I watched her and caught many tips and tricks.  All the times she tried to teach me to sew and I just didn't have the patience or focus to get through the pattern process.  If I did get past the pattern then the machine and I didn't get along.  What I know about myself now, in my mid 40's, that I didn't know then is so helpful in my sewing journey. 

1. Patterns; in my opinion, are a small engineering feat!  I have a very creative and flexible mind, I don't do well with precision and restrictions.  Patterns drive me CRAZY but I am determined to take a sewing class to learn how to use one, properly! 
2.  Machines; my wise momma left me her very simple Singer Featherweight with the manual!  Knowing how to thread properly is key to sane sewing!  Knowing how to maintain your machine is the next most important key.  If you are a slow or visual learner like me go on youtube and search the machine you have and you most likely will find a tutorial on how to thread and maintain it.  This was SO helpful to my sewing success.  I can watch it over and over. 
3. Simplyanniekate  Search her on youtube, she also has an excellent blog. She "sewed my language" so to speak.  She taught me how to make a CUTE pair of boutique pants using a pair of Bella's pants as a pattern!  That was/is the best way for me to sew.  It makes sense and I don't have to deal with the precision and details that drive me crazy.  

If you have ever wanted to sew but gave up because it made you crazy, check out youtube or take a class.  That is my next goal, to take a sewing class to take it to the next level.

I did buy a new, inexpensive Brother SE-400 which will sew and embroider.  I haven't spent much time learning the embroidery part, but I plan to over spring break.  I'll post what I make.  Let's be clear here, I am NOT a great seamstress.  I just have really cute fabric, a pretty good eye for color and I'm not afraid to mix things up.  But if you look closely, you won't be impressed by my sewing skills. 

Happy sewing!  Let me know what you are making.  I'm happy to answer any questions you may have too.  I hope everyone who has a desire to sew, will take the time to learn.  What a joy!

My First Coupon Class

I'm so thrilled!  After watching the extreme couponing shows I have been frustrated and often, appalled!  After learning from a passionate saver I totally get it now!  Also my suspicions were confirmed.   I was thinking that the producers of the extreme shows really pushed the coupon lovers to ridiculous hauls.  I was correct, the gal I learned from doesn't do extreme couponing hauls every week, but she does have extra products on hand.  

I can't wait to get my coupons in order and start saving money!  I hope you'll join me.  If you know me at all you know I LOVE a bargain and I am always on the hunt for great deals. I just get to extend that to the grocery store.  Yippee!!!

Happy saving,

Tami

Check out Tammilee's website for cool savings...


http://www.tammileetips.com/

If Your Child Was In Desperate Need...

WOW!  I've been gone way too long!

I was listening to our local Christian radio station today, 104.9 (their website it PLR.org).  They play great music all day long.  This week they have been doing a Compassion International "campaign" to encourage listeners to sponsor a very needy child.  I have always intended to sponsor one but I just haven't gotten around to it.  Bella and I were driving to speech therapy and we stopped for lunch at Wendy's . It occurred to me that if the roles were reversed and my children were hungry and needed the BASIC necessities I would certainly hope that someone in a wealthy country, such as ours, would call and say YES! I will help your children!  Why do I take so much for granted?  We are so privileged here in the states.  We have such abundance and I know my children have such abundance.  The Lord pressed on my heart to sponsor two children today.  This is not because I'm so great, it's because these are HIS children and He has called us to show His love for them by sponsoring.  It is just pennies a day.

I chose two boys, both have aids and both have been waiting a long time.  One young man is 15 and may have lost hope in being sponsored.  The cost is just $38 per month, per child.  For $76 or the cost of ONE night out to dinner w/my family at a nice restaurant or cutting out 1 trip a week to a fast food restaurant.   I know that each of my readers and myself can make the tiny sacrifice to help one or more child.  I am challenging my readers to take the Compassion challenge and sponsor at least one child.  Go to their website where you can search for a child based on their birthday, gender, country, and lots of other details.  You can exchange letters and photos, etc.  http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm

This is from their website, I hope this is okay to share with my readers;

Sponsoring children in need is breaking the cycle of poverty  
Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training.
Today, Compassion helps more than 1 million children in 26 countries.

Currently there are over 2700 children waiting to be sponsored.  YOU and I can make a difference.  Please post a comment when you have sponsored your child(ren) and PLEASE, challenge your friends to do the same!  The power of social networking could have ALL the children waiting sponsored TODAY!  Let's make it happen.

Too blessed NOT to share,

Tami

HE is risen!

This is an email letter I received this morning and I just had to share it with my readers.  So often I get so caught up in the stuff of the day and the season that I forget the reason we celebrate.  I hope you will take this message to heart as I am.  Also sign up for the onemillionmoms.com email alerts.  When you see what's going on in the world of advertising you too will want to stand up and say, NO MORE!  Let me know what you think if you like it or not.  I'd love to know your side. 

Happy Resurrection week! 

Abundant Blessings,

Tami

He is Risen!

April 20, 2011


Dear Tami,

Many will celebrate Easter this weekend with colored eggs, candy and bunnies, but we must not forget the truth behind Easter. Easter is a time to Rejoice! Jesus Christ died on the cross for EVERYONE'S sins so that one day we could be with our Heavenly Father. Three days following, he rose again from the dead. This is what Christians celebrate, His Resurrection! He is ALIVE! And one day our Savior will return.

Jesus paid a debt for us that no one else could ever repay so that we could be in heaven with him for eternity. God gave the perfect sacrifice, his only Son, and if we believe in Him and become saved, then we will be forgiven for our sins. He will set us free!

To be saved you must ask God into your heart. If you have never done this, take time to do it right now.

Jesus had the power to come down from that cross, but He knew this is what had to be done for His believers to be saved. He did this because of His love for us. He loved us that much!

If you know of someone who is not saved, please pass this on to them. Share the greatest gift of all with them: a relationship with Jesus Christ and eternal life. Also share this with your brothers and sisters in Christ so they may use this to share with others. God commands that we share the gospel with others. We need to help one another become passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

For a powerful resource to use while witnessing, or if you need more answers yourself, go to http://needhim.org or call 1-888-NeedHim.


Sincerely,

Monica Cole, Director
OneMillionMoms.com


P.S. Please forward this to your family and friends! Become a fan of OneMillionMoms on Facebook! If you use Twitter, keep up with the latest information by following us.

Stay Tuned...

Sorry gang, taking a few days off of Sisters blog.  Stay tuned for more to come. Thanks for staying with me!

Blessings, Tami

Blessings Continue...

I know most people think I'm crazy to "unplug" from the outside world.  My husband got home today from being gone over 2 weeks.  He's not sold on the idea either!  What amazes me is how quickly I've let go of the urge to turn on the tube in the morning.  I used to turn it on first thing every morning, like it was my friend or something!  I do still want to pick up my computer fairly often.

I was chatting with one of my besties last night and she really pegged how I was feeling and what my impulse was.  I was really exhausted (something that happens when you turn off the tube and get moving) and my first impulse was to turn on the tube or get on the net to just zone out on trash.  I can't believe how many years I have done this.  It's mind boggling how much sleep I have missed out on too.  I'm not saying I'll never do this again or that this is a horrible thing.  It's just for me, this is not the way I want to live anymore.  Now that I see it, I am choosing to change it.

One of the best things that has come from this new quiet way of living is the time my 15 yr old son is spending around his mom and his baby sister.  We have had really great conversations this week.  He has shared that so often I didn't hear what he was saying to me.  This breaks my heart that I put my computer and TV before my son.  I also put these things before my God and Savior.  In some ways it's like I was deaf and blind before and now I see. 

This is just my journey and the "idols" in my life that needed to be done away with.  I know I will watch TV again but I hope and pray that I'll never give anything, other than Christ, the time I devoted to my TV schedule and computer, again. 

I hope that someone who reads this will be helped in some way to recognize the changes that need to be made in their life too.

Abundant blessings my friend,

Tami