Coffee n' Crafts

Make a Difference Monday...............

2012-01-23T11:19:00.000-06:00

Imagine if one million people committed to making a difference in someone’s life.

This past year, we honored those who have fallen and served our country on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
We have supported so very many who have been caught in the destruction of the weather... with tornado's.... tsunamis... etc.
We have helped several rebuild after fires and flooding.

And we have donated to so many different causes and needs!
Thank you to our communities for each doing their part for our country!!!

What can you do today to make a Difference? Give a hug... buy a cup of coffee... splurge for lunch... lend an ear.................

`°º·¤.¸¯`°º·¤.¸¯`°º·¤.¸ ♥ ¸.¤·º°´¯ ¸.¤·º°´¯ ¸.¤·º°
~~~ MAKE YOUR DIFFERENCE TODAY~~~
¤·º°´¯ ¸.¤·º°´¯ ¸.¤·º°´¯ ♥ ¯`°º·¤. ¸¯`°º·¤. ¸¯`°

Be one in a million!

Hugs...Love & Blessings
.::Tam::.

2nd Place ~ Oakland Craig Tournament.......

2012-01-21T23:29:00.000-06:00

Our boys are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so proud of them!!!!

Patrick takes this kid down.....................

and wins the match!!!!!

·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸GO...FIGHT...PIN¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸
Conestoga Wrestlers ...... ROCK!!!

God Bless

...::Tam::...

Luke 12:22-34

2012-01-18T13:24:00.000-06:00

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God Bless
~*~Tam~*~

Ken's Cause.....................

2012-01-16T10:53:00.000-06:00

on Facebook..........

Cookies for Ken was created to help Ken Carlton fund his cancer treatment. Over Christmas, cookie donations soared past $4000!

Now, does FB have the power to reach 10,000 people who would donate $10 each for Ken's Cancer treatment?

Thank you
God Bless
¸¸.•*"Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"*•.¸¸ Tam¸¸.•*"Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"*•.¸¸

Awesome God..............

2012-01-15T22:39:00.001-06:00

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain't just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)
There's thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)
And the Lord wasn't joking when He kicked 'em out of Eden
It wasn't for no reason that He she'd His blood
His return is very close and so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)
He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)
Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God (Our God is an awesome God)
He reigns from heaven above (He reigns from heaven above)
With wisdom, power, and love (With wisdom, power, and love)
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hugs...love & blessings
¸¸.•*"Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"*•.¸¸ .::Tam::.¸¸.•*"Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"*•.¸¸

Baby Set..............

2012-01-13T07:56:00.000-06:00

Good Morning all.................

Well... a little show & share here..................
I was asked if I could make a baby gift for a super good friend of mine to give to a friend of hers for a baby shower gift.
Umm..... of course.... :)

She picked out the yarn and this is what I came up with..........................
This 12 point round ripple ............

and this munchkin elf hat I created a while back...............

I have to say............. I'm really actually pretty happy with this set!

It was really fun to make! I hope my friend's friend likes it!

have a wonderful day everyone!

God Bless

.::tam::.

HaPpY bIrThDaY ........

2012-01-11T17:47:00.001-06:00

To my wonderful 13 year old.................... Michael!

Oh my goodness..... look at this happy boy! And what is that I see in his lap?

Yep................ his new laptop ...................... and already having fun with it!

Happy Birthday buddy.......... mommy loves you!

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

Thank God.....................

2012-01-09T05:45:00.000-06:00

God Bless
.::Tam::.

1st Place at the Malcolm Tournament.........

2012-01-08T05:11:00.000-06:00

Our boys are AWESOME!!!!

Way to go Conestoga Wrestlers!

I am so very proud of you!!!

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

Finally Home..........................

2012-01-05T19:43:00.000-06:00

Good Evening friends and family!!!

KEN IS HOME!

Chemo....scans.... antibiotics...ups and downs of not feeling well....

trips back and forth to the hospital....running boys here and there....wresting practice.. wresting meets... Winter Choir programs.... all done in the last month while being separated.

But we're back together again..... Waiting for our next step in this plan God has laid out for us!

Thank you God!

hugs...love & blessings to you all

.::Tam::.

Fun New Creation.............

2012-01-03T13:47:00.000-06:00

Afternoon all.....................

Well... I got to playin' with some yarn yesterday.......... and came up with this cute little elf style baby hat.

I liked it so much.... I made this one for one of Ken's nurses that is due with her first baby here in the next couple weeks. :)

This was fun to create! I can see this being my new favorite baby hat to go along with blankets!

Thanks for stoppin' in........

Have a great day!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

New Year.............No Fear................

2012-01-02T12:48:00.003-06:00

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

~~~~~~
Healthy fear warns us of danger and prepares us to react appropriately. However, the type of fear referred to in this verse is an unhealthy fear. It gets in the way of what our heavenly Father has already given us: His power, His love and His self-control.

Unhealthy fear overwhelms us with doubt and insecurity; it drains our spiritual life and physical strength. It steals God’s peace from our hearts, and robs us of joy in our daily lives. It causes us to become stagnant; unable to move ahead with the things God has planned for us. It’s important to remember that unhealthy, paralyzing, controlling fear is not from God. It is one weapon our enemy Satan uses to interrupt, discourage and destroy our relationship with our heavenly Father.

Are you struggling with unhealthy fear? In 1 Samuel 17:32, “David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him’”.

David could have cowered in the corner with an unhealthy, paralyzing fear at the thought of facing such insurmountable odds. Yet his confidence in God was so strong he actually volunteered to face the giant Philistine.

David saw his giant problem from God’s perspective and knew he already possessed everything necessary to face his enemy head on (literally!). This confidence allowed him to rest in God’s power and inexhaustible strength in order to defeat his enemy. Because David’s reliance was not on himself, but on the One who supplies everything needed, the giant was defeated.

As we follow David’s example and look at our giant problems from God’s perspective, we have the same assurance that God’s very presence will sustain us as we use the tools He has already provided.

In the past, I battled unhealthy fear; I allowed it to interrupt my relationship with God and others. It stole peace from my heart and joy from my daily life. I now lean on the truths in Psalm 91:14-15, “‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation’”. These verses have taught me the value of replacing fear with hope.

Are you living with unhealthy fear? Are you ready to replace it with the courageous and confident hope that’s found in trusting God alone? By placing our hope in God and not in our circumstances, we’re able to alleviate unhealthy fear. With God, we can face any giant in our path with confidence.

Dear Lord, I praise You as my deliverer, my refuge and shield. When unhealthy fear arises, remind me of Your ever-present help that hides me in the shadow of Your mighty wings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God Bless
.::Tam::.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2012-01-01T09:34:00.001-06:00

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Numbers 6:24-26~~~

God Bless you all!
have a wonderful Year!!!

.::Tam::.

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE...................

2011-12-31T06:56:00.000-06:00

As 2011 leaves... and 2012 enters.... I sit and think of what a year we have had... as we will be bringing in the New Year together tonight! Room 689 at Bergan Mercy Hospital will have a family that although has been though some tough and tiring times this last year.... we will ring in the New Year of 2012 ... so very thankful that we have each other! God has and is continuing to walk us through a plan He has for our lives with the most amazing friends and family we could have ever asked for!

So... with our party hats on... and our glasses filled with Sparkling Cider... we will raise our glasses in Praise to God... and thanks to our friends and family!

Be safe tonight .... and have the Happiest of New Years!

hugs...love & blessings

¸¸.•*"Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"*•.¸¸ Tam¸¸.•*"Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"*•.¸¸

Baseball Camp at Creighton.............

2011-12-28T20:04:00.001-06:00

Last month was 'Infield Camp' .... today was 'Pitching Camp'
There were alot more boys today at camp.... so very exciting!

Going through warm-ups.............................

Patrick shows his stuff.............

There was a 'Catchers Camp' going on at the same time... so when the Pitchers were ready to do their thing... they had Catchers to catch for them. It was awesome watching both the Pitchers and Catchers .... everyone was really good! Patrick was right on with all his pitches today! Its just so beautiful to see his pitches slide right into that glove. :)

Patrick had a great time... He really likes the camps at the University.

have a great evening all.................. sleep well

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Taking a personal day...............

2011-12-27T16:50:00.000-06:00

The boys need a "fun day".... its been hard having daddy back in the hospital... and he's been there longer this time than before. :(
So I took the boys to a local gym. Met one of my older boys there with a friend.... and they had a good time of basket ball... weight lifting and swimming.

I will have to do this more often with them. Its a good stress reliever. This allowed them to put the world outside away for just a few hours and relax!

Yep..................they had a great time!!!

Here they are doing the Neste' plunge........................ it was AWESOME!

Thank you Lord God for all you do for us! Thank you for the time you give us to relax and reflect back on you for all we have!!!

hugs...love & blessing to you all!!!

Have a wonderful week!

.::Tam::.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.................

2011-12-25T12:01:00.001-06:00

Well... our Christmas wasnt exactly what we had planned... but its God's plan... and His plan is GOOD!!!

Results are back after all the chemo Ken had..... He is officially CLEAN! Remission for Christmas!!! God is awesome!

My Navy boy is in town for Christmas... so Mevin...Patrick...Michael.... David and I all stayed at a hotel behind the hospital last night (Christmas Eve) so we could get up.... and be close to Ken for Christmas.
Here is our little travel tree... stockings and gifts we set up in our room.... Santa came... we packed it up... headed across the street and spent our day with Ken (dad)

umm....... these two stayed up way too late last night ..... hahaahaaaa Opened their gifts and fell asleep in Kens room.

What is Christmas?

Christmas will always be for us
A time to reflect on Christ
The gift God gave to all the world
Was the gift of His life

We know Christmas is not about tinsel
Nor fancy Christmas wreaths
Nor is it about all the decorations
That adorns our Christmas trees

And it’s not about Holly or Mistletoe
Hanging from our doors
Nor is it about the gifts that are left
By the jolly Santa Claus

Christmas is more than all of this
And the only reason why
We celebrate Christ’s birth together
And the wonder of His life

So remember as you celebrate
Just what it’s all about
And invite the Lord to join with you
Instead of leaving Him out

For He will always be the reason
We celebrate this day
No substitute the world may offer
Can take that meaning away

Merry Christmas my dear sweet friends and family!

God Bless,
.::Tam::.

Christmas Eve..................

2011-12-24T01:09:00.000-06:00

Ken's hair is really starting to fall out now from the chemo.... so for Christmas he wants the boys to shave his head.
We took the clippers and made daddy feel much better!

David starts it all off.....
Patrick takes his shot.... gettin the back all cleaned up.....

Michael slipped in.... got his turn..... and then here is Melvin cleanin' his dads head all up.... making him feel better and look good!!!

Merry Christmas Ken

You look marvelous!!!

hugs....love & blessings

.::Tam::.

Keepin' busy............

2011-12-23T10:22:00.001-06:00

Although its been tough to be in the crochet mood with hubby in the hospital.... I've gotten a few things done.

This lovely red scarf... which I'm really pleased at how it came out.......

This "Owls in a row" cap.... I do like this one.... kinda proud of myself with this.

And this really cute chickie hat.................. Love his eyes! :)

Thanks for stoppin' in and takin' a look

These are all for sale on my facebook..... email me if you are interested

have a great day!!!!

hugs...love & blessings

.::Tam::.

Another 1st place trophy..............

2011-12-21T04:07:00.001-06:00

for the Conestoga Wrestlers!

Way to win the Bishop Neumann Quad!

hugs...love & blessings

.::Tam::.

Woman Leads Ultimate Bake Sale For Cancer Patient

2011-12-18T22:27:00.000-06:00

KETV Channel 7

Watch and read the story HERE

Our community is awesome............ Thank you for all your love... support and prayers!

God Bless

,::Tam::,

Cookies for Ken............

2011-12-14T22:24:00.001-06:00

"Cookies for Ken" was created to rasie awareness and funding for Kens bone marrow transplant. 100% of the proceeds from the cookies will be returned to Ken's family! *Jean*
Thank you so much for your continued support!!!

God Bless
.::Tam::.

2nd Place at the Cass County Quad

2011-12-13T23:49:00.000-06:00

Conestoga Wrestlers

............. GO ~ FIGHT ~ PIN ..............

Way to go boys!!! So very proud of you!!!

hugs...love and blessings

.::Tam::.

Trusting God............

2011-12-11T22:17:00.000-06:00

Have you ever struggled and fretted because your life wasn't going the way you wanted? Do you feel that way right now?

You have legitimate needs and desires. You know what would make you happy and you pray for it with all your might, asking God to help you get it. But if it doesn't come to pass, you may feel frustrated, disappointed, even bitter.

Sometimes you do get what you want, only to discover that it doesn't make you happy after all, just disillusioned.

Many Christians repeat this cycle their entire life, wondering what they're doing wrong. I should know. I was one of them.

The Secret is in the 'Doing'
A spiritual secret exists that can free you from this cycle:
Trusting God. Trusting in the Lord.
"What?" you're asking. "That's no secret. I've read that dozens of times in the Bible and heard lots of sermons on it. What does he mean, secret?"

The secret lies in putting this truth into practice, by making it such a powerful theme in your life that you view every event, every sorrow, every prayer with the unshakable conviction that God is totally, spotlessly trustworthy.

That's where we mess up. We want to trust in anything rather than the Lord. We'll trust in our own abilities, in our boss's judgment of us, in our money, our doctor, even in an airline pilot. But the Lord? Well…

It's easy to trust in things we can see. Sure, we believe in God, but to allow him to run our life? That's asking a little too much, we think.
Disagreeing Over What Really Matters
The bottom line is that our wants may not agree with God's wants for us. After all, it's our life, isn't it? Shouldn't we have the say over it? Shouldn't we be the one who calls the shots? God gave us free will, didn't he?

Advertising and peer pressure tell us what's important: a high-paying career, a head-turning car, a drop-dead-gorgeous home, and a spouse or significant other who will make everyone else green with envy.

If we fall for the world's idea of what matters, we get trapped in what I call "The Loop of Next Time." The new car, relationship, promotion or whatever didn't bring you the happiness you expected, so you keep searching, thinking "Maybe next time." But it's a loop that's always the same, because you were created for something better, and deep down you know it.

When you finally reach the place where your head agrees with your heart, you're still hesitant. It's scary. Trusting in the Lord can require that you abandon everything you've ever believed about what brings happiness and fulfillment.

It requires that you accept the truth that God knows what's best for you. But how do you make that leap from knowing to doing? How do you trust in the Lord instead of the world or yourself?

The Secret Behind This Secret
The secret lives within you: the Holy Spirit. Not only will he convict you of the rightness of trusting in the Lord, he'll help you do it. It's just too tough to do on your own.

Because the Holy Spirit knows you better than you know yourself, he'll give you exactly what you need to make this change. He's infinitely patient, so he'll let you test this secret—trusting in the Lord—in little baby steps. He'll catch you if you stumble. He'll rejoice with you when you succeed.

When you trust in the Lord, you'll feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders. The pressure's off you now and on God, and he can handle it perfectly.

God will make something beautiful of your life, but he needs your trust in him to do it. Are you ready? The time to start is today, right now.

God bless
.::Tam::.

Raymond Central Tournament..........

2011-12-10T21:39:00.000-06:00

Conestoga Cougars take 1st place

Whoa............... you boys are amazing!!! Way to go!

hugs...love and blessings

.::Tam::.

Cookies sales and donations ..........

2011-12-09T21:29:00.000-06:00

are coming in left and right! GOD IS SO GOOD! I love you all.... Thank you all so much!

Thank you to everyone buying cookies and donating... Thank you to the beautiful ladies that are helping Jean with all these cookies! Thank you to all that are keeping my family in prayers!

God Bless
.::tam::.

***day 5 and last day of chemo for Ken***

Cookies for Ken................

2011-12-08T21:02:00.004-06:00

This is absolutely amazing. A wonderfully sweet ... incredibly giving friend... has decided to help me fundraise for Ken. I started a fundraiser site for Ken.... http://www.giveforward.com/kencarlton but our friend Jean thought there just had to be more that could be done.

You see .... with this new stay in the hospital... and the future transplant .... the hospital bills are and will be quite large. Insurance only pays so much. So.... to create some relief of the bills... our friend Jean has decided to sell these absolutely adorable melted snowman cookies.

God is so good!!!!
.::tam::.

***day 4 of chemo for Ken***

Wrestling Season ..............

2011-12-07T20:54:00.003-06:00

has officially begun................and off to a great start!

2011 Cougar Classic .................

Cougars take 1st place!!! Way to go boys! I'm so proud of you!
Patrick 152 lb weight class

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

***day 3 of chemo for Ken***

God's plan continues..........

2011-12-05T09:36:00.003-06:00

Good Morning my friends..................

Well... its all sunk in with Kens relapse..... and we're gonna push through this thing again.
The doctors are very incouraged that Ken will get into remission again..... but have discussed with us the fact that for long term health and cure... a bone marrow transplant is needed!!

So.... today the boys and I took Ken to the hospital... got him all checked in and ready for his chemo treament to start to get him back into remission. He'll be in the hospital for a good month .... so I need to dig out my "single mom" hat again and we'll do what we have to do to get through all this! Its not going to be fun... or even easy at times... BUT... its what God has planned for us... so we walk the path we've been given and see where it leads us.

So... if you all wouldnt mind keeping us all in your prayers... I would really be grateful!
Thank you so much!
Love you all!
God Bless
,::Tam::,

***day 1 of chemo for Ken***

God's plan..................

2011-12-02T09:14:00.001-06:00

Is much different than the one we had hoped for.
Thank you all for your love and prayers.... but today.... our answer was not what we had hoped for. The bone marrow biopsy results came back and the say that Ken has gone into a relapse.

So my friends..... we are in need of many more prayers! God has a plan here... we dont know what it is... but we will do what ever He chooses to do with us!

I get my 'single mom' hat back on ... Ken will go back to the hospital and let the doctors help him get back into remission ....and we just TRUST! God's plan is so much bigger and better than ours.... what He has put in front of us now is another piece of the journey we started last year in October. Obviously we're not done walking it yet..... so.... we look UP... Thank Him for walking with us... and keep on a truckin'!

Thank you all for your love and prayers!
have a wonderful day!
God Bless
.::Tam::.

I Believe...............

2011-12-01T09:21:00.000-06:00

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have
the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.

hugs... love & blessings

.::Tam::.

Need a little extra...............

2011-11-29T10:45:00.001-06:00

Ken went in for a routine bone marrow biopsy the other day. Please keep him in your prayers as we wait for the results to tell us if he is still in remission or not.
THANK YOU!

have a wonderful week!
hugs... love & blessings
.::Tam::.

For Sale ....

2011-11-28T09:59:00.001-06:00

at Slattery Vintage Estates Winery.

This is a Crochet kit/project bag.... complete with a pattern... yarn to create it.. .and a bag to carry it all in. Made several of these in different colors with different patterns and yarns in them.

Here we have a variety of scarves ... each a different color and pattern.

And here is a little girls goodie bag.... filled with lipgloss.. nail polish and a sweet pair of gloves.

Put out about a half dozen of these... all different colors with a nice variety of glosses...polishes and gloves.

I sure hope it all sells... could use a little extra Christmas money... and would help get my name out there to sell more.

Well... off to get a coffee refill.....

have a great day

God Bless

.::tam::.

1st Camp at Creighton University.........

2011-11-27T09:35:00.001-06:00

You may remember some posts back.... I had mentioned.... ............. okay .... bragged about Patrick getting a letter from the University ... inviting him to sign up in their baseball recruiting system and to sign up for some of their camps.
Well.... yesterday was his first camp.... and he LOVED it!

This is the 'Indoor/Outdoor' baseball facility where the camp was held on the University campus.

Here is Patrick there in the middle..... with the other boys that had been invited to the camp.

And here's our guy................. #73 showing off his stuff ... making a great throw to first base!

I'm so glad he had a good time! He's anxious to attend another camp. There are two more in December.

I'm so proud of him! ♥

hugs.... love and blessings to all

.::Tam::.

A few more hats for sale..........

2011-11-26T13:12:00.001-06:00

Here is a hat I made for those that like to where their hair up in ponytails.............
It can be worn without the ponytail..................
or with the ponytail........................ fun huh?!

Here is a Teddy bear applique' earflap hat.................

And this is an Owl hat.......................

For Sale

Hope everyone is staying warm!

how was your Thanksgiving? Ours was great!!!! Made too much food and ate way too much of it! :)

have a safe weekend!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

God Bless you all..................

2011-11-24T07:03:00.000-06:00

Have a wonderful day.... Thank your friends and family for all they are and do.

Thank a Soldier for keeping you safe!

Thank God for EVERYTHING!!!

love you all

Happy Thanksgiving!

.::Tam::.

Up for Sale...............

2011-11-22T12:54:00.000-06:00

Morning my friends.......................
I have decided to use my facebook page as some advertisement for selling some of my creations along with my online shop.

So.............. here is are a couple of my first items...............

They are in my 'For Sale' album found here.......... For Sale
Thanks so much for stoppin by.............

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Extra Credit Science project...............

2011-11-20T12:10:00.000-06:00

Oh my little man................... he came home this weekend explaining that he wanted to do an extra credit project.... all we needed was a bucket... balloon... empty bottle and hot and cold water...... hmmmm.... I have this all at home... no running to the store!!! Lets do this thing. :)
Okay... now pay attention..............
place a balloon over an empty bottle.................... fill a bucket with REALLY hot water....... hold the bottle down in the water and watch the balloon stand up.

oooooooooooooooooh.... how cool!

Now be quick.......... have cold water running and ready.... empty bucket and fill with cold water.... place bottle with balloon down in the cold water and watch..................... the balloon becomes empty.

Now how neat was that?!

Whew.................. well.... I sure hope he gets an ~A~ on his extra credit! :)

have a great day.......... and a wonderful week!

hugs...love and blessings

.::tam::.

Never too old for Legos.............

2011-11-20T11:20:00.000-06:00

My grandson Matthew was over visiting and brought his legos. Umm.... David and I sat down and played with them while Matthew played with the matchbox cars.... heheheeee
David did most of the work... I just kinda held things for him. Not bad ... huh? :)

have a great day!
build something with legos................ :)

God Bless
.::Tam::.

Jr. High Winter Dance...........

2011-11-18T23:04:00.001-06:00

Thats my Michael... over there on the right in the green shirt. Yep... I stayed to chaperon.... :) No girl is gonna kiss my baby! hahahahahahaaaaaa They have cooties ya know!
Michael had a good time.... hung out with friends... danced around a bit and just goofed off!

I'm glad I was able to take him. Gonna experience as much fun as you can in Jr/Sr High... there are some seriously fun memories to be had there! Being a kid is so much fun when you have the chance to really just be a kid! I want my boys to do just that... be kids! Enjoy these last years of school.... cuz being an adult will be on them sooner than they realize!

Love you Mikey!
Glad you had fun at the dance! :)
<3 mom

God Bless
.::Tam::.

Wrestling season...........

2011-11-16T10:16:00.000-06:00

Its that time again.... practice has begun! Our first meet is on 3 December 2011. Its our own Cougar Classic. We took first place last year........... the boys want it again this year! GO...FIGHT...PIN!

hugs...love and blessings
.::tam::.

Little show & share.............

2011-11-15T10:02:00.002-06:00

This here is a lovely dishcloth that I had the honor of testing for a sweet lady! I really like it and think it came out nice!

Here are a couple "friendship" squares for my daughter and I to add to our Friendship'ghans!
Thank you ladies on the 'ville for all the beautiful squares!

thanks for stoppin' in........

have a wonderful day!

God Bless,

.::Tam::.

Where is the blessing?

2011-11-12T09:47:00.001-06:00

Where do you find the blessing?
When you prayed and do all you can
When prayed and cried at night
Without that extra hand
Where do you find the blessing?
When your life is twisted and turned
And the pain
Just won’t go away
You’ve listen to the gospel station
And sung every song
Where is the blessing?
When you’ve prayed, and prayed and called on his name
Where’s is the blessing when you were forgave
And vowed never you’ll do it again
When you’ve overcome the emotional stress
And victory is yours in the battle of the mind
Where is the blessing?
When you’ve dropped the bad and gained the good
Is the blessing there
And you can’t see it
Of is the peace and happiness
Of a victory
The blessing is when you take charge of
Your life and give to the lord.
You find the blessing with each
Step you take within each and everyday
Where do you find the blessing
The blessing is hidden waiting for you to find
But most of all it’s a gift from above
When you’ve done your part of the job

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

Field Trip to the Zoo...................

2011-11-10T21:28:00.000-06:00

What a fun time. It was a bit on the brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr side today....but it was still a good time!
Here is my little man David with his cookie monster jacket in the mist of the group I tended to. We walked all over and had fun! I let the kids run and play... as long as they could still see me. If they lost sight of me... they had gone too far. They said I was the best group mom ever.... OMY.... hehehheee...
Yep................... David playing with the butterflies in the Butterfly House. Oh did he have a good time!

Check these cuties out! I Love them! There were several different types of turtles and tortoises... it was awesome!

Whoa.............he's a tall one.... hahhahaaa He was a gentle sweet guy.... kids enjoyed learning about him.

How handsome is he!!! Came right up close so we could get a nice long good look at him!

Omy.... the gorillas were is a good mood today.... showed off and were silly the whole time we watched them!

have a wonderful evening!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

I Believe...............

2011-11-08T09:21:00.000-06:00

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have
the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.

God Bless

.::Tam::.

The Nebraska Shuffle..............

2011-11-06T19:32:00.000-06:00

I love my family!!! They are the best ever! So much Fun!!! My Aunt...her daughter and her daughter and a friend all came to visit this weekend. While here... the girls did some serious "shufflin'" The last day of their visit... a bunch of the family met for lunch at Valentino's. After lunch... the cousins all had one last good "shuffle" together.

Here are a few snap shots I took..........

And here is the awesome video the girls made and posted! The last frame has Patrick Michael and David in it.... with my nephew Spencer... and a shot of my most wonderful Aunt Joyce and my mom shufflin' across the back.

Thank you Hailey for bringing this fun to us ... and I'm so proud of my boys for steppin' in to bring joy to me with this wonderfully fun memory!
Like I said... I love my family! You all ROCK!.... err...I mean "Shuffle" :)

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

Serving the purpose of God............

2011-11-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

The world may not recognize your potential, but the Lord does. He loves you unconditionally and wants you to discover His unique purpose for your life. God’s process of perfection has two facets:

1. Teaching and Guiding

“Tutoring” is one aspect of the Father’s perfecting process. In many ways, the Holy Spirit is your teacher, and the Bible is His textbook.

Before Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, the law was in effect. God designed it to instruct mankind—to provide a moral boundary and to serve as a “tutor to lead us to Christ” (Gal. 3:24).

Furthermore, we were all given an additional gift: the conscience. Romans 2:14-15 tells us that the Lord created the conscience to teach each person what’s right and wrong. In this way, even those without access to God’s commands would be “a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”

But after a person becomes a Christian and starts growing in faith and knowledge of the Word, God applies the law to his heart. The Holy Spirit will call to remembrance what the Bible says, or He will send people to teach or bring God’s commandments to mind. He also helps the believer understand scriptural principles and reveals the Father’s purpose and desires. You will never outgrow your need for the Spirit.

The law tells you that you must obey. And the Holy Spirit gives you the desire to do so. He works in your life continually to nudge you in the right direction. And like any good educator, He will test you to reveal areas of weakness and growth. The Spirit already knows your heart and how you will respond. The test is for your sake. God wants you to know yourself better.

2. Discipline

Another way God leads us to our full potential is through failures and struggles. In allowing free will, the Lord gave you the freedom to fall short of His purpose for your life—to fail, make mistakes, or sin. But through these shortcomings, the Holy Spirit can mold you into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Many people set unrealistic goals and, when they fall short, have a sense of worthlessness. Others decide on objectives but then never put them into a workable plan. When their goals aren’t met, they can feel frustration and self-doubt. God, however, has no responsibility to help people reach man-made targets. If you and I don’t allow Him to help us set goals, the Holy Spirit may rebuke us so that we choose to be guided by His will rather than our own.

Mistakes are innocent wrongdoings. In making a blunder, we have not willfully chosen to do wrong, although our actions may have terrible consequences. This does not diminish the pain mistakes cause. The Lord allows these types of errors as part of the teaching process. Ultimately, our goal should be total reliance upon the Holy Spirit for guidance in day-to-day decisions and activities.

Sin, on the other hand, is a willful act of disobedience against the Father, and it separates us from fellowship with Him. The Holy Spirit will prick our conscience with an ever-sharp needle until we acknowledge our rebellion. He will convict us repeatedly and with increasing fervor so that we might turn from wrongdoing and back to the Father.

Falling short of our potential means missing God’s unique destiny for our life. Perhaps we don’t recognize what the Lord has created us to be, or maybe we resist cooperating with His plan—through neglect, lack of effort, or outright rebellion. The Holy Spirit is never satisfied with some human preference for the status quo. He draws us to the full perfection of Jesus Christ and the hope of a bright tomorrow.

Your True Destiny

So, how do you reach your full potential? The answer is simple—it must begin with handing your life over to Christ. Through teaching and discipline, the Lord molds and perfects us for His purposes. The Holy Spirit works in our lives, changing us so that we will accept and follow God’s will.

When you truly grasp the Lord’s commitment to helping you fulfill your destiny, hope is inevitable. Rekindle your passion today by regaining sight of your God-given capacities as well as His promise to develop them. Our heavenly Father is in charge of fulfilling the potential He has given you—trust Him to do exactly that.

hugs...love & blessings
<>< Tam

Our First Snow of the year.............

2011-11-02T23:34:00.001-05:00

Isnt it pretty!?!

It stuck for a while... then melted and turned to slush. It was pretty to watch!

God Bless!

.::Tam::.

BOO..............................

2011-10-31T07:22:00.000-05:00

Have a safe and fun Halloween!!!

hugs...love and Blessings
.::Tam::.

Pumpkin Carving..................

2011-10-30T10:53:00.001-05:00

And here we go................. cuttin' the tops off..........

ewww... gettin' the guts out.............. save the seeds boys.....I'll roast them! YUM!

oh..............what picture are they carving?

So serious................ :)

still workin'.....................

uhoh............looks like they are getting close..............

YAY!!!! They're done!

WHOA!!!!!!! Very nice boys!!!! Nice and spooky!

Happy Halloween all.....................

and Many Blessings

.::Tam::.

Freebie Friday..........

2011-10-28T10:45:00.004-05:00

Pumpkin Crisp

Prep: 15 min.; Bake: 1 hr., 5 min.; Stand: 10 min.

YIELD: Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (18.25-ounce) package butter-flavored yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter, melted
Whipped Cream (optional)
Ground nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

Stir together first 5 ingredients. Pour into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture; sprinkle evenly with pecans. Drizzle butter evenly over pecans.
Bake at 350° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature with Whipped Cream, if desired. Sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired

Enjoy!!!

God Bless
.::Tam::.

Answered Prayers...........

2011-10-26T06:15:00.000-05:00

God often answers prayer in the following ways:

“Yes, you may have it.”
“No, that is not good for you.”
“Wait, I have something better for you.”
“My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9).

When He answers yes, it’s easy to say, “Praise the Lord!” But when He says otherwise, we have a hard time finding reasons to praise Him.

Sometimes we don’t take “no” for an answer, and we keep praying! Or we look for a reason why He didn’t answer our request. But Scripture never says God will give us exactly what we ask for every time. He is sovereign. He has the right to say “no” according to His infinite wisdom. Oftentimes, it’s for our protection.

Sometimes, God wants to answer our prayer, but the timing isn’t right. As I reflect on my life, I realize that if God had answered certain prayers according to my schedule, I would have missed His best in every single case. He may have been waiting for me to grow spiritually in some area so that I could more fully experience the blessings He had in store (Eph. 1:3). Again, He is sovereign, and His timing is perfect.

God also answers “My grace is sufficient.” We may pray for years, yet our circumstances remain unchanged. God seems unresponsive and heaven is silent. In many cases, the problem isn’t the length, intensity, or nature of our prayers. Oftentimes, God is up to something we don’t know about, something much bigger than we were expecting. Something that may require a different answer than the one we anticipated.

But rest assured that if God isn’t removing your particular “thorn,” His grace is sufficient. By an act of our will, we can decide to trust that God knows what He’s doing, even when there’s no logical or rational explanation for our circumstances. The Father is not offended when we ask, “Why?” But He’s overjoyed when we trust Him, even though He may choose not to explain. God always answers the prayers of His children. As we learn to pray, we will learn to discern His methods.

God Bless
.::Tam::.

Trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch.....

2011-10-24T23:06:00.000-05:00

Start our day out with seeing how tall the kids are this Fall......................

Wow Patrick................
Melvin............

Michael sure grew..............

Oh my David...................

David got picked to cheer on a pig at the Pig races................. His pig WON!!

Go little piggies..................

Melvin and Ken race the rubber duckies at the water pump tracks....... a good "Father / Son" moment.... hehehehehehe

Whoa............... Dont let your dad fall Patrick............ :)

Oh my.......... Ken and Patrick havin' fun...........

David and Michael get in on the fun on the pillows too.............

Patrick.... Michael and David drive the pedal cars.............

David gettin' ready to ride...................

Michael and David playing in the corn.................. this is such a cool idea.......... instead of sand they use corn.

uhoh............David buried in the corn.............

eeeeeeeeeek.... Michael is buried too.... hehehehehehe

David in the Corn Space Ship.....

Melvin... Patrick... Michael ... David ... and Mickey

What a great day at Vala's. Weather was perfect... adventures were awesome... and the food was yummy!!!! Good memories!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Gettin' ready for Halloween.........

2011-10-23T20:54:00.000-05:00

Made these for my mom to pass out to her Trick-or-Treaters! :)
She only has 8 little ones .... so she likes to spoil them with special bags filled with goodies!

Everyone ready for Halloween.... trick or treaters... and too much candy?
have a safe one1

God Bless
.::Tam::.

"I Love Yarn" day...........

2011-10-21T13:38:00.001-05:00

was back on the 14th.............. and this is what I made just for the occasion!

got my coffee.. yarn and hook.... ready to go...............
hmmm.... wonder what its gonna be?

oh.........look........... a pretty little bag!

Have a wonderful day................

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Cases...............

2011-10-19T20:06:00.001-05:00

October Hook Case for my Give-a-way on the 'ville.

Double Book case for David............

He can carry one book and a tablet for writing on....

or two favorite books to read.

Have a great day!

hugs...love ... & blessings

.::Tam::.

Will God meet all your needs?

2011-10-17T13:03:00.000-05:00

Have you ever pondered the real meaning of Philippians 4:19, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”? If so, then you may also have encountered some frustration.

“What about this need I have had for years?” you wonder. “Doesn’t God care about that aching hole in my heart? Why doesn’t He just fill it by meeting my needs automatically?” The truth is, God wants us to trust Him and not look only for the blessing. In other words, keep our focus on the right thing, which is a personal relationship with the Savior. Circumstances have little to do with lasting joy. Peace, joy, and contentment come from knowing God and having a personal relationship with Him. The only way to be fully happy is to have a heart that is set on Jesus Christ. Then when difficulty comes, we won’t feel lost, confused, or disillusioned.

Many people attempt to meet their own needs apart from God. But this never works. It only leads to frustration and deep disappointment. There will be times when we wonder if He hears our prayers. He always does. And He also is the only One who can answer correctly and satisfy the desires of our hearts. So why do we struggle? Usually, it is because we think we know better than God. We fail to realize we cannot meet our own needs or compel Him to comply with our personal desires, schedule, or concept of how we think something should be done.

The first step to having our needs met is to trust Him completely with the entirety of our lives. He knows what is best for us, and His purpose in allowing any delay is for our good. Waiting prepares us for a greater blessing. It strengthens our faith and reliance on Him and consequently rids us of a desire to be self-sufficient.

The second step is to obey Him and allow Him to work fully in our lives. Many times, He stretches our faith by allowing us to have a need. He knows how we will respond, but He wants us to learn how to say yes to His design—even when we do not have all the information and facts.

The third step is to trust and wait for Him. In a very real sense, your unmet need is a form of trial and temptation. It’s a trial because its lack of fulfillment can feel truly painful, and it’s a temptation because it urges you to turn away from God to meet your own needs. But James says, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (1:12).

So what are you to do when the delay goes on, the pressure to give up increases, and you feel weary of beating yourself up with false guilt? It may sound like a platitude, but keep your eyes on the Lord and follow Him—no matter what. James tells us that the testing of our faith leads to perseverance, which works to make us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (1:4).

God Bless
.::Tam::.

Happy 1yr Anniversary.....................

2011-10-15T08:25:00.001-05:00

Way to stay strong Ken............. Mentally... Physically and Spiritually! 1 year down..... many more to go!
I LOVE YOU!

Thank you to all our beautiful friends and family that have stood by us in encouragement... behind us with support and in front of us for protection through this last year ........... you are such a Blessing!!!

God Bless
.::Tam::.

Bottle Cap ..................

2011-10-13T12:14:00.000-05:00

Key Chains...................

and Magnets...............

are available now in my online store............. Coffee n' Crafts

Thanks for stoppin' by

hugs...love and blessings

.::Tam::.

Family trip to Chuck E Cheese.....

2011-10-12T11:13:00.001-05:00

Oh what a great time it was this last weekend to have my family around me! Oh how I love my babies!!!

uhoh.... who's winning? :)

hmmm... which one Ryan?

Evan and Chuck E Cheese.................

aww..... little HopieBug :)

Hi up there.... David and Matthew

Peek-a-b00

What nice smiles!

I love my family!!!!!!!!!!! <3

Thanks for stoppin' in for a peek.

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Happy Birthday ...........................

2011-10-10T07:53:00.000-05:00

to my beautiful Daughter!!!

I love you!

have a wonderful day sweetheart!
love ........... mommy!

Couple of Ornaments............

2011-10-09T11:00:00.001-05:00

I've been working on............................

this one is for a fellow 'viller that is collecting ornaments from each state to send to soldiers for Christmas.

These are Angel magnet/ornaments I've been making and sending along with gifts I've been making.

thanks for stoppin in

have a great day

God Bless

.::tam::.

Jesus is the answer...

2011-10-08T11:41:00.001-05:00

Sad? Jesus will make you smile.
Afraid? Jesus takes away your fears.
Lonely? Jesus is always by your side.
Hurting? Jesus can take away your pain.
Worried? Jesus said not to fear tomorrow.

In times of need, Jesus is ALWAYS the answer.

God Bless
.::Tam::.

My baby is home...........

2011-10-07T10:51:00.001-05:00

I knew I missed him... but I didnt realize how much until he pulled in the drive way yesterday afternoon. I ran outside grabbed him and fell apart!
He's here for 3 1/2 weeks! Its so good to see him... so good to have him home!!! I'm so proud of him.

Ken and I took him to lunch.... then off to pick up the boys from school. They knew their brother was coming home... just didnt know exactly what time... so it was a big surprise to find him standing in the hall next to their lockers waiting for them.
Here is Michael and Patrick finally calmed down after realizing it was their brother standing there. And Melvin giggling at them.

***Proud Navy Mom***

.::Tam::.

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

2011-10-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

Morning my friends.................
Just wanted to show off a couple of things I made that were orders that came from the Craft Fair.
This is a Kitchen set I made for a lady.... mailed it off and hope she likes it!

This is a Headband/earwarmer made for another lady for her daughter! I'll be making more of these to put on my online store!

Thanks for stoppin' by

have a wonderful day!

God Bless...........

.::Tam::.

The Wonder Disk ~ Frisbee

2011-10-04T07:15:00.001-05:00

Introducing a new item in my online store.

Indoor / Outdoor Frisbee.
These discs are bright, fun, and REALLY fly. You can use them inside and your Mom (or wife) won't get mad because they're made from 100% acrylic yarn & won't break anything. Take them outside and have fun with you family and friends... and even the dog! Watch them soar!
They fold up or lay flat... so its easy to take them along anywhere.

Nebraska Wonder Disk ~ Frisbee

You can order them here ............. Coffee n' Crafts

have a great day.

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Your full potential................

2011-10-02T10:27:00.000-05:00

The world may not recognize your potential, but the Lord does. He loves you unconditionally and wants you to discover His unique purpose for your life. God’s process of perfection has two facets:

1. Teaching and Guiding

“Tutoring” is one aspect of the Father’s perfecting process. In many ways, the Holy Spirit is your teacher, and the Bible is His textbook.

Before Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, the law was in effect. God designed it to instruct mankind—to provide a moral boundary and to serve as a “tutor to lead us to Christ” (Gal. 3:24).

So then..................... we were all given an additional gift: the conscience. Romans 2:14-15 tells us that the Lord created the conscience to teach each person what’s right and wrong. In this way, even those without access to God’s commands would be “a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”

But after a person becomes a Christian and starts growing in faith and knowledge of the Word, God applies the law to his heart. The Holy Spirit will call to remembrance what the Bible says, or He will send people to teach or bring God’s commandments to mind. He also helps the believer understand scriptural principles and reveals the Father’s purpose and desires. You will never outgrow your need for the Spirit.

The law tells you that you must obey. And the Holy Spirit gives you the desire to do so. He works in your life continually to nudge you in the right direction. And like any good educator, He will test you to reveal areas of weakness and growth. The Spirit already knows your heart and how you will respond. The test is for your sake. God wants you to know yourself better.

2. Discipline

Another way God leads us to our full potential is through failures and struggles. In allowing free will, the Lord gave you the freedom to fall short of His purpose for your life—to fail, make mistakes, or sin. But through these shortcomings, the Holy Spirit can mold you into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Many people set unrealistic goals and, when they fall short, have a sense of worthlessness. Others decide on objectives but then never put them into a workable plan. When their goals aren’t met, they can feel frustration and self-doubt. God, however, has no responsibility to help people reach man-made targets. If you and I don’t allow Him to help us set goals, the Holy Spirit may rebuke us so that we choose to be guided by His will rather than our own.

Mistakes are innocent wrongdoings. In making a blunder, we have not willfully chosen to do wrong, although our actions may have terrible consequences. This does not diminish the pain mistakes cause. The Lord allows these types of errors as part of the teaching process. Ultimately, our goal should be total reliance upon the Holy Spirit for guidance in day-to-day decisions and activities.

Sin, on the other hand, is a willful act of disobedience against the Father, and it separates us from fellowship with Him. The Holy Spirit will prick our conscience with an ever-sharp needle until we acknowledge our rebellion. He will convict us repeatedly and with increasing fervor so that we might turn from wrongdoing and back to the Father.

Falling short of our potential means missing God’s unique destiny for our life. Perhaps we don’t recognize what the Lord has created us to be, or maybe we resist cooperating with His plan—through neglect, lack of effort, or outright rebellion. The Holy Spirit is never satisfied with some human preference for the status quo. He draws us to the full perfection of Jesus Christ and the hope of a bright tomorrow.

Your True Destiny

So, how do you reach your full potential? The answer is simple—it must begin with handing your life over to Christ. Through teaching and discipline, the Lord molds and perfects us for His purposes. The Holy Spirit works in our lives, changing us so that we will accept and follow God’s will.

When you truly grasp the Lord’s commitment to helping you fulfill your destiny, hope is inevitable. Rekindle your passion today by regaining sight of your God-given capacities as well as His promise to develop them. Our heavenly Father is in charge of fulfilling the potential He has given you—trust Him to do exactly that.

Hugs.... Love & Blessings
.::Tam::.

My baby and his new vehicle.....................

2011-09-30T16:33:00.001-05:00

Can you believe this? I cant.............. when did he get old enough to drive?
Well...............after several hours of several days..................living on craigslist........... we finally
found him a good vehicle. Its really a nice Jeep. 4x4 and his favorite color.... green.
Its been to our mechanic and has a few things that need to be done to make it reliable and safe for him to drive..... but it was a good buy!
A new chapter in our lives! Amazing how the years have flown by! Before I know it ... Michael and David will be driving! *sigh*
Umm...... you think he loves his new Jeep..................alot? hehehehehhehe :)

Treasure each and every day... they come and go so quickly!
have a great evening everyone!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Another fun Swap over at the 'ville.............

2011-09-29T11:12:00.001-05:00

Oh....................this was an awesome swap!!! Its called a "Java Swap"
Just look at this pile of goodies!!! My swap buddy spoiled me pretty good!!! Oh... and the coffee is all wonderful :) The scarf is so thick and warm!!! The yarn is really soft! And the chocolate covered espresso beans......................YUM!!!!

This here is the swap package I sent back to my buddy! She really liked it! *whew*
I sent her a few skeins of yarn............ some yummy coffee!!!! A swiffer cover... Travel Coffee cup cozy.... a couple of dishcloths... some calorie conscious snacks... and a hook holder canister made by crocheting a cover for a Coffee can then I added a nice flower to it to give it a little personality. :)
Thanks for poppin' in.
have a great day!
God Bless
.::Tam::.

New Online Store................

2011-09-27T08:05:00.000-05:00

Good Morning everyone................
Well.... I have decided to open an online store for my crafts. I will have crochet and knit patterns... finished crochet and knit items... and a selection of other handmade craft items.

I'm pretty happy with how its coming along so far. You can click on the picture above or on the right in the side bar to get to my new store.
Check back often as I will continue to add things! :)

Thanks so much to all that are such great support to me!
have a great day everyone!
hugs....love.... & blessings
.::Tam::.

The Window through which we look..............

2011-09-25T11:01:00.000-05:00

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they were eating breakfast,
the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
That laundry is not very clean,' she said.
She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.'

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry,
the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see
a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

'Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this.'

The husband said,
'I got up early this morning and
cleaned our windows.'

And so it is with life.
What we see when watching others
depends on the window through which we look.

Craft Show...............

2011-09-24T23:43:00.001-05:00

Well............... today was the day! Craft Fair went okay. Not quite what I hoped for ... but was fun hangin' with my mom and my youngest baby (David)
I did however learn a few things .... so I hope my next craft fair will be better!

Thanks for stoppin in..........
have a great day
God Bless
.::Tam::.

Answered Prayers......

2011-09-23T17:11:00.000-05:00

Ken had his first blood test done today since he had his groshong taken out.
Numbers came back Perfect!!! Just like my wonderful husband!!!!
Through all the uncertainties and scary news... He has worn a brave face and trusted the one and only he could trust... GOD!
Through this ... God has answered prayer after prayer... today being another one!
Ken is still holding strong in remission!
THANK YOU LORD!!!!
Thank you to all who have followed along with us through this journey and kept the prayer chain active! We appreciate it more than you can ever know!

have a wonderfully blessed day
.::Tam::.

Kit Swap............part 2

2011-09-21T11:54:00.000-05:00

Check this stuff out!!!! This is the package I received from my swap buddy over on the 'ville.
The bags are awesome... the yarn is perfect... the patterns are just what I wanted and the extra goodies and coffee are FANTASTIC!

Thank you Toni.............. so very much! I love my swap!
I am absolutely going to carry the small bag tomorrow when I run out to do errands. I cant wait to play in my new yarn!!!!

Yep.... this was a good "mail" day!! :)
have a wonderful day everyone
God Bless
.::Tam::.

David is at it again..............

2011-09-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

Bringing in new friends.............................omy
Here is one of the two mantis he has.................. this is Emma.
She's a real sweetheart.
Good thing crickets are cheap!

Oh my little David................................ :) hehehe
have a great day all........
God Bless
.::Tam::.

Homecoming Dance......................

2011-09-17T23:16:00.001-05:00

Omy................ has a year gone by already!? Wow.... .Homecoming time again!
Well.................. Patrick wanted to dress his best.................so back to the tux store we went!

Here he is almost ready to go...................
Wow........... he is so grown up!
Okay... coat on.............ready to go get his date!

Omy.................He's gone MIB! Now that is one good lookin' guy! Where did my baby go?

Aww................... at the dance with his date! Patrick and K are so sweet!

Oh yeah............... once again........... the two best dressed men at the dance.......... Mr. Warren and Patrick! Lookin' good guys!

Patrick had a great time! Danced... laughed and had fun with his friends and girlfriend!

Thanks for droppin' by!

have a great weekend!

.::Tam::.

Homecoming.......................

2011-09-16T23:56:00.000-05:00

Homecoming Game

Cougars WIN

Homecoming Bonefire....................

Way to go Cougars!!!!! Proud of you!!!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Gifts in the mail.........................

2011-09-15T16:29:00.000-05:00

Gotta love getting goodies in the mail!

These are friendship squares for my daughter and I for our Friendship'ghans! They are so pretty!

This is a beautiful hotpad I got from my swap buddy! LOVE IT!!!!

hugs...love .... & blessings

.::Tam::.

Kit Swap over on the 'ville.................

2011-09-13T15:03:00.006-05:00

This swap was so much fun!
The object is to create a complete crochet or knit kit for your swap buddy.
So you need to include the pattern... yarn... hook or needles... and any added things like buttons... snaps and/or handles!
You also need to buy or make something to hold the kit in.

My swap buddy had two patterns she wanted... well... I couldnt pick just one... so I bought her both and then the supplies to make them with.
I had so many ideas for her... she was real easy to create and buy for! I couldnt seem to stop myself. heheheheeheeee

I started out by sending her this little teaser first.
A "Stash bag" with new stash in it. She loves Fall colors... so thats what she got! :)A few days later .... I mailed her the rest... which was her real Kit Swap!
Here is her tote bag I made to hold her two 'kits' The patterns...yarn and since she has all the hooks she needs... I just made her a new hook holder 'pouch'

I also made her a 'Market bag' in which I place some very important groceries! :)

Then I found some fun stuff that I just had to buy her for her kitchen... and of course... its not complete without a couple crochet fridge magnets! I was happy with how those came out!

And last just some odds and ends that just needed to be bought and made.
A rooster for her plants... a tablet of paper made from cow poo.... yup... real cow poo..... gotta love stuff out here in the country! :) And a nice bar of handmade soap.
I made her a tiny turtle that is hard to see in this picture sitting on the gift bag.... and a key cozy...over to the left with the yellow flower on it.
I'm happy to say.............................. She loved her swap goodies! *whew*

thanks for stoppin' in
God Bless
.::Tam::.

Fall Ball...............

2011-09-11T12:48:00.001-05:00

Oh how I love watching Patrick pitch!!!
Here he is pitching in a game for his UBA team in Fall Ball.
Look at that form........................ :)
strike 1..... strike 2......... strike 3.................. he's outta there!

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

I Believe...

2011-09-09T12:27:00.000-05:00

That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry, but that
doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Swap goodies for September..........

2011-09-07T09:30:00.002-05:00

High Ho everyone....................
thought I would pop in for a minute and show off a few things I made for swapping this month.
In the yahoo crochet group I'm in ... we have monthly swaps.
I signed up for....................

Magnet swap......... made these three flowers for my swap buddy.

Dishcloth swap................ made this set for my swap buddy

and a Hotpad Swap............. made this chicken hotpad and matching dishcloth for my swap buddy!
Thanks for stoppin' by!
have a great day!
God Bless
.::Tam::.

Beginnings...........

2011-09-05T09:36:00.001-05:00

Every story has a beginning, middle and end. The same is true for the story of our life. Our education starts in kindergarten, goes through elementary and middle schools and ends in high school or college. A romantic relationship begins with friendship, passes into dating and culminates in marriage. Meals start with appetizers, lead to a main entrée and finish with dessert.

How about our salvation story? The middle of every believer’s salvation story is a relationship with God, and the end is eternity with Him. What about the beginning? That’s different for everyone. Maybe a salvation-seed is planted while attending church with a neighbor. Perhaps a grandma’s prayers are rays of sunshine on a cold heart. Hard, bitter soil may soften through the kindness of a women making room on the pew. Or roots sprout when a stranger in the front of the line buys lunch for those behind her.

Yes, every salvation story has a beginning. Have you considered the possibility that you could be part of someone’s beginning?

I want to be the neighbor, grandma, woman or stranger… the friend or family member … church member or coworker … who plays a role in the salvation stories of others. How about you?

God Bless
.::Tam::.

Gettin' to be a big boy...........

2011-09-03T11:05:00.000-05:00

I cant believe how big Daytona has gotten! Its hard to see but that is a quarter next to him .... he used to be the same size as that quarter!
He has the funniest personality! And he is just a touch spoiled! (shhhh... Ken would say TOTALLY SPOILED) hehehehehehe :)
He is so much fun to have! He's great company.... I love watching him be silly in his tank... and like I said... his personality is so funny! He loves bananas... but only if I hand feed them to him! Oh the look I will get if I even think for a minute of just dropping them in the tank for him to get himself!
Whats crazy is he will eat his peas if I just drop those in.

Anyway... just wanted to share a recent picture of our fun little guy!
thanks for stoppin' by
have a wonderful day
God Bless
.::Tam::.

Baby Blanket in a day.............

2011-09-01T12:16:00.000-05:00

Yep.............. made this in one day.
First let me say that how lucky I am to have a husband that supports all I do.... my addiction to coffee and yarn being a couple of things. :)
Ken came home the other night from work and said that there was a guy at work who's wife just had a baby and he would like to give a blanket to them for their new son.
So............ yesterday I get out some soft baby blue yarn and started up my hook! :)
This is what I created! It was really fun... and really easy! Started the middle with a hexagon flower and just went from there!
This morning I bagged it up ... tucked in a card... and sent it off with Ken to take to work for his friend! *whew*
I sure hope mom... dad and baby like it!!!

thanks for stoppin' by
have a great day
God Bless
.::Tam::.

Friendship Squares............

2011-08-30T11:08:00.001-05:00

keep coming in for my daughter and I.
Arent these pretty!?
We're collecting squares from all around for friendship afghans for ourselves.

Thank you my dear sweet 'ville friends for helping us make our Friendship'ghan!!!

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

Damaged Goods.....................

2011-08-29T10:29:00.000-05:00

I walked down the aisle of the discount grocery looking for a bargain the other day...that I couldn’t live without. It’s always hit and miss in this store…and I had missed…again.
But, I passed by a bin that caught my eye. “Damaged Goods.” It was filled with dented cans and missing labels…no real rhyme or reason, just random items that were not shelf worthy. And suddenly, I knew just how they felt.
Life sometimes delivers the unexpected. Lessons learned in the school of hard knocks bruise us, dent us and remove the label that defines who we are. We feel as if we have been tossed into a bin, no longer worthy of a place on the shelf. Some people substantiate the lie that we are second class failures and all hope is gone.
So, I leaned over and intentionally chose a dented can with no label from the bin. I got it home and placed it on the can opener with anxious anticipation. Twisting the can opener round and round... finally penetrated the metal lid to reveal….peaches!!! I love peaches!! What a treat to open this can and be greeted by one of my favorite fruits. The can was damaged but the contents were still good…and sweet.
God must have smiled…because at that moment the sunshine beamed in my kitchen window. I knew in my heart there was a lesson.
I have been damaged. We all have to some degree. I havent always lived the life that I dreamed about when I was a kid. However, the damage that I had suffered has made the contents of my heart so much sweeter, so much more compassionate, so much more in pursuit of Jesus. I have been looked down upon and judged by many who have seen my label missing and slapped on their own.
I’ve wanted to say, “Don’t judge too quickly. My damage has not defined me…but, it is refining me.” I may be at the bottom of the life’s bin, but Jesus paid as high a price for those of us at the bottom as He did for those that are proudly displayed on the top shelf.
Look around you. Is there someone in your life, your family or your church that you consider “damaged goods”? Don’t miss an opportunity to reach out to them, to love them. You just might find a friendship that is good…and sweet

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

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

2011-08-28T21:22:00.001-05:00

Its kinda hard to see the pattern in this dishcloth............ but its a log cabin pattern done in an Enterlac stitch. This was a test cloth for a pattern a lovely lady over on the 'ville created!

This is a fun square I made to help contribute to a friends Wedding 'Friendship' afghan! A bunch of us ladies got together and each made a square with this pattern.... sent them all to one lady for her to put together and give to her for a Wedding gift from all of us! Neat huh?!

I cant wait to see the finished afghan! :)

God Bless

.::Tam::.

I Believe..............

2011-08-26T21:03:00.000-05:00

I Believe...

That we dont have to change friends if

We understand that friends change.

God Bless

.::Tam::.

HaPpY bIrThDaY dAvId.................

2011-08-25T08:51:00.000-05:00

Chocolate cake......... vanilla icing........ strawberry icing for writing!

Davids Neapolitan Birthday Cake! :)

Mommy loves you David!

Happy Birthday baby!

hugs...love & blessings

Happy Birthday to my oldest................

2011-08-23T08:42:00.001-05:00

Mommy misses you!! Have a wonderful Birthday sweetie! Love you bunches!!!

hugs....love & blessings!!!

Finished................

2011-08-21T11:25:00.001-05:00

I finished the Corner start Entrelac baby blanket!
I really like how it turned out! I'll be selling this at the craft fair next month!
I sure home the fair is a success!

thanks for stoppin' by.
have a great day everyone!
God Bless you all!
.::Tam::.

I Believe...............

2011-08-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

I Believe........

That just because two people argue,

doesn't mean they don't love each other.

And just because they don't argue,

doesn't mean they do love each other.

God Bless

.::Tam::.

First Day of School....................

2011-08-18T07:17:00.000-05:00

OmGoodness...................When did they get so big?!?
My babies are growing up so fast!!!
Here they are.... getting ready to get in the van and head to school! My sweet little 6th grader... 7th grader and 10th grader(Sophomore)
have a great first day of school boys! Mommy loves you!!!

God bless
.::Tam::.

He's Driving................

2011-08-16T16:28:00.001-05:00

Can you believe this? Oh my.................... what a big boy!

He's driving us home from the Court House after passing his test and getting his permit.

Oh how I remember the days of learning to drive. Daddy would take me out to my High School parking lot and teach me. Stop.. Start... Park... Turn.... etc. Gosh how long ago that was!!!

Well... Patrick is doing great... but until he is totally confident ..... stay off the roads everyone... hehehehehehehe

hugs...love & blessings

.::Tam::.

Testing a new pattern................

2011-08-15T12:58:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to test this pattern. Its called Corner start Entrelac afghan.
I'm using some lovely baby yarn I was given by a sweet friend.
This is a really easy and fun pattern! It has a sort of knitted look to it!
I'll be putting this on my table at the Craft Fair next month! I'm trying to get as much done as I can so I have plenty of items to sell.. and a nice variety of things. I hope I sell it all. :)

Well... back to crocheting...
thanks for stoppin' in!
have a wonderful day everyone!

God Bless
.::Tam::.

County Fair...................

2011-08-13T22:32:00.001-05:00

Spent the weekend going to the County Fair!
The boys had a good time riding the rides ... playin the games and watching shows!

This is Tabatha............ she was my favorite part of the animal show! Isnt she beautiful!!!!?!!!
Michael and David got to sit in the grass with her later after the show and feed her greens.

Two silly kids!!! Patrick gets a piggy-back ride from his girlfriend K. FUN!

Michael takes a break by one of the rides. Going to the Fair means alot of walking. Scoot over Michael ... mommy wants to rest too. *whew*

David spinning on one of the rides with a buddy! Okay... done watching! I cant even watch the spinning rides! *whoa*

Really David........? Another spinning ride............?

This was really neat to watch.............. this awesome guy was carved from a tree stump... by a very talented man using only a chainsaw. It was really amazing to watch him.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

have a wonderful day!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Freebie Friday..........

2011-08-12T13:08:00.003-05:00

Diet Coke Cake......

This is a simple... yet VERY yummy cake recipe! Its so moist you don't even need to frost it if you don't want. You can use any diet soda.... and if you want to have fun... use a white cake mix. Diet Orange soda and a white cake.... yum. :)

This is a great recipe for those that are dieting and those that have a dairy allergy. No eggs... no milk.

Ingredients...........

1 box cake mix (your choice of chocolate or white)

1 can of diet soda (your choice of flavor) 12oz

In mixing bowl... mix cake mix and soda.

Grease and flour 9x13 cake pan.

Pour cake batter in pan... you will need to spread it out as it is thick.

Bake at 350* for 30-35 min.

Let cool and enjoy!

Topping ideas...........

~regular icing

~powdered sugar glaze using same flavor diet soda and powdered sugar

~sprinkle with simple powdered sugar

~dollop with cool whip or whip topping of your choice.

hugs...love & blessings

.::Tam::.

Why an education is so important.......

2011-08-10T21:05:00.001-05:00

So... the story starts with Patrick getting a job. Yep........ my teenager is a big boy now and got himself a part-time job! I'm so proud of him. So is his dad! Which is where the title of this post comes from.
I took Patrick up for his interview today .... it went very well... and he scored the job. So for some fun and support... his dad brought home a cake to celebrate his very first 'job'.

Umm..... look real close and I'm sure you'll see something just not right about this cake.
The second Ken sat it on the counter I saw the lovely misspellings of a sweet old lady that works at the deli writing on cakes. Me thinks a dictionary behind the cake counter might be handy! hehehehe :)

Well.... with a little 'mom magic' I fixed it!

Good Times... :)

Fun memories!

God Bless

.::Tam::.

Quick Fix...........

2011-08-09T11:01:00.000-05:00

So............ my son Michael comes to me a little while ago.............says, "mom... can you make a little bag to put these memory cards in?" Of course I told him I could... and would.
I went to my basket of scrap balls of yarn and randomly grabbed Red White Blue. Well.. that was neat... lets see what I can do with those.

Yep... 20 minutes later............. this is what I made! The boys are pretty happy with it! :)

have a wonderful day and thanks for stoppin' by!

God Bless

*”˜˜”*°•.¸Tam¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.