Thursday, July 25, 2013
Will the Real Royal Baby Please Stand Up?
WOW! Look at those arms...Kate Middleton has freckles! Who knew? She is beautiful and having freckles, like most everyone else, makes her absolutely perfect! Actually, that's not what I want to share with you this morning. All this hype about the royal baby causes me to reflect on "THE REAL ROYAL BABY"...
Not to take anything away from Prince George, he does have royalty running through his veins but it makes us commoner feel a wee inadequate, wouldn't you say? Keeping it all in perspective, we can be royal too! We can't choose to become an heir to the throne of England but everyone can become a heir to the throne of Jesus! If you've accepted Jesus, you've already had your coronation day. I hope you're wearing your crown and upholding it's station well.
This happy occasion causes me to revive a blog post I wrote in April 2011 shortly after the "Royal Wedding". I felt royal this year when I was privileged to take communion in Westminster Abbey. I hope you enjoy the short devotional after this beautiful picture of Will and Kate's Wedding. I know I enjoy the pomp and circumstance as much as anyone!
Written April 27, 2011:
The Royal Wedding seems to have taken over the media these days! How much will the wedding cost? What will the dress look like? Can the dress be kept from human eye until the big day? Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of Wills and Kate! It is exciting and this year, 2011, is the year that a lot of people I know are getting married! I love marriage, I have been married for 25 years! I love weddings too! Matthew Chapter 25 is a parable or story that compares the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins preparing for a wedding. Five got prepared and five were unprepared when the bridegroom came for the wedding. This story illustrates for us how it will be when Jesus returns, some will be ready and some will not be prepared. According to the Bible, I want to encourage you to get prepared for your ultimate wedding, you are the bride and Jesus Christ is the bridegroom. He's coming to your wedding! You want to make sure you are adorned and ready with your wedding garments on. How do you get ready? Accept Christ's love and forgiveness and become clothed in His righteousness. We may not be invited to Wills and Kate's royal wedding but we can be sure we are on the invitation list for Christ's Royal Wedding!
Already R.S.V.P.'ed,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
What inspires you?
Inspiration is a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation. Another definition is the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions. That's the definition. The question is "Are you inspired?" Can your emotions be moved easily or does it take a ton truck with a wench? Last week, a pop song inspired me. Can a non-gospel song really inspire? In my heart and head...ABSOLUTELY!
Job 32:8 says "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." This verse explains to me that my spirit, if given understanding from God, can be inspired by anything. If I understand love with Godly knowledge, a love song can move me. Thinking about being inspired inspires me! If you're like me, I can't go but one or two days without being inspired. I feel unconnected, dull and basically useless because it's take the ability to be inspired....to inspire!
Enough about me, what about you? What inspires you? What has inspired you lately? I love to get comments from you telling me you enjoy reading my writing. I pray you find something in my words that inspires you. Inspiration to love deeper, praise truer, accept more and worship daily! We can do these things everyday in praising our children, loving our neighbor and accepting diversity. Matthew 25:40 says "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." This is Jesus speaking.
Christ is our inspiration. Let's Live Inspired!
Job 32:8 says "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." This verse explains to me that my spirit, if given understanding from God, can be inspired by anything. If I understand love with Godly knowledge, a love song can move me. Thinking about being inspired inspires me! If you're like me, I can't go but one or two days without being inspired. I feel unconnected, dull and basically useless because it's take the ability to be inspired....to inspire!
Enough about me, what about you? What inspires you? What has inspired you lately? I love to get comments from you telling me you enjoy reading my writing. I pray you find something in my words that inspires you. Inspiration to love deeper, praise truer, accept more and worship daily! We can do these things everyday in praising our children, loving our neighbor and accepting diversity. Matthew 25:40 says "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." This is Jesus speaking.
Christ is our inspiration. Let's Live Inspired!
Getting inspired,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Wraps and Foils
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| photo by fashionizers.com |
What this blog post is not. Did the title cause your mind to dream of some fantastic new hair or nail product? I must admit it crossed my mind but nope, this post is about wraps and foils you'll most likely find in your kitchen!
Plastic Wrap and Aluminum Foil
Do you have the same problem with your wraps and foil that I do? I try to stack them neatly on top of each other to have them fall in the floor or usually torpedo at me from a shelf taller than me like they've been waiting for me to open the door to yell "Ready, Aim, Fire!" I know it's a pantry conspiracy against me! You laugh but it truly is a conspiracy against me. This is how I used to organize my wrap and foil.
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I used this "no-so-attractive" yet very functional organizer neatly nailed on the inside of my pantry out of everyone's eyesight but my own. Here's the conspiracy part. The hole in the roll is too small to fit this organizer anymore! I figure Reynolds is trying to save money or some such nonsense unaware they are causing me great anguish with my aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Now, Bounty on the other hand still has a hole big enough to fit the pole!
My solution to this whole small hole problem is this new kitchen wrap organizer. Only $6.99!
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This is the way my foils and wraps looked in my pantry before the organizer.
This is the way it looks installed. So simple, no tools needed, just place where you want it.
This is the exquisitely organized, non-threatening way it looks now! Voila! So much easier!
So, these companies can't "holed" me down....I'll just find another way to organize. How about you? Have you completed any neat organizing projects lately? Leave me a comment and tell me all about it. I may need to put it on my project list too!
Holey organization Batman,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Saturday, July 20, 2013
How Deep is your Love?
Ahhhh! Michael Buble's new album "To Be Loved"! Everyone wants to be loved. Sloane loves Michael Buble'. She bought the new album last week. The cover song "To Love Somebody" is a remake of the 1967 Barry Gibb song sung by The Bee Gees. Listen to it here. Listen to it 3 or 4 times, feel it! While I was listening to his version of the song, I felt what Barry Gibb wrote "I live and breathe for you". My heart melted and I couldn't hold back my tears. I'm so lucky, fortunate, blessed or whatever you want to call it to have someone that I love this much and he loves me, unconditionally. I don't have to be the prettiest or skinniest woman or have the longest legs. Know why? Because he loves me and I love him. I text him a little message that said "You don't know what it's like to love somebody the way I love you." He sweetly replied "I feel it every day. I love you!" He always knows what to say.
This week I still pondered the song. I imagined God saying to his people, each and every one of us, individually, "You don't know what it's like to love somebody the way I love you." What a thought! Jesus lives for us and gives us breath. He so loved us that he gave his only begotten son, John 3:16. The Bible speaks of "unfeigned" love. By definition, it's a love that is genuine, sincere, honest, true, real and unaffected. Do you have love like God? A love that is so genuine, so sincere, so honest and so real that it is unaffected by circumstance, anger or selfishness? A true love? The Bible isn't talking about a romantic love but rather unfeigned love for your fellow man. Now do you have it?
Feeling loved,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Leave me a comment and let me know you know what I'm talking about.... ;)
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Meet Kathy W. Mashburn, Author of "A Birthday Clown for Archer"
This adorable clown face is on a page in Kathy's new book A Birthday Clown for Archer. Kathy is an intriguing lady with a sweet smile and warm spirit. Kathy and I attended Murray County High School together (no dates required). We share a passion for writing, our faith and love for our families. I want you to get to know Kathy as I do and I know you'll love her too. You can buy her book by clicking the link of the title above. I'll give you Kathy's contact info later, after our interview, because I know you'll want to contact her for your own special reason.
Kathy, what or who inspired you to write?
I began
writing in the fifth grade when my teacher, Mrs. Brannock, gave an assignment to keep a daily journal about something going on in our
lives. Handing me a thin red spiral notebook to write in, she couldn't have
known the profound impact it would have on me in years to come. That simple
wire-bound notebook became a bible of sorts to me as I captured my every
thoughts, ideas, and dreams inside its pages.
In high school, Dr. Peggy Quarles further inspired me to write. She ignited my passions instructing our class to again write daily journals. By then journaling had become a habit, and her renewed request caused an even greater appreciation in reading, writing, and storytelling in me. It is because of Dr. Quarles's encouragement and advice to write about anything and everything lurking behind the doors of my imagination, that I continue to keep pen and paper handy every day.
In high school, Dr. Peggy Quarles further inspired me to write. She ignited my passions instructing our class to again write daily journals. By then journaling had become a habit, and her renewed request caused an even greater appreciation in reading, writing, and storytelling in me. It is because of Dr. Quarles's encouragement and advice to write about anything and everything lurking behind the doors of my imagination, that I continue to keep pen and paper handy every day.
Are you a fulltime or
part-time writer?
I am
definitely a part-time writer, but I consider myself a writer with a fulltime
commitment. I can’t
remember a single day I have not written in my journal, or scratched out a new idea or story, or scribbled random thoughts on a napkin while dining. Writing is a part of everything I do. Most days I set my alarm clock to awake an hour earlier than I need to prepare for my full-time paid job. I enjoy writing so much I keep index cards on my nightstand to write down my dreams on the occasion I am lucky enough to remember them when I wake.
remember a single day I have not written in my journal, or scratched out a new idea or story, or scribbled random thoughts on a napkin while dining. Writing is a part of everything I do. Most days I set my alarm clock to awake an hour earlier than I need to prepare for my full-time paid job. I enjoy writing so much I keep index cards on my nightstand to write down my dreams on the occasion I am lucky enough to remember them when I wake.
Where do you draw your
inspirations from?
Everywhere! Seriously, I am inspired by so many things
like people, places, my family, my friends, and news events. I am a good listener, so I pay attention to
snatches of conversations around me to get ideas. I consider this unintentional eavesdropping because
people everywhere talk openly about their lives, their pets, their jobs, etc.,
which often turns into a story or an idea for a project. I also practice really looking to see things with
a ‘curious eye’. I try to see things differently than others
might.
I’ve published three books in three
different genres. My first publication was How to Swap Batches of
Cookies and Candy with Others, plus 115 Great Recipes. This book came about for two reasons. The first was to find a way to have fun on a
budget with my family during Christmas holidays, while the other was to learn
all I could about the world of publishing.
I had been attending workshops at a local university on writing, so I
decided the best way to understand the jargon and business was to get my feet
wet.
That
brings me to the recent publication of my children’s book A Birthday Clown for Archer.
This is a simple story about a little boy who wants a clown for his
birthday, but his Mom is afraid and says, “NO WAY!” In the story Archer does his best to
convince her clowns are not scary at all.
What my readers may not know is one of my children was terrified of clowns
growing up. As parents we often imprint
our beliefs, our likes, our dislikes and our fears upon others. Since writing this book, many of my readers
have shared their personal phobias, including Coulrophobia or
“Clown-phobia.” This book is meant to
spark conversations regarding the fears and joys surrounding clowns.
I enjoy
writing in different genres just as my life has many different facets. I am currently working on an inspirational
book titled Living in the Midst of God’s
Plan, a documentary titled A Day in
the Life of Beekeeper, and two other children’s books titled Wiggy Wanda and Santa, Are You Ready? Readers can learn more about these projects
and others on my website.
What was your greatest
“Ah-ha” moment as a writer?
By far,
it is when readers turn out to see me at a book signing. I am both honored and humbled when someone
takes his or her time to visit with me.
It’s a special feeling when someone spends their money to buy my books,
especially when they request me to sign it.
That’s my favorite ah-ha moment!
Any advice for others who wish to write and be published?
I would
tell them to NEVER give up! I would also
tell them to do a test run by sharing their work with others, including their
audience. This will help them sharpen
their skills as a writer, especially since an audience is the best frontline
when it comes to gathering honest feedback.
Excited for a fellow writer and friend,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
Leave me a comment and let me know if you've read any of Kathy's books!
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