Monday, December 2, 2013

You could be a Star!




Yes, 
 YOU COULD BE A STAR! 
every day...

Can you imagine following a star to the place where Jesus lay in the manger? Watching in anticipation as the star leads you across a desert terrain to a stable to visit a King!
The Bible tells us in Matthew 2:2 that the wise men saw his star in the east and came to worship him. 

Can we shine as bright as the star that led the wise men to Jesus? 

Just a few short chapters over in Matthew 5:16 the Bible instructs US to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven." I believe that is exactly what the star was doing that night in Bethlehem; shining for men to see his good works and glorifying him. Once we accept Jesus, he begins a good work in us.  His Holy Spirit can shine through us so men can see his glory. 



Sometimes I think I made a special trip to the hardware store to buy a dimmer switch for my glorious light. Actually, I don't even need a dimmer switch on me to become "Dim for Christ"!  Do you ever feel the same way? You know we can keep hitting our dimmer switches until you can't see Jesus in us at all. The good news is we have control of how brightly our lights shine for Jesus. We need to remove our dimmer switches and glow brightly all the time!

So how can we let our lights shine? Live for him and not ourselves. Do his good work! Share the glorious news of Christ! Wouldn't it be amazing if our lights were so bright people were blinded like Paul?  You've always wanted to be a star, haven't you?  Now’s your chance!

  Be that star this Christmas that leads someone to Jesus!

Illuminated365,




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Thursday, November 28, 2013

Many Thanks

pumpkins

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 
                            2 Corinthians 9:11

I dare to say that we are enriched bountifully in many things. The question I ask is which of those things causes us to give thanks to God? Some folks give thanks before they eat, they are thankful for food. Some people thank God for safety, salvation and shelter. Last week with the birth of my grandchild, I thanked God for his love being so apparent in babies; their serenity, sweetness and perfect spirit is so HIM! Looking at her causes my spirit to overflow with thankful gladness. I know God enjoys being praised. Many things causes me to give thanks unto God. How about you? What causes you to give thanks?

Show me and the Almighty some love by leaving a comment. I'd like to know what causes your heart to be thankful.

Praising Him thankfully,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap


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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Review of Pinterest Dawn & Vinegar Shower Cleaner

best shower cleaner
Have you seen this pinned 1000 times?
you pinned it vowing to make it!
Did you?
I did!
 How did I like it? Let me count the ways....
my ultra clean shower!
1. Very, very easy to make
 2. Any Dawn will work
 (not just the blue, I used green with Oil of Olay)
3. Easy to apply
(although my hand did get tired of pumping)
4.  Inexpensive to make
(I'm figuring about .25 or less per clean shower job)
5. Superior to my normal cleaner Scrubbing Bubbles
6. Chemicals are not as harsh as Scrubbing Bubbles
7.  Stores well

The only adjustment I would suggest 
is reducing the amount of Dawn to
1/2 to 2/3 cup per 1 cup vinegar.
The solution was too sudsy and soapy for my liking
especially for my age group lol
 
How many of you clean the shower
when you take a shower?
I've got my hand raised high in the air
doing the selfie wave!
and, I see you blushing!
I will reduce the amount of Dawn because it was
so SLIPPERY when trying to clean.
 
I can see the doctors face now
up naked to the ER.
He asked what happened and
the answer is...
"I fell and couldn't get up!"
and he's like "Why are you naked and soaking wet?"


My "rain" type shower head made
it difficult to get all the suds and bubbles
out of the shower also.
Next time I'll hook a water hose
to my sink vanity so I
can use a spray nozzle!
Ladies, we've gotta have the right tools!

Overall, I will use Dawn & Vinegar Shower Cleaner, slightly modified.
I definitely RECOMMEND this recipe.
Have you tried it?
Leave me a comment with your results!
I'd love to hear your review of Pinterest Dawn & Vinegar Shower Cleaner.

Slipping and Sliding,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

5 Things the New Grandmom Learned

MY OH MY have things changed! This post could be titled...

grandmother
The last time I held a baby was some 25 years ago...literally. The lack of any brothers and sisters doesn't offer many opportunities to hold babies. Our family welcomed Lisette Arabella Epperson on November 20th weighing 7 lbs. 6 oz. She's a beaut!
grandchild

Check out her vintage onesie she wore home. Lisette's mommie Sydnee wore this onesie home on July 6, 1988 and her auntie Sloane wore it home on October 28, 1991.
  Here's a picture of all three of my angels.
What are the 5 things the new Grandmom learned you ask? 
  1. Formula is not warmed when given to a baby. Formula works best when fed at room temperature. I was ahead of the curve on this one. Laziness probably but I fed my girls room temperature bottles 25 years ago. But last week, I learned it is OK and I can put all guilt aside now!
  2. Belly Button Cords are not cleaned anymore. Researchers have learned that the cord produces an enzyme that heals the naval naturally. Who knew? I like it though! It's like a "Get the cord out of the belly FREE card!"
  3. 48 hours is no longer the magical time to leave the hospital after giving birth. You can leave anytime before 48 hours (even C-sections) if the doctor feels you and your baby are ready.  I raised an eyebrow at this but it seems to be working out just fine.
  4. No food restrictions when breastfeeding! What? Everyone knows broccoli and chocolate causes breastfeeding babies to have gas. Not any more...I guess EVERYTHING is GMO...for the better?! NOT!!!
  5. Babies stay in the room with the parents at all times, you can't take your baby out of the room until you leave the hospital to go home, the mommie and baby bonds best with Skin-to-Skin contact directly after birth and finally, parents and baby benefits from a "Golden Hour" after birth where they spend the first hour together, just the 3 of them.
Okay, that was more than five! But...this new Grandmom feels way enlightened, do you? I'm sure I'll be learning much more and I can't wait to be edge-u-ma-cated some more!

Leave me a comment with your tips and tricks you've learned that all us new Grandmoms should know.

So excited and blessed,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
 
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Monday, November 25, 2013

What would you do if you were told you had 15 months to live?

I meet some pretty amazing ladies blogging! I meet one last week, Heather Von St. James.

Heather, hubby Cameron & daughter Lily Rose
Her tenacity and view of the world through rose-colored glasses inspires me! Each November, the month she was diagnosed with a deadly cancer, she gets the dreaded "November Blues". Heather overcomes the blues by focusing on things she enjoys like the first frost, the first snowfall and the beautiful holiday lights. I think we all could learn from Heather's positive outlook.

This November, I want to share her story to help her raise awareness of Mesothelioma. I'm thankful for Heather who hangs on to Hope and never lets go. I feel a connection to her because we have both struggled, stepped up to the plate with all the grit we could muster and kicked a birth defect and an illness right where it hurts. Heather's story is one of courage and love. Her take-away from her challenge is
 "With Hope. The Odds Don't Matter." 
I concur!

Watch a video about Heather, a courageous Mother, Wife and  an 8-year Survivor of Mesothelioma. What would you do if you were told you had 15 months to live? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment. I'd love to hear your story and your hope. What has helped you overcome struggles in your own life?

Please show Heather your support by sharing her story via the social media buttons in this post. You can also watch my story here.

Uplifted & Inspired,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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