Saturday, September 6, 2014

"Extra" Words in Our Crazy Made-up Family Language Epparksford


The word of the day = "x-tree"

Before you get all concerned, no, we are not against trees or trying to eradicate trees. Our family loves trees! We live in the middle of several 100+ year old hardwoods. We should probably cut them down so they don't fall on our house but we just can't part with them. We are definitely "for" trees.

But, we do take a little xtree cream in our coffee and wish we had a little xtree spring in our steps! Xtree is our slang for extra. I'm not sure how this happened in our family. Every time someone says a word incorrectly, backward or just plain southern, the new word form becomes the norm around our gang. So.much.fun. Like my Dad calling my mom One-nater instead of her proper name Juanita.

My favorite "xtree" phrase is "Do you have any xtree change?" Talking about money of course. Who carries a specific amount of money with them so they might have extra to change larger bills or even coins (if the need arises)? Not me, for sure. I never have any xtree money, do you? I wish money did grow on trees then we would have xtree for sure!

Does your family use this word? Leave me comment and tell me your family slang for a common word.

Xtree crazy,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Miracles ARE Happening: Read 4 here!

Remember that special prayer request for my dear friend Angie last week? Thank you so much for your prayers. God performed a miracle. Her pre-op scans were clear, her biopsy surgery was cancelled and she's praising Jesus her Savior! I am too!

My husband Steve goes to pulmonary rehab 3X a week due to pulmonary fibrosis. His resting oxygen saturation was up the last two weeks which is a miracle also. I praise God for every victory, big or small! I went with Steve Friday and met the most precious lady. She told me about two miracles I just have to share. But first, I have to tell you how I got to talking to her.

Her name is June. She was sitting by a lady that was spreading doom about pandemics and terrorism. I happened to sit down beside June and couldn't help but hear the doubt/fear in the woman's voice. I politely said "If you ladies don't stop that talk about pandemics, I'm going to have to move!" June sweetly smiled saying "I've read the book, the good guys win. Do you like to hear about miracles?" I replied "I've read the same book. ABSOLUTELY! Let's hear them!"

She told me of a friend of hers that was cured of cancer as miracle #1 being very bold in giving God all the recognition for his healing. She continued to tell me about her granddaughter that had never met her father. They didn't know who her father was. I didn't ask for any explanations. I just listened in awe. The granddaughter prayed for years to find her Daddy at the right time, God's time. She started law school last year, at age 27. June said God worked it out for her to attend school in Virginia. She found her Dad too....3 streets over from her college! She's now living with her Dad and his wife while attending law school. Only God could work out something that perfectly!

June stood up to leave. She is a small lady. She turned to me and the other lady on the bench and stomped her right foot turning it from side to side if she were squashing something in the ground. She looked at me and said "Know what that means, don't you?" I said "God said he'll put our enemies under our feet!" June smiled at me knowingly. The other lady on the bench sourly said "Well, he better hurry!"

Recognize the miracles in your life today. I'd love to hear yours. Shoot me an email. Give God the praise he deserves.  I don't think He need be in a hurry to conquer an enemy he's already defeated. Do you?

Holding out for a miracle,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Does God Care What We Wear?

clothesline
photo credit: thedollclothes.com
Does God care what we wear? It's a touchy subject especially in my family. My mom was raised to strictly wear a dress to church, absolutely no pants and God forbid shorts! She's changed her thinking in recent years but still has family that frowns on wearing anything but a dress to God's house. You may disagree with their thinking, I do. To show you just how deeply rooted this tradition is, my aunt was returning from a doctor appointment in Chattanooga. She dreaded stopping at the funeral home, on her way home, wearing pants. She wished to avoid attack by her sister whom she knew was there. Honestly.

I can't wear pretty shoes. I just got fake calves in 1991 with my amazing prosthetics. I always felt ashamed and uncomfortable wearing dresses with boots during the summer or long dresses which weren't in style to cover my lack of nice shoes.  I know firsthand God wasn't worried about my shoes or dress. We talked about it a lot. But I had to please people, right?

I Timothy 2:8-10 says "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."  I believe the shamefacedness here means not brazen or bold; modest. I don't think it means to feel ashamed about what you have on, unless it's not modest. For example, pants are more modest than a short dress. I fear men and women may have missed the mark in this passage.

Thankfully, this is where Jesus steps in. A man came to him naked in Mark 5 and he clothed him. I can't remember a parable about Jesus teaching fashion, do you?  Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden. The important point about their nakedness was spiritual not physical. Their ashamedness was two-fold. They knew they were naked on the outside but more significantly they realized they sinned against God and were naked on the inside. No covering or forgiveness available between them and God.

God does care what we wear. Isaiah 61:10 says "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for the hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." The garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness are the only clothes required in God's church and the only pre-approved dress code for heaven

Wearing what matters most,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Now it's your turn. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Monday, August 25, 2014

Mom-ism Monday #15

I've been blogging momisms for almost four months now. I hope someone likes them as much as me. They sure are fun to reminisce.

I thought to myself today, "I'm a mom. Do I have any momisms?" This one came to mind. Not an original. Someone way more important than me said it way before I did! I used it to keep my girls in-line or so I thought. They still remember it though because sometimes they recite it to me. lol
I also love that it is a direct promise from God and one of the ten commandments. Have you ever said this to your kids? Leave me a comment and let me know if you follow this yourself.

Honoring my parents,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

What is Holy Ghost Protocol?

I got the idea for this inspirational theme from the movie "Mission Impossible:Ghost Protocol". Have you watched it? Ghost protocol means if you accept your mission, act in terms of rightness and fail, you are on your own. No covert operators to come to your rescue. MI:Ghost Protocol is an exciting, action-packed show. The challenges of the agents, once ghost protocol was invoked, got me thinking,

What exactly is protocol? Simply stated, protocol is a code of correct conduct. We follow protocol in our jobs, our emergency plans (i.e. fire drills), even churches follow a detailed guideline of some protocol be it Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc. You and I, if we profess Christ, live a code of correct conduct through faith in Jesus.  The Bible is our system of rules or code. Once we accept Christ our mission is to do right, but if we fail, we're never on our own. We are rescued by a supreme protocol..."The Holy Ghost Protocol"!

Here is a comparison of Ghost Protocol vs. Holy Ghost Protocol:
QUICKLY! Choose to follow Jesus and be led by the Holy Ghost because eventually you will self-destruct and it could be in the next 5 seconds. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....Did you choose?

Following protocol,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap