Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Kids Do Say The Smartest Things!


Lisette Epperson is my granddaughter. My only grandchild currently. I have the blessed priviledge of keeping here during the week. I was a working mom when both my daughters grew up. I changed my mind about women in the workplace long before "Sette" was born but after being Granmom to her daily for the past two years, I so wish I could have spent this much time with my own kids. Anyway, I digress. Kids do say the smartest things. I'm blogging these to keep a personal record of some of the stuff my Sette says.

See our bucket heads in the pic? Lisette saw her bucket immediately putting it on her head calling it a hat. I said "I need a pic." She said "Let me take your picture." I gave her a quick lesson in iPhone photography and my picture above was her 5th attempt. I got cracked up watching her position me in the phone screen! Not a bad job. Her hand to eye coordination is amazing at 26 months.
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This Winnie the Pooh picture hangs in what used to be my kids bathroom. I've always loved the picture too much to take it down. Lisette studied it for the longest yesterday before turning to me saying "Winnie the Pooh, Granmom!" I replied "Yes, Sette, it is Winnie the Pooh. Say hey to him." I waited for her to wave or say hey in her sweet baby voice but nothing. "Aren't you going to tell him hey?" I asked. Standing to the left of the picture looking concerned she said "He's not wooking at me!" Astounded, I had to agree.
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My mom's favorite pasttime is arguing with Lisette. I usually ask mom not to argue when she does but yesterday, I was driving failing to catch the conversation in time to prevent a small argument. Lisette decided to stop it by saying to my mom, "Don't aggravate me!"

Enjoying every minute,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap (or Granmom)
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Friday, January 15, 2016

Pink and Black Minnie Mouse Birthday Party

Lisette turned "two"odles recently! The theme of her celebration was a pink and black Minnie Mouse Birthday Party. Here's what we did and you can too...



MOUSE EAR CUPCAKES. The polka dot liners came from eBay. The black fondant was purchased on Amazon. I used a bottle lid to cut the rolled fondant into a round disk for ears. The bows were bought pre-made at JoAnns. Be sure to dry your fondant ears by laying them out on wax paper so they will stand up on the cupcake. Wait until the cupcakes are almost ready to serve before inserting the ears into the cake. If you don't, the ears will absorb the moisture from the cake and the frosting and become limp so they won't stand up. (Trust me! I experienced this firsthand.)


LOLLIPOP PARTY FAVORS. Pink and White Swirl Lollipops were bought from candywarehouse.com. The sticker pattern was bought and downloaded from ETSY. I printed them on label paper, cut them out and stuck them to the pre-wrapped lollipop and arranged them in a white and black letter box with some pink tissue paper, all I had on hand. They were a nice decoration for the table and the kids (and adults) loved them!

THE FOOD. We served a good mix of sweet and salty. The party was at 3 pm which is a good "snack" time. No need to serve sandwiches because it's just after lunch and before dinner. Potato chips with dip, Pretzels drizzled with white chocolate. Mix pink food coloring with white chocolate for the pink chocolate. Fruit with "pink" dip. Mix one 8 ounce container of strawberry cream cheese with one 7 ounce container of marshmallow creme.  Keep it simple and serve water to drink. We also made the birthday girl a LARGE cupcake of her own!

THE TABLE. Lisette's Mom arranged the streamers over the table. The polka dot balloons were ordered on Amazon. A local florist filled the balloons with helium for 60 cents each. My Mom and I made the birthday name banner. We will design a custom one for your birthday here. 
The LARGE Minnie Mouse Lisette received as a present just hours before the party proved to be the "piece de resistance" as the table centerpiece! Minnie fit perfectly into Lisette's rocking chair.
THE FUN TOUCH. Mickey and Minnie Mouse Ear Headbands purchased on Amazon! We all had fun wearing them. Lisette's birthday was in November. We visited the Magic Kingdom in December and wore our ears!
Fun, inexpensive party! Oh and I embroidered Lisette's birthday shirt that said "She's Twoodles!" Her Mom paired it with a pair of black and silver polka dot leggings. Cute, cute! Check out Lisette's Easy and Inexpensive Frist Strawberry Birthday Party too!


Please leave a comment with your inexpensive pink and black Minnie Mouse Birthday Party ideas. Everyone would love to know!

Celebrating,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Thursday, January 14, 2016

I Am Still Beautiful


breast cancer

I've known Shaan Hawkins since she was born. I watched her grow up in the same church as my children, sing in the same children's choir and attend the same high school. I never really understood the depth of the statement until October 2013 when I learned Shaan was scheduled for a double mastectomy due to aggressive breast cancer. The news was hard to grasp. Shaan at 27 was just two years older than my eldest daughter. 

On that evening in 2013, I reflected on a song from her childhood. I remembered her singing. "He's my rock, my sword, my shield, he's the hub in the middle of the wheel. He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star. I don't care what people say. I'm gonna get on my knees and pray and I'm gonna wait, wait right here till my Jesus comes." My heart broke and I prayed.

Shaan had just given birth to her second child when she was diagnosed. I couldn't start to imagine the fear, the questions or the tears of her family, husband or herself. I've followed Shaan's story for 2+ years now. She's been through so much never losing her smile and sense of humor or desire to help others. Please refer to her video in the right sidebar to watch and hear her story of survival as told to a group in Orlando, FL. I know you'll agree with me. Shaan is a jewel! Her life hasn't been overshadowed by breast cancer but instead has been illuminated by courage and strength. I encourage you to support her fight for life by giving to her breast cancer fund. You can also read more of her story and receive updates of her ongoing journey by clicking the link.

SURVIVOR! Oh, so sweet! Shaan Hawkins, you can always say "I am still beautiful!", because you are!

 Admiring Survivors,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

5 Traits you need to be "Highly Favored" by God

highly favored
 "I can never be like Mary. She is the mother of Jesus!"
 
Is that what your brain screamed inside your head when you read Five Traits you need to be "Highly Favored" by God? You may be more like Mary than you think. Mary was an ordinary girl with an extraordinary purpose. No, we will never be the mother of Jesus but we are definitely part of his spiritual genealogy making it possible for us to be "highly favored" by God. According to my understanding of Scripture, here are five of the traits we need:
  1. Be a Virgin. Luke 1:27 ".....and the virgin's name was Mary." Impossible, right? Not exactly. If you have experienced rebirth through Jesus, you are a virgin. You possess the pristine untouched, untainted, flawless spirit of Christ. You are adorned in your bridal gown awaiting your bridegroom.
  2. Pay Attention to God's Messenger. Luke 1:28-29 "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him..." Can you imagine if Mary had ignored the angel that particular day? Hebrews 13:2 assures us there are angels among us if only we would entertain strangers and be aware.
  3. Fearless. Luke 1:30 "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary..." Now, this was a situation stirring up some fear. Mary was in an unconsummated marriage; PREGNANT! I understand why she might be afraid. She trusted, believed and delivered to the world a savior. 
  4. Be Inquisitive. Luke 1:34 "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" It is okay to ask some questions, even of God. He doesn't expect us to accept status quo, rather, he instructs us to make sure we are following his commands. I John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
  5. Be Obedient. Luke 1:38 "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word..." Mary accepted her calling with grace and humbleness.
No. We are not Mary. We are not the mother of Jesus. But, I am his child. Are you? And, who doesn't favor their children?

Seeking His approval,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Friday, December 18, 2015

Hanging by a Holiday Thread


christmas ornaments
I've had a stressful few days. Too much to do with not much time to get it done. Can you relate? Lisette wanted to play yesterday. I stopped everything I should have been doing and played! I forgot my pending folder to share an hour with my precious granddaughter. We can never relive that day or hour. Day 747 of her life and Day 19046 of my life are gone, but the joy of that half hour is imprinted on our memories forever.

As I lay pretzel-shaped on a narrow step (because she wanted me to), the ornaments on my Christmas tree caught my attention. My new polka dot balls hang by a twine thread. I pondered how each ornament needed help getting hung on the tree.They need support from their thread or hanger to keep them on the tree. And, occasionally an ornament falls off the tree. If the fallen ornament isn't picked up by someone and rehung, it lies helpless under the tree until rescued and replaced.

We are so much like the ornaments on a Christmas tree. We need help and support. We can convince ourselves that we can go it alone, but God didn't think so. Genesis 2:18 says "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Some days I feel like an ornament hanging by a thread vulnerable to the smallest ripple of life. I create my own susceptibility to destruction by refusing help. Do you?

Have you ever been looking at your tree when, for no apparent reason, an ornament falls to the ground? I have. I can hear the hurt as the ornament scrapes through artificial tree needles. We are no different. Sometimes, for no known reason, we lose our support and hit bottom. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

During this Christmas season, take a new look at your tree ornaments. They are beautiful yet helpless. Do you know anyone in this condition? Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. In other words, don't leave someone hanging by a thread.

Feeling ornamental,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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