Our Love Story (His Story)

Last weekend on Valentines Day, I intended to participate in Patty's (of Blessed Beyond) "Our Love Story". That whole weekend, neither Joy nor I felt well really, and I just didn't get around to doing it. I asked Patty if I could still share it with a link to hers, even though it was late, and she said she'd love for me to do so. Click here to read Patty and James' Story.



Now my hubby, Jason, is not the type to care to sit down and type or write anything. He can give wonderful speeches and speak in public (better than I ever thought of doing), but writing is not his "thing". But...I thought you all might be interested in hearing both sides of Our Love Story, so I asked him if he might dictate to me and I would write, then type the post. He said he'd like to do that if I would wait until Saturday. So we sat down at the table, and of course, Joy was there, so I got the silly side first...the hillybilly dialect version (for her entertainment). After I endured that one, he was ready to give me the real thing for the post! lol! So here are his words as he spoke to us:

Our Love Story (His Story)- by Jason

I had casually dated some young ladies of my church, but there just wasn't that click between us. I was invited to a church that I had previously attended for several years. I was told there was a piano player there that was a very attractive Christian young lady. So I went. I was planning to introduce myself. I noticed when she came down from the piano, she sat down next to another young man. I didn't realize she was dating or seeing someone else, so I didn't pursue. Two ladies of the church that knew me from previously attending there (one of which that told me about this piano player) saw me leaving and asked me if I had asked Tammy out. I told them, no, that I had seen her sitting beside someone that I assumed she was dating. And they both told me clearly, "She's NOT DATING anyone...that knucklehead is just following her around." I told them, "I'll just have to see...I'm not going to do anything right now." For not going back in and asking the piano player out, they both followed me out to my car calling me a chicken all the way. I did tell them I'd probably come back in a week or two. Within a month or so, I came back to the church and when the evening service was over, Tammy was coming down the aisle and I was walking toward her to meet her and someone that knew both of us, introduced us. She was wearing a blue dress, kind of a sundress, because she told me the day before she and some friends had gone swimming and gotten sunburned. After that, there was a couple that was invited over to Tammy's house for dinner and they asked me to come too. When we walked in, there she was, sitting on her piano bench at her house. That was it for me. The rest is history.





We dated for about a year and a half. We would have dated longer but there wasn't any need to because I was in love. We became engaged one Sunday night before church. I asked her to marry me in the parking lot of the church...the church we met in....then was married in. We wound up not going into the church that evening. We went back home to show her parents the ring. (They weren't going some reason that night).





I remember asking her dad to marry her. We were painting sealer on an underground water tank. He's good with painting with a brush...makes it look like it comes from a factory. You could tell from the point I asked him to marry her because from that point it looked like a 3 year old tried painting it. He was giving me the responsibility-of-the-husband-talk and since it was his daughter we were talking about, he wasn't too concerned with how that tank looked.



We set a date for December, in 1982, but we moved it up to July 31st of 1982. On that date, we became one. I remember standing in the hall of the church before the entrance door into the auditorium, with all the groomsmen (my daddy was the best man) and I remember I was waiting for him to say something like, "Are you sure this is what you want to do...don't worry about backing out....now's the time if you want." I guess from him knowing me, he knew I had found the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. If you were to know my daddy....to him, there's no since going into something if you already know what the answer is.



After we were married, we were in the truck. We were headed to our honeymoon destination and it was very late. I remember my new wife stretching across and laying her head in my lap because she was tired and I knew then that she trusted me. (Very few people go to sleep when I'm driving). At that point alot of things ran through my mind....that being a husband is not just a ceremony...being a husband is being a caretaker of the family and he must provide, perservere, and he must protect at all costs.


Come back for Her Story (Tammy's story) on the next post.....

Our Love Story (Her Story)

I feel like I am so out of touch with all of you. I haven't had time to sit down and catch up on all your blogs. I will have to sit up really late a couple of nights this week to visit. Please don't give up on me...I'm thinking of you...there's just not enough time in a day and my blog list is growing!

Thank you all so much for the comments on Jason's story. Today, I will share with you my side of the story. :) (All of these pictures were taken after we were married at different points...we didn't have a camera while we were dating..I guess).
The only one we could find was the picture from my prom (on Jason's post).




Our Love Story (Her Story) - By Tammy

I had also dated some guys within our church, but never felt any of those were the one for me. I have to say that I do have a quality that can serve me well or not-so-well and that is a streak of stubborness. In this case, I guess you could say it served me well. After dating these others, I had set my standards of dating and finding "the one" high. My mom was praying with me and I wasn't settling for any less! I was looking for a sweet, genuine, treat-me-like-a-queen, Godly kind of guy (and if the Lord was willing...it would be really nice if he was really cute too). He had to click with my family too!

I didn't have any idea that anyone was playing matchmaker with us. Nobody clued me in, so I never even knew (at the time) about Jason's first visit to our church. I don't remember seeing him then. And at this point, let me explain about the guy he saw beside me at church on that first visit. We used to date, but didn't anymore. I had been trying to make it clear that we were only friends. Since I was the church pianist, I would lay my Bible and purse in a pew...then go to the piano. Everytime, he would proceed to go sit beside my stuff. That left me with two options...either pick up my stuff and move it and myself to another pew (which I felt was rude and non-Christian-like) or just sit down and hope for the best. I never wanted to hurt his feelings, so I would sit down and move a "safe distance" over (you know to give him the message) and he would inevitably do the whole-stretch-his-arm-across-the-pew-thing. To anyone behind, I'm sure it appeared we were together with his arm on the pew behind me. That is what Jason saw and these ladies knew the whole truth! :)


The second time he visited I remember well. Yes, I was in a blue terrycloth dress and I was very red! lol! My best friend and I had laid out in the sun for 3 hours and we both looked like lobsters! I even had water blisters on my face! Jason and I were introduced and I thought immediately that he was such a sweet, gentleman-like, confident guy (and he was handsome too). I loved that he was taller than me too! (I'm 5'7" and I always wanted a guy to be a good bit taller than me...he's 5'11"). We talked awhile there at church, then he came over to our house after church. It was very common for us to have folks over after a service for fellowship and food. We would all sit around playing music, singing, and talking...adults, youth and kids alike. He fit right in immediately! He sat beside me on the piano bench and sang right along. I remember playing "Love Me Tender" at some point and he and I singing it (that was a little awkward) but I really felt so comfortable with him. I learned later he felt the same way and pretty much knew that was "it" for him and that he thought I had the longest toes! Yes it's true! lol! He said they wrapped around the piano pedal! (He's always teased me about that).


Later that week, he invited me to go skating with his youth group from church. He had a wreck on the way and was late getting there (everyone was ok). He had to go back and get his dad's truck. Now the thing about that was that it was just the one seat and it was Jason, me, his sister (Holly) and her boyfriend....four of us in that truck. So I was sitting pretty close and I wasn't sure how comfortable I was with that. Then I remember on the way home, we dropped off Holly and her boyfriend and my mind was racing as what to do...Do I move over (Then he'll think I don't like him) OR Do I stay here which was really close because we were packed like sardines in there (It seemed way "too forward" for me). So I decided to scoot over just a bit and not all the way. I think in the end it was the wise choice as he really respected that decision. :)

I knew I really liked this guy. We could talk, and talk, and talk...and our values were exactly alike. We were both looking for the same qualities in a mate. He opened the door for me and was so sweet (and still does the same to this day..ALWAYS). I can't honestly say that I knew at that moment he was "the one" because I had to see if he was as genuine as he seemed.

After two weeks, I knew Jason was the guy I'd marry. I never doubted that he was "it" for me, from that point. God had sent me the one he created for me! We dated for almost 2 years. Jason told you about the engagement, so I won't go through that again. My family loved him! My brother loved him. He said he was a nice change to some of the other guys because he treated him so well. It was very important to me that my family loved him too!



I dreamed of a December wedding, but in the end, it just seemed too far away! So, we moved it up to July. We were married at 8:00 in the evening on July 31, 1982, in the church that we met. It was a simple wedding and I do remember my daddy asking me right before he walked me down the aisle, "Are you sure? It doesn't matter how much money we've spent...we can stop this right now." I couldn't have been more sure about anything.



We will be married 27 years in July and I can honestly say that I love this man more today than on our wedding day. I never thought that was possible, but it's true. He's always treated me so well and loved me unconditionally. I look forward to writing the rest of the chapters of Our Love Story. And....I will always be grateful for two ladies that knew we were right for each other and helping it along.... :)



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In a post later this week, I plan to answer some homeschooling questions asked on the comments of Homeschool Open House. I was going to answer them privately, but I thought there might be others out there wondering about some of these same things. So stay tuned! And thank you for all your visits and comments! I enjoy them all so much!

27 Years......

Today Jason and I celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary. I have the absolutely best and sweetest gift he could ever give me to share with you today....words from his heart. Today's post (except for this introduction and explanation), was written by my husband to be shared on my blog. I'm a very sentimental person and always the type of girl that loves being shown by her hubby that he's still in love with her everyday....but I'm also the one in our relationship that is the note writer. I write him notes in his lunch everyday, or leave them in other places. Besides cards that he makes for me on special occasions (which are always treasured because they are his words), this really is special and unique. I will treasure this always and I even wondered about sharing it on here because it just means so much, but since he wrote it with the intention of sharing it on my blog, I am going to do just that. I have to admit, it seems weird to me being the one talked about as I'm more comfortable being the one doing the sharing on here, and besides this makes me all teary eyed! Back in February, I shared our love story (Her Story) and Jason shared (His Story) of how we met. If you missed this and would like to read it, you can click here.

And now, before I go I'd like to wish my soul mate, my best friend, my husband forever, a very Happy 27th Anniversary! (I love you, Jason, with all my heart...more everyday....I love my life with you! Thank you for all the little things you do to show me you love me everyday and for all you do for our family!)

Now on to his post (which he asked me to type for him since he "hunts and pecks"):

I was born in 1960. I believe from that time up till now, our beloved country has seen the most changes of any generation before us. We have seen the very best in standard of living and technology, but the very worst moral decline.

By the time I graduated high school in 1979, I knew I did not want a relationship in marriage built on "if you love me", or "I don't(s), or "I love you BUT." I wanted a marriage of absolutes. So I started look for that girl. I looked only in the so called church world. I don't want to offend anyone out there, but even in churches I was starting to doubt if there was anyone out there for me with my beliefs of right and wrong. Well after a long talk with God, I met that person, my so beautiful wife, Tammy, I often call my little tiger. We were married on July 31, 1982. I can tell you exactly what it means to have someone that believes in absolutes about truth, committment, and treating others as they would like to be treated. It means 90% of the worries in a marriage are non-existent. I have never had to worry about my wife's committment to me or our children. Tammy is my best friend, my companion, my soul mate. She is the one I lean on alot for comfort and strength. She is an outstanding mother to our children. Our home is made complete everyday because of her.



Husbands get alot of credit for taking stands on things and issues that are right to stand for. We get credit for a job well done at work or an activity or committee we serve on that accomplished a goal, or just from others seeing us being a good role model in our community. As for me, I can say it's because of my wonderful wife whom I love very much. It's been 27 years and I am firmly committed that I love her more everyday.



There is a saying that says behind every good man is a good woman. Well, I am that lucky man.

Love 4 ever - Your husband,
Jason

Faithful Friday - "Before You Meet Prince Charming"

My daughter, Joy, came up with the idea of putting Friday aside especially to share our Christian faith in some way to the blogging world. Not that we wouldn’t do it any other day of the week, but a special day, where others could contribute if they’d like, encouraging others in their Christian walk. If you would like to participate, please grab Joy’s button below and go to her blog, Doodlebug, and leave her a comment letting her know that you participated. We’d love to come by and visit and read your post! And if you don’t post, that’s fine too. We just thank you for reading and for comments as well.

Oh, and the subject of Joy’s post today is the same subject as mine. If you’d like to read more, from her point of view, she invites you over to read her Faithful Friday post too.

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It seems girls these days are so preoccupied with boys way too early. I’m talking about girls age nine to twelve, and some even as young as seven and eight. I hear them talking about, “my boyfriend”, and “oh I broke up with him”. It’s really a shame that our society pushes this way too soon to our daughters. More and more grown up styles, trends, and attitudes are aimed at the tweens or pre-teens. They are pressured to be “little teenagers”. I think this is so unhealthy and very harmful to young girls, which brings me to the point I want to make today.

What is the purpose of dating?

Dating is not a word or concept that’s always been around. In earlier days, people courted. It was more like this: A young man was acquainted with a young lady. They would see each other at social gatherings or when their two families got together – more of group gatherings or situations. If a young mad admired a young lady, he asked her dad if he could court her, or get to know her better, in which case they were rarely ever totally unsupervised. The purpose of this courting was to find a wife (or husband).

We’ve drifted so far from the purpose of “dating”. These days, the kids start “dating” way too young. They view dating as a form of entertainment. I doubt very few go into a dating relationship with the question of “Would he (or she) make a good husband (or wife)? So, by the time they get to the point that they’re ready to start looking for a future spouse, they’ve already given so many pieces of themselves away, whether it is physical, or even just emotional.

They go into marriage with emotional scars from giving so many pieces of their heart to this one and that one. How many have given away the best pieces of their heart…..the treasured part that should be a gift to their future husband (or wife).

I did date. I never really considered some of the things I’m suggesting today, but it would have saved me some heartache. I did have a mother that guided me and I was set on being pure for the person I married. Pure, in my definition, meant being pure physically, as far as protecting my virginity. When I did date I always had the intent and outlook of “Would this guy make a good husband and dad”. If he didn’t, that was my red flag and there was no other reason to be dating him. However, I wish that I had kept even more intimate parts of my heart and emotions for my future spouse. I was praying that God was raising up the pure young man that I would marry (as was my mother) and that He would bring us together and give me the wisdom to recognize him. And He did, when the Lord brought Jason into my life.

At the homeschool convention, back in March, Jason, Joy, and I had the privilege of hearing Sarah Mally, author of the book, Before You Meet Prince Charming (and co-author of more books). She reiterated what I knew and believed. I purchased her book and her curriculum, Bright Lights, recognizing it as a gem to be shared between Joy and me. This is a very important subject.

The book, Before You Meet Prince Charming, is written in a princess/castle story style presenting the issues in this fairy tale style. Then Sarah follows it up with scripture, examples, and testimonies on what was read. The entire book encourages and shows young ladies that boys aren’t where their focus should be. These precious years are better spent being “bright lights” for Jesus and finding opportunities to minister, serve, and bless others. This time of singleness can be used to prepare in practical ways for managing a home as well as developing natural talents, God-given desires, and ministry opportunities, instead of looking for a boyfriend (or girlfriend).

To sum it up, trust God with this important issue – don’t give pieces of your heart (or more) to anyone. What better gift than to save the best, a pure heart and body, for your future husband (or wife)?

After we finished reading Before You Meet Prince Charming, we started reading When God Writes Your Love Story, by Eric and Leslie Ludy. It is mostly written for a little older audience than the 9-12 year age. Although these days, maybe not. They’re going to hear other things from other people, so better from a parent that loves them. I am finding it fine for Joy. However, please use your own discernment as a parent before you begin reading it to your daughter or son, or turn it over to them.

This book is written by a husband and wife who both had been living and doing the “dating scene”, knowing enough Christian values to remain pure of body, although compromising going as far as would be okay without jeopardizing the “too far”. It’s a book about how they both (before they ever met each other) realized this wasn’t what God intended and they turned their love life over to Him and gave God the pen to write their love story….waiting on His plan to unfold concerning their future spouse.

Some of my favorite parts and highlights from When God Writes Your Love Story:

Have you ever thought of your heart as a treasure every bit as valuable as your physical purity? Have you ever felt the pain that comes from casually giving away your heart from pouring all of yourself into someone – only to have that precious treasure thrown on to the ground and trampled?

How much of your treasure will be left if you continue to give it away piece by piece in one relationship after another?

Our purity is a treasure.

One of the greatest ways we can love our future husbands (or wives) with unconditional, self-sacrificing love is by carefully protecting that precious gift we possess – our inward and outward purity.

Carefully guard your heart, emotions, physical purity – everything you are for the man (or woman) you will one day marry.

A young man should have to “win” your heart.

Here’s something that hit me like a brick. Why did I not see this before? The Bible tells us in Proverbs 31 what a godly woman and wife looks like. In Proverbs 31:12 NIV, it says, “She (the wife of godly character) does him (her husband) good and not evil all the days of her life.

Did you get that…….all the days of her life? Do you know any women that have been married all the days of their life? So what does that mean? That would mean that we are to do our (future) husband good all the days of our life. That means before we even meet him we are to be doing him good. Wow! We aren’t doing him good if we’re giving away pieces of ourselves that belong to him.

And for the guys: The secret to heavenly romance is to begin practicing purity for a woman, and cherishing her with your thoughts, actions and words, long before you meet her. Think about beginning to live as if she could see you now…..what you’re doing with who you’re with now.
Would she be pleased? Same with the girls…….would your future husband be pleased if he could see what you were doing and with whom? Would he rather have that piece of your heart?

Think about it like this. This was also taken word for word from When God Writes Your Love Story:

Just imagine that inside your heart there is a place where only one person can ever enter, other than God. It’s a combination between a mini-kingdom where you store up your finest treasures, and a dazzling meadow where your sweetest flowers bloom. In this mini kingdom, you store up the most extravagant love, and in this dazzling meadow, you nurture your most tender affections. The longer this sanctuary is faithfully guarded, cultivated, beautified, the more enchanting it will become!

Recently, a close friend of mine went to a wedding of a young man and woman who followed this path of “courting” and keeping themselves pure in every way for their future spouse. They were saving their first kiss for their wedding day. I wasn’t at that wedding, but my friend told me what a beautiful wedding it was. I can only imagine. It gives me goose bumps thinking of it. And at the reception, the young groom stood every time his young beautiful bride got up or came to sit down. He showed so much respect, admiration, and adoration that it was just a beautiful thing to behold. And their first dance was like there was no one else in the room for these two. They were so in love, the passion held back for each other until this day was so obvious. They were floating on clouds.

I highly recommend both of these books. I loved them both. Both are gems. Before You Meet Prince Charming is a wonderful mother/daughter book to share first. If your daughter is ready, I highly recommend following it with When God Writes Your Love Story. If not, save it until you think she is, but I recommend reading it together!

To all young girls out there (and guys too) and for moms to share with your daughters (or sons): Before you meet Prince Charming (or your princess), spend time cultivating a pure heart, your treasure of a gift for your future spouse. Give God the pen to write your love story. When God writes your love story, it’s a beautiful thing.

I’m going to leave with you a beautiful story, about a beautiful love, a God-written love story. (This excerpt was taken from When God Writes Your Love Story.)


Lt. John Blanchard was in New York City at Grand Central Station, and he looked up at the big clock. It said five till six. His heart was racing. At exactly six o’clock he was going to meet the girl whom he thought he was in love with, but had never met. This is what had happened….He had been in Florida for pilot training during World War II, and while he was there he happened to go to a library and check out a book. As he flipped through the pages, he noticed that someone had made notes in the margins. Reading the insightful observations in beautiful handwriting, he said to himself, “I would love to meet whoever wrote these note – they seem so kind, gentle, and wise.”

He looked in the front of the book and saw a name, Harlyss Maynell, New York City. He decided to try to find her. With the help of a New York City phone book, he found her address and wrote her a letter. The day after he wrote her, he was shipped back overseas to fight in the war.

Surprisingly, Harlyss answered John’s letter. They soon began to correspond back and forth throughout the war. “Her letters were just like the marvelous notes she had written in that book,” John recalled. “She was so comforting and so helping.”

One time John had confessed in a letter that he had been scared to death when they flew over Germany. Harlyss had encouraged him, “All brave men are afraid at times. Next time you are afraid, just say “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.”

As they continued to write, John began to realize that he was having romantic feelings toward Harlyss. He wrote, “Send me a picture,” and she replied, “No, I won’t. Relationships are not built on what people look like.”

Still, he was intrigued by her and longed to meet her in person. Finally the day came when he was to return to the States on leave. He mentioned in one of his letters that he was coming home and would like to take her to dinner. She had arranged to meet him in New York City’s Grand Central Station at six P.M. under the big clock. “You’ll know who I am because I’ll be wearing a red rose,” she told him.

At last the day had come. John waited nervously to finally meet the girl he thought he loved. Here is how John described his first meeting with Harlyss Maynell:

“A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. She had blonde hair that lay back in curls from her delicate ears. Her eyes were as blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in a pale green suit she looked like spring-time come alive!”

Excitedly, I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a red rose. As I moved her way, she noticed me. A small provocative smile curled her lips.

“Going my way, soldier?” she asked coyly. I took another step closer to her. It was then that I saw….Harlyss Maynell with the red rose in her coat, directly behind the girl in green. My heart sank. She was a woman well past forty. She was plump. She had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. Her thick ankles were thrust into low shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I had to make a choice. Should I follow after the beauty who had just spoken to me? Or stay and face poor Harlyss Maynell?

I made my decision and I did not hesitate. Turning toward the woman, I smiled. Even as I began to speak, I felt choked by bitter disappointment. “You must be Miss Maynell,” I said extending my hand. “I’m so glad you could meet me. Will you join me for dinner?”

The older woman’s face then broadened into a smile. “I don’t know what this is all about, son,” she replied, “but you know that young woman in the green suit who just went by? I met her on the train. She begged me to wear this rose in my coat. She said that if you should ask me to dinner, to tell you she’s waiting for you in that big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of a test.”


The amazing and romantic story of John Blanchard and Harlyss Maynell is an incredible example of a young woman who was willing to wait for a man with true integrity – and a man who was rewarded because he did not follow his fleshly desires, but responded with the character of Christ.

Blessings,
Tammy

Sunporch Chat ♥ With Trace of Granny Trace Scraps & Squares ♥

Good morning friends!  I'm so glad you dropped by to join Trace or Granny Trace, as she prefers to be called, and me for our Sunporch Chat.  Would you like some coffee and apple pie?  That's what I'm serving today because that's Granny Trace's favorite!   You're going to love her!  Now after chatting with Trace, I know why I instantly felt a "kindred spirit" in her.  She absolutely has her priorities straight and has a beautiful love for God, her family, and her home.

So come on in, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy the chat!

Words from Granny Trace:

Hello Tammy. It was so sweet of you to invite me to your Sunroom for coffee. I love to have coffee and chat with friends.

1) How long have you been blogging and what/who gave you the desire to blog?

My childhood friend, Kathy, encouraged me to start a blog and helped set me up over a year ago. I am not very tech smart. I call her Super Kath. She always helps me out in a pinch. I originally started blogging to share my stitching and stories. Who knew I would meet and make so many wonderful friends. Many years ago when my children were little I made a monthly newsletter. It was called "Joyful Moms". I sent it out to about 50 or more moms. I loved doing it, but it really started to cost alot and I stopped. I so loved having something of my very own and I love to encourage other people.

2) How did you choose the name of your blog and why?

I love being a Granny and creating things with my hands. My Grandmother and My Treasured Aunt taught me so many things. Sewing, baking and how to love and give. How to make something beautiful with scraps.

3) What variety of topics do you post on your blog (examples - home decorating, family, gardening, recipes, adoption, homeschooling, crafting, etc....)

I love to share things I make and treasures I find. A few recipes here and there. I love anything to do with my Home and Family ( furry and feathered). Family is everything to me. My main goal of my blog is to encourage others. I've shared on my blog about my not so good childhood and how I have found real Joy. I have been a Christian for many years always believed in Him, but didn't really give it all to Him. Ya know I can't do it myself. Those hurts, burdens and real life struggles got to heavy. I was lonely and sad alot. Those bad things were still buried inside. The offenders were still winning and the devil was still dancing. My family and I were being robbed of a happy mom and granny. One day I was sitting in church and the Pastor said to bring them up and lay them down. Oh jeez I can't do that, I may cry. What if I trip and fall? Really its no big deal I AM SUPER MOM/GRANNY I am over it. Well.. I went up front that morning and I have never been happier. I have a HEAVENLY DAD who will never let me down. A Savior who took it all for me. If sharing helps just one person I am happy! Am I now a perfect Girl? Heck no there are some days I'm UGLY,but oh the true Joy and Happiness inside is unbelievable. And He forgives, forgives and loves me anyway. I am Free! Filled with Woolie Love & Polka Dot JOY! So my goal now is to share the Joy I found.

4) Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Well let me see, I am married to my best friend (Papa John aka Tree Man) for over 28 years. I am still head over heels in love with my bald man. We have three children and three grandchildren. We live on almost 11 acres ,helping to raise granny kids and chickens. Hopefully we will be able to add goats next year. Maybe a cow or two. I love to sew, bake and sing. Papa John loves trees and being outside. We love being Home and together. He drives me for hours antiquing and I pretend to like football. :)

5) How would you describe your decorating style?

Oh that's a toughy. I love Farmhouse Country, Prim and anything old. My house is basically filled with things that make me happy and I love.

6) What's your favorite color and why?

I love Red. Its warm and wonderful. I love red ticking, red/white gingham and red plaid.

7) Tell us a few of your favorite things (collections, things that make you happy, etc.).

Oh now that's a good one Girlfriend. I love Coffee, Wool and Buttons most of all. Gingers, Pumpkins, Chickens, Aprons and Bobbins too. When I was a girl my Gram had many tins filled with buttons and I thought she was so rich. She was not, but oh she was so rich too me. My hubby and I still call them my monies.

8) What do you like to do in your spare time (hobbies, crafts, etc..)?

I love to sew, bake and go thrifting and antiquing. Nothing like finding a new treasure. Old ones are the best. One of my very favorite things to is build a fire. When we built our home my fireplace was the most important to me. I would rather be Home by the fire than any other place in the world.

9) What does your dream house look like? (Describe and/or include photo)

I'm not sure I have a dream house. I love my home, but it was just a House until we made treasured Family memories in it. Now its our Home. I think my dream house/home would be anywhere as long as I had my family.

10) If you could visit anywhere, anytime, where would it be and why?

The mountains. Anywhere with the Love of my Life. Just something about the beautiful Mountains that I love.

11) Would you share with us a favorite homemaking tip or recipe, etc..?

I love to burn candles.  I always makes others think you're baking. To this day my grown kids friends say your moms house always smelled so good. I do love to bake. Especially apple pie and pumpkin anything. I love to spread a mixture of cinnamon and sugar on top.

12) Tell us something about yourself that we might not already know from reading your blog. (something unusual, etc..)

Hmmm..I love Christmas. I love Christmas so much that I listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies and read Christmas books all year long. Some of my friends may also know this, when I crow hooky, sometimes I use my toes. :)  I also love burnt popcorn and cadbury eggs.

**NOTE FROM TAMMY HERE**  If you're like me (probably not), and didn't know what crow hooky is....it's crocheting!  I crochet, but never heard of it referred to as that before!  LOL...I thought it was being able to pick things up with your feet!  Ha! Ha!  :)

13) I know you have chickens. Tell us a little about them. (How it came to be, funny story, tips on raising them, routine, anything).

Well my hubby always wanted land. So I said I would agree if we could have chickens and animals. As a girl I helped my Aunt Nettie gather eggs in the fourth grade and watched Mamaw catch our dinner. My love for chickens and the country life was planted in the mountains of Kentucky. So when we built our home 4 years ago we got guinea hens and then chickens. We had ticks horribly and they are a natural way to get rid of ticks and other bugs. I love my chickens not only do they give me fresh eggs everyday but lots of laughter and entertainment. They so love my singing. Yes I sing to my chickens.

14) Tell us a way God has blessed you and/or your family.

When my husband and I married we were very young. He made very little money. God has brought us through many storms, but together we grew and so did our love. For many years I prayed that my hubby and I would know, grow and serve Him together We have never been happier. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

15) Share any words of wisdom and/or a favorite quote you'd like to leave with us.

Always be Joyful and Love Him with all of Your Heart. Thank Him for everything! My favorite scripture is 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (BE JOYFUL ALWAYS)!   You Grow Girl!

HUGS & JOY!

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Thank you for joining us today!  I'm so glad you stopped by to visit with Trace and me for our Sunporch Chat!  Your comments always make my day and I know Granny Trace would appreciate them just as much, so be sure and stop by Granny Trace Scraps & Squares and visit her and leave her a comment!  And thank you, Trace, for being such a sweet guest!  We have so much in common.....the mountains, Christmas love, marrying young, love of family and home, love for our Lord, the color red.......and you know I think I have Jason totally convinced to have chickens now too!  That's been a long time love and (secret) desire!   I enjoyed your visit!  :)

Have a great Wednesday!

♥ Tammy ♥

Our 28th Anniversary

It's hard to believe that 28 years ago this time, I was excitedly and anxiously awaiting our late evening marriage ceremony! It didn't begin until 8:00 p.m.!

July 31, 1982...


In some ways, it doesn't seem possible that it could be 28 years. Then again in another, it seems like we've always been together. Jason and I have been through many happy seasons, but we've also had our share of difficult seasons in our 28 years.

Then...


We've been blessed beyond measure. I know God gave us each other and I'm so glad we both listened to Him and trusted God on knowing He would send our future mate. Now 28 years later, here we are in a new season of our life which some might say should have been reserved for grandchildren (instead of a new 2 year old). :) But that's okay. The best part is....we're right where God wants us. And we wouldn't want it any other way! I remember praying when I became a Christian (at the age of 10), that I wanted God to plan my life. That still holds true today.

When I think about us, I think how I love the simple things. I love sitting on the back of a 4-wheeler with my arms around Jason just enjoying the ride down the gravel roads. I like taking country drives and just enjoying the scenery (and that's funny because our kids never "get" why we enjoy that...it's boring to them). I like the times we're in deep conversation and I like the times we can just ride in silence holding hands....and be comfortable with either. I love dreaming together....whether it's about our kids, our home improvement projects, our financial goals.....or just growing old together. I like remembering past times together and laughing about them. No, we don't have everything we've dreamed of or desire, but part of the fun is just dreaming it together and the journey getting there.

Now..


This evening, we're going out to dinner to Outback Steakhouse. It will be the first time "out on a date" (which I've missed) since we've been home from China.....and I'm looking forward to it very much!

So to my honey and best friend.....I love you....More! Happy 28th Anniversary, Jason!

~ Tammy ~

** NOTE ** If you would like to read previous anniversary posts and our love story, you can read more here, here, here, and here.

Sunporch Chat ♥ With Annie of Cornbread and Chopsticks ♥

I'm so glad you joined me today!  You are in for a treat as I've invited Annie of Cornbread and Chopsticks over for a Sunporch Chat! 



I first "met" Annie when we were waiting to bring Luke home, so I guess I've known her now for about 2 1/2 years.  I stumbled upon her blog and began reading about their journey to Lizzie from China and then I saw the "gotcha day" video.  I laughed and I cried.   I emailed Annie.  She emailed back.  And so our friendship began.  She has a huge compassionate heart that's filled with love for the Lord, her family, orphans, and the under privileged.  She is a sweetheart!

God is doing great things in Annie's family and all I can say is grab you a cup of coffee and a piece of cheesecake (because that's Annie's favorite and that's what I'm serving today) and sit back and enjoy!  :)  And you might want to grab a kleenex and keep it handy. 

1) How long have you been blogging and what/who gave you the desire to blog?

 I have been blogging since June of 2009. I started a Baby Jelly Beans site for our Lizzie when we were waiting to bring her home. It was a baby book of sorts for her. When she had been home for a year, I decided that I would like to try my (clueless) hand at blogging. I had so enjoyed others blogs in the adoption community and loved reading them as we waited to bring Lizzie home but I have to say that Stefanie over at Ni Hao Y'all was my biggest influence. Lizzie and her Shepherd were being cared for at the same orphanage and we were both using Lifeline Children's Services to bring our kiddos home. We talked several times on the phone and were able to meet briefly in China. She is wonderful and has a huge heart for China's waiting children and the Lord! She also has one phenomenal blog and one big, beautiful family!!!

2) How did you choose the name of your blog and why?

Well, I wanted to incorporate our family's southern roots as well as Lizzie's Chinese roots. So, one day hubby and I were trying to think of names. Hubby (bless his heart), kept coming up with names like Fried Chicken and Chopsticks or Corn on the Cob and Chopsticks or Chopsticks and Boiled Peanuts – um no – and just when I thought I could not take it anymore, the Lord took pity on me and gave me the name Cornbread and Chopsticks! Hehe!

3) What variety of topics do you post on your blog (examples - home decorating, family, gardening, recipes, adoption, homeschooling, crafting, etc....)?

Well, my topics are mostly family with a lot about adoption (ours, as well as advocating for those who still wait, and adoption awareness). There is a little recipe and homeschooling thrown in but alas no gardening or crafting as I was not blessed with a green thumb as my mother was, nor did I inherit any kind of the crafting gene but I am learning 'cause my girls do love to draw and paint and create and make a mess:)

I also love to take pics and although I have what I would call a decidedly brown thumb, I can take pics of the results of my Mom's green thumb!

4) Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

I am a born again Christian who loves the Lord, loves my family, loves my doggies and have a passion for the cause of the fatherless. My hubby is 5 years younger than me, a fact that he delights in! Ha! We have been married for 16 wonderful years and have come to the Lord together, through various financial struggles and trials, and we are stronger than ever before!

We have 5, going on 6, beautiful children. Christian is our oldest. He is 14, almost 15 (driving soon – yikes), and is my responsible first born child, who can be moody one second and amazing the next – teenagers – it's a wild ride!! Charlie is 12 and is my happy, LOUD, and funny child. Ya just look at him and smile! Caleb is 9 and is my tender hearted, old soul, sensory child and my only home schooled child right now. Emmeline is 6 years old and is my snuggler. She is sweet and nurturing and wants to be a mommy (and a doctor) so badly! She is the ultimate big sister to her “younger by 2 months” sister, Lizzie. Lizzie is also 6 years old and was adopted from China in 2008. She is one of the most amazing, determined, courageous kids I know. Adopting Lizzie, literally changed my life as well as my family's lives. Her adoption played a huge role in bringing us to faith, real faith, and has led me down a path I could have never dreamed possible. Lizzie is tiny and spunky and full of compassion, passion and love. Her “mad” is big but her love is too! We also have 4 rescue doggies and 2 cats who decided that our house, ya know the one with all the kids and the dogs, was a good place to live, so how could we turn them away! I still can't figure out if they are incredibly brave or really just not so bright!

5) How would you describe your decorating style?

Is there a style called the, “whatever I inherit” style? If not, I would have to say relaxed traditional, maybe? Is that a style? I just kind of use what I like and fortunately, I like many of the things my Mom does, hence, the “whatever I inherit style”! Works out nicely for me or should I say, hubby:)

6) What's your favorite color and why?

This is a toughie, cause I like different colors for different things. I decorate mostly with earth tones and some splashes of red, LOVE to wear brown or blue or black and think that white flowers are just dabomb! If I had, had, had to pick an overall fav though, it would be brown, no green, no wait blue – definitely blue, I think.

7) Tell us a few of your favorite things (collections, things that make you happy, etc.).

I don't really have any collections but my family knows that I love anything with dogs on it. My mom started me on a set of china (dinner plates) when I was younger that have dogs on them and they are beautiful. I do love those! I also seem to collect real live dogs but we won't go there:)  

I also cherish the rocking chair that I had when our first son, Christian was born. That child loved to rock. Up until he was about 3 years old, he would wake up in the middle of night and with his 2 blankets, 2 stuffed puppies and pacy, he would ask to be rocked. Even when I was very pregnant with his brother, Charlie, and no longer had a lap, we would somehow make it work, cause he loved it and so did I. I can so clearly remember being oh so tired one night, as I was rocking him at 2:30 in the morning, but thinking to myself that one day very soon, he would be too big to hold and rock like this and to treasure this time with him – and – I – did! I will NEVER get rid of that rocking chair and hope to one day rock my grandkids in it!!!

8) What do you like to do in your spare time (hobbies, crafts, etc..)?

OK, don't shoot me but I do love to exercise. I know, weird, right? I just never seem to have the time to do it anymore. I also like to cook with my kids, again, when I get the time! I love summer for just that reason! There just seems to be more time for things like that!

9) What does your dream house look like? (Describe and/or include photo)

Oh gosh, when I think of my dream house, I think less about what it looks like and more about where it is. I would love to someday, have a house with a big piece of property on a tidal creek with beautiful marsh views and a dock! I would love to have LOTS of windows, great big porches and really comfy rocking chairs - and a hammock! The house itself wouldn't have to be huge, just big enough for the kids and the dogs and the grands and me! At that point, with all the grandkids and the dogs running around, hubby will probably move out to his “dream boat,” as he sometimes threatens to do! Hehe!

10) If you could visit anywhere, anytime, where would it be and why?

I have 2 places. I would love to visit Washington state and Oregon. I have never been to either one and the pics I have seen of the country side are just breath taking! Another bloggy friend of mine, Heather over at Noodles, Tea and a DiDi Please, just moved up that way not too long ago and her pictures are just beautiful! I would also dearly love to be able to go to our waiting daughter's hospital in China. Our precious 8 year old daughter waits for us in a Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Hospital in China and oh how I would love to be able to hop on a plane right now, wrap my arms around her, tell her that I love her and that she is finally coming home. Yep, that would be the best!

11) Would you share with us a favorite homemaking/organizing tip or recipe, etc..?

BASKETS! I love baskets! I put everything in baskets! They look nice and help to keep things organized or at least off of my counters! I used to be an ultra organized (ahem, control freak) type of person but alas, as each child came along, there was less and less time for organization but more and more need. However, I truly believe it was all a part of the Lord's plan to help me to relax a bit and (shudder) go with the flow! I also don't like clutter but with 5 kids and one hubby who just refuses to throw anything away, there is clutter! So, to prevent the clutter from driving me totally batty, I have a rule and that rule is that if it stays on my kitchen counter for more than a day – it gets thrown away! It works and now I have more room on my counters for my helpers!

One of my favorite recipes comes from my grandmother. It is a squash casserole and it is just so easy and so yummy! Just cook up a mess of chopped squash and onions until they are done, drain well and slightly mash. Mix this with sour cream, cheddar cheese and seasoning, pour into a casserole dish, sprinkle with stuffing mix and bake! YUM!

12) Tell us something about yourself that we might not already know from reading your blog. (something unusual, etc..)

Well, let's see, I am a vegetarian (love my veggies) but cannot stand tofu,

I hate seafood but live on the coast, I was a pretty good ballet dancer in my day, I ran (and completed) a marathon – once – heh, I hate to fly (ask me about our return flight from China with TWO 2 year olds – f.u.n)

.....and I absolutely cannot get into an unmade bed! I promise you, if my bed has gone all day without being made up (horror), I will, at the very least, straighten the sheets before I get in!!! I also love potato chips that are folded over! I will search the bag for the chips that are folded over on top of themselves. I don't know why, but they are just extra tasty!

13) I know adoption is very dear to your heart. Tell us a little bit about how your came to adopt and your heart on adopting and advocating. (Anything on adoption you want to share here Annie).

Oh wow Tammy, pull up a chair cause this could take a while. Wink! You know, I think the Lord put adoption on my heart when I was a very young child. My brother was born with no fingers on one hand, and his left hand looks very similar to our Lizzie's hands, missing and very small fingers. He also has no toes on either foot just as our Lizzie has no toes on one foot, while her other foot was clubbed. Watching my brother struggle with his hands and feet, not in a functional way but more in an emotional and social way, broke my heart and at the same time, grew my heart. Growing up, I always felt different. I had good friends and had a “typical” growing up experience, however, the things that effected my heart didn't seem to effect the hearts of many of those around me. As I got older, it even became difficult to watch TV shows or go to movies or read newspaper articles that had any kind of abuse or oppression or sadness of any kind in them. Hubby says that it is very difficult to watch TV with me, cause if the show has a dog or a child or an elderly character, I cannot watch it and he is right! HGTV is good for me! As a young adult, I just could not understand why my heart seemed to break and stay broken for things of the world that did not seem to break others hearts, but I was to find out. That's when I met my hubby and we began our family. We had our first child and our second and third and fourth and all the while, the Lord was working and hubby and I were talking and through these beautiful children that He had blessed us with, I began to get glimpses of what might lie ahead for us. As we began to talk more and more about adoption, China kept coming up and special needs kiddos kept tugging at my heart and while hubby was open to China, he was not open to special needs – not at all and I did not fight him on it but my heart kept going back to these wonderful kiddos. One day, as I was searching the yahoo groups, the agency I that I now work for, posted about their special needs kiddos who were just waiting on their list. I was kind of new to the yahoo group world and was a little nervous to visit any site that I was not familiar with but I did and their she was, our Lizzie and I knew her right away. Her sweet face had a familiar-ness about it, and I was in love, and then I scrolled down and saw her beautiful hands and precious little feet.

They were my brother's hands and feet and in that instant, I knew what the Lord had been preparing my heart for all those years, why He had to break my heart over and over again. He was breaking my heart for the things that break His, only I had no idea at the time just what He had in store for me and was just beginning to see His hand in my life. When we traveled to bring Lizzie home, we visited her orphanage. It is a trip that I will never, ever forget. It is a trip that changed my life forever. Up until that point, Lizzie wasn't really unhappy but she wasn't really happy either and then we went to her orphanage. We tried to tell her through our guide that we were not leaving her there, that we were just visiting and that she would come back with us, but for a 2 year old child who had no language, not even Chinese, she, apparently, did not understand. As we walked in, I could feel her grip around my neck tighten, I could feel her entire body tense up and the minute one of the nannies walked up and tried to take her from me, she screamed and cried and held on to me for dear life! She was terrified and when she wasn't crying and screaming, she was limp and heartbroken, laying her little shaven head on my chest as if trying to soak up the last bit of tenderness she would feel before she was left yet again. I did not let her go but we stayed and we saw and our hearts were forever changed. When we left that day, as we sat on the bus, I told Lizzie (just as something one would say to an infant who would not understand while you hold their arm and wave it bye bye) to say bye bye to her orphanage. At that moment, there was life and hope within her and as she jumped up on the seat next to me, she smiled the biggest smile I had seen her smile and our Lizzie began to wave bye bye and SAY bye bye, over and over again. She was changed that day as was I and while Lizzie's heart began to learn what it meant to be loved, what it meant to have hope, my heart began to understand what it meant to have neither and the Lord's plan began to unfold. And then, on that infamous plane ride home with our TWO 2 year olds, Lizzie began to cry and everything I tried to soothe her, just would not work, so I did what I would do for my bio kiddos when they were inconsolable, I began to sing to her and as she looked up at me with surprise and wonder, I knew in my heart that this was probably the first time anyone had ever held her and sung to her and then I began to cry and as I thought back to all the many, many times that I had held my bio children, the many, many times that I had comforted them in the middle of the night or when they were hurt or scared, I understood all that Lizzie had never had, all that she had had to endure – alone. Right then and there, on that plane, I knew that a piece of my heart remained in China, in Lizzie's orphanage, in all the orphanages all over China and the Lord's path began to become clearer. I knew I could not go back to life before Lizzie and not do something and after we got her through her surgeries and castings and all the adjustments that take the place of 'normal” for a while, I heard the call and finally it all made sense and I began to advocate for those left behind, and my advocacy grew.

Lizzie today....after all the castings and surgeries

Em and Lizzie......the 2 year olds ....now 6!

 It grew so much that I am now working for Lifeline Children’s Services, the same agency that helped us to bring Lizzie home, as their International Adoption Advocate and while the hurt in my heart for these precious waiting children has not eased, I take comfort in the fact that I am doing what I believe the Lord began preparing me for, so long ago. My advocacy site is www.wonderfulwaitingkids.com and I advocate mostly for older children and those who have more significant special needs. Please request membership and have your heart moved by these precious kiddos whose most severe special need is not knowing the love of a family or of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

14) Tell us a way God has blessed you and/or your family.

Oh goodness, how has He not blessed us!!!! LOL! There are so many ways and being born again has allowed me to look back on my life and truly see Him in everything and everywhere, in all parts of my life! I have to say though that the most amazing way He has blessed us has been in the form of a struggle. A few years ago as the Lord was really working on my heart, hubby lost his job. It was right when the financial crisis hit and we lost financially in other ways as well. I know now, that the Lord was allowing our feet to be knocked out from underneath us so that we could begin again, to rely on Him, to give our lives, our worries, our provision to him! We had to be stripped of our worldly provisions in order to trust in Him to provide. We were transformed as we watched the way He provided for our family and while it was hard, it was so worth it because it was the kick in the pants that we needed to give our lives to Him. The journey to true faith had begun long before but we were stuck and needed to be (gently) pushed. So after a couple of years of true financial struggle, the Lord provided a steady job for hubby and we began to relax a bit, although, He was still nudging as we weren't exactly were we should be but we were trying and right before Christmas the Lord moved hubby's heart for what had been on my heart for a very long time! I had been praying that the Lord would move hubby's heart for another child. In my advocacy, I see so many kiddos, wonderful kiddos who need a family, need a momma and a daddy to tuck them in at night, help them with their home work, correct them when they mess up and praise them when they succeed. All I had to do was take one look at Lizzie out on that soccer field, passing all the other kids who are SO much bigger than she is, scoring yet another goal and – just – loving – life, to know that I wanted that for another child.

I wanted to watch in awe again as the Lord was revealed to that child – our child! However, because of our money struggles, hubby was just not ready, so I prayed. I prayed for the Lord to move his heart for another child or take the desire from mine. I prayed for the Lord to provide the way for us financially or provide the way spiritually in helping hubby to know that even if we couldn't provide, He would provide. Can you guess which path was ours? Yep, right before Christmas, hubby's heart was moved and the Lord provided him the courage to step out in faith, even without the financial provision. My Christmas gift from hubby was a Bible and a bank account with $250 in it. It was the beginning of the provision for our daughter!

When we finally found our child (another God story all on it's own), we were filled with peace and as the weeks went by it was clear that the Lord would provide and provide in amazing ways. We knew we would have to fund raise to bring our precious daughter home but we had no doubt that she would come home – He would bring her home! The Lord moved so many hearts for our sweet girl and we were flooded with donations and with offers to help raise the money needed to bring her home. And then... once again, hubby was very unexpectedly without a job and we were shocked. We knew that the Lord would provide and we knew that we would be ok but we were in the middle of an adoption and our daughter was waiting, waiting for us to bring her home, to take her from the only place she had known since she had been abandoned at 4 years old, a rehabilitation hospital for children with cerebral palsy. The “me” before knowing the Lord would have been angry, the “me” before knowing the Lord would have been heartbroken, the “me” before knowing the Lord would have been terrified and defeated but He filled our hearts. His Holy Spirit just lifted us up, encouraged us and helped us to stay peaceful and joyful while we waited, and while we are still waiting for the Lord to provide a job for hubby, we have watched in awe as He has continued to provide to bring our daughter home! We haven't even really been actively fund raising but He keeps those donations coming and to date we are a little over halfway there! WOW! In a little less than 5 months, the Lord has provide a little over half of the $30,000 that we need to bring our beautiful child home. We are using this latest blessing as a time of more intense growth and faith, to allow Him to transform our lives and as I wrote in one of my latest blog posts, “God is just so great and watching Him provide the way to bring our newest daughter home has been an amazing, faith-filled journey and while we are not there yet and while there are still unanswered prayers, through these struggles we are learning that He is always working for us, even when we don't see it, He is working. So we worry less and trust more. We learn to cling to our blessings instead of our fears and we make sure that we are 'putty in His hands,' opening our hearts up to His plan for our lives... and... we get out of His way 'cause that is when He is able to do His best work for us... and while it might get bumpier before it gets smoother, we have buckled up and are trying our best to enjoy the ride!”

15) Share any words of wisdom and/or a favorite quote you'd like to leave with us.

I still pray for wisdom and am still waiting on that prayer to be answered so I don't feel qualified to hand out words of wisdom – yet! However, there is one quote that I keep on my fridge and in my heart. “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”

I have had to rely on that quote many times in my life. There are also lots of Bible verses I love but right now, in this time in my life, the one I am clinging to is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” There have been many times in my life that I have not been able to “see” what the Lord was doing but before I truly knew Him, I did not have enough faith to reassure me. I cannot “see” why hubby lost his job just when we had found our daughter but I now have stronger faith and that fills my heart with the assurance I need to wait on Him and His plan and His perfect timing and to trust that even though I cannot “see” Him working for us – He is and it will be an amazing journey!

Words from Annie: 

Thank you Tammy. I have loved our chat and I am still saving that rocker on my front porch for you!!!!

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Thank you Annie!  I've cried more than once preparing this post!  Your faith is so encouraging to me!  One day I hope our paths cross and I would LOVE to sit on your front porch with all the kids playing together!  Thank you for being such a sweet guest.  I enjoyed your visit so much!  I can't wait for the day I see the family pic with your precious little XM's smiling face snuggled in there among you all!!  Talk about needing the kleenex!   Oh what a day!  :)  Thanks my friend!

Thank you (to all our guests) for stopping by today and joining us for the Sunporch Chat!  Your comments always make my day and I know Annie would love for you to stop by and visit her over at Cornbread and Chopsticks and leave her a comment as well! 

Have a great day!  :)

♥ Tammy ♥