30 Days of Thanks - Day 28

Because of something said at Bible Study tonight I have to say I am thankful for mirrors.  If you know me that probably surprises you.  I am not high maintenance, never have been in regards to makeup or hair.  And to be honest I usually avoid mirrors.  But mirrors are useful especially now that my hair is so different that it used to be.  I have to check it now before going out because my daughter and myself have decided that I have Willy Wonka hair.  Yes, my hair now looks like Willy Wonka in the original movie if I do nothing to it and then if I work on it I can actually make it look like Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka.  So if you see me it is o.k. to call me Wilma Wonka.  It will be fine.  So yes I am thankful for mirrors - that way I can calm it down some before going out.

So the other thing I thought about mirrors is coming from Bible study.  If I pass a mirror and see my hair out of place I fix it.  If you wear makeup and it doesn't look right you fix it too.  So with all that said....do we use our Bible the same way.  The Bible should be our mirror.  Do we look in it and see what is wrong in our life and then fix it?  I will be the first to say, No I don't always do that.  I don't apply all that I read.  So why not?  huh....good question to think on.  I won't let my hair go wild without fixing it.  If I saw a mark on my face in the mirror I would wash it off. 
But if the Bible shows me something wrong in my life do I fix it?  I should!  There's you something to think about for tonight.

Chemo tomorrow - pray me up

Love ya!  Keep Looking UP!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 25, 26 and 27

Yes, once again I am behind in writing these.  My heart is thankful everyday and I can't help but give God the praise.  On Friday the 25th I was once again thankful for music.  I went with David and the Gospel Echos II to a singing in Tarboro.  The group and the church sang alot of the older hymns and songs I grew up on.  I heard "The Lighthouse", Keep on the Firing Line, Thank You God for Your Blessing on Me and lots of other songs.  It is amazing how music takes you to other times and brings back memories.  The song "If I could hear my mother pray again" was sung and it reminded me of all the nights I spent at my grandma's house and you could hear her praying before she went to bed.  I remembering listening to hear my name and it was always there.  Oh How I miss her and my grandpa.  Thank you God for Music and for memories of loved ones and good times. 

On Saturday the 26th, I was thankful for Christmas spirit and the opportunity to give my testimony.  We went to the Christmas Carousel and while it was busy there it was really fun to see all the pretty stuff.  While there I got the opportunity to share my testimony with a lady.  I was watching a booth for a friend from church and as we were talking about his Tshirts I shared with her that I had cancer and how my God had worked.  What a wonderful feeling.  Thank you God for your son whose birth we celebrate at Christmas and for the opportunities to tell of you love for us and for me.  At Christmas time it is especially important to remember this.  You knew when you sent your child to live here on earth what would happen to him and you willingly sent him and then He willingly died.  Oh How I love You and Your Son! 

Today I think the thing I am most thankful for is Nature itself.  From the beautiful clouds in the skies to the dancing leaves in the roadways.  God's handiwork is everywhere.  I love Fall for this reason.  I love the clouds (always have), I love the colors and I love all that I see.  The occasional deer that wanders in our yard and the leaves that dance in the breeze.  What an Awesome God we serve. 

Thank you God for all that you give us.  You are an awesome God. 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 24 (Thanksgiving Day)

Dear God,

Today I am thankful for all you have blessed me with.  I can not imagine my life without you so with that said the very first thing I am thankful for is YOU!  I thank you for all you have done in my life.  For creating me, for loving me, for guiding me and for listening to me.  I thank you for your Son who died for me.  That is the greatest gift of all - thank you for that and for Him.  Thank you for the Holy Spirit and the way it guides, directs, and speaks in my life.  I know that Father, Son and Spirit are one but yet you are separate in ways.  Thank you for your presence. 

Thank you God for my family.  Thank you for my mom!  You couldn't have picked a better one for me but that is how you are. Thank you for my husband - we have our ups and downs but after all this time we are still together and I thank you God for your part in that.  Thank you for my daughter - perhaps the 2nd greatest gift you have ever given me after the gift of your Son.  I love her so much Dear God and I ask that you always stay by her side.  Guide her and lead her, shelter her in your loving arms always, be there when I can't.  Always surround her with people that love and support her.  Thank you for my brothers. - I know they love me and would do anything for me.  We don't see each other that much but my life would be less blessed without them and their families.  Thank you for my 2 nieces Brittany and Heather - oh How I love these girls.  They were like my daughters before I had one of my own.  I would do anything for them also and I know they love me.  They have always brought smiles to my face and continue to do so even though they are older now.  God bless Brittany and Heather - help them to make right decisions in their lives.  Keep them safe and show them you love.  Thank you for my nephews - Brandon, Connor and Sam - they put smiles on my face also.  They are God given and I love them too.  Thank you for my in laws and the support they give my me and my family.  Thank you for my friends - the ones from work, from church, from school and others I have met along the way.  They also bring smiles, support and are people you can lean on when times get tough.  Thank you for my aunts, uncles and cousins.  God you put my family together and I thank you for doing an awesome job.  You picked a great one out for me!  Thank you for my grandparents that are with you now.  I know that my life would not be the same without their influence in my life.  Their love for You they passed on to me and for that I am thankful. 
If I keep listing I am gonna forget some one-  So thank you God for every person you have placed in my life.  Even the ones that have hurt me.  They were there for a reason and they made me stronger by learning to depend on you more thru the pain.  Thank you for opportunities to Praise You!  Thank you for every day I live - I now realize every day is a gift from you.  I wished everyone saw each day that way.  God you are Awesome, mighty and strong.  You are my Refuge, my strength, my provider, my deliverer, my healer and my guide.  Thank you for all you provisions.  The roof over my head, the car I drive, the clothes I wear, the food I eat, everything.  I have nothing apart from you! 
Thank you God!  Your daughter loves you!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 23

Today my thanks is for Food.  Yes I am thankful for this today because my child has been home all day long and I have not once heard her say ''I'm Hungry".  There are chips here, drinks here, we went out for lunch and we will probably go to Mickey D's before church.  It is really kinda of funny when she is hungry because she can go from one train of thought to another in like 5 seconds and that next train she jumps on may be the hungry one.  And once on that train, she will ride it and let you know she is hungry until you feed her.  (She will shoot me if she reads this).  So yes today I am thankful for food.  I am also thankful that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I will have Stuffing (yea)  .... I have already done a trial run with Stove Top Stuffing and I was successful eating it so I should be o.k. tomorrow when I get the real thing.  It is my absolute favorite thing to eat at Thanksgiving.  Chemo has changed my taste buds and although it has been 3 weeks since I had chemo I still have things I can't eat due to my taste buds.  But I know tomorrow.  Stuffing will be there and so will my Aunt Linda's Pineapple cake .... Yay!  So thank you Lord for food. 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks Day 21 & 22

o.k. so I am gonna get caught up here!  I just don't get on here as much as I used to.  On Monday I was thankful for the internet.  Yep, it sure helps you figure things out.  As Maggie was doing her homework it was necessary to have internet.  I learned more about Archimedes because of what she shared while doing her home work that I started reading about him too.  He was a mathematician (?sp) and he truly loved math.  So much that he was forced to take baths by his servants and while in the tub he worked on math problems using ashes and writing on his body.  How is that for an obsession.  I thought it was a very interesting story.  I told Maggie that I loved doing Respiratory Therapy too but I didn't count my respirations while in the shower (lol).  I would not have learned so much if it wasn't for the internet.  It is so helpful for looking up anything.  From schoolwork, to religious topics, to reading email and to writing a blog.  What would we do without it?  I would definitely not be as smart but I might have more time on my hands ; )  but then again it does help make bible study go a whole lot easier.  So Thank you God for the internet and for computers.

For today Day 22 I am thankful for God's timing.  You know I get amazed at things and how and when they happen.  As I think back to my diagnosis and to the dream I had right before it I know it was God's preparation for me.  Even looking at my scripture memory log, the scripture I picked on Feb. 15 for memorization was Prov. 28:1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.  I think that is interesting that my verse had a lion in it.  And Yes boldness is needed to face and tell some of my story.  Being more open about my life and condition has been freeing for me and I feel a calling of God to share my story so I have needed that boldness.  (my diagnosis was the end of Feb.)  God has provided lots for me.  I couldn't even begin to start to name all of this.  I still say that one of the first prayers I had prayed for me at my church was by one of my sisters in Christ.  I will never forget this prayer, she prayed that God would provide the manna I needed for each day.  I didn't need enough for a month, a year or even a week, I only needed God to get me thru each day with His provisions.  Can I tell you He has done that!  His timing is awesome!  His Love is Awesome!  Nope there's not a perfect time to get a cancer diagnosis but God knew when I was ready and that's when I got it.  I will never cease to Praise His Name! 

Thanks for reading

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy Wright

30 Days of Thanks - Day 20

I really have been thinking of this thanks thing and there is so much to thank God for that I think I am gonna start a list.  Not just a 30 day thing but just a listing of that I could give thanks for.  I think that will blow my mind to see it all in writing.  I don't think it is something I could do in a day, or a week but it will probably be a work that takes awhile.  Maybe at sometime I will share it on here.  With all that said, my thanks for yesterday is a Thanks for Sundays.

Yes I thank God for Sundays, the chance to go to church.  To hear the Word, to worship Him, to see my sisters and brothers in Christ.  I love Sundays.  Yesterday's sermon was exactly what I needed.  Then follow it with discipleship study on Sunday night and another sermon and it was even better. 
The morning sermon was on Trust and that you can trust God.  Why??? because He has been faithful before and He'll be faithful again.  He doesn't work on our time frame, He works on His but we can trust he will be there.  The middle scripture of the Bible is Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."  Put your trust in God!  I have learn to trust in Him over the past couple of years and he had not let me down yet.  God is Awesome!  He is trustworthy.

So you might ask...what the evening service was about....It was about Abraham and his distress over not having a heir.  God told him he would have one.  Abraham didn't trust him at this point or perhaps he wasn't listening.  Huh???? do I do that?  Do I not listen.  I know that I don't always place complete trust in Him.  So pray that I do! 

Well there's my thanks for Sunday.  Yes, I am running a day behind I am not home much on Sundays.  Between church, lunch, going to Michaels, and then church again, not alot of time left but that's o.k.  I love Sundays....So thank God for Sundays. 

30 Days of Thanks - Day 19

Today I am thankful for my in laws.  Yes, my in laws.  They have hearts of gold and would do anything for you.  Faye, my mother in law is a great Grandma to Maggie and encourages me to keep on trucking.  I see her love for me and my family on a regular basis.  I thank God for her.  Faye and myself are kinda like minded when it comes to crying.  I don't know which of us will cry first sometimes at sad movies or sad conversations.  My father in law Phillip will always be there for me...I know that without a doubt.  If something came up at home and David wasn't here I know I could call on him and he would be here without delay.  Thank God for him and for him being such a great grandaddy to my daughter.  My brother in law Dan has a heart for all that are in need.  Sometimes his concern for others doesn't benefit him but he puts others first and I know without a doubt that there isn't much he would not do for Maggie and my family.  Heather, Wade, Connor and Samuel bring smiles to my face.  Heather checks on me regularly and I know they would be there too if I should ever need them.  Lots of people post problems with their in laws and can't get along with them but that is not me.  I love them and they love me.  It is Great to know this love is always there.  Thank you Wright family for being there for Maggie, David and myself.  We love you! 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 17 and 18

Sorry I didn't get on here yesterday but I had a busy day!  I worked at home, then went to the hospital to have Thanksgiving lunch with the Cardiology Staff, then on to PTA at the school with Maggie last night.  What a wonderfully busy day and it makes me very thankful for the time I have to do it.  So for the last couple of days I have to say that I am thankful for TIME!  Since my diagnosis in February, time has been on my mind.  No doctor ever said you have only  _____ days/mths/years to live but reading about my type of cancer didn't give me much hope.  However knowing I serve an Awesome God I decided early on that He was the one that would determine the day I would leave this earth.  So it would not matter what doctors said, what the statistics said, or for that matter what happen to anyone else with this same diagnosis.  I am a different person, my life is in God's hands and so is everyone else's in this world.  None of us have guarantees as to the length of our life.  Everyday we hear of someone passing in the night, someone being killed in a wreck or other loss of life.  None of it is planned.  So I thank God for the time He has given me.  Yes I am ready to see Him but I also wanna stay right here with my family and friends.  I know my daughter is on loan from God but I wanna see her grow up.  I love my family so much that I don't wanna leave them but yes I love God more so if He takes me tomorrow - I will be with Him and He will take care of my family in a better way than I ever could on my own.  So with all that said, I am thankful to still be here.  Thankful that I had time to go to the mountains last weekend with family, that I could go to PTA with Maggie, that I can spend a day with my mom.  So thank You God for Time, for life, for love! 

Day 18 - Thank God for Hot Water and Electric Blankets.  I don't get in the shower too many times that I don't say Thank you God for Hot Water.  I love a Hot Shower especially in the cold weather.  I am also thankful for Electric Blankets for the same reason.  On these cold evenings, I have an electric blanket that is plugged in by my recliner and even right now I am sitting in my chair with this blanket on.  So Yes, I am thankful for all things Warm! 

That's all Folks! 

Keep Praying and Keeping Looking Up!

Tammy Wright

30 Days of Thanks - Day 16

Thank God for books.  I love to read, always have love to read.  When I first started getting chemo it was hard for me to read and concentrate on what I was reading but thankfully that has changed and for the past couple of months I have been able to read once again.  Yay. I used to read all kinds of books.  I grew up on Stephen King books - loved them and then a friend suggested Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles - I loved them too.  In high school, I read biographies, fiction, nonfiction, historical novels and pretty much anything that looked interesting.  I loved the library back then and went every couple of weeks to get more books.  I remember reading biographies of JFK, Lee Iacocca, Farrah Fawcett, and others.  I also read "The Winds of War" - all 3 volumes, The Thorn Birds, and alot of the classics just because I wanted to read them and not because they were required.  After getting married, I didn't read as much between home, works and life I didn't have time.  After I had Maggie, I picked up on reading again.  An occasional book every now and then.  Then when Harry Potter came out I read all of them.  The last series I started like that was the Twilight series but I will say in the midst of reading them, God convicted me of reading.  I listed all those books above and could not tell you how many books I have read over the years but until God convicted me I had never read the Bible all the way thru so I stopped after the 2nd Twilight book and started reading the Bible in 90 days.  After that I could never pick up books 3 and 4 to read them.  It just didn't feel right to me.  So for the last couple of years my reading has consisted of the Bible and religious books.  It is just what feels right to me now.  My latest books I read are Erasing Hell by Francis Chan (Great Book) and now I am reading Prayer That Starts Revivals by David Cho - Wow - what a powerful book.  I borrowed that one from our prayer room at church but I am gonna have to get my own copy so I can write in that one.  I still occasionally read fiction.  I read The Shack (great book) and really enjoyed Heaven is for Real (actually my whole family read that one).  I don't know what books the future holds but I will read as God leads because some of these books are life changing.  The Purpose Driven Life is life changing, the book I am reading now is affecting me and I can't wait to see what will be next.  I love Books and I am glad God gave me the love for reading.  And yes, maybe one day I will write a book.  Who Knows.....my life story may be in print one day.  I do believe God is calling me to share my story and that is why I am doing this blog.  God is WORKING AND I want everyone to know it. 

Love you all

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy  

30 Days of Thanks - Day 15

So Today I am thankful for Christmas music.  Yes, it is music again but I love it.  And Christmas music is the BEST!  I love it all.  Preparing for the cantata at church, singing songs in my car, radio stations that play it nonstop.  YAY... Keep it coming.  From Winter Wonderland, to Sleigh ride, to Silver Bells and even Blue Christmas.  Then there's The Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Noel, and as of last year when I added a new awesome song to my list the Hallelujah Chorus.  I love the kid christmas songs, the pop christmas songs, the religious songs....I love them all.  There is very few that I don't like to be honest with you!  So if you pass me on the highway and I am singing with all that I have .... it's probably christmas music.  If Maggie is with me, it may be something else but I even get her to sing along with me sometimes.  That's all folks!

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 14

I listed a couple of days of thanks earlier but stopped short of doing the 14th day.  So Here it is.  Thank you God for the gift of Prayer.  Those that are answered and those unanswered.  Just to be able to talk it out with you brings peace.  To say I am praying for you brings reassurance to those who request it that you care for them and that you will pray for them because of your love for them.  Jesus prayed to you and He was heard because of His reverent submission.  Oh Dear God, I truly thank you for this gift.  I have bowed my head, fell to my knees and even bowed low to the floor at times praying to you.  I know you hear me and will answer in your time and in your way.  I may not understand your answer or even see it in this lifetime but God I know you hear it and you care.  So I will continue to pray.  To offer my praises to you, to offer my thanks to you, to acknowledge your awesomeness, to pray for others and to even request things for myself.  In all of my prayers God I ask You Will Be Done on earth as it is in heaven.  God you are my Father and you know what is best.  THANK YOU For allowing me to take it to you through your Son, Jesus Christ. 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks Day 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Good Afternoon,
Just wanted you all to know I am still here.  We went to the mountains on Thursday and came back yesterday afternoon.  As soon as we were back it was time for church and then there has not been time to get on here much since then.  So Although I was remembering to give thinks and thinking about my blog, I haven't had the time or the internet connection in those hills to actually do a blog.  So it is catch up time. 

Day 11 - I thank God for safe travels.  There aren't many times that I hit the road for a trip that I don't voice a prayer to God to keep me and those traveling with me safe.  I remember specifically praying prior to my trips to Duke.  Those were some out loud prayers, other times they are inner ones.  I also know as I left my house with Maggie and a friend on halloween night that I voice a prayer before we left because the weather was so bad.  Maggie even asked me what I was doing.  I told her I didn't wanna make that trip alone.  Thinking about it now, it is kinda funny that I think to ask God to keep us safe as we travel down a physical road in a car and how easily I trust Him to do so but let something pop up in my life and I don't always turn to Him so easily.  I don't always ask Him to keep me safe in my day to day travels that are also known as life.  There is a life lesson in that thanks.....Huh?

Day 12 - I have to thank God for Health.  Yes, even as I still fight this cancer, I am thankful for the strength and health I still have.  We went to Dollywood this day and I kept up with my daughter.  I am glad I am still able to do so.  Yes I get tired and when we got back to our cabin that night...I hit the bed and was out like a light but I am so thankful for the time I was able to spend with family today and that I still have the strength to go on vacations, shopping or just out and about with family and friends.  Thank you God

Day 13 - Thank you God for discipleship studies.  As I returned home this afternoon from our trip I was able to go to church and attend choir practice, discipleship study and then church.  Our discipleship studies range from Beth Moore curriculum with workbooks or the other studies such as the one I am doing now titled "The Mind Of Christ".  I love studying God's Word.  I guess I should title this thank God for bible study period.  Between this study and then the book of Acts in Bible Study Fellowship, God is once again teaching me and changing me.  Every time I open His word, I see a image in the mirror of His word that does not look like the reflection that He wants me to be Yet!  But God is still working on me and you know, as I read about Obedience, Willingness, Meekness, Humility I am actually glad that this topics bother me.  It means I am convicted by what the word is saying.  It means there is still a willingness to see the faults that I have and that I am willing to work on them.  I can't imagine ever getting to the place where I think the Bible has nothing more to teach me.  I get amazed at the times I pick up the Word and read something I have read before and then all of a sudden I am like WOW, I didn't get that before.  Between studying the Word for discipleship studies and BSF, it will change you.  I can honestly say these have made a Big Difference in my life.  I remember very clearly taking a Beth Moore class on David "A Servant After God's Own Heart" and reading a section one day that was directly what I was going through and exactly what I needed.  I literally thought that section could not have been in anyone else's book but mine because it clearly had my name on it.  I even looked at the copyright on the book to see that the study was 10 years old at the time and thought.  How did she know 10 years ago that this is what I needed today, at this precise time.  And guess what....Beth Moore didn't know that but God Did!  Thank you God for your Word and for the study of your word that disciples me into being more like your Son!. 

Day 14 - I think I will come back to this one tonight!  Gonna leave you hanging if you are reading this. 

Love you all

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

If you remember my prayer requests in earlier blogs for Charles Humphries - continue praying for him.  He is headed to Texas this week for experimental treatment for the Cancer in his lungs.  He has had his leg amputated and it doing great from that surgery.  Pray that this treatment will work and that God will heal his body!  Our God is an awesome God and He can do This!

Also pray for my mom's Pastor, Jimmy Earp.  He also has cancer and will be starting chemo soon in a pill form.  Pray for complete healing for his body.  He is a servant of the King and I know God can heal him too! 

Thanks for reading

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 10

Thank you God for the ability to speak.  I will have to admit that the reason I am writing this is that I truly thank God that He is in my life and that I don't feel the need to use the language that others use when they are speaking.  I overheard someone this morning as they were walking with a child to the car using 4 letters words.  The adult was evidently upset at something the child did and said several things to the kid and even one that included God's name in it.  I guess because of my upbringing, my morals and the presence of God in my life I have never been one that felt the need to use such language.  I have often told my daughter that you can say the same thing without using such words.  It really breaks my heart sometimes to hear the way kids are spoken to and know that that is what they face everyday.  So today I thank God for the ability to speak and for the conviction in my heart to not use bad words to convey my message.  I think it would definitely hurt my witness to others.  Nope I am not perfect, don't claim to be but I do know that if I feel something is wrong then I shouldn't do it. 

That's it for the day!  Don't know if I will be able to post for the next 2 days or not on my blog so don't worry about me.  Just might not have an internet signal. 

Love you all

Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 9

Today I am thankful for animals!  Yes, those little pets that run around and even the big ones that make you realize just how Awesome our God is.  I have had several pets during my life and just recently I was thinking about the first pet that I really connected with.  Her name was Susie and she was a sooner.  Susie was my friend.  She listened to my problems and to whatever I needed to tell her.  She always happily greeted me and was always there.  I remember going outside and crying on the doorstep and Susie being there.  Nope she couldn't say anything back, only wag that tail but I knew she cared.  Since I have gotten married we have had several dogs.  Mack was a dalmatian and a great dog!  He loved his mama and was very protective of me when I was pregnant with Maggie.  Princess was a yellow Lab/sooner mix and she was my friend too.  She would follow me where ever I went and if you didn't watch out she would lay down right on top of you.  She had love in those eyes I really miss her and Mack.  I used to always walk out my door each morning and tell them both Good morning!  We eventually had a dalmation named Daisy and she was a sweetie and a loving dog.  She eventually had puppies and died not longer after that.  We didn't have her that long. 

As far as other animals, I love watching them.  It is awesome to see deer grazing in a field along the road and squirrels running thru the yard.  Every once in a while I get the opportunity to see birds that are amazing.  Watching a bright red cardinal, or seeing a hummingbird in flight or even the blue bird I saw yesterday.  How Great our creator is.  That's not even taking in to account a trip to a zoo.  Look at the stripes on a Zebra, the patterns on a cheetah, or the cuteness of a Koala bear.  Last year when we went to Tennessee and visited Cades Cove we saw 3 black bears in the park.  they were just freely running around.  How awesome is that. 

My God is Amazing, an awesome Creator and using that gift of sight I gave thanks for yesterday I can see His amazing creations in the animals He Made.  So thank you God for the gift of pets and animals that remind us of How Great Thou Art!

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 8

Today I am thankful for the gift of sight.  As I look around I see the beautiful colors everywhere.  I was reminded of this gift this morning as I looked at my red roses.  They are so pretty in the fall.  Then I looked and saw the pink ones and thought ... well they are pretty too.  This weekend while going to church I noticed the red trees lining the parking lot.  The weather forecasters are saying we are entering our peak fall colors right here in our area now.  Oh how I love fall colors and fall clouds.  They are beautiful.  So I thank God for the gift of sight so that I can see His glorious creations.  How Great He Is!  And the best use that I will ever get from my gift of sight will be the DAY IS SEE HIS GLORIOUS FACE!  For that I can't wait.  So get out there and enjoy God's beauty today.  It's gonna be a beautiful one! 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 7

Today I thank God for a position in our church that is often overlooked.  That is the role of the Deacon.  In the past couple of years I have watched as deacons were chosen and as they served.  I truly believe that this position is a calling of God.  I respect those called into this position and I am truly thankful for the ones that have been placed over my family.  The reason this has really hit me lately is the concern that has been shown to me because of my sickness.  When a illness or condition is prolonged, it is easy to forget that someone is still sick or should I say not forget that fact but actually to forget to check on the person that is ill.  I have never been one that needed a lot of attention.  I don't need someone checking in on me all the time.  But I can tell you in the last two years, it made me feel really good when my deacon would just stop and say "how are you doing?"  I really feel like they care.  We have such a big church that you don't get to know everyone there.  And the deacon you get may be someone who you know who they are but you don't really know them.  But from what I have seen the past two years, that didn't matter.  Once I was under their "care" they checked up on me....just every once in a while and it made me feel good.  I can't explain it completely because like I said, I don't need a lot of attention but just yesterday when I got stopped in the front by my deacon, just to find out if I was o.k. , it made me feel good.  It made me smile on the inside.  You know I think it is the love of God that you see shining from the heart.  There was sincerity and not a duty linked to being checked on.  Yep....that's it.  It's deacons, that accept the call, that listen to God, and use take their position as yet another step in being a servant of God.  I see the servant's heart shining thru and that makes my heart happy.  So there is my thanks for today,  its been on my heart since yesterday and it would not leave.  Thank God for the deacons that have been there for my family.  And can I just add that in my time at WMBC, we have gotten a different deacon each year and our very first deacon will still stop and ask, how's the family, how are you?  Oh, yes I see God shining still.

Join me in praying for all the deacons at our church and for the ones at your church.  This is a position that was set forth to help in providing for the members of a church.  They are their for our spiritual support and we should pray for them daily.  May God bless our deacons and their families. 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking UP

Tammy

30 Days Of Thanks - Day 6

Thank you God for the gift of Sleep.  Yes, I definitely took advantage of sleep yesterday and last night.  As my mom would say...yesterday I wasn't worth a "plug nickel".    I woke up, I napped in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening and then I even went to sleep early.  I must have needed it because I didn't wake up feeling bad this morning.  Sometimes if I sleep too much I feel worse but not yesterday or today.  Yay for sleep, for rest and for time to just kick back and do absolutely nothing.  Now, lets see if I can get motivated to do something today.  At least it is Sunday and I get to go to church and that is enough to get me motivated.  I love going to worship my God and my Savior. 

Hope you get to church somewhere today.  It will do your body and soul good. 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking up!

Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - Day 5

Today I am thankful for HEAT.  Yes, Heat.  This chemo makes me colder than I have ever been.  And combine that with a shot that I have to get on the Friday after I have chemo, then heat is my friend.  The shot makes my body sore pretty much all over.  I have bone aches, muscle aches, etc and heat makes it better.  So here I sit in my recliner with a heating pad on my back and an electric blanket laid across me.  Yes, I am nice and toasty.  The heat is also working quite well in our house.  I did venture down with Maggie and her friends to the WMBC yard sale....and it was very cold out there....so back home we came sausage biscuits in hand.  So thank you God for Heat. The heat from the sun, the heat from the furnace, the heat from my blanket......YAY GOD!  Couple that with a good movie and I am set this morning for a bit.  Nanny McPhee just went off and now it is time for Mary Poppins. 

The house is clean so there is not much on my agenda for today.  We have a 50th anniversary party for David's parents this afternoon, along with the WMBC harvest sale and auction tonight.  Other than that I think I will just chill Or should I say stay warm LOL.

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy

30 days of Thanks - Day 4

Today I thank God for friends.  New and Old friends.  Last night I had a get together with friends I have shared my Respiratory Therapy career with.  It included people that were with before I even went to RT school and those I was still working with when I had to quit working.  It was Great seeing everyone.  To Teresa and Shelby...thanks for leading me in the right direction career wise.  I will never forget the two of you taking me to Durham Tech to show me around and to introduce me to the RT faculty.   What's really cool about all of this is that some of these folks I have known greater than 20 years and we are still friends.  I know that they would do anything for me and I would do the same for them.  When I started arranging this get together, I tried to invite everyone I could.  Not everyone could make it due to sickness or other obligations but we left last night wanting to plan another one.  So if you could not be there, don't give up we are gonna do it again sometime.  Another great thing is that most everyone brought their family with them.  It was wonderful getting to see family also.  Especially the newest member of our RT family.  Mason Parrish (Good Job Tonya and Hayden).  I truly enjoyed myself last night, just wished we had more time to talk and a better spot to talk in.  Kinda of difficult getting to everyone last night. 

As I said some of these people I have known greater than 20 years.  I started RT school in 1988 and completed it in 1990.  I worked as an on the job trained RT tech prior to school.  I had been at JMH since 1985 when I quit working.  That's alot of years and alot of great people.  I love you all.  I am glad God caused our paths to cross in this life.  So thanks for all the fun and the memories.  I am proud to be a Respiratory Therapist and am proud that I got to work alongside some of the best in the profession.  Love you all!

Teresa Batten
Shelby Holt
Paul Keene
Diana Allen
Tonya Murphy
Beth Bizzell
Paul Geeding
Connie Knowles

And to those that couldn't make it....thanks for communicating with me via Facebook and email.  I missed you but I know we will stay in touch. 

God is Good.  And it makes me think of the song.  Friends are Friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them. 

.....Tumor markers are at 23.  YAY!  GO GOD!

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up!

Tammy

30 Dafys of Thanks - Day 3

Today I give thanks for my daughter.  Twelve years ago today I had her at Johnston Memorial Hospital.  I wasn't completely prepared for how much my life would change but it has all been for the better.  She has brought sunshine in my life from the very first day of her being here.  I remember walking down to the old nursery and getting her one morning while I was still in the hospital from having her and crying the whole way back because I was so happy.  The past 12 years have been GREAT.  Maggie is beautiful inside and out.  She loves school and loves people.  Yes, she has a few she doesn't care that much for but for the most part she gets along well with everyone and can make a friend quickly.  She is definitely my singing/riding companion.  We pretty much like the same type of music.  I know she will continue to make me proud.  My prayer for Maggie is that God will always watch over her and protect her.  That He will never leave her and continue to bless her through out her whole life.  She is more His child than mine and I know He will do all of the above.  I thank God He gave me Maggie.  Her presence in my life is incomparable.  So Maggie - thanks for being a Great Daughter.  I love you so much more than you will ever know.  I pray that you will always follow God's leading and listen for His voice in your life.  I pray that you have a wonderful day and a wonderful life.  And just as if I am not already crying I will add the words to a song that makes me cry.  "Like My Mother Does".  Well maybe I won't write them out.  I will just picture you singing it.  Love you Chick! 

Keep Praying and Keep Looking Up


Tammy

30 Days of Thanks - 2nd Day

It's early morning but I slept most of the day yesterday.  It was a chemo day.  (yuck) but  am gonna have to make my gift of thanks for that chemo.  I am still alive by the grace of God and by the gift of medicine He created.  It is only in the last couple of years that I have realized that medicine was a God given gift.  Even with me working in the medical field, I still felt like it was man made.  It wasn't until I was given a plaque for my office that told me that at that moment  was where God wanted me.  I realized with that plaque that my job was also my ministry and somewhere along that time I began to see all of medicine differently.   I felt burdens for my patients and for my coworkers and began to pray for them.  Yes medicine - the practice of it and the administration of it, and the creation of it is all God Ordained.  He gave us the brains and ability to do all this.  So that awful chemo that runs thru my veins is killing my cancer.  These meds were allowed to be created by God.  I recently heard the story of a doctor that was healed completely form a terminal cancer.  He was on his death bed when God healed him with the first dose of chemo.  As far as I know he is still a practicing doctor in Virginia and He gives God all the glory.  He actually recommended on the video that you pray over every pill you take.  Pray for your high blood pressure medicine, pray for your diabetes meds, and even pray over your chemo.  Pray that it works even better than intended.  God Can Do That!  There is nothing he can't do.
so there is my thanks for today.....Thanks for Chemo! and while I am at it thanks for my chemo nurses.  They are wonderful and they might not ever read this.  But here is a shout out to Bianca (my nurse) - she chose me because I am a problem child ; )  Also thanks to Regina, Tina and Lori.  You make my day brighter when  am there.  Thanks for the hugs, love and encouragement.  God Bless you all.  And Thanks also to Dr. Anderson. 

Well enough for today.

Love you all

Keep Praying and Keep looking up!

Tammy

Day 1 Thirty Days of Thanks!

Good Morning! 

Here we go.  Before I start please note that I am not doing these in order of rank in my life but simply thanking God for things as they occur to me.  It will be random and it will be whatever pops into my head at given times.  That said, my first topic of thanks crossed my mind yesterday and then hit me again in my car this morning as Maggie and I were waiting for the bus.  So here it is....

Thank you God for the gift of MUSIC!  Yes, I love music.  I love the beat, I love the words, I love the emotions a good song can make you feel.  There are some songs that make me cry every time I hear them and other songs that make me smile.  Right now the songs that make me cry are "Like My Mother Does" by Lauren Alaina, and I think I will always cry at the song "Praise You in this Storm" by Casting Crowns.  Some songs are all about worshipping my God and I definitely love them.  There are even some songs that are meant to be turned up so that you can sing them in your car as loud as you possibly can with your daughter at your side singing too!  I remember us going to Bible study one night singing from a Brooklyn Tabernacle CD and we both were really into it when all of a sudden we noticed the people in the car next to us at a stop light looking at us.  OH WELL .... we were singing for our Savior and guess what ... we kept right on.  Crazy or Not - I don't care. 
As for favorite songs, I don't know they change sometimes.  Some songs fit times in our lives.  I will always love the song Angels by Amy Grant (I used to sing that in church when I was a teenager).  The song "The Old Rugged Cross" is special because I taught myself to play it on my clarinet and I will always remember singing that one in the car with my mom.  To be honest I am listing gospel music here because given a choice that is all I listen to anymore.  But I did have a time when I listened to country and rock.  I still will throw a Lionel Richie CD in my player sometimes and sing my heart out and if I would put my Garth Brooks or Randy Travis CD's in my car I would probably throw them in sometimes too.  (that would drive Maggie crazy). 

So what songs were me and Maggie singing this morning in the car.  Actually, we had time for two songs.   First there was "Starry Night" by Chris August...
here are some of the words:
 "I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun. Every Starry Night, that was His design. I'm giving my life to the only son, who was and is and yet to come Let the praises ring, 'cause he is everything 'Cause he is everything" 

and the 2nd song...that I started all over again when she got out of the car so I could hear it again.  Stop Now if you don't wanna read all the lyrics...cause I love this WHOLE song. 

No Matter What

Songwriters: Chuck Butler, Kerrie Roberts, Tony Wood

I'm running back to your promises one more time
Lord that's all I can hold on to
I gotta say this has taken me by surprise
But nothing surprises You

Before a heartache can ever touch my life
It has to go through Your hands
And even though I keep asking why
I keep asking why
No matter what, I'm gonna love You
No matter what I'm gonna need You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, I'll trust you
No matter what, no matter what
When I'm stuck and there's nothing else by myself
I'm just sitting in silence
There's no way I can make it without Your help
I wont even try it

I know You have Your reasons for everything
So I will keep believing
Whatever I might be feeling, God, You are my hope
And You will be my strength,

No matter what, I'm gonna love You
No matter what I'm gonna need You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, I'll trust you
No matter what, no matter what

Anything I don't have You can give it to me
But it's okay if You don't, I'm not here for those things
The touch of Your love is enough on its own
No matter what I still love You and I'm gonna need You

No matter what I'm gonna love you
No matter what I'm gonna need you
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, I'll trust You
No matter what, no matter what

I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, I'll trust you
No matter what, no matter what
No matter, no matter what

yep .... that's it.  I love MUSIC!  and that song makes me cry and smile.

So thank God for the gift of Music and now for the chance to throw one of my favorite scriptures at you. 

^{Zep 3:17}
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,he will rejoice over you with singing."

Did you see that .... He will rejoice over me with singing.  My God sings too and He sings over me!  Yes...I love Music and I love God!  He's singing over you too! 


Have a good day!  It's a chemo day for me! 



Tammy