The Wiggly Tooth

Today is the day

We’ve been waiting so long

That wiggly tooth

Is finally gone

A special box

Was given at school

Tiny and blue

For a tooth so cool

Under the pillow

Now quickly to sleep

Expecting the tooth fairy

Don’t make a peep

Quietly she enters

And makes the trade

A tooth for cash

The exchange is made

So tomorrow as he wakes

He’ll see the surprise

The box holding the tooth

Instead holds his prize.

with love,

Mommy Tam-Tam

Making a Difference

This morning, my son and I met at the flag pole before school.  We prayed for his school, our country, our leaders and our friends.  He prayed for his teachers and firemen and military who protect us.  He prayed his friends have a good snack day and fun at recess.  He prayed what was in his heart.  And that melted my heart.

Too many times to count, I find myself "busy" with things that seem important at the time.  Busy with work, busy with dinner, busy with laundry...the list goes on and on.  I want to make a difference, however, in all of my craziness, many times I miss what "should" keep me busy with.   So today, as we prayed before school at his school's flagpole, and I saw a glimpse of what was in his young heart, God reminded me that in my lack, He fills in the voids.

He fills in my voids with my husband, our church, our leaders, our teachers and our families.    My friend recently shared a quote, "If the relationship we have with one another is only in formal settings, then we simply have a crowd and not a community."  We all need relationships because we need "someone" to fill in our cracks.

My son is growing and learning every day.  I'm so thankful for my church, for his school and for our family who fill in my cracks.  His teacher at school starts out the day with the Kindergarten Creed.

KINDERGARTEN CREED 

This is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Today, I will grow as Jesus grew, becoming strong in my spirit, in my mind and in my body.  God is working in me to act according to His good purpose.  I am made in His image.  I am a child of God because Jesus is my Lord.  God's love has been placed in my heart.  Everywhere I go, I plant seeds of love.  People are blessed because of my life.  I am bold, strong, able and very courageous.  I will do great works.  I fear not for God is with me.  I am thankful to God I live in America and I will always speak well of it.

While this is not all (there are 2 more sections to learn), they memorize this and recite it daily - and it is in his heart.  He is living this out and teaching me along the way.

Yesterday his devotional at school was about sharing God's love.  He wanted to do it that day!  He is bold in his faith.  There was music that neighbor kids are playing; the type of music with bad words and things we don't listen to.  He comes up with the idea of playing his music instead, outside, so they can hear God's love.  Driving home last night, he has his window down, praise music up, worshipping God.  He wants his friends to know God loves them.

His faith is simple, but that is how it should be.  Childlike faith.  I think we complicate it.

I think I complicate a lot of things lately.  Just watching my husband, how he takes time to simply explain his daily things to Jarrett, I learn a lot.  He is kind and gentle with our son.  He brings a sense of confidence and peace in our home when I rush in with a flurry.  He is a great example to me and I'm so blessed to have him as a husband and father to my son.

The Kindergarten Creed is now going to be my creed.  I need it in my heart just as much as he does.

...God's love has been placed in my heart.  Everywhere I go, I plant seeds of love.  People are blessed because of my life...

with love,
Mommy Tam-Tam

Art Appreciation 101: My Life, My Inspiration

There are two Georgia O’Keeffes. They’re closely related, but one is far more interesting than the other.

-Holland Cotter, New York Times, 2009 

Sometimes I feel the same way about myself - that part of me is far more interesting than the other.  I have always been interested in lots of things, educated in some, good in others, terrible in lots; but in all of it, having fun.  Tonight, the artist in me got to come out.

Together with my sister-in-law and friend, the three of us headed out on a new adventure of painting on canvas.  Rochelle, gifted in art; myself and Stacy, just beginners.  Tonight was our 1st experience (and definitely not our last) with Brushes and a Bottle.

Starting out with smiles and a blank canvas, we quickly transformed into our "other" self as we painted a masterpiece in white.   My comfort level that a masterpiece was a sure thing quickly altered as the process from white to color made my artsy-fartsy self a bit nervous.

Greens - that was comfortable, even fun.  Red...possibility is there....orange and yellow...I'm scared!

Black and blues...how is this all going to work.  Yes, I got out of my chair and stepped back to "appreciate" my art.  The water jar become my best friend many times during the evening.

Somehow, it all came together.  And the smiles never left our faces all night.  I loved the giggles from the older ladies behind us.  They reminded me that no matter my age, art is timeless and fun with my friends helps keeps me young.  Our instructor, Rachel, was amazing.  We really got to experience the fun in the art - not worrying about whose was better, closer to the real "Poppy, 1927".  It wasn't reproduction, it was inspiration.

 Many times, with the day-in, day-out, I forget that I need inspiration.  It helps me keep fun in my life.  Not worrying about bills, budgets, reconciling, making sure the lights are turned out, laundry, cooking, etc.  I need inspiration for me.

How many times have I caught myself this week alone, sounding tired and irritated, at nothing really.  Irritated to get shoes on, irritated to get ready for school, irritated to get ready for bed, rushed to go here, rushed to go there.  There is no joy in my voice, no appreciation for life, no inspiration for any "little" to want to be like me.  Maybe now, when I get ready in the morning, or actually take the time for a bubble bath, I will look up and remember to "appreciate" my art, my life, my loves.

The first thing I did when I got home was hang it.  It deserved to be hung - not for the quality of art I created, but for the quality of inspiration that was and is so desperately needed in my day-to-day.

"But O’Keeffe’s stake in it was not commercial or social or formal. Abstraction was simply the only kind of art, she said, that let her express her deepest feelings."

Maybe that is why art, writing, blogging, photography, cooking, the things I'm both good and terrible at all the same time, are my ways to express my deepest feelings.  Most you read here; a few are just for me.  

Until the next class.....

with love,

Mommy Tam-Tam