I have embarked on an incredible journey!     

 Two years ago, God carried me through one of the lowest valleys of my life. Through that valley He taught me what forgiveness truly was and that joy and contentment do not come through things that necessarily please me; but through accepting His will for my life and living in the blessings He has for me at the moment. Through this valley, I accepted the call to go back to school and pursue my education. I became a Religion major at Liberty University, as I felt called into ministry, thinking that I would work within a church or in the mission field.

     About the same time, a local school system began to call me to work as a substitute Paraprofessional with children who have special learning or behavioral needs. I found that I loved every day that I went to work. Through prayer, and words from others, I found that ministry is not always within a church or a mission field. I found my ministry was in the public school system. Our children our broken and starving for love and attention. They need love, attention, and a role model.....they need Jesus!! I have accepted the call to show them the love of Jesus. I changed my major from Religion to Special Needs Education ( I still am minoring in Biblical Studies, just because I love studying God's Word) and began a regular staff position, within the school system, on December 10. I will be busy, but I have a wonderful husband who supports me, and God will sustain me.....I have remained on the Dean's list throughout my education and busy life.

     It is my desire to share my experiences in order to encourage others to follow the call when God places it on them. I am also recording 1,000 gifts which the Lord bestows on me throughout the year. My son, Lucas, gave me Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts for my birthday in July. Because I usually only have time to read textbooks, I have not had the time to read this book. I resolved to read books during my Winter break which I was not required to read. I am glad that I decided to read this book. It has caused me to seek, even further, the things that God blesses me with, so that I can rest in His joy every day. I recommend that everyone accept Ann's Joy Dare!

     Lord willing, I will share my everyday joys and challenges, and how God is faithful in both.

God bless,
Tamara

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

     This week my daughter, Isabella, 's class has been studying Ireland in preparation for St. Patrick's Day. Each child had to create a leprechaun trap and set it up in the classroom for a science grade. Isabella got an "A" for her trap. Monday they will see if anyone's trap was successful in catching one of the little buggers. She has been coming home with new facts everyday on Ireland. "Mom you must be Irish because you like potatoes and people in Ireland like potatoes."

     The other night we were eating dinner and she asked us if she had any Irish ancestors. Well, just one look at me and you can tell that there is no doubt that there are plenty in my line. "My teacher says that a name like 'Smith' could mean that we are Irish." This comment caught me off guard, because Isabella is adopted from China. We forget that she is adopted. It just sounded so strange that this little Chinese girl was asking if she had any Irish ancestors. It was kind of startling to remember that my blood ancestors are not hers. My husband answered her, "Isabella, you're adopted so your ancestors are Chinese, but your mother has a lot of Irish in her family line." "Oh, I know I'm adopted, Dad, I guess that means that I am an adopted Irish person."

     I saw a St. Patrick's Day t-shirt at Target that read, "Irish for the day." Isabella's t-shirt should read, "Chosen to be Irish."

O.K., here we go!!!

My son has been on my case to advertise my creations on the web via a web site or such thing, but I am not the "Techie" that he is, so this my first step in my technological attempt. I have more of a mind for the creative and not so much for the technical. That creativity is what has brought me here. Since losing my job a year and a half ago, I have had to rely on that creativity to bring in extra cash. I had forgotten until then that I could decorate cakes and sew. I had been so caught up in raising kids, working and just plain surviving that my creative side had been buried. As word got out that I was decorating cakes and doing custom sewing, I have had busy spells and not so busy spells. My wish is that I could make more of a steady business and expand on some of my ideas. (Like pattern making!) Anyway, I am hoping this will be a vehicle in which to share some of both my cake creations and sewing creations with those of you who are interested. I have realized something in the past few months. God is faithful! God has sustained us during my job loss and Scott's lay off. (We're praying that he will be called back at the end of July.) God has certainly blessed me there. Lucas (my college son) is doing amazingly well. He received a permanent position at Malone University where he attends in the Info Tech center. His tuition will be paid after he is employed there a year. Lane (my 13-year-old) is blessed in athletics and did amazingly well in swimming this summer. He will begin running in a couple of weeks. Isabella (my 5-year-old adopted from China) is looking forward to our exchange student coming on August 8 from Taiwan. Her name is Monica and she is in a school for the Arts. I am hoping that I can tap into some of her talent and creativity. Interestingly enough, she works in a bakery! Well, i just got called in to work at the golf course. Gotta go!

Blessings, Tammy