What?  Following who’s prompting?  Glad you asked that question!

For a while now, I’ve been really wondering….”What do I want to be when I grow up?”  I’ve tried many things through the years and have enjoyed so many of them.  And then some of them, um – not so much!  However, no matter what I’ve done I’ve always seemed to have a journal and pen nearby scribbling anything from cool sayings I want to remember, to keeping track of my health numbers and everything in between!  Those of you who know me,  know—I love pens and markers!  I’m always finding new pens or markers to try out and of course it’s more than just a scribble on a piece of scratch paper!  I need to write something more than that!  I’ve got stuff to say for goodness sake!

After reaching “that” age almost two years ago now, I really started praying more—“Lord, what do you want me to do with my life, for you.”  I’ve shared with a few people close to me about this and little by little over the 2010 year, it became clear that it is time for me to go back to my writing.  That’s why I began my blog in January (that and the fact that the daughter said–“just do it”!)  My comments to my family was “Nobody will read it and nobody will like it”.  To those of you who are now following me both listed on my Followers log and those not yet signed up – I thank you!  I thank you for all your kind words and for coming back to see what I’m writing next!  Thank you, thank you!

I really want to delve into writing and know I need more direction.  I recently came across a terrific blog after reading a great book “Made to Crave” by Lysa TerKeurst.  Seeing she had a blog listed in the back of the book, I went to check out more about her.  Little did I know that it was for sure a Godincidence as I ran into more than just a blog about her.  Actually, I was checking out her blog while at the office. (I work for hubby who is a Licensed Massage Therapist and was surfing at work!  Nice to know the boss real well!)  What I found on Lysa’s blog almost made me scream!  I had to go to the back of the office and do a little happy dance so I wouldn’t disrupt the massage in session!

I found on her blog  (www.LysaTerKeurst.com) a link to something super special.  I found a link to a conference for speaking and writing!  WOOT WOOT!  I found a place to get some additional assistance in where to go from here.  The site for this is,  www.shespeaksconference.com I’m so excited and am making plans and getting my ducks in a row to be able to go in July to the conference in Charlotte, NC.

Why am I telling you all this?  I’m asking a favor!  I am entering a contest to win one of two scholarships to attend the conference.  I am asking for all of you to pray for me!  First, pray that I might win the scholarship.  But, if I don’t win, pray that the path would be made clear to be able to attend the conference.  For any of you that might be inclined to improve your speaking, writing or women’s leadership skills – pray that maybe you might want to go as well.  If this is something you might be thinking about–please click on the blogs listed above about this event.

Thanks again for all your encouragement!  I am truly grateful for your kind words.  Pray I win!

…and that’s all I have to say about that!

Tammy

I was asked recently by several people where do I get this stuff and how long does it take me to write up a blog post.  First of all – all around me is stuff that I view and somehow mentally record in my big fat head.  Not on purpose you see, but apparently it was noticed when I was younger by my family doctor that I remembered stuff well.   Dr. Karam did a little test on me in his office and then promptly told my Mom – “Yes, it’s like I suspected. Tammy here has what we call a photographic memory, so I would watch what you say or do as she will most likely remember it!”  I have so much in my head that my hubby always says when I have a headache (which is almost every day) – “You have a headache because you have so much in your head and it’s all going on at the same time!  You’re talking to me now, and I bet your brain is working on your To Do list and the conversation you had with somebody earlier–your brain just never stops!  And when your mouth is trying to keep up with your brain–geesh, I have no idea what you’re saying you’re talking way to fast for any human to understand.”  And as far as how long it takes me to write up a post – as fast as I can type it!  No drafts on paper – just from head to hands!  Kinda scary, right!  What if something pops into my head away from my computer, say in the car?  Remember that memory?  I’ll just pop a note with one or two words into my iPhone and I’m good to go.  When I get back to the computer I can just go at it.

However, there is someone near and dear to my heart who has mentioned now that I have hit a certain age that my memory may be starting to see some slipping!  I responded with, “Well, at this age as long as it’s just occasional slippage and not leakage – I’m good to go!”

The biggest part of this writing for me is to share how I try to view life’s little bumps in the road.  I have had many a major bumps and you might say—how can you find humor in that?  Oh friends, you can find humor in ANY event.  It all depends on how you want to view it.  Do you want to hold on to the pain and hurt or fear?  Or do you want to be able to deal with those same things find a little humor in them and be able to move on?  Please don’t get me wrong – there have been many times where I parked my butt right into a pit of despair and depression to deal with it all by myself.  To wallow and figure out mean spirited ways to get back at someone who’s wronged me, or to come up with a conversation to let someone have a little what for.  But I guess with age comes a sense of “why’d I let that bother me?” or “in the big picture of life, is this really all that bad?”  So, I have actually reverted back to the laughing clown I was up to my early 30’s!  Yes, I was the kid in class that usually got in trouble for giggling or better yet when I get everyone else giggling and THEY got in trouble—best day ever!  Yep, I can sit in church and the preacher will say a funny and I can’t stop the snickering to the point where loving hubby will give me the look!  (You know the one, you’ve given it to your kids!  Stop it before I beat the laugh right outta ya!)  I can usually get a laugh out of anything I do, once I step back and think about it more.  Here’s an example of a time that wasn’t really good for my riding companion – but hilarious to me……T – do you remember this?

Riding our bikes on a very busy road in Portage Lakes, we were traveling at a pretty high rate of speed going down a hill.  A huge garbage truck comes along and swerves toward us and lays on the horn thinking it was funny.  I hit the curb and it flipped me through the air and my bike went sailing another way.  My buddy was behind me, but flew past trying to control her bike as well.  When she finally slowed down and returned to where I was laying face down, she started calling my name.  I didn’t respond.  I was hurting pretty bad.  She was really scared and I could hear it in her voice.  She used her foot to sort of try to roll me over to see if I was dead!   I did what any one injured and scared bike rider would do – I rolled over and commenced into a huge belly laugh of hysterics at what I must have looked like flying through the air and what she must look like trying to see if I was dead without touching me!!!  What – was she afraid of “being biblically unclean for touching the dead”?!!  I’m pretty sure she wasn’t thinking – “I love you friend” at that moment!  If my memory serves me right, she called me a few names!  Well deserved I’m sure.

This is what I mean – ya really gotta look at stuff and find the humor in it.  I realize that some things are not funny, but there is always a reason to smile.  To be thankful for blessings.  To be grateful to God.  Maybe it won’t be at the moment you’re in it, but don’t stay there.  Stomp your foot down, hands on your hips and REFUSE to stay there.  Come out of the pain, hurt, fear or whatever and  SEEK laughter.  Look for brighter things.  Heck, if all fails – write to me and tell me the story–I’ll find something for you!  I’ll get you to laugh, really I will!

Back to the question of where do I get this stuff?  All around me, everyday!  I see it, mentally record it and keep it in my brain!  So, let this be a warning to you—you’d better be nice to me or you could end up in my blog!  Oh heck – you probably will end up in here anyway!

…and that’s all I have to say about that!

Tammy

Yeah, so there are so many directions I could go with this topic, but I will start with some thoughts on the whole potty event.  No, don’t click off and go somewhere else – stick with me – I’m not going into THAT kind of detail.  


Recently something happened to someone that had me totally crack up and I was even given permission to share here on my blog.  It went something like this….”Oh, and you can put this on your blog ’cause I know you probably will anyhow!”  Sounds like permission granted if you ask me.


There are actually two distinct potty issues that come to mind with this same person in fact.  One happened a couple of years ago at a local chain spaghetti restaurant.  This particular  restaurant is known for all the “stuff” hanging all over their walls, ceilings and obviously their bathroom walls as well.  To set the story, you need to know this friend is a male so that should tell you what “type” of toilet would be being used in this event.  A group of us were finishing dinner when this friend said he needed to use the restroom.  We finished up and I realized the person hadn’t returned, so figured he either made a longer stop or was waiting up front since we were all mostly done.  After a long while, we all made our way to the front, but I realized he wasn’t out yet, so we chatted and waited.  And waited.  Finally, I said to the others, “Do you suppose he went outside to wait?”  It was summer, so we thought maybe he was outside.  We all go out and sure enough he was in the car I was riding in.  Happy he was found we all proceeded to leave.  I got to the car and asked, “We thought you were coming back to the table – are you ok?”  He snickered and said, “Yeah, I’m ok.”  I said, “Well then why did you come out here?”  He snickered yet again and said, “You know all the stuff all over the walls? Well, they have all kinds of stuff to read in the bathroom while you’re standing there and I guess I got carried away reading, and I sort of missed!”  We then realized why he came out to the car and after a moment of respectful silence, the car burst into hysterics!  Couldn’t help ourselves.  Just saying.


So this same poor friend had a restaurant/bathroom visit again recently that brought me into uncontrollable laughter that got me to thinking.  First let me tell you about “the event”! (Laughing just remembering it!)  We were at a chicken sandwich place.  I am not finished, but he is.  He excuses himself and heads to the restroom.   A few minutes later he comes to the table chuckling to himself.  “You’ll like this, ” he says.  “Oh, and you can put this on your blog ’cause I know you probably will anyhow!”  Well, ya fool – why did you commence to tell me the story!  You KNOW I’m always up for a good laugh and since the blog is about that – you are giving me great material just with your potty adventures. Hmmm, could that be an entire book…..oh – back to the story at hand.


He has always made fun of me complaining about having to “sit down” at public places, and some are really gross.  I’m thinking – HA – LIKE YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT STANDING THERE!!  Anyway – off track again! So he begins to chuckle as he explains the adventure…


“So, I go into the only stall (men usually only get one?-who knew!) and I see the holder for the toilet seat cover and decide to use it.”  He HAS listened a little to my cootie stories!  “Since I don’t do this very often, I didn’t realize that when you carefully unfold the cover, then lay it down, undo your pants, turn around and go to sit down that the toilet has interpreted that movement in front of the sensor as –Ok, we’re done, now flush!”   “So, as I’m sitting down, it flushes and takes my cover down with it!  So, do I jump back up and get another one and put it down?  Meanwhile my pants would be at my ankles and be on the ground (no song here please) picking up more germs according to your many stories, Tammy!”


Well, I never did get the rest of the story as to how the actual story ended – go without or start over – because I’m picturing the same thing happening to me oh way too many times!  Anybody getting a picture here?  Anyone have this happen to them?  Anybody have to put down more than one seat cover and if so – how many?  Oh boy!


Therefore, this brings up some thoughts for today.  There are those out there that never use any seat covering-they feel others are germafobes, the ones that hover (my Mom was THE great hoverer!)-if you never actually touch the porcelain goddess it won’t count as getting germs, and those that use the cover if provided or toilet paper all around the seat-they are not taking any chances on possible germs.  Such dilemma just to go potty!




…and that’s all I have to say about that!


Tammy