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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HUGE THANK YOU!

Posted on by Tammy

Greetings dear Bloggity Friends!

It’s Christmas Eve and I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas! I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas Day with all the people you love the mostest!  As for me, I will be spending Christmas Day with my two favorite people in the world, my hubby, Larry (aka Blog Fodder) and our daughter, Kristen.  And I cannot forgot the princess of the house, our 4-1/2 pound yorkie, Toto, who is Miss Attitude all the way!

As 2011 winds down, I have been reflecting on my time here on the blog.  I have had a blast sharing funny stories with all of you.  I have had fun introducing you to some of the sweet ladies I’ve met through my Writer’s Conference last summer.  And most importantly, I have truly enjoyed spending time with all of you.  I really have appreciated the feedback you have given me telling me I’ve made you smile or even at times, “Tickled You Pink”!  Those of you who have written to me have blessed me a bunch!  Thank you!

Before you think this may be a farewell letter, don’t fret, I am so looking forward to writing more in 2012 as well as hopefully hearing from more of you!  I love writing here and I love hearing from you, too.

My prayer for all of you as we head into the new year is this:

May you find joy every day.  May that joy bring you a smile.  And may that smile bring laughter to your heart then through your vocal cords as you crack up at what the day brings you!  Why?  Because then people just wonder what the heck you are up to!  Just ask me how I know!

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

Merry Christmas and Happy 2012 Everyone!
Tammy

It’s Drawing Day!!

Posted on by Tammy

Yes, it is!  It is Drawing Day, here at Tickled Pink Tammy.  I only had two comments this week about re-gifting, so I’m thinking that most of you wouldn’t comment because 1) you can’t stand the whole re-gifting idea or 2) you don’t want to give a way your secret!

I put the two names into the bowl to draw a winner!  And the winner is….

Well, the funny thing happened.  Both of your names kept coming out of the bowl!  Imagine that! I kept drawing and both names were there.  So I’d do it again – and both names again. Oh, it could be that I put both of your names on the same slip of paper! Silly me!

So if Janice and Kimberly will e-mail me with which $10 Gift card you prefer (or if you like surprises, give me three choices!) and your address you would like it sent to, I’ll get to it promptly!

Congratulations, you two!

READY FOR CHRISTMAS?

What’s happening with you?  Are you all ready for Christmas?  Can you imagine that it is just a week and a half away?  Is it just me, or did it get here really fast this year.  I mean, I remember picking up a few things throughout the year like I usually do, but then all of a sudden it seemed like I was running out of time to get done what I wanted to get done off my to get done list!

Therefore, today’s post is a tad bit shorter than my normal windy self as I’m heading off to get more Christmas things crossed off my list!  And since I am sure all of you are super busy as well,  I wanted a short but sweet note off to you all…

May you all have the opportunity to sit and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.  May you not get all tied up with “to do’s” that you miss out on the wonder of the season.

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and may you have a wonderful holiday with all your most favorite and deeply loved people all around you.  May your New Year be filled with health, happiness and just enough prosperity to keep the stress level at bay!

I also wanted to thank each and every one of you who have sent me e-mails, phoned me, subscribed to my blog, became a follower or left a comment here throughout this year.  I am approaching my one year anniversary of this blog and am blessed beyond belief from the amount of support and encouragement I have received from all of you.  I have set some big goals for the next year and I hope you’ll stick around to see what transpires!  Again, thank you from the bottom of my warmed heart for your support and encouragement!  You’re all the best!

I’ll be back soon with more funny stories to keep you smiling and some encouragement to keep your head above water!

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

Tammy

Something to Ponder from my Guest Today!

Posted on by Tammy
As we all prepare to gather around tables across America tomorrow, I want to stop and pray for each and everyone of you and tell you how thankful I am for you.  I am grateful for all of you who have become my followers and I have loved the responses you have sent to me privately or have commented on the bottom of blogposts.  Besides expressing my thankfulness for you, I pray that you will all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day surrounded by people you love.  I will be cooking for my family and guests at noon.  I will then cook again and take food to our three parents in the nursing home for dinner.  It will be a full day surrounded by family and friends.  

I will be back soon with some fun stories about Black Friday…last year and the ones to come starting midnight on Thursday.  Oh yeah! I’m going with our daughter again this year!
I’ll tell more later! But until then…

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

And now…please enjoy my blog visit from my sweet friend, Jessica, from Texas.  I met her at my conference this summer.  I just love this girl!  She is writing some cool apps for kids. Her first one is “The Sounds of the Night”. I love it!  She has another one coming out really soon.  I can’t wait!

So without further ado, here’s Jessica…



Home
By: Jessica Kirkland



The bright yellow leaves swirled around as I set my pace. My feet began to move swiftly. I was running for the first time in many years. I had been building up to this run, walking 3-5 miles a day in hopes of running just one solitary mile. Despite the wind in my hair and the beauty of fall, I felt the tingling of my abdomen.


Dead nerves and scars.

The result of a triplet pregnancy and multiple surgeries before and after. It’s funny to not feel a piece of you that you always thought you’d have. It’s an odd sensation to feel your nerves try to come alive, only to have them go silent again. I’ve learned that there are two types of hurting people in this life:

Those who are numb, but desperately want to feel again. Those men and women who long to be whole on this side of Heaven. And those whose pain is so great, they long for numbness. They chase it and drown it with destructive behaviors and desperate thoughts. Those who have lost hard, felt unimaginable pain, and pray to be swept away to Jesus. 

I had picked a marker, a starting line and a finish line. 

I reached my designated finish line, but it wasn’t the real one. It was simply the minimal distance I told myself I could go.  

So, I kept running.

The path ahead was steep, but beautiful. I have never been much of a runner. Always mile-relay, the one-lap kind of girl, but never the long-distance track star. Always the girl who got to hand the baton off to someone who could finish faster and stronger. Someone with more courage and perseverance. My breathing labored as I reached the pinnacle of the hill. Yet, I was still not home. 

Life is a gift. For it is God who “gives breath and life and all things” according to Acts 17:25. We cannot chase yesterday and still move forward to tomorrow. Through numbness and pain, we can still see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

I believe. I know that abundant life is within your grasp. It might be a steep climb, but keep going. Keep running to the pinnacle.

Two more sharp turns.

I prayed I could do it, despite the tingling and the lack of breath.

As the bright yellow leaves swirled around, I kept my pace. My feet moved slower, but I was still running. For the first time, in a very long time, my lips curled into a smile. 

I saw home. I saw the real finish line.

It stood cloaked in falling leaves and hovering trees. The driveway filled with a big blue suburban whose insides were cloaked in Kindergarten jackets, Happy meal wrappers, and car seats. 

My toes touched cement and I gave God glory; for breath and life and all things. 

I was home.



Bio:

Jessica Kirkland lives in Southeast Texas with her husband, Robb, and five-year-old triplets. She is the Founder of http://www.christianapps4kids.com, where she writes and creates interactive book apps that are Christ-centered. Jessica is an author and speaker whose greatest passion in life is to see young families grow deeper in their walk with God. When she isn’t writing, playing with her kids, or chasing her rebellious dog through the neighborhood, you can find her blogging on her personal blog Jessie’s House found at http://www.jessicakirkland.com. 









I hope you all enjoyed this blog visit.  Please check out her blog, listed above.  Also, for all my friends who are living Gluten-Free, you’ll want to read all about Jessica’s trials and triumphs on her Gluten experiences.

Blessings to you all!

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

Tammy