My One Word 2013

For three years, I have participated in the My One Word Challenge, much to my own benefit.  PLEASE consider accepting the challenge of your own word...just try it.

My Words:

• Year 1:  Peace...so important during a year when I seemed to experience so much conflict and trouble, at work and during the loss of my mom.
• Year 2:  Quiet...the quiet during and after the storm.  The quiet I enjoyed also when I deliberately held my tongue.  Very powerful that not speaking is!  I also enjoyed more quiet time for me.  A really good thing.
• Year 3:  Fit...mentally, emotionally, physically.  All better in some ways...and in some, I still need to focus.  Hint...going to for a walk today!

My One Word 2014:  Smile

Why the word smile?  This may seem like a strange answer, but here goes...

When I was in college during my senior year, I was selected Miss Arkansas College.  What was amazing about that time to me remains that I was a "good" girl, one who, because of religious preferences, always wore dress, had long hair, and wore no make-up, yet I was chosen.  Why?  As I have looked back on that time, I think really do think I achieved that honor because I smiled and spoke to everyone.  I was just a friendly person.

Am I not now?

Yes and no.  This thing called adulthood causes us to change:  we have more responsibilities, we know who we are (if you don't like it, then that is your problem...ever heard that one?), we tend to like who we are, we more more self-dependent.  

As the year-end nears, I have begun pondering on my next word, and this memory keeps flashing to the forefront.  That and also because I do not think I am perceived as I once was.  Just last week, I was described as "prim and proper," although how I was in college probably fits into that category also!  I want my students to see me as happy.  I want to smile more.

I also want to smile more emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Consider this:

Proverbs 15:13  A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:30  A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. (NIV)

A cheerful face!  A joyful heart!  Healthy bones!  Yes, this is for I!  I'll take it!

Was and Am...Thankful

I participated in the 30 Days of Thankfulness on Facebook...and have decided to merge all those posts in one place...here!  I would like to comment...I read one comment that a lady posted about this, stating she just did not know where to begin...and that she was thankful most for her Salvation (as if, nothing can top that...well, she is right about that!).  Not sure why this troubled me, but it did.  Was this comment just an excuse to not comment...for this did require some focus...?  Surely her comment was meant to ridicule?

The Lord loves a joyful heart!  AND I hope that my comments brought some joy to some, for they certainly eased comfort, peace, contentment into my heart.  What this 30+ days did for me...was to place a daily emphasis on where my heart should be every day.  Every day.

As you read, you will read not one reference to my Salvation, but I would hope that by the time you read all these thankful comments you realize that I through this you shall know me...and that I am saved.

November 1
Day 1: TGIF!  Enjoy your weekend!

November 2
Day 2: Thankful for pumpkin spice coffee, a daughter who is involved in extracurricular and has be to back at school by 8:30 on a Saturday morning, a husband who likes to shoot (and will win the Zombie Match later today), Pioneers who just keep on winning, social events at church (looking forward to some excellent chili and soup!), those, oh, so beautiful trees outside, and nice cool mornings...which brings me back to my pumpkin spice coffee that I should finish so I can thankfully accomplish all of the above!

Day 2...Take 2: Just remembered time "falls" back tonight! Yay!

November 3
Day 3: Thankful for Bible studies...our Sunday School's study of the Book of John (learning so much with my awesome Class of Charis...charis means grace!) and Discipleship Training's study of October Baby (movie was sooooo good...great onefor youth to watch!)...just completed Experiencing God (wonderful, awesome study!), and will soon begin this one...doesn't it look good?! This will also be our December Sunday evening focus...

What study are you doing?

http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/the-women-of-christmas/

November 4
Day 4: Thankful for The Hubby who cooks dinner on days that he is off! He's a keeper! 

November 5
Day 5...thankful for siblings who "accent" and "scent" my life!!

5, part 2...I asked four people to help in some way while I am at a workshop. They all immediately responded, "Yes" or "What may I do for you?" Thankful for my peers!!

Day 5, part 3...thankful for my Prayer Army who immediately responds to my texts or in person says "Let's pray now"...as they did today. Now we are going to experience God!

November 6
Day 6...thankful for students (especially one in particular) who say (in front of me) when sharing his poetry with a guest in our class..."That metaphor...I learned to do that in her class." That just melted my heart!

November 7
Day 7 - So very thankful for these young men in blue!! — with John Gillmore and Holly Gillmore.

November 8
Day 8 - Thankful for a granddaughter who loves Minnie Mouse! Love you, Brennan! Will put this in the mail with your new MM hat when I get it!

November 9
Thankful for a doctor and nurses who have a Saturday clinic. Mary Jane Morrison-Vinson...you are awesome!

November 10
Day 10 - Thankful for those with whom I make music at church: Gale Weaver,Zelpha Bates, Steve Moody, and Jarrod Shirley. Why? They all play and sing from the bottoms of their hearts in service to our Lord!

November 11
Day 11 - Thankful to be in a family of veterans! Thank you, John Gillmore, J.d. Gillmore, Chris Gillmore, and Ken Moore!

Thank you to all have served!!

November 12
Day 12 (as in yesterday!) - Thankful for days with peers that are so busy that I had no time to get on Facebook! Yay, me!

November 13
Day 13 - Thankful for students who complete their work on time...I may take them for granted too much! Yay, them!

November 14
Day 14 - Thankful for airplane pilots that "drive" those planes and tires that help soften the landings...AND I love Arkansas!

November 15
Day 15 - Thankful for leftovers in the freezer! Yum!

November 16
Day 16 - Thankful for my Sunday School class...we call ourselves the The Class of Charis (which means "grace," which I learned when I attended the Beth Moore Simulcast at Mary N Bruce Qualls' church...thank you!)...isn't that cool? AND they are cool also...Jarrod and Sacha Shirley, Crystal Gale Slaughter Turney (we will miss your hubby!), Kristi Morgan, Tiffany Small, and I are going to visit our former pastor and his wife in Little Rock. May we have "showers" of blessing all day long!

November 17
Day 17 - Thankful for a Christian dad...now two decades in Heaven...who every Sunday morning, without fail, always told me how nice I looked before leaving for church. 

Shhhhh...he also told me I was his favorite daughter...named Tammy. Please don't tell Judy Hester and Janet Friel Moore but sometimes I left off (maybe still do?!) those those last two words! Sneaky me!

November 18
Day 18 - Thankful for students who say (after my missing a few days of school), "Mrs. Gillmore, I am soooooo glad your back." Ahhhhhh.....

Let me tell you, brown-nosing will get one everywhere! (Fortunately, this age group no longer knows the term brown-nosing! Ask one of them...it's true!)

November 19
Day 19 - Happy anniversary to my man! Soooooo thankful God blessed me with John Gillmore! Nine years of wonderful...and love...and happiness!

Day 19, Part 2 - Thankful for sisters who travel just to eat dinner with me (well, and Holly... Thanks, Judy Hester (also a great way to belatedly celebrate a birthday!) and Janet Friel Moore!

BTW..Joe Friel, don't worry we thought about you...talked about YOU, of course!
Day 19, Part 3 - Thankful for ATT who keeps all your data safe when your phone gets stolen...in this disappointing time, that is the light at the end of this tunnel!

I encourage you to put a password on your phone, download the tracking app, back up to iCloud...and whatever else I am going to learn to do when I get another phone! 

November 20
Day 20 - Thankful for people who love their jobs...especially our resource officer and vice principal. They are quite the team in action! Because of them, I have my phone back....and because of some prayers going up! Thank you!!

November 21
Day 21 - Thankful for awesome Lyon College students who did an outstanding job assisting in our presentation of wikis at the Arkansas Literacy Conference today! Thank you, Rachel, Drew, and JimBob! Proud of you! One more presentation in the morning! Won't this look grand on their resumes?!

November 22
Day 22 - Thankful for groups and authors who promote reading in our state...great job Arkansas Reading Association and Mark A. Rorie and Ashley Shaver Rorie!!

Great time spent with peers Carla Green James, Kim Robinson, Lindley Barnett,Danielle Rowell, Lisa Huff, Codi Ribitzki, and Julie Reardon!

November 23
Day 23 - Thankful for 1) the yellow stickers on meat at Wal-Mart that inspired me to cook a yummy-smelling stew...just finished cooking, 2) Turkey Shoots in which the hubby (who has a huge heart) felt compelled to support to assist families with cancer, for which he received a free ham (yes, shooting 32 out 33 from prone position with iron sites is good!), 3) tickets to see the Nutcracker this evening...tickets that a friend of Holly's gave her...yay!, 4) a house that I have time to clean in preparation of The Family sharing their Thanksgiving with us...and, well...because it needs it, and 5) Pioneers who keep winning so that I will have time to read Football for Dummies before the season ends (thanks, Zach, for the recommendation...and, no, of course, I did not take that personally!)...congrats!

November 24
Day 24 - Thankful for all the great cooks at church...yummy potluck today! Special thanks to the ladies to set up while the rest of us enjoy Sunday School and "Big Church"...Brenda Speakman, Carlene Jenkins, Wanda Yopp, and Debbie Yopp...you are all a tremendous blessing!

November 25
Day 25 - Thankful for inspiration to create tablescapes...from our preacher Bro. Kenny Crafton and his Thanksgiving message this past Sunday. AND for sisters who share...can you spot your donation towards this table?! AND for the time to "play"! AND for family traveling to spend time at Gillmore Farm...  AND to BSD for giving us Wednesday off as part of our Thanksgiving Break!

November 26
Day 26 - Belated thanks for my comfy chair...from which I would not move last night to post this!

November 27
Day 27 - Thankful that I did not listen to my sister Janet Friel Moore and made some desserts for tomorrow's lunch...because now we are going to taste-test...just to make sure it will be okay to serve to the fam!

November 28
Day 28 - Thankful for the family that could spend their day with me and mine...and for those who wanted to be here and could not. AND two of those in attendance had birthdays today! So glad I could cook a birthday lunch just for you...Happy Birthday, Leah and Ken!!

Then, we spent the evening with the Gillmore's...more food and laughs...

Special times with family...love them all dearly!

November 29
Day 29 - Thankful for the inspiration this bookstore gives me! I keep hoping to make their monthly book club meetings...maybe, just maybe this time?...so just in case, I purchased this book...then another by this author. Wow...you should check out this book! We are getting a jar ready!

November 30
Day 30 - Thankful for the elves that showed up and helped decorate Sulphur Rock Baptist Church yesterday (yes, this is a day late!)...Mrs. Lillie Mae, Mrs. Carlene, Mrs. Betty, and my Holly Gillmore...what a team! They kept me moving! An inspiration! Please thank them today!!

Thankful for niece Natalie...who turned 8, who loves my deviled eggs, and who is going to remind her mom to remind me about her Christmas play!

Thankful for my Christmas tree...it took on a life of its own and invited the whole family to work on it because it refused to stand by itself at one point...timber!!...right on to me...who was lying under it trying to stabilize it! (NOTE to former and current students...this is NOT a model sentence, as we would never, ever use this many "it/its" in one sentence. Right?!)

Finally, thankful that on most days in November you had a list of items to read...I am just truly blessed in all areas of my life! Now, to copy/paste all these onto my blog to preserve them in one spot!

December 1
Day 31 - Thankful that I am still thankful when November is over! So here goes...

Thankful for the dancer in the family, and you may wave at her during the Batesville Christmas Parade tomorrow evening! Have fun, Holly Gillmore!

Thankful for five very busy days off from school, and now thankful for technology that I use to create online lesson plans, so Pioneers get ready to write right, so I may travel and watch the Pioneers in action on Saturday! Not sure who all I will cheer on...football players, of course...cheerleaders? Prancers? Band? Hope so!!

Why I Read...or Don't

I have always considered myself an avid reader.  Avid.  Addicted. Until this year.

Pondering on this, I realize that this change is a result of my reading more Biblically-based books, thus, changing my genre of choice.  I have several other genres sitting...waiting...for me to read them, but I just do not have the same desires I once had.

Thus, my recent focus has been on either school/academic related topics or on a Christian focus.  For example, I just completed Christmas Jars (please read!) and am involved in a study of Liz Curtis Higgs' The Women of Christmas.  So wonderful. Let me share a few links in which you might be interested...

• Liz Curtis Higgs' website and Week 1 of the book study and her Facebook page
• Bible Cafe for Women...they, too, are hosting this study

Thinking you do not have enough time to catch up?  Then, just purchase the book (I saw it the other day at a local bookstore...you can find yourself a copy!)...and just begin reading.  You might want to have a pen, highlighter...or some favorite marking device handy, for you will find yourself saying, "Oh, that is good!  I want to remember that!"

This holy season is about making room for Jesus.

Welcoming him into our homes, our families, our lives.

Flinging open the door to our hearts.

Liz Curtis Higgs

For my Sunday evening Discipleship Class, I am using this study.  I have deviated a bit, for I only have three Sundays to cover the info.  Last Sunday, we met Zechariah, Elizabeth, Gabriel, and Mary...and got just to the point where Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost...had hoped to end on Mary's song, but time did not allow, or better yet, that is exactly where God wanted us to arrive.

I was so pleased with the attendance and participation and the sweet, sweet spirit that was there.  His presence is just sooooo peaceful, isn't it?  We have a committee meeting during this time, and I was concerned about attendance.  I really should just quit the worrying part, for when God's Will intervenes, he just takes care of preparing the hearts of the people, doesn't He?

I am also using the movie Liz Curtis Higgs recommended...The Nativity Story.  I had not seen this version (sooooo good!) and am just showing the scenes that go along with the book study.

Following the study, a man in attendance approached me and asked if he might run the PowerPoint and videos for me.  Yes!  That meant so much to me.  I love the people in my class, and I do not think I would hurt any of their feelings by stating that none of them are tech savvy!  So his asking was definitely a blessing.

One of the ladies just had to chat,  "Tammy, this is so good."  Here's the testimony:  her vertigo was acting up so badly that she just came for the class.  The result:  God was faithful and spoke to her throughout the study.  He just does good things like that for us...always mindful of our needs...and wants.  

From this study, I have written a draft of a Christmas program/cantata.  Just wish I had begun earlier, for now we have had wintery weather, and should we not have church, I am not certain if I/we can pull this program together.  We'll see...the Lord can work out amazing situations.  Just waiting for His Will.

So, yes...while I may read less, I am reading more of what God wants me reading.  That, my friend, is a win-win situation.

Blessings!