This is a blog for those who are interested in many things. Music, teaching, family, Jesus, Disney, Books, Tea, Interior Design, Party Planning, Theater, Cooking, Baking, Vacation Planning, Life, Wisdom, Advice, Just about everything, etc.
Author: Tansy
I am a music teacher on sabatical and currently working with my husband in our glass business. I love Jesus and my husband. I love decorating and planning....no specific order. My dream job would probably be interior designer & decorator/party planner/wedding planner/travel planner. I have never grown up, and I never plan to. I will always be a child trapped in an adult's body.
This past summer has felt like a tapestry woven with music, milestones, and memories I’ll hold close for a lifetime. Looking back, June and July were filled with moments so rich that even now I find myself smiling as I think of them.
A Night with Andrea Bocelli
In June, I had the privilege of seeing Andrea Bocelli in concert in New Orleans. This has been a lifelong dream that I honestly never thought would happen. Sitting there in the warm glow of the stage lights, I was reminded that music has a way of stirring the deepest places in our hears. His voice filled the room with both power and tenderness–and I found myself swept away not just by the songs, but by the beauty of the shared experience with everyone in that audience. It was a reminder that life is meant to be savored in moments of awe.
A New Chapter: Buying a House
July ushered in an entirely different kind of joy — we bought a new house! The process began on my birthday (May 19, 2025) when we saw our house for the first time. We knew this was the house for us…..this was the house God had for us. We put an offer in on June 14th (right before Ben’s birthday June 16th) and closed on July 11th. The process was both exciting and nerve-wracking, but God had His hand in it every step of the way. There is nothing like the feeling of holding those keys for the first time. This house represents not just a place to live, but a space to grow, dream, and create new beginnings…a place where we can hold our weekly life group and not have to sit on top of each other. Each room already feels like it’s whispering with possibilities – dinners with friends and family, quiet mornings with the Word and a cup of coffee, laughter echoing through the walls. (I will go into further detail in a later blog about just how miraculous our house journey actually was.) We will have been in our house for two months this September 12th, and already we have had a full house on several Friday nights. We’ve had our first women’s study luncheon, and we look forward to all the ways God will use this house to build His Kingdom.
Sister Adventures in the Smoky Mountains
As if buying a new house weren’t enough, July was also the month my sister and I packed up for a getaway to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Ben and I closed on our house on July 11th, we started moving our things on July 12th, and then I left for my sister trip on July 13th. (I won’t deny that I was ecstatic I did not have to do most of the moving–our trip was planned in November, long before we were nudged to start house hunting.) This was our first sister trip, and we laughed until our sides hurt, wandered through charming shops, had our adventured at Dollywood, and soaked in the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. One of the highlights was staying at the Inn at Christmas Place – a hotel that feels like stepping straight into the Christmas season no matter the time of year. From the twinkling lights to the festive warmth, it was the perfect backdrop for sisterly bonding. I can only thank God for the restoration of our relationship and the opportunity to go on our first sister trip.
A Season of Gratitude
When I think of this summer, what stands out isn’t just the events themselves, but the way they stitched together to form a season of gratitude. Music that stirred my soul, a house that grounds us in a new chapter, and a sisterhood that filled my heart — all reminders that life, with its ups and downs, also brings season overflowing with joy when Jesus is the center of it all.
There’s something about a sister road trip that hits different—part chaos (in the good sense), part therapy, and all heart. This summer, my sister and I set off on a five-day adventure to the Smoky Mountains, just the two of us, with snacks in the back seat and Christian music on the radio with a little mix of Bluegrass here and there. We packed memories into every moment—from long drives and belly laughs to holiday magic and mountain views. Here’s how it all went down:
Monday: The Journey Begins
We hit the road early, coffee in hand and playlists ready. Eleven hours of driving may sound grueling, but for us, it was a rolling catch-up session—stories, life updates, playing the yellow game (something my husband made up and we play on all our trips), and pit stops for gas station snacks because no road trip is complete without candy, cracklins, and coffee. By the time we rolled into Pigeon Forge, we were tired but giddy because we finally made it. Eleven hours turned into twelve due to horrific traffic, but it wasn’t stopping us from having fun. We didn’t have a strict schedule, just a schedule of fun. We checked in to The Ramsey Hotel for a single night, ate dinner at a nearby restaurant, and slept like bears hibernating for winter because we were so tired from the drive.
Tuesday: Old-Fashioned Charm & Feudin’ Fun
After a cozy night under twinkling lights, we kicked off the day with a visit to The Old Mill. The smell of fresh bread, the sound of water turning the giant millwheel, and the sight of folks just enjoying the simple things felt like stepping back in time. We strolled through shops, sampled fudge, and bought a few handmade goodies to take home. One cannot go to The Old Mill General Store and not walk out with a sack of some kind of mix. I walked out with unbleached flour, blueberry pancake mix, and yellow grits. Of course, I could not pass on a mason jar of apple butter.
Then we popped into The Incredible Christmas Place, a wonderland of ornaments, lights, and more Santas than we could count. Every trip to Pigeon Forge consists of a visit to this store, and every trip I peruse everything on the first round then return for a second round to purchase any items I just could not leave without. That practice gives me time to really think about any items that peaked my interest and if I really want it or not. This time, I walked out with nothing. Perhaps it was because I knew I was coming home to a new home that needed to be unpacked, or I maybe I was just unsure of how I was going to decorate this new home for Christmas. Nonetheless, this was my first trip to The Incredible Christmas Place that I came home with nothing more than the Christmas-opoly game my sister bought for me.
Later that afternoon, we embraced full tourist mode at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud—fried chicken, pulled pork, cornbread, and a whole lot of hootin’ and hollerin’. We laughed harder than we had in weeks. The show was pure Appalachian chaos in the best way.
After our bellies were full and hurting from both the food and the laughs, we checked in to what was to be our home base for the rest of the trip – the charming Inn at Christmas Place where it’s always December, and the halls are decked 365 days a year. Before turning in for the night, we toured the entire hotel taking in all of the different decorations in every corner on every floor. Such a night full of Christmas cheer and decorations galore. We went to sleep while visions of sugar-plums danced in our heads.
Wednesday: Dollywood Dreams
Dollywood day arrived, and we were ready. Rides? Check, but no thank you. Cinnamon bread? Double check. We soaked in the charm of Dolly Parton’s world, from the country music playing on every corner to the kindness of everyone we met. The vibe was festive and fun, and we even took the train ride through Dollywood where we managed to get sprinkled from the soot of the steam train and then drenched from the down pour during the ride. Even though we were soaked and sooty, we laughed and decided the best remedy would be a yummy funnel cake. Funnel cake is the cure for anything.
Our feet were sore by the end, but our spirits? Sky high. We returned to our Christmas themed hotel, played a few games of Phase 10, and making frequent trips to the lobby to fill up on the Christmas coffee. It was a great day.
Thursday: Gatlinburg Explorations
We spent our final full day in Gatlinburg, eating sweet potato pancakes at the Pancake Pantry, taste testing olive oils, smelling different types of teas, wandering along the Parkway, popping into boutiques, and visiting every candy store we possibly could find in search of “pickle” flavored gummies. Don’t knock it till you try it. The views of the Smokies were breathtaking.
We ended the day with a late lunch at the Jason Aldean restaurant looking over everyone walking along the parkway. We returned to our Christmas room to play more games of phase 10 and drink more Christmas coffee. It felt like the perfect wrap-up to a perfect week.
Friday: The Long Ride Home
Another eleven-hour drive, but this one felt quieter—less about catching up, more about soaking it all in. We were tired, sure, but happy. That kind of deep, content, my-heart-needed-this kind of happy.
Looking Back
This wasn’t just a vacation. It was a reset. A reconnection. A reminder that no matter how busy life gets, making space for each other matters. We laughed until we cried, took photos, and made memories that will live long past any social media posts.
So here’s to sisterhood, road snacks, Christmas in July, and smoky mountain sunsets. Until the next adventure… ❤️
For years, I knew about Jesus. I could quote scriptures, sing the songs, attend the services, and even say all the right prayers. But I was missing something deeply personal — something I didn’t even realize I was created for.
I was missing intimacy with Him.
Not the kind that’s spoken of in lofty theological terms or tucked neatly into devotionals, but the raw, honest, sometimes messy kind of intimacy that transforms you from the inside out. The kind where Jesus isn’t just Lord and Savior — He becomes your friend, your confidant, your heart’s closest companion.
The Awakening
It didn’t happen overnight. Honestly, it began in a season of brokenness. I had reached the end of myself — worn out, spiritually dry, and emotionally numb. Religion didn’t work anymore. Performing didn’t heal. And pretending didn’t fool God, or even me.
So I got real. I sat in silence. I told Jesus I didn’t know how to connect with Him but I wanted to. I wanted to know Him, not just know about Him.
And in that quiet space, He met me.
Not with lightning or fireworks — but with a gentle, undeniable presence. It was like my heart exhaled for the first time.
What Intimacy Looks Like
Intimacy with Jesus isn’t always mountaintop moments. Sometimes, it’s letting Him sit with you in the valley. It’s being honest when you don’t feel like praying. It’s worshiping when your heart is heavy. It’s trusting that He’s not looking for perfect words or polished faith — He just wants you.
Now, I talk to Him like I would a best friend. I ask Him what He thinks. I tell Him when I’m mad, or confused, or when I just don’t understand. I listen — not always with ears, but with my spirit. And I’ve learned to recognize His voice — tender, loving, never condemning.
Intimacy also looks like obedience. Because the more you love Him, the more you want to follow Him. Not out of duty, but because you’ve tasted something real — and nothing else satisfies.
The Ongoing Journey
There are still days I drift. Days I forget. Days I substitute routine for relationship. But Jesus never pulls away. He’s steady. He’s patient. He always calls me back — not with guilt, but with grace.
And now I know: I was made for this. We all were.
To walk closely with the One who created us. To be known deeply and loved completely. To sit at His feet and simply be.
Final Thoughts
If you’re longing for more — more than church attendance, more than spiritual checklists — know this: Jesus longs for you, too. Intimacy with Him isn’t reserved for the spiritual elite. It’s for the weary, the curious, the brokenhearted, the hungry. It’s for you.
Start by being honest. Start by being still. Whisper His name, and let your heart open.
He’s already near.
(Click the link for one of my favorite Bible’s on my journey towards a greater intimacy with Jesus Christ. https://amzn.to/4eGOk07 )
I have come to realize why I don’t always keep up with this blog. It’s not always about not having time, sometimes it is just because I run out of things to write about! I don’t know what that really says about me if I’m being perfectly honest. I know I’m not boring, nor does my life have an ounce of boredom to it. It just doesn’t seem like I always have words of wisdom every week. There is the occasional conversation that may take place, and then there it is in the midst of it—a priceless nugget that I could share. Unfortunately, I am noticing that I can forget those priceless nuggets as quickly as they escape my mouth. Thankfully, my most recent “deep” conversation contained a priceless nugget I simply could not forget.
While Forrest Gump’s mother was absolutely right, “Life is like a box of chocolates”—life is also like a puzzle. We can dump all the pieces out of the box, but every individual piece fits into another individual piece…..there are no other options aside from the two pieces that were made to fit each other.
I was thinking back to my own puzzle I call life. I can’t even begin to count the times that I became impatient and forced pieces together thinking that I could make it work. In the end, my picture was all distorted and confusing—I couldn’t make it out. It definitely didn’t look like the picture on the box, but how could that be?
Year after year, I forced pieces together that were never meant to be together. Impatience grew stronger, and my picture became worse. We look at life and think that we can put all of the pieces together ourselves, but we just make a huge mess of things. Like the picture on the box of the puzzle, we have a guide to our life puzzle….your Heavenly Father. He sees the bigger picture while we only see pieces. He knows how those pieces fit together, but because of our impatience and sometimes our own stupidity—we try to do it ourselves and fail every single time. When we finally give in and allow God to put together piece by piece, we can then see why certain relationships and situations did not work out. I know, in my case, I forced relationships that were never meant to be only because I thought I knew better than God did. No wonder they were nothing but chaos and unhappiness. If I had only allowed God to either block them or bless them without any arguments from me. Here I was forcing those pieces together because I didn’t see the bigger picture. I thank God everyday that He didn’t reciprocate the impatience I had towards Him.
He is a good Father and knows what is best for us. So before we go forcing those pieces together, we have to truly open our hearts to what He is telling us. Sometimes that means we have to walk away from the chaos and confusion no matter how badly we may want to stay because our flesh is weak. Trust Him in ALL matters….He will guide you down the right path and put together the most beautiful picture.
It is unbelievable as I type that statement! “I am going to be 50 years old!”
Not that I ever watched Saturday Night Live growing up, but I believe everyone has seen the Sally O’Malley skit at some point in their lives. As I look at that number—50—I can hear her voice distinctly. “I can kick, stretch, and kick because I’m 50!” Well, I am 50 in about 3 months.
I look back at the “nearly” 50 years of my life in awe, amazement, and gratitude. It is amazing to believe that I have been alive for 1/2 a century!!!!! While I don’t feel like I’m about to turn 50….the history of my life tells me otherwise. I had so many plans!
One thing that being a Christian has taught me is that we can make all the plans we want, but God’s plan and purpose will prevail.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have dreamed that I would have the life I have today. If all of my plans had turned out the way I planned, I would be a concert pianist traveling the world performing. I doubt I would have had a marriage because there would not have been time for one, and I definitely would not have time for children or anything else for that matter. I doubt I would have found myself living in Slidell, La being married to the most amazing man I have ever been blessed to meet and living the best life I could have ever imagined or prayed for.
If you have read my previous blog “Do I Have To?” , you would know that we don’t live in a large house. We don’t even own our house…we are still renters, but our home is 957 square feet, and we love every inch of it. Every Friday, we can have anywhere from 6-18 people at our church Life Group. (Don’t ask me how we manage to feed and seat that many people in our limited space, but it works out perfectly.) We don’t have luxurious vehicles, and often times we may go without a paycheck even though we are business owners. Nonetheless, this is the best life I could have ever prayed for. My husband and I are best friends, and we never argue! Rest assuredly, we don’t agree on everything, but we do not argue about those disagreements. He calls me out when I am acting like a moron, and I make sure that I do the same for him. Still, we do that for each other without arguing. I have heard so much disbelief when we tell people that. Some think that we are not telling the whole truth, but I am sure if you are around us long enough—you will understand completely. I work with my husband on a daily basis, we are on the worship team together, and we just enjoy being around each other as much as time permits. There is an unexplainable difference in your marriage when Jesus is at the center of it all. The closer you get to Jesus individually, the closer you and your spouse become. We have our individual quiet time with Jesus, but we also have time together with Jesus—outside of church activities. HE is the most important aspect of our relationship. One of the key things, is that we have learned what not to do based on all our past relationship mistakes, and we have learned how to talk to each other. One of the best things to do as a couple is go through this course “Love & Respect” by Emerson Eggerichs.
While this was not supposed to be about “How to Have a Successful Marriage” or how great my life is, I feel that I was supposed to share that for someone(s). There is hope! Life doesn’t have to be as bad as you think it is. Allow Him to make beauty from ashes.
So back to it….
You see, even amidst all of the ridiculous choices and mistakes I have ever made or ever could make, God was preparing me for this exact moment. I could sit here and contemplate on all the regret and ridicule myself for not staying on the path God had laid out for me, but He knew every single detour I would take. Sure, I could have been on His path A LOT sooner, but the lessons I have learned throughout it all has prepared me for what I am going through right now. There was overwhelming opportunities for me to choose the right path, but He already prepared the next strategy knowing I was going to make wrong decisions over and over again. He administered the same tests over and over until it was time for me to make the decision to pass them.
Have I arrived? Definitely not! I have quite a journey to go, but each and every day I am doing everything I can to follow the path He has for me.
My biggest problem, in my early adult years, was that I have always been impatient. I wanted all the things NOW. I was never one for waiting on the good stuff to happen, so I always did what I thought I was supposed to do—I would make it happen in my own strength, or at least try. I was your regular Veruca Salt…A VERY BAD EGG!
Don’t think for a minute, that I was raised that way. I was taught that if you wanted something, it took a lot of dedication and hard work. I was taught that it would take time and perseverance if you wanted to win the race. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon, but I also didn’t lack for anything. Most of my life, I was brought up in church. I knew the principals of what God wanted, but I didn’t understand the walk nor the relationship. This attitude of impatience was of my own doing and of my own demise.
Throughout my early adult life, aside from impatience, I developed several negative traits. While I could go through all of them, I doubt you want to read a novel at this point. I am going to focus on one of the biggest negative traits (which seems to be a common one amongst the masses)….drama!
I was the type of person that thrived on drama. If I didn’t have it in my life….it felt like I was missing something. I don’t know exactly when this “need” developed, and I am not blaming anyone for it either…it was just a trait I developed. When I graduated high school, cell phones weren’t the popular thing nor social media. We didn’t even have dial up nor the internet because it just wasn’t the popular thing—at least not in my circles. Keep in mind, I am about to turn 50! Nonetheless, drama became a leading lady in my life. No matter where I turned she was there, and when she wasn’t—I searched for her. It was there throughout my first try at my college career, during my break from my college career, after I returned to college my college career for the second time, during any relationship I had, during my first two marriages, and all the things in between. I never realized how draining it really was and the type of person it made me out to be.
I had to be at center stage every possible moment. I had to be the one that was always breaking down emotionally because it meant that the spotlight was on me. If someone hurt me—I upstaged them with my role as victim. If I hurt someone—I managed to upstage them and play the victim role even then. It was addictive to be in the spotlight. It didn’t matter if I was active in the church or not….I was always the leading lady in the next drama series. I’d pretend to be this perfect individual who had it all put together while I was dealing with my church friends, but then I had a different life on the outside of that….one filled with drama. Life was a stage to me—always performing.
After I surrendered my life, I didn’t have a need for drama. It was like the void I had in my spirit was suddenly full. But you see, the enemy is deceitful and conniving. Somehow, he managed to put the right person, situation, or whatever you want to call it, in my life to suck me back in to a dramatic role. So have I arrived? Not by any means! I was sucked back into it. If you read my previous blog “It’s Time To Make a List and Check It Twice”, you will understand what I mean when I say that I allowed it to happen. The bitterness, offense, unforgiveness, etc. It was all wrapped up in a pretty package so I could make myself think that I was the victim once again. I thank God everyday that He brought me back to the path He has for me.
There is so much peace that fills your soul when you decide to walk away from drama and all the mess that comes with it. Sometimes the enemy will try to entice you with people and situations that may reflect some of your own past negative traits that may have brought you a sense of comfort at one time in your life. Sometimes we may find ourselves flocking to those people because it is a familiar spirit. But that’s just it—it is a familiar spirit, not the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, because of those familiar spirits, sometimes it causes havoc and the smart thing to do is to walk away.
Just today, the daily devotion was about praying for those who persecute us. There is so much peace when you make the decision to love them and pray for them. Pray with every ounce of sincerity you have that God blesses them. We are called to love like Jesus loves, and while it seems we should be friends with everyone, and they should be in our inner circles—sometimes they are only in our lives for a season. Sometimes that season has to come to an end. It doesn’t mean that we don’t love them, but not everyone will be by your side all throughout your life. I am thankful for the time that I’ve had with every single person that has been a part of my almost 50 years of life. While you might think that I am only talking about the positive relationships, I am even thankful for the people in which we may have parted on bad terms. I have learned much from the downfall of those relationships, and the role that I played in its failure. To those people, I am truly sorry for the role that I played. I’ve been able to walk away with many life lessons from every single person.
My cup is overflowing when I look back on every year of my life—the people, the lessons, the joys, the sorrows, the pain, the laughs, the heartaches, the shenanigans (even the ones we don’t speak of), the tests, and so much more. I could not have asked for a better way to live out my first 1/2 century of my life. Thank you to every single one of you for being a part of my story. I am excited to see what God does with this next chapter.
I’m sure that as you read that title, you were automatically thinking that this might be another Christmas post. As much as I wish it were, I am sorry to disappoint all of you Christmas lovers. This is not a Christmas post but a Christian post.
As Christians, we are called to forgive and to forgive often. In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus tells Peter that we are to forgive those who wrong us or offend us seventy times seven. Basically, as it states in the Amplified version of the Bible—we must be ready to forgive over and over again, past counting. It’s so easy to say, but so very difficult to do, especially when our flesh is screaming otherwise. Sometimes our flesh outweighs what Jesus calls us to do, but we are to be reminded that we are to forgive others just as we ask our Father to forgive us.
Whew! When you really think of it like that…..it makes me want to put together a list of all the people that I “feel” have wronged me. I feel like I need to make a list and check it twice so I know for sure if I’ve truly forgiven them or not. Am I naughty or nice?
I began to think back on my past hurts….even the ones that didn’t seem like they could have been a big deal, so I began to make a list of all the people that may have hurt or offended me. Now, don’t go on thinking that I have this long “Grudge List”or a “Burn Book”.
(I’m pretty certain most everyone knows the Mean Girls reference here.)
Before I gave my life to Christ, I most likely had a list that would blow your mind, but by the grace of God, I have been able to forgive a lot of past hurts, people, etc. Most importantly, I’ve been able to forgive myself. I was at the top of that list because I managed to hurt and offend myself in ways that I couldn’t even begin to explain…more than anyone else on the list.
Nonetheless, no one ever said that once you become a Christian you will live life without being hurt or offended. Oftentimes, offense and hurt happen so much more, especially when it comes to other Christians because we hold them in high esteem thinking that they are supposed to be perfect. While my list was not nearly as long after I was saved, it was a list of heavy burden. Recently, my Heavenly Father had to correct me because I was guilty of placing a Christian sister on a pedestal only to be extremely disappointed and let down when she turned out not to be the perfect Christian I thought her to be. Do not think for a minute that I am implying she was a horrible person because that is far from the truth. She is a mighty woman of God. I simply mean—I was wrong by allowing offense to creep in which led to a great deal of hurt. That was my fault—I fell short—at that moment, I didn’t forgive the way Jesus tells us to forgive. It is not about what the other person says or does to hurt us that matters, it is about our ability or inability to be like Jesus in those moments that matter most. His words on the cross should ring in our ears every time we allow someone’s words or actions to hurt us, “Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing” Luke 23:34 We are all sinners and fall short.
My Father had to “take me to the woodshed” (as my husband likes to say) because I was wrong in thinking she would never disappoint me. I was wrong in thinking she was god. I was wrong in placing her on the throne, when He is the only One on the throne. Hurt people hurt people, and we should always be ready to forgive even before the hurt takes place. We should never think that because someone is a Christian, they will never hurt us. Our pastor tells us often, be ready to be offended by everyone we encounter—especially in the church, and forgive them before it even happens. If we already have a heart to forgive, then we will save ourselves from a lot of unnecessary pain. God has helped me to see that I need to look at each situation/person differently. I have to be “un-offendable” (yes, I know that isn’t a word). I have to look at each person and recognize that something is going on in their own hearts. Just because someone does or says something to hurt me, it doesn’t mean that it was “intentional”. It simply means they are hurting. Some are hurting more than others. There are times a person may think that they are delivered/healed from past hurts, but it turns out they just swept it under a rug.
“Let’s not talk about the elephant in the room.” We all see it, but if we just ignore it—maybe it will disappear. Instead of acknowledging the hurt and confronting it, each new hurt gets swept under that same rug until there’s a huge mound of hurt never addressed or dealt with. Healing has never truly happened because it is easier to sweep it under that rug. Soon enough, there’s a mound of hurt that blows up right in front of us, and it comes out as word vomit.
The next thing you know, the things that come out of your mouth is just a reflection of your own personal hurts. It is not always easy to be forgiving when someone’s word vomit can be so harsh…their words CAN really hurt, but we have to think about how our Father sees and forgives us. Think of all the times we have hurt or offended Him (not that He gets offended). Think of the times that we have made the decision to go our own way instead of trusting in His Word and promises. Think of all the times we have been disobedient. I can only imagine how many times I’ve hurt His heart, but He keeps forgiving me time and time again. No matter how many times I may have been mad at Him or said hurtful things, He keeps forgiving me and welcoming me with open arms. He’s such a good Father, and we can only strive to love the way He loves.
So, make your list and check it twice. Don’t hold unforgiveness in your heart no matter how serious the hurt may have been. Pray for every single person on your list. Pray that the Father blesses them abundantly. Pray for their healing. Pray that they come to realize that their own hurts are bleeding into their relationships with others and that is what is causing discord. Pray that they can truly see that their Father loves them even in spite of their failures or flaws. Pray that they come to realize that we love them even though they may have caused a lot of pain and strife. Pray that they can finally accept forgiveness, and they can also forgive themselves. Pray that they can finally address all the things swept under the rug as a way to complete healing. Pray that the elephant in the room is no longer ignored. Whatever it is…..Just pray for them!
It is January 22nd!!!! Is Christmas REALLY over? I mean after all, we just had a massive “snow-mageddon” here in Deep South Louisiana. To me that still screams Christmas. When I say that I have been praying for a White Christmas….I am not exaggerating in any way. We have taken winter trips to Tennessee for that last 4 years because I wanted to TRULY experience REAL snow. Sure, I’ve experienced a tiny bit of snow both in south and north Louisiana, but nothing to truly write about in the books. We just returned from our Gatlinburg vacation this past Friday, and I was pretty excited because I was finally able to experience real snow on this trip. It was absolutely gorgeous! We ended up not getting as much as the meteorologists predicted, but it was more than I’ve seen in quite some time. It made me feel like all the Christmas feels were finally complete. To my surprise, after we came home, we ended up experiencing a record-breaking snow storm in south Louisiana. I have NEVER experienced snow like this! My Christmas prayer was answered not just once, but twice, and in a very big way!!!! So now I ask…..do I have to?!?! Do I really have to take my Christmas decorations down?
We were stuck in our cabin in Gatlinburg for a day and then ventured out to take in the sights. And then being stuck in our own home for a few days…..having all of the Christmas decorations up just made everything so Christmas-Cozy!
All of this snow just makes me want to leave everything up for that much longer.
I decorate our 957 square foot home entirely in Christmas decor. If I can fit it….I will decorate. This year, as usual, I did more than the previous year. I have been decorating with a Gingerbread theme for a while now, but this was the first year that I emphasized pastel colors over the red, green, and browns. Since we changed our area rugs, it made more sense to concentrate on pastels.
Of course after Christmas, my husband installed some of my Christmas gifts, so here is the after Christmas pictures.
I love our small kitchen, but now that our church Life Group is growing, I am beginning to realize that my small space could be a little larger. Nonetheless, we are making it work as long as we are here.
As I said before, we changed our area rugs, so pastel colors were the emphasis. Our living room went from neutrals to a pastel wonderland. (I secretly want a pink sofa, but we have leather couches since it is easier to clean up spills—we tend to have an overflow of guests every Friday. Accidents happen—leather is easy to clean.)
Our small dining room has taken on a huge transformation as opposed to years past. I ended up throwing in decor ideas I’ve used in previous drama productions. I have more ideas for next year, but this is what it looks like this year. The last picture is the wreath I made for our front door.
Naturally, I also had to decorate our bedroom and the one bathroom we have.
Last year I decided that I wanted to decorate a Grinch themed tree for Christmas this year, and the only place I had to put it was in our spare bedroom. It definitely does not match that bedroom’s decor, but at least I was able to do it. I also had a sudden urge to decorate a Nutcracker Ballet themed tree which I put in my office at work. Next year the Nutcracker Ballet tree will go in my spare room, and the Grinch tree will go up at the office. I wish I had thought of that sooner, but there’s always next year. The next group of pictures are of the trees I decorated this year. (Not just for my home.)
I do believe that my favorite tree this year is the Nutcracker Ballet themed tree. Perhaps it is because I’m partial to pink, but I love the uniqueness of the ornaments and the spinning ballerina tree topper.
I also started making wreaths this year and will continue that endeavor throughout the year. Perhaps that will fill the void of the missing Christmas decorations after I do decide to take them down.
On a side note, in the middle of all of the Christmas decorating, I was able to decorate for my oldest nephew’s rehearsal dinner. It has been a very busy Christmas season, but the blessings have been abundant.
I am looking forward to all that God has planned for me this next year. It is very exciting as He reveals some of the plans He has in store already. But…..the real question is……DO I REALLY HAVE TO?!?! Do I REALLY have to take down all of the Christmas decorations?!?!
“My dog ate my homework.” “I forgot to set my alarm.” “I thought it was Saturday, not Monday.”
How many excuses have we heard or have given in a lifetime? I really have no excuse as to why I have not posted in quite sometime. I can use the most popular excuse everyone normally uses—“life just became really busy.” The unfortunate thing about using that excuse is exactly that…it is just an excuse like any other. It is an excuse for being lazy when I could have been doing all the things that would put me on the path God has set for me. You see, we are our worst enemy when it comes to fulfilling our Godly destinies. He has the perfect plan in place, but we find every excuse in the book to veer away from the path that would lead us straight to His end goal (not that there really is an “end” goal aside from eternity with Him). He knows all the crazy and stupid things we will do along the way that only prolongs His plan. If only we would listen to His voice every single time we make a decision to move right or left—we could save so much time, and we could most likely prevent a lot of chaos and hurt in the process. Sometimes we just keep circling around that mountain until we learn and FINALLY pass the test. As much as I love the mountains, I don’t want to keep circling around the mountain over and over again. I want to consistently climb higher and higher drawing closer and closer to Him. He is the only thing that matters, and as long as He is first, then everything else will work according to His purpose and His plan. Thankfully, He doesn’t give up on us, and He loves us through all our stinky, rotten moments. I know I’ve had my fair share of rotten moments, yet He still waits for me to turn to Him and His plans. Every time I realize I’ve prolonged God’s plan, I can’t help but sing “She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes…” Come on Tansy, when are you going to learn that it’s never been your plan, it is always His plan?
The problem that seems all too common is that we have become very impatient people. We want what we want and when we want it. With the “instant gratification” kind of world we now live in, no wonder we don’t have the patience to plow through the difficult times in order to reap the rewards. Think about it, you are having a conversation with someone at a restaurant, and the conversation brings up a question that neither you nor your dinner companion have the answer to. What do we tend to do now? We pick up our phones and ask Siri or in my husband’s case, Google, because he is anti-Apple. How have we made it this far without Siri or Google? I couldn’t even begin to imagine how my grandparents would react in this day and age. It took a lot of convincing just to get them to use a television remote or a microwave. I think smartphones would have been out of the question for them. Needless to say, convenience has made so many of us lazy and impatient.
Impatience prevents us from reaching our goals, and it causes us to give up so easily when we don’t see results happening immediately. Take a good look at the things we start but never finish. Perhaps a New Year’s Resolution? I know I am not alone in this. About a year and a half ago, I began to look at my health, or lack thereof. I started working out with a trainer and was faithfully showing up 3-4 times a week. Anyone who knows me knows that it is a miracle for me to even be in a gym much less 3-4 times a week. It’s never been difficult for me to lose any weight if I put on some extra poundage. However, after approximately a year in, I was not seeing the results I thought I should be seeing. What made matters worse was that suddenly my health took a turn I never expected. I couldn’t go to the gym any longer because I was not able to work out. I was even more discouraged and just ready to throw in the towel. I would see all the advertisements about weight loss shots, surgeries, pills, etc….I won’t lie and say I wasn’t tempted, but something kept telling me that I shouldn’t take the easy way out. I wanted the weight to come off so badly, but I knew the “easy way” was not the “right way”. I’ve gone to the doctor since then, and found out that I am in full blown menopause. While that is not the best news, at least I now know what is going on with me. Have I figured out the weight issue yet? NOPE! However, every day I work towards better health. It is definitely not an instant gratification situation, but I know that if I keep pushing through, there will be breakthrough. I refuse to give up, and I refuse to take the “easy way out”. I know I need to find the thing that works for me, and I pray that God gives me the wisdom to find it. For now, I have been back at the gym. My husband and I work out at least twice a week, and he is my biggest motivator and supporter. Impatience will not be a factor because I know God has a plan—even for my health. My health is not just a New Year’s Resolution.
The problem with New Year’s Resolutions is that most of them don’t stick because of our impatience. It is so hard to believe that we are the middle of January already. I think back to all the times I made those popular “New Year’s Resolutions”. I started with so much excitement and vigor because it was all so new, and I was determined to make those changes. Like many, they were thrown out the window by the 2nd week of January, sometimes sooner. I’m not saying that resolutions don’t work, but they never worked for me.
My husband and I recently went on vacation to the moutains in Tennessee. It was there that God started working on me. He blessed me with an answered prayer of being able to experience snow in the mountains. Without fail, after the blessing….there was a call for inner-growth. There were so many things that He revealed to me about my life, but the biggest issue was “stick ability”. I’ve always had a problem with stick ability. I’ve always had a problem with commitment. I’ve had so many failed relationships in my past because I would leave if I wasn’t happy. I never knew joy, and I always thought that I needed SOMEONE to make me happy. All I NEED is Jesus to fill my heart with true joy…anyone else who brings happiness to my heart is the icing on the cake. The one thing I do know….I’m not going around the mountain again and again….I am climbing that mountain to get closer and closer to Him. As Tara Leigh Cobble always says in “The Bible Recap”….”He is where the joy is!” So, what’s next? Now we move forward living each day with NO EXCUSES and a lot of STICK ABILITY!!!!
The Bible tells us that Jesus went to the mountains many times to speak with His Father. We hear of so many running to the mountains to commune with God. For many of us, we turn to our prayer closets or those quiet places where we can commune with God…we can’t all run to the mountains. I must say, when one does get a chance to run to the mountains, communing with God is inevitable.
My husband and I just had a very trying three months. My in-laws were victims to the horrible Florida hurricane, Ian, and they suffered a lot of damage. Since the beginning of October 2022, they evacuated to our home in Slidell, LA. The amazing thing is that they lived in North Port, FL. for over 20 years and were never affected by any hurricanes…it’s almost unbelievable. They are now in their mid-70’s and having to start over. Why do things like that happen? I don’t know what surviving a hurricane like that feels like. When Katrina hit, I was living in north Louisiana, so all I know of is what the news told everyone. However, I know that many of my friends in Slidell have experienced the horrible after effects of Hurricane Katrina. They all know what it is like to have to start over. Nonetheless, it is difficult to even fathom what it is like for someone in their 70’s to have to start all over. I can only pray that God brings them peace through all of this. No matter what, God can use something as devastating as a hurricane for His good. It is an amazing thing to see His plan unfolding right before our eyes even amidst devastation.
Since my husband and I were married in December 2018, we started visiting my in-laws about once every year. My husband would tell me over and over that we need to visit more because they are getting “up in age” and their health is deteriorating (Owning a business does not make it very easy to just pick up and leave for vacation). There is also the huge issue of “unbelief” that they have both fallen victim to. That is something that we both have been praying about fervently.
Being a Christian among unbelievers can be very difficult. Many times the unbeliever does not want anything to do with God…to the point that it is difficult to even be yourself. This was something that we encountered. The first time we visited, they urged us to get a Bed & Breakfast so we could do our “praying thing” before going to visit them. All you can do is love them where they are, right? We respected their wishes and did just that. Somehow over the next few visits, we were able to share our testimony of how we met and how God worked in my life changing it completely, and I was also able to pray over my mother-in-law. I am so thankful for the baby steps. Now let’s fast forward to October 2022–they are now living in our home. The four of us are living in a 957 sq. ft. home consisiting of 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. They couldn’t exactly request us to do our “praying thing” when they weren’t around. Our weekly schedule consists of prayer on Tuesday nights, church on Wednesday nights, worship practice on Thursday nights, our home life group on Friday nights, and church again on Sunday. We definitely could not hide our “prayer thing”.
To make a long story short, they attended two of our Life Group meetings we held at the house, they had dinner with several souled out Christians at our house, and we were able to have some conversations about God and what giving our lives to Jesus has done for us. Sometimes it was recieved, and at other times it was quickly shut down when they began to feel uncomfortable. Regardless, God has shown them miracles…their insurance adjuster would tell you that no one has had their claims move as quickly as my in-laws. My father-in-law said one day, “I don’t know how this is all happening so quickly.” All I could do was point up to the Heavens and say, “There is only One that can cause miracles to happen.” So in the end, they decided to move to Slidell so they could be closer to us, and they moved in to an assissted living facility. They moved in to their assissted living apartment approximately the week before Christmas, and they came to spend Christmas Eve with us. It was glorious. They are still not saved, but the fact that they are here is a sign that God is definitely at work. God is good, and we want them saved…we know that it will happen.
One of the greatest things happened during all of this. I suppose it was something neither my husband nor I expected because our eyes were fixed on another mission. While we were on this mission to do what we thought was God’s will, to save my in-laws (I still believe that it is His will…just in His time.), after being away from the Lord for 8 years, my step-son came back to Jesus. I know my husband has been praying for this day for a while now, and since we met in October 2018, I’ve been praying also. God is so good! It is so difficult to write this without my eyes filling with tears of joy. It is so amazing to see what God has done for our family in such a short time. I KNOW my in-laws are coming to Jesus very soon, and I know my step-son will have a lot to do with that conversion. I am looking forward to the day that we can all have a conversation about Jesus freely…it will be a magnificent day.
So, that brings us to where we are now. After a very busy few months, we decided to take a much needed vacation. Typically, because I used to be such a crazy Disney finatic, we always took a “vacation” to Disney (I don’t know how I EVER thought that it was a vacation…it was always so tiring and the opposite of relaxing.). If you have read any of my previous blogs, you would know that I broke up with Disney a while back because I did not like the direction they were going concerning the whole “woke” American ideals. Let me say, I understand that you are entitled to your own opinions on that, but I don’t have to agree with you because I am also entitled to my own opinions. It’s not about WHO is right, it is about what the Bible says is right. In the end, no matter what you believe or I believe, it all comes down to how much we love each and every person God created.
So, here we are in Sevierville TN. in the mountains. It is magnificent! I can understand why Jesus went to the mountaintops to talk to His Father. One cannot come to the mountains and not talk to the Father. I am surrounded by His beauty everywhere, and it is being thrown in my face constantly. Of course, I mean that in a wonderful way. From sitting out on the porch swing to walking through the mountains watching my husband play disc golf…His beautiful creation is everywhere. I will not go into details about everything God has revealed to me while here…that will be for a later date, but He has shown me so much since we left Louisiana. Everything from what He has called me to do to where He plans to take me. It is almost overwhelming, but I am trusting His plan and His purpose.
We leave for home in two days, and I woke this Thursday morning the 19th of January 2023 being clouded with doubt that all these things He has shown me won’t happen. I mean, afterall, it’s all pretty huge and unbelievable–IMPOSSIBLE really–“I” don’t see a way. He encouraged me to get out of bed and walk to the window, and there it was! A sign of His promise. His promises are great and we are to trust Him always…even when WE don’t see a way. He will always make a way for His plans to be carried out. Trust Him in EVERYTHING. Seek Him ALWAYS and ask Him to guide you EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Don’t move until He says to move. His plans are far better than our plans could ever be.
I suppose I never realized how much I needed the mountains at this point in my life. It is so simple to become complacent in the every day hustle and bustle of things and not even realize that you have become complacent. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our daily schedules. Afterall, our daily schedules are what we do the majority of our lives and there is no escaping that. We can’t always take a vacation to remind us that we have become complacent…we have to continue to seek Him fervently each and every day like it is the first time we have come to Jesus. He wants that constant intimacy with us, and we have to make it a habit to continue to develop our relationship with Him. It’s not about literally “running to the mountains” to commune with our Father. Goodness knows I will not find these mountains in the hot, humid, swamps of South Louisiana. It is all about finding our special mountain in which to commune with Him each and every day. No matter where your mountain is, make it majestic and commune with your Father. Run to the mountains EVERY SINGLE DAY!
This past May 2022, I turned 47! Gosh, that just sounds old. Turning 47 has made me think about a lot of things, but it has caused me to think about my health most of all. In my previous post, I discussed one of my many faults—that being the type of person to sit idly by while I trust God to make things happen. Well, life is constantly changing, and if I don’t do my part I can’t expect any sort of change to happen.
For so long, I did not really have to work very hard to lose weight. Sure, I would go through phases where I would gain weight, and then I would make a few changes and the weight would come off. While at the time it seemed like it was a tremendous amount of effort, in all actuality it wasn’t. Looking back at how effortless it was for weight to come off, I can only wish that it were still so. When I hit my 40’s, it started to become progressively harder to lose any sort of extreme amount of weight. I would shed a few pounds here and there, but it was never nearly enough. I kept gaining more than I could ever lose. It has been much easier to gain—it’s almost as if just looking at food causes me to gain weight. That may seem like an exaggeration, but it sure doesn’t feel like it.
Presently, I have not been able to drop below 167 lbs. Of course, I wish I were at that point right now. Today, I am 181 lbs. and that is 3 lbs. less than I was 3 days ago. So, now you know where my journey begins. My metabolism has become worse than ever, but my physical activity is also nonexistent. Let’s not even talk about my hatred for the gym. I didn’t really have to work out to lose weight. So much has changed!
As of Friday, I have taken the first step. I started going to the gym, have someone to hold me accountable, and I have begun to take the proper steps when it comes to what I am allowing into my body. This will definitely begin the journey into finding what I can and cannot eat. My body is going through a major change at the moment. To be absolutely transparent, I am in the dreaded peri menopausal stage (self-diagnosed, of course). Therefore, I will definitely have to make some adjustments in my diet due to my symptoms. I am still researching these diet changes, and I will share more as time goes on.
Sure, there are lots of web articles to read out there. The problem is that there is a very high percentage of articles dealing with hormonal changes in women, and they are all trying to sell something. I can’t even begin to tell you how many sales pitches I have fallen for. The madness has to stop. I am just a normal woman who wants the truth and will share the truth only because I want to help as many women as I can.
While I do blog about different things, one of my goals is to share my journey so other women experiencing this change may find it helpful. My personal goal is to be in the best health of my life by the time I reach 50. There is so much more life to experience, and I want to do so many things with my husband. I know that I can obtain this personal goal. Trusting that God will give me the wisdom and will also put the right people in my life….I will achieve this goal. Stay tuned….and so the journey begins.
A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That 