Author: Blog-admin

She wrote us back!

So Tatum wrote back;

Tatum and I are learning about money in new ways; savings, investing, giving and how SHE can be more involved.

I scheduled an appt with our finance guy to help us too. In the meantime, I mapped out some thoughts for her. I showed her she could put $100 in her mattress and in 5 months she’d have $500. But what about investing at a certain interest? Maybe 10%? in 50 years, she’d have $1.7M! We also talked about FIRST paying God and ourselves. Then what is left is for bills and discretionary (fun) which is not usually much! She’s seeing that for herself.

Also, we talked about different ways to make money. Earning, selling or stealing HA! We crossed that one out right!? heehee

I also talked about from my job…what we do with our lives, if you do what you love, the money follows. I didn’t do that from the ages of 20-30, but then I went into what I loved after that, and the money has just happened. Great discussion!

As far as testing, her first not a bummer Summer test was on Friday. She had so much fun doing it! I think? A cappuccino always helps.

Thank goodness we have our pets to bring us joy too!

What a blessing, all the things that make up a day. The simplest are the best. I love you, dear girl.

Tatum and I visit our condo pool often. Our pool is a bit cold, and since we own a condo, and four people are allowed per unit, we take advantage of it.

Well, recently, and older women spotted us getting into our car as she scowled at us. It was weird?! Not sure why? Then the next day, we had this note on our car:

Written with anger and snarky tones, we were saddened by it; saddened because she seems so set on being angry. Tatum rushed to her room when we got home, and she penned this

She gave her a cross bookmark, and a Daily Bread. (booklet)

We rang her doorbell the next day, hoping to see her. In the meantime, we pray for her heart to be softened. All in all, we model and we teach Tatum how to respond to life’s sideswipes…especially people who may not agree with us. Amen.

Playing Scrabble with my girl. While doing so, we listen to our new favorite pianist: RIOPY.

The joy of cooking! The joy of cooking also with my girl!
Well, first I wanted to try a new recipe “viva la FRANCE!” So, I embarked on a cod recipe “en papillote” which basically is steaming your fish in parchment. FUN!
Tatum helped me layer it up inside the paper. WE used zucchini, fennel and shallots. …shallot lemon butter on top.

Would they like it!?

It’s fun to put it in the paper!
(Bon Appetit helped me)

VOILA!
Open sesame and get a facial.

Tatum is such a helper!
Just look at her chopped salads and veggie trays! (oh and we made pizzas too!)

More summer fun and experiments to come. xxoo Serving my family. JOY.

Instead of doing our work at home, we decided to go to Starbucks! Why not, right?

Oh, the joy of a cake pop, egg bites and MATH! heehee.

But first, a little discussion of our Bible Study. Today, it was about “siblings.” So, she made up the siblings that would have. The key was that you have peace with your siblings before you can even be at peace with God. It’s key to love our brothers and sisters; no matter blood or not.

Later, she would tell me about her latest book: Out of My Mind. She is loving this book due to the girl who has cerebral palsy. It’s changing her appreciation for her life and giving her so much gratitude.

SO, she’s begging me to read it too.

We love hanging out together; like sisters! Later, it was senior day at Fry’s so off we went. Thank you for pushing the cart little gal! I love spending time with you. xxoo

It was a long-time coming. Tatum approached me a few weeks ago, and she told me she was struggling with her faith. Now, she made it clear that it was not a lack of faith, but that she didn’t feel like she had a relationship with God at that moment. (She didn’t “feel” his presence). AH! I know that I cannot be the end all be all of her discussions and heart needs. SO, I asked her if she’d like to meet with someone at SBC. She immediately told me she’d meet with our dear friend, Ryan Goble. He’s a young pastor at SBC who is just beginning to preach! AND, we just adore him; (Tatum thinks he’s the Bomb ditty bomb bomb)

She made a list of discussion points, and we met for lunch. Now the beauty of this time was that she was extremely articulate in her wants/needs/heart. She shared that she loves Jesus, she knows her Bible, but she yearns for more. He immediately smiled and said how WONDERFUL it is to be thirsty!

He asked how does she know what a relationship looks like? She mentioned you can see fruit on one’s tree. She mentioned me (smiley face) and she’s sees my fruit. He said that sometimes she just need to lean back and look at her tree from afar. This means asking others or asking GOD…what do they see in her!? HA! This is great advice because we get myopic in our view of ourselves (critical spirit we have of our lives).

Ah…the fruit on our tree. We long to have more juicy fruit (John 15), but when we bear fruit, HE PRUNES us why? In order to bear MORE fruit.

So, in the meantime I have been reading this book:

Tatum has been dying to read this too, because it seems to be a help to some of her questions/longings. It sure has comforted me.

Some practices were suggested “to embrace the promise that God will not always seem gone, that pain will not always persist, and that the lies that it will is just that…a lie!”! We need a few practices:

In order for you to process your feelings about God, you must do so with God. And in order for you to do this with God, you will need time…yes, time, Tatum. You are not alone, and YOU are normal! We all are on a path to grow. Shoot, this pastor wrote a book all about it, so it must be a commonality!

So, let’s dive deep together. We will pray, study, and seek ….together. I LOVE YOU.