Category: Totally Tatum

October, 2019, I am working and listening to my favorite Christian artist, Toby Mac. I hear that he’s coming into concert in February and I INSTANTLY got online to buy tix for all of us to go.

Tatum would be most excited since we listen to him and know most of his songs. (by heart may I add!)

Now, the anticipation begins. Tatum is often found singing and praising Jesus. Did I say often? I meant ALL THE TIME. It’s very fun to be her audience. Cooper is too, by the way.

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The day arrives. OH goodness, the excitement. I think I am the most excited!
Now, about Toby Mac. This 55 year old veteran of music is the real deal. By that I mean he walks the talk. His music/lyrics are filled with his heart cry for a deeper relationship with Christ, but also about the pain of the “Elements” of life. We all have “Scars,” but we must fight the demons. We also must keep our eyes on “Only You” and remember in “Everything” we see HIm. It’s a choice. “I Just Need U.” Sadly, his oldest son (he has six kids) just passed. He was his “prodigal.” The album, Elements, was dedicated to his son who didn’t return his phone calls. He missed him. Then he died. Bad choices, and it literally broke TM. His song “21” is dedicated to his passing. With that, I’ll share about the concert. I had been praying for him.

Well, now, we arrive at the concert venue. Tix on our phones, ready to rock and roll!

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I wrote about our seats in “God Winks” that our seats were divinely chosen right up front.

The opening acts were all so exciting. Jordan Feliz was especially good with Glorify your Name!

Ryan Stephenson with “The Gospel.” We were right there!

OK, now we wait for TM!

He began at the end of the T!!! We were right there! He began with “ELEMENTS”. Goose bumps.

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He later sang “21 years” about his son. There was complete awe and silence. Prayers.

“Are you singing with the angels; are you happy where you are? God has you in heaven, but I have you in my heart. “

More amazing songs….I just need U!

He came up often and you can see I was a bit excited! They are singing about uniting.

Thank you, Toby Mac. Thank you all who made the concert possible. Attending, there were babies, teens, elderly, all colors. Truly a “DIVERSE” crowd, as he put it, and that is what made it so special. If even just ONE came to a right relationship with Jesus after tonight, it would have been all worth it.

These simple two words become our new mantra. Let’s speak Love, Life, Hope into others’ lives.

Toby Mac and Ryan Stephenson wrote this song. We just saw them in concert and OH MY. Stay tuned for that blog.

May I do this and live this.

Shrimp Kabob storm that is. Look at this delight!

They are a dynamic duo!
I should add DELICIOUS too. I love you two to PIECES!

3.3 means 3rd grade, 3rd month. This is where she is right now in Februrary of 1st grade. The next highest AR reader in the class, Sebastian, is a 3.2. The rest are in the 2’s or mostly 1’s still. I love watching her embrace this new chapter, literally. We have been reading Magic Treehouse books, and they are so fun.

They are like non-fiction with many historical facts, but they are magical as well. She reads about 3 chapters a day so then she can take an AR test after 3 days. I don’t want her to get burned out on reading; therefore, we do about this much at this point in her reading journey. I still like to read to her. Our latest fav is DogMan comics. So funny and ridiculous actually. But nice levity to balance the other readings. We need ALL genres to show her reading is not just READ>take test. READ>take test…and so on. It should be a joyful experience.

So, we make it fun. Chocolate can be involved with doesn’t hurt.

I’m so proud of how far you are coming in reading, honey. XXOO

Tatum and I read a DEVOTION and Bible Verse daily.

The beginning of February reminded me that it’s a true learning curve that I find myself going on with her. Nobody is immune to growth. We all need it and we all need to be humbled by our puffed up knowledge at times.

Anyway, we spend time discussing the Bible verse and what it means for our lives. The devotion is an extra dose of fodder for discussion and application for our lives.

Just the other day, I thought it was especially good.

This verse in James can be completely misunderstood, but put in the context of beauty coming from ashes, makes it truly welcoming. Not that we welcome pain and suffering: NO! However, as Tatum grows, she will experience challenges. WE ALL DO. It’s how you handle it that separates you from the world. HOW can you embrace your hardships and turn them into good? God will, and knowing that with your whole heart will allow you to trust that this too shall pass, and it will grow my relationship with HIM. It will also sanctify me into becoming more like Christ. Now that I’ll welcome. I continue to teach this to Tatum, and seeing it in the devotion gave Tatum more realization of how she need not fear.

I love praying with her in the morning. Today, she read to me and wanted to do the praying. OK! I’ll take it my sweet girl. I love being on the Learning Curve with you.

You are a delight to my soul.

I fessed up to Tatum today. I don’t have the neatest handwriting. HOWEVER, if I am writing FOR someone like a teacher or a greeting card, I do my absolute neatest work (usually) *wince.* Why she may ask? I answered this for her in the car. What you do on paper represents a bit of who you are. If you turn in a sloppy paper, you are basically saying, “I don’t care about myself, you, or my work.” Ouch. That hit home for her.

You see, she has her moments of sloppiness and she has moments where she is truly as neat as a pin with her printing. Her BFF, Charlotte, writes nearly perfectly, and this drives her to do better. I love that she picks friends that make her rise up.

Well, I thought….I need a challenge for her. Some type of incentive and practice plan. She loves to do these, and it can be fun if we make it fun.

We got out her cute little unicorn journal from Cynthia, and decided that she would write two sentences each day about her day. If she gets two smiley faces, she gets to color in a dot. She can earn only two a day. If she only earns one, she can try again to earn another.

First, how she holds the pencil has been a never-ending problem. It’s also become a bad habit. I had her demonstrate the pencil hug. We laughed a bit after we practiced the correct way. This now felt a bit funny!

And sloppy!

Let’s try the pinch with the three fingers. Make them kiss!

OK, now we are getting somewhere. She told me she couldn’t do it and needed those pencil grips. I told her she is ready to do this! C’mon, Tot. You are in 1st grade. Let’s DO THiS! After a bit of frustration, she didn’t give up. I love that about her.

She earned her smileys today.

I am all about creating good habits. If she can get the pencil kiss down, I think she’ll have no problem. She agreed and marked her dot.

As her mommy, my goal is to be her coach, her encourager, and her supporter. I want her to feel supported and in turn successful. She needs to feel like she’s capable. I can also make it fun because if we feel like we are having fun, we are more likely to retain what we learn. I’m proud of your efforts, Bumby. I love you!

Daddy got to go see her at her Lobster class on Monday. I had a colonoscopy so he had the honors of watching her kicking, stroking, and gliding through the water. She is truly our little fish.

They sent me her an update on how she is doing in the class.

She only has a few skills left, and then she is on a TEAM! I can’t believe how much she is growing and still loving it. I’m proud of her efforts and drive. Go TOT-Lobster!