Category: Totally Tatum

It was a Wednesday night and all was quiet in the house. I found Tot in the art room working diligently.

She had all of our memory Bible verses out and was making pictures with a Bible verse on pieces of paper. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was making one for each kid in her class. WHAT!???
Yes! She wanted to inspire them.

She laid them out on the couch and made sure she had enough including one for Mrs. King.

I offered to buy some lollis for each one so she could tape them on.

Now, just look at these!? WOW. I had NOTHING to do with this idea. It came from her heart. She is so full of Love for the Jesus it just oozes out onto others. She inspires me. Truly.

She’ll ask Mrs. King if she can hand them out today in class.

Amen. I love you TOT!!

Oh, dearie me! I am so honored and blessed. You see, I’ve been going through some debilitating digestive issues which have been diagnosed as SIBO. It’s been pretty hard, and I have to sadly bring my family into it since they are around me all the time. I try to keep a positive attitude and hide my pain, but sometimes, I just cry. Tonight was one of those nights. Lots of pain. Lots of despair. I just want to be better, and at times, my hope meter is running low.

The Tot, yes, the little warrior princess of ours, mighty Tot, is truly a girl of PRAYER> She is always putting her hands on my tummy and rebuking Satan and asking Jesus to heal me at that moment. I love her heart!! She even said, “Mommy, I am actually grateful for your tummy issues. It has brought our family closer; it’s brought my relationship with God closer (SHE PRAYS ALL THE TIME); and it’s brought you and me closer.” This from a little 8 year old. Wisdom. Pure wisdom.

As I’m laying on my bed, my hubby and Tot are in the art room. (I had asked for a bit of privacy). Little did I know what they were doing. Upon prayer, they were making me a treasure. Daddy’s sweet little picture. OH, my hair!

And the Tot’s.

This is our normal. Just wow. The journey may be difficult, but along the way, we are all growing closer, learning to love even more deeply, and becoming closer to our Father. That is pure quality of life.

I love you Hay Family. You bless me beyond belief.

It’s been nine years. Nine years exactly to this day, I received a phone call from Dr. Kauffman. I have an opportunity to adopt a baby who has yet to be born. I did not know anything about this baby except I know it was to be a blessing from above. A divine intervention for me! ME!? WOW! Three months later, I’m in the birthing room, cutting the cord to a beautiful baby girl.

I always want to celebrate this day because it is that one small detail for Dr. Kauffman (picking up the phone) which affected not only my life but everyone around me. I’ll call it the Butterfly Effect which Andy Andrews made famous in his book about how the smallest of details can make the biggest differences.

The phone call from Dr. Kauffman changed my life forever, but ALL the people that have been touched by Tatum, not to mention I would have never met Doug! Wow.

Continue to have FAITH over Fear my love!

I had to celebrate my honey tonight too.

I love you beyond belief, Tot. And, HHH? I love you so much as well. XXOO

We love to shower her teachers with appreciation. Mrs. King, Tatum’s 3rd grade teacher, is deserving of so much honor! Tot adores her.

Today, she made her a picture, and we bought her a little flowering plant. She is blossoming in Tot’s life.

We are excited about this year!!!

Tatum and I love being a greeter at the early service. She has made so many friends, but guess what? They are not her age. They are all 60 and above. And they A.D.O.R.E her. It is so fun to see her bring joy to them and for them to speak life into her.

Today was the Serving fair, and they took a pic of us greeting.

Someone wrote….

Yep. She is. I’m really just her accessory. But I love being a part of her journey with Christ. One such lady who has impacted Tatum is Lynn. She brings Tatum a gift every week, and likewise, we do the same for her.

She is just lovely!!

Thank you, SBC, for being such a lovely home. We are honored to be members and to be with you weekly.

Two more entries for a must read.

Embarrassing moment? Proud moment? Oh, my …..let me think. For me it was when I was a kid!

Then I shared

Following this, we had Friday’s entry. Superpower power?

Wouldn’t this be great!?

Stay tuned for more. Next week!

Doug’s lovely mother passed last August, but due to COVID, there were no opportunities to celebrate her life. She chose to be cremated and to be placed in the cemetery next to her late husband (Doug’s dad), Robert.

Before the service, Doug showed Tot and me his past wife who died when Austin was only 4 years old. She was so young, and I love how God has redeemed Doug’s life giving him a new wife, life, and girl. (He also showed me the baby that died before Austin).

Now it is time, August 14th; Doug would rise up and take the lead to celebrate his Mom, Darlene, at the grave site.

He spoke about how now she has been “promoted” to a better place; with Jesus in heaven.

You could hear a pin drop. Everyone listened intently.

Then it was time to bless her.

And then she was placed next to her late husband.

Here we all are. Doug’s handsome brothers. (But I’m partial to my honey…my HHH)

Doug’s mom would be so proud. It was lovely and honoring of Darlene.

Then, they all got together at BJ’s to eat and enjoy family. Here is Terri (Craig’s wife) and Tot.

With Austin and Baby William (Terri’s grand baby…Bethany’s boy)

And then with David’s girl, Kiara.

Tatum had a great time with her cousins, and I know my honey enjoyed celebrating his mom’s life with his brothers. She is partying up in heaven in NO pain and with a whole new body! HOORAY!

Darlene, you were such a terrific mom to these boys, and we love you so.