Living an Intentional Life
Reading the Bible in one year shall begin again. I only made it to day 267 last year, so I shall RESTART! I’m going to read it chronologically on Youversion.
Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) has a thought-filled devotional with morning and evening prayers for which I will enjoy. It truly soothes and challenges the soul.
I’m iPaded and iPhoned enabled and ready.
Today was one of those days when you want to tie a bow on top of a large box. This year was chock full of incredible pain and abundant blessings. The box was huge. However, hindsight is 20/20, and as I reminisce about the total package, I can see that flowers always follow a storm. Yes, it’s the ‘ol silver lining surrounds every cloud theory.
January jaded and jostled; would I survive? Yes: New friends, new writing opportunities.. and my first colonoscopy!
February: Relationship changes; new ones begin. hmmmm….Motherhood. Ponder that.
March: Moving on and forward. Classes, Studies, Cleaning and Refining. AIDA.
April: Writers unite and the Powerful Pen makes Sabrina a star.
May: Hurting hearts unable to help. Hope of new surroundings.
June, July: Renew Reflect Recharge
August 22nd: A Phone Call which changed my life.
September-October: Prepare Prepare…Prepare!
November: NCTE. Tatum is born on Thanksgiving.
December: Family. December 31st: The ink dries.
Lord, Thank you for the struggles, the challenges, and the opportunities. May I live up to the blessings you bestow upon me. Bless my family, my friends, and this amazing United States. May your will be done.
She lived 101 years: Mary Elizabeth Borror, my grandmother, or more familiarly, Mimi.
David brought her breakfast, and she was as chipper and witty as ever. Her half-eaten oatmeal was all that was left as he returned to find her at 10:50am peacefully at rest.
Although one is never ready for someone to pass, she really was ready to go. There were no loose ends as she saw all of our family was happy and “working together.” She could leave knowing we would all be OK on this earth until we meet her; she gets to be with Jesus early!
What are some fine memories?
-lumpy cream of wheat eaten with my Snoopy spoon
-thin buttered cinnamon toast sliced in strips for ease of eating
-whipped orange juice made in the Oster blender for frothiness
-Lemon ice box dessert made especially non-dairy for me
-taking care of me during pneumonia/Marie Callendars veggie soup
-sewing my formal dresses and fitting me to a T
-Our sharing our love of poetry, pink and flowers
-EVERY painting she created I LOVED ( I was her biggest fan)
-butterfly heels for which I used to don around her house
-moving in with her when I needed her most; helping me financially
-I got to be her secretary when she was in the hospital.
There are a million more. I love you Mimi. Rest with ANGELS
10/03/1911-12/30/2012
The day I brought Tatum home, I had carefully prepared Coti, so I thought. Every night before Tatum’s arrival, we had our chats about what was about to take place. Did he listen? Was he even paying attention!!? Perhaps not. I brought home one of her little hats from the hospital and placed it in his doggie bed. He tossed it around and ignored the head covering. Then the next day, I brought a blanket and strategically put it in his favorite couch spot. Maybe this would do it. Fast forward to Tatum’s homecoming. He not only growled at her but almost bit her! We immediately freaked out and shielded him from her for a few days. Then, finally we just confronted the situation head on. When I fed Tatum, I played with Coti directly following. I had to go overboard to love on my dog.
It’s five weeks later, and he adores her! The minute she cries, he looks at me saying, “Hey, mom, what are you going to do about this!?” If only he could feed her and change her diapers. Maybe I can teach him to soothe her when she cries. Now, that would be the perfect world.
Sadly, it’s not perfect yet. He is going back to BOOT CAMP with dog training. Coti has been showing signs of aggression and elusiveness. It’s only natural; however, I really miss my old dog. I know this transition will take time.
Upon my doorstep, wrapped in holiday tissue paper, was an adorable Baby Gap red sweater. My dear friend Denise gifted Tatum with this special outfit for Christmas. Although it could fit two Tatums, it sure looked cute! She even posed for me. 
One month. One month and one week= FIVE WEEKS OLD. How is it possible that I have been home from work for 5 weeks and yet have not had time to blog about each morsel of moment I have experienced with Tatum? I now understand the value of time. Well, more like the value of uninterrupted time. Five minutes here and there..it’s there, but the second I start to eat, sleep, pee, write…it’s Totally Tatum Time. (TTT!)
So, my new goal? Write at least ONE thing a day. Maybe it’s a DEEEEEP thought like, “Why does the milk clump when poured in after the formula is in the bottle?” or maybe it’s “How come my eyebrow hairs grow more now that I don’t pluck every day?” No matter…I’ll write. I must.
This time is precious with Tatum. She is beginning to coo and emote in ways I have never seen! As she observes what she cannot yet focus on, she is taking it in with wonder. I am soaking in every minute. The past two weeks supercede the previous two in terms of my sanity. She no longer has colic (prayerfully!), and her gas has subsided. The type of water, gas drops, formula brand…all together have been the answer. Well, and LOTS OF PRAYER!
My TTT becomes more precious everyday. I shall write. Yes, I must.