From a Cluttered Desk

I am Tammy Cardwell, she of the cluttered desk. (Hey, you think I'm kidding?!) I'm having a blast here in Blogland and invite to you to peruse my ramblings. Like a buffet, they offer variety - essentially whatever makes it to the top of the piles that sometimes clutter my brain. We'll eventually cover it all - homeschooling, God, our church, the Eclectic Homeschool Online, books I'm writing and publishing, conferences I speak at, the joys of grandmotherhood, and hopefully chocolate. Of course, this is only what's near the top now. Who knows what's in those piles?

I really am feeling blessed lately.

Oh, life remains a constant challenge. We’re still living in the old house. We’re still doing without running water. I’m still missing more church than I like because my job requires me to work a lot of Sundays and Wednesdays. We lost one of my aunts before Thanksgiving and due to the funeral being on Black Friday I wasn’t there to support my mother and uncle. (I’m in retail, remember, and management to boot) My husband still isn’t working, which means we’re still living on my modest income. We still don’t have a tarp on part of the leaky roof and I’m continually praying it doesn’t rain. My busy busy schedule means I’ve had to back way off on the volunteer work I’ve spent over  a decade doing for EHO.

But those are all situations and circumstances. Over all, I am BLESSED. Take right now, for instance. I should be at the store running the floorset, which is my least favorite (UNDERSTATEMENT) part of this job, but my boss knew I’d been under a lot of stress and offered to trade shifts with me. So not only did I not have to do floorset tonight, but I also didn’t have to open, because her shift didn’t start until 1:30, so I GOT TO GO TO CHURCH. (If you’re not planted in a church, you probably think I’m crazy, but I promise you that if I weren’t planted in a church I probably WOULD be crazy.)

I worked last Sunday too, and missed church of course. I was taking a lonely lunch in the market (food court) when a three-year-old tried to sneak up on me. Spending time, even ten brief minutes, with my grandson is enough to brighten just about any day.

Over the past week or two, due to various circumstance, I’ve had…I don’t even know how many meals paid for by other people. Considering how tight money has been, this is a huge thing.

But I’ve also been able to Christmas shop (In part due to the paid-for meals) and I’ve gotten some fabulous bargains. I don’t know how close I am to being finished, but I’ve made definite inroads into a respectable collection of gifts for my immediate family and a really close friend. This is a huge deal to me, because it’s been years since I’ve really felt like I gave anyone anything to speak of.

I’ve also been blessed, just today, by a blog comment. Someone who had been looking for a free copy of my book, See, I Told Me So, found my blog entry about ebook theft and posted that she (I assume a she only because it’s usually the mom looking <grin>) had been convicted and would buy a copy instead.

I am blessed that, because I got to work early enough on Black Friday to get in on the door-buster item, I am able to donate a $100 gift bag to our ladies’ group as a door prize for our Christmas party. Being able to give is important to me, so I’m thrilled that God enabled me to give so much for so little.

I’m blessed that I have two friends (If you’re reading, you know who you are) who write interactive fiction together just for fun and lately they’ve been writing a lot…. Or maybe it’s just been that long since I’ve been able to read. Over the holiday weekend, I had time to catch up and had so much fun doing something so simple. I felt like I’d been given a special gift.

I’m blessed because I’m online at all. If it had meant waiting to get cable hooked back up again, I’d still be offline, but my husband’s cell phone is with Cricket and he realized, when he paid his bill a couple months ago, that they were coming out with wireless Internet. While it’s not Roadrunner (Or Comcast) and I do have my times of frustration, it’s an affordable option that is making it possible for me even to be here.

Which is a blessing too. Staying in touch with friends and family is hard for me and blogs, email, and…believe it or not…Facebook are making such (at least semi) regular contacts possible.

I could keep going, but should stop, huh?

Yeah, I’m feeling pretty blessed lately.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

There are some wonderful, tear-jerker poems floating around the Internet. Being the stickler I am for attributing written works to the proper authors, I decided to check the Snopes reference page before sharing one particular poem with you. As it turns out, the version I read most recently has been considerably changed from the original. So, here, I share the original version.
From Snopes…

    We reproduce below Corporal Schmidt’s version as printed in Leatherneck back in 1991:

    Merry Christmas, My Friend
     
    Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
    In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

    I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
    and to see just who in this home did live

    As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
    no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
    No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
    On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

    With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
    a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
    For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen.
    This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

    I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more,
    so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
    And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
    Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

    He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
    Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
    Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
    Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

    His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
    I soon understood, this was more than a man.
    For I realized the families that I saw that night,
    owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

    Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
    And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
    They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
    because of Marines like this one lying here.

    I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
    on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
    Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
    I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

    He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
    "Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice
    I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more.
    My life is my God, my country, my Corps."

    With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
    I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

    I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
    I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.
    So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
    and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
    Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
    with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
    And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
    and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
     
    I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night,
    this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
    But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
    said "Carry on, Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all secure."
    One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
    Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

In my opinion, our soldiers deserve special treatment at Christmas. If you think so too, consider sending some warm wishes (and perhaps more) in a soldierly direction.

AnySoldier.com

Celebrating Jesus!

Tammy C

It could be one of my cats.

more animals

Hope you have more food on your plate than he does. Happy Thanksgiving!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I wonder how many times I’ve read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (aka "A Visit from St. Nicholas") without ever even wondering what a sugar-plum was.

I now know, and oh…my…goodness!

I know because friends and I recently revisited a favorite candy shop. It’s Emmy’s Sweet Shoppe and it’s in Old Town Spring, near Houston, TX. This particular candy shop specializes in candies from the 20s through the 70s - all sorts of goodies that those of us who are more mature can remember and those who are younger can seriously enjoy. We go in and wander around, delighting in rediscovering nearly-forgotten treasures.

The real treasure, though, is Baron Jackson (As in "Owned & Operated by Baron and Baroness Jackson"), who is not only a candy fan, but a bit of a historian as well. We’d not been in his shop five minutes when he was telling us about the history and creation of two of his prizes, imported just for Christmas. One was champagne bubbles, a confection (made with real champagne) that was originally designed for Queen Victoria, and the other was sugar-plums.  Both were good, but I REALLY enjoyed the sugar-plums.

The candy really does start (and end) with plums. They take plums, reduce them to jelly, and roll them in pure cane sugar. The result, especially if you like plums as much as I do, is fabulous. He gave each of us samples and I was the only one who didn’t purchase a pound. (For budgetary reasons rather than because I wasn’t interested). I wish I had; I’d love to read Moore’s poem to Connor while he nibbles on sugar-plums. Maybe I’ll luck out and make it back that way soon and (the real "luck" part of the bargain) he’ll actually have some left. He said he started taking pre-orders in August so that he’d ensure he had enough, but when we were in he was already running low.

If you have a hankering for old-fashioned candies, you might consider a trip to Texas or, if that’s a bit much, making a quick phone call. I’d send you to his website, but he says that computers are evil and must be destroyed. He said it with a smile, of course, but the translation is, "Er…no…no website, ma’am."

Lest you think it’s crazy to call a Texas candy shop for an order of sweets, consider this.

He told us of one sugar-plum order he filled. The lady called and explained that she HAD to have some. He offered to have them bagged and ready for her whens she arrived, but she explained that it was "too long of a drive."

He shipped her order to Denmark. She’d discovered sugar-plums in his shop when she was visiting the states and realized upon ariving home that she could not do without. Gotta love someone who appreciates fine candy.

Emmy’s Sweet Shoppe
315 Gentry (Gentry Square)
Old Town Spring, TX 77373
281.288.0131

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Yep.

My fellow Pirates of the Caribbean fans will be saddened to note that our funny friends aren’t the only pirates sailing the seas. Even today, piracy is a booming business and definitely no laughing matter, as you can see on Live Piracy Map 2008.

Sad, but true.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I’ve been getting some mindless necessities taken care of around here and giving my thoughts a chance to wander has led to some wishful thinking. These are things that are so UNLIKELY ever to happen…but oh, it would be nice.

I wish…

…that I could tell John that I forgave him long ago. About 25 years ago, he let his younger brother borrow my car (I’d loaned it to John) and younger brother totaled it while doing donuts in a parking lot . Recently I realized that in my last conversation with him I was still VERY upset, particularly since I’d already decided to give the car to John as soon as his parents returned from a ministry trip. Those plans got squashed along with the car and I felt like we’d both been robbed, but that didn’t stop me from forgiving him.

I wish…

…that Karen, my best friend from junior high, would pop up out of the blue. We wrote each other for YEARS after she moved away, but when I sold out to Jesus and she became an athiest the relationship was more than she could take. She informed me in her last letter that if I ever mentioned God again she would never speak to me. I told her in my last letter that He was such a huge part of my life that there was no way I could NOT mention Him. It would have been like asking someone whose language consists primarily of curse words to stop cursing. I couldn’t do what she asked, but I regretted losing her friendship.

I wish…

…that I could somehow "find" Lynn’s lost pendant. Now this one really WOULD take a hugenormous miracle! We were given matching pendants, bronze with claddaghs on the front. Her oldest daughter teethed on her pendant and left a tooth mark on the back. When she was playing a part in a renaissance festival about 15 years ago she lost it and she was devastated. Getting that pendant back into her hands would be the very best gift I think anyone could ever give her. (Hey, if you found such a pendant in the woods in Tennessee…)

I wish a lot of things. Fortunately, most of my wishes are more easily attainable than these three.

Blessings!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I love this quote by S. Augustine. It so concisely sums up my own thoughts on the issue.

We are talking about God. What wonder is it that you do not understand?
If you do understand, then it is not God.
~ St. Augustine

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

If you read my blog much, you know I am in one of the areas that was hardest hit by Hurricane Ike. Baytown suffered destruction that rivals what you saw on the national news about Galveston, but our loss is NOTHING compared to that suffered by those who call Oak Island home. One of my managers spent some time down there helping her family last week and she says it’s still total devastation. This place isn’t even a city, so they’re really on their own. Even FEMA only JUST went in and large numbers of people are "living" in tents without walls. And did I mention that it’s officially fall?

But there is help coming to them, even from one of my old favorites, Neil Diamond.

Because Oak Island is not a city, residents have had no mayor or city council to turn to for help. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also offered little to residents. Only now - two months later - has FEMA begun coming in to set up temporary housing and run power lines. Still, Oak Island residents have been working together night and day to survive. Shauberger said those who had never attended Oak Island’s only church are now there working and praying together as a single community. It is there they cook, eat and live together.

“Just last week these Vietnamese folks who had never set foot in the church before the storm came up to me and gave me an envelopes,” Shauberger said. “They said, ‘here Pastor this is some money for you for your gas. You’ve been driving all over trying to get us some help.’”

Riding on such offerings of fellowship, Shauberger has dedicated his time to telling people about Oak Island. Celebrity Neil Diamond has taken note, traveling to the little community for their monthly “business meeting” and promising 100 percent of the merchandise profits from his next 20 concerts to the community.

For the complete article, read Ike recovery coming slowly for Oak Island. Please pray for those who live there and, if you are so inclined, send them some help. You can contact Chambers County officials at 409-267-8295 and they’ll assist you in your giving.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I said in a post, not too long ago, that I was reading The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. I anticipated the book being a winner and I was totally right.

I’ve never really gotten into apologetics before. They tell me this book is all about apologetics, but it doesn’t read like I would expect an apologetics book to read. It’s fascinating and full of personality. It also, on page after page after page, presents extremely strong evidence in favor of Jesus being the resurrected Christ, the Messiah the Jews are looking for. My biggest problem, while reading, was making myself put the book down.

I encourage every Christian to read this oldie, even if you don’t think you "need" it. I would also challenge every non-believer to read it. Though if you’re determined to remain a non-believer you’d best not; you’re too likely to find your convictions changing as Strobel, an experienced legal journalist, shoots down every argument I’ve ever heard raised against Jesus being who He is.

HIGHLY recommended!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Evidently some states are realizing what homeschoolers have known for decades, that it isn’t absolutely necessary for kids to stay in school for 12 years. A Time Magazine article asks the question, "Should Kids Be Able to Graduate After 10th Grade?"

A snippet…

High school sophomores should be ready for college by age 16. That’s the message from New Hampshire education officials, who announced plans Oct. 30 for a new rigorous state board of exams to be given to 10th graders. Students who pass will be prepared to move on to the state’s community or technical colleges, skipping the last two years of high school.

Lynda Coats, of Far Above Rubies, has been saying for years that junior high is pretty much a waste since most of what is presented comes up again in high school, and that if we allow our children to start high school work when they would normally be entering 6th grade they do quite well. I know my own son (The younger one) graduated somewhat ahead of the usual schedule and he’s doing very well as an adult.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C