Secrets and Celebrations

Yay! May celebrations abound! The world is more ...

2012-05-13T12:12:59.779-05:00

Yay! May celebrations abound! The world is more beautiful because God dreamed you into being!

yay! congrats on life. And Martha will be in the U...

2012-05-12T21:41:26.518-05:00

yay! congrats on life. And Martha will be in the US for your birthday unless she decides to just sail around the world and not get off the boat. :oP -michele

That is beautiful Tina! I can relate a bit, I rea...

2012-05-12T00:35:13.684-05:00

That is beautiful Tina! I can relate a bit, I really really hope to grow old. I embrace my gray hairs because it means I am still alive! Happy Birthday sweet friend! I don't know if I'll have access then, so I'll wish you now :). Love you!

Tina, I've been wondering and worrying about y...

2011-12-26T18:04:34.278-06:00

Tina, I've been wondering and worrying about you and your all-around "situation" for quite a while. I just read every word of your 12/24/11 message, and it breaks my heart to understand that you've been in so much pain and had so many trials, and lived so "poorly." I'm glad you shared this message, but, as usual, I don't know how to help; and, believe me, I SO WANT TO HELP. I'd love to have an even closer relationship with you and support you when you're down. I don't know how or what to do; but if you tell me/ call me/ ask, I will always answer the very best that I can. I thought of you yesterday and hoped that you were having a good Christmas; I wish that all your days could be good days, but that's not the way life is. God put you on my heart years ago, as I think you know, but I've had so few chances to help/ or even try to help you that it seems I've done nothing. Seeing you last year was GREAT, GREAT FUN. I hope I can see you again sometime soon. I'm a really good listener, so call me any time.
Love & hugs to you, Tina,
Aunt Judy

Tina! I love these quotes. I have one to share wit...

2011-08-27T19:38:27.771-05:00

Tina! I love these quotes. I have one to share with you related to the one you posted about friendship.
"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."
-George Washington
You are a friend who has my confidence, but I wish had more of my daily life. In other words, I miss you! I've enjoyed reading your blog today. I'd love to meet Rogan someday.
Lots of love, Susan

I'm cool with creative food, but I passionatel...

2010-12-13T11:36:18.803-06:00

I'm cool with creative food, but I passionately can't stand pretentious restaurants! If they require reservations, it's probably not worth it to me.

WOW! To me, it is always hard to choose food on th...

2010-07-29T13:24:20.210-05:00

WOW! To me, it is always hard to choose food on the first few dates. Heaven forbid I slurp spaghetti on my white shirt! However it sounds like this restaurant doesn't serve you any food! So it must have been an awkward moment when you found out he was an atheist.

Thanks for sharing the story!

- Kate

beautiful thoughts, tina. the pain and the delight...

2010-04-27T21:59:01.237-05:00

beautiful thoughts, tina. the pain and the delight all tangled up together and you carry on a legacy of what was best in your mother. oh what a joyful reunion awaits both of you some bright morning! many hugs, my friend. lov,e

Tina, this was beautiful. Thank you for sharing t...

2010-04-27T14:36:03.476-05:00

Tina, this was beautiful. Thank you for sharing this and inviting us into this part of your life. Peace be with you as you remember, grieve, and celebrate.

I can honestly say that your mom was a FOX! She r...

2010-04-27T12:16:09.711-05:00

I can honestly say that your mom was a FOX! She really was so beautiful and even though I know your story and your struggles with your mother, I am so sorry that you had to lose her before she could know the woman that you are and that you became.

This was really beautiful and I am praying for you that today is not just a day of mourning but a day of celebration for your mother. Love you friend!

Beautifully written, Tina. I love the pictures, t...

2010-04-26T21:48:10.621-05:00

Beautifully written, Tina. I love the pictures, too, and the note your mom wrote. Thanks so much for sharing this. Praying for you as you remember your sweet mom.

Tina, I don't know that I have the words to &...

2010-04-26T21:33:02.265-05:00

Tina,

I don't know that I have the words to "comment". My heart is with you my friend, my arms are hugging you.

Love you,
Beth

Hmm, that does sound pretty elaborate to just be a...

2009-12-20T23:31:47.367-06:00

Hmm, that does sound pretty elaborate to just be a scam. Though it reminds me of a time recently, when someone asked me for gas money in a parking lot "to get to a job interview 10 miles away". I casually strolled to their car (which was still running) and saw they had over half a tank!

"It's almost full -- you'll get there fine!" I replied. Then they proceeded to first try and convince me that they needed more than half a tank to go 10 miles! Quickly failing that, they vehemently asserted that their gas gauge had just broken! Um yeah :) I'm interested to see how it goes with your experience though!

hee-hee. super groovy. Love it. Esp the quotes. :0...

2009-11-13T07:49:39.771-06:00

hee-hee. super groovy. Love it. Esp the quotes. :0)
-m

Yay for fun projects! Nice work, Tina!

2009-11-10T21:58:14.452-06:00

Yay for fun projects! Nice work, Tina!

What a fun post, Tina!!! I LOVE that collage! Gr...

2009-11-10T19:37:28.539-06:00

What a fun post, Tina!!! I LOVE that collage! Great ideas on both projects :).

Yes, it's such a special time with our little ...

2009-11-02T10:22:58.304-06:00

Yes, it's such a special time with our little girls. Of course, it helps that, at that age, they think daddy is super-cool no matter what he does :)

totally love it! awesome. speaking of kids, I was ...

2009-10-09T09:17:19.889-05:00

totally love it! awesome. speaking of kids, I was having dinner with the Lafferty's and Adriaan (almost 3) was super talkitive and Will said to him, "I don't think you've used up all your words today." Adriaan says, "Yea, I have words." Was too cute. He a very articulate kid. Isaiah Rees is too. Hope you have a great weekend. It's raining today here but we are suppose to have cool weather here this weekend which is pretty exciting!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

2009-10-08T14:59:31.564-05:00

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Kristen, I miss you too! Our small group missing a...

2009-09-05T13:37:09.189-05:00

Kristen, I miss you too! Our small group missing all of you! Have you received your furniture yet? What craziness!

tina your garden is beautiful! i hope that you are...

2009-09-04T21:35:55.411-05:00

tina your garden is beautiful! i hope that you are doing well. we miss you and sean!

Tina!!!! That is so awesome! I love vegetable ga...

2009-08-18T09:15:41.611-05:00

Tina!!!! That is so awesome! I love vegetable gardens. We have one it seems every other year because on the off years something overwhelming happens that prevents us :). This year is one of those off years, but I am so excited about next spring. Of course I am banned from touching any soil for the next 6 or 7 months, but I can watch Dave and the girls! Much love to you girl!

fun pics. Your garden and flowers look great. My p...

2009-08-09T20:52:11.158-05:00

fun pics. Your garden and flowers look great. My poor plants don't like the 100 degree weather here.
-m

Hi, Martha, Thanks for your message. I so apprecia...

2009-08-08T01:19:33.002-05:00

Hi, Martha, Thanks for your message. I so appreciate hearing from you. I'm glad it was good to read for you. It's funny; I've been dreaming about my mom a lot lately. But I think the dreams are often of me confronting her and showing her that I've grown up and I'm not just a kid anymore. I hope that means that I am being more responsible for my own life and not just being a doormat for other people, and am learning to be more forceful when I need to be. I think this is especially something I've struggled with in the past in work situations.

Did I tell you how much I am honored to see how you and David are dealing with your situation with the kids? I can't believe the difference in your ways of thoughtful parenting, combined with an awesome Christian community, in loving on the kids during this time. It's so encouraging for me to see that! You are amazing, Martha.

Martha, Turkey is really fascinating. A friend of ...

2009-08-08T00:45:49.309-05:00

Martha, Turkey is really fascinating. A friend of mine just got back from a 12 day trip and was so impressed. I really never considered it before, but now it has peaked my interest!