Welcome Fall Break

I realize no one is ready my blog, but that is ok! I don't have but a few sweet followers and friends who check the blog out when I post to Facebook.

I'm am welcoming a break in the school calendar. The students and faculties are so ready! This year feels stressful for many of my educator friends in Tennessee. The new evaluation system seems to have so many stressed and ready to give up on educating our future. I hope they can work their way through this latest attack on our profession.

I'm planning on spending my break quilting, stitching and doing needlework on my sweet friend Keisha's bridal veil.  She is getting married next weekend and I'm so excited for her and her fiance. I don't know how my friend Cindy (her mom) has made it through this year, all four children have added spouses!

I've also jumped off the deep end in a new area of my life. I've become a Scentsy consultant. I have a long background in retail and I love sales. I saw the warmer on Plumstreet Samplers and knew it was something I'd love to have in my home. I had my first party this week!  Big shout out to my friend Leigh who hosted for me. We had a lot of fun and sniffed a lot of fragrances. If you want to try it out, check out my Scentsy page.

Last, please pray for my worship leader Jimmy and his sweet wife Kim. They are expecting little Ruthie in the next few days and we are asking God to work miracles in Ruthie's life. She has a health issue and as a result is being born at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. God has worked major miracles in her life already and we know He has more planned!

In His hands,

Tracy

Timely Posts

I realize the reason I haven't started a blog before this summer is that I don't have much to say. Some friends would disagree with that statement. :) I read a lot of blogs and follow them daily. But I'm just not as wordy or eloquent. Thus, only weekly posts here so far.

Saturday, I had the privilege of attending a Living Proof Simulcast. It was an awesome day of worship and study. We delved into a character study of Luke; who he was and how he came to be one of Christ's followers and a major contributor to the New Testament. I really enjoyed the study and it reminded me of vintage Beth Moore studies. Really felt drenched in the Holy Spirit.

Last night, I was noticing a light out of my blinds and realized it was the moon. So I drug my tripod outside and set it up. I didn't take any outstanding pictures, but I do have one to share.

 

I love the fact that I'm still learning to take my camera off program mode and use it in manual. This has been a major accomplishment for me. But I'm still learning the ins and outs of settings. I couldn't get the white balance right on the roses. The color is really blown out. I was really just playing with learning the depth of field on the lens I was using (50 mm prime 1:1.8) and didn't stress the color balance.

I am a horrible yard owner. I've let the weeds grow around my knock out roses. I really need to get outside and clip them away.

You can ALSO tell I'm a horrible yard owner by the fact that the second picture is of poke berries.  I've had many poke plants come up in the fence row flowers. I got tired of pulling them up and now I'm kind of glad I didn't pull up the last batch, the pink stems are gorgeous.

I also have had a rogue tomato plant grow right outside the porch. I pulled one up in the mulch by the front door and really thought to myself that I was nuts and there was no way I had a tomato plant growing in the mulch. But my yard laziness proved me sane. There are lots of little tomatoes on the plant I didn't pull up. I doubt they will develop enough to be eaten before the first frost. But I have gotten a good laugh at myself and God's humor. I had wanted to plant containers of tomatoes on the porch this spring and never got around to it. So He's making sure I get some tomatoes despite myself.

Be Blessed

Tracy

A little stitching

I actually found a little odd time to squeeze in stitching. I started Lizzie Kate's Big Girl Panties. I love this saying and this design!

Saturday Stitching

I've finally had a stitching finish! I think this may be my first and only finish of the year!  How sad am I?

The design is by 4 My Boys and it was a freebie. I radically changed all the colors and I'm going to make a pillow out of  it. I wish I knew how to do cute flat folds. But finishing is my downfall.

I plan on framing this little piece, it is by Lizzie Kate and I stitched it one over one. I've had it finished and waiting for the framing fairy to come and put it together. I think she lost my address, so I've dug and found the frame, glass and pins and I'm ready to put it together.

I must say that the white balance on my camera and I had loud arguments today. The camera won and I did a little photo editing and the colors are still not vibrant. But I can live with them.

Happy Saturday!

Tracy

Quick check in

Just doing a quick post. I hope to post some pictures of a new finish tomorrow. Light isn't right to take photos tonight.

I am very thankful for a three day weekend. This school year is going really well. But because of changes in our teacher evaluation system it seems as though a lot of my coworkers are really stressed. I've been to several TEA regional meetings and the feeling seems to stretch across Tennesse.

On a happy note, Carmen and I spent some time at a couple of Nashville art exhibits and I took a few pictures. But I can't seem o get them uploaded. :(. Why do I keep having blogging issues?

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm very thankful for my coworkers. They make laugh, they make me cry, and they are always willing to help one another.

I'm also very thankful for my Dad. Today is the fifth anniversary of his death. I still miss him so very much! I have my love of traveling because if him. He went all over the world with work. Because of him, I traveled to Alaska this summer. He gave me a burning desire to see the area where he worked for thirteen years. I know I will return and I would love to see more of the state. It was all I thought it would be and there is much left to discover.

Dad in La Carmen Bolivia

Dad came from a big family, seven total, four brothers and three sisters. Dad was the first to pass, Aunt Edith (the oldest) has since passed away. Uncle Lonnie and Dad were really close. This is my favorite picture of them. Uncle Lonnie is the last of the siblings to live in Texas. 

Weekend Wonders

This weekend has felt like a roller coaster. I hung on tight for the ride!

Friday was the 2nd anniversary of mom's death. It was a very emotional day. I chose to spend the evening and Saturday working with Rising Above Ministry at By the Brook. This is a retreat they hold for mother's with special needs children.

I am blessed to be friends with Jeff, Becky, and Jon Alex Davidson. They head this ministry. I have served as the media person on the worship team at all the By the Brook retreats. I started the summer mom battled cancer and I often think I was ministered to more at the retreat than the moms!  

This retreat I had the privilege of teaching a class on quick inductive Bible study. There were such sweet ladies in the class, some very new to Bible study. It was awesome of God to give me the privilege of starting them on the journey of studying His Word.

Sunday was a full morning of church, working media for three services makes for a full morning. I took the night off from The Source which is our single's ministry. I had too much laundry and other home jobs to catch up on. I'm feeling very blessed and God answered my prayers of Friday morning to please let me feel His love and arms surround me. He is so good!

This one of my all time favorite pictures of mom taken on our trip to Key West.