Official countdown has begun!

Hello everyone and good evening

It is so official!
I will defend my dissertation on Friday, March 30, @ 10:00 am!
God is so good!
Can you believe it! I'm defending in just a few weeks!
So excited!
That is e day that I will ring the bell to say I am a Doctor!

I have not taken my medication in a few months and although my knees and elbows are tight I am basically feeling great!
I haven't told my doctor that I am not taking medication but I'm sure that he will find out soon enough.

On another note, please pray for my cousin...she has kidney stones and other issues with her kidneys, she has also just learned that she has tumors on her ovaries!

Pray for my mom: they have found some nodules on her thyroid but they can not do a biopsy because they are too small at the time so she has to wait 6 months, they have also found another lump in her breast which they will biopsy in six months as well. My mother had a battle previously with breast cancer and we just need a little prayer! She just lost her younger sister to breast cancer this past July!

So all prayer warriors it is time to put our prayers together yet again and pray for those who are in need.

Thank you for all of your words of encouragement and always for your prayers!

Until next time stay strong and pray for me and I will do the same for you!

God Bless

Visiting my girls!

Good evening

Hi everyone

I know that it has been a few weeks but I have been busy typing

Can you believe that within six weeks will be defending my dissertation!

My chapter 4 is due on Tuesday in its entirety to my chair!

Chapter 5 is due shortly there after

God is so great! My girls are doing wonderful in college! Tajah had a beautiful gospel concert
this evening! She sang beautifully and gave a heartfelt testimony! God moves mountains!

We went to visit Jazz last night and was able to watch her team compete! They won! Yeah! Go SJSU!

My girls are together tonight and enjoying that sisterly time to bond!

I am blessed to have such wonderful daughters that have grown into terrific women!

Until next time pray for me and I will continue to pray for you!

God bless

Hello Wednesday

Good evening

What a great Wednesday!
The sun was shining brightly and the weather
was great!

I have an amazing job! My Jesus is a great provider!
He has allowed me to see the light of a new day!
Play soccer with my students, giggle at their jokes,
and have fun teaching at the same time.

Athritis has no place in my life! I do not claim it and
I do not own it!

I love being me and being able to move and not stress
over arthritis!

Thank you Jesus for saving me!
Until next time plz pray for me
and I will continue to pray for you!
God bless

Loving the rain!

Good evening!

Can I tell u how much I love the rain!
I remember as a child and as a teenager
Sleeping to most peaceful sleep when it rained!
I loved hearing it on my window and on the roof!
What great memories!
As an adult I loved being able to sit in front
Of the fire and cuddle up with a good book underneath
a thick blanket! It's the best!

Now I love being able to smell the rain, feel it
against my skin, taste it (yeah I know) jumping
in a puddle like a kid ...

Well can I tell you I have the silliest students
ever! Thu truly make me smile! We all wear our
rain boots when it rains now and instead of telling the
kids not to splash in the puddles because they find them
all big or small it doesn't matter they find them! We
Walk through the. And we swoosh through them and we talk
about the sounds that a swoosh makes and we laugh as
as we try to make the sound!

See being able to feel the rain is a blessing!
Being able to run through a puddle is another!

I could have allowed the weather to keep me
down and defeated this morning but I didn't!
I chose to embrace the day! To embrace the smiles!
I chose to get up from my bed and not let the aches and
pains that accompany rheumatoid arthritis keep me
down or defeated! I chose to jump in a puddle!

What a great day to love the rain!

Until next time please continue to pray for me and I will pray for you!
Jump in the puddles! Smile a little!
Enjoy life as it comes! Love the rain!

Tricky Thursday

Good Evening

Today I was given the opportunity of being Principal for the day ...
Oh my goodness!... Seriously...how crazy are the issues of elementary school!
To say the least this is what I had to deal with for today:

1. a student that stated to another student you either leave this country or I will bring a gun to school and kill you! (first grade)

2. another student throwing papers in the classroom at another student! (sixth grade)

3. another student being disrespectful to the teacher and continued to make fun of the teacher in class during class (fifth grade)

4. then there were four other students... girls! that were enrolled in drama issues....she said...she said...she said...she said some more.... (third grade)

5.  then another student was not picked up by her mom until two hours after school was over!!!! Really! And the student hee hee hee told her mom, "hey that lady said this is not a babysitting service here in the office!" ha ha ha ha....(I'm the lady)

6.  A parent came in at the end of the day to state that her son was being picked on by two students (I get to deal with that first thing in the morning)

7.  Younger students being bullied by upper graders in the after school program....that I get to deal with tomorrow afternoon!

8. My class was truly great today! Yeah! love those little guys!....

I get to be principal all over again tomorrow! Woot! Woot!

To God be the Glory!

Can I tell you that God is so good because through it all I get to minister to these children in a way that is acceptable in the Public school system....Thank you God

The RA at least was under control for today...could be because I was so busy keeping up with such a great group of kids...

Well until the next time please continue to pray for me and for all students...and I will continue to pray for you!

God Bless!

Tuesday! Woot! Woot!

Good evening everyone!

What a great Tuesday!
I am officially 100 days from graduation!
Yeah!

I can not believe it! Whoa! What a blessing!

In these years that I have been pursuing my Doctorate degree...I have had some "rough" days with this rheumatoid arthritis and I have had some "good" days with rheumatoid arthritis!  

It has most certainly been quite a roller coaster ride but nothing can compare to the feeling of being 100 days from graduation!

Can not wait....

Okay: Arthritis junk

My knees have been swollen and very achy...by the time I get home in the evening I am walking as if I was an old lady on some days...very slow and dragging...I take a hot bath every evening so that I can give my body the time that it needs to relax and loosen up in order to go to sleep.

My elbows, my wrist and my hands have been screaming because they are just on overdrive mode but I will not give in nor give up...I am holding fast on my faith...I know that I will be delivered from this debilitating illness because I claim my healing....In Jesus' name....

Until next time...please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you....

Absolutely the greatest thing I have ever heard!

Good afternoon everyone!

I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend!

Church service was just amazing yesterday and it was just an awesome day....even if I spent the time after church with just the girls...Mindy, Porsche, Shelby and Mercedes....
Everyone is back at school...routines are back to normal...Isaiah went to a friends house after church....and Rico was at the golf course.... Empty nest...is an understatement...hee hee hee...

But my girls kept me quite good company as I worked on my Chapter 4 and making it tell a story....

Came to work today and wouldn't you know it ....both of my assistants were absent today....Way to start the week! But my kiddos stepped up to the plate and were absolutely the greatest class today....No MELT DOWNS! Yeah!

Smooth sailing.....

Then to make a good day great I received the best text ever from my husband...
"I just had a flash of you graduating and it brought tears to my eyes! I am so proud of you!"

Can I tell you that regardless of any aches and pains related to arthritis! regardless to the medications that I am supposed to take....regardless of the amount of work that I have to continue to put into my dissertation! can I tell you that those have been the best words that I could hear!

I could not have done all that I have without God and the loving support of my husband!

Wow!

Until next time....continue to pray for me and know that I am praying for you...

Awkward or Blessing

Good Evening

Have you ever had one of those moments when you just were not sure if it was an awkward moment or a blessing?

Well, I am still trying to decide which one I have had...

I know that God is still in the business of making miracles happen so I am going to stand firm on that the moment I am referring is a Blessing.

I will not let satan take my joy because he does not have that power over me...Jesus is still in control of my life...and no matter what that moment tried to do...I am ok with the moment...

Because:

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...
I once was lost but now I am found...was blind but now I see...

T'was Grace that taught my heart to feel,
and Grace my fears relieved...how precious that day that Grace appeared...the hour I first believed...

My chains are gone...I have been set free...My God, My Savior...has ransomed me...And like a flood, His Mercy reigns, unending love, Amazing Grace...

The Lord has promised good to me...His word my hope secures...He will my shield and portion be...
As long as life endures....

My chains are gone...I have been set free...My God, My Savior...has ransomed me...And like a flood, His Mercy reigns, unending love, Amazing Grace...My chains are gone...I have been set free...My God, My Savior...has ransomed me...And like a flood, His Mercy reigns, unending love, Amazing Grace..

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow...the sun forbear to shine...But God, who call me here below...
Will be forever mine...will be forever mine... YOU are forever mine..."

Sung by: Chris Tomlin...

These are many of the words that get me through the day no matter if it is "a moment" or arthritis...

God has saved me...He is forever mine...My Hope is secured in His word! Amen!

God's love has taught me to truly understand the difference between Awkward and a Blessing...I choose to see this moment that I speak of as a Blessing...because God is in all things...He is in control...no matter what...

Thank you Lord for getting me through this moment and so many others...that have were in the past and I am sure there are many more to come....but I will not fear for thou art with me...

So until next time...pray for me and I will continue to pray for you....

God Bless....

What a beautiful Sunrise!

Hello everyone,

I used to think the best time of the day was when you could jump into your bed and sleep! (back when I was a teenager and all I did was sleep!!!)

Now as an adult I truly believe that the best times of the day are sunrise and sunset!
This is the time of day when you can see God's artistic creativity at it's best! The colors are amazing! They are vibrant and exciting! They make you say, "Thank you God for giving me the gift of sight!"
Wow! I enjoy waking up each and every morning to see what He has painted for me!
It is so beautiful and it never ceases to amaze me!

See what I mean? The colors are beautiful! There are purples, yellows, pinks, blues, etc.

It makes you want to get up in the morning to see what will be there next!

It helps me to remember the good days are  still good days....and the not so good days are still good days!

This tells me: Tammy, Look at what God has created so that you can enjoy it! Get up! Go to work and forget the aches and pains that may come on occasion! Enjoy life for what it is worth. Don't worry about things that we can not change but work on what you can...Go out there and exercise...walk...walk and pray...walk and praise Him...walk...and see what God has done for you!..Amen...

Until next time....please keep me in prayer and I will do the same for you!

Enjoy the sunrises....Amen

Hallelujah

Thank you God! Thank you all for all of your prayers! What a great meeting today! God is so good! Amen! All the time! Outcome of meeting: 1) new committee member assigned 2) person assigned has been assigned because of their experience with biblical matters. (others not sure what to do with papers that have scriptures throughout) thank you Lord! 3) we are in track for graduation Other info: 1) friends and family calling with their flight schedules 2) so excited 3) mom and auntie always praying 4) grandmother is excited and can't wait to come 5) haven't had time to feel the issues with RA because it's been a great day even with the rainy day! 6) love my students! They are truly the most interesting bunch! God bless you all...until next time please continue to pray for me and I will continue to pray for you! Amen!

Bittersweet!

Hello everyone

God's Blessings!

It has been such a great weekend! We have been to a wedding, we danced, and
enjoyed our friends from church!
We were able to see Tajah! yeah!
But tomorrow Jazzy will go back to school to finish her Freshman year!
I can not believe that my girls are all in college!
Two are about to graduate and the third is just at the beginning of her journey!
What a blessing that is to have three girls in college and taking that journey to being leaders in this world!
Thank you God for the blessing of my girls and their wonderful gift of being strong Christian women!

Until next time...please pray for me while I continue to pray for you!
I have an appointment with my committee chair on Monday evening so please keep that in prayer and ask God to intervene with my committee! In Jesus' name...Amen!

It has been such a blessing!

Hello Everyone!

First I want to thank my aunt for reminding me not to claim the RA as MINE!
So, I hand it over to Jesus and let Him deal with the issue.
I am so blessed to be able to do the things that I do!
I can walk, run, jump, jog, exercise and work out!

It is so great to have family! It is great to have people that care surround you and pray for you!
I am so blessed to have each and everyone of you that follow my blog because I have prayer warriors on my side each and every day that pray for that Rheumatoid Arthritis to be delivered from our bodies. Amen!

So I thank you for always being in my court, on my side and on my prayer team!

It is such a blessing to have each of you on my side!

So back to writing my dissertation it is!

God Bless

Until the next time, please continue to pray for me and I will continue to pray for you!

If you hear of any new treatments for RA please let me know!
I am trying not to eat red meat so we will see how that goes...
Thanks

Thank You! Martin Luther King, Jr.

I do not say thank you for the day off but Thank You for the fight you had within you to make a change in our lives for today!
Thank you to your family for their sacrifice!
Thank you to those that marched with you!
Thank you for having a dream!

Today was one of those days in which I can just be excited to just be me!
Nothing special happened!
Nothing special occurred!
I was just free to be me!

I woke up this morning and although the Arthritis that runs through my body...keeps me on my toes and at times in pain...I am free to be me...Free to dream....Free to vote...Free to speak...Free to pray...Free to sing...Free to just be...Just free...

Thank you to all of those who have paved the path for all of us!

So until the next time, I will pray for you and continue to pray for me....
God Bless...

Great Sunday

Today was a great day!
Church was amazing!
The message was good!

My hands were swollen and joints were achy but I was able to raise my arms and praise Him!

So my message for RA today is God is good and I was there to tell Him yet another day how great He is!

Praise Him in the morning!
Praise Him in the evening!
Praise Him all the time!

Until next time...please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you!

Productive Weekend

Good Evening

This has been a good couple of days...
My students yesterday were pretty funny and had a great day!
They laughed and learned and told me to have a great weekend!
All was good! The crazy bus driver and crazy teacher from the day before were
in a different type of mood since it was a Friday and the bus driver even apologized to me...Whoo hoo!

Today, I met my buddy Judy at the library and we worked all day!
I added about 6 pages to one of my chapters and anyone who has written a dissertation understands that six pages is quite an accomplishment!

I am now currently working on a clear definition of a "Christian School"
Yeah! now that is a feat in itself! That is my next goal!

My arthritis also has a mind of its own...I still have difficulty each and every morning getting my day started due to stiffness. But I am still able to get up and get going...It takes me about 45 minutes as part of my routine.  My evening routine, takes about 30 minutes in order for me to get ready to loosen up prior to going to bed at night...

My joints have been inflamed and swollen. My feet are also swelling as well...I did notice some weird bruising that appeared and it usually comes and goes without having bumped into anything...

Anyway...I thank you all for reading my blog... and understanding that it does not always deal with my RA but at times my blog is about making it through each day with prayer and my belief in Jesus Christ.

Until the next time, keep me in prayer and I will continue to pray for you!

God Bless you all...

PS. Thank you Babe for that GREAT chicken salad!

Thursday Thursday! Tsk Tsk

Well Thursday started out with a bang! From the moment I woke up until the time I went to bed First thing in the morning I was attacked by the coffee pot! Coffee everywhere! Then driving to work, well I went to have a siP of that same coffee and wouldn't you know that since I left my favorite cup at work the one I chose has the lid that is difficult for those with arthritis to close correctly and hello attack of the coffee again over my clothes! Thank God I wore a black top yesterday! At work, well attack of the crazy jealous teacher at the bus! Maybe she did not take her happy pill and her and grouchy bus driver could not find their happy place and joined forces against a few others yesterday! Hmmmm Thursday! Thursday! Then the infamous meeting I was waiting for! Can I tel u that God is good all the time and all the time God is good! I have a few changes to work on so I will be busy which is why this was written this morning and not last evening! I will not let others take my joy! That is correct! I am a child of God! I am His faithful servant! I have been through a lot in this lifetime! More than many of you know! This is my destiny! It is my time! God has my back! Jesus is the only one who answers my door! So Satan, Good luck! Until next time please continue to pray for me and I will most certainly pray for you God Bless

Weird Wednesday!

Work was terrific! Worked out and did 2 miles! Yeah! Okay then after work a special education meeting! Then off to the university to work at typing more of Chapter 4. So much work! Stress is not great for Rheumatoid Arthritis! Ugh! So while at the library my committee Emailed me that they would not have comments to my first Three chapters until I could send them my appendices first! Really! What is that about! Ugh! Pray for me and I will pray for you! Will keep you posted on the committee information! Ugh!

Tuesday exercise!

Hello everyone! May God's blessings be upon you all! We had a great day today! Walked two miles! Staff meeting was great! Students were super great today They worked hard and were excited about exercising! We got another class that is joining us tomorrow and So it begins! Exercise is a great way to get your joints in action! It's time again to get my team together for the arthritis walk! Go team Tammy! It will be at six flags Magic Mountain! June 3,2012! Guess my grad guests will be part of my team! Yeah! Can't wait! Judy are you in? Maria are you in? Okay short and sweet today! God bless! Until next time I will pray for you! Please pray for me and don't forget to pray for each other!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!

It has been such a great day!

I have been Blessed with such a great day that I know that I am Blessed and highly favored by God!

My life is such a gift that I know God keeps me near His arms!

My aunt and I keep in touch daily and it is such a blessing to have that ability! We have realized how far our family has come! We have had family members that have gone on to be with Jesus but were Blessed that right before their passing were able to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Isn't God good! That right before they died, God gave them the ability to say yes! to Him and to His will! Amen!

Thank God for His mercy and grace!

I am so proud to be a Christian! I am so Blessed to have the ability of being able to know that I was able to say "Yes" to His will and His way since I was sixteen years old!

I woke up this morning rejuvenated and replenished! Being able to go to church on a Sunday gives me the ability to get the energy that I need to endure each week!

I was able to wake up this morning with a renewed strength! My joints were pain free today! I was not stiff! I was able to get up and dressed in less than 45 minutes! Yeah! Woot! Woot!

Today was a good day! I praise Him on my good days and I praise Him on my days that are not so great! Thank you for a good day Lord!

So I thank you all for your prayers because today I was able to move around today!

Until the next time...I will keep YOU in prayer and please continue to pray for me!

God Bless you!

Talk to you later Titi! Miss you

Sweet Sunday!

Hello Everyone

Sunday's are such sweet and blissful! Being able to attend church and to praise God is a blessing that I can not describe!

Having the ability to raise your hands towards the heavens in honor Of our Lord and Savior is one of the greatest things we can do.

 Having Rheumatoid Arthritis can have an effect On my daily routine but it does not stop me from lifting my hands to praise Him! Amen!

Today I have spent My time typing more on my chapter 4 and waiting for my committee to send changes regarding my chapters 1-3 but nothing yet! God tells us to be patient! To wait on His time and not our time so I am trying to follow His will and not my own. At times this is very difficult to do!

 I thank you all for reading my blog and taking the time to respon at times with prayers and comments.

I appreciate the feedback.

I appreciate the emails that I receive from each of you giving me the strength, courage and the motivation that I need to continue on this journey that God has placed me on.

Good night and thank you all for being there for me...

Until the next time...continue to pray for me and I will continue to pray for you!

God Bless