First World Problems

A lot of things this week have happened that have made me very hurt and angry. However, I know I am PROFUSELY blessed. So, to take the focus off of my personal hurts that will heal and/or work themselves out in time like they always do, I instead present to you, a shallow jaunt of a blog.

Tammy's Current First World Problems (Rated on a scale of 1 to 5 sad, tiny violins)

1) Birthday Cake Oreos

Okay Nabisco, seriously WHAT the heck?! Sorry, forgive my rudeness. Happy 100th birthday, Oreo! Now, you stupid jerk of a cookie company - a special flavor of Oreos that happens to be the flavor of my favorite food in the world worked into my favorite cookie in the world? That is just wrong - and information that would've been helpful to me BEFORE I made it a personal goal to lose weight.

Rating: TOTALLY 5 sad, tiny violins. Maybe more. I can tell you right now that this is my will power's kryptonite. As I wrote on a friend's facebook..."I have died and gone to heaven. And Jesus is surrounded by Oreos." - so if anyone wants to join me on the couch for some birthday cake Oreos and the latest episode of Dance Moms, feel free. Wear sweats, leggings or other pants paraphernalia that allows for an expandable waistline. I know I'll hafta!

2) Disneyland's Leap Year Party

If you haven't heard, Disneyland is staying open for an ENTIRE DAY. Or, as the commercial on their website so cruelly points out - Disneyland is staying open for 24 hours, 1440 minutes, 86,400 seconds of pure Disney goodness! And yes, east coast friends, Disney World is as well. I feel like my BFF Disneyland and I have drifted so majorly much since a) I did not know about this until this week, and b) because I am so not going!

Rating: 4 out of 5 sad, tiny violins. Because while the Oreos are not out of my budget right now, a trip to Disneyland so is. And, it does help to know that this event will in turn make hundreds of minimum-wage high school and college students miserable as they push through a 24-hour mouse fest with undoubtedly pressing crowds and a rapidly dwindling supply of Churros.

But still. Poop.

3) Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby, I freaking hate you. No, I love you. No, I hate you. I first encountered you in Arkansas and opened my big mouth to the high heavens about how this would be a GREAT store to have in California. "Come on, Hobby Lobby! Move into town and kick overpriced Michaels' butt!" I cried.

Now, there is a Hobby Lobby in Roseville - a hop, skip and a freeway merge away from us. I wished a pure wish, and the crafting Gods delivered. This place is stinking awesome - it's affordable, the selection is humongous, and I have crafted my way through Christmas, Valentine's Day, a couple of birthdays and just random Tuesday afternoons with Sam.

But, as I once learned after accidentally spending $85 at Dollar Tree, things that are affordable and fun aren't so inexpensive when you can't help but go wild. And as a bonus in Hobby Lobby's case, I have been consumed by crafting dreams and even waking up and checking my Pinterest at 3am when I'm struck with an idea. Facebook who?

So, Hobby Lobby has been stealing my time, money and healthy sleep schedule. But not my joy. No friends, never my joy. Frank is grinning and bearing through the random globs of dried glue gun and button/sequin carnage throughout our house as I live out my Martha dreams.

Rating: 2 sad, tiny violins. It's actually been a great outlet for me when my other great outlets (dance, writing, friendships) have been stressing me out. But, I do have SOME self control, and I do not own a credit card (Thank you Jesus!!!) So Hobby Lobby has left me with some stinging lust and jealousy, but I'm getting through.

4) My children
They are precious, polite, joyful, adorable and love to cuddle. They also wake up at 5am. Or, they go for what I like to call the Warta Offspring Slumber Remix - go down at 8, wake up at midnight, go back to bed, wake up at 3, then wake up for real by 6:15.

I love my kids, but come on guys! I remember the days when we used to sit around Sam's incubator in the NICU and just wait with great anticipation and excitement for his eyes to pop open so we could interact and bond. Now the kid is so dang bonded to me that he cries at the bathroom door if I refuse to let him watch me pee. So, needless to say, I am not too thrilled on occasion to see him at 3am.

And Charlotte, you are still too young and cute for me to pin anything on you other than the fact your sleepwalking roommate with his shouting-volume-only voice is disturbing your peaceful baby slumber. But I'm watching you, girlfriend.

Rating: No sad, tiny violins. Because really, who could be upset at this?

5) Attempts to Improve Things That Worked Just Fine
Facebook, already installed Apps, freeways clogged with traffic congestion due to an "expansion project", the new McChicken bites at McDonalds, and the invention of Captchas.
Rating: Can I just gather together multiple sad, tiny violins to form one giant, super violin? And then throw it?

Thank you for reading my first world problems list. And really, in all sincerity,it's best to stop and take into consideration what and who is truly valuable in one's life. There is always something to be thankful for. “Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:6)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)

<3

My Two Happy Hearts

February was fun....and now it's almost done....

Making socktupuses (socktupi?)

At Disneyland with Nana and Aunt Denice



Grew a tooth but is always trying to hide it

Made the monthly block picture much more exciting.

A happy face to always greet me.

Typical early morning.

Red velvet pancakes for a special Valentine's Day treat

Painting the tub with colored shaving cream


Big girl <3

Overly Blessed Slacker.

I suck at blogging now. There is no excuse for me. I am just so, so busy. But people, life is good. SO good. Because God is good. So even when I am not good, He is always good! But I've been good too....so that's been good :)

I have been just broken before him the past few months. I've felt like this exhausted wind-up doll who just could not break free from the burden of running a ministry, raising a family and maintaining a writing career - all of which seemed to suddenly be bigger than me. And I am an "I can do it myself, dang it!" kind of girl, so it is really hard for me to let go and let God.

So many Christians say to just do that, but come on....none of us ever do, right? But I just laid it all down in front of Him, gave him my junk pile of joys, fears and dreams...and then there was such a release, I cannot even describe it. And I was reminded of why exactly I love Him.

And even if He hadn't decided to take it away, even if it all piles up again (and it will), I know that I am safe. I am okay. I am loved.

God is just making Royal Stage stuff fall into our lap - rehearsal space, potentially a building of our own, cast replacements, a crew, a music teacher, dance teachers, and a FLIPPIN' ORCHESTRA. I mean seriously, there is a nice Guy up there that wants this all to happen, and for that I feel so tremendously humbled and blessed.

And sort of terrified. In a good way. I think.

How 'Bout THEM Apples?!

You guys, God is good. I mean, He's a really, really nice guy! When I woke up on Saturday morning, I was full of dread for the day - I knew Royal Stage was in crisis on varying levels - and it was time to share them with the spring cast. I wasn't looking forward to it. But, some great opinions were given, and more than anything, I think that we solidified ourselves as a group that prays continuously and effectively.

Because by Tuesday....drum roll please....

• We were supposed to give up our gorgeous studio space to save money, but then we received the blessing of someone providing ALL the money for our Feb and March rental!
  
• We had three holes in the cast of our show - God brought people to fill them ALL in a single weekend. And they are really talented too!
• We were down to our last dime for spring, and needed to still figure out a way to pay for sets, and a bay area high school just agreed to give us ALL their set pieces after they do Into the Woods in March. Woo!

I was so saddened, thinking we had make poor decisions this spring - but then God BROUGHT IT! I love Him.

And, as a side note, even if He chose to not help us at all - I would still love Him.

Soccer Star Sam

When you turn three years old, the whole world opens up to you. You can play board games, you can get your own water out of the fridge, and you can sign up for activities found in 2 whole pages of the local rec center guide. So I was pretty happy when Sam picked soccer....not dance!

He's been counting down to his first day for weeks, and I enthusiastically attempted to take pictures with my phone while juggling Charlie too. So...presenting Sam's first day of soccer in a multitude of blurry, crooked photographs.

He jumped right in!


Learning to "squish."


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Learning to not use his hands. This was hard.




Listening to Coach Dawn


"Don't use your hands, Sam." "I'm not!!!!"






Sam! No hands!


Kind of over it.

Bringing it in


Pep talk from Coach :)

Sam's most adoring fan.

A stamp to celebrate completion of day 1.

18 Days Late....

I have abandoned all plans of a Christmas post. It just isn't going to happen. But, I refuse to let New Year's get away from me! Sure, I am 18 days late, but it can still count right? I've got this!

2011 was an incredible year - it obviously had its struggles, but it was also such an amazing time of personal restoration. And, Royal Stage had its first productions. AND Charlotte was born. 2011, you were a winner.

Our theme for this year's RS season is "joy" and I think that identifies 2012 perfectly in all areas of my life. This year is bound to just be silly and fun, and yes, still full of challenges - but that is how we are refined. And finally, at long last....I'm cool with that.

12 Things I've Learned Going Into '12....

1. Tighten My Circles

If you're in this photo, it's not the elimination round. This is actually a snapshot from over the holidays filled with girls I want to KEEP in my life, as well as several others. I've decided you cannot lead someone to the Lord through Facebook statuses. I mean, I guess you CAN, but I don't think it's my gifting....I am going delete crazy on my friends list, going to focus on quality time and hand written letters, and hopefully have a handful of close friends, rather than 700+ faux friends. I am blessed to be close to so many girls - I want to value that and maintain the relationships that count.

2. Prayer Counts

I come from a crazy lineage. If you don't already know, we won't go there. But something even crazier happened toward the end of this past year. I started praying fervently and unabandoned. And then one of my crazy relatives accepted Christ. And then I got a phone call the other day from someone claiming to be my father, saying he loved what he was reading in the Bible. Excuse me? Who are you?! So this is likely my biggest lesson learned going into the new year - to continue to pray with urgency, with tears, with thankfulness.

3. Read More/Write More
So many books I want to read....two manuscripts I want to write.....it's time.....and yes what your English teacher said is true - the more you read, the better you will write. So let's get cracking.

4. Get Organized

This one is still very much in progress, but shockingly I learned to get organized this past year. 2012 NEEDS to be the year we get rid of every single junk drawer and abolish the lazies from this house. When we move at some point, my dream is to pack boxes and go. No sorting, having to make trips to Goodwill, etc. Just have what we need and have already shared what we don't.

5. How to Use Makeup to Look Awake
Work, ministry, marriage and two kids under 3 was the anthem of 2011. I felt like a zombie for most of the year - but good news, 2012! We've got the faux alertness thing down!
- line the inner lower lashes with white eyeliner (but be careful to not look like a clown or GaGa)
- apply mascara at an outward angle for both eyes
- use a makeup primer and an illuminator. ALWAYS.
Simple. How did I get into my 30s not knowing this? Idiot.

6. Stop Negative Self-Talk

It's true that people either usually really like me and end up hating my guts, or don't like me at first and then end up loving me. However, despite whatever side of the fence you're on, truth be told I am my own worst enemy.



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