Tarsha's Treasure Chest

Oh the people you meet...

2011-06-03T12:12:00.016-04:00

Meet Ms. ~~Security~~ Crossing Guard Lady

(picture from google to protect the privacy of the real one, but she closely resembles her)

In the past 8 months I have had many encounters with a certain crossing guard. Like twice a day four days a week worth of them! You see, my morning 'Driver' job for little girls to preschool and daycare has me passing one school twice in a matter of 15 minutes. Its a busy time of the morning commute and the 20MPH sign is flashing through the school zone both ways. It must be said that while it was a busy time, and it is a school zone, I hardly saw many children at all. I rarely had to stop for her to do her actual crossing duty.

Since the beginning, she has enjoyed scolding me, or at least that is how I felt about the whole situation! She takes her job very seriously people! I almost recommended her for security at the royal wedding! I know the importance of driving carefully, especially in a school zone during peak times, and I appreciate her job, but my oh my did this lady get on my nerves!

Let me explain. She wears her bright lime green security vest, her top hat and dark sunglasses that resemble the ones police wear accessorized with enough authority to run the country! Her eyes are constantly staring someone down, her brow in a frown of disappointment and her hands pointing at a car with her famous condescending SLOW DOWN* wave. Just this week for the first time, I got a 2 and a 0 thrown at me!! Two weeks ago when it was raining, I got the closed umbrella pointed right at the 20MPH sign! Oh ya, she means business!

The first time, back in the fall, when she deemed my speed more than 20MPH, I felt bad and wanted to disappear. Her scolding had me shaking in my boots! Then in the very same week, as I kept my eyes darting back and forth furiously between the road and my speedometer to make sure it was 19MPH or less, I got her condescending slow down wave. Well Ms. ~~Security~~ Crossing Guard Lady, I wasn't going over the speed limit!! For those of you who know me well, I'm okay with admitting when I am wrong. As a young child I pretty much weighed the consequences with the actions, and if the actions seemed worth the consequences, well I went ahead and did it. I even reminded my mother to spank me when we returned home. But I digress. I wasn't speeding and Ms. ~~Security~~ Crossing Guard Lady didn't even appreciate my 19MPH or less when I was doing it!

This winter I tried to make friends with her in my head. I tried to ignore her condescending slow down wave, and her scowl, and her head shaking, and her pointing, etc etc. I almost got her a hot chocolate on a freezing cold day when I felt bad she was out there in the frigidness. Then I pictured her refusing it, assuming I spit or put something else in it. Some days I smiled at her while she gestured her usual gestures. Some days I completely ignored her, while others I went 21 MPH just because. Oh, I can be passive aggressive with the best of them! Other days I did 18MPH because I wanted to see what she'd do with that. Let's just say she wasn't very consistent in her guessing of my MPH, and quite frankly, that got to me! Mind you, I was rarely the only car in line, and while we made eye contact many days, these gestures were not just for me. She's generous!

So all this to say, yesterday was my final day as 'Driver'. I no longer have to see Ms. ~~Security~~ Crossing Guard Lady and her many gestures of, well, safety for the kids, I hope!

*She is mouthing it as well, but I'm pretty sure she wants you to hear her yelling it at YOU!

"My nane taught me how to ti my shos."

2011-04-28T13:14:00.006-04:00

Remember this?

Well this came home from school with Matthew yesterday.

Annie said I should have it.

It will go in my special box for sure!

My Hope is in You God, but my Joy is in...

2011-04-25T10:40:00.036-04:00

...Bulgaria (with Randall)! Far, far away! My great friend Joy (as in the Joy in Harper Joy) went to Bulgaria with her husband Randall for 27 months. They joined the Peace Corp and are now pursuing their passions of travel and service work. I am very happy for them and I know they are happy too, but I miss them! We have Skyped and texted, but its not the daily chitchat we are used to. The plan is to meet up next summer in Bulgaria and travel to Greece. I'm quite excited for that!

A little trip down memory lane...

Pool party

Halloween (Fancy Nancy and a Lightbulb)

Polo Match

Ipswich Triathlon

July 4th

Camping in New Hampshire

Building Harper Joy

3Day Walk Boston

A trip to Maine

Andrew and Amanda's wedding

Rob Bell in Boston

Boston

Mustard and Ketchup :) ~ My 28th birthday

I love you guys! Miss you and think of you often. I pray your time in Bulgaria is blessed with many lessons and experiences. My hope is that you'll enjoy yourselves, learn A LOT, your marriage will continue to blossom, and in 26 months (1 month down!) you'll return to Massachusetts!

Dear God,

Thank You for placing these two wonderful people in my life when You did. They have both been such a blessing to me, as friends and family. Their love of You and their walk with You inspires me to be more Christ like. Their honesty and unconditional love for me has been amazing. Its been such an adventurous journey with them in my community. I cherish all of our memories made so far and I look forward to many more. Please keep them safe and happy God, and stay close during the hard times. Fill their Peace Corps journey with lots of joy, faith, hope, and love. And please squeeze me in there too!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

"I will wait for you" by Poet JANETTE...IKZ

2011-04-09T19:57:00.014-04:00

First, I LOVE this poem. Second, how did this girl know my story? Oh I'm not the only one whose impatient and takes things into her own hands?! My favorite words come in the criteria she sets for knowing when its 'him' and the promises of where she'll be. Last but not least, I am reminded {AGAIN} that I need to die to self. EVERY.DAY. And I'll be busy while I wait, because these Ladies have BIG shoes to fill.

And I will know you

Because when you speak

I will be reminded of Solomon’s wisdom

Your ability to lead will remind me of Moses

Your faith will remind me of Abraham

Your confidence in God’s word will remind me of Daniel

Your inspiration will remind me of Paul

Your heart for God will remind me of David

Your attention to detail will remind me of Noah

Your integrity will remind me of Joseph

And your ability to abandon your own will, will remind me of the disciples.

But your ability to love selfishly and unconditionally will remind me of Christ.

...

And you will know me and you will find me

Where the boldness of Ester meets the warm closeness of Ruth

Where the hospitality of Lydia is aligned with the submission of Mary

Which is engulfed with the tears of a praying Hannah

I will be the one drenched in Proverbs 31, waiting for you.

But, to my Father, who has known me before I was birthed into this earth

Only if You should see fit.

I desire Your will above mine

So even if You call me to a life of singleness, my heart is content with You.

The One who Is.

You are the greatest love story ever told, the greatest love ever known.

You are forever my judge and I am forever Your witness.

And I pray that I am always found on a mission about my Father’s business.

I will always be Yours.

And I will always wait for You Lord

More than the watchmen wait for the morning.

More than the watchmen wait for the morning,

I will wait.

Tarsha's Treasure Chest is INDEED overflowing!

2011-04-04T12:29:00.031-04:00

Julissa, Tracy, Johanna & Ben Corey!

Hannah, who is SO excited to have some girl cousins close to her age! I told the girls I'd greet them at the airport with big hugs, so of course I did! :) The Grandchildren (all a little overwhelmed!) Johanna is saying Hola to a familiar face, Abuleo! Johanna held right on tight to my hands. She was a little timid. Julissa was looking for that familiar face too! Liam (3) Johanna (8) Hannah (7) Julissa (12) Isaac (7) and Drew (4)

If this is what we have waited 2+ years for, it was WELL worth it! Our Peruvian Princesses are home with their forever family! I'm so thankful, grateful, happy, pleased (you get it People ~REALLY EXCITED!) and honored to be a part of this story of HIS love. To see His hands and feet bring orphans to a family, my family, is amazing! I have a huge respect for my sister and brother in law, Tracy and Ben, for following Him and taking His word to heart.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world ~ James 1:27

Dear God,

Thank You for adding to my family, in this way, with this journey and with these two precious little people. Please help me to model Your love, give me the grace and patience to be Your hands and feet so they may follow, as well as the peace and understanding when it comes to my part in the journey ahead as Tia Tarsha. Surround Ben and Tracy as they parent their daughters and show them what Your followers look like. Hold them all in the palm of Your hand as they learn trust, acceptance, unconditional love, and family life.

Thanks again God. Only You could orchetrate such beauty from ashes! I'm assuming Your only going to 'send' me to Beverly, MA in the next few months, and I'm good with that. As a matter of fact, I'm so blessed to be choosen as Julissa and Johanna's Tia Tarsha, I couldn't ask for more!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Once Upon a Time, Here's the Story, Dear God

2011-03-31T20:37:00.022-04:00

Dear God,
Please take over writing my story for me. My plot thickens at the wrong time, my main characters fail me, half the time the cart is before the horse and I'm just not a good author. I'm slow God, please forgive me, but I think that You should actually be the main character?! This makes a lot of sense, so I'm going to (try REALLY hard) sit back and watch this story unfold as You write it. After all, You are the Author of Salvation and Creation. I must admit I really like the chapters I let you write before. You never disappoint and always fascinate. I also like that book about Your life, death and resurrection. I have been reading it a lot lately and learning more about Your love for me, how you served and sacrificed, and how You call us to do the same.

God please be patient with me as I hand over the pen, pencil, marker, crayon, the hidden colored pencil, highlighter, typewriter, laptop and any other writing utensil I use to co-author my story. Give me grace to grant myself when I fail and to bestow on others who will fail me.

Thank You God for these last few bad chapters when I had writers block and a cramped hand. Its funny, I kept feeling like I was between a rock and hard place. Now I understand I was just where You wanted me, in the palm of Your hand, which is quite cushy! :)

Here I am Lord, take my pen and send me!
In Jesus Name,
Amen

This is LOVE ~Tia Tarsha and the Peruvian Princesses!

2011-03-30T10:33:00.009-04:00

There are no words to describe how I fell in love with these precious girls. I loved them before I went, but once I met them it was like they were my own. It was all about seeing their smiles, hearing them say Tia Tarsha, and trying to talk to them in spanglish. We made do, thanks to Papi Ben who was translator for us. They love Justin Bieber so we listened to him and watched his videos on You Tube A LOT! I taught Julissa her English ABCs, which was so fun. I sang them to her and she chimed right in and wrote them down phonetically so she could remember. We did hair ("mas, mas, mas" = more straight Tia Tarsha!) shopped, and ate ice cream like it was going out of style! My Dad communicated his love and affection for the girls with ice cream and coins. He would buy them ice cream twice a day and then give them the left over change. The girls haven't had their own money, so this was so much fun. The counted it repeatedly and locked it up in the safe above their bed. They would bring their money shopping, but encouraged us to use ours instead! They are smart, sweet, stubborn and silly! They have personalities as big as Texas. They have style and schedules they like to keep. Julissa asked questions about los Estados Unidos and her bedroom there, when she would get done high school and go to college, but Johanna didn't really seem to care. Johanna says "sank you" instead of thank you in her little accent and its just about the cutest thing. It sure did make my Dad laugh and encouraged the coin giving, which worked well for both of them! Johanna also says sorry with rolling r's. She calls Julissa "Juli", which between her whine and pronunciation sounds like Jew-lee.

Friday night was hard to leave. I had two little girls giving me lots of hugs, tears and telling me "no bye." I told them I would see them at the airport in a week and that I would have big hugs for them. They told me they loved me (music to my ears) and they would miss me.

I came home Saturday night and I missed them. I wanted to be able to walk right on over to their room. This Sunday at 2pm they fly into Boston and I will meet them with big hugs! Tia Tarsha will be so very glad to have her sister, brother in law and Peruvian Princesses home as a forever family! I see many sleepovers in my future. Its a good thing I like kids :)

This is LOVE!

2011-03-08T19:52:00.001-05:00

Papa with Julissa (12) and Mama with Johanna (8)

Julissa Gabriella and Johanna Grettel

2011-03-07T19:44:00.012-05:00

Tomorrow my sister Tracy and brother in law Ben will meet their daughters, my nieces Julissa (12) and Johanna (8). This won’t happen the usual way parents 'meet' their children, such as on an ultrasound machine at 20 weeks gestation or in a hospital room with doctors and nurses after being pregnant for nine months. Tracy and Ben will travel to an orphanage in Chincha, Peru where the sisters have lived for nearly 6 years. This isn't a story of the American dream family where the 2.5 children come as babies and live happily ever after with a white picket fence. This is a story of God’s love. This is a story of His idea of a perfectly planned family and His plans for us to be His hands and feet here on earth. This is the story of adoption. And let me tell you, IT.WASN’T. EASY! Being ‘paper pregnant’ for longer than an elephant is pregnant (22 months) wasn’t comfortable, waiting months and months for an unspecified date wasn’t exciting, and relying on humans in 2 countries to process paperwork wasn’t reassuring in the least. But God doesn’t call us to be comfortable, excited and reassured all the time. He calls us to seek Him in everything and know that He is God. I have watched as Ben and Tracy did this, and I am so amazed that tomorrow they will see and touch His work! When I think of their 800+ days of waiting, planning, waiting, paying (in time and money) for agency mistakes, waiting, praying and OH, MORE waiting, I am in disbelief that it will all come to fruition tomorrow! I know the many tears shed, anxiety and fear filled days and feelings of a huge weight on their shoulders will all be worth it when they get to put their arms around their daughters and hold them! I long to be a fly on the wall and for there to be a video camera to capture it all, but mostly I just want there to be a peace for all four of them that surpasses all understanding and a bond created immediately. I want the girls to feel elated and safe and for their parents to become free of all the adversities they have faced in the past 2+ years. God can do this! I will travel to Lima, Peru on March 19 with my Dad to meet Julissa and Johanna. I can't even imagine what this will be like. I have met a niece and 3 nephews as newborns and fallen in love immediately. And while I have fallen in love with Julissa and Johanna through pictures and stories of phone conversations with their parents, what will it be like to meet them in their country at 12 and 8 years of age? How will they know I love them? Will they love me? These girls were orphans for years, but all along God knew they would be my nieces, and Tracy and Ben's daughters. I can't fathom the depth of His plans for the future, but I know God has orchestrated the events of tomorrow and the rest of our tomorrows, and I know it will be more than I could ever ask for or imagine. Dear God, Thank you for being infallible and overwhelmingly generous. Today I Thank you specifically for our Peruvian Princesses. Thank you that the uncomfortable wait is finally over and we get to be with them. Please prepare them like only You can for tomorrow and the next few months as they adjust to family life in America. Be with their parents as they enter uncharted territory. Be with them as they travel and communicate in these early days. Let the journey be smooth and memorable for all of them and reveal Yourself so all the glory will be Yours! Lord I pray for more uncomfortable times like these have been so we can be drawn closer to You. I know tomorrow will be just as You see fit and we will be completely amazed! ~Your Favorite Daughter~

No, slow, grow, or go?

2011-02-01T17:22:00.003-05:00

When the situation is wrong and you are wrong, God says "No."

When the situation is wrong and you are right, God says "Slow."

When the situation is right and you are wrong, God says "Grow."

When the situation is right and you are right, God says "Go."

2011-01-29T12:51:00.002-05:00

"God knows when something glorious in the future necessitates something difficult in the present. Because He knows the glory will be worth it, God will risk being misunderstood."
~Beth Moore

A Reminder

2011-01-22T19:58:00.000-05:00

I vow to honor and value myself for all that I have inside.
Be happy and comfortable and know I am valuable to the world.
Be true to my heart and soul.
Be humbled by God’s plan for my life.
Silence the voices around me and live to honor Him.

I vow to keep life in perspective.
Be grateful for the small miracles of each day and thank Him for them.
Be a positive person but know that life is not always perfect.
Accept that which cannot be changed with grace.
Smile a lot. Never be afraid to be "me".
Be silly and sweet, sexy and innocent, shy and outgoing - all at once.
Never lose sight of the most important things in life ~ faith, family and friendship.
Always possess those most important qualities of honesty and sincerity.
Be loving, giving, trusting, and open. Always appreciate my friends and family
and the love they have brought to my life.

I vow to be selfless, kind, forgiving, generous, and nurturing
But strong enough to not be taken advantage of.
Have the strength to make my own decisions.
Know that I have done the best that I could in the moment.
Not judge myself for the decisions I made in the past.

I vow to not lose sight of the strong woman I have become.
Remember how much I have grown and how far I have come.
Remember although I must accept what I cannot control,
I must seize that which I can.
Remember that although I have learned to live alone and be happy,
It does not make me weak to want to share a bond with someone else,
But only a person who has much to give and share.

I vow to live my life to the fullest. To cherish this life I have been given.
Continue to live with no regrets and be the kind of person that I am proud of.
Truly LIVE life and be content with what I have experienced,
what I have felt, and the love that I have shared.
To know that wherever I go,
I can and will leave behind a mark in the hearts of others.

This is my vow.

~Unknown, but edited by me~

The Little house that could

2010-12-19T18:34:00.009-05:00

Harper Joy is on the front page of my hometown newspaper, (just a sneak peek, the article is inside)! Its just a little picture, but seeing as like things on small scales, its just my style! I am so happy with my journey researching, planning, building, and ultimately bonding with special people as Harper Joy came to be, and now I was able to share it with others! I was reminded of the amazing journey it was as Beth, (the reporter) interviewed me for the story. I have this tiny building, but it encompasses SO much more than just a small space to live!

Dear God,

Thank you for the reminder of the wonderful people and opportunities you have placed in my life. Thank you for orchestrating this journey just so, and showing me how You work in Your time. I know you have even more plans for me that are better than this girl could even imagine or dream of. I am open and trying to be still!

Love Me

A token of my appreciation...

2010-07-21T18:52:00.000-04:00

92% of my goal! $183 left to raise...

2010-07-21T18:40:00.000-04:00

$2067 raised...

2010-07-16T13:35:00.002-04:00

Almost there! $233 left to raise!

$863 left to raise... 14 days!

2010-07-09T09:40:00.003-04:00

Brunch for Breasts!

2010-06-25T13:28:00.005-04:00

I have $888 left to raise and Kristina has $1338!
Join us for a brunch! Bring your Bosom Buddies and help us raise money for the 3Day Breast Cancer Awareness Walk! 60 miles, 3Days, $2300! Because everyone deserves a lifetime! In Memory of Barbara Logan and Marge 'Mimi' Downing! Come eat some great food cooked by my awesome Brother in law Matt and make a donation towards the cure!

PROGRESS!

2010-06-25T13:27:00.002-04:00

Thanks to GREAT people!

KEEP OUR TREASURE CHESTS!

2010-06-17T09:35:00.006-04:00

Dear Family and Friends,

It’s that time again! On July 23-25, 2010, I’ll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me. I'll be participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day again, this time my father will be on the crew and my friend Kristina will be walking with me. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

Since last year’s walk, I lost another family member to breast cancer. My Mimi died in March 2010. I also learned of a little 10 year old girl in California fighting this horrible disease. She is so young and treatment is tricky, as she is just a child and treatment is different for adults with cancer. The walk was an amazing experience last year. I met survivors, family members, people who were fighting it currently.
I am walking with Kristina as part of Keep Our Treasure Chests! We are walking towards keeping breasts everywhere cancer free! It is my goal to raise $2300. Please consider making a donation of at least $60, a dollar for each mile I will walk. If you feel so inclined, you can donate for each mile while I am training or more than $1 a mile I will walk in July. If you can’t give this amount all at once, you can spread it out over a few months, using the payment plan option, if you donate online at http://www.the3day.org/.

To make a donation, go to www.tarshastreasurechest.blogspot.com. Click on the 3-Day logo at the top of the page. It will bring you to my personal fundraising page. If you don’t want to donate online, you can send a check to me at 496 Cross Street, Boylston, MA 01505. Or you can call 800.996.3DAY to donate over the phone. I would like to reach my fundraising goal by July 19, 2010, so don’t delay!

Without a cure, one in eight women in the U.S. will continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer. That’s why I’m walking in the 3-Day, because everyone deserves a lifetime. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and thank you for your support!

Tarsha
P.S. I will be journaling on my blog again this year!

2010-06-10T09:55:00.006-04:00

Sittin' pretty at her summer home!
Note the lights in the windows! :)

Drew-4 Isaac-6 Liam-3 in my loft
Liam got up there and said "Aunt Tarsha, this is your bunk bed!"
I hadn't thought of it that way, but hes right! Love these little men! :)

View from said 'bunk bed!'

My wonderful friend Patrice made me pillow cases!
They add some sass to my sofa!Love them, thanks Girl!

Live with Less to Enjoy More

2010-06-10T09:36:00.004-04:00

I got this in an email from a friend. I think my Harper Joy is a great start on this journey!

Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Jill Savage and Mark Savage's book, Living with Less So Your Family Has More: Redefining Your Priorities to Put Your Family First, (Guideposts, 2010).

Our culture constantly says that you need more in your life: a bigger house, a newer car, better clothes, more activities. But none of that reflects what God says is most important: healthy relationships. Pursuing what truly matters requires living with less - not more - so you'll be free to grow closer to God and other people.

Here's how you can live with less of what our culture says you should want so you can live with more of what God says is important:
Pray. Ask God to give both you and your spouse a unified vision for how God would like your family's lifestyle to be. Open your minds to new, countercultural ways of thinking.
Define "less." You can focus on intentionally downsizing three parts of your life: money (choosing to earn and spend less money to free up more of your time), stress (refusing to give into the pressure to achieve what our culture deems success while aiming simply to be faithful to God), and activities (creating healthy boundaries to prevent your schedule from becoming overloaded with too much to do).
Define "more." List the specific benefits your family can gain if you all choose to live with less. Those benefits can include: more availability, more peace, more patience, more kindness, more joy, better health, more organization, more energy and intentionality for parenting and also for focusing on marriage, more attentiveness, more time, and more margin to allow for spontaneously interacting with your family members.
Check your speed. Ask yourself some key questions to determine whether or not the pace of your life is too fast right now. How often does your family eat dinner together? How much time do you spend with God in prayer, actively playing with your children, going on dates with your spouse, exercising, investing in friendships, pursuing hobbies, and doing volunteer work? Slow down enough to enjoy what matters most in life - relationships.
Live by convictions rather than responding to pressures. Seek God's guidance every day about the decisions you face, and ask Him to empower you to make the right choices instead of giving into cultural pressures to choose something that doesn't reflect God's values. Read the Bible often, listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to you, participate in a church community where you and others can encourage each other to live in counterculture ways, and invite God to convict you of sin in your life so you can confess it, repent from it, and receive God's forgiveness and strength to grow.
Find contentment. Overcome envy, jealousy, or covetousness by confessing these sinful attitudes to God and asking Him to forgive you and help you be content in whatever circumstances you encounter. When you're tempted by a desire for something you don't have, ask God to remind you of what you already do have, and thank Him for that.
Make constructive sacrifices, but avoid destructive ones. Making certain types of sacrifices can benefit your family by freeing up more time for them. These include: comfort, sleep, hobbies, entertainment or recreational activities, and career pursuits. However, be sure not to ever sacrifice your relationship with God, your marriage, or your identity, because doing so would harm your family.
Pursue simplicity. Realize that living simply isn't about deprivation; instead, it's about determining what's truly important and discarding the rest from your life. Pursue inward simplicity by examining your heart often and keeping it fully focused on God. Pursue outward simplicity by expressing your values through your lifestyle decisions, such as: buying items for their usefulness rather than for their status, rejecting anything that's addictive to you, making a habit of giving things away, refusing to believe that you need the newest and the best, learning to enjoy things without owning them, developing a deeper appreciation for creation, resisting "buy now, pay later" schemes, speaking plainly and honestly, rejecting anything that oppresses others, and turning away from anything that distracts you from seeking God's kingdom first in life.
Live frugally. Ask God to help you appreciate all you currently have. Make time to research your potential purchases before buying. Organize discount coupons and other information that can help you save money on goods and services. Swap services with other people, exchanging something you can do for them for something they can do for you so that none of you has to spend money. Ask yourself whether or not you really need something you're considering buying, and whether or not there is any other option. Manage your existing stuff well so you know what you have and where it is. Evaluate what you consider necessities to see if some might really be luxuries. Generate new ideas for family fun rather than just accepting the culture's idea that you have to engage in expensive activities to have fun.
Trust God. Instead of worrying about being able to live within your financial means, pray about each of your specific concerns and trust God to help you. Expect God to provide everything you need, sometimes in surprising ways.
Find support in community. Find other like-minded families at church, in your neighborhood, online, or elsewhere and encourage each other to live with less.
Set a budget and stick to it. Create a family spending plan, discuss money issues with your spouse weekly, and help each other establish and maintain wise spending habits. Work together to find strategies to keep your family's spending under control for groceries, clothing, housing, transportation, holidays (like Christmas gifts), vacations, and your kids' college educations. Reevaluate your budget at least once a year so it can change as your life changes.
Save and invest. Save money for large purchases (such as replacing a car), irregular expenses (such as home repairs), and emergencies (such as medical bills from an accidental injury). Make sure your family has health insurance, property insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance. Invest in places such as mutual funds and money-market funds.
Make money doing what you love. Don't waste your time doing jobs that aren't right for you. Instead of settling for work you don't enjoy or do well, ask God to help you find the right kind of work - and to do it in ways that won't pull you away from your family too much. Consider starting a home business to give yourself a flexible work schedule.

Another BIG weekend for this tiny house :)

2010-06-05T23:20:00.009-04:00

Trina's Rob put up my blinds! Thanks Rob!

New piece of storage/furniture from Daddy's house (note the matching knob)

UPDATED Summer 2010 with clock

Storage door enclosed

Bookshelf/armour

Switched fridges for a smaller one

IKEA Field Trip

2010-05-19T20:13:00.015-04:00

My wonderful, most expensive and long awaited purchase!

Isn't it lovely? Practical too!
It opens into a double bed and has storage underneath! Harper Joy is ready for guests!
Thank you Larkins for such a great gift!

I got this fold out table for a bargain in the As Is section of IKEA! I am going to alter the legs a bit to fit over the wheel wells, but it should fit fantastically!

I met Tracy and Daddy for his first IKEA adventure. He bought me these lanterns for my porch! I can't wait to see them lit up! He enjoyed looking at all the cool stuff and all the things I could have used in my tiny house. This man and I think A LOT alike :) We loaded the goodies into his truck for him to bring to Maine. Daddy got some trinkets and he might just be back if he decides my idea to build him a tiny house of his own is a good one!

BIG weekend for a tiny house

2010-05-18T19:44:00.000-04:00

Last day at Norm and Lulu's

Norm and Rob working on a last minute project - wheel wells

Then Harper Joy made the move to her summer home ~ The Farm

Enter armour and book shelf

Daddy painted the wheel wells and we put up my ikea storage

Rob and I did my kitchen ceiling
Daddy painted the inside walls and...

The porch too!

Running Water!

2010-05-12T21:56:00.003-04:00

Norm sent me these pictures yesterday and I was so excited! I have gathered a towel, some Longaberger baskets, a shower curtain, blind, and lofa to take home with me so I can take a quick hot shower in my tiny house this weekend!

Harper Joy in (RED)

2010-04-22T21:59:00.011-04:00

The view from my loft at 7:30am ~ MUST paint before it rains! LOVE this man!

Ladies night in the loft

Boys night in the loft

Jason and Norm building my bathroom walls

with paint and kitchen installed

We painted the ~~town~~ house RED! Daddy and I (read: mostly Daddy) painted the tiny house on wheels this week and she is looking very sassy! Plumbing has also been started, shower installed, and kitchen moved in. Thank you Jason, Aaron, Bekah, Joy and Randall for coming up for this project! Jason worked on plumbing with Norm while the rest organized Norm's garage. I have the best friends a girl could ask for!

We had some slumber parties in the tiny house too. My sister Tanya and I divided and conquered (or told ourselves that is what we were doing). She took the girls and I took the boys one night and then we switched off. My loft sleeps 4, when 3 are little people anyway :) My loft has been christened, cereal is smashed into the carpet, Capri Sun spilt, and one fall from the ladder. (Hannah is okay, no battle scars from the incident!) I'm sure there will be many more memories made!

I am in awe! As this tiny house on wheels starts to look more and more like its tiny version counterpart, I still can't believe that this journey I decided to embark upon in September 2009 has turned into my little home by April 2010! I look at it each time I am there and can't believe its mine. I can't seem to comprehend that all these wonderful people love me enough to share their time, talents, and treasures. So many people have put their mark on my house, in so many ways. The memories that I have made during the last 6 months will be with me forever. Each time I walk into my Harper Joy, whether she becomes my full time residence, summer house, guest house, or Maine house, I will be enveloped in love and memories of the time I spent planning and building her with faith, family and friends. Thank you doesn't seem like enough, but I sure am grateful and appreciative of all who have given this special gift to me.

You see, my Harper Joy is so much more than just a little house on wheels. It represents success, self worth, love, community, faith, and hope. The verse from Psalm 23:5 "my cup runneth over" is pretty much how I can describe it. I just think about all I have been given in this life, and I am blessed. While so many people don't have some of the simple things I have, I recognize I have been blessed with so many complexities! I have wonderful and sustainable relationships with extraordinary people and multiple resources at my fingertips. I could not have build this house without them.

Dear God,

You know how I always tell you that your plan is better than mine? Here I am again Lord, and its still true. You have amazed me again with your intricate plans for my life and the people in it. Thank you for putting me in this place, with these people, and in Your timing. Thank you for my tiny house, the hands that built it, and the seeds that have been planted. Please help me to foster these relationships and be to them what they are to me. Please keep me centered on Your plan and in Your timing. Help me to see the opportunities past the obstacles and focus on You.

I hope you have big plans for my Harper Joy, and I will be happy even if they don't include me.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Be a part of bringing Our Peruvian Princesses HOME!

2010-04-13T09:25:00.005-04:00

Ben and Tracy ~ The Proud Parents!

Imagine being pregnant for 19 months?! Well it’s a paper pregnancy, but still! Her belly isn't swollen and her calves and ankles still have their own section on her legs, but her heart is REALLY heavy. Instead of morning sickness, Ben and Tracy have evening sickness, waiting, wanting and wishing for the girls to be home. They don’t have a due date, can’t buy cute clothes yet, and don’t even have one blurry photo of their girl’s profiles.
We hope and pray we are nearing the girl’s ‘due date’ and our Peruvian Princesses will be coming home soon! This Saturday night, April 17th, is a night to come out and support Ben and Tracy! Show them some love, ask them questions and learn about the adoption process/paper pregnancy! Bring your friends and family for an evening of fun! The cost is $20 per person or $30 per couple. The adoption process is very expensive and extensive, and all funds raised will go directly to the Peruvian Princess Adoption fund.
DJ Dan DeBruin will provide the nights entertainment and there will be a cash bar! Dress up or dress down, just come and support Ben and Tracy and have some fun! Please RSVP to tarshadowning@hotmail.com!

Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: American Legion
City/Town: Mechanic Falls, ME

And Baby belongs to...

2010-03-14T20:05:00.004-04:00

My best friend Allison, her husband Mike, and Big Brother Damon!

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father...

2010-03-09T17:20:00.004-05:00

means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27 NLTMeet Hannah, age 7 from Kenya! Hannah lives with her father and her mother. At home, duties include helping in the kitchen and cleaning. Her parents are sometimes employed as laborers. There are 3 children in the family. For fun, Hannah enjoys playing house and playing with dolls. She attends church activities regularly and is in primary school where her performance is average.

Do you see why I chose her? Join me in sponsoring a child through Compassion International!

Houston WE HAVE POWER~ Solar power that is!

2010-03-08T13:23:00.021-05:00

Step 1: Mount solar panels on roof

Step 2: Connect Panels to battery box

Step 3: Battery power sent into house

Step 4: Connect charge controller, circuit breakers, inverter and batteries

Step 5: Get really excited when your panels are charging your batteries with 13.7 volts!

Step 6: Marvel at your work :)

Harper Joy is all hooked up to solar power! The 4 solar panels are on the roof, the battery box and its 6 batteries are attached to the front, the inverter and circuit breaker are attached to wall and endless amount of wires were cut, stripped are connected together! I was pretty proud of myself for my part in it all, which was very minimal, but exciting none the less!

Norm did a wonderful job of organizing all the supplies I would need, checking and double checking the connections and planning/executing the whole entire process! I tease him that he is Harper Joy's godfather, and with all the time and wisdom hes shared with me to build my tiny house, hes piratically half owner!

Harper Joy is now at Norms house again after another moving day. Next up is to put in the direct vent furnace and plumbing, T1-11 on the walls, painting, painting, and painting some more! I am excited to get the wails up and see just how cozy 144sq ft is! I ordered 4 stabilizing jacks so when Harper Joy and I find some place permanent (as permanent as you can get me anyway) the tiny house will be still and stable.

Dear God,

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity that is making my dreams come true! Only you could orchestrate the pieces and plans that have gone into building my Harper Joy. She is really not just mine, but yours and all the people who have built her from the trailer up. I am in awe of the experiences I have had in the last 5 months and the people who have been a part of it. Never, in my wildest dreams, would I have imagined I would actually have a place of my own with solar power, which was literally built with faith, family, and friends. I have always thought it was a grand idea, but I feel so blessed to see it unfolding before me. When I look at my life objectively, I am excited and overjoyed that I get to be 'that girl'! Thank you for this, for the blessings and smiles that I get to be a part of. Thank you for Norm and Daddy, my 2 biggest fans. When they call or text me with news and questions about my house, I have a smile on my face that spreads ear to ear. Daddy's giggles when he talks about fielding questions from the towns people and his friends, is music to my ears. Norm's eagerness and willingness to get each task accomplished the best he can for me and Harper Joy makes me feel spoiled rotten!

Please help me to be grateful and show my appreciation Lord. Please don't let me be content with all this time and attention given to my house, but let me also give my time and energy to others who need it. Let this experience be just what you intended it to be, not just my dreams and goal becoming a reality, but also a journey of faith and patience. Help me to 'be still and know you are God' after this time in my life of experiencing it daily.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

P.S. I will just laugh if when I finish my tiny house built for one, the man you are preparing for me is ready! But I will also understand if you want me to live in it as a single woman for a time. Either way, I'm happy!Just wanted you to know! :)

Treasure Chest ~ of a different sort

2010-03-02T23:21:00.008-05:00

Tarsha's Treasure Chest was born in early 2008 while I was an AmeriCorps*VISTA at Hillview. I needed a catchy caption for a small box of ~~treasures~~ incentives I had for kids in the Give, Save, Spend program I ran. I thought it was kind of cheesy, but it worked.

Then in the of fall 2008, I decided to blog about my adventures as a nanny, so my family could be 'in the know'. Since these stories would be my own treasures, Tarsha's Treasure Chest was carried over as the name of my blog. I even starting thinking of it as cool. :) I'd write about the kids, my family, and share poems, quotes and little pieces that represented me. Tarsha's Treasure Chest ~ my own little virtual place in the world where I store my treasures in pictures and words.

It took on a whole new meaning in the fall of 2009 as we started building my very own treasure chest. Harper Joy became the real Tarsha's treasure chest, encompassing so many things I love, built with so many people I love.

Here we are in the early spring of 2010, and I have incorporated another passion into my Treasure Chest. They also go by ta-tas, boobies, second base, or simply breast. I am walking another 60 miles and raising another $2300 for breast cancer awareness and research with my friend Kristina! My father is crewing in Boston as well on July 23-25. Our team name, none other than

Keep Our Treasure Chests!

Click here if you would like to support me in my effort!

Progress, passion, and porches

2010-03-02T22:27:00.007-05:00

Before

After

My wonderful father hired his wonderful friend to come finish my porch and eaves. I was sad I couldn't be there. But since my Daddy is so wonderful, he called me 4 times and filled me in on what was happening. He also took pictures. Norm stopped by to check out the progress and sent this from his phone. My dad said he'd love to be able to send me the pictures he took "over the computer", but we both know that won't happen!

The Gift of an Ordinary Day

2010-02-28T16:31:00.001-05:00

The Gift of an Ordinary Day….

Posted using ShareThis

Tiny House Quotes

2010-02-15T22:08:00.006-05:00

Dear House,

Your really very small,

just enough for love,

that's all!

Have nothing in your home that you don't know to be useful,

or believe to be beautiful! ~William Morris

And especially for my Harper Joy, true both literally and figuratively:

This home was built with faith, family, and friends!

A new special little person...

2010-02-02T09:37:00.004-05:00

debuting in my life in September...around my birthday! I'll reveal his/her parents when I get permission! But I was too excited to wait!

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art

Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, and God's not through, no
In fact, He's just getting started.

~Stephen Curtis Chapman, Fingerprints of God

Like Father Like Son Daughter!

2010-02-01T16:35:00.006-05:00

In 1973, my Dad and Mom used this tiny house on wheels for camping! My cousin found the picture in my grandmothers albums. He has since turned 3 other van/buses into tiny campers. I love this man and I am honored to have him helping me with my tiny house on wheels! :)

My 15 minutes

2010-01-18T14:58:00.005-05:00

Hehe...

remember this?

Well it is now here,
on page 58.

This man ROCKS!

If you have a tiny house on wheels...

2010-01-18T14:08:00.013-05:00

You can start building her at your Uncle Norm's Then...

You can have your Uncle Norm drive her to your Daddy's house.

And if she is at your Daddy's house

Chances are shes probably going to be well taken care of!And by well taken care of,

I mean she's probabaly going to get cleaned up...

and organized.

And insulated.

And if your cleaned up and organized tiny house on wheels

is insulated,

that means shes ready for

plumbing...

heating...

and solar power hook-up!

So if you have a tiny house on wheels,

I suggest starting at Uncle Norm's

Then...

have your Uncle Norm

drive her to your Daddy's house.

Becasue if your Daddy is like my Daddy,

he will take good care of her...

just like he does with all his girls!

And if you have an Uncle Norm like I do,

You might just go into business together,

building a said tiny house on wheels! :)

Harper Joy Update

2010-01-12T13:34:00.001-05:00

She's been wired... courtesy of Tim!

She got her door... courtesey of Norm and Danny!

And had her very first moving day!
Norm got a recycled buffet and sink...

which we transformed into my...

kitchen sink/counter

She is currently at my Dad's house...

"You can have the rest of the night off"

2010-01-04T22:12:00.004-05:00

When we got home from karate tonight at 5pm, both parents were home. Promptly Aliya and Matthew both released me from my nanny duties. "You can have the rest of the night off" Matthew said. Aliya piped in with "you can go call your boyfriend!" :) I love these kids!

You have got to be kidding!

2010-01-03T09:58:00.003-05:00

WOW! Just got an email with this info and had to share! If I had a daughter I would buy all this gear! :)

Happy New Year!

The Prayer

2009-12-20T16:59:00.004-05:00

Listen here

I pray you’ll be our eyes,
and watch us where we go
And help us to be wise,
in times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer,
when we lose our way
Lead us to the place,
guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.

La luce che tu dai
I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore resterà
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c’è
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternità

La forza che ci dia
We ask that life be kind
È il desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amor
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a sè
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Need to find a place,
guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salverà

Recipe for a tiny house

2009-12-16T12:57:00.001-05:00

Check this out!

Genius

2009-12-13T13:43:00.003-05:00

Finding Room for Jesus by Jim Burns

2009-12-03T09:31:00.001-05:00

And Mary gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn. Luke 2:7

I love this story about a second grade boy named Wally. I can’t remember where I got it from but I remember it being told to me that this actually happened in a small town in the Midwest.

Wally was 9 and in second grade. He should have been in 4th grade. Wally wanted to be a shepherd or an angel in the Christmas play but Miss Lumbard assigned him the “important role” of the innkeeper. I think it was because of his size and it had very few lines.

And so it happened that the usual large audience gathered for the town’s yearly extravaganza of beards, crowns, halos and a whole stage full of squeaky voices. No one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wally. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the performance with such fascination that from time to time Miss Lumbard had to make sure he didn’t wonder onstage before his cue.

Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the Inn. Joseph knocked on the door. Wally the innkeeper was there waiting.

“What do you want?” demanded Wally, swinging the door open with a brusque gesture.

“We seek lodging.” “Seek it elsewhere.” Wally looked straight ahead. “The inn is filled.”

“Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary.”

“There is no room in this inn for you.” Wally looked properly stern.

“Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired.”

Now for the first time the Innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.

“No! Be gone!” the prompter whispered from the wings.

“No!” Wally repeated automatically. “Be gone!”

Joseph placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husband’s shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside his inn, however. Wally stood in the doorway, watching the forlorn couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears. And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all others.

“Don’t go Joseph,” Wally called out. “Bring Mary back.” And Wally’s face grew into a bright smile. “You can have my room.”

This season let’s make room for the Reason we celebrate Christmas.

Barn Raising Pictures

2009-11-23T13:55:00.003-05:00

Tarsha's Barn Raising

2009-11-23T12:15:00.013-05:00

I have mentioned before that I make grand plans with all the details. Then God says "Tarsha now that your done planning, let me show you the plans I have for you". And His are always better!

Last week kept throwing me curve balls for my tiny house build. Location, materials, people couldn't come, weather, etc. I was very stressed and had a few pity parties for myself, some in the presence of others. My original builder got paid work and my Mimi's land is having work done, so I was left without a foreman, tools or location. At times I was convinced it just wasn't suppose to happen this weekend, but I wanted it SO VERY BAD still. To make a long story short, and to get to the good stuff, Saturday came and I was amazed.

It was built at my Uncle Norm and Aunt Lulu's home. Norm is a brilliant, knowledgeable, and master of all trades kind of guy. He helped me decide on materials and has given me priceless info and resources. He offered his home and tools, with the understanding he may not be there.

Joy, Randall, and Aaron came from Massachusetts to help start my Harper Joy. They built up from the trailer, insulating and creating my beautiful hardwood floor. Aaron also helped the children 'build'.

My friend (and groom for my trash the dress photos) Tim came to help built.

My sister Tracy came, took pictures, made and served a Taco Soup lunch. Ben came, took some pictures and nailed a few nails before he had to leave for a Greek exam.

My Mom came and brought lunch, pumpkin bread, and her husband Dan to help build.

My sister Tricia came and helped build the floor while her children 'built' a table with scrap wood, Styrofoam insulation and LOTS of nails.

My sister Tanya came with chex mix and pumpkin bread and her children who also helped 'build' and keep the place tidied up. Later she went on a run for yummy Wallingford's donuts and cider for my crew!

My sister Trina came for moral support with her husband Rob who helped frame the second wall.

One of my best friend Allison came to take pictures and video to capture it all. We made the first run to Home Depot for supplies and I showed her the shower I wanted. On the next run she made 2 hours later for more 2X4s, I whispered something to her as she left! I was elated when she returned with my shower!

My cousins Beth and Dave came and worked on windows and framing the walls for them.

My Dad came between work shifts and helped insulate my floor air tight!

And did I mention Norm was there all day and ran the show?! He must have heard his name 300 times as all my people looked to him for what to do next, how to do something, or where a certain tool was. He was so efficient, kind, and welcoming to all of us.

Several times I stopped what I was doing, looked around and thought 'these people are all here to help me build my home.' They came to work hard for something I want. They brought themselves and their resources here today to do something for me?! Wow, I am abundanlty blessed. I couldn't thank people enough. Some would say they didn't do much, but being there was enough. I joked that I wasn't tallying, and if I was Norm would win hands down anyway! :)

It was getting dark, we had completed all that could get done and so people went home. Norm, Aaron and I went to dinner REALLY close to Home Depot. After we ate, I busted out some paper to talk about supplies and the next steps. Well, once I started chatting and drawing, I giggled and asked the boys if they just wanted to head on over to Home Depot, since we were so close and all. :) They didn't mind, and so my pocketbook made its way there for the thrid trip of the day! It beat any shopping trip I have ever been on! We got all the supplies for my porch, an addition to my tiny home Norm suggested and I love.

Mark joined Aaron, Norm and I on Sunday, as did my Aunt Lulu. We finshed the walls, started putting up siding, and created tresses for the roof! I'll be there with bells on bright and early Friday morning with Mark....and whomever else might like to join!

Thanks again to my family and friends who came, gave of yourself, and made this girl feel very special! I love you!

Tiny House Updates

2009-11-13T08:21:00.019-05:00

I have a heater.
I have blueprints (sort of).
I have lumber, insulation, roofing, T1-11, nails and more. Home Depot is now my favorite store.
I have a (beautiful) door and 6 windows. I need one more (egress window for my loft).
I have picked the color and theme. Barn red with a gambrel roof.
I have recruited my building crew.
I have a start date. November 21, 2009!

And some may laugh, call me crazy, obsessive, or say I have too much time on my hands, but I built a scaled model of my tiny house. Its got everything, including windows ('glass' with the grids-a must have) IKEA storage, ladder to loft, sofabed with storage, a toilet, shower, kitchen, and closet space. I could. not. wait. any. longer! And it helped me tremendously when I brought it places and explained what I was doing and what I needed! By the way, its built with the cardboard boxes from the children's new Leapsters. More pics to come!

My Dad is still my biggest fan, but I have another one too. He's helpful, excited, and a huge source of knowledge about tiny houses on a trailer, because he built one himself! My Uncle Norm has been a huge asset to this project of mine and I would not be this far along without his help! He has sat down with me to figure out my needs and resources for them, given me ample ideas on how to save and utilize every inch, and cut the rails off my trailer. He's solar power savvy and will be hooking my Harper Joy up in the spring (when I can afford it!) He gave me my first gifts for my house, a propane detector and a ceiling fan! Thanks Norm ~ you are greatly appreciated!

I would like to share some background information on my tiny house adventure. I didn't just decide one day to build a tiny house for the heck of it. You see, I have always loved small things. I like the tiny version of anything, babies being my favorite 'small' version of something. :) I have known for sometime now, 5 years anyway, that I wanted a small house. While I didn't know it would be this tiny, its been in the cards for a while. When I saw Elizabeth Turnbull's tiny home in June in a magazine, the wheels in my head started turning! My house will be 144 square feet, 216 if you count the loft.

In more recent years, I have come to appreciate going green. I think of the everyday ways I waste and consume more than I need, and quite frankly it stresses me out. My goal for 2009 was to purge and only spend money on travel and education. I did this, well I might add, and have become addicted to it! Ask my friend Joy, its like Christmas every time I go to her house! Save water, produce less trash, reduce, reuse, recycle, and less is more have all become thoughts as I brush my teeth, shop, and purge unneeded stuff. I'll be completely off grid with solar power, a composting toilet, and propane heat.

Next, I love barns. The old building (including the farmhouse) where people use to work and make a living, along with the quaint feel is exciting to me. Something about it feels like home. My tiny house will be barn red, with a gambrel roof and look like a tiny barn.

I have always loved and wanted a loft in my house someday. One problem I kept struggling with is "how can I justify the wasted space?" I'm talking about the ceiling area the loft creates opposite it where heat rises and is wasted. Well folks, I found my answer to that problem because if your loft is only 4 feet at its highest point, and your house is only 11 feet, there isn't much wasted space!

Solar power is another great way to be green, as I'll be getting my energy from the sun! Where my space and need for energy is small, the solar gear I need will only be a little bit expensive (compared to a normal $20,000 set up for a regular house). Its been a goal of mine since graduating college to own/build my own home, and this tiny version allows me to do just that with the solar power to boot!

So, there you have it, the road to where I am now was paved with loves and losses ~ literally and figuratively! Isn't it always the case with anything worth waiting for?!

Harper Joy

2009-10-21T22:55:00.003-04:00

Harper ~ in biblical times, a harp was played when they were honoring and praising God. It was a sound, that when heard, you just knew life was good.
Joy ~ the emotion evoked by well-being and success and the source of delight. And, as fate would have it, Joy is also the name of one of my best friends!
Harper Joy perfectly reflects this time in my life, the feelings this journey has already evoked and the adventure that it is!

So welcome to Harper Joy, my tiny humble abode.

And she shall be called...

2009-10-21T17:21:00.003-04:00

Just to school you in the art of naming a boat, or in my experience, a tiny house on wheels!

Choosing a Boat Name

For those of you who have not yet selected your boat name, keep reading...
You'll find the top ten boat names from last year, celebrity boat names - or should I say, yacht names, as well as stories and pics of boat names from other FirstBoat visitors. You can even visit the Boat Name Blog for even more boat name ideas. Here we go...

Once you've picked out the boat of your dreams, you have an even more difficult choice to make. Now you must name her, which is not an easy task. You have several considerations, including classic superstitions, and whether your friends and family will be embarrassed or offended by the name you choose.

One boat naming superstition revolves around whether or not it is okay to rename a previously-owned boat. Some say it is bad luck if you remove an old name on a vessel. However, if you christen the boat with a new name and splash some champagne across the bow, you'll have nothing to worry about.

Many people name a boat after their spouse or children; this is nice, but you can run into problems if more kids are on the way. And, it's not very original. Think about how you paid for the boat when trying to come up with a name. You can always name your boat after your profession or industry; or if you are paying for your boat with money made in the stock market or gambling proceeds, perhaps you should incorporate that message into your boat's name. Of course, if you own your own company, it is a smart marketing move to name your boat after the company, and instill your brand at every port.

Coming soon :) Its very strategic and appropriately named, trust me!

Because everything starts somewhere...

2009-10-21T17:12:00.006-04:00

Isn't she lovely?! I officially purchased her today, with my dowry as a friend called it! This isn't a picture of mine, but its the same thing. The rails are being removed so I can build out over the wheels for every extra inch I can get! I just need a pink hard hat and I'm ready to be the General Contracter! Name to be revealed soon! :)

Have you ever been so giddy?!

2009-10-07T17:51:00.005-04:00

About a toilet? And a composting toilet at that? Well I made my first big purchase today for my tiny house. I got a GREAT deal on this Biolet 30 Non Electric Waterless Toilet, and I am some giddy about it! This is all I'll need when I install it!

My Dad, (AKA my biggest fan) is on the next big purchase task, an 18x8 flatbed utility trailer. I'm designing, researching, redesigning, and researching more for all the aspects of my tiny house. It is amazing what excitement it is bringing me, especially this toilet! :) I might have already ordered some pieces from LTD, and I certainly will be purchasing some IKEA products in the near future. I've got The Maine Building Exchange on my list for supplies, The Green Cocoon for soybean insulation, Solar Home for my solar energy, and Uncle Henry's, Craigslist, and Freecycle for various things that will come up. If you have any ideas for my tiny house, please send them my way :)

Welcome Home!

2009-10-04T10:03:00.005-04:00

A tiny house just like this one (144 sq ft, on a 8x18 flatbed trailer) will be my home by next fall! I have decided to build this tiny structure with the help of family and friends, recycled and green products, and LOTS of enthusiasm! It will consist of solar power, a composting toilet and a loft for my 'bedroom'.

I have received lots of questions from family and friends so far and I am open to more. But first, here are some FAQs I can answer up front.

I am aware 144sq ft isn't much space and I am okay with that. It is a goal of mine to live minimalistic and with the least carbon footprint. I will make this work.
I'm not sure where 'Tarsha's newest Treasure Chest' and I will be stationed, but the good thing about that - the world is my oyster and we can go anywhere! :)
I am aware that I can go to my local RV dealer, Craigslist, Uncle Henry's, etc and find myself a RV or camper. Part of the excitement and goal of this project is to build my house with family and friends like people use to do, and know everything that goes into it. I am planning, researching, and designing, and it is bringing me great joy. Basically, this is about the journey, as much as the destination!
I am selling some of my Longaberger baskets to help raise funds. Let's face it, they won't all fit in it and it has potential to fund a few things I have planned for my tiny house. :)
It will have a shower, toilet, running water, sofa bed for (2)guests, fridge, table, storage and be a very welcoming little abode. :)

Can you guess who my biggest fan is?! :)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-23T07:44:00.002-04:00

Some of my favorite memories from Twitter

2009-09-16T16:35:00.026-04:00

What a difference a year makes...the boy just told me 'You make a great dinner Tosha!' 5:14 PM Sep 14th

The children and I are currently circling the things we want in the American Girl catalog we got in the mail today :) 5:33 PM Sep 8th

Aliya: I broke a pencil in class today to see how strong I was. The teacher didnt say anything she just GLARED at me! LOL 2:59 PM Sep 8th

Matthew just asked which we were going. When I pointed toward 495 he said "No I dont want to go on the spedway, it makes me tired!" 1:09 PM Sep 2nd

Matt and I are calling Davis Farmland to ask about the alligators. He swears they are real but he is 4 and I know these things!!9:25 AM Sep 1st

Dear Santa, Matt is now making good choices. He wants me to x out the last text, but let’s just say this one cancels that one :) 10:23 AM Aug 11th

Dear Santa, FYI...Matt is being grouchy, telling me he doesnt like me and saying he isnt going to do what I say.9:43 AM Aug 11th

Aliya: I saw a scary commercial on TV, dont they know kids are watching that? If she only knew how beyond her years she is...12:53 PM Aug 10th

"Tosha are your slivers all gone from your walk?" Matthew just asked me :) He meant blisters!2:49 PM Jul 29th

I love these kids...and to think they are my job!!!3:10 PM Jul 27th

Aliya wanted to know when i was going to get a massage for walking 60 miles and not complaining :)2:49 PM Jul 27th

He was so sweet he didnt want to hurt my blisters but he wanted to cuddle :)2:48 PM Jul 27th

Matt and I had a nap cause he is going to his Red Sox game with his Dad.2:47 PM Jul 27th

The Berenstain Bears get the Gimmies was just purchased at Walmart and a certain little man just told me 15 times that I am MEAN!11:43 AM Jul 22nd

I just told Matt mini golf cost extra money and he replied with " I dont mind if it costes extra money!"2:49 PM Jul 20th

The children are so tired they cant even be grouchy anymore. They r currently eating lunch & staring off into space chewing to stay awake1:34 PM Jul 16th

Aliya lost another tooth and she brought it to Maine with her. I hope the toothfairy finds it in Maine. Aliya informed me she would.12:03 PM Jul 14th

Aliya heard about MJ's Neverland Ranch and now shes convinced Neverland, where u never grow up, is a real place!10:24 AM Jul 9th

Aliya to Robbie-neighbor boy:Do u like me or like like me? Robbie: I like like u. Do you like me or like like me?Aliya:I like like u!1:34 PM Jul 6th

Matt:Are u a teenager Tosha? Me:No teenagers r 13,14,15. Im in my 20s. Matt: Oh so ur gonna die first?!11:08 AM Jul 6th

LOL Aliya just told her dad that she needed his help to the car because she has 6 bags! She is going to her grandparents for 2 nights.5:26 PM Jul 3rd

Matthew has a mohawk!!7:58 AM Jul 2nd

"Santa"(aka Twitter) has been added as a favorite on my cell and is now receiving text updates on behavior and diet for a certain lil boy!5:18 PM Jun 30th

Dear Santa, Aliya and Matt just ate green peppers and celery. I wanted you to know how proud I am of them. I bet you are too.1:50 PM Jun 30th

Aliya:Obama will probably be in the hall of fame too. He might stop the war, which would be a miracle!12:24 PM Jun 30th

Leaving VBS:Aliya- God is the coolest but Elvis is pretty cool too! Elvis was famous entertainment. Hes probably in the hall of fame.12:22 PM Jun 30th

My sleepy bookends :)4:29 PM Jun 29th

Matthew just told me he is going marry Sam and she is going to have a baby. Can I be their nanny?9:48 AM Jun 26th

Matthew wants to know if Michael Jackson knew God and if he grew wings. :)8:57 AM Jun 26th

So the boy just told the lady behind us in line, after I told her I was the nanny "She IS mine!" :)8:57 AM Jun 25th

Hehe...We are sleeping under the T. Rex! I have assured the children I will give them a million dollars if things come alive :)7:09 PM Jun 24th

Sitting in Boston traffic listening to the children talk: Aliya thinks she sees the Eiffel Tower and Matthew says he is allergic to wind.6:10 PM Jun 24th

Gearing up for our very own night at the museum! MOS in Boston tonight :)2:47 PM Jun 24th

After some bad choices and subsequent consequences, a certain little boy I love told me Santa wasn’t going to bring me any presents.3:45 PM Jun 23rd

Matthew: Owen hit the ball so hard it went in the water. He had to get it with his golf hitting thing.5:25 PM Jun 22nd

Aliya: How many times do I have to tell you I'm sorry Matthew? I was just a little grouchy!5:19 PM Jun 18th

Oh the boy...he sure is stubborn! He just held out for an hour before he would eat some celery!1:35 PM Jun 18th

Matt just asked his Dad if Arack Obama plays golf. "l think I seed him play before."7:30 PM Jun 17th

Matthew walked in my room when I had my sports bra on. He politely told me "oh that shirt is toooo small for you!"4:25 PM Jun 17th

Matthew:I like the Halo song Tosha. I wanna hear it! Me:Im sorry Matt, its not that songs turn on the radio. We'll have to wait its turn.9:49 AM Jun 17th

Shes 7 so I left out the alcohol and gambling parts...ya know what most people associate with Vegas :)4:46 PM Jun 16th

Sometimes people go to Vegas and have so much fun they decide to have someone who looks like Elvis marry them. And Vegas is very glittery.4:43 PM Jun 16th

Aliya: Is this Lady Gaga Waking Up in Vegas? Whats this song about? Well....4:02 PM Jun 16th

Matthew: A lot of men died at War. But God made new ones. We need to pray for them.9:37 AM Jun 16th

Dear Santa, FYI Matt says he will make good choices after this day, hows that work for you?4:56 PM Jun 15th

Matthew: I sleeped in my own bed all night! Can we go to IKEA now?11:38 AM Jun 14th

Taking Matt and Aliya camping in ME for their 1st time. Rain rain go away, Matthew cannot wait another day! He MUST.SLEEP.OUTSIDE.TONIGHT!2:36 PM Jun 12th

Matthew: My dad plays golf and works. Is it his work?! But he is still a dad when he plays golf.2:10 PM Jun 12th

Dear Santa, Matthew just fed Jazzy from the table after we went over the fact that this is unacceptable. Just wanted you to know.5:49 PM Jun 10th

Matthew: when I grow up I am going to be a major baseball player for the Red Sox. NOT the Yankees. We dont like them.1:14 PM Jun 10th

By the way, we are currently at Walmart getting a spring jacket,not registering for Matt's Christmas wish list. He doesnt know that though!8:30 AM Jun 10th

The list is growing for Santa (in June?!) Nerf, transformers, matchbox. He says thats it, moves 2 another aisle saying well maybe this 28:28 AM Jun 10th

Downhill raceway, color blaster, zero gravity micro, crash gage. These r toys Matt wants for Christmas. He wants me to write them down!!8:23 AM Jun 10th

Both children are convinced Jazzy the dog can smell the meat they are having for dinner! I caught Aliya trying to break off a tiny piece.4:44 PM Jun 8th

Matt and Aliya are arguing whose bike ride booboos are "badder". Matt is sure his are, but Aliya declared hers the most stingy.3:56 PM Jun 8th

Matthew: Wow its rocky out today! (He meant foggy)7:43 AM May 29th

Aliya just informed me that when she is about 18 she will be singing on the radio probably Karson & Kennedy our morning radio personalities6:53 PM May 28th

Aliya just told Matt not to call people fat, you should call them chubby. I'm not sure which is better? Maybe neither?5:39 PM May 26th

Aliya: I wasn't born to play sports. I pretty much just like the Red Sox, even though I am not a sports fan.11:56 AM May 22nd

Headed home to read: Dinosaur books for Matt, American History (including American Girl stories) for Aliya and Nora Roberts for me :)3:08 PM May 14th

Matt just informed me that "the Red Sox ALWAYS win!"8:06 AM May 13th

While repeatedly singing 'Love Story' - Aliya said "its my favorite song, but in real life, its a tragic love story!"6:44 PM May 12th

Aliya just told Matt not to sneeze into his hand because he could catch the swine flu.3:56 PM May 11th

Matt thinks they need a stop light at school because we usually have to wait 30 seconds. And I thought I was impatient!2:46 PM May 7th

Aliya: My (loose) training wheels are trying to tell me something. Its time to take them off!7:06 AM May 5th

I told Aliya the real estate people check for clean houses. She said, Your kidding, cause you have a mysterious smile. She was onto me!6:32 PM Apr 24th

About muffins Tan made that Aliya didn't like, "I didn't mention it cause if u don't have anything nice 2 say, u shouldn't say it at all!6:29 PM Apr 24th

Just left (Maine) and Aliya asks " Are we near home yet?"11:21 AM Apr 23rd

At 5:15am Matthew woke me up saying "I slept for 100 minutes!" I wish he had slept for 100 more minutes.8:28 AM Apr 22nd

Matthew just told me that I should have brought him soccer clothes! Good thing I'm on my A nanny game and DID bring them!1:47 PM Apr 21st

TypicalAliya trademark...8:00 PM Apr 17th

LOL Matt wants to know how our rental car got all my favorite songs in it!?2:33 PM Apr 17th

So apparently Aliya has 'retired' from soccer at age 7

Thats why we wak

2009-09-04T13:57:00.003-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-02T20:54:00.002-04:00

525, 600 Minutes ~ How do you measure a year in the life?

2009-08-29T19:00:00.006-04:00

I knew my 27th year was going to be big, (after all I planned it) I just didn't know how BIG! While it wasn't what I planned, I couldn't have planned it any better, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The only thing I can say about it is that I have been blessed beyond measure by Him, and to Him be all the glory!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I thought my big plans of nannying in Massachusetts, hearing Elizabeth Gilbert speak, seeing Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith in concert, online dating, going to New Zealand and Guatemala, and graduating with my Masters Degree were going to be big deals in 2008/2009, but instead He knows the plans He has for me.

Let's start with my job, i.e. the best job opportunity in the world for me! I signed on in September 2008 for a yearlong nanny position with a wonderful family, great kids, and options for planning activities, housing and health insurance included, with parents who love their children and are supportive of school and time off for me. The children and parents both have great boundaries and respect for my space and time. I love Matthew and Aliya like my own niece and nephew and miss them when I’m away. I often think, at times such as skiing with Matt, at the American Girl store with Aliya, camping in Maine with them or sitting by the pool watching them swim "is this really what I get paid to do?" I appreciate the children, my time with them and my position. Not only is it my job, but practice for when/if I have a family of my own. In December 2008, I negotiated the year long nanny contract to include: a 4 month extension until December 2009, with a promise to help fill my position when I leave, and they would pay for one master’s course. It was a win-win situation, especially in this economy, to be blessed with a great position I LOVE and more job security for the future. He knows the plans He has for me.

I knew I needed a church community when I moved to Massachusetts, so I did my research before moving. I found a few close to my new home and made plans to check them out ASAP. Now, when I say church, I mean I knew I needed to go to the church and hear His word and grow in my faith. I didn’t think beyond that or have any more expectations. I church shopped for 2 weeks and met a couple who referred me to another church, which had a young adult group starting called Bridge. That group Bridge is now my church, in the community sense of church as God intended. I have since spent immeasurable amounts of time within this group, and with the individuals I now call my friends. We have been worshiping Him, hearing His word, studying His word, camping, at the beach, at the pool, started a book club, playing games, chatting in person and on Facebook for hours on end, bowling, eating, giving and receiving advice, planning and executing events, and all while nurturing my relationship with Him. He knows the plans He has for me.

I was afforded the opportunity to go Guatemala in December, but due to snowy weather it was rescheduled to February. If we had gone in December, Safe Passage would have been closed. I would not have been able to see the sites, the children or the organization during its normal daily activities. I got a tour of the facilities, met the children, saw the dump where they work and the atmosphere of what 6 weeks of service might look like down there. I was overcome and speechless by what I saw. I came to the realization that I didn’t want to go there alone and work with the kids, but instead needed to do service alongside others I knew and I would work better with the adult programming at Safe Passage. That was 6 months ago and I haven’t revisited it yet. He knows the plans He has for me.
The spring 2009 New Zealand trip I had anticipated with my friend Sarah was canceled due to a change of plans. It wasn’t very long after that while chatting with one of my best friends Jaimee, that my Aruba vacation was booked. $600 for 7 days/7 nights at the Marriott and a flight was exception ably cheap and the opportunity was taken! I spent time with Jaimee, which is not easily attained with both of our busy lives, met and enjoyed some of her nurse friends, played hard, relaxed a bit and had one happy week on “One Happy Island’. Although I had New Zealand, with a pit stop in Sydney, Australia in mind, He knows the plans He has for me.

I didn’t graduate in the spring of 2009, as I have one more class left. I was going to go to South Africa with a cultural leadership study abroad program, but have since changed my mind. I was excited to get a chance to go to Africa and jumped at the opportunity. However, the time has come to apply and my feelings have changed. When I think of Africa, I think of my Somali students back during my VISTA post. I want to go where they lived and serve the people there. While it would still be a wonderful opportunity, I am not nearly as excited about it and think I will hold out, save my money and graduate in the spring of 2010 alongside one of my best friends, Allison. Also, I might just be in Peru joining my sister and brother-in-law to bring home a couple new nieces early next spring, so I must save for that! He knows the plans He has for me.

My cousin Tia walked 60 miles for a 3Day Breast Cancer walk in Philadelphia in October 2008. Our Aunt Barb died of breast cancer in the 1970s so we never met her, but she was so very special to her brothers, our fathers. After raising some support and awareness for her, and then hearing about her experience, I decided I too wanted to embrace this opportunity to raise support and awareness for the cause. Thus my 3 Day journey began. I started walking in March with Joy, a Bridge friend I met in January 2 weeks after she got married and moved here from South Carolina. My employers bought me a double stroller to push the kids in while we walked at the mall. 42 very special people sponsored me as I raised $2300 towards the cause. My father was my biggest fan and supporter and it felt great to honor his sister in that way. I surprised myself by walking 20 miles the first day and I have to say, I was proud of me! My mother came and walked with me, my four sisters, brother by law and cousin came to cheer me on Sunday, and some of my Bridge friends, including Joy, came to the finish line and closing ceremonies. I ended up walking 50 of the 60 miles due to blisters, but I finished and will be doing it next year with my father on the crew, and maybe even as a part of the San Diego walk! He knows the plans He has for me.

I was given 2 weeks paid vacation at the end of August when my employers take their vacation. When I found out I decided I too must take a vacation. Where will I go? Well my friend Katie lives in Los Angeles and had said I could come for a visit. I wrote her with the dates I wanted to come and booked the tickets the next day. I spent 5 days in Los Angeles with Katie, who was the best hostess ever! We crammed in so much in those 5 days that I have wanted to see forever and had such an amazing time. He knows the plans He has for me.

The summer of 2009 should probably have its own song in the soundtrack of my life, much like Brian Adam’s summer of ’69. While music and falling in love aren’t the topics of my summer of ’09 song, it has been some of the best days of my life. I went camping on my Mimi’s 100 acres and with my Bridge friends, had numerous cookouts with family and friends, spent time at pools, lakes, and oceans (Atlantic and Pacific), walked in the 3Day, had my 10 year high school reunion, saw Blue Man Group, went to Los Angeles and most importantly, I did this all while being single. I dated me and filled my single scrapbook with all things Tarsha! He knows the plans He has for me.

I planned my year; I filled it with adventures, destinations, and some dating experiences too. He had bigger opportunities and obstacles for me though. I grow and learn so much from each of the experiences. I prayed for patience and He’s coming through for me. I think He needs to hurry up sometimes, but given my plans verses His plans for this past year, I’m going to practice this patience thing a bit longer! For He knows the plans He has for me!

Dear God,
You are an amazingly beautiful and wonderful designer! You know my needs and wants when I cannot even identify them. You know my future and that of my friends and family too. I am so thankful that my parents made God a part of my life and that my faith is in you. Thank you God for all of the opportunities I have been given in this past year alone. Thank you for the awesome people you have placed in my life and the not so awesome ones you placed there for me to learn from. Thank you for keeping me healthy and able to walk in the 3Day when others weren’t afforded the chance. Thank you for providing me with the people and funds to participate and the support along the way that kept me going. Thank you for this wonderful job you gave me that is preparing me to be a mother and allowing me to work through all my fears around it. Thank you for the grace you have bestowed upon me as I make some of the same mistakes over and over and over again. I am a work in progress and long to get it right, but I stumble and you lift me up. Did I mention I feel like I don’t deserve this? I am abundantly blessed Lord and I know you deserve all the glory. This life isn’t about me and I long to serve you anywhere anytime. Thank you for the happiness and the smile I wake up with each day and the people I get to share it with. I know how very lucky I am to be blessed with my health, my socioeconomic status, my family, friends, and even my skin color. I am trying not to take these for granted Lord, and I am asking you now to keep me focused and centered on you and your will for my life. Please be with my friends and family that don’t know you like I do, that they might come to and be eternally grateful.

In Jesus name,
Amen

P.S. You know I’m serious about going anyplace anytime to serve your people. I know you have plans for me better than I can imagine.

All Things Hollywood ~ One Sassy Time

2009-08-29T16:57:00.016-04:00

I went to Los Angeles to visit Katie and do all things Hollywood. In no particular order...Went to the Santa Monica Pier and rode the ferris wheel Got pictures my favorite way, in the photobooth of course :)

Met Madeline and Matt Logelin

I got some bangs

Saw Michael Jackson's star

Drank some marvelous martinis

Went shopping

Went out on the town, not just once

Not only twice

But THREE nights in a row!
With one of those being out to The Beauty Bar

Got TWO $25 massages

Window shopped on Rodeo Drive Baby!
And last, but not least, enjoyed myself immensly and had the best hostess ever! Thanks Katie!

I'm not a bride, but I play one for photos!

2009-08-11T13:44:00.003-04:00

3Day Journey Part 2

2009-08-06T10:17:00.009-04:00

Sister support!

Team T's for B's (Tia, Tarsha, and Tia for Barb and breasts of our beloved!) Tracy, Tricia, Tarsha, Trina, Tanya, and Cousin Beth! They cheered me on Sunday through the finish line!

Tracy and I, she cheered me on with Daddy and Ben for 2 days!

My charismatic brother-by-law Ben!

My Mom came and walked with me for 4 miles on Saturday! Thanks Mom ~ I love you and appreciate your support!

For 3 days, between walking miles and miles, this is what I did. I think the stretching part was my favorite NO DOUBT!

My marvelous Bridge (small group) friends came to cheer me on! Thanks Jason for coordinating it! Joy, Me, Randall, Jason, Tim, Kristina, Aimee, and Lynn ~I am truly blessed to have these individuals in my life!

Joy, my training walk partner was at the finish line! Thanks Joy for training with me and cheering me on!

Daddy! My biggest fan! He solicited funds and support for me everywhere he went! He also signed up to crew in 2010! I love you Daddy!

Uncle Ric, Tia, Tarsha, and Daddy (Bruce) ~ Their sister, Aunt Barb died of breast cancer in the 1970s

I keep walking ...
In honor of my Aunt Barb and for my sisters, mother, cousins, daughters, friends...

Joy, helping me stretch

Thanks again to all who supported me, whether it was prayers, dying my hair pink, financial support, cheering me on or just asking me about the journey!

A FABULOUS Bachelorette Party!

2009-08-06T09:56:00.011-04:00

Kristan~The Fabulous Bachelorette
Mimosas in the AM with Katie, Jaime, Michelle, Allison, Me and Kristan!

Dinner

Did I mention the evening was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S?

We stayed at the Liberty Hotel, which use to be a jail!

Our evenings entertainment

Outside Blue Man Group

Al & I~Best Friends

My prayer for today

2009-08-05T09:53:00.001-04:00

Jesus calling...

Relax & let Me lead you through this day. I have everything under My control. You peer anxiously into the day before you, trying to figure out what to do & when. All that planning ties you up in knots & distracts you from Me. Vast quantities of time & energy are wasted in obsessive planning. When you let Me direct your steps, you are set free to enjoy Me & you find what I have prepared for you today.

Tarsha's 2009 Boston Breast Cancer 3Day Journey Part 1

2009-07-29T07:08:00.016-04:00

It all began on a rainy Friday morning at Farm Pond, where we braved the wet and the mud and faced the first day with excitement and smiles. The 19.7-mile route featured many memorable highlights, including some incredible support at Bertucci's in Wellesley. After a long, wet day of walking, we settled in to camp.

Saturday's 22-mile day also featured some great support along the route, including the Granite Angels at the top of Belmont Hill, the cheerleaders at Arlington High School and numerous cheering stations at Horn Pond, Heritage Farm and the YMCA in Woburn. We were cheered on by the Minute Men in Lexington, the Pink Posse and the Fallen Angels. Thanks also to the Candy Castle in Lexington and Shaw's Supermarket. Sunday's 15.3-mile route wound through Cambridge, including a picturesque walk through Harvard Square. Along the way, we enjoyed free donuts at Sofra and support at the Mt. Auburn Star Market. On the way into Boston, we walked through Boston Common and the public garden, through Downtown Crossing and along the waterfront and past JFK Library. It all ended with a celebratory Closing Ceremony at the University of Massachusetts.

Walking, Walking, Walking

2009-07-23T10:33:00.003-04:00

Hello Friends and Family,

Thanks for all the support thus far as I readied myself for this exciting challenge. Whether it has been prayer, money, walking with me, dying my hair pink, or just asking me how its going, it is ALL greatly appreciated! If you feel so inclined to support me 'up close and personal' during my walk, the following locations are designated as cheering stations and for opening/closing ceremonies. I will be walking by these places and the familiar faces would bring great encouragement. I already know of several faces I'll see there and this makes me a very happy ~~daughter sister friend~~ girl! :)

Opening Ceremony - Friday, July 24
6 am Farm Pond 100 Dudley Road Framingham, MA 01702

Cheering Stations -Friday, July 24
9:00 am - 11:30 am Hunnewell Playground Parking at Stars Market, 448 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02482
11:15 am - 3:00 pm Learning Prep School 1507 Washington Street Newton, MA 02465

Cheering Stations -Saturday, July 25
10:15 am - 3:30 pm YMCA-Greater Boston Area: North Suburban Family Branch, 175 Lexington Street, Woburn, MA 01801
11:30 am - 5:45 pm Friendly’s Restaurant 1111 Waltham Street Lexington, MA 02421

Cheering Stations -Sunday, July 26
8:15 am - 11:15 AM Cambridge City Hall 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139

Closing Ceremony -Sunday, July 26 5:00 pm
5 pm University of Massachusetts 100 William T Morrissey Blvd. Dorchester, MA 02125

You should arrive at the Closing Ceremony site by 3:30 pm to secure a space by the stage that will give them the best view of the program. Please allow extra time for travel and parking. Maybe I'll see you there! I'll be the sweaty girl with pink hair and pink shoes. Try and spy me in a crowd of 2,000 plus :) Thanks again and I can't wait to embark on such an incredible journey!

I have the best people!

2009-07-23T10:07:00.002-04:00

Something about 100%!! Now about those 60 miles!

York's Wild Kingdom

2009-07-21T14:23:00.002-04:00

Almost there!

2009-07-21T14:20:00.001-04:00

82% of the way...$407 left!

69% OF THE WAY...Thanks Friends and Family!

2009-07-14T11:08:00.003-04:00

My 3Day Page

54% of the way there...

2009-07-05T17:53:00.003-04:00

46% of the way and 19 days left!

Matthewisms

2009-06-30T14:00:00.001-04:00

"Tosha, I NEED you" means come wipe me (won't he appreciate me blogging about that!?)

As I pull into Dunkin Donuts for a coffee, Matthew will most certainly say "I'm hungry", regardless of the time of day, if he has just eaten, or if he is falling asleep. This means he wants a strawberry donut, which he received the first time we ever went to DD together.

"Anybody wanna cuddle?" (said to Aliya and I) means he is tired and he knows it.

"Tosha, am I making good choices?" means he wants something.

"How much do I have to eat?" means he is in negotiating mode concerning dinner, and I must either ignore, or make eye contact until he says "All of it?!"

"Your mean" or "your not my best nanny" means he is having a hard time making good choices and I am making him take responsibility for it. Yes folks, he understands all of this. He is VERY clever.

"Oh no Tosha, someone glittered!" as he points to trash on the ground, commonly known as litter!

There are many more, I'm just blanking right now. He sure does keep me on my toes! Now that I know the back doors he takes to get his needs met, we work better together. Just in time for summer, when he and his sister will be spending 50+ hours a week with me :)

"Even the poor people Tosha?"

2009-06-30T13:50:00.007-04:00

Aliya, Matthew and I discuss things, a lot. We talk about God, friends, family, the news on the radio, sports, school, me NOT being married, church, the bible, music, celebrities, etc. As you can imagine, it is usually me fielding questions, but not always. These children are very clever and always willing to share important information and sweet words of encouragement. They are very caring children and able to think beyond themselves. So much so, that many discussions end with "Even the poor people Tosha?"

Matthew always wants to know if the poor people have it too, like are they smart, do they know Jesus, go to college, get married, have kids, eat vegetables?!

And my answer is always "Yes Matt, the only thing most poor people don't have is money."

To which he answers, "And money isn't everything!"

Thats how she rolls rides...

2009-06-26T17:46:00.003-04:00

Riding her bike in a mini skirt and cowgirl boots! What do you wear?

Life Lessons

2009-06-26T13:22:00.003-04:00

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer- Cleveland, OHTo celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Our very own Night at the Museum

2009-06-25T09:54:00.003-04:00

The view of our beds (in the top left) below Mr. T. Rex!

Couldn’t make it through the 11pm lightening show…

Tired kids on the Musical stairs

Mr. T. Rex – we slept right underneath him!

Bright and early the next morning we were up for a planetarium show!

WET Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T14:33:00.002-04:00

And now he identifies letters!

2009-06-23T08:31:00.004-04:00

It's official, he is a genius! :)

So, there's this boy...

2009-06-16T18:40:00.001-04:00

I've mentioned him a few times. We've spent some quality time together. He's sweet, smart, and handsome. We've been to the movies and shopping together, gone to the museum, church, and to Maine to meet the family. He thinks I am beautiful and compliments me often. He has even volunteered with me and met my friends. My Dad likes him and he believes in Jesus. We've had some heated discussions (conversations-disagreements, etc.) where it turned out I was right. He acknowledged this and said "Your right". He'll ride his bike while I train for my walk and he also wants to help the children in Africa who don't have clean water and healthy food to eat. What more could a girl ask for?!

Well, this boy, who has kind of stole my heart, is four and a half. He calls me Tosha. :) Who says I need a husband, when I have a little man like this?!

Camping

2009-06-13T06:11:00.007-04:00

This is the scene from Saturday. We slept in the tent with our new LLBean sleeping bags and Thomas the Train/Dora lanterns on Friday night. I was awoken at 5:50AM to a bright sun and two children eager to embrace the day! The children rode/fought who would drive the Gator for hours. They rode their bikes too, caught frogs, searched for snakes, played in my Dad's bus turned motor home, and made s'mores! Matthew even went to my nephew Issac's t-ball game. I had some tired and dirty kids when we left after 14 hours of playing.

Walking, walking, walking

2009-06-11T08:50:00.005-04:00

Walking for my girls and your mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend!

(For those of you who know them well, can you guess who is who?)

I am walking, doing Pilates, and bike riding in preparation for the upcoming 60 miles! Only 45 days until the walk starts. I have raised $901 so far (39%) and only need $1399 more to meet my goal of $2300. Making a donation online is safe and easy HERE! Every little bit counts! Thank you to all my family and friends who have made generous donations to the 3Day on my behalf, and a special thanks to my Mom and Joy for their financial support AND for walking with me! And I would be remiss if I didn't say an additional thanks to Matthew and Aliya for biking 3 miles daily as I walk! Have I mentioned how blessed I am lately?!

Damon Riding

2009-06-10T17:54:00.002-04:00

He walked at 9 months and now is driving at 17 months!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-10T09:28:00.001-04:00

You've Got Mail!

2009-06-03T12:22:00.008-04:00

My motivation and inspiration! Sisters, mothers, wives, aunts, and best friends!

There’s nothing like a letter from a loved one to inspire you to keep going. Your friends, family and supporters can write a letter to you, which we’ll deliver to you on the event at the Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office.

Send letters to:

Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office

ATTN: TARSHA DOWNING

P.O. Box 8534

Warwick, RI 02888

Envelopes only, please. No boxes or large packages. Mail must be postmarked no later than July 14th in order to ensure delivery at the Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office.

I got this email and wanted to share it with my family and friends! Can't support me financially or physically (by being there in Boston to cheer me on!)? Well send me your love and support in the form of a letter, drawing, or picture! Who doesn't like mail, and who wouldn't want it after 20 miles of walking in the hot sun? It will help just to know I am supported while I support a good cause! And it'll only cost you $0.42, no wait, $0.43?! Or is it $0.44 now?

Matt's not afraid of hills anymore!

2009-06-02T12:45:00.002-04:00

Funny Kid

2009-05-29T13:57:00.005-04:00

What does this...

Plus this equal?

Well this is what you get!

See those little scabs extending from his lips?! The boy went at the lollipop so vigorously yesterday that he cut his lips on the crease. This morning he requested some Vaseline because it was sore. He didn't complain though and his Mom suggested she knew how he got those little battle scars!

Hannah has Breast Cancer

2009-05-29T09:15:00.004-04:00

Hannah, age 10, was unfortunately diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, Stage IIA (Breast Cancer). This beautiful young woman, daughter, big sister, niece, granddaughter and beloved shining spirit is the typical 10 year old girl. She loves to play sports, ride her bike, watch Hannah Montana and just be a kid. Her positive outlook on life, as well as her strong will, will carry her through this trying time.

As I train and raise money for the 3 Day in July, I am becoming more aware of the impact breast cancer has on families. I've heard stories about young mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, aunts, and cousins having the disease and fighting for their life. But this young girl Hannah's story has impacted me the most! First, her name brings it home. My 5 year old niece Hannah means the world to me (and everyone else in our family) and just the thought of something this terrible happening to her seems unimaginable. No child should have to fight this. Second, she is only 10 years old!! Will this disease even allow her to become a wife, mother, and aunt? From her website: "The issue at hand is how to treat her as she is a child with an adult disease and the hospitals that deal with breast cancer do not typically treat children, and the Children's hospital do not have the facilities to treat breast cancer. We have two options at this point; (A) Hannah goes to a breast center that does not have the experience in children or (B) she goes to a hospital that has more pediatric care but not so much in the breast cancer area." Her parents must make these decisions. The journey Hannah and her family is on is a roller coaster, the big and scary kind people often opt NOT to ride. Hannah doesn't have the choice. She already had a mastectomy of the affected breast and is now undergoing chemo. She'll lose her hair, so she's having a party and shaving it off beforehand. Based on her website, Hannah is handling this well and eager to take care of business and rid her body of this cancer. Her strong will and positive attitude makes me excited to be a part of the Boston Breast Cancer 3Day walk to raise awareness and money for research to eradicate this disease.

Please consider making a donation to the Breast Cancer 3Day in honor of the Hannah(s) in your life. I sure will be.

Piano Lessons

2009-05-27T12:57:00.004-04:00

Aliya started piano lessons today. We talked about it yesterday afternoon and she asked if we would be coming home before the lessons. I said we could and didn't think much of it. This is what I found this morning, from the girl who doesn't organize anything!

Note how everything is strategically placed, right down to the ring and shoes! She came home from school and burst inside. She changed her clothes, washed her face, and brushed her teeth! We were out the door in record time and off to piano lessons. She enjoyed the lesson and Katie (my friend who is her piano teacher) said she got it quickly.

His Hand

2009-05-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

I love the Boys little chubby 4 year old hand and here are few reasons why.

Because its...

the one that reaches to high-five mine after tasks well done

the one that I reach for several times a day as we get out of the car

the one that I hold as we walk on sidewalks, in parking lots, and if I am lucky, in stores

the one that holds up two, sometimes three, fingers as he negotiates how many more bites from his dinner he must eat

the one that writes MAtTheW like a champ now

the one that on occasion touches my face gently as he cuddles close when he's falling sleep

the one that its owner just hollered, "Tosha, my fingernails are dirty!"

Matt and Tarsha's Hotwheel Track

2009-05-12T11:12:00.003-04:00

Somebody was hungry...

2009-05-06T10:39:00.001-04:00

And took it upon himself to remedy that!

One Happy Island ~ Aruba 2009

2009-05-05T14:18:00.011-04:00

Here is a photo essay of my trip to Aruba! We snorkeled
Went on a rope swing, once by myself and twice with Juan Carlos, the acrobatic Jolly Pirate.

Got some angel wings temporarily tattooed onto my back.

Went on a Jolly Pirate Ship (which included all you can drink Pirate Poison, swimming snorkeling, and sailing!)

Went 4-wheeling around the whole island sightseeing (looking like the unabomber to protect my skin from the sun)

Got a lovely massage

Convinced Jaimee she could parasail and signed her up!

Saw some beautiful sites

Made some great new friends, (L to R Silvia, Jaimee, me, Cheryl, and Joann)

Sipped some yummy fruity drinks

Swam, sunbathed and lounged around A LOT!

We enjoyed happy hour(s), shopped, relaxed, chatted, and ate like it was our job! We saw a couple shows on the beach with dancer dressed in boas and feathers and shaking their bodies like I have never seen before. We also saw a cool water light show set to music one night. Jaimee and I went to see Obsessed Saturday to curb our sadness about leaving the next day. I know, I know, who goes to the movies in Aruba right?! Well we did and it was a good movie.

There was great food, great friends, and great times in Aruba last week! It is indeed One Happy Island!

I was gonna save these for Wordless Wednesday...

2009-05-05T11:45:00.009-04:00

But a VERY funny story now accompanies the photos. And, well, the story requires words!

So I have been planning a trash the dress/try out the new camera with my photographer brother-in-law Ben for sometime now. The Saturday before I left for Aruba (more to come on that adventure soon) it all came together and we had a photo shoot. We went to a consignment shop and bought the white dress for $30 and the veil for $10. Before we went home to put some make-up on me and style my hair, we stopped at Shop'n'Stop for $6 flowers. We then headed to the beach, playground, train tracks, church, and a candy store. Let me tell you the ways as a bride, yes a ~~make believe marrying myself~~ bride, can get hit on! I got beeped at, whistled at, told I was beautiful, complimented on my ~~stained/snagged~~ wedding dress and $6 bouquet and proposed to! Who knew? It was so much fun, I mean what girl doesn't like getting all dressed up sassy and going places?! We celebrated Tracy and Ben's birthday with a marvelous sushi dinner (the reception) and I left for Aruba (my honeymoon) early the following morning. You'll see where I am going with this momentarily.

On Friday morning, almost a week after the photo shoot and I headed to Aruba, my Dad walks into the country store in my little small hometown in Maine. He sees an old acquaintance who starts raving about what a beautiful bride I made. Confused, my dad asks what he means, and said acquaintance takes out his cell phone, (signs onto Facebook) and shows my Dad eight photos with me in full bridal gear! My dad is dumbfounded to say the least. Keep in mind that I am his last single daughter and he knows I am in Aruba. All kinds of things are running through his mind now. Why wasn't I invited? Is she on her honeymoon? She said she was going with friends. Who did she marry?

Poor guy! He didn't mention to anyone all day while he stressed and tried to make sense of it. Neither one of my parents are technologically savvy, and especially not my Dad! When I was studying abroad in England during undergrad, he attempted Instant Messaging me, and this is what it looked like - hitarshahowareyouimissyouhopeyouarehavingagoodtime, which took him over a minute to type. But I digress. While the photos were enough to cause a small panic attack, he did remember seeing Corey Pro on the photos. He decided with four other daughters who always spill the beans, it simply couldn't be true. He called Tracy and giggling he said to her "I just went by some train tracks where my daughter got married." When Tracy was confused, he explained his story of seeing his last daughter married off in pictures and the toll it took on him!

So that's the story of my wedding and honeymoon, I mean my photo shoot and 10 year friendship anniversary vacation with Jaimee! But to ~~my Dad~~ an outsider who only sees a few photos, its a whole different story!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-29T08:12:00.003-04:00

A Girls got to do what a Girls got to do! Part 2

2009-04-25T22:49:00.009-04:00

For 1 week I am trading in my normal routine for something a little different!

Playing race cars for plane rides

Bulky sweaters for bathing suits

School books for sun bathing

Blog world for blue waters

Nannying for naptime(s)

Four wheels for a four wheeler (ATV/Jeep)

Training walks for the Breast Cancer 3Day for tours/walks on the beach (Caribbean) for 7Days

Laundry for lounging

Double stroller for Dutch snorkeling

Chocolate milk for Cosmos/Margaritas

Snugging with one of my babies for spending time with one of my Besties!

And last, but certainly not least,

Facebook/texting for face time!

Alright alright its a lot different, but whose keeping score?! I'm going to Aruba. On this break from my normal routine I will relax a little, play a lot and spend quality time with my great friend Jaimee! While I am sooo very excited to go on this adventure, I also realize and appreciate how very blessed I am to have ALL these things to trade for a week, but come back to after.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for this wonderful adventure I have been afforded! This trip is not only 7 days off from work, or 7 days in a sunny warm place to tan my pale body, but 7 WHOLE DAYS with a great friend! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I realize, especially in these hard economic times, there are others who long for just 7 days of work. I know that each thing I am trading in is more than some people have to begin with. Please grant us traveling mercies and protect us on this adventure. Please send someone sweet and capable to care for Matthew and Aliya while I am away and help me be sweet and fully capable for when I return to them.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

The Amazing gRACE

2009-04-23T22:00:00.002-04:00

I helped coordinate a smaller version of the Amazing Race this past weekend with Bridge, the young adult group I am a part of at Grace Baptist Church. We called it the Amazing gRACE. It had many of the same tasks, challenges and ideas as the show, but we added, changed and edited a bit. It took about 3 hours and you only needed a car for transportation, but you did have to fly a plane! Tracy, Ben, Allison and Damon joined me for the fun! I knew the clues and answers so I didn't get to participate with them, but it was fun, exciting, nerve racking and competitive all at the same time!

Some of the clues and tasks included:

Building an airplane and flying it for 20 seconds

Finding fairy wings.

Playing duck duck goose at the mall, with extra points if you got a stranger to play!

Complimenting and getting a group picture with a mall cop (which was foiled when said mall cops couldn't actually have their picture taken).

Finding a Bridge member hidden inside a HUGE furniture store.

Taking group pictures at various locations and finding locations with clues like 'one step from Heaven' and then 'off to the Cross' . Tracy and Allison's team won, beating Ben's team, even though they got back at the same time! The girls answered more of the extra questions!

Middle Wife

2009-04-22T19:15:00.008-04:00

By an anonymous Second Grade Teacher:
I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back. When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in t o school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.' She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement. 'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.) 'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.) 'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)

'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.

Pizza + Patio = Picnic

2009-04-17T19:13:00.007-04:00

Who says you need a special basket filled with delectable dishes for a picnic? We got pizza, went out on the patio and had ourselves a picnic! Today was sunny and 70 degrees here in MA! It was Aliya's idea for the picnic and she narrated the directions for what we needed. She was very helpful and got most of it. :) Matthew just wanted to be outside and take his shoes off!

Tonight we had a movie night, play date, and slumber party all wrapped up in one. I had the children tonight while Peter and Annie went to the Red Sox game. We had Robbie over (the neighbor boy who Aliya plans on marrying) watched Velveteen Rabbit, and then I let them both fall asleep in my bed. They argued about the middle, so I declared it! And I'm not sure they quite understood they were only falling asleep in my bed, not spending the whole night. But you can bet once I was sure they were asleep, I scooped their limp little bodies up and placed them gently in their own beds. Not that I minded their excitement about the slumber party, but I had an elbow in my rib cage, sweaty legs kicking me, and NO room. Matthew told me twice he didn't have enough room, that I needed to push over and move my computer. Remember, I was in the middle and he had six inches on the other side of him, he just wanted to be thisclose to me! :)

Tomorrow is Aliya's birthday brunch at American Girl in Natick. Then Allison and Damon are coming down from Maine, Tracy and Ben are coming from Beverly and we are all going to the Amazing gRACE event I helped plan with my small group. It should be a grand time!

Biking 101 with Beauty and the Boy

2009-04-17T16:36:00.017-04:00

On training wheels:
Matthew (Boy): "I don't need them because Connor (cousin-age 8) doesn't use them."
Aliya (Beauty): "I don't need training wheels because I trained last year."
(Note: Regardless of a cousin needing them or not and said training last year, both have and need training wheels, I just don't mention them!)

On bike choice:
M: Red Lightening McQueen Race car look-a-like
A: Blue Puppy Love brand with blue/white/silver tassels hanging from the handle bars and a bell, of course

On ant hills:
M: Must get off bike and walk it until a completely (as in no sign of an incline/decline) flat part
A: Must go as fast as you can, not a big deal if you fall off

On falling off:
M: Must immediately start crying your eyes out and looking for battle scars
A: Must immediately get up, straighten tassels on handle bars and get back on

On helmets:
M: Must match bicycle
A: Must match bicycle

On bicycle clothing/gear:
M: Would wear elbow, knee and wrist guards if he had them
A: Would wear a dress (and probably heels) if asked to

On distance from Tarsha:
M: Would prefer leading, but following behind and braking OFTEN works
A: Leading the pack while singing your heart out is preferred

This is what I have learned from taking the bikes to the Rail Trail for three days and biking 9 miles. Who would have thought that this is the way it would go with the Boy and the Beauty?! I'll leave you with the site I see as we ~~come within 200 feet of~~ approach anything that resembles inclines/declines.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-15T08:15:00.003-04:00