Thursday, May 12, 2016

Grow: Five Minute Friday

Kate's Twitter Party was a lot of fun this week. (Or so I heard) My daughters had their spring concert, so I was taking snapshots instead of typing. Here's the linkup to Five Minute Friday.
This week's prompt?

"Grow"

2011, my firstborn and her first year of pre-school just ahead of us. (And her sister)
Wow. That's not a hard prompt considering where I was tonight. My oldest daughter is finishing the third grade in a few weeks. My second born had her first grade contribution to the spring concert tonight. In two years, all three of my girls will be in the Elementary group. And then they'll start springing like butterflies into the whirlwind of middle and high school and flutter away from home.

I'm not the nostalgic, cling-to-each moment kind of mom. I admire and sometimes envy those moms. The ones whose children seem to have a special bond. They hold hands in the parking lot, the hallways, they're always hugging! I'm so practical and logical and, well, I'm a math teacher. I do have my fun, creative, artsy side. And I love to be hugged by my girls, but sometimes I don't remember to initiate.

My oldest and I joke about her height. She's finally taller than my armpit. (Hope that's not too visual for you, but she's not to my shoulders yet, so that's the next logical milemarker.)
I see them growing physically, but where I'm so ecstatic is in their spiritual growth!
Our older two girls have made the decision to get baptized at our church in two weeks. They are seven and almost nine! And they know what it means and their reasoning is that "they want other people to know they have Jesus in their hearts."

My parents decided that investing in their grandchildren was more praiseworthy than in the stock market. So, 4 1/2 years ago, they committed to helping us put our girls into private pre-school, which happened to be a K-12 school.
Between the school we're at and the church we're at, our girls have been discipled so well by so many who have a personal relationship with Jesus themselves! They believe what they teach and they model it in their own life.

This year I've had the privilege of coming on staff alongside these dear sisters and brothers in the faith. Truly, it's been the job of my dreams. The friendships I've formed have been eternal.

And grow? Wow. Put yourself in middle school again. You will grow. Hallelujah. God is continuing to work out my salvation! :)
I love my students. I love math. I love teaching math. And I especially love when I can come alongside them when they're hurting and pray over their situations and reassure them that they're not alone.

I hope to continue to see them grow into their calling. I feel like I'm home already. Heaven will be just that much better. Although, my students don't foresee Algebra as Heaven.
This was a recent trip to an old-fashioned malt shop. My youngest was just months old when the upper picture was taken.


-Tammy

15 comments:

  1. Wow, they do grow fast don't they! Sounds like there is so much to celebrate and enjoy in your life at the moment- so great to be able to appreciate it :) (an FMF friend)

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    1. Thank you Emma!
      Your boys are darling. I love that they call you mam.
      I hope you find joy in little moments again and again! (and health in sick times)
      Love,
      Tammy

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  2. Algebra ain't Heaven. Calculus is...and Special Functions are the Throne Room itself.

    What a lovely, loving post, Tammy. The girls are so blessed by your presence!

    As are we, as am I.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-dying-spouse-154-politics-of-death.html

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    1. Andrew,
      I shied away from Calculus and tried to take the easy route of College Algebra. (And then due to negligence and laziness forgot the exponent on compound interest for my notecard) D on the test, C in the class. Shame on me.

      :) Thanks for reading and taking time to comment. That's an honor (honour in your verbage) in itself!
      Love,
      Tammy

      And our friendship continues to GROW. :)

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  3. I love your parents' heart. Amen. They are storing up treasure in heaven. What a concept!!! xo Sweet girls. Sweet Mama. #13 on the 13th.

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    1. Susan,
      you are a blessing to me. In case you don't know that. You make me feel so lifted up! Thank you!!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  4. I love the pictures of your girls and that you're seeing them not just growing physically but also spiritually. It's so great that 2 of them have decided to get baptised. I love that you see yourself growing too. Lots to celebrate... though I'm not sure about algebra in heaven. :) (I'm in early at #15 today)

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    1. Carly,
      I'll help you with it. Then that will be even more heavenly. I love to help others! :D
      Wish I could help you with your situation this weekend you alluded to. I can, actually.
      I'm praying for you as I type right now.
      Can't wait to hear your growth story!
      love,
      Tammy

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  5. Your girls are beautiful! I would agree with your students....math especially Algebra etc were never my strong suits. Congrats to your girls on their upcoming baptisms.

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    1. Tara,
      but it's so much more logical than English and so much easier to memorize than History! :D
      And without Math, there would be no computers.
      Ha, that's where my knowledge ends. I'm not a programmer.
      Love you and thanks for the congratulations!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  6. What an exciting time! Congrats, as Tara said, to your girls... the best decision they will ever make! Loved this post!

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    1. Karrilee,
      thank you! I'm grateful for your encouragement. How sweet it is to see your children choosing to follow Jesus at a young age. It gives me great hope that they will be world changers!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  7. The spiritual is so much more important than the physical growth isn't it? Although it's fun to watch the physical growth too. 3 of my 4 are taller than me now. The 15 year old will most likely pass the 16 year old this year.

    When I met my hubby and started thinking about home education, I thought reading would be the hard subject. I was so wrong. Almost every hs parent I know struggles with math, even those that are great at it themselves. Our youngest was born in Liberia with some health issues, she's likely has some very mild CP, but people we've talked to say there's really no need, it's so mild. We're certain that affects her learning, and that's okay. Some days she breezes through everything, other days, nothing clicks. But she is everyone's friend, and plays the piano beautifully by ear, and has never had a lesson. Her gifting is definitely not math, lol. If you have some ideas I'd be happy to take a look at them.

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  8. Praise God for your girls' decision to be baptised! What a gift! And what a blessing from your parents to invest in their grandchildren in this way. I'm so encouraged.

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  9. Amen! What a wonderful decision and a precious time of life to make it. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you as your disciple your daughters and they continue to grow in grace and love.

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