Hi family and friends...long time no blog...I know! Keep your hats on, I'm back! I'll probably keep this blog for major ramblings and start using My Yahoo 360 for short daily blurbs which you'll be able to respond to. Whatever it takes to keep us all in touch more often!

Prayers are needed in the days, weeks and months to come for VA Tech. I can't say that enough...this wonderful school and everyone associated with it needs all our support right now and there's nothing better than a simple prayer. God hears every one of them. Thanks everyone!

Many Blessings,
Tamera

Another September 11 is here and friends and family are wondering where I've been. I have much to tell but right now, today, I just want to focus on the Katrina victims and their families.

Every day since 9-11-01 I've taken a moment to recall all my co-workers at the Pentagon, closing my eyes and just picturing their faces and voices. Now though I must focus on the newest voices who are calling to us...telling us to not forget them too...that though they may be unidentifiable amongst the other bodies in the water...we know that they existed and we will continue to pray for them and their families every day.

This is not the time to say "life goes on." Now is the time for action, the time to help others. Everyone did so much for the 9-11 victims (myself being one of those victims) that it's time for me to give back. Every little thing I (we) can do for them is important, whether it's sending money or clothing or food or toys to make the kids smile, one little action can mean the start of a new day for someone else.

God Bless America for standing up and taking part to help when our gov't was unsure of what to do. That's what it takes - everyday people helping everyday folks. It's what we're here for. So stop the vacation and get outside and do something. There's a Katrina donation drop-off on almost every corner. Even giving to your own community is great too as we have folks all around us that are in need.

So, for September 11th this year, don't just sit back and reflect. While we appreciate never being forgotten we'd really appreciate you just getting out and doing something this weekend (today even!) for someone else.

Thank you my friends and family, special thanks to my Heart of America Quilt family - this will be a difficult 11th without being "together" but we'll be united again for September 11, 2006. I look forward to whatever we get to do!

God Bless America,
Tamera

Hi my friends! I can't believe I haven't written in so long. I must admit I was persuaded for awhile to not write. I was informed that my right-wing opinions were too, well, right-wing. It was wrong of me to let the opinions of others' shadow my love of God and our great country.

That being said...let me tell you a few things! I quit my job as a webbie with Titan on the Army contract in April. I'm officially a stay-at-home mom and learning to take care of our businesses (auto detailing and towing). I LOVE it! Should've done this a LONG time ago...but just couldn't leave the Pentagon. I took one last walk down the corridors with the ghosts of the past...hugged them all, said a tearful goodbye and told them I'd see them in heaven some day. I will always remember.

In July my hubby Pete, daughter Franchesca, and I attended a beautiful wedding in Colorado. My cousin married the love of his life on a mountain top. Exquisite!

There was also a sadness to the wedding, for my cousin knew that becoming one with his wife would mean severing ties to certain members of his family. His sister put it aptly - it was a bittersweet moment in life, the realization that a new path had been struck, a path that not everyone chose to walk with them.

Without going into intimate details - my cousins' wonderful Mom died many years ago of cancer and of heartbreak. She loved her husband but he was not emotionally able to handle her illness and worse yet, his heart belonged to someone else. Separation, divorce, the usual horror compounded by the devastation of cancer. Usually a spunky, happy woman, her last breaths were filled with anger for her husband, something my family has not been able to get over - in this case time does not heal all wounds. It takes something (someone) much more powerful.

My cousins have been able to move on, always remembering their incredible mother in their daily endeavors and yet also learning to appreciate their Dad's current wife (the one he lost his heart to so long ago). No one can replace their Mom but no one is trying to - his wife is a graceful, Godly woman who has asked God for forgiveness of her sins. She loves the Lord and her husband with true passion and soul. They are one. And she would die for his children.

I truly believe that my aunt in heaven is proud of her children for forgiving, for moving on and living their lives as life is meant to be lived. They understand forgiveness and what it means to God. I know my aunt would be more at peace in heaven if she knew that everyone in the family could forgive, really forgive. It must rip her apart to see the destruction of the family.

I think they believe that if they let go of the hatred and anger and pain that they will be letting go of my aunt. In a way, yes, they would be. But they don't understand that she wants to be let go of, she wants to rest in peace, that her dying medicated breaths of anger and pain were let go when she met the Lord. There are so many better ways to celebrate her life and her death.

Thus the path of life is severed, for the road my cousins have chosen is in a positive new direction while many of my family choose to remain in their potholes, unable to dig themselves out. Only forgiveness will set them free.

We were also met with great evil while at the wedding. Pete and I prayed for hours afterwards. Such evil can only be fought with fervent prayer. Certain folks are attempting to rewrite the bible. Nothing new there, eh? I understand why they are doing this - they want the bible to conform to their desires so that the sins in their lives (and the lives of those they love) will be taken away. Oh my, don't we all want that? Haha! God sees what they are doing though and His true word will prevail.

All in all, it was quite a memorable wedding. :-)

And for the pro-abortionists, just ask God for forgiveness, especially for any abortion you might have had or assisted with. HE WILL FORGIVE YOU. And then go out and preach to the world how precious life is.

I will be in New York city for 9/11. Pray for the Heart of America Quilt (http://www.heartofamericaquilt.com). Many blessings to all!

Happy holidays everyone! I know, bah humbug! Ah, come on! It's not that bad...things could be worse. You could be Saddam Hussein!

Things are going along okay for us. The snow accumulation is minimal, the gift shopping is done, and I have several days off next week. All that's left to do is the caroling and eggnogging...all of which is fairly easy to partake in, if you like eggnog that is, which I don't...falalalala...lalalalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday season - make the most of it even if times are hard right now. Remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas!

My dear girlfriend Susan has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (multiple scars). It's by no means her death sentence but I'm still very upset about it, at times I'm even angry. The Lord doesn't give us more than He thinks we can handle but this is quite a plateful for her and her family to digest. With all that she's going through she still endeavors to keep the Heart of America Quilt project moving and growing. Thanks Susan, for your strength and courage. You're an inspiration to us all!

It's my birthday, I can cry if I want to, cry if I want to....

I'm 36 years old today. I don't like birthdays. Really, our life starts the moment we are conceived. That means I'm 36 years and 9 months old (approximately) today. That also means I missed the party 9 months ago. Drat. Note to self: conception party in 3 months.

Yes, you read right, we should have conception celebrations instead of "birth" days!

Coughcough...excuse me...wheeze...yep, fall is definitely here! My favorite time of the year and I'm always too sick to enjoy it. Franchesca and I made it out to the Stribling Orchard and picked a few apples and pumpkins. Not the best looking apples this year due to too much rain. Bet you Washingtonians are starting to wonder what rain looks like. We Virginians can sure tell you this year!

Quite a year it has been too. Two cousins of mine relocated from Seattle to D.C. this summer. One is working for Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)...Democrat and defender of abortion...need I say more? Wait...I'm still hacking up a hairball on that one. Sorry dear cousin...best wishes to you though in your new job! Let's do lunch soon! Really!

Happy belated birthday to my Mom and sister Kim! Due to web complications I couldn't post this sooner. Better than a card, right? hahahahahaha.................

Lord, we lift up our hearts to you.