tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940022900279096746.post235446918051979387..comments2022-04-30T07:23:20.357-05:00Comments on Garden of Blessings: Testament to TammieJeanninehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12834456674787663918noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940022900279096746.post-7723660522269440312017-07-31T17:34:24.343-05:002017-07-31T17:34:24.343-05:00May each of us be able to present to Christ one da...May each of us be able to present to Christ one day a bushel of eternal fruit that even approaches Tammie's contributions to the kingdom.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940022900279096746.post-5921029150761419932017-07-30T13:19:20.503-05:002017-07-30T13:19:20.503-05:00So sweet that we both have such wonderful memories...So sweet that we both have such wonderful memories of how Tammie touched our lives. She grew from her struggles where some might have given in to self pity. She did live well and through that life I feel challenged to look beyond any set backs I may have and run the race set before me!Jeanninehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834456674787663918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940022900279096746.post-82251186878572491882017-07-30T10:53:06.277-05:002017-07-30T10:53:06.277-05:00Thanks for posting this, Jeannine. You pretty much...Thanks for posting this, Jeannine. You pretty much covered the gamut of Tammie's life and who she was to us as a friend. I miss her as well. I came along later in Tammie's life, when she was in high school and I was in junior high, I think. (To be honest, I don't remember how she and I met! Do you? Times like this I wish my Mom was here to remind me!) But I well recall and cherish the many years of friendship that followed. As a young person with a disability myself, it was such a relief and a validation to connect with someone who knew some of the same life challenges I knew. It normalized our experience for both of us, I think. We didn't necessarily talk about the challenges and frustrations that go with a disability, or at least that happened rarely. But we just did it, together. The Head's home became a second home to me during my teenage years. Bob will tell you that I nearly ate them out of house and home; I always seemed to show up at mealtime! But it was at Tammie's invitation! So being with Tammie and journeying through adolescence with her was a tremendous gift to me, a young girl whose options for "hanging out" with peers was limited because of physical limitations. I remember laughter, lots of popcorn, talking about boys, more laughter, watching movies, doing our nails, many meals together, gossiping, and more laughter. Then we each got cars and our world expanded. But still, we grew along with each other as our abilities and our worlds grew, both in terms of relationships and geography. As you remember, I played the piano and you sang at Tammie's wedding. Tammie was strong, stronger than she realized, I believe. And where she lacked strength, she just didn't make a big deal out of that. She just accepted it and lived her life. She also quietly trusted God as her Helper. So my view of Tammie is a bit different. I don't see her as ever being 'helpless' or 'needy'. While things were difficult for her, and she needed help at various stages of her life, she went on. She went to school. She was beautiful. In her gentle, quiet way she just did her life. And blessed others along the way. That is a life well-lived! Jo Ann (Van Wey) FormbyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10245471837020741114noreply@blogger.com