Time With Tandy

Inspirational author and speaker

Time With Tandy

Inspirational author and speaker

Author: Tandy

  • The Promise

    We were in the final stretch of an eight-hundred kilometre drive. Along the way we had experienced rain in varying degrees along with some wind gusts that had me tighten my grip on the steering wheel.

    My travelling companion and I shared deep, meaningful conversation as well as bursts of laughter.

    We marvelled at the variety of cloud formations, some so unusual we’d never before seen anything like them. She took many photos of the sky as we drove.

    At one point she turned to speak to me and a glimpse of something in my side mirror took her breath away. I did a quick shoulder check and then pulled off to the side of the road. We both got out and stared in awe at the vibrant double rainbow behind my vehicle. I stepped to the centre of the quiet road and was able to see the complete rainbow, both inner and outer, arching from one side of the horizon to the other.

    In the bible, God gave the rainbow as a symbol of his mercy and grace. As I stood in wonder at the sight before me, I thought of the symbolism of the sun breaking through storm clouds and light overcoming darkness.

    My friend and I are both widows and as such have passed through some dark storms where our teardrops fell like rain. God has been faithful in guiding us and giving us hope for the future.

    I took several photos and when I looked at them later saw that my shadow is in them. An outline of my body was captured standing under the centre of the rainbows. The display God allowed us to witness that evening reinforced that I am in encircled by the promise of his love as he daily continues to guide, protect and provide for me. And I know that as he has done for me, he will also do for you. That’s a promise you can rely on.


  • Special Occasions

    Something exciting happened in my family recently. My oldest granddaughter called to tell me she was engaged. I’m overjoyed for them and thrilled to welcome him as another grandchild.

    Since that happy announcement, memories of my engagement, way back in the last century, have been flooding my mind.

    Once we had set a wedding date, my mom took me shopping to choose a china pattern. Pieces received at future bridal showers and as wedding guests would help me complete my set. This was common practice then and the question, “Have you picked a china pattern?”, was often asked.

    I chose a Royal Albert pattern called Inspiration. It had dainty blue flowers and a gold rim around the border. I thought it was beautiful and If I had to chose again today, I would make the same choice.

    One thing I wouldn’t do would be to would be to only use this china on special occasions. The fear of chipping or breaking a piece of this beautiful (and expensive) bone china caused me to store it safely away rather than enjoy it.

    The difficulty came in knowing when an occasion was special enough. After a while it was forgotten in it’s “safe” place, no more part of celebrations.

    Or, was it that I stopped celebrating? Don’t get me wrong, I still celebrated things like family birthdays and achievements of my kids. I just didn’t celebrate anything for myself. In my mind, there was always something or someone more important and I didn’t take notice of anything I did as being special.

    Now I see how my thinking was faulty. There have been many missed opportunities to declare a moment worth celebrating. All could have been called special occasions if I’d let them.

    It’s time I started celebrating moments in my life. I will let my Inspirations china be my inspiration. If I eat dinner from my good china, will that make today a special occasion? If nothing else, it’s a good place to start.

  • Seeds

    I love quotes and one I heard recently resonated deeply with me. Audrey Hepburn said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

    How true this is. Nothing about planting a garden gives instantaneous results. To start with, seeds need to be planted in the right environment to reach their full potential. The soil needs to be prepared and then the seeds require nurturing. If I plant but do not care for by watering and removing weeds, the seedlings will wither rather than flourish.

    I was reminded of this when a twelve-year-old photo popped up on my screen recently. It showed my husband and two of our young grandchildren standing at our backyard vegetable garden. He was busy helping them pick and shell peas. Their excitement at popping these sweet morsels into their mouths made the work of tending to the garden that much more rewarding. They also learned to loosen the soil around carrots in order to get more than the tops when they pulled. There’s nothing like the crunch of a carrot, freshly pulled and rinsed under the garden hose.

    Our garden wasn’t large but there was always plenty to share. Although it was never actually said, I’m certain that spending time in the garden with grandchildren was one of the main reasons for panting it.

    Over the years, grandchildren grew, the garden was of less interest and we eventually moved to a condo. The gardening years were over in one sense but still very much alive in another. We believed in our grandchildren and from the time they were very young, sowed seeds of love, understanding and patience. The seeds were nurtured with time together and watered with joy and laughter.

    Each of our grandchildren flourished in their own way and have now blossomed into young adults I am proud of. As I watch them plant new seeds in their lives today, I know my hope for tomorrow is in good hands.

  • Lighthouses

    writing with a view, inspiration,

    As I sit down to write this I am in a house on a hill, overlooking a harbour on the outskirts of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    The sun is sparkling on the water, sailboats and ships of various sizes occasionally drift into view as they pass by. The constant in the scene is the lighthouse in the distance.

    There are many lighthouses up and down the shoreline. The most well known is set on a rocky outcrop at Peggy’s Cove. Tourists flock this this one but each have their own story to tell.

    A lighthouse shines its lights to expose dark, rocky places that would be a hazard if not otherwise seen. This helps minimize the danger for sailers in the area.

    I have a personal lighthouse. His name is Jesus. His light shines into the dark places to warn me of dangers ahead. He lights the way so I can move forward without fear. There is no better protection for my life than being covered by the light and love of Jesus.

    Peggy's Cove, lighthouse inspiration

  • In The Dark

    I stayed in student housing on a university campus while attending a retreat. My bedroom was one of three in the basement of a townhouse. The first evening I found my room, had a short visit with my roommates and went to bed.

    In the night I got up to go to the bathroom. The bedroom was very dark and I became disoriented when trying to find the door. After first bumping into a wall and then opening the closet, I found the door and exited the room.

    It was almost as dark outside of the bedroom as inside. I saw some closed doors, went from memory to choose what I thought was the correct one, opened it and stepped inside. When I heard someone roll over in bed, I knew my choice had been wrong! I quickly backed out. Confused, I stood in the dark and slowly turned in a circle, trying to get my bearings.

    That’s when I spotted the open door that was my bedroom. My phone was next to the bed so I made my way back, retrieved it and used the light to guide me. Success at last!

    Why hadn’t I done that in the first place? The answer is simple. I thought I could manage on my own. That’s why I wandered in the dark when a source of light had been available all along.

    I don’t know about you, but this is a familiar story in my life. Many times I’ve stumbled my way through life’s challenges, thinking if I just try harder I can manage on my own. I’ve learned that seeking help is not weakness, as I first thought. It takes strength to admit I need help to see me through.

    The source of light, God’s Son, is available and waiting for me to seek His guidance. Jesus is the light of the world. He shines into the darkness, the fear and the grief. His light brings hope, peace, and clarity. It focuses my attention on people, places and things I wouldn’t have found on my own. There is no need to walk in darkness when I have access to the light.

  • Wave Walker Excerpt

    Wave Walker Excerpt

    In Wave Walker, Beth’s story is told through her journal entries. Here’s an excerpt from her journal on January 9th.

    You can listen by clicking on the link above. The written transcript is below.

    The abandoned structure had been ravaged by the elements. The paint was peeling, the plaster crumbling, and several windows mission. It seemed beyond repair.

    But something about it drew me closer.

    If you are in the Calgary area, stop by and visit me on Thursday, May 7 at Ground Press Coffee and Books, 106 Sierra Springs Drive, Airdrie. I’ll be there from 3-6 pm to talk about Wave Walker, let you know how you can get your free Reader Resource and enter you into a draw to win a themed door prize.

    The book is available for sale at Ground Press, Amazon (in print and ebook) and in print and all ebook formats through my website

    abandoned house, Wave Walker
  • Broken Pieces

    Broken Pieces

    fused glass

    A display at the vendor market caught my attention. The beautiful fused glass pieces were not for sale but I was told I could register for classes to make my own.

    I was intrigued and over the next few days shared my interest with a few others. Together we registered and headed off with great expectations of what we could create.

    At the first class I sat facing a red cafeteria tray holding two, four inch squares of clear glass. In each corner of the tray were pellets of coloured glass.

    After an introduction to this art form we were told to use what was on our tray or find other shapes, sizes and colours of glass from a nearby table and have fun creating.

    What? Instant panic set in. If a template was set out for me I would follow it to the best of my ability. But, to start from a blank slate and create something produced an almost paralyzing fear.

    I sat staring at the contents of my tray, unsure how to even begin. Around me, others had chosen shapes and colours and were already creating. I wandered around, looking at what they were doing, hoping for inspiration.

    Eventually I attempted to create specific patterns out of random pieces. Some worked and others didn’t. At one point, in a moment of frustration, I swept all the bits and pieces to the side and started over. At the end of the class we left our pieces to be fired in the kiln. I was gong to have to wait until the next class to see how they turned out.

    The following week I was surprised to see how the initial look of the glass had changed after spending time in extreme heat. Now that I understood complete control of the outcome was not possible, I relaxed and enjoyed the process. On my six inch pieces of glass, I created random designs with colours and shapes I wouldn’t have previously put together.

    When I received my finished work a couple of weeks later, I was surprised to see that the less controlled ones were my favourites. Instead of being upset that one had a big air bubble in it, I embraced the uniqueness. Every piece had its own beauty.



    As I thought of my experience, I couldn’t help but see the parallels to my life over the past couple of years.

    When my life shattered, I looked at the broken pieces and didn’t know what to do. A large portion of who I was was missing. It wasn’t possible to put the remaining fragments together to form what I’d had before. My options were to stay frozen in fear or to move forward and create something new.

    Many beautiful memories of various sizes and colours had shaped me over the years. I chose some and used them to help me find new segments of the emerging picture of my life.

    Some days I try too hard to form the fragments into the picture I have in my mind. Others, I am more spontaneous. I’ve learned I don’t have complete control over the outcome. Being forged in the fire tends to change things. It also smooths out the sharp edges and makes the finished product stronger.

    With guidance from God, the Master Creator, my life is taking on the shape and colours of his design. I am His work of art and He’s not finished with me yet.

  • Wave Walker

    Wave Walker

    I’m very excited about Wave Walker, my first fiction book and thought I’d give you a glimpse into how it came about.

    A few years ago I worked with a facilitator to do a study based on the book The Brave Way by Ellen Duffield. Through many deep discussions the seed of a new book was planted. I was intrigued with the idea but life got in the way so I buried it deep and tried not to think about it.

    One day I realized the seed had germinated. “Not now,” I said. It didn’t listen and started to break ground. “I don’t know how to do this,” I lamented and attempted to ignore it.

    The idea wouldn’t go away so I prayed about it. I shared the concept with a few trusted friends and received encouragement. People appeared in my path to give guidance and support. The seedling would not be denied.

    Beth’s story and the life quest she was on began to take on a personal significance. The setting became an area I was familiar with. The story unfolds in the pages of her journal.

    Wave Walker was competed in February as I spent time in the same Mexican fishing village where Beth’s story takes place.

    After working with an editor, a cover designer, an illustrator, a formatter and a printer, my book is now ready to be released.

    I’m please to say you can find this novella on Amazon in print or ebook. It is also in both print and multiple ebook formats on my website https://www.timewithtandy.com/books/

    Ground Press Coffee and Books in Airdrie also has it stoked on their shelves. If you’re in the Airdrie area, please stop by Ground Press on Thursday, May 7 between 3 and 6 pm for my book launch event. I’d love to celebrate Wave Walker with you. 

    As a bonus to my readers, I’ve created a reader resource. A free PDF download of How do I Relate to Beth’s Journey? asks questions to take you deeper into the experience. This is available on my website on the book page above or by clicking on the image below.

    free reader resource

  • Muffin Memories

    memories

    Not only had I been thinking about them, the recipe was sitting on my kitchen counter for a few days.

    I woke up this morning craving Morning Glory muffins. They are a lot of work, but this is my birthday and I’m worth it!

    As I stirred together the dry ingredients and grated carrot and apple, I thought of Brian and how much he also loved these muffins. When he was in the hospital for a month I baked these one morning before my visit. He was so excited and said he wasn’t sharing them with anyone. The only way I got one was to leave it at home!

    I’d never heard of Morning Glory Muffins until Brian brought some home for me one day. Whenever he made a trip into Calgary he made it a point to stop at a gluten-free bakery and pick up a treat for me. It was just one of the thoughtful things he did to express his love.

    The cranberry walnut bread, cookies, and Nanaimo bars were always appreciated. The muffins, however were the only thing I set out to recreate. I searched for recipes and found one that we both agreed was even better than the bakery version. Maybe because mine were bigger!

    If he’d been here, Brian would have baked them for me. Instead, I looked at his words REALLY GOOD! printed at the top of the recipe and baked the muffins as his memory filled my heart. 

    Later, I bit into a warm muffin and knew that somehow they tasted even better today. Must have been the memories added to the regular ingredients.

  • In the Blink of An Eye

    I stood gazing out the living room window. A palm tree waved gently in the morning breeze. Three pelicans flew low over the surface of the blue-green water.

    Peace flooded over me. Gratitude followed closely behind. Songs of praise burst forth. What an amazing start to my day.

    I sat in a chair by the window and reached for my Bible sitting on the tile-topped table. Something caught my eye and I froze mid-reach. There by my right foot was a cockroach, laying on its back. And just like that my focus shifted. Praise took a back seat as dread took over.

    Was it dead or just flipped over? My first instinct was to get as far away as possible. I knew, however, that would not be a wise decision. If I came back later and found it gone, thoughts of where and when it it could come back would plague me.

    The only solution was to destroy it so there would be no doubt regarding its return. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be done from a distance. I needed to get close enough to take the necessary action. With no-one else to turn to, I summoned up all the brave I could and eliminated this blight on my day.

    Looking back on the incident, I could draw a parallel to life circumstances. When everything is going well, it is easy to feel joy and gratitude. As nice as it would be to believe life will remain positive, experience tells me this is not the case.

    The question is not if unpleasant things will happen but how will I react when they do? They show up with no advance warning. I have no opportunity to brace myself. Oftentimes, the struggle is not physical, but in the confines of my mind.

    I’ve tried to ignore my troubling thoughts and hope the issue will not reappear. Sometimes it even seemed to work for a while. Eventually I would myself looking for them to make sure they weren’t going to pop up and destroy my carefully constructed facade. They were not gone, only hidden.

    I’ve not only heard that problems buried alive never die, I’ve experienced it. As difficult as it was at the time, I needed to face the issue. The sooner I dealt with the problem, the sooner I was free to get back to living life fully. No more looking over my shoulder (or down at my feet).

    I prefer to have these reminders delivered in a form other than a cockroach, but I know this delivery is one that I won’t soon forget!