Growing......Clothing Pains!

Ya'll.

I've always been a girl who knows what she likes. I've always dressed as I wished and made no apologies for it.

Way back in the day when I was in high school, I arrived at a basket ball game wearing long plaid shorts a top and a hat that matched the shorts. The complete outfit was from the Gap, and I loved it. ......{probably gives you a clue as to my age....}. When I was going to sit with my friends a boy - who obviously had no fashion sense - made some snide comment about my awesome outfit. My response? In my sweetest, southern voice, I said, " I didn't ask you to look at me!"

As a grown up, I've always known what I like for my kids to wear.

The more smocking and monograms the better. For the girls, the bigger the bows, the better. For B, LOVE shortall's, longalls, and in the winter some added sweaters with corderoys......yes, I am pretty preppy I suppose.

I'm all about the 4 of them coordinating/matching! And as long as they aren't protesting, I will continue that.

Here is my struggle. My oldest will by 9 in 21 days. And, although she is a very petite {she still wears a size 7} I'm struggling with what clothing to buy for her. I'm beginning to feel like we need to begin (as cold turkey would be too hard for me) to phase out the smocking in her wardrobe. Everyday and school clothes aren't really a big problem as she and I both as good with Gymboree and Justice (her more than me) for these things.

The issue is SUNDAY CLOTHES! It seems like every dress I see that is not smocked looks WAY too grown up or even something that I wouldn't even wear myself - modesty wise.

I still want her to look like the little girl she is -- she is not a teenager and I do not want her dressing as one. I may even have issues with her dressing as a teenager when she is a teenager.

SO - what help can you guys offer me? Do you have a tween (I hate that word)? Where do you buy her church clothes?

WOW. I never thought this would be so difficult already......Look forward to hearing your thoughts!!

in HIM-

How Now Shall We Live?

"Being a Christian is hard work.

Putting the needs of others above your own,

exercising humility,

suffering with those less fortunate,

loving your neighbor,

doing good to those who would do evil to you,

and doing it all with a pure heart is nearly impossible."

--Chuck Colsen & Nancy Pearcey

I read this quote and whole heartedly agreed.............at first.

And then these words came to me............without God.......

because Nothing is impossible with God!

May I always remember that!

in HIM-

Miles to Go Before I GO.......

I am sitting here at 11:02 PM, exhausted, and thinking of all the things there are on my to do list for this week. It is SO much more than usual......

This year was hubs and my 10th anniversary. We went to dinner that night but the real celebration begins this Saturday when he and I leave home for 9 days for a cruise to the Western Carribean. We are both very excited. We've been on a few weekend getaways in the last 10 years but weeks away without kids.....not so much.

I really am very excited. Excited and looking forward to spending all that time with just my hubby.
But I'm also anxious about leaving my kids for that long when I am going to be unavailable for immediate contact.
Stressed an the length of my to do list between now and then. Preparing to be away and have sweet grandparents here with the kids for a week is proving to be ALOT to do. Preparing for being away from bible study and my other obligations at church for over a week....
Not to mention all of the general house cleaning, regular weekly things we always have .

I'm really NOT complaining because I know it is going to be so worth it. I'm just trying to explain why I have been scarce around the old blog and why that will probably continue for the next couple of weeks. I would like to say that I will update you daily from the cruise. I plan to take my computer but I don't hold out high hopes of it being used for anything other than uploading pictures so I can take more the next day.

SO, until we meet again. I've miles to go -- before I go................



In HIM-

God's Timing

I'm reading my bible in a year. That was one of my "new year's resolutions" and so far, I'm making it. I'm a bit behind where I am supposed to be. At one point I was about a month behind but by reading two and three a day, I'm almost caught up.

I started out to read the bible in a year simply to do it. I'm ashamed to say that I have never read the bible all the way through.....i know....I KNOW! And in my head at the time, I was going to read one section every day just like it said for me to do by the dates on the page because, hello?

I'm a people -pleasing rule follower!!!!

But it hasn't worked out that way. Some days I've just not gotten around to it......or so I thought.

I have been utterly amazed this year at how what I've read on the date I've read it, rather than the date on the page has been just what I needed to read for that day. Now, let me be real and say that I haven't had a revelation about what I've read every day, but still God knew when I needed to hear something specific on a certain day.

FOR example -- We just started Esther at church this past Sunday.

Guess what I read last week?!!? YES! Esther!

God's timing was perfect. I read the whole book just before we started the study. Perfect timing.

I've been so hard on myself for being behind on my reading. Chastising myself and saying I need to do better and catch up.

But, after thinking about it -- and seeing how it's working out that I'm reading what I need when I need it, I'm gonna stop being so hard on myself. I will continue to try and read what I am supposed to read everyday. Not gonna be lazy. I'm just saying that I am going to stop obsessing over being "behind" and "catching up" .

Today I read what I should have read a week ago and it was 1 Corinthians 9.....I came upon verses 19-27 and made a note of them. I am reading in the NIV and sometimes there are things that I need to do some searching on and reading in other versions just to make sure that I'm clear on what I'm reading.
Here is 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 from the MESSAGE----

19-23Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

24-25You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

26-27I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

I can't tell you how much I needed this reminder and even both of the versions I read today. It was my reminder to be a servant. That is what Jesus is calling me to be -- a servant of His to all people so that they can see HIM in me. A reminder to run this race to win --regardless of nay sayers and struggles!!!!

Perfect Timing!!!! I love that about God!



Ironically, I had to go back and change the title of this post because this isn't what I was going to write about today. I had some other stuff about being a servant (my reminder) that I was going to share but that can wait for another day. Because I think this, too, is God's timing.

I wonder.......was it for you that God had me share this today?
Please let me know if it is.......I wanna be able to brag about God's timing some more!!!!

in HIM-

Licensed for Trouble

Licensed for Trouble is the final (latest? Oh, I'm hoping for latest!!!) installment of Susan May Warren's PJ Sugar series. I have absolutely loved every page in theses books -- all three of them. This one, in particular, held many mysteries, twists and turns to delight this reader and I'm sure any other who will pick it up! I loved reading as PJ solves yet another mystery and finds out about herself in the process. Bravo, Susan May Warren! This is a fantastic book.....can there be more of PJ?
Here are the details:

About Licensed for Trouble: PJ Sugar receives shocking news that she's inherited the Kellogg family mansion. Though she has no idea why, the timing is perfect-PJ has clearly worn out her welcome at her sister's house. Unfortunately, the mansion is in shambles, and PJ is short on cash. Rescue comes in the form of Max Smith, a mysterious handyman willing to trade his services for PJ's investigative skills. But PJ already has a full docket with cramming for her PI license and nurturing a growing romance with her boss, Jeremy Kane. Can she take on Max's case without dropping the ball?

Click these links to read my reviews of the first two books in this series: Nothing But Trouble and Double Trouble.

About Susan May Warren: Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year.
Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.


You can check out what other people have said about this book here.

Or order your own copy here.

Go get yours today!

in HIM-

***Thank you, Tyndale Publishers, for providing me this great book to review.***

T..T...T...Tennessee

WOW. Life has been Busy around here. Seems like I am always saying that! We've been so busy that I haven't had time to post about ANYTHING.
SO, busy in fact that I am posting today about something we did almost 3 weeks ago now.....

The weekend before school started, we got to take one last fun summer trip. My Dad rented a house in Pigeon Forge, TN and we went over for a family vacation. My sister and her husband and my brother also came. We had such a great time seeing family and just spending time together. Here is hubs and A playing pool. The next morning we got up and went to Dollywood.

The last time I was there was when it was still called Silver Dollar City.

We won't even discuss how many years ago that was.

The tram ride in.....

While part of the group rode all the big roller coasters, my Dad, my sister and I

sat outside with B. This is my Dad and B. Sweet!


Another big roller coaster.
This one had loops.
Crazy people....(just my opinion though....)




Uncle Heath being silly!




And Daddy and A, too.....

M doesn't look like she belongs

in the coffin!

Or maybe she didn't know what it was....

4 beautiful Southern Belles.

The River Rapids ride...

B's favorite part was riding the train!

The next day, we drove over to Cades Cove.

It really is a beautiful place.

My Dad with B again...

You can see LOADS of wildlife in Cades Cove.

Turkeys....

There are many old buildings there too.

This is in one of the old churches.....

And, a BEAR right beside the road....

We had a picnic lunch.

And walked around some more.

Uncle Heath gave B a ride on his shoulders...

The End.

The the kids and I had to head on home. It was a really great weekend. Hope we get to do it again!!!!

Ya'll have a great Monday. Tune in again soon -- I have a great book review for you and hopefully some other great posts this week!

in HIM-

Audience

So, I noticed on blogger that there was a new tab called "Stats".

I checked it out this morning.....

Apparently, my audience isn't very international.....

For some reason, I find humor in that....

From the lack of comments I get I guess

I find it funny to call what I have

an audience....=)

Ya'll have a fabulous Wednesday. Unfortunately, my list of things to prevents me from posting our trip to Dollywood. Hopefully tomorrow.

I'm off to get ready for the day, take my daughter her lunchbox (she just called to say she left it at home - from the school, NOT a cellphone. She's 5), do a little birthday shopping, clean house, drive a friend to the doctor this afternoon, go to Ingle's while she is there to pick up a few things, pick up pizza's on the way home for small group, and small group.

Wow - if I'm not too tired to do anything after that, I might make it back here.

in HIM-