Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Over the last couple weeks I've seen or heard horror stories of girls River's age cutting their hair. I've been so glad that I haven't had to deal with this incident myself, knowing how much I love my little girls long blonde hair. Even though I just got mine chopped, thanks to your good advice, I really love her long locks.

This morning I was excited to go to the Farmers Market for yummy goodies and fresh flowers. So, after an episode of Dora, I told River to go brush her hair to get ready to go. She was only in there about a minute, when I hear...

"Mommy, HELP!!!"

She walked out of the bathroom with a COMB - not a brush like I had asked - tangled and wound tightly all around and stuck in her hair. It was wadded up in a MASS. Finally after I asked several times in a mad voice how this had happened, she confessed that she had wrapped and wound and twisted several times around her hair to use similar to a curling iron. Only without having brushed it yet from bedtime. It was only a couple inches away from her scalp.

Well, Mommy could not help. Her patience were too rattled, and she only ended up pulling and hurting. So Mommy went to the Farmer's Market. Daddy tried to help, with excessive globs of conditioner and two hours of soaking. But still, no progress, even after Daddy broke the comb out of her hair.

Did I mention that we were supposed to be at a Mother Daughter tea party in a few hours...that we were hosting a table at?

I called my salon in a panic. They were booked. I called Great Clips, but then decided not to go that route this time. I called a cute salon for girls that I had seen many times in passing, but never gave much thought. The girl mentioned the situation to the owner, and the owner said, "Bring her in!" Meanwhile, I'm thinking, "Great, Happy Mother's Day to me!!" You know, making it all about me. And comforting my little girl who was clearly not as concerned as her Mommy was about all this.

After the stylist spent another hour of tearing and pulling and breaking combs, we decided to make the call.

This is what she cut out of her hair.

Need a closer look?

I mean, ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? The stylist said she had seen some bad tangles in her day, but nothing ever this bad. Great, that's what you want to hear.

So, after about another hour, and lots of clipping and curling...this is what we had.

River is excited to have short (and for the moment, curly) hair like Mommy's. Mommy knows that her long locks will grow back. And thinks that her little girl is completely gorgeous no matter how short her hair is.

And by tonight, we looked like this.

Storm Watching

Rain

The rain is raining all around,

It falls on field and tree,

It rains on the umbrellas here,

And on the ships at sea.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Last night I awoke to loud claps of thunder and I knew despite my prayers for a sunny day today that we would have our share of rain today.   We have our end of year party this afternoon, and this year we decided to do something different.  Instead of having an inside pizza party, we decided to do an outside cookout - it's gonna be awesome...if this rain would go away.   And as much as I think of the rain as my struggle today, there are much bigger storms that I want to stand against.

I was watching some news last night, something I don't do very often.   And a man that was a tornado survivor said something about the storm that resounded with me.   He spoke of how the tornado didn't care if the people were rich or poor, mayor or beggar.    At the end of the storm, they were all left the same - houses ruined, land torn to pieces, stores destroyed, livestock killed.     Left with nothing.   They all had to start from scratch, and they all had to come together, to decide to rebuild their town.    Even though it was a task bigger than they could imagine, today they have a rebuilt city, that is more beautiful than anything they had before.

Sunday we were able to go to a service that was about slavery still existing today.    How over 27 million people are in bondage to slavery today - not 100 years ago - TODAY.    92% being women and children - and 50% being children.   Women like me...children like mine.    We learned horrendous truths about people being tricked into slavery and amazing stories of slaves being rescued out of bondage.     

The question that begins to be overwhelming is "what can I do about it?"    And the truth is, is that alone, we can not do very much.    But standing together, with Christ, we would be able to.    The church has got to find a way to come together, and stand against the injustices in this world.   We can no longer sit by and say, well, that happens, and it's awful, but there's nothing we can do about it.    

I love how Isaiah reminds us of this...

"The Lord has sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, and to comfort all who mourn."   Isa. 61:1-2

And this in Micah...

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

It is not an option of whether it is our call or not.   The Lord has clearly said, this is what I want!  This is what I require.    So, today I would challenge you to pray for those in bondage - whether they are high school girls in your own town, or children across the globe intrenched in evil against their will, would you join with me to be a part of this storm.   Would you offer up what you have to the Lord, and ask Him, to do something about this so present darkness?  About this dreadful storm.

In Lieu of National Poetry Month

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Little Joys

This morning, no, change that...Last night, I started thinking about what I could write about today for "Tuesdays Unwrapped".   I knew that nothing was popping out at me, and I wasn't having all those little revelations that sometimes just seem to come so naturally.    And we can't find our camera battery, which means no great pictures of what I've captured.  

Instead, I had this:

A messy house, and the feeling of no matter what I will do, it will never all be together.  A cold that won't go away.   Fussy kids.  A busy and messy schedule - too much to do in too little time to do it.   No toilet paper - yes, you heard that right, and no it's not the first time that has happened.

But I did have these little faces to keep me company.    (this pic is actually from Christmas - I need new ones!)

And this sweetie to give me a hug.    

The kids and I had a lovely little lunch on the back deck.    Where big sister kept telling little brother to leave her birdhouse alone.   This is how she explained herself... "Birds of three, let it be!"   Oh, the little joys.

Tell Me A Story

I need a little change here. I've grown tired of my railroad tracks, as much as I love them. When I was a little girl, and I was tired or maybe just a little bit bored, I would say to my Mom or Dad, "Tell me a story about when you were little." I loved hearing their tales of what their lives used to be like. There was something about knowing a piece of them that I could never really see, but through their stories, could know more who they were. They became more alive. More real. More enjoyable.

There's something about the beach that calls me home. I love that when I'm there I think about things like building sand castles with my family when I was a little girl. Or my sister, cousins, and I all pretending like we're wild horses galloping down the shore. Going body surfing with my Dad. Floating out on rafts into the deep, dark water, with my dad, uncles and grandfather, and then being scared as one of them would grab at our legs from underwater. Or countless memories of looking for shells with my Mama. She would find one, pick it up, call it by name (like, "What a pretty Ladie's Slipper!), and then put it in her hand like it was gold that she had just found. I love seeing my kids play in the freezing cold water just like I used to do, and come out blue lips and all ready to rush in and take a warm bath. It's great.

So join me in coming home for a bit. Think of your favorite places. Remember your fondest memories of where you most feel at home. I'd love to hear a story or two.

Unveiled Glory

My friend has this great idea...and I'm so glad that I finally got around to participating!  I love that we can share our stories of everyday grandeur!  

Yesterday (Tuesday) I found myself praying for my children a prayer that I often pray.  I don't start out thinking to pray this exact prayer, but what many times ends up being my prayer is that they would see God's glory and that because of seeing His glory, they would never turn away.   Then, this morning I sat in my favorite morning spot, drank a few sips of good coffee, watched the birds, and read for a brief moment before my two precious kids ran in to give me sweet good morning hugs and kisses.  

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. 3:18)

As the words entered my heart I thought about the crazy way God does things.    If I were God, I would say that the way you get glory is by doing great things.   Or by accomplishing great works.  But instead of doing, He simply says, look at me.  God.    Turn your eyes to me, and believe in my greatness, and you will be changed from glory to glory.    How amazing it is that He changes us from glory to glory, as we look upon Him.   That He doesn't say, bring a veil with you and cover your eyes.   That He says, look upon me, and have freedom!   Look upon me, and go from glory to glory!

Most days, my "glory" probably goes unnoticed even to me.   I don't realize that I'm getting more patient, or that He's making me more like Him.    Or that I screwed up everything, and had a great fall-on-my-face-so-You-can-remind-me-I-can't-do-it-alone day.   But as I fold the laundry or make a casserole, as I love my little ones and encourage their souls to seek after Him, I truly believe by faith, He is doing that work.  Even in yucky old me!   And you - it's pretty amazing.   To think that our acts of our own accord are filthy rags, but as we look to Him, we are changed from glory to glory, 'even as by the Spirit of the Lord'.

I'm glad that it's as true for me as it is for my sweet little ones.  That as they look to the Lord, as they see His glory, they will be changed from glory to glory.    

More After Shots...

We really had a great time at the beach. When we finally got home and all unpacked, we decided to take a couple after shots.

Before and After...Bathroom

For a while we've been enjoying our newly redone bathroom, but I've yet to show the before and after pics.   While relaxing down here at the beach, I was reading an article in one of my Real Simples that I hadn't had a chance to look at until being down here, and it was showing some beautiful shades of green.   It made me remember about my bathroom, and how calming it now is.   

Even though I love decorating, I'm not someone who knows from the start exactly what things are going to look like.   Usually, I decide as I'm in the process.    For my bathroom, I was almost sure that I was going to paint it a serene shade of blue.    I came home with a great shade of green instead.   My husband said, "I thought you were going with a blue of some sort."   I responded, "I did, too."    But, I love the shade I picked.   It's completely tranquil.     The name of it is "Pebble" from Valspar.

We knew we had to redo the bathroom - it wasn't really an option.   It's our only bathroom, and there just wasn't a lot of room.   The vanity took up most of the floor space, so we knew that a pedestal sink would be nice.    There was old linoleum, and we wanted tile.   But we also knew that we couldn't splurge and completely redo everything.    So, the things we chose were a new sink, beadboard to make it feel bigger and give it more character, new floor, and new light fixtures. 

this is my only before picture with the old sink/vanity still in.     River had "decorated" it for Christmas (thus the napkins everywhere and the original reason for the picture.)

sink out,  subfloor exposed

new fixture with same old mirror and medicine cabinet, but a frame made to fit around the mirror to give it a little more class.

i think this shot shows the truest representation of the color "pebble"

It's great.   Still simple, but also serene.    I love being in there now, verses how much I used to dread going in.   Much less...having to let guests use it!    To see more pics of the process, check out my hubby's handiwork here.   And if you ever think a redoing a small bathroom won't really make a difference, you better think again!

SPRING BREAK, 09!

Before I ever had my children, I already had fallen head over heels in love with these three beautiful boys.   I know they would hate me even saying that, but AREN'T they gorgeous?

They are such a blessing to our family, and we love being with them.   My kids call them "brother cousins" and cute things like that.   And I get to be the fun aunt, otherwise known as, "Aunt Mama".   Even though we live in the same city, we don't get time together like I wish we had.    Since my sis is in the midst of clinicals and rotations and other nursing school things that I can't comprehend, we had asked if we could steal them away for their spring break to join us down at the beach.    So, thus, the Spring Break, 09.

We decided that we would leave last night after we all had Easter dinner together.    So, last night on the way down, we walked into McDonald's at 10pm for a snack and bathroom break.  We all went in.   It was really fun to pretend for a few minutes like I was this cool fun mom of 5 beautiful sandy blonde's and was all cute in my sundress from Easter, and had my cute husband smiling at me, and wasn't even concerned about the hour.    Everyone had those looks like...well, how you would look if you saw somebody walk into a place with 5 kids under the age of 10.    It was great.

We got back in the car, and after fighting severely with the stupid seat belts of the too crammed car seats, I shouted out, "We're not getting out until we get to the beach!"   Not even 5 minutes later, my daughter says, "Mommy, I have to go again....REALLY BAD!"     She had been so excited about her new water bottle with cold water, she had drunk all of it.    In less than an hour.    Me, not being quite so cool anymore, looked over at my hubby, who was just smiling. 

One day, when I was a little girl, probably 9, and was driving my mom crazy on a cross country trip, she turned around, and shouted..."MELISSA, I HOPE YOU HAVE 5 KIDS!!!"    I, being the super sensitive and over dramatic child I was, burst into tears.    My sister all the while quietly chuckling at my expense.   

So we're enjoying our beach time, and loving every minute of having 5 kids...for a week.

A Mother's Lot

Yesterday, Asher and I were enjoying a little bit of one on one time.   He asked to play ball together, which we don't do as often as we should.   Coming off such a great Tarheel victory, I couldn't wait to encourage his ball ability.   We pulled the goal out and as I did, he asked me to make the goal higher.   It had already been raised a little the other day, and so I asked if he was sure.   He was.

We started shooting, him with the hard, small size appropriate basketball.   Not the Nerf kind.  Not the squishy, soft kind.   That's the kind he gave me.   After shooting several times and missing, me being the supportive mother, asked if he wanted me to lower the goal.   He said no.   I asked him if he wanted me to lift him up to make it in.   He said no again.   Or, "uhhh-ohh", which means no.

He continued throwing the ball up, determined to make one in.    But one after the other, they missed.    He started throwing harder, and bending down lower trying to get more leverage.    Nothing.   Finally, he shot one that hit the rim, but was thrown so hard it shot right back down at him, and slammed into his face.    Hard.    

He cried for a few minutes, and as I saw the big red mark on his face, I kissed it and asked if he wanted to stop playing.    He said no.   And then proceeded to get in position again.    Bending low, and having the ball held as rightly as he knew how, he shot it up as hard as he could.  I held my breath, just hoping that this time it would make it in....

It went in.

I marveled at his persistence while wondering if this is what mothers go through.  Do they stand aside, and without helping, allow their children to try their hardest and fail.   Time and time again.   Do they encourage after every attempt, even when the outcome is not success as we would call success.    Do they love on them when they lose, and when they win?    Do they see them get hurt and struggle, only to feel let down one more time?    The answer?   Yes.   Yes, we do.   Because without the struggle there would be no victory.    And without the disappointment, there would be no character built.   Without the pain, there would be no triumph.

I can't help but think of Mary this week.    How she was able to see her sweet Son, who had grown into an amazing man, have to face a trial none of us can imagine.   To be betrayed by the closest of friends.   To be accused unjustly.   To be beaten almost to the point of death, only to have to endure more torture.    To be made sin, when He knew no sin.    To suffer like no one ever has nor ever will.   To feel the grip of death, and to even be given over to it.    To be forsaken by everyone, even His Father.   

The pain that she must have known in those moments is a pain that I do not wish to share.   It is a suffering that I would never ask to have.    But then, I think about how she got to be Jesus' mother.   How she got to see Him live a Holy life.   She was able to help shape Him into a man.    She saw Him do miracles and display God's glory day after day after day.   She saw Him defeat death.    Defeat sin.   Defeat all His enemies, once and for all.    Destroy any grip that death would ever hold on any of us ever again.   And as painful as it must have been, I can't begin to understand the pride she must have had when He rose up from the grave.   That after every bit of pain and suffering, He had relief.   He had healing.    He had victory.

"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."   Heb. 12:1-3

Open Season

It's officially open season for yard sales. I know, I know...you're on the edge of your seat!

My friend Diane and I have always loved yard sales. We absolutely love getting the deal of our lives every Saturday morning. We'll tell each other about yard sales that we heard about or have gone to, and even sometimes run into each other unintentionally at them. This morning we had fun going together on the hunt. Years ago we used to talk about how we could open up a little store with all of our yard sale finds and call it "Junk in the Trunk". Here's why...

After one hour and about $15 later here's what the car looked like.

And here is what we looked like.

For $5 I got all of this.

(random mix, I know)

Here are my favs from the day (especially when they were .50 cents each!)

To see my yard sale philosophy and to check out other fun tips to get you ready for yard sale season check this post out! I'd love to hear your favorite yard sale tales! If you can't tell, it's one of my favorite subjects!

Caught in the Middle

I love our Friday mornings.    It's the only day we don't have to rush out the door to be somewhere, and it's great.    SOOOO great.   The kids watch cartoons, and I...well, I check in on blogs and think about meaningless decisions.    Such as...

Short or long???

I always get to this place when my hair is in between and I get so sick of it.   It doesn't look good down, because if it's gonna be long, I need to get it shaped up.   And it usually is up in a pony tail, but nothing too cute.   It just feels so blah and nothing.   I need to make A CHANGE!  

I always love my short cuts, and it's been a long time since it's been really short (like pregnant with Asher).    But whenever it's short I always miss it being long.   I feel like I might be missing out on having curly hair by not making the most of it.    (Can you see how I'm crazy?)   

But usually what I do is get it cut pretty short, and then take a long time to let it grow all the way out, and then I get so sick of it that I cut it again.     It feels cuter when it's short, but I like the variety of a long cut.

Ok, so to help me in my indecisiveness, I'm asking for your opinion...

short 

(see, told you i was pregnant- 4 months to be exact)

long

Now, don't give me all those wishy-washy "you could go either way" answers.   I know I could, but I don't know WHICH way!   That's why I need your help!

I'm sure I'll talk about more meaningful things soon!

Turns Out I Don't Like Exercise...

A few years ago, I decided I was going to try to be more active.     Especially since 30 was right around the corner, I felt like, I needed to implement some sort of routine that would help me to stay somewhat in shape and healthy.     So, I decided I would start running on a regular basis.   As much as I tried to pump myself up for this, I knew that I really did not like running.   Much less, running alone.   And so I went a few times, about once a week or so for about a month.   Nothing too major.   But, as I later explained to my sister and brother in law, I found something new out about myself.    And, as I said to them, "Turns out, I don't really like exercise."    We all started laughing, and it turned into a famous inside joke.

So, now, three years later, I still don't like exercising.   I've never been one of those girls that just loves getting out and going for a run.    And as much as I wish I was, I'm not.   I love dancing.   I love swimming.     I love going for walks.    But, I really don't like going and "working out".  

So, the only way I've found to get over this hump, has showed me more about me, than I would have ever guessed.  I go to an aerobics class every Wed. morning. before the kids are up and the hubby is out the door.   My friend and I usually go together, so she texts me the night before to see who's going to drive.   (That means I can't get out of it)   And my instructor is my pastor's wife who is hilarious and fun to be around, and always checks to see if I'm coming, or calls when I miss.     So, the things I need in life have all been made clear to me through this - relationship and accountability.   It's the answer to my exercise problem.     Also, it's a great all encompassing workout with weights, abs, and cardiac, all in an hour.   So it's great for me - not too long on any one thing, very efficient.

If you're someone who can do it alone, and longs for that time by yourself...Man! I wish I were like you!   But those of you who are more like me, and need others encouragement and support, I'm here to say, it can be done...even if it's just once a week.   Like my friend reminded me this morning, "You're really lifting weights all day long".   As my little boy is on my lap, I couldn't agree more.   I still don't wake up thinking how glad I am that it's Wed. and I can go to aerobics.  But I'm always glad afterwards for the good workout that I've had.

What are your secrets for exercise success?

The Small Stuff

The other day I came up to where my daughter had been playing. As I looked down, I loved what I saw.

There's something about a mother's care that is completely precious. And even though River is only 5, she has loved playing "Mommy" since she was 1. I wish I could say that I set the perfect example for her...but I can't.

This morning was one of those days where I was wishing I was on a Hawaiian vacation by 9am. I was irritated and stressed, and we were late...again. As we walked into preschool, I said hello to one of the teachers, and said something like, "I don't know why it's so hard to get here." And she just smiled and said with that older, wiser, and peaceful tone, "It's not a big deal. It's just the small stuff. It doesn't matter."

And I thought about how right she was. The truth is that the small stuff doesn't really matter at all. It doesn't matter that snot flew everywhere right when we getting into the car and I didn't have a tissue anywhere, so I had to just use my hand to help wipe it off (thankfully I found a napkin, and had hand sanitizer in the car). Or that my son couldn't get his boots on, and had to do it himself, and so we were a few more minutes behind. Or that the raincoats were so bulky that it took me 10 minutes to get the kids in the car seats. And all the little things that happen that usually make us at least 5 minutes late. That stuff really doesn't matter all that much.

The things that matter are the kisses at night. The comfort that I get to give when they hurt themselves. The songs we sing together. The hugs that let them know that I love them. The time spent playing even when the house is a wreck. The books that I get to snuggle up to with them. The cookies that I bake with them. The truth that I get to speak into their lives. The stories that I pass on to the next generation. Those are the things that matter. And those are the things I want to care more about.

T.G.I.F. because...

This has been somewhat of a hard week, so you'll have to excuse all the exclamation marks. I'm thankful it's FRIDAY!

1. NCAA tournament! GO HEELS!

2. Lots of yard sales tomorrow morning!

3. Time with friends to look forward to!

4. Date night tonight!

5. Planting our garden this weekend!

6. A day at home with no plans!

7. Answered prayers this week about some big things!

Our God is so faithful, and even though there are lots of days I celebrate lots of different things, but the beautiful thing is that He is the same today, tomorrow, and forever! That is why in the face of trials, we can truly find our joy in Him.

Happy Green Day!

Ok, so instead of cleaning my house and taking care of things here, I'd much rather find green things to talk about.   After all, it is St. Patrick's Day!

When I was a pre-teen and teenager, my favorite color was green.  Kelly green.   You could have had a piece of balled up green paper, and I would have been like, "Can I keep it??"   I even had a green shelf in my room that held all of my green treasures.   True story.

So, to celebrate a little today, here are some of my favorite green things around here.

this made my morning trip to Harris Teeter with the toddlers a little more enjoyable (especially because today it was free!   i had to wait while they made a new pot, so it was on the house! happy st. patty's day to me!)

little lady leprachans

i can't wait to plant these!

my handsome adventurer

my "welcome home" bouquet that my sweet family surprised me with on sunday

springtime mantle (not too different from Christmas)

Here's wishing you happy green thoughts for the day!   How green was your day today?

No Place Like Home

Right before I left for the women's retreat this past weekend, my 5 year old said to me, "It's just not home without you, Mama!"    And of course my heart melted.       It was the sweetest thing I could of ever heard.  But I still was excited about getting away for a couple days.   

On the retreat we talked a lot about how our identity is in Christ.   And how, knowing Him is knowing home.    We listened to examples of the type of home that Christ longs for us to have in Him.   Like the sweetness of a newborn baby sleeping on their mother's chest, totally at peace and secure.     We talked about how knowing the Holy Spirit allows us to live out of the fruits of the Spirit.  We also talked about how our "home" - our identity- is constantly attacked.  And instead of living out of the Spirit, we doubt how secure we are in Christ.    We listen to our insecurities, responsibilities, and anxieties about life, and the safe, restful home that we have in our Heavenly Father, becomes a distant vapor that we barely can see.    Much less feel.

I think something that I have been seeing for a while now, is that if I want to truly know that place of rest in my Father's arms, I'm going to have to fight for it.    It won't just happen to me.   I'm going to have to de-clutter my life enough to be able to make room for sitting at His feet.    To make space for Him entering in.    I'm not just going to get it one day.    I'm not going to wake up, and just start feeling that "at home" type of feeling in my spirit that I long to have.

I used to look at believers that were older and wiser than me, and think, "They've really got it.  They really know the freedom in Christ that I am longing for."    The next thing that I would think is, "I wonder when I'll really have that."   The funny thing, is that I've had "it" all along.  The "it" is the One who already lives within me.   He is my home, and He is always with me.  I'm just so busy doing for Him all the time, that I'm not still enough to see and hear Him.  So often I get caught in the clutter of life, and don't even realize that I'm already home.    I'm ready to come home.    To clear away the stuff of life, and just be with my Father.

Give Aways and Good Stuff

There's too much goodness out there right now to not tell...even though by my telling, I'm making competition for myself! UGGGHHH! The rivalry. Ok, I think I've had a little too much ACC tournament for today.

Chickadee over at a Familiar Path is doing her annual super fun birthday bash for herself and us! Check out her great blog and fun giveaways.

And Kendra, who I have met in real life, and is so cute and very talented in the kitchen, is doing a survey about how you cook and eat. In return for participating in her survey, she's giving you the chance to win a set of her very own spices! Which, I'm really gonna fight you over because I WANT THEM! So go have fun, and .....GAME ON!

Girly Stuff to Come

My daughter, being recently in love with Fancy Nancy, chose to take her new book for show and tell today. As we were driving to preschool she informed me today that she wished I were more plain. I thought that was a funny request, and asked her what she meant. She continued to say that she wished she could be Fancy Nancy and dress me up, and make me all fancy. But because I already wear fancy stuff she can't do that to me.

I think it's funny because in my mind, I wear the same thing every day. Jeans. Casual top. Shoes. I usually throw my two secret weapons in there. But, similar to my little girl, I've always been the more girly girl of our family. Growing up, I liked having tea parties with my stuffed animals and wearing cute dresses. My sister, on the other hand, probably didn't own a dress, and spent most of her time at our barn riding horses and galavanting around the woods.

So, even though I am so excited that the ACC Tournament is this weekend, I am more excited about going away on a women's retreat with a ton of wonderful women from my church. There will be giggling. There will be celebrating. But more than anything, there will be fellowship.

Even though I've always been girly, I have not always loved the thought of fellowship with other women. There were years that I really did not want to go on retreats like this. Maybe I thought I would be bored. Or unable to spend a weekend away doing what I'd really like to do - eating good food, shopping in boutiques, sleeping in, and watching movies. But under all of those reasons, I think that what intimidated me most was fearing that I would be unknown, rejected, and possibly...unloved. I definitely hid any of those feelings from others, probably too well, but I think that those fears held sway for some years.

Too often in our culture, we sacrifice our relationships with other women. Maybe we feel threatened or judged, or just treated poorly. Maybe we compare ourselves so much that it's just too hard to be around them. Maybe we believe the lie that tells us, that we just get along better with men, and so we don't put time into relationships with women. But over time, I have come to value these relationships more than I ever thought I would. And I have come to see that there is a beautiful strength in those bonds, that can, if nurtured, never be broken.

It seems that we sometimes tend to think that our "girlfriends" were only for our youth. That now that we're older and possibly married, possibly mothers, or just busy women, that we don't really have time for our girlfriends. That those relationships just don't matter enough to really have to put time and effort into. But time and time again, outside of my relationship with my husband, my friends are the ones who have loved and served me, more than anyone else. I would not and could not do life without them. These women, whom I believe Satan would love to keep me from being vulnerable and open with, have become sisters in Christ that I deeply treasure.

As I pack my bag today, I am looking forward to not having to cook or clean this weekend. And I am looking forward to good times with friends. But most of all, I am anticipating growing closer to my sisters in Christ as share life and seek our Father together. If you struggle with opening up to other women, I would say to you to try again. Go on that retreat coming up. Get involved in a women's Bible study or small group. But don't settle for life without the treasure of having "sisters" in your life.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Spring is in the air.    And I love it.   I know we'll get a couple more cold days, but I know that it's almost here.   I love being able to be outside and enjoy the sun shining down on me.   I find new ways to enjoy the outdoors, whether it's going to different parks, or sitting outside when I eat, or just working in the yard.    I was so excited the other day when I saw the first blossoms on the Bradford Pear trees lining the road that we travel daily.    It's always a sign that the seasons are changing.

All winter long, I wait patiently for the Spring.   It's like how I used to wait for Christmas once it was Fall.   (Or really, how I still do.)     I try to convince myself that other seasons are my favorite, but there is something different about the Spring.    I even found myself singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" the other day.   But skipping over the Christmas lyrics, and just keeping to that phrase.   I could say that it's the warm weather, or the budding flowers, or the birds singing more freely.   But what I truly believe it is, is the new life that it brings.    Or should I say, that He brings.

I walked by our dogwood tree the other day, and for many seasons, I have thought that it was about to die.   I love dogwoods, and we only have this little one in our yard.    And, it seriously is pretty skimpy, and I always think, this is it's last leg.   But somehow, it comes back to life every spring.   Even though it seems to have almost no life left in it, there are the tiniest of buds beginning to show forth.   It reminds me that I , too, have an entirely new life.   

Therefore, through baptism we were buried with him into his death so that, just as the Messiah was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too may live an entirely new life. (Rom. 6:4)

That because I was buried with him, when he chose to die for me, that I, too, have been given the same new life that Christ received.   He was raised by the Father's glory, and that is no small thing.   I am so thankful that the Lord not only teaches us with stories and parables that we can understand from daily life, but that He displays His glory throughout everything that we see.

I am anticipating Easter, with the hope of this new life.   And my prayer is that no matter how long I am a believer, that this new life that He offers me, would never become old to me.   That I would see His mercies new for me every morning, and know that I need His new life just as much this season, as I did the last.

Two Peas in a Pod

These two are inseparable. Maddie is our sweet little friend who spends her days with us, and Asher is my little boy. At 20 months and 2 1/2 they act like a little old married couple. Hugging and kissing, and then bickering over the silliest of things. As soon as one wakes up from their nap, they ask where the other one is. They probably are too much like brother and sister to ever want to even go on a date, but just in case they ever get married...I have some before pictures.

She said "yes!"

let us pray...

their first dance

Such a sweet little couple. You'd never even guess they were just playing ring around the rosy.

Spring's Right Around the Corner...Right?

I almost packed up our winter coats last week, when it was warming up, but boy am I glad I didn't. We woke up to see this!

We finally got the snow we'd wanted all winter...in March. It seems normal for us. I remember most years getting one last hit of winter once March finally rolled around. And this was the most snow we had all winter. We are ready for spring, but the snow was fun. I'm mad about my daffodils being killed, though. River was especially glad to stay home from preschool, and play with all her new birthday things. It was a nice to look out, all day long, and see snow. Not just for the first hour of the morning. Usually our snow is gone by lunch, but this time, it hung around for a while.

should i eat it, or throw it?

whew, that's cold!

snow angels! real ones this time!

It was a fun to stay home, have a snow ball fight with our friends, make chowder and apple pie, and enjoy some hot cocoa. What do you like to do when it snows? I'm all about some new traditions! Lay em on me!