embrace Life...

Have you seen it? Have a tissue ready...it's incredibly touching. Protect yourself and those you love. Be safe & buckle up.

a lesson in Modesty...

Genevieve and I have already had a lot of conversations about modesty. Well...conversations may be too big of a word (she is, after all, only 3)...mini-lessons really about being modest and how that translates into the real world. She often asks me..."Is this modest?" We get to discuss this quite a bit when we go down her favorite pink aisle at Target.

Last night, at AWANA, she went "shopping." (The children earn AWANA bucks for all the verses that they learn, attendance & bringing their bibles and books each week. Then, they turn them in for various toys and prizes.) Well, she came running out of the store quivering with excitement, held up a Barbie and exclaimed, "Look Mommy! I got a Barbie that's NOT modest." The moment was so funny that I was instantly distracted.

When we got home, she wanted to open the doll, but I began to realize that I could not in good conscience let her play with this doll. We had a discussion about the situation and I told her that she should not have bought the Barbie when she knew it was immodest. I also confessed that I did not make a good decision...I should have taken her back in the store and had her trade the doll for something else. So, we decided that Barbie could not come out of the box until she was dressed modestly. She and Carter instantly suggested that we borrow clothes from other dolls, but I explained that those dolls would then be dressed immodestly.

Realizing that this lesson was more important than getting her to bed on time, Genevieve and I headed out to Target to go clothes shopping. She picked out a sweet little dress for Barbie...complete with purse...and laid down her head on her pillow proud of herself. I too lay down peacefully...knowing that this lesson was about so much more than a Barbie outfit, but about the heart of my cherub faced 3 year old, who is blossoming all too quickly into a woman.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." --I Peter 3: 3-4

You led me...

I'm feeling stuck. Actually, I feel like I am suspended in jell-o. David and I keep running into road blocks at every turn. We were all set to move to Texas (which in itself was a huge deviation from where we thought we were going), when we found out that David is facing a possible RIF. The Air Force is downsizing and the chaplain corp is being greatly reduced. We were advised to stay put until May 24th in order to put together our packet at a base where we are well known. So our packet goes before a board of unknown military officers who will decide our fate sometime in the summer. In the meantime, we are still moving to Texas; but we have no place to live. Because of the extended time spent here, we "lost" the base house we were counting on living in. The stress level at times feels above what I am able to handle. David keeps reminding me that this is a great time to TRUST in the one who is in charge of it all. It's hard...but I continue to try...

Good morning the night is over and gone

I thought once this dark would last for so long

Feel the sunlight on my face

You have brought me through this place

Jesus, Jesus You found me

Through the long night you led me

You set me free

Do you see just what You've done in my life?

You gave me more than I hoped for now I

Feel the sunlight on my face

You have brought me through this place

Jesus, Jesus You found me

Through the long night you led me

You set me free

("You Led Me"--Barlow Girls)

How to Train Your Dragon...

We went to see the new DreamWorks movie, How to Train Your Dragon, on Saturday. I first heard about this movie while channel surfing one morning. I happened to watch a few minutes of Regis & Kelly. Kelly Ripa was talking about what a great movie it was and recommended it. The boys became aware of it after watching the preview over & over again one day in Wal-Mart while waiting for me to take Genevieve to the bathroom. They were very excited and so I thought it would be a fun Spring Break activity.

I was completely surprised by how great the movie was! It tells the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn't exactly fit in with his tribe's longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup's world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.

This movie touches the adventure seeking, dragon taming part of every little boy and every man who is still a "boy at heart." It is a captivating story and I highly recommend it for anyone 6 years or older. It still has us talking and has made it to our "must own" list.