Pray for JK8

I've been watching Jon & Kate Plus 8 and frankly, it just makes me sad. I watched the first episode of the season and began that night praying for their family. They are human and need God's help just like the rest of us. I believe the Gosselins want the best for their family and honestly, we all know that is an intact family with married parents.

I can't watch the show any longer without feeling depressed and I HATE those magazine covers with all kinds of half-truths and lies on the cover. So I no longer tune in.

Join me in praying for their reconsiliation. It will be a God-size work but I believe He's up for the task! They cannot do this but they know the One that can.

Book for Mommies!

I have recently finished a great book for moms titled, Taking Care of the Me in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel (remember Blair on "The Facts of Life"?). I have read a couple of her books before and really enjoy her writing.

This book is easy to pick up and put down for those short reading times. She covers some great topics of Mommy-hood in the 5 parts of the book: Taking Care of Your Spirit, Taking Care of Your Body, Taking Care of Your Soul, Finding Time for Yourself, and Finding Time for Each Other. In each part Lisa shares a part of her story and what she has learned but the best part of each section is the "Rest Stops". These are ideas for implementing something into your life that addresses the situation. Everything from working hobbies into your life to daily Bible reading tips.

The book is a little older (2006) so some of the web addresses have expired and some ideas are very "Southern Baptist" but all in all, I loved it! I bought my copy on the bargain book rack at Lifeway for $5. Definitely worth it!!!

Happy Birthday, Jayci!!!

Jayci wanted a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party this year so Mommy attempted a strawberry cake. It looked good except I ran out of red icing. It tasted good and that is what's important! Cade blew out one of the candles before Jayci could, but we re-lit and let her go . . .

She got a bicycle for her big day and rode all over anything concrete with it. Even now, every time we get out of the car, she races to the bike and rides as long as I am unloading siblings and groceries out of the car. Before long, we'll be calling her the blur.

She also got a princess umbrella and is dying to use it out here. We took strawberry rice crispy treats to school the day after her birthday. When it is your bday at school you get a crown and you get to be the prayer girl twice. Jayci was thrilled! She still wears her crown around and prays sometimes.

Awesome Book

If you're looking for a great book to read, check out Looking for God by Nancy Ortberg. It is great for those of us who have been believers a long time but have somehow forgotten some of the easiest ways to connect with God. The chapter titled, "Quiet Time" is worth the price of the book alone. My favorite part is where she claims that the mother toddlers cannot possibly have a "quiet time" in any way shape or form. I AGREE!!

I think it's also great for new (or fresh) believers to find significant ways to know God intimately.

I have really enjoyed it and now I'm working on 2, Taking Care of the "Me" in Mommy and I Once Was Lost. I'll let you know all about them when I'm finished . . . .

WWKW . . .

WWKW? Well, that means "What Would Kim Wear". Kim is my good friend and mentor from TX and I curse her every Friday and Saturday (and Sunday afternoon for that matter). When we lived in TX, Kim's clothing habits wore off on me. She helped me see that work out attire is for the gym, NEVER show a panty line, and it's better to be over dressed than under dressed. I curse her because every time I want to just be sloppy and grunge out, I see her looking in the mirror back at me. It sounds like she's standing there shaking her finger but Kim's not like that. The problem is that her voice has turned into my voice. Kim never told me anything . . . I just picked it up from her. (I have to admit, she's done more for my wardrobe habits than Staci and Clinton but I still watch them habitually.)

This Friday I went to lunch with a friend in the area. She is not a stay at home mom. She works from her house and has an amazing sense of style. I do not . . . and it showed. It was a rainy day around here and I didn't feel like dressing up. Plus, I'm still in the battle of "to maternity or not to maternity - that is the question." I wore regular jeans that are totally unflattering but not maternity and a long sleeve t-shirt with tennis shoes. I looked like a stay-at-home mom. I gave us a bad name on Friday. My friend looked stunning, yet casual. I was depressed. I imagine everyone that passed us thought, "What in the world is that beautiful woman eating lunch with that sad soul." The funny thing is I actually had the WWKW moment that morning and ignored the little voice in my head saying, "NO! Don't leave the house looking like that!!!" Oh, well. I leaned from that. That specific t-shirt is going in the trash and the jean are too when I fit in my other regular jeans.

Thanks, Kim. I promise to heed the warning next time!

Free Time?

My wonderful husband took our two older kiddos to a hotel and spent last night. Isn't he amazing?! I love anything that contains the gift of time! He just wanted to say thank you for all the work I do around here. WOW!

So, the only problem is I have an addiction . . . an addition to crafts. Yes, I'm saying it. "My name is Sharon and I'm a craft-a-holic." Facing the precious gift of time my honey had given me, I decided to crack out a pattern and some material I'd bought pre-baby and sew. Only there was not enough time!!! Instead of having a relaxing evening, I was rushing to get in bed at a decent hour so I didn't waste this morning away sleeping. Of course, I didn't finish what I wanted to do and now I have another unfinished project to complete at a later date.

What I should have done was to finish some of the minor project I had started earlier and then rest in front of the TV or in the bathtub. Oh, well. It was fun anyway. I just think I'd feel better today, knowing I had accomplished something instead of knowing that now I need to find time to finish one more thing.

Back to the addiction thing - I spent my morning leisurely walking through JoAnn's. What a horrible idea!!! As much fun as it was to walk up and down almost every aisle, it was just enabling my problem further. Now I have material for 4 more projects!! (Luckily, it's actually 2 projects twice, but still. . . .) I'm thinking that one day I'll have an hour or two to start them and then an hour or two to finish at a later date.

The root of all this is that I have time to find ideas and not carry them out. It's a lot easier to sit on my butt for 30 minutes and search my favorite blogs for ideas than to sit for hours at a sewing machine & ironing board and complete the project. So it goes!!!!

Secret Stitch Etsy Shop

Ok so the Secret Stitch club I'm always talking about has an Etsy shop now!! They sell some aprons and hooter hiders - it's great! They are having a contest to win something too so check out the store and the blog and maybe you'll win! Well, I hope it's me so maybe you won't win - hee, hee.

Here's the link if you are having trouble:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6186016