I <3 IPAD 2

June 14th, 2011

Tonight, I went on a date. Before you get all high and mighty, don’t. Everybody parties in their own crazy way. Mine just happens to involve things like; taking your teen daughter’s Droid to Verizon for a reboot, Steak & Shake for dinner (without kids rolling their eyes) and roaming around Sam’s Club in search of new dress pants for hubby! See, I told you “we party”!

While at Sam’s, I noticed the ipad 2 on display. I felt it was time for me to actually hold one in my hands and try it out. Hubby and I each grabbed one to play with. Instantly, I knew….I have to have one of my own! Seriously! I think I actually heard the brush of angels wings when I logged onto my blog with it. Heavenly!

Now, the coolest contest is going on over at I Am Bossy. Yep, you guessed it an IPAD 2 baby! I nearly screamed out loud I was so excited to find it. Listen, if I were to win this thing…..people will have to shake me out of my crazy. I might lose it! So, here’s the thing–if you’re in the wish market like me then go enter to win too. You can thank me later (if you win)!

Enter to win HERE!

And go check out Brad’s Deals too! He’s so kind to offer such a cool giveaway!

WOW! GOOD LUCK!!

I Score

June 14th, 2011

I am not ashamed to admit….I love a bargain! I mean, a steal! I hate paying full price for anything and usually don’t (unless it’s an emergency) if I can help it. Ask my kids? I know they think I’m crazy when it comes to shopping for “wants”. I will wait and search for the best price. Wacky, huh? Uhh, hello stretched dollar–I love you!

The last few days I’ve stumbled upon a couple of sweet finds. That’s the best feeling. First, I thought I’d run into a thrift store to look for shorts. While there I also found the motherload on cute skirts. Several of which were Ann Taylor, in brand new condition! Not kidding! Score! I grabbed every one of them in mine or my girls sizes. What’d I pay? Oh $3.95 a piece and even $1.00 for one. Yea baby!

Hubby was tagging along so we wandered over to dishes. I like to nose around for “good” stuff in every section. Then I spied it, a Pampered Chef stone casserole dish! I figured it would be marked pretty high since it seriously looked UNUSED/BRAND NEW—hello, $10!! Can you say, MINE?

Everything fit once we arrived home but the one pair of shorts that I bought. So, I went to another thrift store to return them and decided to “look” around a bit. I walked right up to a pair of gorgeous white linen (three of my very favorite words) pants in my size–Ann Taylor’s baby! Mine! I turned to another rack and boom, there was a darling pair of white capri’s in Ann Taylor in my daughter Ally’s size. Jackpot! I thought, “No way….my luck is overflowing. This has to be it!”. Nope, before I could make it to the checkout I found the cutest black & white Candies dress in Ally’s size too.

I hadn’t even hit $10! So, it pays to thrift shop. I’m totally blessed this week because of it. Just look.

What you see there are 2 Ann Taylor pants, 1 Ann Taylor skirt, 1 American Eagle skirt (it’s adorable) and the Candies dress. All adorable and appearing brand new. Not pictured that I also purchased are 3 more precious skirts one of which is a maxi skirt with the prettiest embroidering on it. Score! Also, I looked up the price on my stone dish at Pampered Chef–$37. I’ve already made something delicious too. Hello, Chicken pot pie.

The moral of the story is…..shop secondhand people! You may find something you’re dreaming of.

Refreshed

June 13th, 2011

I was right where I was supposed to be this weekend. Deeper Still was just what the Lord ordered (for me and 7999 other women). I’d not had plans to go, matter of fact….I hadn’t even looked up the conference schedule to know they’d be near me. But God in His OhSoCool ways was at work on my behalf without me knowing.

{Thank you God}

Last week my MIL called my hubby and told him to let me know LPM had tickets available on the blog for the Deeper Still conference in Louisville. I sighed and said, “Those tickets are long gone and besides where would I stay and Who would I go with?”. To which hubby replied, “Yea, maybe so. But it’s worth a shot!”. So, I called and left a message then forgot about it.

Later that day…..Kimberly called from Texas and told me there was a ticket for me (if I needed it). I hesitated then agreed, I need it. After I hung up I worried that I’d just taken a ticket that I couldn’t really use. I told my husband that I was excited but sad that none of my besties could go with me. A trip like this is super fun with your favorite friends/sisters. I decided not to fret and worry. God had a plan for me and it would all work out.

I noticed on the LPM blog many others leaving messages about going to the conference. Some of them with groups and a few alone. I left a comment too and next thing I know…..I hear from another person going alone. She was coming from Nashville and was sure that God wanted her there too. We agreed to meet up at FREEDOM HALL before the event began and the rest is history!

Meet Kristen.

Seriously, what a great way to spend the weekend. Making a new friend and worshipping with 8000 other people. Sitting at the feet of great Bible teachers like Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur were the ultimate bonus. Each speaker had something JUST FOR ME! It was refreshing!

Some things that boosted my heart this weekend–

+ Learning (once again) that God has sweet blessings for me if I’ll just let Him work.
+ Finding a sweet friend in Kristen.
+ To clean out and get rid of “stuff”.
+ Focus on what is MOST important and relish the interruptions.
+ REST.
+ Never question if God loves me. Seriously, who does that?
+ To love my generational position and to honor the others.
+ That I need to get back to the nitty-gritty of my ministry. Period!

I was in love with the hair of the lady sitting “innocently” in front of me (top left photo). Notice the sweet cut? I just wish you could see the gorgeous color of red that it was. Unreal. Girlfriend is beautiful!

*Thank you MIL for the ticket tip! I’ve had a wonderful weekend.
**Thank you Kristen for sharing your hotel & toothpaste with me. But most of all your sweet friendship this weekend. I had a great time talking and sharing the conference with you. I feel blessed!

Am I Really Ready?

June 10th, 2011

I know I’m not so good at hiding how I feel. I’m an open book, dangit! When it comes to my kids I really go overboard with my “protecting” them. Like, I have some sort of super powers (which I don’t!) and can keep bad things from happening to them. Ok, I’m a worrywart!

Tonight is a big night for Ally. She opted out of having a huge graduation party for something a little more sophisticated. She wanted to go to dinner in Indy with her BFF gang WITHOUT ANY PARENTS!! Huh? Whaaaa? Well, that’s what I said anyway. πŸ˜‰ She loves the flashy city lights and the pushy hub-bub of action going on downtown…..and PF Changs! I can’t blame her, so do I.

My issue isn’t that she’s some sort of baby still….it’s the crazy FRIDAY TRAFFIC. It’s not something that she’s used to and everyone knows how amped up Friday’s are, right? People are hurrying and rushing to get wherever it is they want to go. Not only does she have to maneuver busy interstate changes but she has to go pick up another friend in an unfamiliar area of Indianapolis! Gee whiz, the stress!

I’m seriously worried. {Remember, I’m leaving at the same time she is and heading in the opposite direction to Louisville, KY for Deeper Still}

So, tell me…will I ever get used to this sort of thing? Did my own mother suffer with this worry? If she did, I’m sorry Mom! Really.

Signed,
Mom letting go

Oh and last night she came into hug me after her dad went over the directions with her…..and said I could trust her. I said, “I don’t trust you…but I trust Jesus!”. So, as we part ways today I’ll be reminding my heart that God has this. And that’s how I like it anyway.

Golden Ticket

June 9th, 2011

So, I have this ticket. It was a gift and I’m really excited! Sadly, I don’t have a group of friends to enjoy it with. But that’s not going to stop me.

I’m going anyway.

Where, you ask? (Oh…you didn’t ask? Sorry, I’m blabbing anyway!)

It’s only the FINAL Deeper Still Conference and it just so happens to be in The Ville (Louisville KY) which is an hour away from my front door, people! Weeeeeehaaaaaw! I’m trying to keep it together here and NOT FLIP RICK!! But, geewhiz….I’m so excited!

I love Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer & Kay Arthur and cannot believe the blessing of this weekend under their teaching. Freedom Hall will be filled with women (plenty of friends) anxious for the blessing of a Word from God. So cool!

I can’t wait to hear what God has for me this weekend. I know He wants me there or else I wouldn’t be going, right? Right. Let me know if you’ll be there and maybe we can meet up. Wouldn’t that be fun? πŸ˜‰

Thank you LPM for the Siesta Scholarship and the tireless work you do to bless through this amazing ministry!

MISSING

June 8th, 2011

As a parent…that word is not one you’d want to hear associated with one of your children. For Lauren Spierer’s family it’s the new word describing their beautiful girl. She was last seen early Friday morning (around 4:30am) leaving a party with friends. She was walking home to her apartment not far away. In the sleepy little college town of Bloomington, Indiana.

What boggles my mind is that she’s been walking the same streets as my son. She may have sat in the very same class with him at some time or another. IU is a very large school but B-town is a homey fun town that crawls with excitement and people all hours of the day and night.

She shouldn’t have just vanished. Someone knows where she is and I pray they come forward immediately. Help this family find their precious girl. Now.

My heart is torn to pieces thinking of her and what could be. May God bring her home safely….very soon!

Dear Lord
Your power is neverending. I plead for direction for the many searching for Lauren. Lead them to her and do it soon. My prayer is that she’s safe and will soon be back with her friends and family. God, nothing is impossible with you.
Amen