Archive for February, 2013

Sofa Happy

Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

Hubby & I have talked about updating some of our furniture for the last few years.  Around 13 years ago, we purchased my dream leather sofa from Dillards.  At the time….I didn't really put much thought into my kids growing up so fast and needing more space for sitting.  Now that my kids are all giants and we love to sit in our family room watching movies/football/tv….the need for a bigger sofa has taken us to buying a new one!

We knew just what we were looking for this time and totally went for it when the President's Day sales were going on a few weekends back.  Everywhere we shopped, I hopped on the sofas and reclined them back checking every little detail of comfort just to make sure.  Finally, I found the one.  It was big, leathery soft (and genuine leather, not faux) and it reclined from one end to the next.  Perfect!  We are a lazy family when it comes to relaxing.  We want all the cozy comfort we can get and this new sofa is just the one to give it.

The only problem?  Once you switch up your furniture, you see a hundred other things that need to be done to spruce up your house.  On my list of to do's now are new blinds for two windows, paint my ceiling, purchase new lamps and eventually replace my living room rug.  I can't wait to  s l o w l y  pick up these items and make my living room the haven my family loves.

Is it healthy to love a sofa?

Tada!!

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Look how loooooong it is!!  I think it's awesome!

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Product Love

Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

I'm a huge Clinique gal!  I've been using it since I was a single chick with awesome young freckly skin.  The kind that knew no wrinkles or frowny lines.  My kids love Clinique…even my grown son, Gavin!  They use the moisturizers every day.  It's a sad day when we run out of our cream.  Seriously, we weep!

While I was in Florida with my mom….I told you I met the sweet lady at the Estee Lauder counter who filled my heart and cleaned my face.  Well, she introduced me to my new obsession.  I'm certified sold out on the Estee Lauder skin line.  At 46, I'm figuring out that I need a little more loving when it comes to products I apply to my face.  Estee Lauder is amazing!

My new kryptonite is this —>

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I'm crazy about it.  I love it and my face does too.  It needs to come in a tub though, a big tub…like icecream size!  It has changed the way I feel about my skin and that is awesome.  When I was in Chicago a few weeks back, I splurged and bought myself a kit.  This one —>

estee set

Every night I actually look forward to cleaning my skin and putting on these yummy little dudes.  I've been using my Clarisonic Plus (which I loooooove) with Estee Lauder's Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser.  I know it sounds overkill here…but I love all of these products.

estee soap

I've tried so many other products and just haven't found anything that tickles my fancy.  But this stuff….is my new love.  I'm thinking about every special gift-giving holiday and I know right now that Estee Lauder goodies will be at the top of my wish list.  I am a happy customer!

Oh and to prove to you (and me) that I'm truly a believer….I even took the plunge into switching my foundation.

estee foundation

See?  I mean Estee Lauder business, y'all!  Thanks to a face full of freckles and some aging wrinkles this Double Wear covers all that a sister's trying to hide.  Who wouldn't want that?

So, if you're shopping for something to jazz up your face.  Let me introduce you (and honestly, I'm sure I'm the only person left that hasn't used Estee) to the loveliness that is Estee Lauder!

 

ManPower

Monday, February 25th, 2013

 My son moved out this weekend.  Well, he started the moving process anyway.  He's taking a few things at a time because of all the work needing to be done at his house.  Like painting a very pink room, hanging a new shower rod and cleaning up mouse droppings!  Eww, right?  The move was a surprise, not in a negative way….just that we weren't expecting him to move less than 2 miles down the road from our house (the one with free rent, a laundry lady and a rockin' chef).

Still, he's moving on and I couldn't be happier for him.  He's been a good sport about living at home as a young adult.  It's not easy to do (for any of you who've tried it)!  He should be on his own.  The economy has a whole generation of young adults stuck with their parents/grandparents.  Life is costly in more ways than one.  Everybody needs to step out and live solely relying on self before they get married and have NO CHOICE!  Don't you think?

I've noticed something over the last year or so that really bothers me.  Guys.  Grown up ones.  The many that I'm friends with on Facebook or Twitter.  I've collected many as friends from school, my kids peers, old classmates & children of my own friends.  I can't help but feel a little disturbed at some of the things these guys post.  It seems our boys are really ill-equipped, emotionally.  As I scroll through Facebook, no matter what time of day or night….there seems to be whiny or wimpy posts put up by guys.

Example:

— Why won't anyone, just anyone talk to me?  I'm bored.

— I'm so lonely!

 Two different posts by two different guys that often post emotionally sad posts.  What bothers me is the mental state of these guys.  They are clearly crying out for attention.  As a mom to a young adult guy….it worries me.  I know the days of NEVER LET EM SEE YA CRY are over but are we raising wimps?  I bet you're thinking the two posts aren't that bad and they're not.  It's just a sample from what I read today on Facebook.  Usually, it's worse!  I've noticed it's becoming common for guys to be more emotionally needy than girls.  Sometimes even weighing down girls/women with unhealthy baggage that isn't theirs to own.  The result?  Unhealthy relationships!

I've been at this mom gig for a little over 22 years and I'm always willing to learn new ways to best prepare my kids for real life.  Along the way, painful experiences can sneak in and rough us up a little.  But how we deal with them really matters, especially in front of our kids.  I'm convinced that boys are missing out on some important life skill teaching from parents.  Many kids are struggling and they have nowhere to turn for advice or guidance.  Again, I'm not saying boys aren't allowed to feel or be emotional.  Every mother knows….boys hurt too.  

I'm confident that my own son gets this concept.  The fact that he has always been able to talk with his dad & me openly…is a great comfort to me.  I know that he trusts us and that he isn't going to cry out on a public forum all his sadness, even if he feels a little blue over a personal issue.

If you're parenting…and have a son, are you preparing him for disappointment?  Are you equipping him with ways to meet his emotional needs?  Does he have the confidence to forge through rough stuff?  Because life is a guarantee of struggles.  As a mom of daughters….I'm praying for the young men my girls will eventually marry.  My hopes are that they are being groomed for real life and that they are strong inside as well as warm & loving.  It's not easy raising kids.  Raising boys to be strong, loving & confident in who they are is even harder.  I won't stop trying….even when my boy moves 2 miles down the road.  I will do my best to prepare him for the wife & world that awaits him.

Tell me.  Do you think boys are turning into wimpy guys?

 

Raising Mrs. Right X 2

Friday, February 22nd, 2013

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Who better to teach my girls how to be the perfect wife than me….their not-so-perfect mama? Now that they are G R O W N it would seem time for teaching is long gone. But every single day that I spend with them is another chance to leave a Godly wife impression on them. I won't give up!

How am I doing it? Easy. I'm being real. Flaws and all. Which means, I also have to be real in asking for forgiveness and admitting when I am wrong. I'm not the only mother who goofs up and I'm certainly not a wife that has it all figured out. After being married nearly 24 years "stuff" still happens between my hubby and me that isn't completely healthy.

I want my girls to know (and I think they do) that people are sometimes selfish or foolish. That doesn't mean they aren't worth loving or caring for. It just means that they may be going through a bad time or have a weakness that needs improvement. Each of us…..need improvement at some time or another. So forgiveness must be a huge part of what I pass along to my girls.

For what it's worth, marriage is not disposable. People are not throw-out-a-able. Love is worth fighting for and sometimes that's just what we have to do….fight it out! Of course, we should only do that in hopes of having a victorious kind of love. Fighting just to win will never strengthen a relationship! Trust me, I've argued to be right and it doesn't bring any joy to win. Hurt gets passed around and scars take time to heal because of it.

What I'm doing to TRY TO raise Mrs. Right's —

1) Love my hubby outloud for other's to see.

2) Forgive him when he flubs up and ask for forgiveness when I need it.

3) Make him a top priority over my other responsibilities. Kids included.

4) Support him and the decisions he makes. I trust his judgement (most of the time & when I don't, I trust GOD).

5) Take good care of myself. He deserves all the beauty I can spare inside & out.

6) Be a loving wife & mother (physically & emotionally). Even when I don't feel like it.

7) Help him when he needs me to.

8) Pray for him EVERYDAY.

9) Hang out with him. Even if it's just a ride to the store. I go.

10) Serve him. Whether it be a great meal or a weekend alone together.

I want my girls to have fantastic marriages. I don't want them to fall for the lies that relationships are all about them and their happiness. I pray for both of them as they journey into adulthood and find the men (God has for them) of their dreams. I know how amazing a good marriage can be. I happen to think I have one.

It starts with being the best Mrs. Right a girl can be.

 

I’ll See You There

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Life is full of twists & turns!  Painful moments are a part of our life journey.  Since Christmas break, I've been consumed with Stephanie (a precious childhood friend) diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.  One minute she was going about her day teaching 3rd grade and taking care of her family and the next she was in the hospital hearing news that no family wants to hear.

Cancer.  Brain tumors.  Spread here & there. Then, another cancer. Liver.  Body in for a fight.  A battle that only God could win.

Stephanie's family rallied!  They surrounded her and went to work.  Every moment captured forever in each of their hearts.  What a testimony!  I can only imagine the love shared between them during the last 7 weeks.  A love that can't be described.  While her body failed her the people around her continued to love & care for her every need.  She must be so proud of them!

On Friday night (2/15/13) at 8:30pm with her family all around her….Stephanie stepped into eternity and met Christ face-to-face leaving this world behind.  While my flesh aches for the loss of such a special friend so soon my heart trusts that God knows better than me.  Stephanie's life & faith are evidence that she is safely walking streets of gold and connecting with all those who've gone on before her.  I can see her smiling and making everyone around her feel at home there in heaven even though she's the new kid.

That's the Stephanie that I remember.

I'm so thankful for the friendship that God shared with me through her.  I'd never had a "best friend" until I met Stephanie.  She was the first friend I can remember spending hours on end with.  It was Stephanie who taught me how to be a best friend.  I can still remember sitting on her bed in her room painting on the glittery white eye-shadow.  I felt like I looked as pretty as her just by wearing it.  I loved everything about her.

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I will never forget you, friend.  My life had a great kick-start because of fun friends like you.  You were special.  God made you to be unique and I just happened to be in the path of your beauty & grace.  I am so thankful for that.  I'll miss you, not just for myself….but for those you left behind who will think of you every moment of their day.  You were the wife & mom of a beautiful family and a friend to so many….

I love you & I'll see you soon.

Stephanie Lee (Story)

 

Are You Like Hagar?

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

Remember that pity party I had for myself last week?  What I didn't mention was that the night before, my sweet friend Amy invited me to lead a women's Bible study.  She didn't have a book picked out but she did have 3 or 4 ladies interested in getting together and doing some fellowship & praying.  I said, yes and the very next day woke up feeling like NO ONE IN THE WORLD even knew my name!

Curses to you hormones!

The best part?  I picked a book by Tammy Maltby — The God Who Sees, and the irony…… oh the irony of that choice!  It's all about feeling left out or overlooked.  Tammy uses the story of Hagar the Egyptian slavegirl in Genesis to make her point.  Hagar ran away after Sarai started treating her badly when she became preggo with Abram's baby. She runs to the desert and has an encounter with the angel of the Lord.  The angel instructs her to "return & obey" and goes on to tell her she will be a part of a great lineage.  Hagar has this epiphany and realizes that GOD SEES HER and that he loves her.  She decides then to call him the God who sees, El Roi.  From what we know, Hagar does return and follows through with her duties as well as gives birth to Ishmael her wild donkey of a son.

Hagar's encounter reminds me that God does see and He does know when I'm down & out (or PMS'n).  He cares about little injustices that come my way and He understands being shunned or ignored.  He loves me, anyway!  Whether I'm the one doing that to another or just feeling it myself.  He sees me.

Hagar ran because she was having her own pity party.  Not realizing until her encounter with the angel just how ridiculous her choice to flee was.  Oftentimes, that's how we respond too.  We run.  We flee the issues or people who make us feel crummy about ourselves.  We try to ignore or avoid what we're supposed to be doing because we're too weak to face it, alone!  The reality?  Is that we're never alone!  God is always there and He always sees….

He is, El Roi!

 

PS — I just want to add.  My new BS group met last night and it was fantastic!  Each lady, perfect!  Just what God planned and I couldn't be more excited for the coming weeks ahead!  And before you go thinking….perfect, how perfect?  I mean, each one…struggling, carrying burdens, wise, needy…all the things that make up a good group for fellowship and growth!  Yeehaw!  That's the kind of perfect I'm talking about.