60 Months

Well, it happened.  My sweet little Mattie turned 5 years old on the 6th day of this month. We had a weekend full of fun and partying, and I do intend to recap that, but I wanted to post these pictures first. Her birthday fell on a Sunday this year, and it was an absolutely gorgeous day. So, we got outside, and I talked her into a little picture taking.  I just had this huge desire to capture her at exactly this age. Not a day younger, not a day older....just exactly five years old.

 

I did finally get around to making her a little birthday outfit.  It turned out so cute, definitely one of my favorite things I’ve ever made for her, and she picked the fabrics, so it was special to her too:

 

When I said to her, “Mattie, how does it feel to be five?”, this was the response I got….I think it feels good!

 

I could not get her to smile for me because she was too busy singing.  Nothing in particular, just a song she made up, which is very, very (VERY) typical  for her…here’s some outtakes I love:

 

I am the partial mama, but I do think she’s a little beauty:

Finally some smiles and posing!

Then we got silly, and I started telling her funny things to think about, and I got some laughs out of her!

I think here I told her to picture Papa in his underwear, and this is the belly laugh I got (sorry, Papa!):

Happy girl!

She did sit for a few pictures, but she got a little too posey and cute…she’s not as quite as sweet and innocent as she looks here:

This might be my favorite, and I think it will definitely get framed….

I have to say, I loved age 4. I am so sad to see it go. To me, age 4 is kind of the perfect blend of baby and big kid. They're independent, can do most things for themselves, they’re somewhat reasonable, and definitely less defiant than a 2 or 3 year old, yet they still need their mama. And they still have some baby-isms, like blankies, and sippy cups, and they still like to be held and carried some.   I can feel all those things and more slipping away with five.   But I’m embracing it, and am determined that five is going to be be my new favorite age.

For Japan

I'm sure everyone is well aware of the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan. And the resulting humanitarian crisis that has left untold thousands of people without shelter and other basic necessities in the wake of this tragedy. The images on the news are chilling and heartbreaking. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless, I think, when a huge disaster like this happens. Like the problem is so huge that whatever little help I could throw at the situation wouldn't amount to much and would ultimately be useless. I believe that's a lie that Satan loves to feed us. I think he loves to see well meaning people like me throw up our hands and say "there's nothing I can do to help". But, I think there is something everyone can do to help, we just have to actually do it.

With that in mind, I am participating in a fundraising effort that will benefit disaster relief in Japan. I am selling off some "destash" fabrics in my Etsy Shop for super low prices. If you have any reason to buy fabrics, now's a good time....I've got some great stuff, some of it designer, for bargain prices, and I will likely be adding to my listings over the next few days as I pick out more to sell. I will be donating 50% off all proceeds collected from this effort to the American Red Cross earmarked for Japan Relief.

This fundraising effort was organized by Sabrina of Noodles and Milk, and she also has LOTS of great fabrics for super low prices, and she'll be donating a portion of proceeds to the same charity. You can also search "destash for japan" on Etsy to find other vendors who might be taking part as well.

Above all else, whether you're able to help finacially or not, pray for this country. Pray that God will show Himself to this hurting nation. Pray that hearts will be stirred for Him. Pray that people who are hurting, whether emotionally or physically, will find their relief in the Great Comforter and Physician.

SSMT: Verse 6

(9) But he said to me "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (10) That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

Star Struck

A couple of weekends ago, my girls, my mom, and I headed northeast to Memphis to spend the weekend with my sister. A couple of weeks prior, Angela and I became aware that our trip would coincide with a book signing that Pioneer Woman would be having at an area bookstore. So, of course, we made plans to be there.


I have to say, I don't do a lot of exciting things. Actually, I don't do much of anything that doesn't involve a diaper bag and sippy cups. But I got so excited about this! I had never been to a book signing before, so I had no idea how close we'd actually get to her, if we'd actually speak to her, or if we'd only see her from a distance.


When we got there, I quickly purchased her new book, and while we were checking out, we spotted Marlboro Man, Ree's husband, who is just as dreamy as she claims he is. He was signing books as well, so we got in line for that, got our autographs, and were even brave enough to ask for a photo, which he kindly agreed to. I was so excited/teased/nervous that I turned bright red. It's what I do. And the more I try not to, the redder I get.

Me, Marlboro Man (Ladd Drummond), and Angela

He was just as sweet as could be, and I worked up the nerve to ask him a question, which was "Do you come to all the book signings?" (which I admit came out sounding a little pick-up-line'ish like "You come here often?"). To which he replied, "No, not all of them. Probably about a third.". And that was that!

Then it was time to get in line to meet PW. I realize not everyone even knows who she is, but I admit I got very star struck. The closer we got, the more nervous/excited I got. And when I finally got up there, I was completely red and blushing severely (note the color of my skin in the pic below!). Angela went first, then we took a pic together, then it was my turn and she signed my book. I was standing there like a fool not saying anything, so she looked at me and said "oh, you have really gorgeous hair". Y'all. I have not had a haircut since November, and my hair had just been through a nearly six hour car ride. It was anything but gorgeous, and it was CLEAR she was just trying to be kind and complimentary. But, it completely caught me off gaurd, so I start trying to tell her how SHE has gorgeous hair, and thankyousomuch for saying that, blah blah blah. And I basically made a blubbering fool of myself. And I turned even redder if that was even possible. BUT, I met her and it was the most exciting thing to happen to me in a while.

Me, Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond), and Angela

Here's my copy of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, which I highly recommend! It's the story of how she met, fell in love with, and married her husband. She is hilarious, and her writing style is so easy to read. I had a hard time putting this down.



And here's my autographs....MM's is in the top right corner. Very cool!!

My Loves

I ♥ black and white photos. And I ♥ these girls!

Sunset

SSMT: Verse 5

" (12) Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (13) Bear with eachother and forgive whatever grievances ou may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (14) And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14

So far memorizing the scriptures I've chosen in this challenge has come very easily to me. So I'm challenging myself a little this time with a very unfamiliar scripture, that is more than one verse long. And already I love this one. Can you imagine just how different our world would be if every single person (myself included) lived their lives in perfect accordance with this command? Staggering to imagine. I'm challenged by it.