Mommy Play Date

So I went to Girls Rock Collinsville the other night and out of all the cute jewelry and clothes for moms and decorating stuff for your home, this is what I bought. Vintage 1930's dollhouse furniture for this poor dollhouse that Steve made and I painted years ago. Now that the girlz are too old to play with it, it now has furniture. I love it and secretly had fun setting it up ;-) Any moms want to come over for a play date?

These ladies kind of freak me out...

Purchased at Simply Vintage

My Prairie Girlz

I love that the girlz still enjoy playing "Little House on the Prairie". Here's a few pics I snapped the other day while they were being Mary and Laura - so sweet...

I Will Follow

Short Weekend Get Away

and I decided to take the girlz to Missouri this weekend for a little much-needed family getaway.

We spent yesterday at Silver Dollar City and had such a fun time riding the rides, checking out the fall decorations, and eating their yummy food! The weather was perfect and there was no wait for most of the rides. "A" talked me into riding the "Giant Swing" - SCARY!!! We didn't realize we liked it so much until the second time we rode it ;-) "M" loved the train ride and thought getting stopped by robbers was pretty fun.

They enjoyed this a little too much...



"A's" reaction after riding the Big Swing...



Then, today, we surprised the girlz with a trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri. They were so excited because they've been wanting to go there for a long time now. We got to see the actual house and all of it's contents where Laura, Amanzo, and Rose lived when they first moved to Missouri. Unfortunately, they didn't allow photography in the museum or the house but it was so neat to see actual artifacts that belonged to the Wilder's & Ingall's families. Here's a few pics of the grounds...

It was such a fun weekend and I loved spending time together with the fam!

These Tri Kids Rocked!

As mentioned in a previous posting, the girlz have been training for the Kid's Triathlon at the Owasso YMCA for the last month or two. Well, it was held this weekend. We attended an informational meeting last night and the girlz got to pick up their runner's packets. They were so excited as this was their first race and first triathlon. Afterwards, we went to Orange Leaf to celebrate the girlz and their friends training so hard & to load up on good carbs the night before - which we all know is so important before a big race ;-)

I was really impressed by how well the tri was run. Everything was very organized, the kids were safe and knew what was expected of them, and they had a ton of volunteers that helped make the event a great success. I was especially proud of all the kids for trying so hard and not one child gave up - everyone finished the course! There were a lot of proud parents, grandparents and friends cheering the kids on. It was just such a neat experience.

And when it was over, they had an awards assembly where all the kids were given a medal for participation and a door prize. Small trophies were also given to the top 3 boys and girls within each age group. I loved how all the kids were considered winners and were given something to take home. The girlz are already talking about doing it again next year. They had such a great time and loved the experience of it all!

My Own Little World

"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed MORE clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that let to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved." Richard E. Stearns' version of Matthew 25, The Whole in Our Gospel

A Girly Girl Fall Fashion Show

Fall is here and, as usual, it has snuck up on me. So after cleaning out the girlz drawers and realizing they had grown and wouldn't fit into most of last year's clothes, we hit the stores looking for a few bargains. I can't buy for them anymore, nor do I dare, as they have their own style now and they just make strange faces at things I think are cute.

When we got home from shopping, they decided they wanted to put on a fashion show for Steve and me - complete with description of what they were wearing and everything ;-)  I treasure any time they want to perform for us because sadly, those "performances" have become few and far between as they have gotten older. If only time would stand still!

Safe

Last year, I got involved with a non-profit organization called Project Hope Worldwide (PHWW) which is building an orphanage, medical clinic and school for orphans and widows in Lira, Uganda. I helped plan an auction and dinner, called “Kwero”, and we were able to raise close to $45,000 which went straight to the orphanage. You can see current updates and progress of the building of the village (a.k.a. “Calo Me Lare” or “Village of Redemption”) on the PHWW facebook page here.

The pastor of our church is on the Board for PHWW and recently asked me to be the “official” blogger for PHWW and write weekly reports on the progress that is being made. Well, a few nights ago, I was at dinner with some friends and I received a text from him that read, “Would you like to go to Uganda with us on our next trip?” Wow! What do you say to that?! Well, I spoke with him at great length the next day and he said he was planning a business trip to go to Lira, Uganda in November of this year. As the PHWW “blogger”, he asked if I wanted to go to interview and take pictures of the first orphans that will be living at Calo Me Lare. I would also be reporting on the progress that has been made on the building of the village and the work still to be done.

I’ve always thought it would be “neat” to go to Uganda but now that I have the real chance to go, the thought of it makes me a little anxious, to say the least. I’m really excited at the thought of it but at the same time I’m thinking, “Why me?!” I’m so unqualified – yes, I know God used lots of people in the Bible who were “unqualified”. But still, I just think someone else could do a much better job than me – which also makes me think God must be calling me because He could have called anyone else. But why me of all people?

And of course, as a mother and wife, I think, “What if something happens to me?” And there’s the concerns of the cost, who will watch the girls while I’m gone, side effects from getting shots and taking malaria medicine, etc. I suppose that’s when my faith must step in and I have to remind myself that God loves me, has a purpose for my life, has his hand on me, and goes before me wherever I go.

So... after MUCH prayer and talking things over with my hubby, I am actually going to Uganda! Wow! Can't believe I just wrote that! It's all happening so fast! The unknown is still a bit frightening to me but as my friend, Sandra, reminded me, "God does not give you a spirit of fear." Another friend, Kelley, who will be going with me to Uganda, said she came across this quote from a book she's reading called, Primal, "faith equals God-ordained risks in the face of fear." I am claiming John 14:37 as my verse for this season of my life. It says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." And while I feel there are so many more people out there who could do a much better job than me, I am also believing the promise that God equips those He calls. It's not about me anyway - it's about me joining God and His passions and allowing Him to use me to accomplish His will.

We told the girlz the news tonight and thankfully, they were really excited about it and even wanted to go, too! We love to do volunteer projects as a family, but this one I'll have to do alone. It will be so hard to leave them behind but I know I have their love and support. They prayed the sweetest prayers for me tonight - brought tears to my eyes. When I kissed "A" goodnight, she said, "Wow, Mom! Uganda's like on the other side of the world!" So I suppose that maybe they are learning something from Steve and me, there is life outside of our little family box - and God doesn't always call us to do what is "safe".

Looks like I just signed myself up for a new adventure! Stay tuned and keep your prayers coming for our small team going to Lira! They are MUCH appreciated!

Mom's Night Out!

The moms in our homeschool co-op recently had a Mom's Night Out. We first met at the New York Cheesecake Factory for dinner and dessert then we went across the street to Barnes and Noble to browse through books and magazines, drink hot, yummy drinks and gab some more with the girls. We had a great time and I enjoyed getting to know the new moms in our group! All of our Co-Op moms are such a great inspiration and encouragement to me - I'm so blessed to have them in my life!

Special thanks to Shelley for taking these pics!

St. Therese Parish - Collinsville, OK

The girlz and I love to find new places to do school and we love to do school outside when it's nice, so yesterday we took a blanket and our books to the Saint Therese Parish in Collinsville. Our homeschool co-op is having our school pictures taken there next week so I kinda wanted to check it out before we went, too. It was really pretty and serene there with a pond, lots of trees, several benches, beautiful flowers, etc.

The architecture of the parish itself was almost like a pueblo building you might find in New Mexico - which was kind of neat because we're studying New Mexico as we learn about the American Girl, Josefina, in the curriculum we are currently studying.

Here's a few pics of Saint Therese...

Secret Keeper Girl Tour 2010

A few months ago I heard an advertisement on the radio for a "Secret Keeper Girl" tour. I checked into it a little more and thought it sounded like fun so I posted it on facebook. By the end of the day, I had about five friends tell me they wanted to go, too!

So the event was last night and we all went together with our daughters. The theme was "pajama party" but I think we were the only ones dressed in pj's! Oh well - it made it more fun for the girls! We started out the night eating dinner at Cracker Barrel, in our pj's, mind you - got a few interesting looks from the customers. Then we carpooled to the show.

The premise behind Secret Keeper Girl is to teach girls about inner beauty that comes from God and how to dress modestly. It was a high energy night with games, songs, a fashion show and biblical teaching on godly beauty - the girls had a blast! I'm so glad we went because it backs up what I'm trying to impress upon my girlz at home. The world places so much focus on outward beauty - my focus is just the opposite. I'm always telling my girlz that it's so much more important to be beautiful on the inside. I think to be caring, loving, serving, sweet, thoughtful and kind on the inside automatically makes you beautiful on the outside.

I just joined the Secret Keeper Girl facebook page and read that about 40 girls accepted Christ last night, too! Such a great experience - we look forward to going again next year with even more friends!!!

Collinsville Homecoming Parade 2010

The Collinsville Homecoming Parade was yesterday. My nephew was in it so the girlz and I joined Steve's family in downtown Collinsville to watch him and get some candy. Collinsville is a small town but everybody rallies around for activities like this - especially to show their school spirit. Lots of red being worn that day! Here's a few pics from the parade...

Brush Creek Bazaar 2010

The girlz and I have started making the Brush Creek Bazaar an annual event we look forward to every fall. We had such a great time there last year we had to go back again. The grounds are so beautiful and we had a fun time looking around at all the craft booths. The girlz had $10 each to spend so they bought cute little matching zebra-striped purses. Now it feels like Fall is here!

Recycling Rules!

Our homeschool co-op went on a great field trip today to Advanced Metal Recycling plant in Tulsa. Many of the kids brought cans from home to exchange for money. We had a fun time learning about what happens to our stuff when it is taken to the plant to be recycled. The kids especially enjoyed watching a car be demolished (see video below). We had a wonderful tour guide and she even served the kids cookies afterwards. We definitely gave this field trip a thumbs up! Recycling rules!

Training for the Tri

The Owasso YMCA is hosting a kid's triathlon and my girlz have decided they want to do it. So -

they've been biking...

swimming...

and running...

to get ready for the race. They've really been working hard to prepare for the big day but I've also stressed to them how it's not really that important to win - but that it's more important to try their best and to have fun. I think so many families get caught up in competition - gotta win, gotta be #1, gotta be the best. I just want them to enjoy this experience and know that staying healthy is important and exercise is part of taking care of our bodies. I'm looking forward to watching them in a few weeks and supporting them in their choice to stay healthy and have fun!