February Photos

Hannah's Valentines Party

This petite friend of Hannah loves to call Joseph "Shrimp"

Valentine's Day is a special day, so Jack wanted to wear a tie :)

Jack's class

V-day savings

Remember, I am a cheapskate! But I suggest that all of us families with growing children begin to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 15. Everything is 1/2 off and the flowers are still fresh!

I'm a woman and I'm Insecure

On Thursday I was talking to a friend about how hard it is to see our daughters experience the same insecurities that we did/do. Do we make them more secure by being there for them all the time, choosing to stay home, spending lots of time together? Or would they be more confident if they were exposed to more social settings.... daycare? Could we give them the confidence that we lack?.... or are they doomed to be insecure because they pick that up in us?

I've been thinking these things over.

In the meantime, I've been around both highschool and college friends.


On Friday, Stacy and I went to see Christina at her mother's visitation.

One of my best friends from highschool lost her mother last week. When we were in college, Stacy O and I went with Christina to Atlanta to visit her mother at Emory after her liver transplant. It seemed as though she might not make it. But she got better and better. She turned her life around. Now 14 years later, her body rejected the liver. (she was saved several years ago)

Afterward, Stacy and I went to our sorority reunion. We did enjoy seeing old friends.... but oh, the insecurities. Being around gorgeous, smart, successful, wealthy people. Am I the only one who feels like the underdog whenever entering a room? Does anybody else wonder if people are just talking to you to be polite?

But I think that the Spirit spoke into my heart today. I don't want to teach my daughter to muster up a confident front, or worse- to become prideful. I want to teach her that her worth does not come from what other people think about her... or her distorted perception of what other people are thinking. ... but the God who created her redeemed her and paid a great price to have a relationship with her forever and with me forever... and with all those out there who will believe in Him. He sent His Son into this world to live a sinless life, and die on the cross to pay for our sins.... so that he could have a relationship with us!!!! When the God of the universe thinks we are special enough to want to have a relationship with us....

Rather than teach her to be confident... I want to teach her Who to put her confidence in!... and I want to learn it for myself.

Super Bowl Reunions

Every year for the Super Bowl, we get together with college friends. The girls talk and watch commercials. The guys watch the game and play ping pong. Each year our number dwindles. We were now down to our family and the Dale family. Our plan was to meet at our house, since their's is on the market. Well, their moving plans progressed and they are now moving this week and had to back out. I was sad to see a tradition die.

Then, we ran into the Hustons on Saturday. Charla and I used to have a jewelry business and talk multiple times a day. Our family lives took over about 5 years ago and our partnership ended. We stayed friends, but have talked less and less. We invited them over for the Super Bowl. It was fun to get together again. We enjoyed Jon and Charla's company and Hannah had a blast reconnecting with Maddie. Jack and Joseph enjoyed entertaining Eli.

We had a different reunion than we had planned, but are thankful for it.

Let it Snow!

Waking up is hard to do, at least it was yesterday morning... when we had to leave the house early. This morning the kids were ready to go at 7:15. Clothes, socks, shoes, coats, hats, gloves. I told them that they had to wait until it was light outside.... hoping that'd buy me a few more minutes in the bed. Then the first knock came at 7:45am. The door opened and they escaped. I threw on a sweatshirt and followed them out. They have not had much experience with snow. I wish that I could have bottled their laughter.