Hope you are having as nice of a weekend as I am. :) This morning Savannah and I went out to breakfast with a friend, then shopping. She is growing so fast. My little baby girl is now very much an independant toddler. She was so cute at breakfast, quiet as can be, inhaling her happy-face pancake at IHOP, while us girls had time to catch up.

Oh! Chicken Pie!

Me and my conservative ways.

I hesitated to add this, worried that I would run off what few readers I do have. Oh well...here goes.

I have added a new button to my side bar. Maidens for Modesty has a list of values, values I hope to instill in my sweet daughter as she grows into a young lady.

Growing up I remember several times my own mother saying "Don't even think about wearing THAT out of this house"
In this day and age, I think it is so important to teach our daughters dignity and respect for themselves in the way they dress and act.

Maidens For Modesty values:

*We believe in dressing in modest apparel, as it says in 1 Timothy 2:9 - "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, ....."
*We believe in saving our bodies and not exposing them to others, but protecting what God has given us.
*We believe in being modest in the way we act, talk, walk, and carry ourselves.
*We know that true modesty begins in the heart, and is an attitude more than what we wear.
*We believe in behaving discreetely and with modesty.
However, our clothing usually displays our true self, and we believe in dressing modestly to be a witness to others.
*We know that modesty isn't a legalistic set of rules, but rather guidelines to help determine what we should wear.
*We believe in presenting discretion and dignity in what we wear and how we behave- "As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. " ~ Proverbs 11:22
*We believe in helping to protect men from the visual attack by dressing modestly as their sisters-in-Christ
*We believe in dressing in a way that glorifies God, not our body.
*We believe that modesty and purity are always in fashion!
*We believe that modesty isn't old-fashioned - you don't have to wear colonial dresses (like the ones in the picture) or have waist-length hair to be modest!
*We believe that fear of the Lord is the most beautiful thing - "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." ~ Proverbs 31:30

More beautiful zoo things...

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Did you watch Oprah today??? Vaccines were called out onto the carpet today. Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson-Peete explained how their childrens autism was caused by vaccines.

New Dress

This morning I ordered this beautiful little dress for Savannah, from a fellow blogger Audrey, at Sewing the Seams Of Love. She has some really beautiful items, at extremely reasonable prices.

Pop over there and order one for your baby girl!!!

How Ever Will I Do It?

How will I be able to raise my daughter to be a lady, in this society?

I hate shopping. I know, I know. Weird. I shop only when it is absolutely necessary. And since I discovered online shopping, really the only time it is necessary, is groceries.

I hate shopping because it reminds me of everything I despise about this world. Teen girls in short, shorts with "naughty" written across the bum, complete with a too-snug tee shirt banishing "My moms thinks I'm at the library". Teens on cell phones. Belly rings, glitter. Rows upon rows of plastic made-in-China toys.. Screaming, demanding children "I want thhhhhat!!!!!" All of this, topped off at the checkout, with racks of magazines of scantily clad women, and Paris Hilton worship. Did I mention the non-verbal cashier? I leave most stores as if they were on fire.

I won't even talk about the "keeping up with the Jones's" plague.

How am I going to raise my daughter to be a lady, in this society?

In a society where bad girls are good....and good girls are.. weird.

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I have been doing a lot of self examination lately. How I dress. How I speak. What I say. How I react to things.

I know everything I do, my little ones are watching. My daughter is watching.

And I know, that more is caught, than taught.

Summer Fun
This is what my boys have been up to lately. Fishing, fishing, and more fishing.

(above) Jackson, 9, with his biggest bass ever, his Daddy, and Tess in the background.

(above) Austin, 7, with his biggest bass, and a bunch of tough-guys!!!

(above) Adrian, 4, with the Petersons kitty, doing what he does best.

And, last but not least...my kiddo's with Emma, dear friend, and babysitter extraordinaire. Kinda looks like a mug shot. :)

Wordless Wednesday

A very special thank you to my dear friend that gave me my brand new digital camera yesterday!! Love ya!

No go.

I spent the perfect end of summer day in Chicago trying to coax Andrea into labor. But at the end of the evening we decided, or shall I say her baby decided, that it was not the day. But the day was not wasted, I learned so much, and we had the best Moroccan dinner downtown.

The kids had an awesome time...and Austin (age 7) caught a huge bass. He was so proud. :)

Can anyone tell me how to get pictures from email (from my camera phone) to my computer?? Apparently I'm an idiot.

Maybe today is baby day..............

Labor Day

I have already had the BEST weekend. My sister was here for 3 days, and we had the best time catching up, and chasing kids. I regret not using her camera, and stealing some pictures for my blog. Not much I can do about it now that she is on a plane.

Another dear friend of mine, Brooks (and her kids) were in town from Virginia for the weekend. It was nice visiting with her, even if it was only for an hour. (By the way Brooks, you look fabulous!)

I have a wonderful Labor Day picnic planned for this afternoon, complete with dear friends waiting for us. But, it's LABOR DAY. A first time momma in Chicago is anxiously awaiting the birth if her first child, and plans to "take something" to get things going this morning. I wish she would just wait for nature to take it's course...but I also know the 10-months-pregnant feeling. So I am waiting for the call from my senior midwife.

My poor, poor children (kidding) will probably miss the picnic (Daddy is working making the big-holiday bucks). Assuming I leave for the birth in Chicago, they will spend an afternoon at their very favorite place. The Peterson's, who have a beautiful house on a lake, where they get to do their very favorite things..fishing, and tubing. I know that as soon as they get out of bed I will hear that familiar "has that lady went into labor yet or what???" because they are ready to go. (Thank you Emma for giving me a wonderful place to take them when I go to births, I love and appreciate you so very much!!!! I also appreciate the love and care you give Savannah while I'm away.)

Have a wonderful and safe holiday! :)