Walk for Life

The Lincoln Crisis Pregnancy Walk for Life is tomorrow!

I'm so excited to walk this year. In years past, I've wanted to participate but was usually gone or busy on the chosen weekend. So this year I put in on the calendar way early. I am finding that we're still busy this year and as I think ahead to tomorrow, I'm a little overwhelmed by the full day we have planned. But this is a very worthy cause. I think I can sacrifice some sleep. And it should be a beautiful day for a walk around the lake. So I think I might even get some exercise pushing 20+ pounds of stroller and my baby girl a couple miles.

I've always strongly believed in the sanctity of human life but since I've had my own baby girl the feeling has become personal. I absolutely 100% believe that Millie was a person from the moment of conception and it would have been murder for me to terminate my pregnancy at anytime. Each baby is a beautiful gift from God and should be treasured. This reality is something that is especially hard to accept when you're young and facing an unplanned pregnancy. The Center helps young couple make wise, Biblical choices about the future of their family.

If you want to walk or sponsor a walker, check out the details.

SSMT

June 1st! I'm nearing the halfway mark on bi-weekly scripture memorization for the year. Beth posted a very encouraging note today. This particular paragraph jumped out at me...
Part of how we stand firm is to know Scripture, and not with swollen heads but swollen hearts. One of the verses in my quiet time this morning was Psalm 119:57 – “The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.” (The NET Bible) One thing is certain: we are finding out how little security this anguishing planet can offer us. “The LORD is the source of security.” Personal. National. Global. Universal. The Lord alone. And, so, like never before, we need to know His instructions…and follow them.
What a beautiful verse! I'm amazed at how a different translation can sometimes bring a verse alive in a new way. Knowing that God is my security gives me confidence and determination to follow Him, even though it's hard and I get discouraged far too often. Do you have a verse that brings you determination?

I'm still working on my goal to memorize Proverbs 31. Though I admit I'm not doing as well as when I started, I'm am sticking with it!! And when I do take the time to meditate on my verse, I am challenged to put into practice the ways of this godly woman. Here's my memory verse for the next 2 weeks..
Proverbs 31:19-20
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

I Wish Wednesday

I WISH... I was at PiYo. Let's just say, this morning did not go as planned. J left early this morning, which is normal but Millie decided that meant she needed to be up too... at 6:45am. Daddy gave her a kiss and I gave her some books to keep her in bed until 7:30. Then began the struggle of breakfast. Apparently pancakes and nectarines weren't making her skirt fly up this morning. After a 1/2hr of sitting in her chair, she drank all her milk and threw her pancake on the floor. So I could a) clean her up and take her to the Y with basically no breakfast or b) sit and patiently help her eat. This good but slightly grouchy mama chose option B. PiYo is my favorite class each week so I'm bummed. I might have to just do what I remember here at home. I always feel so relaxed after this class!

I WISH... Millie would stay little forever some days. She's my little bookworm and I love reading to her.

I WISH... I had this Hartford Buffett in my dining room. Don't you just love dreaming about what you want in your house someday!? I do. We've only been in our house a few years, so we're still accumulating furniture. It can be expensive!! So we save for a while and then make a purchase. This baby is definitely on my list!

So this is my attempt at getting back into a blogging rhythm and bringing back I Wish Wednesdays.  Here's my first IWW post and why I choose 'wish'. What do you wish for this week?

30 New Do's

Just recently I ran across a great new blog at My Yellow Sandbox. The thing that really caught my eye is her new series '30 Do's in 30 Days'. Abby is doing a new hair do everyday for 30 days! Crazy awesome! She posts pictures and a video tutorial. 

 

I was so happy when I ran across this! I've had my hair this long (about mid back) since I got married almost 6 years ago. I've changed up the layers and bangs a little but it's stayed pretty much the same. Now I'm not the type of girl to keep her hair the same for this long but my hubby LOVES it! So it stays. I threaten every now and then to chop it all off. When Katie Holmes first chopped hers a few years ago, I really wanted that bob. But new layers and a fresh color kept me long. So I only have a few go to hair do's - down, ponytail, straight, curly, bun and sometimes a french braid. Boring. I am so excited to start trying these new do's! Here's my first attempt at the braided messy bun.

 

 Everyone warned me about those baby hairs. You  know. The ones you get post pregnancy when all that nice thick hair from the prenatal vitamins falls out and then starts growing in again. So especially on humid days, I get this nice halo of fuzz. Also, I think my french braiding needs some practice. This is what her more professional job looked like...

 I hope you pop over to My Yellow Sandbox and check out all the great do's!

SSMT

Proverbs 31:17-18 NKJV
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.  She perceives that her merchandise  is  good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

I am sad because I'm falling behind. I'm still picking my verses every couple weeks but I haven't memorized them as well as when I started. And I know I need to move forward and be committed! The verses I have committed to memory are sticking with me. They pop into my head when I need an encouraging reminder.

How do you re-energize yourself when you've fallen behind on a personal commitment?
What verses stick with you?

Reading Tab

After slowly updating my reading tab over the past weeks, I finally finished...

I like to read and often way too much! I can't tell you how often I stayed up till 2 am in high school because i just had to finish my book. I just couldn't put them down. If I was really desperate, I'd read the last couple pages and finish the book later. I still wanted to enjoy the story but knowing the ending brought me enough peace to sleep. Sadly I don't get to the library often enough. And when I do, I'm usually picking out books for Olivia. As a mother and housewife, my days of spending hours upon hours reading are few and far between. Now I do most of my skimming reading online via Google Reader. I usually find myself struggling to keep up with all the blogs I'm dying to read. Honestly I usually wait until I have a huge list of unread posts and then realize I need to clean house. But I end up with a nice core of favs!
Check out my core reading material right now or save it for a rainy day.

What do you enjoy reading these days? Blogs? Books? Tell me your favorites!

My not so Green Thumb

I am killing house plants right and left this week! Eeek! Here I thought the warmer weather meant that finally my plants would get more sunlight and warmth. Instead... DEATH.

Plant #1... my Heartleaf Philodendron

And yes I had to research to find that name. Do you really know all the weird names of your plants?!?
Now this lovely plant has been dubbed one of the most common house plants and easy to grow. I think that means it's pretty hard to kill - it takes talent. I have this. After 5 years, it's down to one very sad stem and a couple leaves. I noticed about a month ago that it wasn't looking the best. So I went to my go to fixes: regular watering, extra light and miracle grow. It still went downhill. Then just the other day, I left it outside for the day. You know, fresh air. It's good for kids and plants. Well I accidentally left it outside over night and it just might have been that night recently when we had frost warnings. So I think it's officially over for my poor Philo. RIP.

Plant #2... Aloe Vera

Yep I knew this one. I'm not completely brain dead when it comes to my plants. This is actually my second go around on Aloe plants. I have received 2 batches from Granny. She has a green thumb! But I apparently didn't inherit it. I started it in a small pot and when it started to droop, I re-potted it into a larger pot with some new soil. I think it's been struggling ever since. But I blame the final death stroke on Millie. Well sorta. This Aloe makes it's home on a nice bench in the sunlight in our kitchen. Sadly it's a the perfect height for Millie, so she's been pulling them out. I dug them back in and gave them a new home and some miracle grow. (It's my go to!) So I'm really hoping they'll still recover.

Plant #3... Christmas Cactus

I only know this one because I got it from my Granny and she has one that we compare notes on. Repetition will guarantee me remembering the name. This is my only plant that is thriving!! Yay! It doesn't get a many blooms as the picture but it is as full. I think we'll be ok until I have to re-pot it.

In the process of trying to help my poor plants, I ran across a new (to me) website. For your next plant emergency (or simple question) check out the Guide to Houseplants. Great advice and easy to find!