Please stop dressing your daughters like tramps. Harsh. I know. But, I am serious. These 11 year old girls are not buying their own clothes. WE are responsible for short shorts, and padded bras. WE ARE. I have sons and daughters. I can see this argument from every angle, and it keeps coming back to this. The  HEART.  Where is your daughter’s heart ? Does she idolize the young women she sees in the media ? Or does she know about modesty, and why we practice it ? Does she get her worth from the stares of boys her age, and men older than her, or does she consider Jesus her beloved ? No matter what your belif system, or faith…Moms you have a responsibility to teach your daughter the ins and outs of not just style, but morals, and how they fit into dressing in todays world. Dads, you have the very REAL job of showing your daughters what a boyfriend/husband should look like. Are you constantly making sexual references in front of your kids ? Do you talk about weight, and looks ?? Stop it. Start choosing your words wisely. Cherish your wife in front of your daughter, and your sons, for that matter. Be a walking example , a talking example…you may be the only one they get. 

               There is nothing sadder than an 11 year old girl in a miniskirt, padded bra, and tank top, with eyeliner circling her beautiful eyes. If you look a little deeper, what you see is a little girl begging for someone to notice her, find her funny, tell her she is worth something. Parents, mommies…..please, take notice. Time is slipping away.

 I had the privilege this week of…..GIRLS NIGHT !!! I am always green with envy when I hear other people say, it’s girls night out. I don’t have girls. And I most certainly, do not have girls night out. Until this past week. Mrs. Littleson, Erin, if you’re nasty (ha ha), invited me out to the Lazy Goat, and Centre Stage. We ate seafood paella and fried goat cheese( ridiculous), and then we saw Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels. It was amazing. I got out of these four walls, away from these people, for just a little while… I was a girl. And I was out. It was awesome. But now, man child has squished lion boy’s head in the door. And so it goes. On and on. Or so it seems.

  I am still working on my list of 1000 moments that I am thankful for. Tonight seems to be centered around more of the ugly beauty moments. In case you are not familiar, it goes a little something like this…dishes in the sink, because we are too busy to think, Isaiah losing his mind, and yet in that very loud moment, I was still able to hear my shepherd’s voice gently telling me to slow down, selfishness and the recognition of it. Even in these things, the hard things…there is beauty, and something to be thankful for. I have time. Sweet time, days and nights of beautiful moments, and ugly-beautiful moments, and for that I am grateful. Mostly, I am grateful that today is done, and tomorrow will be new. There is something really powerful about KNOWING that you are in a test, right when you are IN IT.

Notepad open. Well on my way to listing 1000 moments of gratitude. It’s a project in thanksgiving. LIVING in thanksgiving, LEARNING in thanksgiving. Not for things really, but for moments. My pen, my paper…made holy, in this giving thanks. Every moment offered up. It’s bringing  me joy, and the gratitude is filling me up. Excerpts from the list, simple things….the dirt under blue eyed girl’s fingernails, says to me that she is still a little girl, and lion boy’s lips soft and sweet on mine this morning, man child’s sweaty hair after soccer, washing dishes by hand…just to feel the soapy goodness on my hands, like a mini calgon moment. Just a few moments that I am so grateful for. Not the things…the moments. I am naming the moments, and in that giving them life. Joy is in thanksgiving.

  Last night I went into Isaiah’s room for our bedtime ritual, prayers, snuggling, a song , or two. How many nights have I done this ? How many nights have I rushed through it selfishly ? How many times have I wondered how long it would go on ? He is 9. Last night I turned out the light, and my baby said, I want to go to bed like Adam does. What ? I asked what he meant, and he said,  “don’t lay down with me, just say goodnight “.  And so began a night of self-pity, and sadness for the routine, that a day before, I had been complaining about.

                                        It’s morning now, and I am saying goodbye to the sadness, and hello to the grateful heart that I have for all the nights Isaiah and I snuggled, prayed, and sang songs. Did I not rub his silky skin a thousand times ? Thank you God for that . And did I not kiss his neck a thousand times ? Thank you God for that. Did I not use his questions, and insights to meet up with you Father a thousand times ? Thank you for that, and thank you for all the new ways that I will know Isaiah, this baby of mine, that I grew….I want to enjoy every minute, so help me Lord. Give me a grateful heart for each of my children as they grow bigger. I have so much to be thankful for.

But just like anything else, its has it’s downside. The mud, for example. The wet grass, and the way my dogs smell when they come in from it. Even so, the end result of all this wet will be glorious. A  fresh start, greener than green, flowers blooming, that I will swear I’ve never seen. I love Fall, in an all out, loud kind of way, but Spring keeps me alive. She (obviously, a she…) sneaks up on me when I am cold, and pale, and breathes life and color into me again ! And so I say…let it rain.

I woke up jolly this morning. It was a shock for my husband, and sadly, a departure from the norm. There was no explanation. Just felt lighter, loved, and peaceful. We all got ready for church, Belle was dancing this morning. Alll was going so well. Too well. Five minutes before time to leave there was a skirmish, a hiccup, a bump in the road. Isaiah had a full blown melt down. Needless to say, the state of my jolly was threatened. I took adam, and belle, and we went to church. Without Thomas, and Isaiah. I hate that, but it was not the end of the world. Got to church, and found out just where exactly, my jolly had come from !! The Lord doesn’t want me to feel weighed down every minute of my life, it is NOT his intention for me to walk around in a constant state of fear about my kids, and the choices that they are making. He wants me to CHOOSE LOVE, and that is making me jolly. Pretty simple. We’ll see, but so far my jolly has been more valuable to me than chocolate, so watch out…I’m guarding it with my life people. I am loved, and I have a song, one that is mine, and mine alone…it’s a little rough around the edges, and I am still working on resolving the dissonance, but…I am loved, so for now, I can just….relax.

    In this case, that word…hiatus, does not mean rest. It means – self imposed break from writing due to the extreme situations in all areas of my life. Careers, kids, health…all have been tested, and compromised over the past 6 weeks. I am coming back. But there has been wreckage, and I am still cleaning it up. I will give you a peek. Let’s start with careers…the construction business has been draining the life out of my husband, bleeding him, if you will. The upside to that is that his creative juices are flowing….AGAIN. He is building beautiful farm tables that the average American family can afford. Really, I think its brilliant. A piece of furniture in your home made by an artisan, each table numbered, and original. The Lord has really planted a seed in him, the desire to make something with his hands, to CREATE. His website is under construction( thanks to a super genius friend). I will let you know when the site for RELIC SALVAGE CO. com is up and running.

                                      My so called career ?? STALLED. I have one party in April, and I am so greatful for that. I am dissappointed in the fact that so many women DESPISE home parties. Its a choice to work, and still be with my kids, that’s all. So when you are thinking about updating your jewelry wardrobe for Spring, think about Lia Sophia, and think about…ME.

                       We all had the flu, except Thomas. Adam had strep throat, and the flu at the same time. It was rough. Thought we would never leave the house again. Thought I would never fix my hair, or wear makeup again. I was down for about 10 days. Big doctor bills.  We made it through that, just to get another ear surgery for Isaiah, one tube in, adnoids out. Sounded simple, took 20 minutes, but they found a problem in the other ear. That means ANOTHER surgery, longer, more complicated….can you say FRUSTRATED ? I want my baby boy to have some peace. Hell, I want some peace, too. The kind that passes all MY OWN understanding.

                          We are on the upswing. I promise. My house is still a wreck, but the blinds are open. And thats a step forward. There is more to say, but I will save it for another day.

Not everyone sees things the same way. Not everyone hears things the same way either. Isaiah, in particular. My youngest son HEARS  you yelling at him, even when you aren’t. He HEARS me speaking very harshly, even when I’m not. He FEELS unwanted a lot of the time. And that makes me broken hearted, a lot of the time.  I am getting to the bottom of this. Having my head on the ground is the most productive thing I can do right now. Isaiah isn’t perfect…he blurts things out that are not politically correct, he isn’t the most flexible kid in the world either, the word no sends him into a tailspin. But He is mine. My baby.

                                  All of the kids have been sick. First, Adam had strep, then Belle got the crazy coughing, fever virus, then Adam got that, now Isaiah has it. When Isaiah takes motrin, and his fever goes down, he REFUSES to believe that he is still sick. And after an extremely long day, stomach x-ray…2 hour wait, sorry…I couldn’t fight with him anymore. Adam had been down at the neighbors (didnt take his phone, even though I reminded him twice), and so Isaiah wanted to go too. I said no, and I said no, and no again…and then I gave in. SORRY. Adam hasn’t been fever free for 24 hours, so I guess he shouldn’t have gone either. I can’t think about it anymore right now.  I hear my boys talking and eating, all sadness, forgotten….Thank you Lord that Isaiah can move on from getting his feelings hurt, he is really getting better at that. Now help me. Love me to you.

I am in the thick of planning my Lia Sophia loves Amelia Cone event. At times, I have doubted myself. I was right to do so…..on my own, I get overwhelmed, anxious, and insecure. Thankfully, I am not on my own. The Lord is with me, every step of the way. And I am encouraged, and excited at the prospect of furthering HIS KINGDOM ! Amelia is 17 months old, and has been through more medical procedures than I, at 37, have . Not only that, her mom, Jenny is a source of GREAT inspiration to me. She started out as Isaiah’s second grade teacher, she did not give up on him, even when he was screaming, and fighting, and refusing to come into the classroom. Jenny was strong, and gentle at the same time. After watching her walk through this hard time with her precious baby girl, I know….STRONG and GENTLE, that is her character. I just want to help her out….and so the Lia Sophia loves Amelia Cone party came to be ! Today, pammythecakelady agreed to DONATE the cupcakes for the party !! I love a generous spirit. This event is going to be fun. Jewelry, cupcakes, and most importantly a community helping out.

the event is Wednesday February 16th, at my home. It’s a drop in from 6-8. If you would like to come please email me for directions. If you can’t come, but still want to help out, you can order some great jewels online at www.liasophia.com/angiewirthlin the February special is buy 2 pieces at reg price, and get 2 at half price ! Make the 2 most expensive items your half off…how great is that ??  ok, think on that. What can YOU do ?

  here she is, she is a little bigger than this now. A mover, and a shaker, enjoying all the things that a little princess should. I am hoping and praying for a miracle for Amelia, but until then….lets do what we can to make the days a little easier ! The Cones fly to Philadelphia for treatments, they are about to run out of their donated SKY MILES, I am hoping that the proceeds from this event will help ! Thank you.