Adoption Fundraiser

Please visit my etsy shop (lower right side of your screen) if you are interested in my adoption fundraiser.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Feeling like a Fraud

Not the feeling I want this time of year.
So, we don't "do" Santa. My 5 year old knows that Santa is pretend and her gifts are already under the tree. The thing is though, when we are in public and some kind hearted soul asks my girl if she is ready for Santa, I freeze. I've taught my daughter what to say, but she is shy (like me) and doesn't speak to a lot of strangers. So, she looks to me to answer for her. She probably is also a little confused because an adult is asking her about Santa. But I can't spit the answer out either. I'm embarrased. I don't want some judging me in the way I raise my daughter. So, I just smile and nod. And get this:
MY DAUGHTER IS TOTALLY SEEING HOW WIMPY I AM BY NOT STANDING UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN!
How's that for good mothering?
I'm so glad I've realized this now so as not to ruin the heck out of my daughter in the future. Thank you Lord for showing this to me.
I have slowly started speaking the truth in love. And yes, elderly people look at me like I'm the devil. And yes, I feel guilty. But, I have stood up for what I believe in and my daughter will hopefully do the same when she is grown. Or not grown.
This whole Santa vs. No Santa has really gotten to me this year.
We did Santa when I was a child. As did my husband's family. But never once did we consider it for our girl. Weird huh? Same thing with homeschooling. My husband and I both went to public school. But never once did we consider anything else but homeschool when we had our baby. I feel like we were following the guidance of our Lord. Is it hard? Yeah. Do we sometimes feel like outcasts? A lot! Do we sometimes feel guilty for denying our daughter normal children's rite of passages? Sometimes. Do we get judged because of our choices? All the time. By people we love too. Hard, yeah.
But...does living for Christ mean being a radical in today's society? Yes it does. It's called going against the grain. Some people go against the grain for fun. Because they have the personality for it. They like to get people all roughed up with their difference. This isn't like that at all. We are not radicals by nature. But Jesus has called us to be radicals. To go against the grain. To be in the world, but not of it. To be intentional in the way we live.
Some examples:
I miss watching Grey's Anatomy. But I realized that it did not please Christ. Oh, it was hard to break away. Just like any other sin. But looking back, I can't remember what I was missing.
I was disgusted with Sesame Street this morning. They did a skit on "desperate houseplants." Sorry, not gonna expose her to something not so innocent. Even when she doesn't know what it means.
No Santa...we've already covered that.
Homeschool...."Don't you think your child needs some interaction?" Please, the world needs a new line.
Our family has a lot of issues to work on, but we are always striving to please Christ with everything we do an say.

Monday, December 14, 2009

A giveaway!

Not from me. Not yet at least.
www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com
I recently discovered this fun and charming website. And challenging. And a little thought-provoking. But still fun and charming. And she has great giveaways.
But seriously even without the giveaways, I always walk away with something to think about. I love it. Unless its something I don't want to think about. Like something hard. Or when I might need to change something about me. Thats not fun, but so worth it in the long run. This website rocks!
Check out her giveaway. Free clothes. But not just any clothes. Down East Basics. Check them out as well. www.downeastbasics.com
Modest clothing as great prices. And let me tell you, I'd give up my longtime dream of having an all Gap wardrobe for an all Down East Basic wardrobe anyday!
Head over there and enter. Or not. But do.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Fair Price

I am looking for input today as I think outloud...
I make a good quality tutu. My colors are vibrant and I care about what I do. My tutus are every little girls dream come true. And they are affordable.
I have wondered how in the world some sellers can price their item so low. Could it be that they get their materials for cheaper? Probably. But that means that the quality probably isn't as good. So, how do I compete? Do I just hope that someone will want quality over the other stuff?
Or could it be that they are not being paid for their labor? Yeah, I can charge $10 bucks over my material cost. But that means I'm averaging $5 an hour. I'm worth more than that.
You are worth more than that. My product is worth more than that.
So how do you price fair while being paid what your worth? I want this to be worth my time and effort. But I also want to make a sale.
Any thoughts?

Friday, December 11, 2009

The Doctor

Today was 5 yr checkup for the girl. It turned into a fiasco in the beginning with appt. mixups, but I think I handled it fairly well.
On our second visit 2 hours later, I had a chance to be a blessing to someone. Now, I love to look for opportunities to help others. Most of the time I'm so blind or not paying attention that I don't see the opportunities. But today I saw it. A mom to 2 toddlers and a newborn was in the waiting room with me. She was holding her fussy baby and her son was whining to be picked up. I got the impression (from what she was saying) that she needed to nurse and just couldnt with a clingy toddler. I got A LOT of courage up and went and asked the boy and his sister if they'd like to hear a story. They both agreed and the mother was overwhelmed with grattitude. I kept them busy for only 5 minutes until the nurse came for them. But I have a feeling that it was the best 5 minutes of that mother's day. She was able to pull out her cover up and feed her tiny baby.
I was thankful that God gave me the insight to do something nice for this mother. And I am thankful that I obeyed.
I am certainly not bragging on myself. 99% of the time I am so preoccupied that I don't see when I could help. Or I just brush it off thinking I don't have time, or just really don't want to come out of my comfort zone.
Try and look for one opportunity to help someone else this weekend. Ask the Lord to lead you. And then obey.
p.s. the smelling is normal.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Weird sense of smell

My daughter smells everything. I know its a phase, but still. I could probably follow her around with a camera and have you rolling for weeks.
Things she smells:
My hair
My skin
Her feet
Her hands (oh my gosh! nonstop)
Her clothes
Her socks
Daddy's clothes
Dog toys
My breath
Her breath
Daddy's breath
I seriously could go on and on.
She's 5. And relatively normal.
Please tell me she's going to outgrow this!?!

In other news: do you even care??
I want boots.
Comfortable boots.
I have money for boots. (a miracle)
I go to store to buy boots.
No boots. Ok, 1 pair of boots. Thats it. In the whole store. No boots in back room.
"Where are boots? Boots were here 6 days ago. I have money to buy boots. I have husband's blessing to spend money on boots."
"We ship boots to Maine."
"?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? No boots!"
"Its colder in Maine. They need boots."
"Huh?"
No boots for me today.

I just want a blog


Everyone else has one. I want one too.

I also wanted to show you my tutus. I make them. I sell them. Want to buy one?


I'll probably post about other things too. We'll see.