Author: Blog-admin

On Sunday, Tatum, again, helped with Arabella. She is a sweet 4 year old with down’s, and Tatum was her guardian/shadow the whole Sunday class.

I love watching how nurturing and loving Tatum is.

It’s not an easy job at all! Many times, I had to help reel Arabella back from running away. Tatum modeled kindness and love.

I’m inspired by my child! She is so special! AND CHOSEN for such great things. Thank you for loving on Arabella so much like Jesus.

It was time for the Mommy to get a haircut. The Big M and some unwanted health drama is not kind to hair. AND not coloring it for a few weeks, well, you get the drift. Time for a change!
Brandy again to the rescue.

AND, HHH and I had a chance to go to dinner (it’s been EONS!), so we got all dressed up. ….well, dressed up, that is, from our loungies.

Close up!
Isn’t he cute?

But it wouldn’t be a perfect evening if the TOT didn’t get in the pic.

My family is the B.E.S.T!

Tatum still has the biggest heart on the inside, but on the outside? It’s been changing this week!!
Why? Well, first, her school has SPIRIT week. She was to dress up as a character, and she chose the famous RIO! Yep, folks, her little birdie.

We headed to Michael’s for supplies, and with her creative brain, Daddy’s glue gun and fabric drawing skills, she had a masterpiece of bird look.

Wings and all. Now go fly to school, little one!

Then there was WESTERN Day. Heeeeeeehaw!

Finally, DECADE DAY! WE have a love for the 70’s ONLY because of the jeans and flowers. It’s all about the flarey jeans and those cute sunflowers. PEACE DUDE.

Ok, now, let’s talk about Halloween. Most kids: A witch, a cat, a dog, a dragon, a princess…ya know, the usual kid costumes. Tot? She’s a history buff, and she really wanted to delve into pioneer times. Enter: Laura Ingalls.

Whatcha think Mama? Ain’t she PERTY?

I think so!

Daddy, Pa’d up and took her around. He’s such a great protector. XXOO

At least no one would DARE steal her candy! HA!

Tot, I love your many looks; I especially like when we match for church with your new do… You are precious in our sight, love bug.

Kinda grateful! We got published again.

The three of us love to write together.

Remember the analogy of the frog placed in warm water. You slowly increase the temperature of the water, and he barely notices the change. It’s very subtle. However, eventually, he boils to DEATH. Yes, death. That, sadly, is what is happening to our world.
Oh, do I sound like an old fuddy duddy? Probably! But, I’m fine with that.

You see, you cannot escape the message that “you have to accept how we live” even if it is against God’s ways. But then if you say, “God ordained marriage to be between a man and a woman,” you are called a hater and a bigot. If we as Christians don’t accept one’s lifestyle, are we really hating them? Or are they hating us because we have a value system based on a rock solid truth. A truth based on how one feels is not a truth at all. So, throughout our culture now, if two women want to get married, we should just say, “OK, no big deal…they love each other.” True…they do love each other, but it still is not the way God intended. It’s ALL OVER media (TV shows, movies, social media)….women have wives and men have husbands. It’s just part of all the shows and movies now as if it were “normal.”

Case in point. CHILDREN’S BOOKS….

You heard me.

Tatum is reading a book right now that she saw at Barnes and Noble; it’s part of a series, and it seemed pretty harmless.

It was at her level, so I had no problem her buying it. Well, today, she was reading Chapter four, and she STOPPED MID PARAGRAPH.

Tatum: I’m not reading this book anymore.

Me: Why? What’s wrong with it.

Tatum: The librarian has a wife.

Me: The librarian is a man probably.

Tatum: Nope, read.

And there it is: Mrs. Havener, the librarian is very proud of her “wife’s” knitting.

Just subtly put within the paragraph. Any kid would read this and not think twice…just “normal.” That is what society is doing…normalizing this. Next thing you know, it’s just part of the way things are, and we just accept it.

Tatum, I’m so proud of your principles. I had nothing to do with your decision to stop reading this book.

May the frog be removed from the water! Help. us. Lord.

(Names of friends have been abbreviated due to privacy issues)

Tatum has two bosom buddies this year: F and K. (Actually, it started out with 3: F, K, and J) J changed her mind a week ago because she didn’t find them cool enough apparently.

These other two girls are truly kind, and they all like to read. Also, they do not seem to care that they are not “cool.” J, from the past, goes from friend group to friend group looking to “fit in.” (More of a follower according to Tatum). However, Tatum really likes J and misses her being a part of the threesome.

Also, there is a “cool” group (Tatum calls them the “E” group), and they have been known to gossip, tease, and exclude. However, Tatum is still kind to all of these girls. Just yesterday, J approached Tatum and wants to still be friends, but J doesn’t want K to be in their group. Dilemma for Tatum because she wants all to be together. AND..to put more salt on the wound, The “E” group wants to be friends with Tatum now. It’s a typical middle school tale of fickleness and exclusivity.

Tatum got in the car and said she wants to be in the “E” group and also with F and K. OH. Gosh, how to navigate

Well, Tatum and I usually read at night, but tonight, she wanted to talk. How can she be friends with both groups at the same time!?
YOU CAN!

But, do you have to hang out with all the girls? No. You are kind to all, but you have trust with only one or two.

We put F and E side by side. I asked her a series of questions: The “E” friends…Ok, yay! you have all of these fun cool friends! Then there’s F and K. You have what? Oh, comfort, loyalty, laughter. Let’s say, you are having a bad day, or you need a hug, or you have some trouble and you need support. Who is there?
OH, that is OBVIOUS! F! (and K too). Well. There. you. go. The “E” friend or E run…they run when you need them and then talk about you behind your back.

She then ran out of the room and grabbed some mini-journals. She said,
“I WANT TO START A GROUP AND BE THE LEADER: ANYONE CAN JOIN> Here are the rules:”

Ok;
ALSO< she ran and retrieved her BIBLE and found these two FOUNDATIONAL VERSES for which the group will be based:

She made a journal for K and one for F. She is going to present the journal to each girl tomorrow to see if they want to be a part. Then anyone can be in it.

Tatum and I discussed what is a LEADER today on the way to school.

LEADERS ARE NOT bossy, but influence others by serving and listening. They are kind and include all. People want to be around them (like Jesus) since they are no domineering.

Ok, Tatum take it away. Praying for courage and kindness.

XXOO Stay tuned for the Friend Report. (it’s a wild web we weave in the friend department when it comes to girls. I’ve been there and done that, and I’m ready to guide you, girl. Just stay true to YOU and to what God would want and WHO HE wants you to be).

AMEN.

She wanted to go shopping to buy lip gloss, and for her birthday, she wants a purse. (so she can carry all the necessary items: Books, lip gloss, journal, pens, crayons….ok, not probably not those anymore…heeheee) Also, earrings are important now.

She also asked when boys start noticing girls. winkwink

Questions abound! The little QT pie is growing up. So we went to Walgreen’s to peruse. Yes, peruse the “starter” lip glosses. These would be “Wet n Wild” because they are like $2.99. The “expensive” ones are like $14. This is Walgreen’s expensive. This is not “Nordstrom” expensive. Those MAC lipsticks are starting in the $30’s. Aye!

She is so pretty. And, she’s the kind of pretty she doesn’t know she’s so pretty. This is the more dangerous kind of pretty because of her humility.

Strap your seatbelts, folks. The 11’s are upon us!