…my you know whats! Anyway, this post is for the girls so if there are any guys who read…just ignore.

I’m on the hunt for another swimsuit that will cover my areas…particularly upper body and my mummy tummy…that I still have…after almost a whole year…yeah, I know! Being picky, I would also like one that covers the stretch marks on my upper legs…yeah, I know not everyone gets them, but I do.

See, here’s the deal. I have a daughter and with her has come the realization that I am created in God’s image and that He would prefer for me to be covered and not allow anyone to sin. That does not mean, to me, that I should walk around covered from head to toe…it does mean, for me, that my chest and rear should not be sticking out. However, finding clothes like that is so hard. I’m learning, slowly, to layer (I feel like I’m going to look like a doof if I do it wrong…and believe me I can). I’m hoping that I can set a good example for Zoe (and for the boys and what they are looking for in a mate).

Back to the swimsuit ordeal. I love the Land’s End Swim Minis…they cover and have cute skirts and they look nice on. The cost, however, I don’t like. Here’s the deal with Land’s End, though…. Check out their overstocks. About three years ago when I was lucky enough not to need a maternity swimsuit (how rare does that happen), I found a skirted swimsuit (I believe it was a Swim Mini) in their outlet/overstock for under $25! No joke. And it still looks great.

So, I have one nice, stylish, cute swimsuit but I’m in need of another because we are planning on going swimming multiple times a week and wearing a wet swimsuit over and over just does not sound appealing…or healthy.

I struck out Saturday as I went to a couple of stores (read–I was in tears because I couldn’t find one that fit or covered). I plan on going to a few more this weekend and if I don’t find any, I’ll look at purchasing one from one of these websites (for anyone else on a never ending, unsuccessful swimsuit search here’s my list):
Land’s End (again…overstocked/on sale swim minis!)
Modbe (these are really pricey, but since I can wear the same swimsuits every year, the price is worth it for modesty and durability and will pay for itself in two years)
Diviine Modesty (about the same price as Modbe…these are both great because you can buy skirts to match and mix and match…meaning multiple purchases over the years gives you a nice variety…I also love how long these tops are…and the fabrics are really cute…they have girls swimsuits for $39 which is not bad)
Lime Ricki Swimwear (I stumbled on this site from google and like the fun fabrics and options of skirts…these are also the cheapest. I’m a little leery because the bottoms look a little low waisted…meaning my mummy tummy would stick out or be bumpy. I favor a high waisted bottom to help suck in my stretched belly…yeah, I know it’s gross but I’m trying to honest here)

And there is my modest swimwear list. I know there are several others, but the styles seem a bit to the extreme and outdated to me…These all have cute and what, in my opinion is stylish (which isn’t saying much, I know dear friends) swimsuits.

If you subscribe to my blog through Google…then click on it and check out my new header/makeover.

I’m not that great with figuring out html, so I have to “jerry rig” my blog. Here’s how I did it:
1. Select the most basic templates-Minima (this is all in blogger)
2. In a publishing program or other program create the header you want. I went to computerscrapbook.com, picked out a digital kit I liked and then order it…maybe four dollars total. Then I used all the paper, elements, and other things with the kids pics to put it together.
3. I then copy and pasted it into a photo editor program to resize it. I had to resize it to 700 pixels (on one side the other side was kept in proportion to the resized size) to get it to fit correctly.
4. Back to blogger: go to the layout. Click on page elements. You can then click on edit in the title. Choose to put a picture in and use the picture in place of the blog title (if you put your title in your header design…which I highly suggest to make it look right).
5. You can then go to “fonts and colors” in your template and change all the fonts to fit your new header.

Voila! Or you can call me and I’ll be glad to do it here with you…our kids can have a playdate while we immerse ourselves in blogworld!!

VBS is done and I am so relieved! I believe we’ll be taking a break from the whole family being involved in the ordeal (or at least just let Zoe go) next year!

Mark and I have decided that since Mother’s Day is NOT in the Bible, that we can switch it to whatever day works for us. Sunday’s are really hard to take time out and actually honor each other and the jobs we do as moms and dads. For example, last Mother’s Day I had a MOPS Steering Team meeting and Mark and I had nursery that night. Now it just so happens there was a “special” called meeting that night for church and it did not end for three hours. I was pregnant, achy and tired by the time it ended. Oh, and did I mention that Mark had sound that day and night so I didn’t even get to see him except for the couple hours between services (which he usually does on Mother’s day and Father’s day). Needless to say, we decided to change our celebration day since our church doesn’t really want Mother’s (well, at least this mother) to have the day off.

Mark and I just realized that we were going to switch the days just now, so tonight, since MOPS was over today and Josiah has decided that screaming and yelling is a lot more fun than taking a nap, we are going out to eat! Mark is giving me Saturday to scrapbook and then we’ll head over to hear a free concert by our city’s symphony (which is an awesome concert)…which if it rains, will be held at our church…which means that when Mark has to do sound on Sunday he’ll have to get there extra early! Yet another good reason to not celebrate on Sunday.

Just thought I’d share…

In light of what I posted yesterday, I wanted to relate two comments I’ve heard this week.

First off, I was at the grocery store yesterday and a lady came back, looked at me with my brood, and said the typical, “Are they all yours?”

I was waiting for the sarcastic look and scoff when I said, “Yes ma’am.”

She smiled bigger and said, “Oh, you are so blessed!”

Ahhh, what a sweet comment, and always needed in light of the other comments and stares I’ve received in the past.

In contrast, at church tonight, I had the kids out on the playground before they went to class. A mom of three and I were discussing tattle telling (a ever growing problem around here lately) and a grandmother had her two grandchildren out there and chimed in.

“I’m glad I only had one. I always thought I wanted nine until after the first birth and I said no way, not again, do whatever you need to do to keep it from happening again.”

Now, I don’t know exactly what her situation was with her first birth, but I felt really sad for her. And like I was wrong for my sweet blessings! I know that I am truly blessed with my children and can’t wait to see how many more children God will bring into our lives, through adoption, through our children, and however else! They are true blessings and I love seeing their innocence, their sweetness, and even their sinful natures, as they try to be more like me, and hopefully more like Christ.

In The Message Bible, it translates Psalm 127:3 as saying, “Do you not know that children are God’s best gift?”

I think sometimes it’s easy to forget that. They are the best gift despite all the whining, diapering, snot wiping, and, yes, even tattle telling. Then, I read or see how some mothers and fathers have to struggle because they are losing their best gift. Or their best gift struggles to catch up with his/her peers…wow! My children are my best gift. I pray it doesn’t take losing them to see what a gift they are. I am reminded daily as I pray for our minister and his wife, what a blessing…what a gift, my children are. Thank you for my gifts!

I love you Babe! Thanks for putting up with me these 11 (almost 12) years! You are a light and such an example of Christ to me and the kids. Thank you for sharing your dreams with me and being patient to entertain mine!

I love you for Everything you are to me…oh, in the video, substitute “man” for “woman”!

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your Bride