I'm a horrible person

I apologize. I apologize. I apologize. Wow I was just going through some old blog posts (again facing the cold hard reality that I have BARELY blogged lately due to increase in life activity!) and realized I had blogs that SAID I would continue posting on them such as my December "Spread the Love" quest which I only posted FOUR days worth! Again: I apologize!

I really am too busy to keep up with my blog the way I really wish I could. And it's sad because man I have some incredible post ideas that never make it to pen and paper...um excuse me keyboard and computer screen. So today I just apologize. I will attempt to stop making posts that I must follow up on because let's face it I've been like Bob the Builder this last year - starting all kinds of new blog posts and adventures and not being able to finish ANY of them! well maybe a few, but most no.

But let's be serious, if you are a wife, a mother, a youth pastor, and well just a woman in general you often get overwhelmed and overextend yourself. Or maybe it's just me. But I really think not. However I did accomplish something I'm very proud of last year and that was that I completed Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Challenge to memorize 24 verses in 2011. And with increased hours at work, increased hours my kids are at school and just life I think often of the first 8 verses I memorized last year -they made up Psalm 121 in it's entirety. So if you feel overextended and under accomplished today may these verses comfort you too.

Psalm 121
"I raise my eyes toward the mountains, where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip, Your protector will not slumber. Indeed the protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The Lord protects you, the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm, He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever."

(and yes I typed it from my memory so if a couple words are off I apologize)

It has come at last...

About 38 minutes ago I had the first "I want to cut my own hair" experience with one of my children. It skipped by my first child thankfully but sure enough it had to happen. Here is the 3 year old culprit:

She is showing you the hair that she cut (thankfully that was it!!) and her look explains the talkin-to she got before the photo op. And here is the beautiful lock forever lost.

And where did this thought come from? Who is to blame?? THIS FOUL CREATURE:

Yes. Who knew a Chia Pet could be so dangerous! Seriously why don't they put THAT on the warning label? (I'm not serious, in case you are wondering.)

So I warn you: BEWARE THE EFFECTS OF A CHIA PET!!

Bod Squad Petition

Being a youth pastor's wife I keep up with christian organizations that put out product relating to teens. One of them is the Pure Freedom and Secret Keeper Girl. In an email I received this week they informed us of a petition that they will present to the fashion industry on making young girls clothes age-appropriate and modest! I have copied and pasted the next few paragraphs from their website for you. I encourage you if you want to try and see the clothing industry change then please go sign this petition!!

TAKEN FROM SECRET KEEPER GIRL WEBSITE:

In 2009, Dannah Gresh and The Bod Squad (that’s you) will present a petition to both the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the Apparel and Footwear Manufacturer's Association. We hope that as a result Women’s Wear Daily, the global “bible” of the fashion industry, will cover the petition and tell the entire fashion world. Dannah has been interviewed twice by the magazine to discuss the industries marketing of sensual clothing to tweens. She has their ear, but she needs your support to send them a clear message.Will you join The Bod Squad?

It has been endorsed by New York Times Best-selling author Donna VanLiere, founder of Virtuous Reality Ministries Vicki Courtney, internationally known speaker and book author Leslie Ludy, co-host of “The Messenger” TV program Lisa Bevere, bestselling author, speaker, and nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist Shaunti Feldhahn, co-founder of FamilyLife Barbara Rainey, President/Founder of Moms In Touch International Fern Nichols, and Christian recording artist Stephanie Smith.

The Bod Squad Petition: We believe that the fashion industry is pressuring little girls to grow up too fast! The findings of two years of study by an APA (American Psychological Association) task force state that clothing, which makes girls appear older, and the associated marketing efforts are linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression. Ironically, this early sexualization presented to young girls also has “negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop healthy sexuality.” We would like to request that industry leaders send a message to the fashion industry that mothers want to purchase age-appropriate clothing for our little girls and would like the fashion industry to evaluate the clothing they design and the messages they send to our daughters through advertising.

View the Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls http://www.apa.org/pi/wpo/sexualizationrep.pdf

Just click HERE, or the post title to sign the petition!