Travel, Play Dates and More...

This past weekend we headed to Asheville. I was helping host a shower for my friend. I decided to get crafty. I just can't pay people to make cute items anymore, I've got to do them myself. I have to admit it was a lot of fun. My father and Blake assisted me on the project with the circles and I did the stork bundles. I was just amazed at how much stuff Michael's has. I think this has generated a bug in me to be more crafty or atleast see what I can make. HA! Please note all of my friends were shocked!!! Here they are:

Before the shower I met my BF from highschool for a playdate at Mountain Lodge. I have to say I was so impressed with this place. It was clean, clean and clean!! They had an area just for four year old and under. Here Camp is playing with Harrison and just enjoying this new place:


While we were in Asheville, my husband wisked me away for a two night get away. My parents watched Camp for us. It was so nice to have Blake to myself and just get refreshed and enjoy each other:
On our way back, we stopped in at the Wee Trade Show in Asheville for clothes for Camp. It's consignment season and my calendar is marked!! Since the sale had been going on for days all the "good" boys clothes were gone. We did purchase Camp's beach and swimming attire for the Summer. I'm pretty much done buying toys for Camp. His birthday is coming up and he'll get plenty. BUT, I did want him to get a walk and ride toy so he could practice walking. Check out his new ride/pet:
Like everything, all good things must come to an end. Back to the daily grind:

Lil Gifts

On Valentine's Day Camp received his first Valentine FROM A GIRL!!! My heart dropped! If you know me, you know I'm very dramatic-HA! My thoughts ran like 15 years into the future and I thought about him having a...dare shall I say it...girlfriend. GASP! There's something about a mama's love for her little boy and I'm just not ready to share that quite yet or shall I say I'm not ready for anyone else to be his Valentine but ME!!!
Camp surprised me with this lil craft. The MDO workers said he loved having his feet dipped in paint.

Fun/Flexible Fridays

I've decided that Fridays are either fun Fridays, where Camp and I do whatever, or they are flexible Fridays, where we are packing and getting ready to travel/beat the Chattanooga 5pm traffic (or shall I say 3pm).

This past Friday was FUN and below was our day:

Camp was excited to wake-up. He decided to stand by himself, clap and smile!!!
It was time to go work out and it looks like Camp was ready to play baseball. Off to The Rush we went.
Camp received mail! A Valentine gift from my Aunt Rinda. He got a stuffed dog bigger than him.
Camp decided to help with the dishes. Might I add this is his new favorite thing to do.
Time for rest on his Valentine's gift!

Just a closer look at cuteness!! If you are like me, you just want to eat those cheeks!!

Leading our Children

A speaker visited our church from NC (yeah). He is the youth pastor at Providence Baptist Church. His name is Steve Wright. He provided parents a lecture on “Leading Your Child toward Authentic Faith.” Being at home more has really shown me that my mission field is my home and my children. To me this lecture was mesmerizing and I was so enthralled. Therefore, I must share.

I thought I would share some of my notes and words out of the pamphlet he provided us. The purpose of the pamphlet is as parents, we need to rediscover what saving faith is. This will consider the parents’ role, salvation and what Jesus Himself taught concerning children. I’ll do this in sections. First section is “A Biblical Understanding for Parents.”

Unfortunately, many parents feel anxious or unqualified to lead their children to Christ. Therefore, many parents leave the salvation of their children to the church. Hands down, it’s not the Church’s responsibility. Parents have the spiritual responsibility for their child’s soul. Parents will be held accountable!

“What does my child need to know and do to be truly saved?” Fortunately, the answer to this question is not found in the opinions of man or in the ever-shifting tide of cultural trends. The answer is found in scripture. The Bible proclaims over and over the stories of God rescuing and redeeming man unto himself. Christian parents can rest in the promise of the Gospel: Christ has rescued them from darkness to light, and this promise is also available to their children, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off.” Acts 2:39

A better understanding of salvation and knowing what the Bible teaches concerning your children and your role as a parent will give you biblically-centered confidence. In the midst of personal doubt, fear and confusion, parents can have confidence. That’s good news!

To me this part just spoke volumes. I do feel that many parents leave it up to the church to lead their children to Christ. As parents, do we have all the answers to to the questions our children will ask us...no. Without a shadow of a doubt we know the Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us. No matter what-our kids will treasure what we treasure i.e. If we love UT football, they will love UT football. Parents are so impressionable on their children. We hold a great power. Our Children will ultimately love what we love. We must be on guard for our children's souls are at stake. We must walk the talk!

Next time the section will be on Salvation. To hold you over, here's what I see every morning:

The Show Must Go On

We had an interesting weekend. Friday Camp and I attended our first Play Date at Pump it Up. Camp liked the inflatable play items, but the bigger kids almost trampled him constantly. He loved bouncing up and down when they ran around him. Pump it Up had rubber balls. He loved playing with the balls and rolling them around. We stayed for an hour and then it was nap time for sure.

We left Friday for Springfield to visit Granna and Pop. Since Blake and I don't live near any of our folks we really don't get date nights that often. We try to make date nights when we visit Springfield and Asheville. We decided that we were going to experience the Grand Ole Opry. Charlie Pride, Little Big Town and Diamond Rio were some of the artists for the radio show when we were there. It's so awesome that it's a live radio show/concert. The tradition is just amazing!

Well Saturday morning Blake and I were both sick. We both had strep throat. I'm thinking I caught it at the play date and passed it on. Luckily, Camp seems fine. This was my first time being sick with a child. Like the Grand Ole Opry the show must go on. I learned that mom is still a mom even when she's sick. I was fortunate to have Granna and Pop there to assist with Camp.

Strep throat was not going to keep Blake and me from going on our date. There's nothing stopping us from having a date when we can!!!

Facebook and Social Networking

(Before I begin to ramble, I’ve really felt called to share the gospel and edify women more on my blog than I currently do. I have a heart for women and the struggles we all endure. My hope and prayer is that God will use me to help encourage and build up women to be great mothers, sisters, wives and friends. There are some who read my blog, I don’t know and others I do know. Please be prepared that I’m going to do more chatting in the midst of life as a Startup.)

It seems I have a “Love, Hate,” relationship with Facebook. I mean I’ve jumped on it and off of it like three times. This past time, I got back on it to see pictures of my friends kids. BUT what I’ve come quickly to realize is that I’m not missing anything. I guess in reality I thought I was missing out. BUT I’m not.

Since I got back on Facebook, I’ve just felt uneasy in my spirit. Last night, I received my confirmation about my spirit. I’m currently going through Beth Moore’s new study called James. She brought up Facebook and social networking. She talked about how she is not on Facebook for she has an addictive personality. That would not be good for her soul. She just tweets. She also said that if you’re involved in social networking and not for godly purposes or the “right/correct” purposes then you shouldn’t be social networking. It was something to that effect. On Facebook, as she mentioned, people can paint whatever picture they want of their lives, true or not true dictation of their lives. The person on the other end believes what they see and that’s where trouble begins.

Now don’t get me wrong here. I think there are people who use Facebook for what it is suppose to be used for, example TRUELY keeping up with friends and family and spreading events and good news. They use it for no more and no less. They don’t feel like they need to check it every day. There are many others who don’t use it for what it’s supposed to be used for. Many use it as a way to “keep up with the Jones’s or shall we say Kardashians!” I think about all the new studies that have come out about Facebook depression. Their case and point is, people comparing themselves to others.

So, no… I’m not really a fan or shall I say “friend” of Facebook and here is why:
1.) I’ve seen right in front my own eyes Facebook serve as the “connection” that ruined a marriage. I’ve heard of many stories of others where Facebook has assisted in ruining marriages. To me, other than Christ, marriage is the most important relationship that I have. My marriage comes before my own child. That’s how important marriage is to my husband and me. If there is a chance that Facebook could even slightly disrupt my marriage then I want no part of it.

2.) Facebook pulls out women’s insecurities and provides deception. As mentioned before, people paint the picture they want to of themselves on Facebook. That picture may be real and it may be false. The receiver may not be able to decipher the difference. Individuals begin comparing themselves to others. Women look at the pictures to see what their friends are wearing, if she looks skinny, where she’s at and who she’s with. Then the receiver is thinking all these horrible thoughts like, “If I could just look like that?” or “Why is my husband not sending me flowers, buying me those gifts or taking me to that place?”Or “Why is my life not that much fun or why is our house not that big?” It is my conclusion that some people usually only post on Facebook what they just bought, where they are going (usually somewhere exciting or a trip) or a picture in their wonderful new outfit from their best side.

What the receiver doesn’t know is that the person took 50 pictures before that perfect one to post. I can admit, I’ve done that and I’ve been in groups where we’ve taken pictures over and over to make sure they are Facebook worthy. Let’s face it-No one is going to post a bad picture of them self on Facebook. Yes, we all look glamorous and “post” about the “fun” things in our life. No one is going to post, “Had a bad day because my husband and I aren’t connecting.” Or “We are swimming in debt, but at least we got to go to Hawaii.” (Once more don’t get me wrong here, there are people who could care less about these things and post about their family only, spread the gospel and use Facebook entirely what it is suppose to be used for.)

3.) I also think Facebook leaves women heartbroken and in anguish. I think about the women who desperately are trying to have a baby. They get on Facebook and see their friends announcing their pregnancy or planning for it. Yes, that’s exciting news and wonderful news to post on Facebook.I have to think that woman desperately trying signs off of Facebook with a heart sunk to her knees and tears in her eyes wondering when her chance is. I think of the woman seeking a husband. She gets on Facebook and sees all her friends getting married or announcing it. I think she must walk away in anguish. Then I think about the woman who sees her friends all doing fun things or going on trips etc. She wonders, “Why are my husband and I not doing these things or having that fun?” Then she walks away and begins putting pressure on her husband and marriage. Or the woman who wants to be a SAHM gets on and sees all her friends who are SAHM. She puts that pressure on her husband once more. Even though her husband is working hard for them right now and financially it’s just not a good time. (If any of the above is the case for anyone, then it’s time to get off Facebook-it’s not worth it!)

If we truly thought about the receiver of our posts, we may post differently. If we truly thought about the motives of our posts, we may post differently. These thoughts changed the way I posted. (Once more It's awesome to announce good news. For other posts, what are our motives?)

4.) I think Facebook is borderline gossip. One who knows a lot about gossip, like me, can pick it out. I think if I’m in another conversation where one person says, “I saw on Facebook,” or “Did you see on Facebook?” I may scream. At the same time, people just put everything out there. As Beth Moore states, “You don’t have to show your social cleavage!”

I just don’t like Facebook. My hope is to edify women and I don’t feel like Facebook does that. I feel like it puts pressure on people, especially women. I’ve had numerous friends say to me, “Let me see if that picture is Facebook material,” “Hurry up post that on Facebook.” I’ve heard friends say I need to get this and that on Facebook but just don’t have the time. Or someone will have a baby and their stressing about getting a photo on Facebook and the same about wedding pictures or pictures from trips, concerts etc. Oh the pressure!

Once more… I’m signing off. Facebook doesn’t edify me and I don’t really seeing it edifying my friends. I can say all the above because I’ve been the receiver and I’ve had the same thoughts others do. For now, I’ll just be considered a “tweeter” and “blogger.”

I’ve thought about social networking in my own life. I asked myself, “Why do I blog and why do I tweet?” I blog to create a scrapbook of my family’s life for my children to have one day. Additionally, I blog for my family/friends to see Camp grow up. We don’t’ live in the same city as our families do. I tweet to follow pastors, Godly women, friends, some stars etc. There are no comparisons there or unhealthy “tweetships!” In fact, I’ve found on Twitter I receive scripture and Godly sayings more daily in my life.