Girls To Grow

Nurturing moms in their walk with God

Book Review: She Still Calls Me Daddy

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A close, loving relationship between a father and daughter can be especially meaningful and rewarding. I readily admit that my latest read, She Still Calls Me Daddy: Building a New Relationship with Your Daughter After You Walk Her Down the Aisle by Robert Wolgemuth, is geared toward dads who have recently had a daughter get married. However, I was curious what the author’s take might be on giving his two daughters away in marriage. After all, I figured I could read it from the perspective of a daughter who has had a wonderful relationship with her father, not to mention seeing what might be in the future for my husband and our two girls.

Wolgemuth uses the idea of remodeling a house as he delves into the building of a relationship with a married daughter and her husband. Chapters are devoted to the areas of protection, conversation, affection, discipline, laughter, faith and conduct. He includes lots of stories from his own experience, which make the information personal and interesting. I would have enjoyed seeing a few more practical tips on ways to develop and strengthen family connections in each of the areas he covered.

My favorite chapter was the one on faith. The author uses the analogy of stirring ingredients together when following a recipe; in the same way, we as parents are to stir up the gifts that God has given to our children. God gives them “ingredients” or gifts; I, as a parent, am to do the stirring, “ those things that intentionally nurture and blend faith with everyday life.” He also includes great advice on praying for our children once they have left home and are married.

While I enjoyed reading this book, I am guessing it will mean even more to my husband and myself when we reach this stage in our lives. From all that is detailed in the book, it certainly sounds like the author has built great relationships with his married daughters and sons-in-law.

Congratulations to Our Graduate!!

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Today marks a special occasion in our family.

My “baby” is graduating from kindergarten.
 
She of the long blonde hair, brown eyes, fair skin, tall, slim figure and giant snaggle-tooth smile will walk across the stage in her little cap and gown to receive a diploma that allows her entrance into first grade.
 
Because she aims to please, she will follow directions exactly – sitting, standing and singing on cue. She will appear to be focused on the events at hand, but those of us who know her best realize that her thoughts could be a million miles away.
 
My dad, one of those people tremendously gifted with words, said of this granddaughter, “If her outside looked like her inside, she would always be in dress-up clothes.”
 
This is one of those many moments in life where happiness and sadness, exhilaration and melancholy coincide.
 
Happiness for her, for the excitement surrounding the evening, for all she’s accomplished in her little life so far; sadness for the years fleeing so quickly, taking her slowly but surely away from us one day.
 
With smiles on our faces, much love in our hearts and tears in our eyes, we watch her take these steps today.
 
This post is linked to Amy’s Finer Things and Family Friday.

Frugal Fashion

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Jen over at Beauty and Bedlam is hosting a Frugal Fashionista Fashion Show today. She has been doing a series on putting together a fabulous wardrobe inexpensively by shopping for clothes at yard sales and thrift stores.

Over the past several years, I have been able to find items at thrift stores and consignment stores for the girls, pieces that usually look new or still have the original store price tags on them. As my daughters have gotten older, I have not found quite as much in their sizes at yard sales and what is available is usually in a more worn condition.

When I shop at Good Will or another thrift or consignment store, I look for quality name brand items. I find that I am usually able to get store brand items just as cheaply by watching for sales or hitting the clearance racks. I do believe that it takes a little more time to shop at resale stores since many times clothes are only divided by gender or color. You often have to look through a lot of “junk” to find a “jewel,” but to me that’s part of the hunt – finding a really great deal on an item you can use.

Here are some of the clothes I’ve been able to get for my daughters.

I found this dress for my six-year-old at a consignment store. It was new with the tags still on it and I paid $3.50.

This cherry skirt, which my six-year-old has been able to wear for two seasons, was 50 cents at a yard sale. I usually have her wear it with a white or pink top.

These two Children’s Place skirts were at my favorite Good Will and look nearly new. Most importantly, they have the adjustable waist which I need for both my girls. Picked these up for my eight-year-old for around $2.69 each. They are a nice cotton twill so can be worn for summer or winter.

My older daughter loves long, flowy skirts, even for play. I got the brown one at Goodwill for $2.69 and the blue one at a consignment store for $1.50.


Lest you think I never buy tops, I found this Limited Too spring hoodie with the tags still on it at a consignment store for around $3.

I also love buying clothes for the girls in larger sizes when I can and putting them in the back of the closet until the appropriate season. I picked up this dress, which will fit one or the other of them this fall, for $2.69 at Goodwill a couple of weeks ago. It’s so much fun (and cheaper!) at the end of the summer to pull out these finds rather than run to the store to replenish their wardrobe.

I typically don’t find as much for myself at resale stores (although Jen’s series has inspired me to spend a bit more time looking!) I usually try on a variety of things, but don’t walk out with much. Occasionally, however it’s worth it. I recently found this great classic Gap dark brown skirt which is great for church and can be worn with a variety of tops. It looks new and I paid just over $4 for it.

Clothing can take up a huge chunk of your budget, so by shopping wisely for quality items at a good price you can really keep costs down. I still watch for store sales, regularly check the clearance racks at my favorite stores, and sign up to receive retailer coupons, but I also make it part of my routine to stop by a couple of thrift and consignment stores once or twice a month. You never know what treasure you may find!

See the great deals others have found on their clothing by visiting Jen’s Fashion Show. Read other great frugal tips at Frugal Friday hosted by Life as Mom.

Spring Scenes

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The sights and sounds of Spring…..

Sights

  • The sky that lightens a bit earlier each morning behind the tightly shut window blinds
  • The pastel colors of young girls’ dresses on Easter Sunday
  • The first tinge of green showing through the dull brown soil
  • Dust flying from fast-moving rags as spring cleaning gets under way
  • A mom, surrounded by boxes, tucking away sweatshirts and jeans, pulling out tank tops and shorts
  • The first bouquet of flowers picked for mom by tiny fingers, clutched tightly in a small fist, given a place of honor in a paper-cup vase
  • Bright green stalks of asparagus and ripe red strawberries putting in an appearance at the farmers market
  • A load of newly washed laundry swinging on a clothesline in the light breeze
  • Burst of blooms on a Bradford pear tree
  • An elderly lady kneeling in her garden, shovel in hand, dreaming of a bounty of summer produce
  • Thick layer of pollen on the hood of the car
  • Azaleas in full bloom, glorious to behold

Sounds

  • Neighbors chatting in the yard, catching up on the news after a long winter-induced hibernation
  • First crank of the lawnmower for the season
  • Soft spring rain, pattering on the windows
  • Allergy-induced sneezes
  • Soft bleating of a newborn sheep
  • Children, released from winter jackets and snowboats, calling to one another as they traverse the neighborhood on shiny new bikes
  • The “thwack” of a baseball hitting a glove; the whiff of a bat, just missing contact
  • Squeaky windows being pushed open to admit soft, warm spring air
  • Water from a hose hitting the roof of the car as it receives a long-awaited bath
  • Early morning calls of birds as they greet the morning together
  • The long-awaited silence of the heat pump – no heat or air conditioning needed
  • The dull thud of a shovel being thrust into the ground, making way for a new rosebush

This is spring, warm and welcoming, a feast for the senses.

Mother’s Day Weekend

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I was treated very well this Mother’s Day weekend – hope you moms were as well!
We normally avoid dining out on Mother’s Day due to crowded restaurants with long waits. Instead, we enjoy going out to eat on Saturday night or “Mother’s Day Eve!” This year, after eating our supper, we all participated in one of my favorite activities – walking on the beach.

We are fortunate to live about forty minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, so the four of us were able to enjoy some time together at the beach. When we’re just there to enjoy a stroll, my rule for the girls is that they can only walk in the water up to their ankles. Somehow they still manage to get pretty wet! I think our six-year-old interprets that rule as water up to her ankles when the tide is all the way out, meaning that momentarily the water will be up to her knees!

One of the girls thought to bring a bucket, so we were all keeping an eye out for pretty seashells as we went down the beach.

I was also well taken care of on Sunday; we picked up pizza after church so I didn’t have to cook lunch and my husband and the girls took care of setting the table and cleaning up afterwards.

I am very thankful for the family that God has given me. Our girls are growing up so fast! I truly want to be the best wife and mom that I can be for them and pray that God will give me the wisdom and strength to do so.

This post is linked to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.

Book Review: The Principle of the Path

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I just finished reading the book The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Bewritten by Andy Stanley, published by Thomas Nelson publishers.

I like reading books that challenge me to think, and this one did so. Andy Stanley takes the idea of a road, which always leads you somewhere, and applies it to our lives.

The main premise of the path principle is that direction, not intentions, is the key to where we end up in life. While we all desire certain outcomes in our relationships, careers and finances, we have to make decisions today that will lead us to those ends. He delves into the emotions that tend to distract us and our tendency to give attention to things that don’t coincide with the path we should be taking. The author also encourages readers to seek wisdom from others who have traveled the path before them.

The book contains many current cultural references and personal stories and is written in an easy-to-read style. I am only slightly familiar with the author and doubt that I would agree with him on all issues, but feel that I can nearly always learn something from others.

There were two thoughts that most resonated with me. The first was the admonition that we never accomplish the will of God by violating the principles of God. Secondly, near the conclusion of the book, he asks what story you would like to tell with your life. What a great reminder, that every day we are adding pages to the volume that we will look back on one day as the story of our life.

When I first began the book, I wondered how Andy Stanley could possibly write an entire book on such a simple principle. I think he did a fine job of explaining and developing the principle of the path.

Making Music

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At our church on Wednesday night, my eight-year-old daughter played the hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross for the offertory.

It is amazing to watch her and see how much she has grown and progressed over the last couple of years. She sits and plays very calmly, while my stomach is churning.

Afterwards, she told me that she thinks about the words of the song while she is playing – and I hope that those words are sinking into her heart. This is why we budget that chunk of money for a piano teacher, drive her to weekly lessons and make sure that she practices her twenty minutes every day – so that she might learn to love and enjoy music and use it as a way to worship and serve God by ministering to and blessing others.

This post is linked to Real Life Blog, Finer Things Friday and Family Friday.

What We’re Reading This Week

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We took a brief break from the library for a couple of weeks, but made a stop there on Tuesday to get some new reading material.

My girls are in an American Girl mood at the moment and got the following books from that series, most of which they have read before and enjoyed:

Addy’s Short Story Collection
A Molly Mystery: The Light in the Cellar
Brave Emily
Meet Felicity
Happy Birthday, Molly
Really Truly Ruthie

They also checked out these books from other series they like to read:
A to Z Mysteries: The X’ed-Out X-Ray
The Cul-de-sac Kids: The Upside-Down Day

We had previously checked out A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. I want my girls to develop an appreciation for good poetry, so was happy when my older daughter requested that we get this book again. I’m hoping to find a used copy of it that I can purchase for ourselves.

A couple that were new to us this time were The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson by Ann McGovern and The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. I skimmed both of these; the latter is a Newbery Honor book and looks quite entertaining and age-appropriate.

As for myself, the bookshelf located by the library exit that contains used books for sale got me again! Here’s what I bought for my own reading:

If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy by Lindsey O’Connor

The Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman. I have actually read this one before, but wanted to re-read it and add it to my own collection.

The Perfect Wife: The Life and Choices of Laura Bush by Ann Gerhart

Ronald Reagan in Private: A Memoir of My Years in the White House by Jim Kuhn. Ronald Reagan is one of my favorite Presidents and I enjoy reading books about him.

I’m also currently reading The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley. Look for a review of that book coming up soon!

See what others’ have in their book basket by visiting The Happy Housewife today.

In Honour of Mom

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What one word do you most closely associate with Mother? As Mothers’ Day approaches and I spend a few extra moments thinking about my own mom, what comes to mind first is sacrifice.

I was privileged to grow up in a home with a Christian mother and can think of several areas in which she made sacrifices for her children.
  1. Her will. My mom willingly submitted to my dad as the leader of our home and set a great example for my brothers, sister and I as to how a good marriage should operate. She taught us to love and respect my dad by the way she talked about him and responded to him.
  2. Her needs and wants. Mom would put our needs ahead of her own. I know there were many times when she could have bought things for herself, but she would rather one of us children have a new outfit or follow some new interest instead. She always made me feel like it truly brought her joy for us to have the best rather than herself.
  3. Her time. She always met our physical needs, making sure our laundry was done and our meals were prepared. No matter what activity we were involved in, we knew my mom (and dad as well) would be there to support us. While I didn’t participate in sports, my brothers and sister did and they could count on mom being at every game and cheering enthusiastically, being there to comfort if they lost or congratulate if they won. I’m sure the hours are countless that she spent praying for each of us and, now that we are grown, our children as well.
  4. Her ambitions. I believe that my mom loved being a stay-at-home mom. She totally dedicated herself to us and laid aside any ambitions she may have had for herself to devote herself to rearing us children.

Proverbs 31:28 says “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Today I call my mom blessed and thank God for the mom He gave me.

Book Review: Wisdom and the Millers: Proverbs for Children by Mildred A. Martin

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As I mentioned in a post last week, our family has discovered a new book that we are using for our family devotional time.

I realize that families study the Bible together in different ways. What currently works for us is setting aside a few minutes after we are finished eating supper to have a devotional time.

We have done different things over the years – read from Bible story books, examined Bible characters, read brief biographies on various missionaries, studied character traits, and discussed particular Bible passages.

While researching some books that a friend recommended, I came across a book entitled Wisdom and the Millers. It is written by Mildred A. Martin and published by Green Pastures Press. We are so thoroughly enjoying this book!

The Miller family includes Dad, Mom and their four children. Each of the chapters tells a short story of an event that happens in the family which illustrates a verse from Proverbs.

One of my favorites so far is entitled “The Multitude of Words” and is based on Proverbs 10:19, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” In the story, Sharon, the oldest daughter, encounters several difficulties throughout her day because of her inconsiderate words and thoughtless speech. At the end of the day, her mom sits down with her and they figure out the root of the problem and its’ solution.

Most nights we do a brief review of one of our previous stories, and the girls remember well the lessons that were taught. I was out on the night my husband did the chapter on having a froward mouth, but the girls were able to fill me in on the whole thing!

I would highly recommend this book either for reading together as a family or for your child to read for themselves. It has been a great find for us!

Here are other books in the Miller Family Series.

We are always looking for books or ideas for our family Bible time. If you have suggestions or resources that you enjoy, please let me know in the comments section.