I am pretty picky about what my daughters wear (and myself, of course).  I am probably considered extremely conservative for the area I live in and somewhat liberal compared to some of you.  I seem to always be the odd man out no matter who I am with!  LOL!

Anyway, we don't wear tank tops usually, although if they have a very wide top, are not low cut under the arm pit or on the chest I sometimes allow my youngest to wear tank tops just at home for pajamas only.  We wear them UNDER another layer, but I am not fond of the bare shoulder look (especially if it gaps under the arm and shows a lot of flesh).

We don't wear shorts unless they are more like short capris...  all the way to the knee and then only if they are not "sucky tight".  We are not dresses only, but we wear skirts a lot of the time.  We never show cleavage! If we put our hand on our collar bone with thumb on one side and pointer finger on the other side (palm facing chest) and any skin shows beneath the bottom of our hands then we put on that tank top under layer. 

We do not show ANY belly at all.  The pants or skirt must overlap the shirt even with arms raised or it is back to that tank top (a long one) to prevent exposure.

We don't like tight blouses that show too much form, but this one has a hard one to define.  If the clothing springs back when touched it is probably stretched too tight.

Skirts come at least down to the knee and are not tight and form fitting.

So, this brings me to swimwear.  Yikes.  Even if we are modest it is hard not to have our eyes accosted... not only at the beach, but in the grocery store check out line!  My youngest is "famous" for turning all the magazines over and declaring the covergirls as "IMMODEST"!!!

We did find a cute suit for Kaitlyn HERE.  The attached shorts ARE a bit shorter than I like though so we bought it in a too big size and just altered it so it would fit more modestly.

For the past two years I have bought suits for Hannah HERE.  I got one for MYSELF there this year too and I will probably get the next one we need for Kaitlyn there as they are custom made and can be made longer easily!

A friend (thanks Jocelyn) also told me about THIS great place to buy swimwear!  Looks great too!

My boys do wear rash guard shirts too, mostly for more sun protection, but there is really no need to run around half dressed anyway. 

I realize I am probably going to have a few of you rolling your eyes at me b/c I am too strict or not strict enough.  I hope though that you will just pray about this matter and bring it before your husband to decide upon a policy for YOUR own family!

If you know of any other great sites that sell modest swimwear or other clothing, please let me know!

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On MOMYS.com someone recently introduced us to a GREAT blog!  I have always loved to do fun hair styles, but for awhile Hannie was tired of being my guinea pig.  Seeing this website renewed the fun for both of us!

Kaitlyn did this one...  two loose french braids that joined into one.

This one turned out cute and stayed nice all day!

 

If you try any new styles, please put up pictures and let me know! :)

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I have been meaning to blog a few photos from Kaitlyn's birthday a few weeks ago:

  

 

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CHAPTER 27

On Humble Submission to God

Do not be concerned overmuch who is with you or against you, but work and plan that God may be with you in all that you do (Rom 8:31). Keep a clean conscience, and God will mightily defend you; for whoever enjoys the protection of God cannot be harmed by the malice of man. If you learn to sufferin silence, you may be sure of receiving God's help (2 Cor. 7:6). He knows the time and the way to deliver you; so trust yourself entirely to His care. God is strong to help you, and to free you from all confusion. It is often good for us that others know and expose our faults, for so may we be kept humble.

When a man humbly admits his faults, he soon appeases his fellows, and is reconciled to those whom he had offended. God protects and delivers a humble man; He loves and comforts him (I Pet.5:5; James 4:6). To the humble He leans down and bestows great success, raising him from abasement to honour. To him He reveals His secrets (Matt.9:25) and lovingly calls and draws him to Himself. Even in the midst of trouble, the humble man remains wholly at peace, for he trusts in God, and not in the world. Do not consider yourself to have made any spiritual progress, unless you account yourself the least of all men.

The highlighted portion above jumped out at me.  I was reminded not to demand God's deliverance in MY way and in MY time!

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One night I had a creepy dream.  I had a baby, but refused to properly care for it.  I was so neglectful that the baby died in an ocean! Good grief!

The weird part is that I walked around with a sense of guilt afterwards.  How ridiculous! But then again I have a tendency to take on false guilt and then blame others when I am truly at fault.

I pray that the Lord will give me a realistic view of godly accountability.

Also, my struggling heart and mind are trying to learn to trust and surrender my full weight upon God and God alone. May I not only bow my head and bend my knee unto God, but may I also reveal my back to Him knowing that He will have my back and will not betray me.

May I allow the blood of the Lamb to be applied to my life and may I stay within its protection and cleansing every second of every day.

I pray that God will train my willfulness into HIS hands so that I will run to HIM and STAY in His capable embrace.

I don’t to struggle in my false sense of independence, but I want to find my niche in God’s shoulder…  that perfect place to rest my head.  I desire my heart to beat in the same rhythm with His and to serve others with love, humility and patience that acknowledges HIS presence in my life. 

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Do you know what you were doing at this time exactly 16 years ago?  I do!  I was giving birth to my firstborn!

Sunday of that week had been Father’s Day.  After church and dinner out my hubby wanted to go to a drive-in movie…  I think it was Batman!  I remember waddling to the bathroom one too many times and falling asleep long before the movie was over!

Early the next morning, labor began!  My husband called into work to start his “baby leave” and we headed to the hospital expecting to have a baby that day.  Um.  Nope.  They sent us home. 

The rest of the day just crept by uncomfortably.  By late afternoon I was significantly more uncomfortable so we heading back to the hospital again.  And again they sent us home.

That was disappointing. 

Even though I could not really sleep that night…  every time I dozed off I was awakened by a contraction… I was determined that the next time we went to the hospital that they would have no reason to send us back home until baby was born!

Early the next morning I woke hubby and asked to go to the hospital again.  This time I knew it was for good.  It was a 40 minute drive and I remember holding my belly in agony when we drove over speed bumps! 

This time they DID admit me, but it was still a long, long day.  Finally, around 3PM out came a screaming baby girl!  But she quieted as soon as she was placed in her Daddy’s arms!  It was love at first sight!

She was a colicky infant, a rambunctious toddler and a strong-willed child, but as a young lady she is a dream come true!  She is creative, insightful, loving, and most importantly strongly desires to please God!  She is not only my daughter, but my dear friend!  I am so blessed by her!

 

 

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A friend I know from MOMYS.COM has experienced a terrible tradgedy in her family.  Her 12 year old daughter, Rachael was hit by a car while riding her bike Wednesday. 

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rachaelkligmann  Here is where you can view the journal for updates.  I am afraid things have not been very hopeful for them today.  Please pray for Pete and Corrine (the parents) and the siblings and let other prayer warriors know to please, please pray!

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Having miscarried last week, this week was long and ardous.  There has not been a single day without extra people in the house since that day until today and I am growing weary. 

Last Monday (June 2nd) the miscarriage finally happened (although the process began the previous Thursday).  Russ did come home from work early that day to help me and stayed home all day Tuesday.  He even went in to work a little late on Wednesday and would not leave until I assured him that I would be okay. 

I did babysit Monday-Thursday too.  The little girls are very well-behaved, but I did not allow myself to cry or rest much because I felt I needed to be there for them.

Friday my father-in-law arrived for a visit.  I did  not acutally know he was coming to visit until a couple days before the fact.  Since our guest room is downstairs and it is best that he not use the stairs much I needed to move hubby and myself downstairs in preparation for his visit so that he could have the master bedroom. 

It was a nice visit, but again, I was on my guard emotionally and certainly did not rest at all.  My father-in-law was here until Wed.  I did have my two little girls to babysit Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of this week, as well.  On Wed. my father-in-law left around 5:30 PM.  At 6PM more houseguests arrived from Minnesota! 

Our company was a family with two teens, a pre-schooler and a newborn!  It was a fun time, but again...  not a second for a lucid thought!

AND...  can you believe it?  My washing machine broke down on Tuesday!  (and is still broken... we are waiting for parts ordered from Sears)

Now that I have whined for however many paragraphs (LOL) I wanted to share a song that has been a blessing to me during this time and has been the meditation of my heart:

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