13 Years Old!

A teenager... finally! Remember that feeling of accomplishment? I sure do. It was exciting and full of possibilities.

That seems so long ago now, but the teen years are far from over. You see, my sweet husband and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary a month ago. Like usual, I didn't get around to blogging about it when it actually happened. But, it did happen.

Our marriage is now a teenager. No longer in the infant or early childhood years. Nope. We've graduated to the teens! And you know what? I feel kind of like I did back when I turned 13... like life is exciting and full of possibilities. Only now I'm not wondering if I'm EVER going to get a steady boyfriend or my first kiss. I got my last first kiss the first time my husband kissed me years ago. I still get butterflies in my stomach when he walks into the room.

The teen years always have ups and downs, but at least this time I have someone to share that roller coaster ride with! I love you, sweetheart!!!

We've got a few years before our next teenage experience begins... Gidget will turn 13 in 2014. I CAN WAIT!!! Oh, yes! I can wait for that! No rush! (She, however, thinks it's fun to keep growing up. Crazy kid!)

Sunday Sing-Along

Surrendering all is a daily struggle for me... but something I so want to do!!!

Isn't this Pretty?!

The picture really doesn't do this pendant justice!!! It's really beautiful! And you know what the true beauty of it is? The fact that the money I used to purchase it is going to help Cate & Sean, a very sweet, loving couple, adopt another child! They have 3 beautiful girls from Haiti, and I just love their heart for adoption!

If you'd like to read about it or see the other pendants available, check it out HERE.

Irish Luck

If you knew this Irish blooded girl, you'd know that I absolutely NEVER win... EVER! You wouldn't believe how many times I've entered to win something only to find out, once again, that I didn't win. :( I've been watching Wheel of Fortune just to see if my Spin ID magically appears so I can be whisked away to some tropical island or on an African safari... But, I'm happy for those who do win. My daughter will walk in the room as I'm audibly congratulating someone named Brandon F. from Boise, Idaho and say, "Oh. You lost. Again." Yep... that whole "luck of the Irish" thing completely passed me by... so I thought!

But this time I actually WON! I did! I actually WON something! And it's really cool! If you read this post you'll realize that this is something I really love. Sure, it's not a luxurious trip to somewhere... but it's something that I use every single day. I'm a practical kind of gal. This is great!

When I told Gidget that I actually WON something, her exact words were, "SHUT THE DOOR! You actually won something?" (Shut the door? Where did she get that?)

It came in the mail last week. I was very excited. I went into my closet to find something appropriate to wear for winning such a gift. Alas, my evening gowns were limited to a maid-of-honor gown from 1992 and my wedding gown.

I considered the maid-of-honor gown. Having been a bridesmaid more times than I can count (seriously...definitely over 20 though), the whole "three times a bridesmaid..." saying haunts my memory! When that 27 Dresses movie came out, people were calling to congratulate me for having a movie made based on my younger years as a perpetual bridesmaid! (Uh...Thanks??? But did you notice that I'm NOTHING like that skinny, gorgeous blond? And I don't remember EVER singing Bennie & the Jets while being drunk & dancing with some guy on a bar... or the scene in the car afterwards!!! Yikes! Do you people know me at all???)

I got rid of all the dresses just after my husband proposed. I had been engaged before, but with Peter... I just knew he was the one! The "three times a bridesmaid" curse was broken! I did keep this one dress, though, because out of the over 20 dresses... it was the only one I actually liked. Sadly, however, while gazing upon that beautiful dress I realized that this body would never fit into it again...EVER!

So I moved on to my wedding gown. I reached for the dress bag in which it has been lovingly stored for 13 years. I no sooner had it in my grasp when it dropped to the floor. I tried to pick it up. I tried again. I tried again. I took a nap. I tried again. I ate a protein bar to try to build up some muscle. I tried again. Failure. Then I remembered how heavy that beautiful dress was when I was wearing it the last time. The train was so long and wasn't detachable. After the ceremony my Grandma used the hooks on it to hook it up into a bustle (is that the right word?). I remember because my sweetie-pie husband had to keep his arm around me whenever I was standing from that point on or else I would topple over backwards. (Where are the video clips of that? I could have sent it in to that funniest home videos show & possibly won $10,000... no, I would have lost to the dog dragging the baby girl around by her diaper. By the way, WHO lets their dog drag their child around? Have you watched that show? I can't believe the things they allow their animals to do to their children!) And did I mention how incredibly difficult it is to sit gracefully in a beautiful wedding gown when you have, like, 20 yards of material bunched up behind your... well, you get the picture.

Where was I? Oh yes, the dress. So, obviously my wedding gown wasn't going to work. I'm resolved now to wear my best pajamas, slap on some lipstick, put on one of my daughter's princess crowns, and make a video acceptance speech when I recover from trying to lift my wedding gown. If I get it done, Denise, I'll send you the clip! THANK YOU!!! This is an awesome prize! :)

P.S. BUY ONE OF THESE!!! You won't regret it! You can order it from Denise & Nick HERE AT THIS SITE

P.S.S. I don't believe in Irish luck. I believe in unexpected blessings from my AWESOME God!

What a Kid!

So, tonight Gidget comes running into the room and says very excitedly, "Mom! Dad! I'm gonna need a pair of stilts and a man!" Then she ran off.

I'm thinking I'm going to need a little more info!

Have You Switched?

Have any of you switched to the updated editor here on Blogger? If so, do you like it better? I realize I'm waaaaaaaay behind the times in this, but I'm afraid to switch & then not like it.

Your opinions are very welcome here! :)

Award

I was surprised with a blog award today! How cool is that?! I am so far behind in my blogging that I don't think I'll ever catch up on it all. But this was a fun thing to find today, so I thought I'd better blog it right away before I let it get added to the "catch up" list.

Here are the rules:

•Thank the blogger who awarded it to you.

Thank you, BOBBI, for this award! If you haven't visited her blog, DON'T unless you like to read the blog of an extremely opinionated chick who likes to rock out! lol.

•Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five (5) words.

Family, Prayer, Confessions, Encouragement, Laughter

•Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.

Okay, this is the part with which I have trouble. If I give you the award and you are an "award free zone" blogger, don't be worried about offending me by not posting it and I hope I didn't offend you by giving it to you. Mostly, I just wanted to point people who may stumble onto this post to blogs greater than my own!

Life in Joyful Chaos - Denise has the biggest heart of anyone I know!

And it Came to Pass - Debra challenges me with just about every one of her posts!

Raising Godly Daughters - Kristy's blog is newer to me, but her posts are full of honesty. Especially THIS ONE. You really should read it!!!

Great Adventures II - So, yea, Bobbi gave me the award and already has it. But, I can't list "blogs of substance" without listing hers!

Cate and Sean - Honestly, I just started reading this one. Got hooked pretty quickly... probably because I LOVE ADOPTION!!!!!

So... that's obviously 5, not 10... and since Bobbi gave it to me I guess that's only 4. I read other blogs, but these are the ones that I truly feel are blogs of substance.