I have two big boxes of maternity shirts that I would like to get rid of. They are size XL and most are from Motherhood Maternity. Many are button down or back tie. A few are cotton t-shirt type pullovers. If you know of someone who may be interested, let me know. I am either going to consign them or put them on Craigslist. I'd rather not hassle with Ebay, but will as a last resort. The shirts are in excellent condition, and many were only worn maybe 4-5 times. None of them were second hand. If someone needs some modest tops for a business/casual environment, these would be perfect. I would say there are probably 40 tops??? 25 in one box, I know.
Because I have invested way too much in them, I would like to get a little back...a couple of bucks a piece or something.
My email is repstephanie@yahoo.com if someone is interested.
Thanks!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
The ~BIG~ Week!
No, I'm not having a baby this week or anything, but my nerves wouldn't know the difference! Ha!
This is our final week of preparation before Regional Student Convention begins next Tuesday. By this point in the year, I'm just ready to get there and go after it! All of the stress, tons of paperwork, practice, funding a $3,500 budget, and then the unexpected things that come into play (we've had our share, for sure!) can wear a lady out.
This past Saturday we took the kids to a Veggie Tales showing at Family Christian Stores in Ft. Wayne, and then did a little shopping. In my head I knew that I needed that day to clean and get set for the craziness of this week (being away from home 40+ hrs. a week tends to do a number on the condition of my house!), but my heart said we needed to spend some quality time as a family before the craziness begins! We had a fun day together, and finished it off by cleaning the church together on our way home Saturday night.
Sunday was a good day, with wonderful services that fed my soul. I hadn't seen my brother and his family for several weeks due to schedules and lots of illness, so it was special to visit with them again over an awesome lunch that my mom prepared. Chuck and Darlene Line (our PHC missionaries to Antigua) humored and challenged us in the evening service. They are such special people, and Darlene's never-ending energy and passion always challenges me to keep moving and doing God's business. I will never forget her "singing" me out of bed year after year at Pilgrim Youth Camp. She knew I was a night owl, and the 7 a.m. bell was a little out of line with my lifestyle! She always showed us love and compassion, even the year that someone carried her bed out of the dorm and left it at the top of the hill at Anderson campground. How many grown women would take that with smile???? Not too many, I can assure you. In fact, I can't think of one! It's really easy for us to"whoop and holler" (sorry, but that's what it sounds like to me) when the person up front talks about winning the lost, loving the world, and being patient with people. It's quite another to actually show those qualities to the people with whom we already have contact. I don't think God is too thrilled about using us to reach those "outside" until we can first love those "inside", if you know what I mean. Just another area in which I need God's help...and more of a willingness to allow Him to help! Anyway, God bless the Lines. They are precious.
After feeding the kids and readying them for bed following last night's service, I went to the kitchen to run the broom over the fallen bread crumbs, and pick up a few stray dishes. I looked at the floor, splattered with this and that, and wished I had time to run a mop over it, knowing that Tuesday night would be my earliest next chance because of a 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. commitment at the school on Monday. Then there were those baskets of clean laundry screaming to be folded. I chose to go to bed instead (it was after 11...that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!), so that I could feel a little more ready for today.
So...here we are...it's Monday, and my Learning Center is quiet for a moment. Pretty soon the school day will be over, then it's full force practice for convention. The students are staying over and ordering pizza for supper, then we hit the gym from 6-9 this evening. Needless to say it has been a little more than difficult to practice athletics in this weather, so I'm hoping we can really make use of our time this week.
Another wonderful thing that occurs this week is the deadline for our school annual to be sent to the publisher. Since it is all done online, the "sending" part isn't too difficult. It's due Friday, but we hope to wrap it up tomorrow so that it is DONE! Our budget for that is only about $1,850, so that isn't too bad, but with the economy being down some, it has been more difficult to secure advertisers. I have an awesome, highly talented staff, and they have done a fantastic job on layouts again this year. Can't wait to see the finished product in May!
So...my blood pressure is a little higher this week I'm sure, but God is good and is giving strength, and I am trusting Him to make good on His promise that if we train these kiddos in His ways, they will not depart from them. It's not always easy to see the big picture. We weren't told that the outcome of our obedience would be exactly what we hoped. Each individual has a free will and a choice. Our responsibility is to do our best to prepare them for living a life that would be pleasing to God...and we're doing our best.
Happy Monday, everyone! I expect this to be a good week!
This is our final week of preparation before Regional Student Convention begins next Tuesday. By this point in the year, I'm just ready to get there and go after it! All of the stress, tons of paperwork, practice, funding a $3,500 budget, and then the unexpected things that come into play (we've had our share, for sure!) can wear a lady out.
This past Saturday we took the kids to a Veggie Tales showing at Family Christian Stores in Ft. Wayne, and then did a little shopping. In my head I knew that I needed that day to clean and get set for the craziness of this week (being away from home 40+ hrs. a week tends to do a number on the condition of my house!), but my heart said we needed to spend some quality time as a family before the craziness begins! We had a fun day together, and finished it off by cleaning the church together on our way home Saturday night.
Sunday was a good day, with wonderful services that fed my soul. I hadn't seen my brother and his family for several weeks due to schedules and lots of illness, so it was special to visit with them again over an awesome lunch that my mom prepared. Chuck and Darlene Line (our PHC missionaries to Antigua) humored and challenged us in the evening service. They are such special people, and Darlene's never-ending energy and passion always challenges me to keep moving and doing God's business. I will never forget her "singing" me out of bed year after year at Pilgrim Youth Camp. She knew I was a night owl, and the 7 a.m. bell was a little out of line with my lifestyle! She always showed us love and compassion, even the year that someone carried her bed out of the dorm and left it at the top of the hill at Anderson campground. How many grown women would take that with smile???? Not too many, I can assure you. In fact, I can't think of one! It's really easy for us to"whoop and holler" (sorry, but that's what it sounds like to me) when the person up front talks about winning the lost, loving the world, and being patient with people. It's quite another to actually show those qualities to the people with whom we already have contact. I don't think God is too thrilled about using us to reach those "outside" until we can first love those "inside", if you know what I mean. Just another area in which I need God's help...and more of a willingness to allow Him to help! Anyway, God bless the Lines. They are precious.
After feeding the kids and readying them for bed following last night's service, I went to the kitchen to run the broom over the fallen bread crumbs, and pick up a few stray dishes. I looked at the floor, splattered with this and that, and wished I had time to run a mop over it, knowing that Tuesday night would be my earliest next chance because of a 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. commitment at the school on Monday. Then there were those baskets of clean laundry screaming to be folded. I chose to go to bed instead (it was after 11...that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!), so that I could feel a little more ready for today.
So...here we are...it's Monday, and my Learning Center is quiet for a moment. Pretty soon the school day will be over, then it's full force practice for convention. The students are staying over and ordering pizza for supper, then we hit the gym from 6-9 this evening. Needless to say it has been a little more than difficult to practice athletics in this weather, so I'm hoping we can really make use of our time this week.
Another wonderful thing that occurs this week is the deadline for our school annual to be sent to the publisher. Since it is all done online, the "sending" part isn't too difficult. It's due Friday, but we hope to wrap it up tomorrow so that it is DONE! Our budget for that is only about $1,850, so that isn't too bad, but with the economy being down some, it has been more difficult to secure advertisers. I have an awesome, highly talented staff, and they have done a fantastic job on layouts again this year. Can't wait to see the finished product in May!
So...my blood pressure is a little higher this week I'm sure, but God is good and is giving strength, and I am trusting Him to make good on His promise that if we train these kiddos in His ways, they will not depart from them. It's not always easy to see the big picture. We weren't told that the outcome of our obedience would be exactly what we hoped. Each individual has a free will and a choice. Our responsibility is to do our best to prepare them for living a life that would be pleasing to God...and we're doing our best.
Happy Monday, everyone! I expect this to be a good week!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Say, Whaaaaatttt?
If you know Ryan, you probably also know that he doesn't have an appreciation for math at this point. His feelings actually run much stronger than that, but I'll leave it at that. Whenever he is doing math homework (his dedication to getting it all done at school comes in spurts) his mind wanders far from where it should be. He will try to strike up conversation with anyone in earshot, and you'll hear him say something like this, "Hey, mom! Ya know what?" Then you have to wait for a few seconds while he thinks of something non-essential to say before refocusing his attention to math.
Yesterday was one of "those" days, and he was sitting at the kitchen table. "Hey, mom," I heard him say, "I wonder how hot it is in outer space." I doubt he was really all that concerned about the temperature levels of the great universe, but was more likely not wanting to do the 3 digit multiplication problems that all A.C.E. students have grown to "appreciate".
A little later I was in the kitchen working and he had migrated to the living room. I'm not sure what he was doing, but again I heard, "Hey, mom, how long is our house...in inches?" Ummmm, wait a minute, son, I think I have that piece of information tucked away in my brain right behind my menu for this evenings' dinner.
I hate admitting to my kids when I don't know the answer to their questions. Evan has a knack for pulling some totally unrelated facts about something such as an exotic plant of which I have never heard, and then quizzing me about it. When I reply with, "Never hear of it, Evan," he gently reminds me that I did the same exact schoolwork at some point in my life and that means I should know all about it. Wow.
So, if you ever get to the point where you feel like little miss smartypants, just talk to your kids. They'll make sure you realize everything you don't know and then some!
And just for the fun of it, I'm going to look up the dimensions of our house online, and then make a couple of conversions. By the end of the school day, Ryan will know the length of our house...in inches. I'm sure that data is much more important than 3 digit multiplication problems anyway. :)
Yesterday was one of "those" days, and he was sitting at the kitchen table. "Hey, mom," I heard him say, "I wonder how hot it is in outer space." I doubt he was really all that concerned about the temperature levels of the great universe, but was more likely not wanting to do the 3 digit multiplication problems that all A.C.E. students have grown to "appreciate".
A little later I was in the kitchen working and he had migrated to the living room. I'm not sure what he was doing, but again I heard, "Hey, mom, how long is our house...in inches?" Ummmm, wait a minute, son, I think I have that piece of information tucked away in my brain right behind my menu for this evenings' dinner.
I hate admitting to my kids when I don't know the answer to their questions. Evan has a knack for pulling some totally unrelated facts about something such as an exotic plant of which I have never heard, and then quizzing me about it. When I reply with, "Never hear of it, Evan," he gently reminds me that I did the same exact schoolwork at some point in my life and that means I should know all about it. Wow.
So, if you ever get to the point where you feel like little miss smartypants, just talk to your kids. They'll make sure you realize everything you don't know and then some!
And just for the fun of it, I'm going to look up the dimensions of our house online, and then make a couple of conversions. By the end of the school day, Ryan will know the length of our house...in inches. I'm sure that data is much more important than 3 digit multiplication problems anyway. :)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Happy 26th Birthday!!!
Valentine's Day 1984 was a memorable one for our family. I was eight years old, and in the middle of a Valentine's party at school when word came that I had a little sister. She must have been a good baby, because I don't really remember there being a drastic interruption in family life (although we were flexible enough that it probably wouldn't have mattered!), and we enjoyed watching her grow. I'll never forget her taking some wobbly little steps down the sidewalk at our home on Mackenzie Drive...so cute.
Anyway, lots of years have passed now, and I'm so thankful that God has allowed us to have a close relationship. I will never understand how sisters can go for months and even years without speaking because of some silly little spat or disagreement. We all have disagreements, but they shouldn't hinder us from a loving relationship!
Thanks, Valerie, for being a wonderful little sister, a good wife, and a great momma...I love you!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Drum Roll Please...
The fridge is clean! Snow day #2 gave me the energy to tackle one of the most hated tasks, and I would not embarrass myself by posting before and after photos. I'll leave that to your imagination...
Now we have begun another "favorite" task...Valentine's boxes. Whatever happened to wrapping a shoe box in tissue paper and pasting little pink and red heart-shaped doilies all over it? Oh, for simplicity!
Now we have begun another "favorite" task...Valentine's boxes. Whatever happened to wrapping a shoe box in tissue paper and pasting little pink and red heart-shaped doilies all over it? Oh, for simplicity!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
What A Week!!!
How much better can it get? Fat Tuesday (which turned into a snow day), Wednesday (another snow day), Thursday (the verdict is still out on that one), Friday (pizza party), Saturday (it's the weekend!), Sunday (Valentine's Day - don't forget!), Monday (President's Day)....Wow!
Ok, so back to reality. Today's day "off" was spent moving furniture and deep cleaning. Not exactly my favorite part of being a woman, but I survived!
Hope your week is wonderful!
Ok, so back to reality. Today's day "off" was spent moving furniture and deep cleaning. Not exactly my favorite part of being a woman, but I survived!
Hope your week is wonderful!
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