How I Had a Parenting Win!

She asked to stay home today and I have learned when she is trying to manipulate me.  How she sounds, when and where she tells me.  Does she give me eye contact or text me.  While my blood pressure rises like it's a crisis decision,  I have to take into consideration how many days she has missed, her grades, my judgment of her ability to push through  a cold, allergies, stress, or all three.

After a few attempts and observations, a good mom knows how to read her child and how to send her on her way packing her backpack or when it's a call the doctor, go by the pharmacy & watch movies kind of day.

God is our perfect parent and He knows when to give us justice and make our life hard by logical or natural consequences.  And He knows when it's time to give us grace and soften the impending consequences to our actions or even eliminate them all together.  I love the way He parents me and how He gave me examples in the Bible to follow, and the Holy Spirit to guide me to guide this child (who He also gave me.)

There is a vast difference between God's perfect parenting style and my trial and error style.  But today I am confident that I did it right.  And I know this from the peaceful thoughts in my head.

Any good mom knows that a sick day for a kid means a change in her schedule too.  Being vigilent towards the physical and emotional needs of her child is the first priority.  Secondary is the daily chores and errands.  Forget the lists and check marks for the day.  The day will be filled with physical sacrifice and soft words.  The nurse hat goes on and the manager hat comes off.

She texted me and I know that means she wants me to hear her words and not jump to conclusions too quickly.  I know she had a cold over 10 days ago and it could have settled into a sinus infection.  The crazy long weekend and storms has uprooted her eating and sleeping patterns, plus the mold allergies are off the charts.  I have a dull headache from the pollen today too and it's easy to hear God tell me, "Let her stay home, it's not a productive learning day so close to the end of school, and she could use some antibiotics.  The doctor's note will cover her absence today and you will get to hang with your teen for a quiet rest day.  It's a gift."

A peek thru the keyhole to my life

This past rainy weekend was very lazy, I stayed in my pajamas and didn't go out all day.  I listened to much of an audio book “The Girl on the Train” as I worked at my desk in my kitchen.  I’ve been pondering what I should blog about.  I know that making it personal grabs people’s attention and keeps it more than just writing about facts or impersonal things, but I have trouble sharing about myself. I think I am not very interesting. 

Then I remember about an unfinished text conversation about my battle with infertility with my neighbor who is struggling with the emotional and physical battle too.  I just wrote out my notes to the moms I mentored this semester at church.  I loved sharing my time and mom story with them and they seemed to enjoy it as well.  And there’s the Brave social media I buzzed about, processing post conference ideas, following  up with my own brave art journal. I could share my menu and grocery shopping list techniques, I'm proud I figure this system out for myself.  I could share my parent success while helping my daughter through her bought of depression (now that she is in a good place.)

I’ve promised to share my eating blog along with a friend in a blog next year, after our successful weight loss.  It scares me to admit it publicaly, but I am a food addict.  I’m opening up to my friend and therapist about it and they are helping me face it and deal with it. 

I will make an appointment to talk to a dietician, my daughter’s whom I really respect.  She deals with eating disorders.  She knows how to ask the right questions and educate addicts.  I’ve realized that being an addict to food is really tough to work through because we must eat daily and cannot give it up like alcohol or drugs, which we do not need to live. And my battle against it is as difficult, and the harm to myself is significant.

Like everyone, I need accountability to motivate me to make better food choices.  I’ve gotten into bad eating habits, rewarding myself for being a nice and generous person.  But have not had any accountability for my poor eating choices, other than an eye roll from my husband or the concerned lecture from my dad. 

(Mom and I in Vegas in March)

Brave Women's Conference Is Coming!

As you may know, I work with Kat Cannon at Austin Oaks Church, see her picture below.  She is our Women's Ministry Director, and I've known her for over 10 years. God has gifted her in many ways and given her years of experience in different fields.  She has used them to HIS glory in her service to the women in our church and community.  A few years ago, God asked her to hold a "Brave Conference" for women in Austin.  She did and it became an annual endeavor which grew some each year and has empowered women in big ways!  

I've had the joy to work along side her as she plans and prepares more than 6 months in advance with her volunteer steering committee.  This year we've have been using social media to interest more women to come.  One very zealous business owner on our committee has a vision for 1,000 women to attend. Yes, she is working on the social media promotions as well as other important areas. Love that girl!!!

Why should you think about registering for the Brave Women's Conference?

  

Do you believe we are living in the last days?  Do you live a worried, fearful life and find it hard to serve or talk about God in your communities? Are you looking for brave color or shape fashion tips? Do you suffer from negative thoughts daily or suffer from depression?  Would you like to be inspired to be a better woman, mother, friend? Do you want to learn more about human trafficking? Can you confidently say to yourself, "I am brave!"? Because I've invited you to come!

How Can You Help Promote this Conference?

Would you be willing to help us promote this conference and reach our goal of 1,000 changed lives?  There are several things you can do to help us.  If you are local, you can invite a friend to attend with you.  We even have group rates and half price tickets for volunteers. 

Register at www.bravewomen.org.

No matter where you live, you can help us spread the word by  liking our facebook page (BraveWomenAustin), send out a tweet that you are registered or are praying for us (@BraveWomenConf), following us and re-pinning one of our pins on Pinterest (BraveWomenConf), or sending a picture of yourself being brave on instagram (BraveWomeninChrist) and include #bebrave2015. 

What Is The Brave Conference About This Year?

Our own beautiful Lisa Rejoice, Sylist and Gracey Snow, Consultant will show pre-conference registrants how to be brave to embrace the beauty God gives as a woman and an image bearer. This session will show how to make the most of what you've got through clothing color and shape choices.  Learn to express yourself through wardrobe and show the world who God made you to be in Him.

We also offer Meshell Baker, Vision Development Strategist to help pre- conference registrants in a hands on way to design dreams!  In this workshop, women will begin to create a Vision Board and take first steps to set in motion the life God desires them to have. They will leave with a custom made kit of supplies to help complete thier vision board using the revelations gained throughout the Brave Women's Conference.  

The third pre-conference set of registrants will screen the "In Plain Sight" documentary and have a  conversation with Sgt. Bob Miljenovich, Austin Police Department Human Trafficking and Vice Unit. Maybe you’ve heard the term sex trafficking. It’s simply a politically-correct way of saying sexual slavery.  While public slavery in the United States is over, there is still a large market for buying and selling women and children…in our city. It’s being sold through ads in the back weekly newspapers, posts on Craigslist.com and Backpage.com, at massage parlors, via escort services, at truck stops, and at a motel you drive by on a daily basis. 

All registrants will spend time in worship with Candace Bellamy and a live band. In the main sessions on Friday and Saturday, author, speaker, director Jo Saxton will encourage women to engage in missional living and discipleship. Her message specifically equips women for leadership and influence and inspires all believers to engage the world in the same way God does—by going out rather than just reaching out. 

On Saturday, everyone gets to choose a "living room session" to attend featuring three local leaders sharing their perspective on a brave topic, followed by time for you to ask questions.  There will be topics on things like having brave conversations about sexuality, why the church needs women to be brave,  being brave as a single woman, being brave enough to submit,  how brave women can help bring racial reconciliation, and we'll host a session for our Spanish speakers.

Also on Saturday, everyone gets to choose a Conversation Circle to attend after the Living Room Sessions.  They will join a small group of women to talk about what brave looks like right where you are in your workplace, marriage, parenting, social circles, and churches.

Over the 20 years at this church, I have made many girlfriends and some of those friendships have begun at a women's conference.  I met one of my dearest friends at last year's Brave Conference!  I hope you will think about joining us, promoting us, and especially praying for this May 1-2 event! 

Comment on how you've helped!  Thanks for being BRAVE!

Shawn

Alaska Cruise for 25th Anniversary - Part 1

We departed from Seattle and returned a week later with the best memories!  Our concierce travel agent, Julie Drouin, and Princess Cruises made our silver anniversary illustrious. Our ports of call were Seattle, Ketchican, Juneau, Skagway, Victoria, BC, and our on-board adventure was to the Mendenhall Glacier through Tracy Arm Fjord.

There was a lot of planning involved with this vacation, and we knew to expect a few hiccups along the way. The first was getting to the Seattle dock in time to board the ship.  We made it by the skin of our teeth after driving up from visiting family in Portland and stopping along the way to rebuy formal clothes which we forgot to bring.  

Seattle was beautiful by day and by night, see pictures below.  How do we know this?  After leaving for Alaska, the captain had to turn the ship around and we had a 4 hour delay.  We kept busy and didn't realize what was going on until we were underway again, the crew made up the time as we slept, keeping us on schedule.  Way to go, Princess Cruises!

One of the many entertainers on the ship were the incredible ice sculpters.  They created these wonderful creatures, an eagle and a fish & sea weed, in less than a half hour.  They worked old school, using hammer and chisels and made it snow while they raced each other to finish their sculpture.  It was amazing!

Once we made it to our first port, Ketchican, I was enamored by the Alaskan scenery.  Not seen in the picture below is the mountain beyond the treeline.  While it never rained on us, there was some fog. The cooler temps felt great to this southern girl. At this stop we got to eat fresh crab and "hunt" for bears, visit a bird of prey sanctuary, feed caribou, and watch a totem carver at work, as well as learn some native Alaskan stories from our travel guide.

These stained glass pieces, below,  lined the boardwalk from the ship dock to the visitor center.  Rich in detail and color, there we several scenes that represented Alaskan natural resources.  

You want to stop time in it's tracks with a sunset like this one.  Our trip had many of these and we made sure to see them all.

Getting up at 6:00am was TOTALLY worth it to see the  beautiful Tracy Arm Fjord and get to the Mendenhall blue ice Glacier.  Yes, the water is really that green color and very deep.

The ship did two 360* turns so that everyone on deck could get a picturesque view of the glacier.  Passengers and were taking pictures of each other to get that perfect "Christmas card shot."
Next stop, Juneau...

OTC Med Tip for Mama

This cold has hit me like a ton of bricks and it's been almost three days in, and I can think now.  Once I got on my Mucinex PE regimen (with iuprofen,) I could hear my own voice through the phlem in my sinuses. Taking the otc pills at the correct time was a feat, but I devised a trick.  I wrote the times I needed to take the pills on the paper back of the meds for the rest of the day.  See the picture, my next three 4 hour doses are to be taken at 12, 4 and 8.  Such a menial thing, but a huge factor in getting those hammers to stop drumming in my head!

I don't have to think about it anymore, it's written down.  I won't lose the paper I wrote it on.  Just thought you'd like a helpful tip for those days you aren't 100% and it hurts to try to calculate doses and times.
You are so welcome! Hope this helps you too!