Swimsuit Season :(

Really, after reading the title I probably don't have to say more.....but I will.

We are going to the beach for the weekend with one of my sisters, my two brothers, dad and stepmom and the "many small children" (I stole took that quote from Mckmama's blog, love it!) that belong to them. I'm sure we will have a blast and have many stories to share when we return.

I started packing today and thought I should try on my swimsuits to see if they were a go. I have been going to the gym for a little over 2 months now, so I expected the swimsuits from the last 2 yrs to fall off be a little big on me. Boy did I get a suprise.....the same!! The exact same, how does that happen!! Well, except that they were a little stretched out, so it wasn't sucking in enough for my taste. Can you say disappointed?

The one thing I dread more than finding a good fitting pair of jeans....finding a swimsuit that doesn't make me look like I'm a 32 yr old trying to be 15. Let's just be honest here, most swimsuits these days are not made for a person that has 2 children......unless you are a celebrity and can work out all day and have a personal chef to make a fabulous meal with like 10 calories...whatever.

So, I mustered up the courage to go shopping with my 2 kids in tow. Probably not a wise choice, but I was running out of time and Bailey is pretty good at giving fashion tips. (You know you need help when you look to a 7 yr old for fashion advice!)

We go to Kohls, and I was very pleased with their selection. A good bit of their swimsuits had the good ole skirt attached. Yes!!!!!

I pick out 3 and off to the dressing room we go.

I'll just say that the look on Bailey's face said it all. Ummm, that's a no on choice number 1!!! On to choice number 2........another bad look. We are in a public place so I'm not sure that I really want her opinion to be said out loud. Finally I had to ask, what is it you don't like. Another bad look.........then she says "I mean it's your legs that's all." That's all???? Do they make swimsuit pants? If so, please let me know.

I go onto choice 3 and she actually liked it!!! A flippin miracle, woohoo!!

Oh, while we are in the dressing room, Reese decided to scream, "Mommy poo pooed!". Nice, not like I was already humilated with a 7yr old that doesn't have an ounce of fat on her looking at me in total disgust, I have Reese yelling that I had pooped. Great, just great!

We check out and get in the car. I had to ask about the leg comment. I told her it was ok to be honest, but just tell me what was so bad about my legs. She says, "They are just too white." I can totally deal with that. I know fat looks better tan, but I have sworn off tanning beds. I will have to get a tan the good old fashioned way...........getting sun burned at the beach!!

Nothing like a good ol' boost to the self esteem than shopping for a swimsuit with a very honest 7 yr old!

I just love Easter. Since becoming a christian, it just takes on a whole new meaning. I was overwhelmed with emotion Sunday at church. We sang an old hymn "Because He lives" and that just about caused the tears to flow (thus embarrassing Denson). Not only is that song so meaningful, but it also reminds me of my grandparents. When we were little we would go to church with them and most of the old hymns take me back to those days. How I miss my PaPa!!

It thrills my heart to see Bailey understand why we celebrate Easter......and to see her so interested in the bible. The Easter Bunny brought her a new big girl bible and she loved it!

Easter Eve I read a sermon that Charles Spurgeon preached on the Easter of 1857. Very powerful message. If you get a moment to read here is the link: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0127.htm. I won't go into it too much because I could never do it justice. He speaks about the 3 people Jesus brought back to life and how each of them had been dead for different lengths of time. I'll stop there because I won't be able to explain it to where it makes sense:) Great read and I'll be reading more of Charles Spurgeon in the future.
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Most of you probably know that Denson is not a big conversationalist and doesn't like to talk to people he doesn't know.....totally out of his comfort zone. I swear that no matter where we or he goes he draws the people that just want to talk and will talk to anybody about any and everything. Last week Denson was waiting at the chiropractors office and he spotted a guy that he thought would probably be a talker.......so, he intentionally sat across the room. He said he picked up a magazine and the cover was something to do with Nascar. Well, that opened the door! Across the room the guy asked him if he liked racing and so the unsolicited conversation began.

The day after that Denson and I were at the store. He had walked away from me to get something and as he was coming back this lady stops him and asks if he knows where the kool-aid is. I heard and saw from a distance and I had to just walk away I was laughing so hard. First of all, I never would I ask a man if he knew where anything was in a grocery store. Maybe she thought he worked there I don't know. Pretty funny though.

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Easter pics.

Bailey with her easter basket. Isn't her new bible too cute??

Reese has a basket too, it's just not in view due to the 6ft alligator. He loved it!

Let's not bring the kids in it.

Let me just start by saying I'm really irritated a little irritated about this whole gambling thing. I completely agree with Rick and Bubba and the views they expressed this morning on their show. I'm sure by now, if you live in Alabama, you've seen the commercials that several country music celebs are endorsing saying "Let the people vote." I'm pretty sure we've voted before and it did not pass.

I know, I know, this will help the schools, the kids, and yada, yada, yada. Ok, so if gambling is such a "good" thing, why do states that have a lottery or casinos have the need to set up a gamblers anonymous hotline???? Doesn't sound so good to me.

I can tell you, that it is no one else's responsibility to send MY kids to college but mine. I don't want my kids to go to college at the expense of someone else. People will win, but more than likely they won't pay bills with it or help further their kids education, no, they'll gamble it away, trying to win just a little more. There are so many stories of lottery winners that after a few years are broke and in worse shape than before they won the money. Usually, those hurt by gambling are the ones that aren't responsible gamblers (oxymoron) and are probably the same ones that aren't responsible drinkers either.......and don't get me started on that one!!

I know some cities are pushing for this too so they can pay their debt. Whose fault is it they are in debt now? What happened to the concept of if you can't afford it, don't buy it? So, now it's up to the citizens to gamble in order to pay the city's bills? That is part of the problem, no one has to take responsibility for their actions any more. It's always someone else's fault........"The bank wouldn't give me a loan", but when the bank does give someone a loan, although they can't afford it, then it's the banks fault for giving someone money they knew couldn't pay it back. When does it end!

Let's just call it what it is..........let's not bring the kids in it........again, a shared view from Rick and Bubba........Let's vote yes to gambling because we love to give our money away, neglect our kids, and bet in hopes of hitting it big. That's what we are voting for. If we really care about the kids, go tutor kids that are less fortunate, give money to buy clothing and put food on the table....that would help the kids. Oh, and if you want a lot of money, how about work for it....wow, what a concept!

"People are like stained glass windows............."

Bailey said something today that really made me proud...... and made me think. I had picked her up from school and she asked if we could play outside when we got home. I told her we could, we had a little while before the storms came through. This last week has just been a rainy one. She proceeded to tell me she thought it was a pretty day. Today would not be what most people would call a pretty day by no means. So, I said well, it's been a cloudy day for sure. She said "I know, that's what made it pretty, seeing the sky through the clouds." Wow, what could I say after that?

How much better could our lives be if we could see what's beyond the clouds of life? This made me think of a saying that I just love: "People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." (Elizabeth Kubler-Ross) Awesome..........Really, our happiness shouldn't be based on our circumstances.

Pastor Chris preached a great sermon this past Sunday and he talked about being content. Being content is something you have to learn. This world tells you that you need more money, better car, bigger house, more, more, more. You can't take a darn thing with you when you leave this earth. When you die, there is nothing you have or can buy that will stop the one thing we will all do one day.....die. It's funny because Denson and I had just talked about contentment the week before. It is amazing how God speaks. Sometimes I wonder why I continue to use the word amazing, because God is awesome all the time and nothing He does should suprise me......but I'm still in AWE!!