Femininity

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

Femininity!! What is it!?!
This was lesson 5 of my Bible Study.
The definition of femininity is: the quality or nature of the female sex.

I learned the heart of femininity is the essence of a woman: her characteristics, qualities and God-given design.

One of the questions was to list words we associated with femininity:
soft, delicate, girlish, subtle, dainty & weak
I had a bad outlook on what femininity truly is!

Some of the very things we are criticized for are qualities that should be allowed to grow and be expressed. Our feminine characteristics allow us to be nurturing, caring, loving, emotional, relational, alluring and so on.
That sounds so much nicer! I am having a better outlook!

This of course goes all the way back to the beginning.
Before Eve was created "for Adam no suitable helper was found" (Genesis 2:20) Adam needed a helper - someone who had the qualities that he was missing, to complement him and help him get the job done. Eve was that missing piece. Together- as one- Adam and Eve represented the image of God.

We need to recognize that our femininity - our femaleness- is a gift from God to be used by and for Him.

My new outlook on femininity is:
Being a woman is a great blessing and an opportunity to impact the world in a positive, lasting way. God has a purpose for me, a place on this earth that only I can fill!

Discover & Play The Preschool Way!!

Today was Emily's last official day as a preschooler! Her class along, with her teachers Mrs. Holly, Mrs. Laura & I went on an End of Year Field Trip. Our first stop was at the River Bend Nature Center & Butterfly Conservatory.
The kids enjoyed several activities!
Digging For Bones:








A Butterfly Craft:











Mane Event Horse Sculpture:








I'm A Lady Bug:



Our next stop was at the Wichita Falls Walking Trail at Lucy Park.



And our last stop was at Chuck E Cheese!!
The trip was alot of fun & the kids had a great time!
I think the teachers & I needed a nap!!
The Preschool way is fast & fun!

Practice Makes Perfect!!

Holliday Lil Eagles played a game earlier in the week against Taking Care of Business. Was the name ever fitting!! They beat them 14 to 7! Poor Eagles! They lost because the majority of the Eagles won't slide or dive at home plate, so they get out instead. At their next practice they dove & slid, but not in the traditional way. It was the Small Town Holliday way!!



Only in a small town will you see the volunteer fire department at a practice hosing down a slip & slide so the team can practice diving & sliding into home!?! Well, they played Kool Kats tonight. They did much better but were not able to pull off a win. Lil Eagles lost 6 to 12! Better Luck Next Time!!

Kindergarten Here She Comes!!

Our 1st of many graduations!! Emily has attended Country Campus Daycare since she was 5 weeks old! She has had so many wonderful teachers & they have loved & cared for her as if she was one of their own! The graduation was so sweet! They interviewed each child prior to the event & asked them several questions. We all laughed & some cried at the honest answers the kids gave.
Here is Emily's:
1.) How old will you be when you are grown up? 5
2.) What will you be? A Basketball Player
3.) How much money will you make? $10,000
4.) Will you get married? Yes To who? Bo Bagwell (One of her classmates)
5.) How many children will you have? 11
6.) Will you bring them to Country Campus? Yes
7.) What do you want to tell your mom & dad? Don't worry!!


They sang a few songs, walked across the stage, recieved their diplomas, threw their hats, & just like that she is ready for ELEMENTARY!! I can't believe it!!

Memorable Moments

Letter to Kayleigh

May 2009
Dear Kayleigh,

Great Expectations
The day we heard the exciting news was October 29, 1998. You were due to be born on June 25, 1999. My first reaction was excited, a little scared of not knowing what to expect. Dad’s reaction was scared,. The reaction of family and friends was a combination of emotions- happy, a lot of crying. Some very excited about a new generation. Hopes that you would be healthy, and know that you will be loved by many people. We will always be there no matter what.

Preparations, Preparations
My doctor was Dr. King at The Women’s Clinic. The doctors special instructions were on June 18, 1999. Dr. King said I was dilated to 3 centimeters and if you were not born before June 23, 1999, to come into the hospital to be induced. Dad and I attended Prepared Childbirth Class at the hospital from May 4 - June 8. We also attended Beginner Breastfeeding June 15th. We read Pregnancy - Childbirth and the Newborn. We also received many words of wisdom from family and friends. “It will be okay.” “You will both do fine.” “Breastfeeding - It’s the closest bond you can have with the baby. Just give it a try, if it is that uncomfortable then you can stop.”

The most memorable moments of the pregnancy was our first sonogram was at 10 weeks and 6 days. It was so exciting! We cried, I knew it was a living person inside of me. I had morning sickness for the first four months. I was a bridesmaid in my friend Brooke’s wedding. It was in April and I had to wear a pastel yellow dress. I was seven months pregnant, I felt like an Easter egg going down the aisle. The baby shower was wonderful, we got all of our big items, fifty plus people attended.

The Great Day Arrives
At 6:30am on Wednesday morning of June 23, 1999 we went to United Regional Health Care System 8th Street Campus. We went up to the 5th floor and checked into Labor and Delivery. We were in room #5. Dodad, Nan, MiMi and Uncle Pat were there for moral support. Dr. King delivered you. You were born at 12:15pm, it all went so fast. We couldn’t believe how calm and easy everything was. The Vernon Junior College student said it was her first birth to see and when you were born we all cried.

Up to this point we didn’t know if you were a boy or girl. It was so exciting to hear the doctor say, “It’s A Girl!!!” You weighed 9 pounds and 4 ounces and were 21 ½ inches long. Your hair was black and you had a strawberry birth mark above your tailbone and another on the back of your head.

First Impressions
I said, “Oh My It’s A Girl!!” You were so pretty. I can’t believe you weighed so much. I also thought you looked like me in my baby pictures. Dad said, “It’s a little Amie!” He counted your ten fingers and ten toes. Family and friends couldn’t believe how much hair you had. They all wanted to look at your feet, and commented on how big you were. They thought you looked like me and that you had your dad’s brow line and dimples.

Your name was chosen by dad and I. We had several picked out since we did not know until you were born if you were a boy or girl. If a boy, Tyler James or Andrew Ryan. If a girl Kellsey Ann or Madison Taylor. To us none of them fit so we thought of Kayleigh Marie! The special meaning of your name is: The pleasing smile, a welcome trait, of this gentle one from the strait.

Coming Home
We got to come home on Friday, June 25, 1999. You rode in the car with dad and I, we lived in a duplex in Faith Village. Your first visitor was my best friend Brooke. Your room was decorated in burgundy, navy and cream,. The pattern on your bedding was with bears and bunnies and hearts with plaid.

No one ever said raising a child would be easy. We have a wonderful support system and the love of God to guide us! You are a special miracle from above and we are so proud of the young lady you are becoming. Always remember Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Life Stages

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Proverbs 3:1-2

Each woman's life naturally progresses through various stages of development.

Stage One: 0 to 5 Years
This is the foundational stage of development, in which a baby is nurtured and loved for who she is.The parent is the primary caregiver and creates a safe environment for this precious gift. Her primary caregivers are her role models at this time.

Stage Two: 6 to 9 Years
Her self-esteem is intact at this stage. She develops girlfriends, is close with her mother and likes to talk to her dad. It is an age of discovery. She begins to understand who God is and that sin separates her from him.

Stage Three: 10 to 20 Years
This stage marks the onset of puberty.Her world begins to change. She becomes more tempted by peer pressure, develops an interest in boys and tends to argue more with her mother. It is a very awkward time. As she reaches her late teens, she starts to develop a sense of identity apart from her mom and dad.

Stage Four: 21 to 40 Years
The lifestyle choices a woman makes during this stage will shape the rest of her life.It is probably the busiest time of a woman's life. Decisions about career, marriage and family are generally made during this stage as she begins to recognize her gifts and influence. When she looks in the mirror, she sees the face of her mother more and more and begins to realize the tremendous influence her mother had on her.

Stage Five: 41 to 60 Years
This is the time when the lifestyle choices she made earlier begin to play a big role. Stressful events such as children leaving home- leaving no one to care for- often takes place during this stage, adding to the emotional highs and lows. This stage is a time for accomplishing goals she set aside years before.

Stage Six: 61+ Years
There are many factors that influence this stage of a woman's life. As she redefines her identity, she realizes she enjoys the freedom and flexibility that these years bring. There are greater opportunities at this stage to be active in her community, to enjoy grandchildren and to have mentoring relationships. She is not affected by the view of some that she is past her prime but instead seeks to make every day count.

It was a bittersweet thing to see what stage I am in now, to reminisce of my childhood, to know that the girls are in two different stages. Wow!!

This also reminded me of a few songs!
It Won't Be Like This For Long - Darius Rucker

You're Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins   More CMT Music   More CMT Music Videos

Turn! Turn! Turn!(To Everything There Is A Season) - The Byrds
The words adapted from the Book of Ecclesiastes


Hope you enjoyed this lesson as much as I did!
What stages have you experienced?

Mother's Day

Kayleigh, Emily, Nathalie & I have been blessed to have so many wonderful & strong women in our family! We are so thankful to be apart of such a loving & caring group of ladies! I know that there is a small piece of each one of these women that make who we are! Thank you for all the love & support over the years!

In My Daughter's Eyes

Baseball, Baseball & More Baseball!!

Friday Night Lights is not just football!

Kayleigh's team Holliday Lil Eagls played the Little Divas Friday night.
It was hot! Kayleigh was excited that Unkie Joe, Aunt Jennifer & the boys (Andy & Tommy) came to watch the game.

The game watching didn't last long so Unkie Joe & Uncle Casey had to do some entertaing! It is not easy keeping small kids interested in a hour & 1/2 game!
The teams ended with a tied game 12 to 12. Yeah Lil Eagles!

Saturday began the double header! Lil Eagles vs Lady Texans & much cooler weather!
The team seemed to still be waking up & acting silly!
The Eagles lost 9 to 12. Better luck next game!

After a lunch break the Lil Eagles played their 2nd game vs Diamond Divas (also a Holliday team). The team didn't work together & some of the girls didn't have very good attitudes!?!

Kayleigh managed to tear a hole in the toe of her shoe. (The right foot she follows through with when pitching)
Well, they lost 12 to 16! :( Hopefully they learned a lesson!?!

It's My Body

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind & with all your strength.

The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Mark 12:30 & 31

This is the verse at the beginning of the 3rd session of the Bible study at church!

When I 1st read it I thought, this is a commandment!

What does this really have to do with my body?

Well it took me back to the 1st session Defining Worth.

I thought about the measure of a woman's values. They don't depend on how much she has accomplished in her life, or how much she weighs, or what she looks like or even what others perceive to be her level of spirituality.

The lesson It's My Body went on to say that: A woman's self-worth is based on her ability to look in the mirror & like the woman she sees there.

Are you kidding me!?!

A major aspect of self-worth is to understand the importance of caring for the whole person: Body, Soul, Mind & Spirit.

Determining self-worth is discovering the value of whom God created you to be. It is to acknowledge that your worth is based on God's love, grace, & perfect design.

Body - The Physical Me

Each of us is a physical being housed in a physical body. This shell may be temporal, but how we care for it will largely determine our quality & length of life.

Soul - The Emotional Me

Positive & negative emotions can have lasting effects on us mentally, spiritually & physically. Our emotions are most closely tied to our thoughts.

Mind - The Thinking Me

The words that come from our mouths are the result of our thought processes, but the tone of out thoughts also effects our spiritual, emotional, & physical well-being.

Spiritual - The Lord in Me

Our spiritual being is at the center of who we are. Spiritual self-care is essential to our growth in relationship with God.

God wants us to love him with our whole being because that is who he created us - as a whole person. Loving ourselves is one of the hardest things for many of us to do.

1st, a healthy self-love is not prideful, but is based on who God is & his love for us.

2nd, as we judge ourselves, so we judge others.

When negative thoughts, emotions or attitudes creep in, we need to turn our focus toward Jesus.

I am making some changes in my life!

As you consider these things, ask the Lord to help you nurture the most important areas of who you are emotionally, mentally, physically & spiritually.

Cinco de Mayo

It's Cinco de Mayo Day!

It's Cinco de Mayo Day!

Let's clap or hands & shout Ole!

It's Cinco de Mayo Day!

This is one of the songs my 4th grade class learned for the Fiesta.

We all made Flag briefcases to hold the paperwork we did about Mexico.
We learned the colors, days, months, people & school things in Spanish.

We also learned how to sing Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes in Spanish.

One of our teachers Mrs. Reyna showed us how to make homemade tortillas!

Yum!

At the end of the day we had a parade in the school

& visited all the classrooms to show off the pinatas we made!

My friends Cheyenne, Erin & Audrey made a skittle candy pinata!

My other friends Kelsey, Traley & Hannah made a cupcake pinata!

Katie, Amber & I made a bumble bee pinata!

On Stage!

Kayleigh along with her Girl Scout troop, went to the WichitaTheatre to see High School Musical 2 live! The girls enjoyed watching local cast members in the musical. They liked all the costumes & different stage sets.

After the musical the troop joined the cast for a Meet - n Greet in the theatre with pictures & autographs!

Kayleigh's troop along with another troop participated in a theatre workshop. They began by learning how to cast their voices, so that the audience could hear them. Then they divided into smaller groups & each girl was assigned a part (The script was The Wizard of Oz). Kayleigh got to be Dorothy! They practiced for 15 minutes & then performed for the audience. It was fun to see Kayleigh up on stage.

The girls had such a good time being in the spot light! The staff & cast members worked well with the girls.We are looking forward to the next 2 productions at the Wichita Theatre. The Wizard of Oz in June & Grease in July! You never know Kayleigh just might be a big star one day!