Category Archives: Life

Put on the armor

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An interesting conversation with a 69 -year-old  patient the other day; father to a 17-year-old girl and 3-9 year olds.  (You do the math)  The theme of the conversation was on protecting our kids.  His word:  shielding.

Same day, extremely disturbing article on kids and porn and their exposure to it and how it is corrupting “normal”.  Read at your own risk.  But read it.    Don’t think that because it’s from the UK it doesn’t apply to you.  It does.  I would paraphrase the article, but Martin Daubney says it all….

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yes, please. I’ll take 4.

It was enough for me to shock our 16-year-old by asking if he was looking at porn on his phone.  Then to follow-up with the “have you ever?” question.  Awkward?  yup.  Necessary?  Absolutely.  The end of the conversation?  No way, no how.

 

Our kids are good.  I don’t wish them to be exposed to anything like this.  Ever.  However, I’m realistic and I’d rather be proactive and have the conversations than to let them navigate it on their own.  Talk about why porn is so destructive.  Talk about why we must fight hard against objectifiying women.  The cold hard reality is, we can’t wait for this conversation.  Like drugs, alcohol and bullying, this must be an ongoing conversation.  Shield all you want, but I want my kids armed and prepared…equipped against this battle that threatens their hearts and souls and bodies.

If we can’t be open and discuss the evils in this world, we better build a fortress or prepare for heartache.  It’s a new and scary world out there and as parents, we are called to be involved or reap the consequences.

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [b]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 [c]With all prayer and petition [d]pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, [e]be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

***Bible verse, New American Standard Bible version

Don’t blink

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Rain.

Holyyyyyyy COW.  We need it.  (we always need it, it seems)  Man, did it set my morning back.  We had a cheer (football) game 1.5  hours away and I wanted/needed to get the grocery shopping done before we left…..because I knew I wouldn’t want to do it AFTER we got home and certainly not on Sunday.

Anyhooo.  90 minutes.  In the rain.  On, off.  On, off.  Brutal, I tell you.

Crappy drive. Crappy radar. Pumpkin spice latte and hot chocolate and all is well.

Crappy drive. Crappy radar. Pumpkin spice latte and hot chocolate and all is well.

To watch this girl cheer.

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These are the days.  We won’t ever get them back.  Making the effort to make the most of every minute.  Don’t sweat the little things.  One day we will miss this.  Don’t blink.

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True.  True.  True.  True.

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iOs7 & 7QTs

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Friday is my favorite day of the week and also a day to recap and join in with Jen and Crew to see how everyone’s week has been going.    With this week’s iOs7 update, I thought I’d share a few observations of my 24 hours with it thus far.  By far, NO exhaustive tutorial, just some mere observations as I continue to navigate the changes and have my children school me.download-2

  1. As with the iOs6 update, the update took quite some time to download.  For me it took over an hour (I can’t give you an exact time because I had to leave my precious to go to an open house and went…..GASP…….with NO phone!).  The hour download does NOT count the time it took to back up my phone first and then remove 1.8g of space to allow the download–a frustrating event in itself.
  2. White.  Holy cow.  There is a LOT of white.  Backgrounds that is.  White background in the texting section.  White background in the notes section.  I’m going to have to lower my brightness, it’s a little distracting.
  3. New font.  Sans serif, I believe?  Automatically put in a password protect to get in.  (of course, you can remove it in settings, but I’ve been meaning to do that for awhile….so, eh, nod to the procrastinators).
  4. When I opened the weather section for the first time I saw this:
    Zero info.

    Zero info.  However, in full disclosure, it did load in time and gave the usual info along with an active background of moving clouds or rain…depending on the weather in that area.

     

  5. This little trick via my 16 yo son:  instead of sliding the bar to the left to wake the phone up, touch the middle of the bar and slide UP.  You get this fancy schmancy screen to adjust all kinds of stuff AND…..there is a flashlight already downloaded.  I actually use that.download-1
  6. The camera features are new:  there is a panoramic option, square option, (regular and video also still available) AND some fun little edits AS YOU TAKE THE PICS.  Fun.  Especially if you are a Instagram lovin’, photo documentin’ mom like me.
  7. New ring tones and sounds.  Good to know because you may not recognize your phone ring the first time your phone rings and wonder where that noise is coming from and who’s phone it is.  Maybe.

That’s all for now.  Can’t say I full on LOVE it.  I’m getting used to it.  But here is one last bonus….when you hit the home button twice to close out apps, just tap on the app and slide up.  Poof.  Off.  Just like that.

Now go and enjoy your weekend!!

A week in Review: 7 QT style

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Had some time in the shade this morning so I jotted down some thoughts for this week’s Quick Takes with Jen over @ Conversion Diary…I’ll certainly clock in at the bottom of the heap around #75,897,430, but, HEY!  It’s a post, right?

  1. Top crisis of the week (aside from Hubby’s crazy busy work week and my just crazy regular week), my gym.  Best workout I’ve ever had.  Love them so much I put a humongous sticker advertising for them on the back of my truck.  They are cancelling the 6 am class, which leaves me with evening classes.  I’m not a happy camper.  I’ve stomped my feet and protested and they assure me it’s  a”trial period” while they are trying new things.  I’ll give it a month, but I can tell you right now, evening classes don’t work for me long-term.  They just don’t.
  2. Facebook.  I’m back on.  Sort of.  Only on the laptop, not on my phone.  Mainly just to keep in touch with my friends and keep up with a few businesses.  I only checked it about three times this week.  Still need to go in and streamline a few things, eventually.  A good compromise I think.
  3. Our kids are sliding into a cleaner eating lifestyle, of their own accord.  Which is great.  And expensive.  On the upside, with less crap in the house Mama is doing better as well.  Win-win, I guess?
  4. I’ve been reading “Into the Wild” by John Krakauer;   a book I snatched off Anne’s reading list @ Modern Mrs. Darcy.  It’s given me a lot of interesting perspective on a character trait that I do NOT have:  Adventure!  Fascinating insight into a tragic story and at the same time a tremendous respect for those who follow their passions/obsessions rather than live a life of “what if” and regret.   I’m almost done, but I can honestly say I highly recommend this book, if nothing else it gives quite the cross-section of American people during Chris/Alex’s journey as well as a view from those who follow their heart regardless of what anyone says.
  5. Downloaded ESPN College Football App.  I love to follow the scores and rankings of college football and I don’t always get to watch, so Yay!!  Super excited!!  Go Noles!!
  6. Date night tonight.  It’s been a week y’all and I’m absolutely looking forward to it.
  7. This weekend’s highlights at Casa E include a Pop Warner football game (over now…we won, but I’m certain I sweated a ridiculous amount of weight off), A 14yo birthday celebration of subs for dinner and homemade cheesecake, chinch bug killer applied to our lawn (creeping over via the neighbor…), Mass, exercise, and somewhere along the way, relaxation, gratitude and joy.

Go enjoy yours!

5 Faves of this week

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What?  Two posts in two days?  Don’t get used to it, people.  The cheer schedule changed a bit and by some strange twist of fate I have my laptop all to myself, so Imma gonna go with it!

Linking it up with Hallie @ Moxie Wife via Grace @ Camp Patton.  Confused?  Don’t be.  It’s all good.  Link to either and you get lots of goodies!

Here’s mine:

1.  My Pinterest food boards coming through for dessert for work luncheon tomorrow.   We chose these, my awesome 11 yo made them and we all had a little bitty taste test.  You know.  Just to be sure and all.  We were out of sprinkles (travesty) but it didn’t seem to hurt these dense and super sweet little babies.

original post from HERE

original post from HERE

2.  Evernote and recipes.  Totally saved dinner tonight.  Or created dinner tonight.  Either way you look at it.  Awesome!!

fresh off my phone, yo!

fresh off my phone, yo!

3. More foodish items.  Do you like chai tea?  I do.  My friend told me about this new Tazo flavor and I had a cup this evening for a little pick me up to make it through the evening.  Yum.  Like a spicy chocolate milk.  It’s still 90 degrees here, so I drank mine on iced almond milk…you can make it hot if you prefer.

yes, please!

yes, please!

4.  This dude.  Ah, that we were all so completely confident to sleep so completely and blissfully aware of the mulch hanging from our rear ends.

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5.  This dude.  So completely confident in himself that he wore his sister’s headband in his hair like this ALL.  DAY.  LONG.  to school.  Then he was inspired by this the ‘do to seek a new cut….scheduled for Saturday.  Love him and his manly poser poses.

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Now go on and check out all the other fun faves for the week!