Clothes and Cooking

So done with this 7 clothes business.  I would love to have a wonderful experience to write about , involving this months' focus on clothes.  I got nothin.
Well, I do have a grey tee shirt that USED to be my favorite, that I never want to see again after this month,
dirty jeans and a strong desire to go shopping.  Fourteen more days to go.  Maybe something spectacular will happen.  Or maybe not.  Is that point? A month of looking plain and simple and nothing fantastic happening because of it.  I'll let that sink in.

What has been fantastic is my  desire to cook.  I am working my way through the Pioneer Woman Cook book and reading the Joy of Cooking like it's a romance novel.  Something inside me clicked and I can't stop, I love it love it.  I have no idea if the clothes deal and the cooking desire are related.

Fried Chicken is on the menu tonight, it's soaking in buttermilk as I write this.

My Gwen

Lovin on my Gwen today.  Being a Fifth grader is hard.  You are READY to GET OUT of Elementary school, but a little nervous about how middle school might change your life.  When you are so dog gone pretty,  boys have crushes on you, and  no matter how pretty your Mama says you are , she is still your Mama and so there are days when legs feel hairy, hair feels flat and you really want contacts.

Gwen and I bonded over sitting side by side yesterday for over an hour, her on Instagram and Wanelo and me on Facebook.  Not the Mother/Daughter kind of quality time I might dream up but it happened naturally and when I realized what was happening , instead of saying " get off your phone, we've both been wasting time!" I stayed a bit longer and sunk down into the couch and listened more intently as she described pictures she liked and styles that were hot.  It felt nice to just sit with her. No agenda , just taking her in.  

Her gorgeous shiny straight blond hair, her long legs, her big smile, her perfect hands.  Those blue eyes.  Her shorts that are bit too short for my liking but not as short as the ones I said No Way to. Her Mocking Jay earrings.  I love her so, I don't think she can fathom how much, especially since I am learning Parenting on her and my over controlling not so gentle personality tends to seep out more than I would like.  I really hope she knows how much I adore her.

I spend so much time telling Gwen what to do.  

Clean your room. Get off the phone until your room is clean. Are you sure you don't have homework? Wipe down the bathroom please. Tell me where your going. Does that friend have brothers?  I don't like you hanging out with older brothers? Be careful on the trampoline. Only one at time remember?   Study for that Test. I know you studied on the bus, you have to study here too.  Don't say that to your sister! Do you know how much she looks up to you?  Yes, she does care what you think.  Get in the car, Yes you have to go to your brothers game. Don't take your phone.... you can talk to people around you, esp today Grandma is going to be there. Do Not be on your phone when Grandma is talking to you!  Close your window. Has your window been open all day?  The A/C is on for heavens sake!  Well if your room stinks, Clean it!  Have you flossed this week?  I really don't want to pay for more fillings. How many marshmallows did you just put in your mouth? Right before bed!  Rinse out your mouth and brush your teeth again.  Hurry up, it's bed time. No more phone, get to bed. Turn your light out by 10 please. 

I love you , Good night,  I love you too.  

Anyway, after our couch time, she actually agreed to help me make the blackberry cobbler we were having for dessert.  At first reluctant, but then she realized it was fairly easy and how much I still wanted to be with her even though I had to cook dinner.  So phone time together =

baking time together , and we both got what we wanted, a little more of each other.  I hope I can make more of this kind of time with my emerging tween and less time for the above nagging.  

Did I say I adore her?  

Day 5 in Clothes Month -Cute Shirt Day

So this is my only cute shirt on my list of 7 clothes.  I saved it to wear to church today.  I forgot to wash my jeans until this morning so I  had a cute shirt but damp rear.

This Sunday has fed my soul in several ways.  First we had worship and the message today was our Pastor celebrating all that our church is able to do in Austin.  Still being fairly new this info only affirmed what I had felt God saying, " Stay here, this is the church for you." Many local ministries coming along side the hurting, the homeless, the at risk and much more.  Also globally we are starting 600 churches in a area of India. I cannot tell you how this blows my mind.  For the price of how much a parking lot would cost our church we can plant 600 churches in India.

Second, my girls and I served with Mobile Loaves and Fishes ( a ministry that helps feed and clothe the homeless and working poor)  After three times serving we each finally found our niche today.  Gwen loves making outfit bags and Claire was the ultimate toiletry bag stuffer.  My heart swelled as they were working, talking about how to make each bag great and wondering what person would get them.

Third , we ate lunch at P. Terry's, the best burgers in town then went to our local Farmers Market where I bought eggs and Kale.  The eggs are for my future bunt cakes I plan on making and the Kale is for Claire. She wants to make kale chips. I know you want her but she is all MINE!

Last, we made a Good Will run where I found a hard cover Steinbeck novel and Gwen found a Straightener. They even said she could bring it back if it didn't work!  Four dollars is Four dollars.

 Back to Clothes Month.  I am learning a few things.  One is I really am a simpleton at heart.  I really dig NOT having other options.  I kinda miss my earrings , but really that's it.  Because I'm still new where I live, I'm always meeting new people.  So this month I best be smiling a lot and be real nice, cuz my clothes will not be selling me as anything but casual,comfy girl who only wears flip flops or tennis shoes and the same pair of jeans ALL THE TIME.  My need to pray isn't as heightened as it was during food month but I feel like God is WITH me.

This month was kicked off by me finding out my 11 year old said yes to "going out" with a boy.  As I was kinda freaking out, she made clear "going out" in 5th grade is fake dating. You don't really do anything together and you might talk occasionally , but not directly to one another , mostly through friends.
Still.  I have been tossing and turning the last 4 nights, begging God for wisdom. I don't want to make too big a deal of this but I don't want to make too little a deal either.  I mean her Instagram account says "taken." What?!  The only people who can take this first born daughter of mine is her Daddy and me.  She can't belong to any boy.... not now, not.....

Oh my gosh, so I've been praying about being a wise parent and I kinda feel like God is laughing a good belly laugh as I toss and turn and rub my temples over having to think about BOYS.

This has gone too long, but I wanted to catch my mind up on all that has gone on.  In case you haven't read earlier 7 is based on a book about restricting certain areas of your life to rid your life of excess and in the process make more of Jesus.  Should any one want to jump in learn more about 7 at www.jenhatmaker.com.  Just know, she will kinda shake you up.

Food Month Completed.... On to Clothes

I completed my month of 7 foods last Sunday.  My day back to real food wasn't what I  expected.  The food made me sick and then I couldn't shake the guilt about all the cheese and grease I put into my body.  The next day I went shopping and felt weak and scared, trying to pick foods for the following week , but not really wanting to veer from my 7.  I could not have predicted this feeling.
First of all, I lost 10 lbs and would like to keep it off through swim suit season. Therefore, I'm panicked about adding cheese and peanut butter back in to my diet.  I'm quite sure these past food staples of mine are where the heavy calories came in for me.  I feel pretty good about mostly leaving dairy behind, because the place it liked to live was in my behind.  Thus I think our family is gonna spend a substantial amount of money on honey crisp apples and avocados. And bananas! Oh I missed you bananas.

So on to month two where we simplify through wearing or having less options in the clothing dept.  I have chosen these 7 articles;
 a pair of black shorts,
 a pair of jeans,
black work out pants
my UT tee,
my Padre Island Tee ,
my Green and white checkered tank/blouse ( church worthy)
 My flip flops and tennis shoes (shoes count as one article).
 No diamond studs, no changing out bracelets.  In protest of this I  bought a kickin red stain lip gloss, so I have some awesome lips while I wear mostly the same thing every day.

I'm already missing the empty feeling that led me to Jesus in the first month, so I"m really hoping the clothes thing will also bring my mind to what is really important again.  I really don't think that many people will notice I"m wearing the same things over and over.  I go to lots of places only once a week and my neighbors and close friends know all about 7.  I have no idea what it will teach my kids. As of now, Gwen pretty much thinks it sounds like the worst experiment ever.  " A weird way to be close to God," she said. I kinda agree, but I'm doing it.