Passport to Purity -Our Special Getaway {Plus a Reader's Discount!}

When she was 11, we had the talk...you know, the birds and the bees...S-E-X.

I survived. She survived.

After discussing the science and mechanics of it all, I knew as a believer, that wasn't going to be enough. I would have to take it a step further. She needed to understand His glorious design for all the crazy things happening to her body. His beautiful purpose for sex within marriage. I knew she would have to know her worth...her value in God's eyes.

If not, this world would eat her alive.

I introduced her to the concept of purity and my desire to take her away for a weekend to discuss it in depth.

She looked at me like I had no less than 3 heads, so I told her to just let me know when she felt she might be interested in learning more...and we left it at that.

She is now 13, and recently she let me know that she was ready.



I ordered Passport 2 Purity, booked a hotel in Nashville, and spent 3 glorious days eating copious amounts of Chipotle and sour gummy worms in bed with my girl.

We hit the vending machine, and the day old lobby coffee, more times than I care to mention.

It was a total blast.

I won't go into all the details out of respect for her privacy, but I do want to share my love for this program.



I am super picky about how I approach this stuff with my kids.

I do not want them to be turned off to the truth of God's word simply because I picked a hokey method in which to do so. 

I've seen Christian curriculum, that although well meaning, I myself have a hard time reading, never mind expecting my teenagers to be able to relate. 

I'm sorry, but I just don't think, "you shouldn't have sex until you are married" is enough. In fact, the statistics prove it's not. 

Did you know that 80% of single Christians will not wait until they are married to have sex?

Let's face it...the stuff our kids are facing is tough. Brutal even. They are bombarded sexually left and right. They need to hear about the hard stuff. And they need to hear it from you, mom and dad.

I was so stinkin' impressed with Passport 2 Purity and how relevant the content was. 



The activities for each session were the highlight of the program according to my "hands-on" learner.

They were fun...but most importantly, they were applicable to what she had just learned.

I may have nearly died of embarrassment...at least twice. And I am pretty sure that when I get to heaven, I will be receiving an extra jewel in my crown.

In fact, I'm counting on it. 

But by the time we wrapped up our time together, I saw this beautiful young lady sitting next to me full of understanding, convictions {her own}, and empowered to walk this purity thing out.



What a precious time spent with my beautiful girl...laughing, crying, and talking about the really. hard. stuff. that she will face in life.



We wrapped up our weekend with a little antiquing in Historic downtown Franklin.

I raised her right.



And a purity ring.



I pray this was a weekend that she never forgets. I know I won't.

Parents:
Talk to your children about their purity. Equip them with the power of  'decisions made' before they find themselves in situations they can't handle.

Think you can't afford it? You can't afford not to.

Think you don't have time? Make time.

You won't regret it. :)

Family Life is offering a special discount to my readers. Go to their website and enter the code P2PMOMS to receive a 20% discount on all Passport 2 Purity products.

* Just a head's up. We choose not to promote "dating" {in the typical sense} in our home so when we came to the last section titled "Crossing the Date Line," I only used the things that applied to our family's goals. You can personalize this program to meet your needs if you listen ahead of time.**

 ** I did not receive compensation for my opinion or endorsement of this product. Family Life did not ask me to review this product. I believed in it so much, that I asked them if they would offer a discount to my readers and they obliged. :)






"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

13 Things on Her 13th Birthday

Antiques are unique.
So are you.
Never try to fit in.
Stand out baby girl.



Outgrow your shoes.
Never outgrow your family.



You are loved more than all the sand in the oceans.



Laugh.
At yourself.
Often.

----------------------------------------

Fear is a liar.
Don't listen.



Wear your retainers.
For the rest of your life child.

----------------------------------------

Circumstances will not always be a choice.
Joy will.



Never be too old to be a kid.



You have tremendous value and worth.
Neither of those can be determined by this world.



You...



are so stinkin....



...talented!
Be confident in them all!

----------------------------------------

There are no limits to what you can do through Christ.
When the world tells you there is no way,
Hold tight to Jesus.
He will make one.



You are beautiful.
You are perfect.
You are enough.
Period.

**And one to grown on....

Don't be a people pleaser.
Like never.
Ever.
It's exhausting.
Please God.
It's all that matters in the end.

Happy 13th Birthday sweet girl!

I Surrender All {That Time My Teenager Flew to Another Continent to Love the Orphan and Changed My Life Forever.}

I can't remember a time in my life when I did not know of God.
My grandparents taught me at an early age that God was good and that Jesus loved me.
I knew all the Bible stories and sang all the songs.

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

At 15 I would fumble my way to an altar and profess Jesus as my Savior.
I needed one that is for sure.
I desperately wanted what He had to offer me.
But I still did not get it.
In fact the only thing that changed I think was the guilty feeling that accompanied my actions.
I was His.
But dysfunction and rebellion ran deep.

"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."

At 22 I would be face down on the floor of my bedroom.
Broken.
Betrayed.
Drowning in tears, snot, and hurt.
Crying out to the same Savior I had stiff-armed for 7 years.
Facing divorce.
Unable to breathe.
He would meet me there...right there...at my lowest point...snot and all.
He would steal my heart.
I would be His.
Completely.
Or so I thought.

 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.  When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep. '

At 30 I would attend a Steven Curtis Chapman concert. {don't do it people!}
He would walk on stage with his only days home from China adopted daughter Maria.
My eyes would be opened to the staggering statistics of the orphan.
My heart would be pricked.
A seed would be planted.

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act."

At 33 an earthquake would ravish a small island.
My husband would go there.
The orphan would become personal.
The orphan would be held by my husband.
Like my very own children.
I would ache to hold them.
I would see my children in their faces.
The American Dream would become less and less glamorous.
Things would change in our home.
There would be a new normal.
I would begin to share my heart and passion with my children.
Making them aware.
Giving together.
Seeking out those in need.
Praying together.
Going out of our way to show love.
Hurting together.

"So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead)." -James 2:17

At 36 I would watch my sixteen year old son respond to God's call on his life.
Missions.
It would be radical.
It would be beautiful.
It would suck the very breath from my chest.
Tears would flood my face in the ugliest of ways.
I would hear my Jesus whisper into my soul, "You have to be willing to let him go."
Tyler wasn't the only one about to go on a journey.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, 
and to the ends of the earth.”

Fear would grip my entire being.
Leaving me breathless under the weight of "what ifs".
Airplanes.
Disease.
The unknown.
Sweaty hands would grip tighter and tighter for control.
"Don't ask this of me God. It's more than my momma heart can bear."
I would begin to think of a million reasons why it would not be a good idea.
Excuse after excuse.
I would see myself for what I really am.
What I've been all along.
A fraud.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

Professing and singing of a God that is Holy and Sovereign.
Mighty to save.
Living my life like He is less than worthy of my allegiance to Him.
Not to be trusted.
Unfaithful.
Weak.

All these years I've been running on faithless faith.
Under the influence of a false sense of control.
Talking a talk.
Not walking the walk.
Serving the Creator of the Universe on my terms.
Believing in God.
Too afraid to believe Him.
His promises.
Had He not proven Himself over and over in my life?
Had He not been there all along?
Unable to trust Him with the very things He Himself had entrusted me with.
My children.
His all along.
Just borrowed.
Never mine to keep.

"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit."

At 36 my faith is being more than stretched.
More than tested.
It is being redefined.
Refined.
He wants all of me.
Not just the neat tidy package labeled "Christian" or "Believer."
The dirty,rotten, smelly garbage bag that is me.
Labeled "Full of fear" and "I don't really trust God."

He wants His grace to be sufficient.
His power to be seen in my weakness.
Hearts broken for the poor.
The orphan.
The widow.
The unborn.
The lost.
He wants yes Lord!
Here I am.
Send me.
My children.
I trust my every single next moment to You alone.
Regardless.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.

Today my firstborn {and my husband} will walk away.
Towards a gate.
Towards God's plans for his life.
Passport in hand.
Eager.
Excited.
And I will watch him go.

He is ready.

And willing.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence."

Today I will walk away too.
From fear that cripples.

Paralyzes.Renders ineffective.
Towards raw, authentic faith.
Faith that trusts.
Entrusts.
Faith that moves.

At 36 I get it.
And He gets all of me.
Finally.
The whole ugly thing.
I surrender all.

Thank you Tyler.
You saved me from myself at 19 and today your very own personal faith in Christ has challenged me and blessed me to the innermost part of my soul.
Saving me from myself once again.
Revealing to me a truth that has been there all along.
Never once changed.
He is so worthy of my trust.
Worthy of hands letting go.
Worthy of feet stepping out.
I am in awe of the man of God you are becoming.
You are strong.
You have a heart to please God.
You are willing.
You are chosen.
#YOLO :-)


"And a child shall lead them."





"I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever."

--------------------------------------------------

Here is a video of a trip our church took in 2010.
Tyler and Adam will be experiencing all of this.
The Bolivian Hope Center was founded by Rich and Sandee Farthing after discovering that in Bolivia, children must live in prison with their mother.
Sleep on concrete floors.
Eat maybe 2-3 meals a week.
Now these children have a home and a hope.
So honored that my family gets to play a small part in that.

Prayers for safe travels and a parasite free journey would be much appreciated. :-)






 
















"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Dead Stingrays and Strawberry Freezer Jam {InstaFriday}

Date night.
Goodness.
My man is sexy.



Yard sale find.
Walked away from it to show I had restraint.
Spent the next 3 hours being haunted by the thought of not having it.
Told myself if it was meant to be it would still be there later.
It was.
20 bucks.
That little milk glass lamp?
$1
#score



My friends had a yard sale and posted a picture on Facebook.
I, being the good friend that I am, looked over their shoulders to see what was for sale on the tables behind them.
I spotted this and text her to say, "I need that crate behind you!!!"
She probably took a moment to question her friendship with me responded that she would set it aside.
5 bucks.



Meet "Quincy D"
No he's not a rapper.
At least I don't think so.
He's my teenager's dissected stingray.
The name affectionately given by his lab group...which consisted of him and two of his best friends.



This was his final Biology grade for the year.
Sophomore year...come and gone.
So funny...I am the mom that swore I'd never homeschool.
Especially through high school.
I'm a slow learner when it comes to telling God what I am and am not gonna do in life.



Poor Quincy D.



My mom and I drove about an hour North this week to Amish country in Kentucky.
It's one of my favorite places to be.



Reminds me of my Grandma Margaret and the farm I grew up on.
I want to be Amish.
Except with indoor plumbing.
And cameras.



We stopped off at a restaurant called "Earl G. Dumplings".
Oh. My. Word.
Kraut and Wienies were on the menu if that tells you anything.
I had fried chicken livers, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, pinto beans, and cornbread.
Once again, I'm back in my Grandma Margaret's kitchen.
Coconut pie and all.



Girl's Night Out.
A requirement in life.
In mine at least.



Real men skip {in public} with their daughters.
Did I mention he's the best dad ever?




If you follow me on Instagram you've seen a bazillion pictures of strawberries by now.
I can't help myself.
They are perfectly ripe right now here in TN.
This week Maggie and I picked up my mom and headed to the fields to get our "pick your own" on.
We came back to my house and proceeded to make this sweet red like crack concoction.
Strawberry Freezer Jam.
Click here for the recipe.
It takes 30 minutes.
Seriously if I can do it and not mess it up, anyone can.
Your whole family will thank you for making this delicious treat.

I got my freezer safe containers made by Glad at Kroger (my local grocery store). I have tile floors in my kitchen so I opted for plastic over the cute glass jars. They were cheaper too. :-)





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

{Homeschool} Prom 2012

Tyler attended his Sophomore prom this weekend.

He was dreamy.

Honestly, just when I think he's about as handsome as a young man can get, he goes and gets even handsomer.



Ashten was stunning.



They clean up pretty nice I think.



Last year they went as really good friends.

This year his intentions are a little different so he asked her father's permission to give her flowers and escort her to prom.

This courtship thing really is a beautiful thing to witness.













Everyone looked amazing.

Including my friend's daughter Autumn.

Remember Autumn?

I was privileged enough to watch and capture her vow to remain pure till marriage.

She was a snaggle toothed lanky little girl when we met her family 6 years ago.

Ahem...not so much now.

Such a beautiful young woman...inside and out.



There is a nasty rumor going around that homeschoolers aren't very social.

No fun at all.

Downright prudish.

I beg to differ.

I wish there had been homeschoolers at my prom.





A few of our Seniors.



Senior dance.

With their parents.

::gasp::

Imagine that...these kids actually enjoy not that they have a choice in the matter having their parents involved in this special night.

Teens really do thrive within loving not suffocating/ too restrictive boundaries.



One of our Juniors even invited her dad to be her date for the night.

He thought she was joking.

Nope.

He tore up the dance floor with his daughter till the very end.

He gets dad of the year for sure.

Although I'm pretty sure I saw him bust out the robot once.



I snapped this picture on our way home.

Yes, I did it again ..stayed up all. night. long. with these kiddos at prom after party.

Loved every stinkin minute of it too.

Although I think my body wishes my brain would get the memo that I am now 36 years old.




Tuxedo Rental: $160

Prom Tickets: $100

Watching the sun come up with my sixteen year old: Priceless.



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"