Look Out Wisdom, Here I Come!

I've been a little behind in my Bible study homework lately.  My trip to Texas and an illness the week before precluded me from working as diligently as I usual.  In the past several years, at this point in my studies, I have usually already quit doing the homework.  So, I was extra proud of myself for making up my work before the video started yesterday morning.

I'm in the middle of Beth Moore's study of Esther.  It has been wonderful so far.  I loved the third week when I learned that many, many other women feel "it's tough being a woman in a mean world"!  I was absolutely and completely relieved that some other women find living difficult!  The next week we talked about how "it's tough being a woman when beauty is a treatment" - well, I would agree back then that those treatments were probably a bit different from today.  I do enjoy a little special treatment now and again, and again, and again.

Anyway,  as I was "catching up" yesterday I found a sentence that was unexpectedly applicable to my current situation.  "In my opinion, a woman only grows lovelier the first four decades of her life.  Then, as they say, she grows wise. (Wise enough to pick the right hair color, I hope)."  Thank you very much, Beth Moore.

So, here I am on the eve of my 40th birthday.  I guess you could say this is my very last day to become any lovelier.  It's my last 18 hours and 50 minutes to increase in beautifulness, deliciousness, delicateness, pleasantness, adorableness, stunningness, scrumptiousness, and pulchritudinousness - thanks to the Thesaurus.  Today I will avoid (for one more day) becoming awful, disagreeable, drab, homely, ugly, and unsightly.  Lucky for me - and for you!

I really don't know what to think about this news.  I mean, really, it makes me want to just crawl back into bed and give up.  Although, I do think there is some good to becoming wise.  I can count many occasions when I've thought back on comments I've made and thought, "hmm, that wasn't a wise thing to say".  I know plenty of women who are older than me (and since I'll be 40 tomorrow, that means they have already ended their first 4 decades).  I certainly esteem them for their wisdom.  I look to them for advice.  I look to them for parenting pearls.  I look to them for coping strategies, to determine which wrinkle cream really works, and what to eat to avoid the pot belly.  I even look to them for beauty suggestions - like whether I should go gray, or not.    Guess what!?!  I never noticed that they were no longer lovely!!!

Lovely, as defined by the Free Online Dictionary, means: "full of love; inspiring love or affection; beauty that appeals to the emotions as well as the eye; enjoyable; delightful; a beautiful person, especially a woman".  Ok, so the end of my 4th decade is arriving at 4:29 am tomorrow morning.  I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT! and no, I'm not pregnant.  

I am planning to use all of the NEW wisdom I will be gaining to figure out how to stay LOVELY for the rest of my life!

Thirteen

How on earth did I ever become the mother of a 13 year old?  Well, obviously, I know how I became a mother, but how has my daughter already lived for 13 years?  I'll tell you how she's lived.  Sweetly, harmoniously, and nurturingly.  

She takes care of her brothers.  She takes care of herself.  She takes care of friends.  She'd prefer not to take care of the gekko.  She's not caring for the crickets and she avoids feeding the dog... but she will pet Sassafras, especially when it's bedtime.  She even takes care of me occasionally.  Last week she made a cake for her grandfather on his 80th birthday!

She is quite agreeable to joining in most activities.  She loves to play games, especially with her cousins.  She is astonished by the conniving and cruelty this age can bring.  She is independent and enjoys time to herself.  She loves to text and is happy to now be a member of Facebook. 

Since the age of, ummm, 17 months, she's been nurturing.  Brooks was born 3 days before she was 17 months old.  She has always been happy to care for her brothers, from the birth of the very first one!  She's observant and inquisitive.  She's responsible and dependable.

We're moving to Texas and she is excited.  She loves to make new friends and is always happy for a new adventure.  Of course, the promise of nearby shopping is also exciting. (here she is meeting Amy, James, Teresa, and Sydney for the first time!) 

 and meeting Deanna.... 

Here she is meeting Elisabeth, Eppy, Amy A, with Sharalynn at E's baby shower... (don't look at my hair - I think it was in haircut shock!)

She loved her camp experience at Hollymont last year.  She's a Choctaw by tribe (camping tribe, that is) - just like her mom.  She can't wait to repeat the trip again this year. 

We surprised her with two special presents this year.  First, we are planning a trip to New York City to stay with a very special friend of mine, Sharalynn.  We are hoping to go this summer after we move. (here she is meeting Sharalynn and Tim for the first time!)

 Secondly, I bought an amethyst ring in Austria when I was fourteen years old.  I wore that ring on my left hand until Tim replaced it with an engagement ring!  I had the stones re-set in white gold for Caroline and was thrilled to present it to her - after all - the amethyst is her birthstone! 

 This year her birthday fell on Friday.  It was the same night as the 7th/8th grade semi-formal.  We had a dinner party for 7 of her closest friends - complete with stuffed shells and the chocolate fountain.  They had a great time together.  I'm quite sure it was a night she will never forget.  

Thirteen years ago that night, I was experiencing an evening I'll never forget, either.  February 20, 1996, was my first night to discover the excitement and wonder that the birth of a new baby daughter would bring.  

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Ah, the memories!

Update

I haven't given up - really!  I have debated putting the old blog down for good, but I can't bear to do it.  Thanks to my 6 or 7 faithful readers.  I have a meter on my page to gauge the reading activity.  I thought it was so much fun last year to see the cities represented as people visited.  I've had many from cities I had never heard from.  Believe it or not, there have been tons of hits from far-away countries.  Don't worry, I can't tell WHO is reading... only WHERE you are reading from.  The saddest and most alarming fact is that those reading from other countries were only interested in "The Naked Girl at the Slumber Party" post.  I'm sure they were disappointed upon finding my post.  Nothing but good, clean fun on this site!

So, this short note serves 2 purposes.  First, to tell you I am planning to revive the old blog.  Second, to erase "Torture" from the top of the blog.  My friends are advising that I really should take down my post entitled "Torture" with a picture of Tim and I .  Evidently it's bad PR.  

Hang in there, my friends!  This is a big week for me and I have lots to report!