Bloggy Giveaway

It's time again for the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival hosted here. There are loads of giveaways to enter so enter mine and then get busy!! :)

My giveaway is for your choice of a set of these sweet barrettes for any special little princess. The dress barrette is only one piece.

Leave a comment stating which of these 3 would be your choice and I will pick a winner on Friday. The barrettes will be mailed to you next week and will be just in time for Valentine's Day!

If you visit my site and tell me your favorite thing pictured there, I will enter throw in an extra set if your name is chosen.

You have to have to HAVE TO be sure and leave an email address or make sure that I can contact you through your blog or your entry will not count!

This giveaway is open to anyone, even if you live outside of the U.S. and you do NOT have to be a blogger to enter!

Have fun and thanks for visiting!

Monday Musings

Oh this youngen is too cute for words!

Her grandparents got her this new Wiggles "cuh-tar" while out shopping this weekend. She loves it! So, I walked into the den this morning to find her sitting on the coffee table, legs crossed like a little lady, just like this. Just jammin' away!

This evening, (and I wish I had a picture of this) she came out of her room with a ball cap on and started - what appeared to be break-dancing - and started saying "Criss-Cross Applesauce!"

They make up the cutest things!

Our Duty

PRAY FOR RULERS AND FOR ALL WHO HAVE AUTHORITY
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE QUIET AND PEACEFUL LIVES
FULL OF WORSHIP AND RESPECT FOR GOD.

1 TIMOTHY 2:2

As Beth Moore stated on her blog today,
"Today it makes no difference how anyone voted.
God in His sovereignty has appointed this day and our new president needs our prayers."

Heavenly Kisses

Don't you just love how faithful God is? It was one of those days today that left me smiling at His love for us at day's end. Have you ever felt like God was playing games with you? In a good way? I mean...it's funny how He drops a little miracle or blessing in your life at~not just anytime, but the perfect time. His timing, after all, is always perfect!

I spent time with the Lord this morning in a way that I haven't done in quite some time. I don't mention this to bring myself any glory...but to bring all glory to Him. My time with Him this morning was just something special. I felt His presence and knew that mountains were moving. You know what I mean I'm sure!

So, as if almost to say "Thank you" for taking time out of my morning and giving Him the first fruits of my day... when coffee was calling me, laundry was piled up, emails were waiting, etc. He was just constantly dropping lil' tidbits of love on me all day. Not one of them may have meant a hill of beans to you or anyone else. But, they were kisses, Heavenly kisses custom-made.

Yes...Kisses from my Father!

I suggest you play this game tomorrow...or why wait for tomorrow? Start now! Only 2 players needed and He's always game!

Imagine seeing this in your local headlines

My friend's husband emailed this to me today. He said I would find it interesting. I dunno...for some strange reason, he has the idea that I like to shop? Certainly my husband would never agree ~ haha!

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Shopaholic Dies in Avalance of Clothing

Ready for the story that's made us vow to (finally) go through those piles of shoes on the top shelf of our closet?

This is the story of a girl in the UK who apparently went missing over the holidays ... only to surface buried under three feet of boxes. Apparently a mountain of suitcases fell on her, burying her alive.

Now, first of all, compulsive shopping is a legit problem for many people in the world—and we hesitate to make light of this kind of tragedy. On the other hand, we can't stop hearing cautionary tales our parents told us about "turning into macaroni and cheese" if we ate too much or "the old lady who lived in a shoe". I mean, the details are just staggering. According to the Daily Mail, girlfriend owned 300 scarves and literally thousands of trinkets—the situation was to the extent that "she had only a 2ft-wide path to get around [her valuables], and her car and garage were packed with other goods." This sounds worse than a New York apartment, which is tough to do!

All that said, the Daily Mail's headline describing her as a "Shopaholic Spinster" might make things even worse. I mean, why not just throw an "old maid" in there for good measure? Sigh. As a fitting epilogue, the upcoming Confessions of a Shopaholic movie will apparently run with a disclaimer - no doubt about the risks of said shopping behavior.

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Now I am not making a joke of this. Really I am not. But can you imagine what the funeral was like? Who needs 300 scarves?

Peers

So I didn't expect the "peer" problem to come as early as 3 years old. But, it has. It is proving to be tough too.

How do you best explain to a toddler that she needs to be careful who she plays with without teaching her at this young age to quit talking to someone or to be ugly to someone?

I have caught myself wondering, "Why is it my child that is being affected by another?" "Why can't I just hear of it happening to someone else instead?" I know that is totally selfish of me and the fact is...I trust that the Lord knows that we, as her parents, will seek Him in this matter and let Him show us what to do. Maybe some other kid's parents would deal with it in a way that wasn't appropriate ~ or worse ~ maybe they wouldn't deal with it at all! I know that a lot of parents ignore things that shouldn't be ignored and/or just brush it off thinking the situation will go away. Only to find out that the learned behavior - never corrected - has become a major issue.

I am an overprotective mother. We are overprotective parents. There...I said it. I am proud of the fact. We are living in 2009 and you have to be that way! For example, we don't do magic...We don't support magic or watch things that get all into it. Unfortunately most children's shows have some element of it in there, which can't completely be avoided. But, we are careful of what her little ears hear; eyes see; etc.

See, E doesn't belong to us. She is His. He has just trusted her little life to us and expects us to care for her as best we can. We aren't perfect at it and never will be, but we strive to do what we feel is in her best interest. Physically, mentally, spiritually, and every other "~ally!"

Therefore, we teach our child to love everyone and if she is anything like I was growing up, she will be burdened for those children that are different; the one's that don't have the popular things that others have; the one's that no one else talks to; etc. I was one of those that was friends with everyone. I was best of friends with the popular kids and turned around and spent the weekend with "that girl." It didn't bother me! I disliked cliques and still do.

So I tread very lightly on the issue of "not playing with so & so" until she can better understand my reasons behind it. I will certainly not tread lightly when it comes to being a teenager and hanging with the wrong crowd...then, it will be different.

Now though, at the time when she is learning life's little lessons...She is learning to show everyone love and to be a friend to her little classmates, I am at a loss. We have reconciled with the fact that she is His and her little spirit needs to be protected from some things. Yes, she will be exposed to all sorts of things on this heathen earth, but I am Mama and during these pre-school days, I'll stand in the way!

My name is Stacey Baker and I am an overprotective mother. :)

What He is

I learned a new word today. It touched me in a profound way too.

Chew on it today. I pray that it will touch you as well.

"Panpharmacon" ~ Salve for every sore; Medicine for every disease.

God is our Panpharmacon.

Father God...Dr. God, thank You for being my Panpharmacon. You are my salve for every sore. There is no problem that You and You alone can't fix. There is no disease or sickness that You can't heal. There is no friendship or relationship that You can't mend. There is no need...not today and not tomorrow that You are not the answer to.

You are my answer. You are our answer. Thank you.

My Daily Dosage...Online

I just thought it would be neat to find out what my three visitors...haha...checked online each day.

I think those of us that are on the internet on a regular basis have our sites that we "frequent" each day or at least each week. What are yours'?

Here is a tidbit of my online routine:

* Gmail to check my email - that is first and foremost.
* Yahoo to check my other email...(I'm working on bringing them together.)
* Facebook ~ cuz you kNoW we have to keep up with our "peeps" on a daily basis. Of course, that takes a bit of time. Then, you end up chatting for a minute to a friend that may be logged on.
* MySpace (maybe a couple times a week) I am really liking FB better now. It just seems less - I dunno - highschool'ish.
* My Bank ~ gotta keep tabs with the money!
* Ebay - because I'm an ebay junkie! I have almost always got several things listed on there for sale so I log on regularly to see what the bidding is at on my items.

Check my "Kissin' Cousins" link in my sidebar to see the blogs that I keep up with. They are all great, but I have 2 or 3 of those that I just can't miss out on! They are my fav's!

I check these when I think of it: Craigslist and DealTaker (very cool site - check out the "Deals of the Day")

I'm sure I'll post more at another time. You know these things change quite often. We are always finding new sites to waste time on now aren't we?

So, again, what are yours'? Leave me a comment...

Planity-Plans

Alright, I'm already hearing and reading about resolutions this and resolutions that. I've been on Facebook and people are already posting about hitting the gym yesterday, joining a new body pump class, changing to fat-free something-or-another, etc.

So here. These aren't resolutions. But, as a friend of mine said, "No resolutions. Just better habits." and a few good plans thrown into the mix.

#1 and most important: I plan to get closer to the Lord in 2009 than I've ever been before. I, like so many of us, have gotten busy with being busy in church...going about the Christian routine. I live a good life. I go to church at Christmas and on Easter and every week in between. We don't even consider missing church, it's just a given for us. But going to church is just going to church. My personal relationship with Christ is what matters. I've gotten comfortable in it. I need adventure. That sounds silly to some I know. But, I don't need to bungee jump, skydive or hike up Mt. Everest. I just need to let the Lord take me places.

...and it's gonna be a blast!

#2: Spend more quality time with my girl and less busy time around my house. I want her time with her mommy to be memorable down the road.

#3: Buy a couple Christmas gifts each month through next Christmas. The holidays snuck up on me this year and I found myself in a pinch to hurry and shop for everyone. Next Christmas is gonna be extra gooood.

So, I limited myself to 3 for now - although there are loads more running through my lil' head.

What are some of yours'? Comment back and let me know!

Happy New Year!!

I'm back! There are 2 minutes left in the first day of this brand new 2009 year! I told myself I would not let the day go by without posting.

So here I am! I am back. I plan to redesign my blog and give it a fresh look. I am bored with it and I think that is why I got so blog-lazy.

I'll be back to post my plans for the upcoming year. I just can't bring myself to say "resolutions" like everyone. Resolutions are meant to be broken. Oh but plans ~ I've got plans baby and I'm gonna see 'em through.

I know. I know. You have 'em too! Can't wait to get an open discussion going on here and see what yours' are!

I lift a glass of sweet tea or a mug of coffee up for ya and "Cheers!" for the best year of our lives!

The Best is Yet to Come!

Until later...Goodnight!