easing struggles

[pentecostal mom]

Okay, moms what are some things that adolescent andpreteen girls in our day and religion struggle with and how do you or have you helped your girls cope and overcome? My daughter Gracie is fairly well grounded as far as our beliefs go but her best friends at school are not pentecostal. Right now they like the way she dresses and all of them have long hair except one of the bunch. But I know that the differences are going to be more recognizable as the girls get older. I know already that Gracie struggles with jewelry. The hair and dresses aren't a problem at all. She used to be really attracted to make up but God gave her a dream that completely took that desire away.

[ddc101]

I have a thirteen year old that just love to do her hair.She does not struggle with as much because she is homeschooled.Actually she is very lady like even more than I am.I am amazed at how mature she is becoming.Her dad has been taking her out in the car in the rural areas and teaching her to drive.Neat.I remember when I learned to drive my dads pickup in the fields.Shake rattle and roll as I got used to stick shifting.hahaha...those were some jaw jarring days at the traffic lights until I could smoothly manuver a clutch....remember when....sigh....sis.c

[Just Jesus]

Pentecostal Mom,

If you don't mind sharing, what was in the dream that took away her desire for makeup?

[foreverblessed]

lol learning to drive brought back memories. Dad taught me to drive in a cadillac, and they were boats back then.

When my parents left for Gen Conference once, I was driving and the water pump on the caddy broke, so only cars left were stick shifts. My brother who is five years younger, took me out to teach me to drive a stick. I got stuck in the middle of an intersection, and he had to get out at 11, and drive me through the intersection. I was a nervous wreck. He finally taught me.. boy was that ever a day to laugh about. Dad taught him how to drive real young. My girls tried to take off with my van this spring, I about killed them, they got down the alley, and stopped. Thank God.


As far as the subject, I have one daughter that will probably always battle jewelry/makeup, ect. she loves glitter, she is very pretty, and her teacher this year at school told the class at the end of the year that he expects her to become a model someday. I am like yeah, over her Mom's Dead body. All my girls are pretty, but she has an exotic look, and is sensual, although she is just a little girl. She is very concerned with her appearance. It has been a challenge to steer her the right way, but not stifle her personality or who she is.

I don't sweat the small stuff, encourage a relationship with the Lord, God will deal with them. If God can't convict, they will just be following rules, and resent me and the church.

[ddc101]

Sister Forever,
One thing you posted struck me strange.You said your daughter is sensual.Did you know that there is a sensual spirit? And also that her teacher which you posted was male made the comment she would likely become a model oneday.That also strikes me as strange.No male teacher should be directing the conversation to such subjects with young girls.That means he is noticing her way too much.Pray about these things.I used to be very sensual and a great big devil had to come out of me.I would go into details but not publically.In fact I wanted to be a model.I did not grow up pentecostal.Just wearing certain clothes even entertains that spirit.When I lay my hands on even certain kinds of lingerie I can feel the presence of that spirit trying to get back in the house.But the house is clean and swept.It was wierd to me when I began to discern this thing.I never knew about it.Its best to war against Baal Peor...the lord...of the openings and lets certain doors remain closed.lv sis.c

[foreverblessed]

I don't know if sensual is the right word or not. At 11, I wasn't concerned with my appearance like she is. She battles wanting to show flesh, and she really doesn't even have a figure yet. Actually so does a lot of girls now days, but my others haven't been like this. She would be considered to be a long legged, very slender body type.

Her teacher absolutely adored her, and he was young 28, and was married with a daughter. He didn't mean anything bad by it, but when you have a class of 19 kids for a year, it is hard not to get close to some. He felt for her because his parents split when he was her age, and knew what it was to be raised alone by a single Mother. I worked there with him, and he is a nice denominational Christian man. He would tell the kids not to tell, but they prayed together in class, and talked of the bible often.

I never felt anything bad from him, it is just very obvious to people, that she is going to be beautiful when she grows up. I have had comments from others, even strangers about her looks. She really looks a lot like her father, but she has enough of my genes that softens the look.

I know that she struggles with something, I keep an eye on her. She really loves the Lord, and was the one who got drunk on the Holy Ghost at church camp this year. She laid out speaking in tongues for over an hour after dancing in the spirit for a long time. They carried her out and put her to bed still speaking in tongues.

There is just a definite pull of the World on her that isn't present in the others.

[pentecostal mom]

Okay the dream. As best I remember it, she wasin the livingroom and was playing with make up her daddy was out side and I was in another part of the house a large black man came into the house and grabbed her she screamed for her daddy to help and he wasn't there the man took her out of the house and Daddy stopped him there was a struggle but dad overcame and the man ran away. Remeber she is only 7 years old and she had this dream when she was 6. And Forever that is what I am talking about she knows she doesn't need to show off her flesh but sometimes I distinctly feel a "lust for the world" and I know I don't want her following rules for the sake of following rules I want her to have it in her heart and it be a joy for her not a drudge.

[ddc101]

The sad thing is that all the "teen" things now days are very sensual.That is a real spirit and pray against it when you pray for your child.lv sis.c

[foreverblessed]

I agree, the teen stuff of today is very sensual.

[ddc101]

We really have to monitor stuff in todays world.Witchcraft and sensuality wants our daughters.It wants to use them to manipulate and weave its dark web around their souls and cause them to lose out with Jesus.lv sis.c

[pentecostal mom]

My pastor's wife says that nakedness and idolatry go hand in hand. It seems like a spirit of witchcraft is very prevalent in our society and the teens and young ladies wear less and less I cannot imagine why a father would allow his daughter to walk out the door of their home in these clothes now a days some are soo vulgar! I can't stand those pants and shorts with the writing on the rear its just an invitation to let the eyes linger there.

[tufluv]

What ya'll are talking about the sensual spirit, I call the 'seductive' spirit, my sis and I talk about this often, concerning our sons who must try to walk as faithful apostolic young men, whilst everywhere they look, these seductive or 'sensual' young women lay in wait, to hook'em! We were that way once, but not as obvious (at least me) I never dressed provactively, strangely enough! I still get shocked to see how they dress these days (or don't!). Showing their bellies, tatoo'ing on their back side visible around the hipline above the belt loops...something like that! :eek: I very rarely go to the mall, but the last time I did recently, I saw in the windows that type clothing! Hard to believe the world touts this as acceptable.

It is the young mans decision as to how to react, true, so far so good! They are still home, mostly just working...and praise GOD, I haven't had to worry too much about them...I see so many other worldly boys their age already having 1 or more kids, and not married! :eek: A merciful JESUS has blessed me, and
I pray they will remain wise. I am not ignorant to the wiles of satan against them, they aren't either...yet human flesh is what it is, generally weak.

[JeSuS_cHiC]

im 14 and i used to stuggle a lot with wearing skirts and not cutting my hair.. but in the last year or 2 i have got closer to God and he has take away my desire to wear pants and cut my hair.. there are still the couple times when my hair is soo knotted and just wanted to cut my hair but normally i will be happy that i can do my hair in nice ways instead of just a pony tail! My friend who has grown up in a UPC church just recently cut her own hair.. she had long hair!! it is still pretty long but not nearly as long! she also practically died her hair.. her mom was furious! but talked it over with her and helped her fix her hair.. to make it a bit more strait!

[Apostolic Kitty]

Originally posted by pentecostal mom
My pastor's wife says that nakedness and idolatry go hand in hand.


You know, I never considered that before, but I believe your pastor's wife definitely knows what she's talking about!

[pentecostal mom]

I got a magazine in the mail yesterday it is called "LIGHT" it is put out by the Southern Baptist Assoc. don't ask me how we got on that mailing list?! Anyway there was an article in there dealing with teaching girls modesty in there dress. The article also gave input from a young man's perspective about being tempted and "finishing the picture" in their mind when they are given"sneak peaks".

[ddc101]

I remember when the style for blouses began to be leaving the top few buttons open as it was supposed to look very casual.I refused to do this as it seemed to be an invitation not a casual look.I wonder if ladies realize how many times they dress like they are inviting men to join them? sis.c

[NanaRenan]

I was very adamant that MY girls wouldn't just be told "you can't do this" and "you can't do that". I explained EVERYTHING in detail....the hows and whys.

Guess what. I overheard my oldest -- at about 12 -- tell her friend, who'd just asked, "What is Pentecostal?"....my daugher launched into the whole "You can't wear pants... You can't wear makeup... You can't cut your hair..." Yadda, yadda, yadda. I was mortified...for all my EXPLAINING, that's what she retained.

:confused:

Lot of things happened in the decade since then. I flat out lost my faith and chickened out rather than stand firm in my standards. I couldn't bear for her to despise me for "making her" be different, the way I had -- at times -- felt about my mother. I caved.

:o <---hanging my head in shame!

We BOTH went the way of the world and suffered a lot for it. Mercifully, the Lord was there waiting when I came crawling back. She has yet to seek Him out again.

My NOW 14 y/o can be rebellious sometimes..."But you let Michaela cut her hair or wear pants when she was my age!!"

I tell her "Yeah, I know, cause I was younger and much, much stupider then! I was actually worried more about being her "friend" than about following God's Will. You...I don't care whether you like me or not, I have to be your mother and train you in His Word."

Ooooh, that makes her SO mad!!! :realmad:

She's doing good now though. I pray she can adjust to our upcoming move easily and find a healthy youth group to be as involved with as she is at our present church.

[tufluv]

MY! raising children is so tough in these days, at least thats what I hear.
Even back in the 'olden' days, people said that about their kids. Generations grow worse., as rebellion hits all time highs!

I remember mini-skirts, back when everyone was first wearing them, (late 60's) my dad would not let me, I would cry!! Its "peer" pressure, something so hard for youth who want so badly to fit in, to NOT be different., in my case, "shyness" contributed to my not wanting to stand out. I did not mean to desire to wear something that was 'seductive' just what everyone else was.

Many young girls don't realize the spirit behind all this. I had no spiritual exposure whatsoever, (I don't count catholic)..very little awareness of 'bad' or demon spirits. I was naive.
BUT..there are some who HAVE been raised by Pentecostal parents..and still rebel!! I believe public schools have a lot to do with contributing worldly standards to these impressionable young girls. [to be fair, boys as well].
IF I had daughters in this day, I'd home school or private "pentecostal" school them.

And even with all that, some girls are just 'bent' on rebelling, hormones run amuck..its sad, really - satan pulls out all the stops if there's even just a bit of a 'crack of the window' open. I've seen pastors daughters engage in scandalous behavior, get pregnant, etc.. One with another pastors son even! So-o, for all we as parents do..its not always enough.chickened out rather than stand firm in my standards. I couldn't bear for her to despise me for "making her" be different, the way I had -- at times -- felt about my mother. I caved. THIS is exactly what this young girls mother did and now she's a 'reluctant' grandma - her daughter cannot even marry the young man as he is already married! :grumble: I feel bad for them all.

NanaReanan, your honesty is refreshing and noted! I also went astray [back to the world] back when I was a devout baptist, so my oldest son who also had really been into this 'christianity' thing, also went astray, in a BIG way, and suffered greatly. I was not in the Truth then, standards were unheard of.

Praise GOD HE finally after many years of tribulation, led me to the TRUTH, something I will never leave! The two brothers under that son, are baptized in JESUS name, and although they lack much maturity..they WILL return to their calling., in HIS name. My oldest is also on his way to the TRUTH, attending an Apostolic church with his family for some time now., on and off - but apparently ON again!

[NanaRenan]

I believe public schools have a lot to do with contributing worldly standards to these impressionable young girls. [to be fair, boys as well].
IF I had daughters in this day, I'd home school or private "pentecostal" school them.
:(

Had this discussion just last night with some friends after church. Our church is attempting to start a private school. I'm so happy for them, unfortunately we will be relocated to Houston by the time this occurs. :(

Currently, I'm homeschooling my daughter. When I went to work in 1996, it was IN the public high school my oldest attended. I was horror stricken at the things I saw there and I wasn't even living for God at that time.

Hey -- I've put three older ones thru public high school and seen how they came out....NOT gonna give 'em a crack at THIS one....she's MY baby.

When people ask me about the quality of the education she's getting, I tell them quite frankly....I'd rather she be dumber than a post, and live a godly life, hopefully reaching adulthood untouched by the vileness of what goes on in public school, ...(a local news report last week on 13 y/o CHILDREN having sex in the bathrooms between classes and spreading syphillus around an area middle school. :eek: THIRTEEN!!!) than graduate validictorian with a scholarship to Harvard!!

[tufluv]

NanaRenan:
...(a local news report last week on 13 y/o CHILDREN having sex in the bathrooms between classes and spreading syphillus around an area middle school. THIRTEEN!!!) than graduate validictorian with a scholarship to Harvard!!

Wow, this I find nauseating even. My goodness, where are the ones in charge of these students? Where's security?
It seems almost that a child might even be raped in these bathrooms if they're that poorly attended. :eek:
Public schools are truly at an all-time low. :grumble:

[ddc101]

Sister Tufluv,
Sadly its common for teenagers to be raped in public highschools.I know of several just sitting here thinking.Its really sad.lv sis.c

[survivor4christ]

I know what you mean, My daughter, Damaris, is ten years old and is very pretty. And has a shape to boot!

I pray, pray, pray a lot for her, but I noticed that she is very wise for her age. She knows some of the stuff her mom has been through, b/c I admittedly struggled with this very provocative, seductive spirit for years, even as a child. I was introduced to porn and had pixes taken of me when I was all but 11 or 12 years old by an uncle.

Much sexual perversion and abuse, exposure if you will, took place in my life as a child, so I knew of no other way to get (men's) attention but through sex. Funny thing is I never even knew how bad it was until recently. Then I had to go to God and still have to keep going to Him, to help me and reveal to me what is appropriate and what is not.

I talk to my daughter a lot. I thank God we are getting to a place in our relationship where she is starting to hear more of what I am talking about. I overheard my son talking of a classmate of his and my daughter's, the boy 12, the girl 11. This poor child is pregnant with a 12 year old's baby! I was soo sad for these kids! They don't know what they are getting themselves into! But as sad as this situation is, I am glad my kids personally knew these kids b/c they know that they cannot play around. They cannot play around sexually and they cannot even 'look the part.' I am glad to say as my daughter gets older, she gets more modest. Yes, I allow her to wear pants, but they must pass inspection. Not too tight or fitting. And I do find personally allowing girls to participate in sports keeps their minds off the boys. My daughter is really tall for her age, so I let her play ball. I get her involved with extracurricular activities. By the time she gets home, gets homework done, does her chores, she is too tired for hardly anything else. That's the plan! ;)

I believe as long as we maintain a close relationship with our kids and pray for them, lead them in the right direction, God will honor His Promise to bless our seed and not allow them to be statistics or prey to the enemy. The devil simply cannot have my kids. They belong to the Lord; why Dominic, my youngest, name means "belonging to the Lord!"

Our kids will make it, because they are our kids, seed of the Righteous! Amen? :banana:

Love,
Sis. Wenona

[NanaRenan]

I believe as long as we maintain a close relationship with our kids and pray for them, lead them in the right direction, God will honor His Promise to bless our seed and not allow them to be statistics or prey to the enemy. The devil simply cannot have my kids. They belong to the Lord; why Dominic, my youngest, name means "belonging to the Lord!"

Our kids will make it, because they are our kids, seed of the Righteous! Amen? :banana:
I'm constantly screaming at him -- "You're not going to get my kids!" He thinks he's got 'em now, but they were dedicated to Christ as babies and have had hundreds of prayers prayed over them by dozens of people...and I've had prophesies given that those will be answered.

For now I'm being patient and trusting the Lord.

btw -- I have a cousin named Damaris...I've always loved that name.

[ReneeP]

Yes we are surely living in the end times.
We own it to our daughters, our church, our society to teach and train our gilrs what is appropirate dress. I have heard the excuse from so many women..."well I dont want to put my convictions on her, she has to get them for her self" This is a bunch of hogwash! You sit her down, with bible in hand and you talk to her about how and why we dress the way we do.
I am *fill in * youth director until God sends someone to us. And 2 weeks ago we had a conversation on what is proper conversation with mixed company. Let me tell you I was SHOCKED to hear that girls did NOT care to talk so openly in front of the boys. This led into how girls are opening doors of sexual perversion and some of the boys spoke up and said "and yes it doesnt help any of us when you wear the clothes you do to!" Needless to say, my boys were dismissed and I went in some indepth teaching! :D
I know for my son, he is in a school that requires dress code. And yet we get so defensive and bent out of shape of the pastor dares to speak on dress code.
Ladies we time we took a stand...how dare we allow our girls to walk out of the house with these hip hugger skirts, shirts that just come to the navel, if that isnt inviting trouble....then just call me old fashioned! I have a daughter who is 21 now and many times I will see her stand in front of the mirror and give herself a look over...she will raise her hands in the air to see where her skirt rises too, this comes by teaching!
Well dont get me preaching in here :banana: lol
I totally agree, it can be hard sometmes, but my goodness it could be harder if you end up with a teen ager pregnant, or worse, raped. Our children are worth teaching them how to dress even when they argue,fuss and fight over it.

God bless
Renee

[NanaRenan]

Ladies we time we took a stand...how dare we allow our girls to walk out of the house with these hip hugger skirts, shirts that just come to the navel, if that isnt inviting trouble....then just call me old fashioned! I have a daughter who is 21 now and many times I will see her stand in front of the mirror and give herself a look over...she will raise her hands in the air to see where her skirt rises too, this comes by teaching!

Good for you and your daughter, Renee. Right now I'm trying to instill this in my 14 y/o. She likes wearing the skirts low and as she is already tall and long waisted, there isn't hardly a shirt made that gives decent coverage. I tried making her give them the "Praise the Lord" test like your daughter, but she doesn't see anything wrong with inhibiting her praise to wear fashions she likes!

This is a wide-spread problem at our church: clothes too snug, tops that barely touch their waistbands and sheer skirts with handkerchief hems where the lining is way too short. I'm not being judgemental -- truly. I love my daughter and all of these girls dearly. In all honesty they are probably one of the prayingest and most cohesive youth groups I've ever seen, they're just young and don't understand about the "little foxes".

And age IS a factor....although she can do "hoochie"-style REAL well outside of the church buiding, in some ways my 21 y/o who is a backslider is more concerned with proper attire in church than her sister and some of the other teen girls who ARE trying to live for God.

All I can do is talk to them when I have the opportunity and pray, pray, pray.

btw -- do any of you have a Daughters of Zion group going at your church?

[BurningforJesus]

Praise the Lord Sister Pam, yes we have a Daughters of Zion group here in our church. I absolutely LOVE going to it. We join together for our children and pray in unity and we see things happen. I pray that there will be many other Mums who will see the need to get together with other mothers and Grand mothers, too as the times are wicked and we need to cry out for our children like never before!!!

Sister Renee, I have a thirteen yr old Daughter and you echo what I am going through. You have given me a few ideas to try out. Thank you.
My eldest daughter is 17 and was always very chubby and i rejoiced as she didn't like revealing clothes. Now she has lost a lot of that puppy fat and slimmed down into a beautiful young lady. But my heart weeps as the clothes she is wearing are getting lower and more revealing each day. I say she is being an open invitation to the guys and all that but all she says is, well, that is their problem not mine!!! I can talk all I like but pray is what will get them through in the end. I pray that what I have taught them will sink in and I am not just an old fuddy duddy!!!! I also weep because my husband allows her to go out the door like that. I have mentioned to him to say something but he says he can't see anything wrong with it. AHHHHHHH!!!! Once again that is where the power of a mother praying comes in. Jesus has them in His hands all I can do is my best and He will do the rest. I trust Him to complete the work He started in my children. :)

Burning

[survivor4christ]

He he he!

I thought I was the only one who used that term.... :laugh:

A lot of the problem is that hoochie style is all that is on the shelves. To really get nice modest clothes for myself or Damaris, I have to either have my mom make it and ship it to me from Louisiana, or find a little corner store that is not so trendy, and that is getting harder and harder to do these days. Just check out Wal Mart; that place is ridiculous as far as girls clothes are concerned, for the most part.

The ten dollar stores, I like to call them, for 'healthy' ;) women as myself, well they even sell hoochie plus style! Can u believe that? Some of that stuff they have on the shelves I laugh at and throw it to the side. I ask the cashiers "What size 20 sister in her right mind is actually gonna wear this stuff? In public?" They are kids themselves and see nothing wrong with it, and just laugh at me. I guess I sound old fashioned, but when it comes to ME dressing, I am. I don't want any man lusting after me because my cleavage is too low, or my hemline is way too high. And it goes further than that for us healthy sisters; did you realize that when we shout, we 'jiggle?' Calls for a girdle, so guess who had to go and invest in a really expensive girdle? Why? B/c I don't want my good to be spoken evil of. And I know I need some control in some areas if I am gonna shout, so there it is.

Thankfully, Damaris does not have this problem and I have already claimed that she will never be overweight a day in her life. She probably won't in that her dad is 6'7 and at ten years old she already is about 5'5. All the women on his side are tall and thin. She has their build. With a little curves to it; I guess she took that from me, poor thing! :)

But I just thank God that she sees 'hoochified' in her school, on TV, in the neighborhood, and recognizes that it is not attractive or comely for a young woman to carry herself in that manner. She has come to me on several occassions and told me of friends of hers who she stopped playing with b/c they had boyfriends and was dressing provocatively. This is very encouraging! At one time she was so, "I gotta have so many friends, everybody must like me..." Very impressionable age, but God is keeping her...

Keeping us both!

Love,
Sis. Wenona

[ddc101]

I get her involved with extracurricular activities. By the time she gets home, gets homework done, does her chores, she is too tired for hardly anything else. That's the plan!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Now that plan I like.
Do you possibly have bible quizzing in your church? Ours is small so for now we don't but I want to when its larger.Its a wonderful way to fill in some of that time and instill the word of God in our children.To those of you who are blessed enough to have this HAts OFF TO YOU!........

Now as for the "Hoochie" style clothes I have to say its so promoted even by
older women.So sad! And survivor.....one of the things I told the sales clerk just a few days ago in a store while shopping for my daughter some skirts was...Its sad how hard even in a ladies plus store to find decent skirts that don't drag the floor.I buy skirts for my fourteen year old that are just below the knee or maybe a few inches longer.She is tall and plus size.Also I look for stylish blouses and jackets.She is the one who figured out to get sleeveless undershirts and layer her blouses thus making it easy to be in style and be modest as well.So it seems that the fashion industry thinks larger women want to either dress like maw maws or bare it all.No middle ground.How sad.lv sis.c

ps...nanRena.....I have a sewing machine and I love it.I buy material on the sale counter and save it for when I find patterns I like.

[tufluv]

Survivor:
The ten dollar stores, I like to call them, for 'healthy' women as myself, well they even sell hoochie plus style! Can u believe that? Some of that stuff they have on the shelves I laugh at and throw it to the side. I ask the cashiers "What size 20 sister in her right mind is actually gonna wear this stuff? In public?"
I am 'healthy' as well. lol Its good to see you posting SisSurvivor!
"Hootchie"??? :laugh: :laugh: Thats cute. Lets just hope no one claims its a pagan word, though.

Surely you've seen that there really ARE girls out there who are PLUS sized wearing skimpy clothes - it always embarasses me for them.
I feel sorry for them as well. Many such girls are abused for flesh purposes only, and laughed at behind their backs.
Young ladies of this day, who have absolutely no christian background, just fall into whatever style is goin around, wanting to fit in. I know I'd have my job cut out for me if I'd of had a daughter. *shuddering* I was not Apostolic till almost too late.

[ddc101]

Sister Delia,
You have said a mouthful.I am so glad that I was saved before I raised my children.Some come into Gods house when their children are in their teens and the children don't get saved but rebel so much.It just hurts your heart to see.and the mamas cry over it.lv sis.c

[tufluv]

Sister Delia,
You have said a mouthful.I am so glad that I was saved before I raised my children.Some come into Gods house when their children are in their teens and the children don't get saved but rebel so much.It just hurts your heart to see.and the mamas cry over it.lv sis.c
Yes, and thankfully, my boys DID accept JESUS as well., baptized into HIS name, at teen ages. They saw firsthand, what tribulation I (and they) suffered before I got a second and perhaps, final chance to return to my savior.
They were promised is all I can say. WE all had been avid, regular baptist members when they were much younger-they remembered where we left off! It was not their fault I left, and so they had to also, not by choice.

PRAISE JESUS they never did get into anything really bad while I was lost again., except for the oldest, and he paid a high price, but is thankfully, headed back like myself, to the TRUTH this time around. He's had a few obstacles trying to get him diverted, but GOD WILL have HIS way with him, and I'm praying always for my firstborn. He really has a good heart for GOD., its just the other things in his life take their toll.
I think we can all relate!

[survivor4christ]

Our church's youth dept. is still fledgling and being developed. So there is not bible quizzing that I know of. But there is Sunday School and Children's Church. Damaris always is the one who's hand is raised first to answer all the questions. I was almost in tears once b/c she came running up to me after church with a glow on her face. It was the first time she had led praise and worship in Children's Church! And she absolutely loved it! I pray that she grows up to love to praise the Lord as much (even more) than her mom.

Donovan is a little reserved; but he is definitely hungry.

I thank God that He knows how to draw our babies! Guess after we have done all we know to do...mistakes, accomplishments, triumphs and defeats...we gotta put their precious souls into the Master's Hands.

Love,
Sis. Wenona

[lellingsworth]

You all will be pleasantly surprised if you check out chadwicks.com. They seem to have a lot of 3/4 sleeves and long skirts, pretty flouncy blouses. Buy it on sale, dirt cheap. I only bought one blouse that I felt I needed to wear a camisole under because the buttons were wierd.