You're going to have to toughen up!

My precious daughter has said the cutest things as all kids do, but one of my favorites is that she wants a "Hanger pony" (hanging ponytail) like her friend Princess M. Well, Princess CJ was not born with hair and barely had any before she turned three, but her buddy (who is part Mexican) has always had beautiful hair growing down her back and she's a couple of months younger. CJ has been jealous, of sorts. Princess M wears her locks in a ponytail often and CJ has wanted a hanger pony like Princess M. Well.... when we have long hair we also have more tangles! Yikes! I find myself telling her what my mom told me as a girl. If you're going to have long hair, you're going to have to toughen up your head. You cannot be so tenderheaded. CJ has heard me say this, let's see...COUNTLESS times...when she wants her hair a certain way and I'm brushing too hard to get it tight enough or any number of scenarios dealing with hairdos. Anyway, it's so funny to hear kids say the things they've heard said to them. One day this week, Princess M was over playing and she got her leg injured (slightly) on the trampoline. We quickly assessed the situation and realized she would live. As the girls moved on to another thing to play...Princess M said, "I can't my knee hurts!" and before I could process what's being said, I hear my daughter say, "Well, you're just going to have to toughen up!" Poor Princess M. No compassion from this friend. Not this time anyway. But I was amazed at how quickly she did recover and didn't mention it again. Maybe it's more in the mind than she thought.

God bless the creator of Skype.com!

Sunday morning...very early...we went to church to use their high speed connection (remember, we're in the sticks) to get on skype.com and talk to my brother in Africa for free! All you techies out there are probably laughing at me saying that's old news, but I didn't know. Anyway, my entire family did a conference call on the internet. It was so SWEET to hear their voices. They told us story after story where we were laughing. They have a Myspace, so we can keep up with the day to day...but it is WAY funnier to hear the voice telling the stories. I have to admit, they had some serious stuff go on last week. My sister-in-love was pickpocketed last week. They don't know much Swahili, yet, so she was yelling at the man in English. She is a tall, beautiful, former model and I can just see her yelling at them! I don't think they got much. She can't wait to learn the language, so she can barter with them in the markets. That's SO her. Anyway, later that day, the police, mind you, the POLICE (!) picked them up and forced them to drive out of town. The police would not return them until they paid a SUBSTANTIAL bribe! That scares the bejeebers out of me!!!! Say a prayer for their safety anytime you think of it. I'll be eternally grateful!

Easy Bake Oven!

Princess CJ turned 5 on January 10th. I know, I know, I'm WAY behind. Anyway. The King wanted her to have an EBO even though it says 8 yrs+. I was reluctant because, she won't be able to do it on her own. However, I gave in. She was obviously thrilled. She and her dad have cooked everything that came with it. He has as much fun as she does. I'm so thankful for a husband who is not an absentee dad, but a real HANDS ON father. I read somwhere recently this adage, "Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example, rather than his advice." So true. They may not realize it now(but I think they do), but their dad is the best!

Blessed friends!

God abundantly blessed me with my friend "Flea". We thought we just kind of fell into a precious friendship on a women's trip. We should have know God ordained it. We have so much fun together. I glean things from her every time we're together. She is such an exanple of Christ, it's almost unreal.

Well, God added a threesome to out twosome "Barbie Ann" as Flea's daughter calls her. We have been through ups and downs, encouraging each other, laughing together(BA is alot like Patsy Clairmont!!), crying together, but mostly praying together. Recently we found out that God is putting space in our threesome. Barbie Ann and her husband are moving away. Without a doubt, God is in this or they wouldn't do it, but it is breaking my (and Flea's) heart(s). BA is our accountability/prayer partner her in NAC. We have much invested in our relationships. Distance always slows things no matter the good intentions. I know from past experience with Pandamom. I'm struggling with it. I've been the one God moved before and it was just as hard to move on, but abundantly rewarding as well as obedient. I pray God's richest blessings on them (and the one in the womb) as they go, but I will miss them terribly. So will Flea.