So I went to the driving range with Mitch and some friends. I’m not a pro by all means! In fact, it was the first time for me to go out there and hit the ball. Mitch makes fun of my little “pre-swing” you’ll catch on the video. Enjoy Tiger Mama in action!
The baby registration process seemed fun and exciting at first and then two hours later: exhausting, grueling, and overwhelming. I had no idea it could take this long! Part of the problem was well…I’ve never done this before. Good thing I had my mom with me! She was my life saver helping me figure out what to choose and why. A big thanks to my sis who was the photographer and documented this process.
I chose Baby R Us simply because it seemed to have everything except for Sophia’s bedding. My heart was set on a particular piece I found at Pottery Barn Kids.
Anyway, here are a few pics to share this moment with you…
Babies R Us was neat and organized! They had a “set up” area where they explained what to do and even provided me with a suggested list of items to purchase.
They provided a free bottle, magazine, coupons, a booklet with notes, and card inserts for the Baby Shower invitations.
I chose a white vintage looking crib.
Can’t go wrong with diapers, right?
So much stuff to choose from!
My mom and I trying to make a decision.
That happened more than once…
My husband makes fun of me when I tell him stories about what I did for fun as a kid. When I was about four or five my mom got my little brother and I a library card and we’d walk out of the library with bags of books. We weren’t financially blessed growing up so my mom entertained us many times with reading. I loved it. She’d read to us for hours. My poor mom…she never seemed to grow annoyed or frustrated.
When I was old enough to read on my own I continued with the reading tradition and the library became my “hang out.” In the summers when my mom was at work and couldn’t get a sitter she’d drop us off at the library and we’d literally spend all day there. To most people it would seem like the most torturing thing a parent can do for a child but my brother and I didn’t mind it. They had summer type programs for kids where we’d do crafts, watch a movie, and of course have reading time.
Did you ever have the Book It program in school? It’s one of those programs associated with Pizza Hut. I was a master. I digged the program! Okay…I’m officially a NERD.
I tell you these proud childhood memories and stories because thanks to my mom I’m an avid reader. I absolutely love reading books, all kinds of books. Thanks to my mom I hope to pass on the tradition of reading to my kids and make it an important part of life.
To all the moms out there don’t grow weary in well doing! Read that kid that book one more time even though you just got done reading it for the third time in a row.
This entry has also inspired me to do a Book Review on my blog so stayed tuned and look out for my latest reads and recommendations.
I have to admit I haven’t always been a dog lover or a lover of any kind of animal for that matter. Growing up my dad didn’t allow any of us kids to have pets so I grew up with an annoyance towards animals. I didn’t like them licking me, touching me, or following me. The only “animal time” I had was at my grandparents. My grandpa had dogs, cats, birds, rabbits…just about everything. There were times I thought owning a furry creature would be great but then again my dad would freak out at the thought.
It wasn’t until Mitch and I got married that he brought up “the talk.” He was ready…ready to own a dog! By that point I had NO desire to own a pet…ever. My annoyance towards animals had grown deep. But of course he begged and begged and I eventually gave in with one condition: I was going to pick the dog.
Mitch didn’t care he loves animals he was just excited I gave in. So I did a bit of research and one thing was for sure, I knew I wanted a small dog. I didn’t want a huge dog that I couldn’t just throw on my lap or cuddle like a stuffed animal so of course I went with a chihuahua.
This is Penny. Penny is four now. She’s rotten spoiled, spunky, and as you can tell she loves to model/pose for the camera. Penny is the reason why I love dogs. I know, she may not be the prettiest dog but I sure love her. As a month or two passed by we realized Penny needed a partner in crime so we bought Chihuahua #2.
This is Cocoa. Cocoa is three and she’s the chunkiest chihuahua you’ll ever see but one of the most loveable and loyal dogs I’ve ever come across. Then the unthinkable happened….
Dog #3…Sugar came along. Don’t ask me what kind of dog she is???? She’s a mut. Sugar is a sweet dog but let’s just say she isn’t the brightest.
So, that’s a portion of the Idol fam: Penny, Cocoa, and Sugar. The buck stops here people! NO MORE PETS! I have to remind my husband that we aren’t an animal shelter because if it were his choice he’d have a whole back yard of cats and dogs.
So what about you? Do you have a funny animal story? Do you prefer cats or dogs?
Every other Friday our church’s Admin Team meets for one hour and its a time for us to just kick around some thoughts and challenge one another. I just got done reading a great book, Axiom by Bill Hybels and I challenged our Admin Team with chapter 47 “Doable Hard vs. Destructible Hard.”
Would it be profitable to think about ministry work in these two distinct ways: “Doable Hard vs. Destructible Hard?”
Bill gave the example of helping disciple someone who lived a self-destructive life before coming to Christ. It’s hard work bringing someone up the spiritual learning curve, but if it breathes life into you and raises your spirit to do that kind of work then that would land in the “Doable Hard.” Now, if you have to put together five new sermons in a week and you know there are not enough available hours in that week for you to prepare well then that would probably land in the “Destructible Hard” category. Are you catching the difference?
We have to agree on two things:
#1 – We all need to have courage and determination to operate consistently in the Doable Hard category.
#2 – Whenever we see our approach to ministry bleeding over into the Destructive Hard category we need to raise a flag of concern.
Now as administrators we’re constantly learning the art of juggling about 10 balls in the air and hoping that neither lands on the ground. This chapter rang so true as a “CAUTION” or “WARNING” that we must stay on task and remain healthy. The moment we go down the path of some unhealthy systems and we never correct them it could lead to some unhealthy consequences: hating our work, hating ministry, and even neglecting our marriages and home.
Bill ended the chapter with this quote that he gathered from another author:
“If the way I am doing the work of God is destroying God’s work in me. Something has to change. Soon.”
So I too, leave you with that final thought and quote. Do you know where you are at? Do you know which category you are currently in? Life is hard. Ministry is hard. But they are doable.
You may be wondering how I came up with the blog name Lola and Peaches. Well, before I get asked a million questions on why I chose that name I decided that I’d just make it my first topic of discussion. My husband Mitch and I are expecting our first child in October. Did I mention it’s a girl? Yes, we are expecting a little girl! I love the name Lola but Mitch hates it. He says he can’t help but think of Barry Manilow’s At the Copa. I know…as soon as you think of the name Lola you can’t help but hum to the tunes. But it’s a cute name! After much begging, bargaining, persuading, and pleading we settled with another name. I finally gave up.
Peaches. No, that’s isn’t the middle name! I’ve always loved the name Peaches for one of our dogs but we already have three and I’m not about to adopt a fourth one just to name it Peaches. Did I mention all three of our dogs are female? Poor Mitch…he seems to be surrounded by females. So anyway, the blog name Lola and Peaches came about simply because they are two names I love.
