As a new decade begins...

I know I've neglected my poor blog for way too long, but as I stand at the edge of the newest decade in my life, I can't "deblog" any longer. I just want to let all of my loyal readers know that 40 isn't the end of the world. In fact, it's the beginning! I've been looking forward to my birthday, and to being "in my 40s" for several weeks now. I have decided to dedicate this decade to Personal Growth and Fitness, since I found that having a theme for my 30s decade was highly effective. So, good-bye 30s, hello 40s. HERE I AM!

Warning!

Turning 11 is hazardous to your health. It makes you turn quite orange. This is dd's costume for an orange birthday party she attended today. We paid less than $12 for the whole thing, including nail polish and hair dye, thanks to the Salvation Army store and the dollar store. The pants were too orange, so she used my bleach pen and made cool designs on them. She bought fabric at WM to make her belt and matching hobo bag. She's very into DIY.

Her efforts paid off, as she was the runner-up in the orange contest at the party. She won a $5 gc to Coldstone Creamery :-) Yay dd11, you go!

On the Eve of A New Decade

To My Dear DD10:

In just a few short hours, your second decade of life will begin. How time has rushed by so quickly with you in its firm grasp! 10 years ago, you were leaving infancy and on the brink of exploring life and the world around you. Today, you stand at the brink of young womanhood, as you rapidly leave childhood behind. I'm thankful that you are right where you are. One minute you are happily playing with a doll or other toy, and the next minute you are the hyper-mature, mothering young lady of the house. I am loathe to see you grow up so quickly, yet I am glad that you allow me glimpses of who you will be when next you stand at the brink of a decade.

My wish for us is that we will remain friends in this next decade. I know you won't always agree with me or see eye to eye with me, but I hope that we can work through our differences and remain in love with each other. I hope that we can respect each other, and learn from each other. I know there are a lot of things you can learn from me yet, LOL, but there is also much that I can learn from you, if I remain openminded and keep an open heart. Remember that you can come to me with anything--a question, a problem, a dream, anything you want to share or need advice about. I will always love you, even if what you have to say to me is upsetting. We can work through any problem--but hopefully there won't be too many of those along the way!

Dear daughter, please remember that God is your anchor. Stay firm to His truths. Remember that He loves you and desires that you will be a child of His Kingdom. I gave birth to you, but HE gave you re-birth. You are more precious to him than you are to me, hard as that is to imagine.

What I can't blog about!

I can't blog about what ds5 is getting for his birthday, because just my luck, the precocious little youngster would get on here and read it ;-) But I can guarantee you that he will LOVE what his two "grandma wannabees" from church have each selected to give him. You know, they had to consult with mommy to make sure the items were ok to give so I am very much in the know. Can't wait for Saturday!

A word of comfort

Well, tomorrow I won't have a ds4 anymore. Yep, he's having a birthday. Again! Anyway, today I picked him up and was holding him close and I told him I was going to miss having a 4 year old in the house to snuggle with, and he reassured me with "Well, I'll be 5, but I'll still be in the house." ROFL, silly kid. That dried up the tears that were threatening to overrun at the thought of my baby growing up. 4 has been such a great year (well, most of the time!)...I hope that 5 is just as enjoyable.