a new shirt and a new outlook

2 things on my mind during this half-way point...

1. I love Target! I don't allow myself to go much but for some reason I have been twice in the past five days. I did good the first time and only broke down and bought sister girl the cutest pair of silver/bronze shoes (I can't even tell which one. I think Target is probably so cool that they made a new color for little girls to primp in) to wear this Fall. I have been freaking out just a little over having a girl and trying to figure out if it is okay to wear white shoes after Labor Day (DON'T LAUGH AT ME...I AM A PROPER SOUTHERN GIRL THANK YOU!) but then what do you wear with those little summer dresses since it is still 90 degrees outside? Through my research (at the local parks) I have discovered that white sandals don't appear to be fo-pa just yet. I think with all this global warning we have to be able to change with the times...and wearing white after labor day is going to be the first thing to go. Al Gore would be proud!

Upon my second visit I made an impulse buy for myself...this time it was a gray t-shirt with handsewn white flower petals all over the left shoulder/breast. I swear I walked by this shirt and almost fainted it was so stinkin' cute! I even had a gray striped skirt on so of course when I was back in the van I stripped and put my new pimpin' flowered t on! Only at Target ya'll!!!!

2. I started a bible study this morning. I'm embarrassed to say it has been two...yes, two years since I have been a part of an official 'bible study'. It is a 28 day course on...get this...how to study the bible. I honestly didn't know what the class was going to be about when I walked in but I was so pumped to be back in a group ready to study. It sounds so exciting...it is called "Precepts" - a concept that actually walks you through dissecting what you read in the bible. Honestly, I don't know how many times I try to read the bible and I stop because I get lost or confused or just don't follow what I'm reading. Well, this shows you how to take verse by verse and discern what you are reading with the big picture in mind (the whole chapter or book). So often we as Christians just believe whatever someone tells us that is God's word without looking it up to make sure they are in fact speaking the truth. I am guilty of sitting back and listening to others whether it is on the radio or from the pulpit or just another so called Christian woman and take in everything they say as fact, when so often it has been taken out of context or just plain wrong! As a mother I realized today that it is my job to be able to discern the truth and pass it on down to my children...not leaving this job up to 'teachers' they meet with on occasion or hoping that by osmosis they will just become believers (and 'good people')...it takes deliberate parenting on my behalf!
I was so excited to walk in and see a few older women in the class. There is nothing that warms my heart more then sitting in a room with women who are my mothers and grandmothers age who have a heart for the Lord and for ministering to young mothers. These ladies' smiles and encouraging words just lit my soul up today. I look forward to spending one morning a week with them in our new small group and for the time I am about to devote to learning how to study God's word.

So sporting my new fashionable t and knowing I have the making of some sweet older friends along with the next 28 days devoted to learning how to study the bible...I am doing good half way though the week!