Smooth Talking

He had us cracking up! I love this sound. They grow up so quick!!!!



In other news my best friend Connie had her son yesterday (Noah James Davis). He is a doll!

What Happened To JULY!!!?

So I am still writing "7" as the month on all my checks and it's already August 6th. That's "8"!! Which means Judah (or Baby J as we know him) is SIX MONTHS OLD! Or he will be in 3 days. Where in our beautiful blue earth did the time go?

And on that note...
I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday and we were laughing together at how people ask stay at home moms "so what did you do today, just rest?" Are you serious!!!!? I am lucky, and I mean LUCKY to take a shower before lunch time. If I get makeup on that is a miracle and if I dry my hair.... get ready for the apocalypse because Jesus is surely about to return!

The one I love the most is:
"Why don't you nap when your baby is napping?". Well, to name a few: my family would not have clean underwear, my house would look like a tornado and my business would remain in the red for eternity... but that's just naming a few. Those little 1 hour (and sometimes less!) windows are my one chance to accomplish something (apart from raising up the next generation of world-changers, of course)!!

When I was younger and much less wise...
I thought that being a stay-at-home mom was something women that had no plan for their future did. Now I clearly see that it's our God-given privilege to raise our own children and instill in them the values, ethics and education that we so desire for them to have for the rest of their lives. We never get this short period of time back! So have our extra wants sometimes been put on the back burner? Yes, at times. But I will say this, it is so fulfilling knowing that my son is not just being thrown in a daycare swing somewhere and only tended to when he has a need to be fed or changed. I am so grateful that I have the loving support of a husband that is willing to be a FATHER and not just a present male with no emotional or spiritual contribution. I have women friends who are forced to work full-time so that their children will not go hungry and yet they go without what really matters - parents that are the example of Christ to them. They would change it all tomorrow if they could, however, they have been left by their spouse with no choice. I am not saying they are wrong, but that I am so filled with gratitude regarding my situation.

Random Soap Box Serenade... sorry!
I know this has been rather deep compared to the normal cuteness that is my usual "post-a-licious-ness" but I just wanted to clear my head and give props to all the mommies that are making a difference in our future generation. Not saying that if you are working that you are not in that bunch AT ALL - to you I say WOW I don't know how on earth you do it. I am only saying that now in the time we live it is so easy to feel guilty for working, not working, etc... the point is that we have some serious responsibilty to take for our kids because one of them is going to be president, judge, teacher, movie producer, news anchor, mother, father... they will all influence in some way. It is up to us to determine how. What an amazing chance to change the world.

Okay, now for some cuteness...
Some pictures for your enjoyment to lighten the mood :-)



















Here is Judah meeting his Great Great Aunt Midgie and Cousin Suzanne for the first time!






















Here is Judah eating VERY successfully! He loves to eat now vs. the first month that we tried. He's been on solids since July 4! (How ironic that he'd take such a step on "independence day"!!) That's my boy!


















And here's one of many from a photo shoot at Aunt Dee Dee's house! He has his "up to no good face" on.

Is this a smooth guy or what?

Here is a super cute video of the little man laughing at mommy.

Mary Kay Seminar

So for the past 2 years I have been a beauty consultant. When I signed up I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Dawn (my mother-in-law) recruited me and I, of course, didn't want to say no to my mother-in-law because nothing ever ends well when you do that! LOL

I signed my agreement the very day that we were scheduled to close on our home. This was so frightening to me to start a business the same day as we were trying to save all the money we possibly could to pay for closing costs. But nonetheless, I plunged in head first having know clue what I was delving into. That was May 15th, 2007. By July I had sold nothing and done nothing. Dawn came to do my business debut at the end of July and things turned around immediately. I had 11 women in my living room who were practically dragged there by my threats :-0 I was so scared that she would drive all the way from Dallas for nothing. We hardly got many orders, it seemed, yet we sold $400 in product that day. I was forever amazed that in 1 hour we had made what I barely made in one week. AND... here's the thing... I HAD A BLAST. Are you kidding me? I just got seriously paid to have fun with my

friends? And put makeup on people!??

That was the first perk. Then as I started attending weekly meetings I realized that was only scratching the surface of what I had signed up for that wonderful day of May 15th. To name a few... I work for a company whose business plan is "God first, Family second, career third." and whose philosophy is the Golden Rule. This is in an industry that is filled with "so called" catty women yet there has been more love shown to me through the women that I have come in contact with than I can put into words. The only way I can succeed in this company is to put others needs above my own and help them to succeed first. You can't claw your way to the top

here! I am actually in direct sales and I have not felt the need nor the desire to pressure anyone into anything because I sell the product that has been number one by a LONG shot for 16+ years. The product sells itself. What other company could you work for that just for showing up they reward you, give you prizes, give you the use of a free car with insurance to boot? I stand amazed at the legacy that Mary Kay Ash left for people like me. 2 years ago I was in a dead end job (not the job I just left but a previous one). I wanted so badly to get out but saw no way to do so. I wanted to pursue cosmetology but didn't have money or any way to get money. I wanted to work with women and make them feel like a million bucks inside and out. Suddenly I found myself able to achieve all this via the vehicle that is my MK business.

My favorite perk is this: I found out I was pregnant last year just before my very first MK seminar. I was terrified, and thrilled all at once. I made a resolve in my heart that I would not have a baby and throw him into a day care so I could work 40+ hours to afford that day care. I knew God had given me the gift of a son so that I could raise him with the standards and values that have been passed down to me. My business has literally made that possible. It brings tears to my eyes to imagine what my life would be like had I not invested that $100 into my future. People spend more than that on shoes or even a manicure/pedicure these days. I have chosen to use that small investment to change the lives of every woman I meet. Whether it be to lift their spirit (and their face) with a facial or to give them the life altering career opportunity I am fully committed to doing just that.

Oh and to add yet another bonus to the list of how great this is... I am in the most recession-proof industry ever. Women will never stop washing their faces or wearing makeup. NEVER.

I just attended my second seminar in Dallas. Last year I didn't even qualify to sit in the arena (as there are 35,000+ women in attendance). This year I did and it was A-MAZING!! Here are some pictures

This is me in the lobby of our hotel.

This is the arena... wow :-)

I met Jasmine Murray in the elevator at the hotel to later find out she was singing at our seminar! She rocked it. She's so sweet. Of course I was dressed to the nines all week but the moment I happened to meet her first I was in my PJs. Because that is life. Oh well.

Tap Dancing

This is Baby J dancing a little ditty! I love the look on his face when Daddy is playing with his toy! Life is such fun with this little guy.

A Date With Daddy

Last week Ms. Ann took Judah, Micah and I to a baseball game. Here is a picture of the proud Dad at his son's first game. Judah loved every waking moment of it. I just went for the nachos and huge drinks :-)