Wednesday, August 22, 2018

She's Leaving!

Proverbs 22: 6
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."


Well, I'd like to say that this verse rings so true in my life. I'd like to say that each and every one of my beautiful children have been raised in an upright, perfectly Christian home and setting and that every day I have absolute assurance that each one of them is perfectly happy, healthy, wealthy and wise. NOT! On either count. I know that I am certainly full of sin, faults, worry, and frustration. And I know, too, that my children have had more than their fair share of hard times.

But, what I do have is HOPE. Yes, folks, hope. Committing your life to Christ isn't an instant cure-all for all of life's problems. But what it gives me is hope. Even though I have had major parenting fails, my children have a heavenly father that loves them and has a plan for each one of them. He will not leave them or disappoint them. He has already given them the ultimate gift of His Son. I will still worry, mess up, get angry, and yes, still sin (because of all of my humanness!). But my hope comes from the Lord!!

So, what brought all of this on? Well, after 28 years of parenting, I will be alone in September. My youngest is going to kindergarten. And, if that won't be hard enough, I have a senior in high school this year as well. My baby boy (who is actually almost 17) is going to graduate next spring. I'd like to say that I will be doing a happy dance when they all get on the bus in a couple of weeks, but I know how emotional I get, so I will probably be a wreck!!

The highlight of getting ready for back-to-school has definitely been shopping for my little girl! She's old enough to have an opinion, but still young enough that I get to have a lot of input. Yay!! I love input! (control, whatever!)

Here are a few things we have for her so far for this school year.

We did some great bargain shopping at Marshalls.
She insisted that she needed this Peppa Pig outfit.
It's sparkly and adorable, just like my girl!
This dress will be perfect for her first few weeks in school.
The temps stay pretty high here until October
(sometimes even November and December!).
Love the asymmetrical hem!

This is her goofball pose.
This 2 piece outfit will be perfect for chilly mornings and air-conditioned classrooms.
We purchased all 3 of these outfits for under $30 at Marshalls!
What a deal!

     When you save money somewhere you can splurge a little somewhere else! I love these Spunkwear dresses for my girl. They are UPF 50, moister wicking keeps her dry and comfortable, and they are made in the USA. Not to mention, they are ADORABLE!

This is the Girls Original Dress in Hot Pink Crab. Preppy Crab and Carolina Crab are available online.
You can even get a matching dress or skort for yourself!!
Use code MICHELLESHIP for free shipping!

 Enjoy your babies, one day you'll turn around and they'll be off to school!
I hope your day is full of blessings!





Friday, May 11, 2018

3000 Steps

Psalm 37: 23-24
" The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. "


I have a FitBit. I got it as a Mother's Day gift last year from my daughter (her father helped, too!). I have been noticing lately, that usually by 7:30 in the morning I have walked about 3000 steps, that's about 1-1/2 miles of walking. I am not taking a morning run in this time, I do however walk my dogs up and down the block, so that does account for some of the steps. Running up and down the steps to get my teenage son out of bed in the morning does account for a good bit of the steps, too, LOL!

Where are my steps taking me? Am I choosing the right path? Should I walk away? Should I run? Can I walk back? Steps.

When we walk on sand, like at the beach, our steps are harder to take. When we walk on a path in the woods and it's uneven terrain, we can sometimes stumble.When we walk on solid firm ground walking is so much easier. I sometimes have nightmares where I am either running away from something or running to catch up to something ,and I don't have the strength to run anymore and so I crawl and pull my way. Steps.

This year has brought so many changes, some of them easy, and some of them hard. I have walked steps I didn't know I would walk. There are paths that I have not yet taken, paths I thought I knew the direction I was taking, only to get miserably lost. Some of the wrong paths have taken me to beautiful places that I didn't expect to find. I find, that wherever my steps lead me, even when I go off on my own, I have the assurance that my God is always near me. Like a child lost in the woods, I cry out and my Father will find me, setting me back on the path that is firm.

Thank you, Lord, that though, I may stumble along in my life, your hand is always there to uphold me.

Mother's Day this year...well, I haven't given it a lot of thought, it seems to have come up really fast. My biggest desire, right now, is for my house to be done. That will certainly NOT happen by Sunday! So here are a few other suggestions for anyone who might be reading this...for YOUR mom, of course!

Image may contain: 2 people, including Michelle Genovese, people smiling, people standing, child and outdoor
Me and my baby girl!!
These great dresses by Southwind Apparel are an adorable mother-daughter combo!
For FREE shipping on these dresses and so many other great dresses, skorts, pants, etc...
use this code: MICHELLESHIP
at  Southwind Apparel and Spunkwear


The Light Within Me (B&N Exclusive Signed Book)
I love Ainsley Earhardt, and I can't wait to read this book about her journey of faith.
Get your copy here: Barnes & Noble
Image of Fossil Women's Rounded Browbar Sunglasses
Or, maybe a pair of sunglasses!
Like these from Nordstrom Rack

 I pray you have a blessed Mother's Day weekend!!

Monday, January 29, 2018

Ode to Joy

Psalm 16: 11
"In your presence is fullness of joy"

Wow! It's been over 3 months since I sat down at this computer and wrote anything except a quick FB or IG post. Where did the time go? Was it truly full of joy for me and my family? Full?? No way! Were there joyous moments? Absolutely. I have to say that the busyness of settling my family into a new town with new schools and of course, starting at the end of October, the busyness of the holiday season, took it's toll on me. Mostly, though, the true drain for me, has been our new home. Here's a pic of what our new home looked like at the beginning of January...

Image may contain: one or more people, sky and outdoor

and this is what it looks like now...

Image may contain: one or more people, sky and outdoor

OK, you got me, it's the same picture. but truthfully, NOTHING has changed!

This house has truly been the albatross around my neck. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Just when I feel like I am going to move on in faith and hope, something else happens. We are now down another builder. I didn't share this with you before, but the last builder was to have us under roof  by the end of October, and we are still not under roof. The first week in January he packed up all of his things (unbeknownst to us) and left the job. No roof, no windows...certainly no joy here.

Don't get me wrong. I haven't given up (although some days my husband calls me "Debbie Downer"!), but it is certainly not what I had hoped and dreamed for, for my family (and of course myself!).

So, in the beginning of the year, in my devotionals, I was to pray about a word that would somehow define my year. And, the word that kept coming up for me was JOY. What??? JOY??? Yep, joy. Well, Lord, here I go. I am stepping out in faith today, and tomorrow, knowing that this year, there IS joy. That this year and beyond, the joy that I am seeking does not come from this acre lot and this unfinished house. It comes from You, Lord, just from You. The full verse in Psalm 16 is this,

" You show me the path of life;
 in your presence is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore"

Amen.