Sacrifice

Our boys receive an allowance each week. The only stipulation we really have on their allowance at this point is that they have a small amount that they must give in the offering at Mass each week.

Of course, it is not unexpected that they do not remember to get the money themselves. Each weekend before we go to Mass, we have to remind them to go get it. Sometimes we forget too, and then we have to loan them the money until we get home.

This week, neither Eric nor I had a bit of money on us (we had written a check in our own offering envelope), and I realized that I had forgotten to remind the kids to get their money.

Right about then, Noah pulled some money out of his pocket. I thought, "Oh, okay...Eric told them." But, no, apparently Noah had just remembered all on his own and hadn't said anything to anyone (which was why Jack was there with empty pockets).

I whispered to Noah, "Wow! Great job remembering, Buddy!"

He smiled with the smile that he always does when he is proud, and then said with a serious tone to his voice, "I had to sacrifice some of my money for the Church. It's important to have a sacrifice for the Church."

Amen, Noah.

What a dear and darling soul is inside that eight year old body.

Oh man -- I *love* this apron!

I like aprons. I really like aprons. I like them even though I always type the word as aprong for whatever reason, and then I have to back up and delete the g.

I have been wanting a half apron for a long time, but just had never found one that I wanted to pick up. Or, maybe the price wasn't right. Or, maybe the timing wasn't.

I was thrilled, however, when Kellie (whose blog I really enjoy reading -- go pop over there and say hi!) opened an Etsy shop -- the Laughing Otter, as I had been admiring all of the aprons she seems to whip up all the time. I liked all of them, but really loved all of the half aprons.

So, I just had to take some time to post about my fabulous apron pictured here (thanks to Kellie for letting me use her pictures), especially since this Monday is National Wear Your Apron Day!

Kellie's aprons in her shop are super cute, and very unique -- just like her! If you find yourself apron-less this coming Monday, maybe it's worth stopping by her store so that you don't find yourself apron-less next year on National Wear Your Apron Day! (Oh...but stop by soon -- she sold almost all of the aprons she started out her shop with, and only has a couple of new ones in stock.)

Thanks to Kellie for helping me look all cool and cute when I run out to the mailbox during the middle of the day. And, I would say thanks for saving my blue jeans too, but I seem to have ripped out the left knee on my only two pairs of jeans. But, at least I can say thanks for keeping them from getting stained!

Modest Clothing: It's Not Just to Save Our Daughters

Modest clothing is a topic that comes up often on the "mommy blogs." And, rightfully so. People should be concerned. Personally, I think society should be concerned when I have to be careful about the clothes I am buying my three year old, because there are lots of options that just aren't very modest...at all.

Seriously -- three years old. What does our society gain from sexualizing three year olds? What does it say about us, as a society as a whole? Because, really, the garment industry is one of supply and demand. Even if we aren't buying these provocative outfits for preschoolers, somebody is. They aren't making these clothes to lose money on them, they are making these clothes because people are buying them.

The "funny" thing about all of this is that often, only our daughters are mentioned when we discuss this modesty issue. I just read this article, which I thought was very excellent. And, Mary Ellen did mention very briefly the one thing that often comes to my mind when modest clothing and actions comes up -- our sons.

It is my belief that we need to encourage modest clothing for the girls of our society not only to save and protect them, but also to save and protect the boys of our society. Just as we can lament what it does to the girls of society when a four year old wears short shorts that have "SEXY" printed across the backside, but we need to lament -- what is this doing to the young boys of our society?

What about the six year old boy just beginning to really be able to read who "learns" that a four year old girl's bottom is "SEXY" because her short shorts say so? What does this constant barrage of images and situations just like this do to that same boy as he grows up? What about when he is 10? 16? 21? Even if we try to teach them differently with our words and actions, what if what he sees out in society is just too much?

Now, I'm not suggesting that girls need to be covered from head to toe, or dress like pioneers. But, there is a big difference between dressing like that and dressing in short shorts and tight tank tops. Somewhere in there, there has to be a middle ground. (And that middle ground is not a bare midriff, I'm sure.)

I learned an interesting thing that I just didn't realize about men (most men, I hate to make the generalization of all men) when I read the book For Women Only: What You Need To Know About The Inner Lives of Men -- even when men don't want to look at all of these things that society is throwing at them, there are often times when they just can't help it. I like how the author of that book made a point. She said, "Don't read this sentence," or something like that. Did you read it? You couldn't help it, could you? It was just there. It was there in your face before you knew that you weren't supposed to read it. Just like some Victoria's Secret commercial that pops up while your husband may be watching a TV show that starts flashing barely dressed women before he could even turn his head to not look.

What happens to our sons in a society like that?

Even in a holy place like church. What happens there as soon as the nice weather rolls around? Our sons and husbands are going to a sacred place only to still not be safe from the pressures of society.

Each summer, our priest reminds parishoners in the bulletin that our church *is* air conditioned, and so even though it is warm outside, they will still be comfortable in the church if they dress appropriately for Mass. I am always glad when he reminds people of this, but it also makes me sad that he needs to remind people that halter tops are just not appropriate for Mass.

I still vividly remember one Mass last summer when Eric just looked disgusted, and was shaking his head. I looked over to see a very lovely young lady -- I would guess around 16 or 17 years old. She was dressed in high heels, a very short skirt, and a top that was a bit more revealing than was appropriate. (Her mother, by the way, was dressed at about the same modesty level as her daughter, sadly.) I realized later that Eric was probably not only disgusted that she was not dressed appropriately, but was also disgusted that, as a man, there is no where to escape these images -- not even at church. How sad.

And, so I have to say again...we need to save our daughters' modesty and self-image. We need to teach them that their bodies are theirs, not something to show off to the world. And, in doing this, I pray that we can save our sons too.

Anyone interested in taking over my line of Mommy/Business Cards?

I have put a lot of thought into it, and have decided to close up shop on my Etsy shop for a while.

I'm planning a big sale to try to part with some of my inventory, and am currently thinking that I'm shooting for a final date of July 31, 2008 for my shop -- just before we plan to start homeschooling.

As I was thinking about it some more today, I thought that it was a shame that all of my Mommy/Business Card designs would go to waste. (The design above isn't on Etsy right now, but she's called Libby, and I think she is pretty cute!) You know -- what am *I* going to do with them?

So, then I thought, "Why not sell the designs to someone who might want to either start up their own business with them or add them as a line to an existing business?"

What this would include would be the rights to produce the cards for others (for profit), although I would retain the copyright with the written understanding that I am only retaining those rights for me to be able to use any of them for my personal use, not for me to sell any longer. There will be a particular stipulation that the purchaser would be agreeing to, however, that they cannot sell copies of the templates. They are purchasing them solely for their personal use and/or to sell printed cards.

The purchase would include a CD-Rom of all of the card designs as layered PSD files. This would allow the purchaser to make changes on the cards -- both to personalize them for clients or even to change colors on cards! I would also share some tips with the purchaser, including what third party printer I use for having the cards printed.

If someone purchases these, I will, of course, at that point, remove them from my own Etsy shop, as the agreement would be (as stated above) that I could not sell any of these designs any more.

Of course, because of its nature, this can only be purchased by one person. So, if anyone purchases them, then they are gone.

The current asking price for this is $250, which comes out to much less than $20 per design (and that's not including that several of the designs have multiple color choices that they come with, etc.). I may take lower offers, but will be waiting until much later in the summer to act on any lower offers. Payment will be by Paypal only.

If you're interested -- drop me an email! Or, if you know of anyone who might be interested, please pass along the information to them! Thanks!