This is a post I made on the MOMYS forum on Friday, October 21, 2005, I’m copying and pasting it here so I will remember to do this for Rachel and Sarah.
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On Wednesday night, My 11yo daughter technically became a woman; she started her cycle. I knew it was coming so we were prepared. She had been moody and headache-y off and on for a few months and beginning breast development. She came to me Wed. night a told me she had spotted. I thought it might be a little young but I was ready!!!!!! I hugged her and kissed her, thanked the Lord for shining His face on her and took a cue from an old Cosby Show episode and told her "Tomorrow is Woman's Day! And we will do ANYTHING you want, within reason...
Rebecca’s "Woman's Day" was wonderful.
We read Proverbs 31:10-31 "Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies....." We talked about what it meant to be virtruous, a Woman of Worth, and how this precious gift from the Lord was the beginning of that journey......
Then we went to the mall!
We sampled perfume at Dillard’s, she decided on one called "Lovely" and the sales lady gave her a sack full of various others samples, including Chanel no.5, our dear Great-Grandmother’s favorite.
She had a real manicure, complete with little flowers. Hummmmm I might go back and get one for myself. We had lunch at The Market Place Grill, bought new shoes at Wal-Mart and found the Amazing Wall of Womanhood......The sanitary pads display. I showed her what she'll be needing for the next few years.
Then, I bought a necklace for her with a heart shaped ruby to remind her of Proverbs and to be a virtuous woman for God and her future husband. Oh, and we went by a little specialty shop and bought a candle for the bathroom. By then, it was time for Ballet and she wanted to show her fingernails and her necklace to her teacher.
We ended the day with special prayers of Thanksgiving. I'm seeing my little girl in a new light and I think the day really made a positive impact on her.
It was a wonderful day; I hope she will always remember. I asked her if she had a good time and she said she did. When I asked her what was her favorite part of the day she said,
"Spending it all with just you!" (Be still, my heart!)
Aprox. 2 yrs until the next daughter!
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I spent aprox. 32 dollars at the mall for perfume and manicure, 15 dollars at Wal-Mart, 21.00 on the necklace. But the big bucks was lunch......47.32 including tip!
Was Woman’s Day expensive? yes.! I know I could have done things cheaper but when I started my cycle, many years ago during the age of the sanitary belt, it was known as "The Curse." I wanted better for my daughter. I wanted her realize our cycles are a gift from God! And she is worth it. I’m looking forward to Rachel's and Sarah’s Woman’s Day!
In 19 years of marriage, we have never purchased a new piece of furniture. We have bought pieces from yard sales, borrowed from family, and friends have given us their discarded items. Over the years we have sat comfortably on a orangy, velor, flower explosion of a couch that mesmerized several babies, a brick red, chenille sofa big enough to be an ocean tanker, and the latest was a country style, or make that Kun-tree style, sleeper sofa bought at a yard sale.
The Kun-tree sofa recently headed off into the sunset. It just couldn't keep up with the rigors of Branham-dom. After enduring 5 years of seven non-diagnosed ADHD children hopping around, it's backside literally separated from the rest of the sofa. I've heard of working your tail off but never so realistically. Clint pushed the poor thing up next to the wall thinking that would take care of it. I took matters in my own hands and went shopping! (Aren't you proud of me, Granny?)
After 2 months of hunting and searching and wondering just "what is my style, anyway?" I found it! My new love!! The perfect, stain-free, fluffy cushioned, no worn edges or old stuck gum, back and sides intact, new-smell sofa! There was only one small problem; the PRICE!!!!! I actually told one sales lady that I made babies, not money. Enter Husband.
Clint is amazing. He can sniff out a good deal faster than you can say "Here's my VISA." He got on the internet, googled the couch and found the exact same one PLUS two love seats, an over sized chair, (I suppose that's for the over sized Branhams), a coffee table, two end tables, a sofa table, two lamps, and a rug all within our budget. Can you believe this guy? I was just looking for a couch! Clint deserves hugs and kisses....from me, of course.
I will try to post a picture of the couch so you can see what I'm talking about, if you can see past the children hopping on it!
Clinton is fixing to start his last year of homeschool and I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I know he could use another math & science credit and we still need the foreign language.... I know he could pass the GED no problem. I'm just wondering if that's necessary for graduation. So many homeschoolers go that route but I'm thinking he should take the ACT or SAT and apply to college. I'm just not sure what exactly to do about a transcript. He has been somewhat of an unconventional student.... even for homeschool.
About the bragging. Our church's computer that controls the broadcast went down this week. PANIC! After a few frustrating days, he called from church and said "I fixed it." He said he finally stopped listening to everyone else, googled the error messages and found the solution. He had the computer fixed within 5 minutes! Don't you love it when your child can think outside the box? I'm very proud of my 17yo son!
