Getting Started - Wedding Dress

Tomorrow, my baby girl and I hope to spend some time working on my wedding dress. It has taken some time to get to this point, but I am very excited!

We have to take apart the dresses I am using for fabric and make mock-ups for the new dress.

For those of you who don't know, I am actually getting my fabric from Wrangler!!

 

Are Kindle's Safe for kids?

I love to read, always have. My kids love to read, I thank God for that. Every Christmas, they want books, that brings me joy. Last Christmas I got "Code Talkers" for Austin, he loved it, still talks about it. That makes me smile.

So this year when we were considering getting them Kindles, I researched parental controls...NONE. The children can get on the internet if it is connected to a network and there is no way to secure that. Most parents also add the child's Kindle to their own account, which is connected to their credit card, which allows you to purchase content - any content - with one simple click.

While one-click purchasing is great and convenient for me, I would like to make sure my kid can't just buy $400 worth of books and magazines on a whim. So here's my solution to parental control on my minor children's Kindles for Christmas.

I set each of the kids up their own email address just for the Kindle on gmail and set them to forward to my email address. I signed each of the kids up for their own Amazon.com account using that email address. I got each child an Amazon.com Kindle gift card and set that card as the payment method for their Kindle. So when that $$ is gone, they're done. They will be able to save their money and buy their own gift cards, receive gifts cards as gifts, or anyone with an Amazon.com account may "gift" them books. So if they would like me or their father to buy them a book, we can do that and "gift" it to them.

Also, anything that they purchase or download for free, it sends an email to their email address. That email comes to my email so I know what they just got. Then, since I have the only password to their account, if I don't approve of the book they just bought, I can return the book for a refund, or simply delete it. I also don't give my kids my internet code, so to get on the network, they have to give me their Kindle to connect it and I turn the wireless off and tell the Kindle to forget the connection when I am done. So no browsing without me, and they know I check Histories.

So, although Amazon doesn't offer any type of set "Parental Control" this parent has taken control and given the given of digital literature! Merry Christmas, friends!

My Dream Wedding - Second Chances - Our Rings

One thing we look forward to every year here in the Texas Panhandle, is the WRCA Ranch Rodeo National Finals. We wait and wait every year to see the guys busting their tails to do real ranch tasks, to see who is the best of the best as far a working ranch rodeo hands. 

We also really enjoy the trade show that comes along with it. We spend hours, literally, cruising the aisles looking for tack (that's gear for your horses and such, for those of you not in the horse world), clothing, and treasures. We've been watching for ideas for the wedding, of course and found a huge key element...our rings. 

We met a super guy named Beau Compton, and his beautiful family this weekend. Beau is an amazing silversmith and makes everything from rings to saddle kits to buckles, and does a gorgeous job at affordable prices...you will be pleasantly surprised. Our rings will be similar to this picture, with a few small tweaks and I have also requested a special surprise for my beloved on our special day. Shhhh, don't tell him, though....

Beau is a few months out on orders, so if you need something, be sure to give him plenty of time. But if you need something special for someone special, this is the guy for the job!! Check him out at BeauCompton.com

Over The Top

Oh my goodness, did I have a great weekend!!! I had second row seats to an amazing experience with God! 

Thanks to the fine folks at Thomas Nelson Publishers, I received two tickets to the Women of Faith, Over the Top conference in OKC this weekend. Not only did I get to take part in some amazing worship, hear a great Word from the Father, but I spent some quality time with one of my closest friends, Sharon. 

I also got to hear one of my all time favorite artists, live, from the second row:

 Amy Grant, still serving Him, still wonderful and beautiful after all this time. I had this song on cassette...kids, ask your moms what that is.

We also heard some amazing and uplifting words from women who have lived lives just like ours, know hurt just like ours, and have found healing in a God who loves us so big that it can be felt, seen and heard.


Here are some pictures of the speakers:

Each of the ladies above touched my life this weekend, taught me something, or gave me something I could take with me as I left the arena and began a new Over the Top life. 

This last picture is the beautiful worship team.

Their CD, Rejoice, is my net review from Thomas Nelson Publishers, I promise, it's a must have for your collection. Besides, it's great for the drive to any Woman of Faith event.

Speaking of events, here are some for you, just click the picture for the website:

Awesome music, straight-talking messages, drama, and a ton of fun combine for an event just for teen girls:

Next Year's Tour:

I am trying to organize a group for next year's Celebrate Event in OKC. The kick off of the tour in August. If you're interested in going and getting group pricing, please email me or leave a comment.