More on Identity

Have you been thinking about what Justin shared with us at our last meeting? Here is another look at the topic of "What do you do?"...check it out!

"Boutique for a Week" in Winter Garden

Melinda G. wanted to be sure to share this information with you all....this is from Kelly Traugott...contact her with further questions, please. Her information is found at the bottom.

Next week in Winter Garden, Boutique for a Week!!!!!
Here are some last minute details about the sale next week!

* Don't forget there is still time to register to consign at our sale. Just visit the Boutique website to register today.
* The public sale hours are:
- Wednesday, February 25th, 10:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 26th, 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., 50% off all GREEN and BLACK prices.
- Friday, February 27th, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., 50% off all GREEN prices and 75% off all BLACK prices.

* If you would like to shop on Monday, February 23rd and get first choice of the great selection we recommend that you volunteer at the sale. We still have many convenient volunteer shifts available. You can visit our website to register and see the remaining shifts.

* You may also shop early if you are an expecting mom (or have a baby under the age of 1), foster or adopting mom. All you need to do is register as a First Time Mom and you can shop on Tuesday, February 24th from 6:00-9:00 pm.

We will have so many great things for you to shop for, here are just a few!
• Quality baby and children's clothing and shoes. Sizes Boys and Girls Preemie through 14
• Baby equipment, monitors, carriers, travel equipment
• Toys, games, puzzles
• Juvenile/nursery furniture
• Outdoor play equipment
• Parenting and children's books and movies
• Scooters and bikes
• Safety Equipment (gates, locks, bed rails, etc)
• Feeding Items (cups, bibs, bottles, packaged nipples & pacifiers, breast-feeding equipment)
• Bathing (bath toys,seats, mats, wash cloths, towels, tubs )
• Bedding - comforters, sheets, wall décor, blankets, mobiles, crib sets, waterproof mattress pads, diaper pails
• Small Equipment & Large Equipment Extras - bouncy seats, jumpers, back packs/front packs, diaper bags, Snugli's
• Large Equipment - car seats, high chairs, exer-saucers, walkers, cribs, toddler beds, pack and plays, large toys, swings, bassinets, strollers, crib mattresses
• Toys - infant, toddler, preschool, school age toys, games, outside toys

Here is what a shopper from our last sale had to say...
"I was a volunteer at Boutique For a Week, so I was able to shop before they opened to the public. They had a great selection of toys, baby items, books, and craft items. The amount of clothes in GREAT shape was unbelievable! Everything was displayed nicely and easy to get to. A lot of the big, popular items, like train and lego tables were gone the first day. I can't wait to shop again!" L.C.

Here is a map to help you find us!! We can't wait to see you and meet you next week!
Kelly Traugott
email: kelly (at) boutiqueforaweek (dot) net

Who Am I?

By Erin Ramsey, Creative Activities Co-Leader

Sometimes I’m tired. Just tired of all the Things I am.
I say that I’m just Too many Things to too many People.
I’m a Wife. I’m a Mom. I’m a Housekeeper. I’m a Friend.
It can go on and on. Then it “hits” me, Yeah I am all those Things but I’m some-Thing even more than all that. I’m a Child of God.
What does that mean though?
Well, the Bible tells me that I was Knit together Perfectly in my Mother’s womb. No matter how Broken or Lost I feel, I must remember –
Who I am above all else – I am HIS.
He loves ME. He chose to Save Me.
So, knowing that HE loves ME and loves all of the Things that I am,
I know I can be those Things through Him and to please Him.
I cannot live for Myself or Anyone else.

Yes Lord, I will be all of those Things for you. I will be a Wife for you. I will be a Mom for you. I will be a Housekeeper for you. I will be a Friend for you. Amen

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called you by name. You’re Mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end – Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you:…That’s how much you mean to Me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you."
-Isaiah 43:2-4 (The Message translation)

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out,you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day."
-Psalm 139:13-16 (The Message translation)

FYI: Sea World - FL Resident Special

Hi Girls,
I wanted to share something real quick with you.
I know that money is tight for a bunch of us, so this is just an FYI...I'd hate for anyone to miss this deal because they didn't know!

Sea World' has a FL Resident Special Offer that's going on right now...Buy one day and get in for the rest of 2009 for free. :) You could go once a month (or everyday) and that would be so cost effective! Just an idea, so that when summer comes around you can do something for fun and for free (well, almost!) ;)

Here are the details: http://www.seaworld.com/Tickets/Residents.aspx

Hope that you're having a great week!

Graceful Parenting

Hi Ladies! From time to time, we'll have some guests post a thought for us. This one is from Jodi Vermaas, our friend, mentor, and staff contact. Enjoy!

Romans 14:19- “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

As a Christian, a mother, a counselor and a children’s ministry director, I have had lots of experiences with many adults and children. I am thrilled to be part of a ministry that allows us all to walk through the doors (no matter what our sinful backgrounds may be) and inspires us to change. I am also grateful for the grace we all experience as we continually realize our sin, and how we can change. As a Christian people, we try hard to welcome others and to make everyone feel that they are not only accepted, but loved and valued. I know how grateful I am that people love me, even when I am unlovable!

As a mother, I have been perplexed about how we as mothers can sometimes throw out that same grace we rely on with each other when it comes to dealing with children - other people’s children and our own. I feel called to look at children the way I look at my fellow female - with grace. We all can think this is a “no-brainer,” but haven’t we all been guilty of passing spiritual judgment on a child (or his/her parents), when that child has acted out in some way? I believe we need to walk carefully in these situations.

Consider the myriad of controversial topics when it comes to dealing with children:
If/how/when/and where to discipline?
Home school/Christian school/Public school?
Some TV/no TV/any TV (the same for music, movies, etc.)?
No junk food/organic food/eat what is put in front of you?
Obedience: required the first time/required unless the child is over-tired/required sometimes/only when in front of others?
Church kids are always/sometimes/learning to be (which one is ok to you?) calm, kind, and respectful?

I once had a mother point out to my husband that one of my children - who has a sensory processing disorder and who was having a loud sensory reaction to his surroundings at the time - that if we “spare the rod, we spoil the child.” While we appreciated the scripture knowledge, we did not feel we were being built up in our parenting! We felt so discouraged and misunderstood, not to mention how our child felt.

Sometimes being stuck in our own parenting world with the children we know, we put expectations and judgments on kids that we barely know, not to mention understand. It is subtle, but can hurt our relationships with one another. As mothers, let’s lead the charge in building each other up as we take on the greatest challenge of our lives - raising kids to God’s glory!

They all grow, change, mature, adjust, and fall down. They all have unique needs, challenges, gifts, and sinful natures. Just like us, they need grace. Let’s encourage one another to look at our children and others the way we desire to be looked upon, through the eyes of Christ. When we do this, power and unity is given the ability to spread through our friendships, our ministries, and our lives. And when we live by grace, we are then able to give instruction, discipline and advice in ways that are uplifting and Spirit-led.

(If you are interested in learning more, all of Romans 14 is a good study on this topic.)