I have known about, prayed for, and been involved with Proverbs 31 Ministries for about eight years or so. Our women's ministry had the pleasure of securing a wonderful Proverbs 31 speaker to come and share with our ladies at a retreat when I still had at least one in diapers.

Around that same time, I also had the opportunity to speak to our women's ministry. I was fearful, but I followed God's leading and was truly blessed as I felt Him carrying me through my talk to these sweet women.

I had heard about the She Speaks Conference and knew it would have a profound impact on my ability to share my heart with other women who have walked a similar journey fraught with fear, feeling insignificant, and struggling with the perplexing symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Yet I have ultimately thrilled at seeing God's hand and knowing He has victory prescribed for all of us who believe and trust in Him.

Over the years since I first heard about the conference, I have secretly hoped to attend. I think my fears have kept me from applying in the past, but the financial burden is certainly a consideration as well.

So, I am taking a leap this time. I am leaving my fear behind, claiming my life verse above as a promise, and throwing my proverbial "hat" in the ring! (I guess getting the hat wouldn't be such a leap since I've already got the boots!)

If God wants me there to change my life, and in turn, change the lives of others who may later hear or read my story . . . then I am trusting Him to go before me, place favor over me, and allow me to win the scholarship that is available.

If it isn't His choice for me at this time, I will so look forward to reading and hearing the testimonies of those who do attend and how God has worked in them to spread His message of love to women all over the world!

Either way, it is exciting being in the loop of what God is doing. That's why I'm still here!

So, go check out all the juicy details here:

Proverbs 31 Ministries and Lysa TerKeurst are hosting a scholarship contest to attend this summer's She Speaks Conference in Concord, NC. The conference is June 20-22, 2008, and the scholarship covers the entire cost of the conference, with you needing to provide transportation only.

PLUS, you will get a chance to meet and hear Sophie from Boomama, Melanie from BigMama, and Shannon from Rocks in My Dryer all wax eloquently on all things bloggy!

Go on and check it out! Maybe God has an opportunity for you at this conference! You'll never know unless you step out Without Fear!

Labels: contest, freedom, joy, stepping out

Ok. It is finally time. I've been mighty silent these past two weeks or so.

It is time to break the silence and let y'all know what's been going on in my little world.

I didn't wish anybody "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year".

{More on my holidays later in another post.}

I didn't really intend to stay away so long when I left. Yet circumstances necessitated the break.


So, with the obligatory greetings out of the way, let's get right down to it.

I've been sitting in front of this screen for almost two hours, well, on and off between loads of laundry and other tasks that beckon me from my all-too-quiet home.

My mind is awhirl with all that has transpired in the last few weeks, and I am also quaking inside from the events of this morning alone.

I managed to put on a brave face for my darlings this morning, yet I was acutely aware of all my feelings as my face crumpled when I returned to the van alone to take DP to work this morning.

So many mixed emotions fill my little heart this day. Yet, I take comfort in the verse above, as well as the knowledge that my Heavenly Father is not surprised by the details of this day or any other I face while I am here on this earth.

• He knew from the beginning of time that I would send my three children back to public school today.
• He knew I would try valiantly to homeschool.
• He knew I would try to obey Him in that venture.
• He knew the obstacles I would face.
• He knew the personalities of my children.
• He knew the demons I would fight to educate my children at home.
• He knew it would stress me out and cause me to fall on my face before Him.
• He knew homeschooling would drive our family to our knees for wisdom.
• He knew I was not cut out to be a homeschooling mom forever.
• He is NOT disappointed in me one iota for driving my children to school today and dropping them off with ladies who have been called to teach and love their chosen careers.
• He is not surprised that my heart is feeling like it is being ripped from my chest.
• He is also not surprised that a small, but ever-growing part of me is relieved that I am no longer wandering around in a forest of unfamiliarity, banging my head against the trees in trying to accomplish a task not suited for me.
• He is not surprised at my weaknesses, and He does not patronize me for them.
  
• He will comfort me and send others to comfort me as well.
• He gets me. This song has touched my heart today.
• He knows where I am headed next. Oh, how glad I am of that!

So, what do I do next? For the first time since Libbyline joined me in our little apartment in Dallas, Texas, I am alone. After 12 + years, I am on my own for almost eight hours every weekday.

I drove home this morning after heading to the local tire place to get one fixed after a flat we got on the way to XL last night. I pulled into the driveway and thought, "I am by myself!?! For hours on end!! What do I do now?"

Now, the possibilities are endless. I think that is what has my mind whirling this morning. I can do tons of things, but yet part of me is so emotionally and physically exhausted from the past couple of years that I long to shove all the opportunities aside for a little bit and catch up on my rest.

Maybe that's ok for a little while.

As the days and weeks unfold, I will be sharing more of our journey and decision to end our homeschooling path. Know that we came to a peaceful realization that this was the right time for all five of us to embark on something new and fresh for the year.

Also, know that I will be sharing the ways God will be filling my time and my tank. I'm so sorry I missed out on a couple of weeks of Thanks Tanks, but I really felt a need to focus on my children wholeheartedly these past two weeks as I said "goodbye" to all we'd known as familiar to us. I have still been reading your blogs over the break and will make more of a concerted effort to comment in the coming days.

So, while I have stepped into a new "river" of sorts as I start this new journey with my family, I am comforted by the promise that "they will not sweep over [me]" Isaiah 43:2

I would truly appreciate your prayers as we make this transition as a family.

Labels: childhood, family, homeschooling, stepping out

Time for the winners of the most difficult game in giveaway history!!

I DID make y'all work for this one, which is why I am going to let you buy your own prize.

I am headed out this weekend to get two $10 gift cards from Bath and Body Works for you to use on whatever your little heart desires there. That actually saves me some postage in mailing a bottle of lotion, and you get to choose your own favorite fragrance.


Drumroll please . . . The winners, picked from the 11 correct guesses of my first name and 3 whole correct guesses for my middle name are as follows:

Labels: contest, giveaways, stepping out

I am closing the polls on my giveaway now, so that I can tally the correct guesses and post the winners by 12 Noon EST. I have a got another wildly crazy/busy day, so I need to have this wrapped up neatly by then : )

Thanks SO much for playing along . . . all 156 of you.

By 12 Noon y'all will know for sure who is hiding behind the Peach.

See ya'!!

Labels: celebrations, contest, giveaways, stepping out

Update at the bottom of this post!
***There is a giveaway at the bottom of this post, but I'm going to make you work for it ; )

So read on, and then follow the instructions before you comment.

When I started this bloggy adventure in August of 2005, I had no real plans for what I would do about my anonymity. I started "Homeschooling in the Peach State", used peachteapots as my user name because I love to collect teapots, and I'm from -- well . . . the "Peach state", duh.

Peaches are great. I like them on cereal. I like them in pies, cobblers, and especially in smoothies.

Yet with the association of "peach" the fruit also comes "peach" the color.

I not a big fan of the color peach . . . . I can't wear it. I don't like it used in decor in my home. I really don't like to be associated with it at all.

The color peach brings back icky memories of wearing a peach qiana (yes, that really was a fabric back in 1978) bridesmaid's dress in my cousin's wedding. The guys wore brown tuxedos( think of how this would have horrified Franck) and our dresses actually had cowl necks. Think this only with a full length clingy skirt and white platform mary jane style shoes. I was a picture of loveliness. No, thankfully I can NOT scan any incriminating photos.

So, back to the original reason for this post in the first place:

I never intended to become a fruit. It just sort of evolved out of control. The time has come to tame it.

I have a perfectly fine real name. I would like to do some branching out of sorts in the internet world, so I need to sound a little more credible than introducing myself as one of these.

Many of you already know my real name, but for those of you who don't (all three of you). Why don't you take a wild guess, and I'll send you some yummy body lotion -- from Bath and Body Works.

****So that those of you who do know my real name can play too . . . if you correctly guess my middle name, you will also get entered into the random number generator and have a chance at smelling good, too.

I will give one gift to the correct guess of my first name and one gift to the correct guess of my middle name. The names of both winners will be randomly chosen from the correct guesses and revealed on Friday, November 2nd, at 12 noon EST. If for some chance no one gets the name correct, I will still choose two winners on Friday regardless. Just leave a comment with a way to contact you. You don't have to have a blog, but leave an email address. This contest is open to US and Canadian addresses only.

There's just one caveat -- it will NOT be a peach fragrance. Along with all the other peachy issues -- I'm not a fan of the bottled fragrance or anything that is supposed to smell like peaches.

Give me a real peach or a basket of them -- Yum!

Peach in a bottle? Ick.

So, to join in with the Fall Y'all Giveaway, I am offering something to make you smell real good for your correct guess as to who is hiding behind the Peach.

Go on over to Shannon's Bloggy Giveaways site right now to join the untold masses of people just giving tons of cool stuff away for free!!

***Update: My name did not exist before 1740. It was made up for someone fictional, though I rarely use it in its full form, and it has nothing to do with the name of my state. Sorry "Georgia" guessers!

Labels: contest, friends, giveaways, rejoicing, stepping out

Found this at Beth @ Life with Two Little Vikings via GiBee

Here's Beth's take on the background of the 30 Days of Thanksgiving:

Early last October, I made a list of 30 people in my life that I felt needed to know that my world is a little better because they are in it. I thought a list like that would be hard to create...and, actually, it was not.

I also made a little card in MS Publisher using Kari's button graphic explaining what I was doing and why. Then, starting October 24th, every day for thirty days I "snail mailed" or emailed someone on that list. My online buddies. My pastors. My parents. My in-laws. The folks at my local Walgreen's pharmacy who put up with my wacky-weird questions when one of the Vikings is sick. The Vikings' pediatrician. My favorite lunch spot's staff. My mail carrier and newspaper delivery person. My favorite cashier at the grocery store whose line I always wait in no matter how long because she's so nice to the Vikings.

Who around you do you appreciate? Who makes a tough day a little easier to get through? Who silently takes care of small (or big) tasks around you? Who makes you smile and thankful they are part of your life? Wouldn't it be nice if they knew how you felt?

Leave a comment here if you'd like to participate. And, consider posting at your bloggy home about what you think you might do and/or who you might honor starting next Wednesday. Then, perhaps do a follow-up post after your Thanksgiving food coma subsides and tell the bloggy world how it went. And, may the glory be His alone.

This is just so "up my alley"! I am so thrilled to take part in this year's challenge.
Here's mine:

I made a number of cards over the weekend, and I think they would be perfect for Thanksgiving and showing special gratitude to those I often overlook. So, over the next 30 days, I am going to make a diligent effort to make some more cards and drop them in the hands of unsuspecting folks -- hopefully allowing them to see how much I appreciate their presence in my life. I'll let you know how it goes.

Head on over to Beth's site. She has more details about how to participate and who started the whole thing last year. I'd love to hear about how God prompts you to show your thankfulness.

Labels: gratitude, stepping out, teachable moments, thanksgiving

I don't know about you, but I get really comfortable with sameness.

I go to the same stores to shop.

I travel the same roads just about every time I have somewhere to go in my town.

I rarely step out of the norm or my comfort zone to do anything wild and fearless.

Yet, my heart longs for it. I am wired for adventure.

I think that is why God throws me a curve ball or two, here and there. He wants to remind me regularly that I am "On His Adventure" ~ not just as some cutesy signature, but for real, for life.

I've been re-reading Captivating over the past couple of days, and what the Eldredge's so eloquently communicate is this:

Every woman in her heart longs for three things: to be romanced, *to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and to unveil beauty. That's what makes a woman come alive.
*emphasis mine.

I am one of those women. You (with the exception of the two guys that read this blog) are one of those women, too.

So, how do we become more like that in our everyday lives? How do we "play that irreplaceable role?"

The detailed answers to those questions are for another post indeed, but I think the following verse gives us a place to start:

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God . . . For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1: 6,7 (NIV)

God did not give the gifts mentioned above only to some believers. He gave them to all of us. The version of His Word that I usually read replaces "self-discipline" with a "sound mind", but I like this version better for this particular illustration.

If we discipline ourselves to "stepping out" fearlessly, regardless of the size of the task or its seeming magnitude in our lives -- how much more will we be relying on God's spirit of power, and of love. We can make a difference in our days and our ability to access that adventure we so long to be a part of, if we follow the Word of our Heavenly Father -- who sets an adventure before us each and every day.

The question is: "Am I ready to join Him in the adventure?"

Are you?

Labels: adventure, brave, fearless friday, stepping out