Gender Party Featured

Looking for the Lime Ricki Swimsuit Giveaway? Lime Ricki sells modest, adorable swimsuits, and they are giving one away right here this week. Click here for the post.

Remember Cody and Chelsea's fun gender party? Our sweet friends invited us to theirs and then were so kind to let us share the details of their party on our blog. Well...Mama Buzz featured that post on their website today.

Check it out!

If you are pregnant (or someone you love is pregnant) and you don't know what a gender party is, you will be glad to know about this creative idea!

The party was very special, we had so much fun, and can't wait for another one of our friends to have one.

Beware of Christians

Looking for the Lime Ricki giveaway? You can find it here.

________________________

Remember when we told you about the new movie, Beware of Christians?

If not, I wrote about this upcoming movie here.

Check out the trailer...



We know and love Michael Allen (you can meet him in the trailer).

We're excited that a sneak peek of the movie will be available in College Station next week.

Beware of Christians will be showing on Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8 at Premiere Theater. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

You can go to the Beware of Christians website to buy tickets.

Also...if you don't live here locally, this movie may be showing soon in a theater near you.

Dallas, this movie is coming your way April 2 and 3.

Check the website to find out if there will be a showing in your city.

I love the community God has brought to this blog every week. If you can, try to go see the movie. I'd love to talk about what we walked away with from this movie. What we agreed with....what we didn't...what was inspiring...what may be crazy...all that stuff. Let's talk.

Since the movie title is pretty controversial in and of itself, please read our thoughts on this movie as people who know Michael personally. That boy is crazy. But the good kind of crazy.

More of our thoughts on this movie here.

Lime Ricki Giveaway!

Lime Ricki has kindly offered to give away one of their cute suits this season.

In addition to this fun giveaway, Lime Ricki is also offering us a promo code so that we can each get a discount on our suits.

Like I've said before, these swimsuits are modest (according to my convictions) and also extremely stylish.

As you know, our family is on a journey to figure out how to quit participating in the exploitation of women, children and the poor as we purchase items here in the U.S. These suits are made in the USA. Their materials for the suits all come from reputable companies. This information made my day!

I found out about Lime Ricki last year and it was so fabulous, I didn't want to tell you about it.

There weren't that many swimsuits on their site, and I didn't want one of the 9,000 stay at home moms in my community who go to the pool together every day in the summer to buy the same suit I bought.

How selfish of me.

I got over myself (slightly) and decided to share this great find!

I say slightly, because I also posted a picture of the suit I bought so that no one else planning to live at the pool in my town would buy my suit. How junior high of me, but whatever. One day I'll grow up, but obviously last summer was not when I matured (or this summer).

Last year I loved my swim suit. I ordered this top, and then ended up buying my swim skirt from Land's End. Last summer was the first summer I felt "together" at the pool. My top fit well. I could bend over, and it stayed exactly where it was supposed to stay. My skirt was a great length. I'm not even kidding when I say this...I rarely left the pool without another woman coming over and asking me where I got my suit. I felt like I should have Lime Ricki cards in my swim bag. I loved hearing perfect strangers go on and on about how "modest" my suit was. They lamented over not being able to find a suit that covered them up and was still cute.

I think many women want more coverage at the swimming pool. I'm so thankful for Lime Ricki for providing such great options. If you're just joining us, you can read about my journey as a believer in the area of modesty in the post below.

Another bonus...these suits are very well made. Mine held up better than any other suit I've ever purchased. We visit the pool almost every day in the summer. I really don't need another swimsuit this summer, and wasn't going to get another one but Lime Ricki has blown me away by offering to send me a complimentary suit. Yee-haw!

I always want to be honest on this site about products. I don't want to be a sell-out blog that says nice things about products just so I get free items in the mail. I want to care more about you and about the way we shop and spend our money than I do about companies that need blog advertising.

Full disclosure: I contacted Lime Ricki myself and simply asked for a promo code since so many of us bought suits last year from this company. I would have never asked for a swimsuit for myself and never would have thought they would do a giveaway. Lime Ricki answered my request for a promo code by saying they would also send me a free suit and give away a suit on my blog. So nice.

Just needed you to know that I told Lime Ricki that I was going to promote their site even if they could not swing a promo code because I am thankful for the options they give women. Lime Ricki went above and beyond with the free swimsuit and promo code.

PROMO CODE

If you can't wait to fill your online shopping cart with a suit, you can use the code, HENDRICK as you checkout to receive a 10% discount.

GIVEAWAY

Here's how the giveaway will work. You can enter several times by doing the following things:

1. Leave a comment. You get one entry simply by commenting.

2. Share a link to this giveaway on Facebook. Then comment letting us know you spread the word to your Facebook friends.

3. Blog about the giveaway. Come back over here and leave a comment letting us know you sent your readers this way.

4. Tweet about the giveaway. You know the drill. Come tell us. You got yourself an entry.

5. Go check out Lime Ricki's website. Tell us your favorite suit in the comment section and you'll have another entry!

6. Become a Lime Ricki fan on Facebook. Head back over here and let us know you're in the fan club.

Make sure your comments contain your first and last name.

HUSBANDS can enter for their wives for double the comments.

The more times you enter, the more of a chance you have to win (at least that's what math teachers tell you.)

We will have a drawing on Friday, April 2 and announce the winner!

This week...

We'll be talking more about modesty and if you live here locally you can claim your suit so no one else buys it!

Happy Spaghetti Day

Yesterday was Spaghetti Day in the Hendrick House, the day we stop every year and remember how the Lord worked and moved to heal Hayden's body.

This was our fourth Spaghetti Day to celebrate!

Deuteronomy 4:9
Only take heed, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your [mind and] heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your children's children.

We want to be faithful to remember all that the Lord has done. We continue to thank God for His mercy in our son's little life and ask for complete healing for Hayden.

For the full Spaghetti Day story, you can read here.



Spaghetti Day fell on a Saturday this year. Normally we plan a huge spaghetti meal with friends and family to celebrate. This year on Spaghetti Day we had two soccer games, a wedding and a bridal shower. Whew! So, we decided to grab some lunch as a family at Johnny Carinos to remember this special day.

I love this picture!

What handsome guys!

Hayden four years ago...look how little he was!

Praise God!

Swimsuit Season Already?

Long story short, here's where I am.

I want to honor the Lord with my clothing.

The road to modesty has been a long, hard, often times ugly journey for me.

Lots of irritation, justifying my need to look cute, or to be comfortable over loving my brothers in Christ.

Funny how as women we were created to help man, to be helpers, and yet oftentimes we help them fall into sin by the way we dress (or hardly dress).

I've spent far too long being a female on a hunt for the loopholes when it comes to modesty.

You know...

The loop holes.

My shorts are long enough usually...

But what about at the gym?

What about when I run?

Surely it's okay to show a lot of leg then, right?

Surely me being hot and comfy trumps the clear teaching in scripture for women to dress modestly...right? please? pretty please?

What about when I'm at the swimming pool?

Then it's okay to wear a bra and panties in front of a bunch of men, right?

Men aren't turned on by women in their bras and panties...I tried really hard to live in that land of la-la.

Surely it's okay to show a little of "the girls" at the pool, right? maybe?

It's the pool. I'm swimming.

Or

It's the road. I'm running.

As if a verb and a location suddenly makes everything scripture says obsolete.

What is wrong with me?

So I have this inner dialogue, that goes something like this...

Why?

Why Heather are you such a sleuth at finding the loop holes?

Why does this really matter to you so much?

Why do you need to show a lot of skin?

Why don't you just be honest with yourself about your motives?

Why don't you just admit that maybe...holy cow...maybe something inside you....something in your soul won't let you "be" when you're pushing the line and flirting with darkness. Maybe that's the Holy Spirit whispering, "choose life...choose life." Maybe Heather...you should listen.

Something in me grabs a hold of my heart and squeezes it.

I feel it.

I know.

And yet I fight and I fight.

Why?

Why over this one area?

Why do I put up my dukes and plant my feet firmly in the ground like I'm about to engage in body combat...over something as silly as clothing?

Why do I forget that God is good, and everything He does and wants is for my good and for His glory...two perfectly wonderful things.

The dukes are coming down, slowly.

I'm learning...slowly...when it comes to clothing...

To consider other people more important than myself (Phil. 2). Somehow, God wants to take this selfish woman and teach me how to consider other people. What work He has cut out for Him!

I'm learning to not only think of my own needs (comfort, looking oh-so-cute) but to also consider the needs of others (to not have to divert their eyes, or fall into sin at the swimming pool). (Phil 2)

I'm learning to pursue purity, instead of constantly seeking the "line."

I'm learning that being at the pool, ready to encourage my friends, meet new women, and love on my kids is more important than sitting at the pool thinking about myself, my body and what others are thinking about my body.

I'm learning to love the thought of being free from focusing on me so much.

I'm learning to obey the Lord, caring less about looking beautiful on the outside (and often times skanky) and instead, growing in godliness and good deeds.

1 Timothy 2:9-10
And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

Did I mention I'm learning this slowly?

So that's where I am...and that brings us here:

Swimsuits.

Did everyone groan?

Once you get past the groaning because you hate thinking of standing in a dressing room, with surround sound mirrors wearing a swimsuit while you're not tan....at...all..... even a little...then you have to move on and groan over not being able to find a swimsuit that isn't too revealing.

Double groan.

side note: Why oh why do the dressing rooms have to be so well lit?

other side note: Fat looks so much better tan. Just sayin'.

In the past, I've had the hardest time finding a modest swimsuit that doesn't make me look like I'm 75.

I want cuteness, modesty and my suit needs to stay put.

Long gone are the days when I could lounge by the pool.

Are you kidding?

4 kids = no lounging

I'm constantly jumping up, bending over, saving someone's life, preventing Hudson from drinking out of every Sonic cup in sight, or jogging around the pool to "have a word" with one of my sons who is giving the life guard an ulcer.

See...I need modesty and my suit super glued to my body.

What a quandary.

What's a girl to do?

A girl needs to check out Lime Ricki.

Is there anything better than getting cute, trendy, well-made, modest swimsuits delivered right to your front door?

No more driving all over town.

You can try on your suit at sundown in your own home (after a margarita, a dose of Benadryl or much prayer).

And, most importantly...

We can be on the other side of town from "the line."

Ah...

My soul breathes easy.

We'll be giving away one of these suits next week and offering a promo code for a discount off your swimsuit.

Get excited!

Christian Music That Actually Sounds Good

This is Aaron ... guest posting on his wife's blog.

I've been a Robbie Seay fan for a long time.
It started long before his sister started coming to our church.

I had a copy of "Thoughts of You" about 10 years ago and wore it out. (I'm sure Robbie is proud to look back and recall that he covered a Sheryl Crow song on that album.)
And then when Craig Weaver gave me a copy of "10,000 Charms," I was hooked.
I honestly feel like their music has gotten better and better with every album.

And their new album, Miracle, stays true to that trend. It's amazing.

Miracle has been playing in my truck almost non-stop for a month. I think my kids even know the words to most of the songs by now.

Anyway, Robbie and the band are playing at the Palace Theater tomorrow night.
I guarantee it will be a good show.
Go ... enjoy the music.

Here are the details:

RSB CD Release Show
w/ John Mark McMillan and Jillian Edwards

Friday, March 26, 2010

The Palace Theater in Downtown Bryan

7pm
Tickets:$10
www.itickets.com
KIDS 12 and under get in FREE!

(You can get tickets at the door unless the event is sold out.)

All the cool people in town are going. So should you!

Strawberry Pickin'

A group of us took our kids out to King's Orchard in Plantersville to pick strawberries today.

This was our first time. What a neat experience!

It's always good to be outside pulling food from the ground.

Does something magical inside you.

Makes you feel alive...and well...and like everything is just right in that moment.

Like hope is a red berry you hold in your hand.

A promise

That the new will come.

Among death radiant life will burst forth.

Unbelievable beauty and sweetness from an earth that is broken and gray.


Hudson ate some of the bounty. You're not supposed to eat them while you're pickin', but it's sort of hard for little mister to understand why we would keep picking beautiful strawberries and not eat them immediately.

He was extra adorable with his strawberry.





The older boys were busy little pickers. Before I knew it their box was getting full. I was so afraid I was going to have to buy way more strawberries than we needed, at not so great of a price. I was already trying to figure out how to explain to Aaron how I spent half our grocery money on strawberries. "Your sons are freakishly fast pickers. They were like Dash...before I knew it the box was full." Luckily we didn't end up paying too much.

Asher boy

sweet sawyer

How I love these girls!
Grace Anne and Cameron made the trip with us today.

How I love these girls too!

silly friends

Don't you want to Mary Poppins your way into that picture and eat some of Cameron's strawberries?






It started raining right as we drove away from the orchard.

I'd call that a pretty perfect day.

There's something extra special about strawberries you picked yourself.

Delicious!

Informed

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Tara posted this on her blog.

It's so moving.

Let's not forget Haiti. Let's be women who know what's going on around the world.

Child slavery.

It still happens.

It happens a lot.

It's more common than most of us think.

The earthquake in Haiti produced even more child slaves.

Haiti may be far from the news, but the tragedy is far from over.

In the midst of such suffering what a joy it is to ask a simple question..."How can I help, even if it's just one person or one child?"

I hope we're all asking that question.

Asking God how we can help change one life.

How are we...the church...us...personally...you and I...going to respond to this need?

What an eye opening piece from 60 minutes. Such tragedy and yet a reminder that there is always hope.

Swim Suit Give Away

I know that we just had a give away, but they are so much fun I thought I'd do another one.

Stay tuned this week!

Since it's swim suit season, I'll be writing about my sad, hard struggle in the modesty department AND thanks to my favorite swim suit company, we're going to give away a swim suit and offer a sweet promo code for a discount from their site.

Hope you haven't bought your swimsuit yet!

Is it just me or does swim suit shopping make others jump from one extreme to another?

I leave the dressing room eager to eat my weight in Blue Bell or vowing to never eat food again.

When will I learn to value the things God values (my insides) instead of caring so much about my outside. Since Jesus is the author and perfecter of my faith, I guess I can rest knowing that there will come a day when starvation or swimming in Blue Bell won't be temptations when I think of the words, "swim suits."

Details on the giveaway coming soon....

And the Winner is....

Yay Molly!

Just email me your address at hendrickcrew@gmail.com and I'll send your info to Exergen so you can get your cool new mommy gadget.

Giveaway: POSTPONED

We have no internet access here in Wimberly. So, we will have to do the giveaway on Monday.

Rear Ended

Yesterday, as we stood in the grassy medium between two very busy highways with our four kids, we decided right there we would never ever come back to San Antonio.

The last time we came to San Antonio our car broke down. Nightmare.

Yesterday we were on our way to Sea World. We woke up bright and early. The kids had anticipated this trip for weeks. Right before we were going to take the Sea World exit a lady slammed into the back of our car.

Slammed into our car.

She hit us so hard all the change and belongings in the ash tray were all over the floors of the front seats.

Wrecks are scary.

We did not know what hit us. It happened so fast.

The kids started screaming as Aaron and I took a second to figure out what had happened.

Thankfully Aaron was able to keep our car from hitting the car in front of us. We weren't stopped...traffic was just slowing down when the lady behind us plowed into us.

We are all safe.

The back of the car looks pretty awful.

The lady's car is totaled, but she was fine.

We can't get over how "just like our life" it is that we could literally SEE the Sea World exit where we sat in our wrecked car.

We were so close!

Wrecks are never fun, but this was pretty complicated since we're not in our home town.

We were able to get to our hotel. Our car has been towed. We are still waiting on a rental big enough to hold all six of us and the stuff six people need when they travel.

We did make it to Sea World pretty late yesterday.

We'll go again later today.

Sobering. Wrecks always are. Life is incredibly fragile. We were grateful to all walk away from such a powerful experience.

The night before we left Aaron sat down next to me on the couch and said, "I'm really worried about this trip. The last time we went to San Antonio our car blew up. The last time we went to Wimberly our engine had to be replaced. We're going to both of those places."

We laughed and laughed about how silly he was being.

Silly?

Can't quit thanking God that these sweet ones are safe.

Clever Kirby

Don't forget about the drawing for the thermometer.
Have you entered yet?

photo taken by Ryan Price

If you are a regular around here, you know that Kirby is near and dear to my heart.

I've had the sweet pleasure of watching her go from single, college girl to wife and mother of two beauties. I have felt extremely blessed by the Lord to know Kirby and watch her grow over the years. I could fill a book with all the ways God has been good to me and shown me His sweet grace through Kirby's life.

We're leaving to go out of town, so I thought I would leave you with some fantastic things Kirby has shown me lately...

1. Check out the Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Charlie (Kirby's talented hubby) made for their kids. This was a wonderful Christmas present. Kirby's friends and family members pitched in to buy and make the most adorable accessories. I love that pop tart!

2. Plan on having a bunch of kids? Check out these incredible bunk beds. I've put these on Aaron's list. Such a great idea! I was thrilled when Kirby showed me this blog. Here's pictures of this family building the beds. Genius! I'm dreaming of how many kids I can put in one bedroom. Our kids lu-huv sleeping in the same room with each other.

3. Kirby girl also recently showed me how to pop our own popcorn in the microwave. This may be the cheapest snack we eat around here.

I copied this information directly from Kirby's Valentine's Day post. Check it out if you want a million cute Valentines ideas. That Kirby loves Valentine's Day. I love that I know her on Valentine's Day cause I get lots of sweet gifts.

From Kirby...

I feel like I should stop right now and share a fabulous tip with you that is going to revolutionize snacktime around here. This really needs it's own separate post but since we all know how good I am about updating, I'll just tell you about it now. Okay, so just as I was getting my saucepan and popcorn kernels out, I picked up my cell to call my brother, Jordan, who is the homemade popcorn pro. (When he lived with us last year he made stove-top popcorn almost everyday for a snack. And, as pathetic as this sounds, I have no clue how to do it. I think he even offered to teach me once, but I was too intimidated and declined, resigning to mooching off his homemade popcorn.)

About a month ago, after this article totally freaked me out about store bought, microwave popcorn, I realized I was going to have to learn to make it over the stove--until a few days ago!! When I started reading the recipe, I saw this link for homemade microwave popcorn. Although I still have a microwave-phobia (for other health-related reasons) I like that this is a quick (and now so much cheaper) snack. And I LOVE that I can control the amount of salt and actually put real butter on the popcorn rather than all that fake, hydrogenated oil crud.

Here's how to do it:

(From Make & Take's post.)

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a brown paper bag. Fold top over a few times and tape it.
2. Place in microwave folded side upfor 2 to 3 minutes or until there is 5 seconds between pops.
3. Eat plain or add flavors (such as salt, butter, sugar, etc.)

(My tip: Make sure that if you do re-use your paper bag, that you take the old scotch tape off and replace it with a new one...otherwise, it will begin to melt and cause a small fire in your microwave :)


Heather's tip... I make the popcorn the way Kirby suggests, but I put a tablespoon of butter (you can use organic butter) in the bag before popping the pop corn. Then I set the bag on a paper towel in the microwave. The butter melts and is yummy on the popcorn. You can't reuse the bag though. Gets messy!

Gender Party

Have you heard of a gender party?

Like many cool things, this was totally new to me. I praise God every day for the younger, precious women in my life who keep me in the know on all things fun and "in".

A gender party....

This fantastic idea can be pulled off in several formats, but I love how our sweet friends Cody and Chelsea crafted theirs. Because I thought this was one of the best ideas on earth, I asked them permission to share this fun idea.


Yesterday Cody and Chelsea got to find out the gender of their baby. What an exciting day! Instead of letting the sonographer tell them if their baby was a girl or boy, they had the sonographer write down the gender on a piece of paper and then seal it in an envelope.

After the ultrasound appointment, Cody and Chelsea gave the envelope to Kirby. I was so jealous she got this job, but Kirby handled her new "power" very well. She didn't call and taunt anyone. I would have. I would have called all our friends and said, "I know the gender...I know the gender." Kirby behaved way better than I would have.

Kirby made blue and pink cake balls completely covered in white icing, so the inside of the cake ball could not be seen. You can check out the recipe here.

Later yesterday evening lots of friends gathered at Cody and Chelsea's home. In front of all of us, Kirby handed Cody and Chelsea each a cake ball. The inside of the cake ball would either be blue or pink, telling the proud parents the gender of their sweet baby. Cody and Chels bit into the cake balls and saw that the cake was BLUE! A Boy!! It was so fun to be a part of this fun reveal and celebrate this new little boy alongside his parents. How wonderful of them to share this exciting moment with all of us.

Chelsea and Kirby came up with so many creative ideas to make this party fun.

All guests were asked to wear pink or blue to vote for the gender of their choice.

We took a blue picture and a pink picture.


There was a name suggestion jar. We wrote girl names on pink paper slips and boy names on blue paper slips. Chelsea and Cody's last name is Groves, so of course there were lots of names like, "Lemon, Orange, Walnut." Too funny.


And now for the food...all of it was blue or pink.
Loved it!


Pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate (colored blue and pink).


Blueberry Dump Cake
2 cans of blueberry
small can of crushed pineapple
1 yellow cake mix
butter

Pour the blueberries and pineapple in the bottom of a pan, then pour a yellow cake mix on top of that mixture. Melt 1 stick of butter and pour on top of the cake mix. Don't stir. Bake at 350 for about an hour.

Pink Party Salad
1 can strawberry pie filling
1 (8 0z.) cool whip
1 small can crushed pineapple (drain)
1 can eagle brand milk
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix all of that together and refrigerate a couple hours before you serve it.

Jello Squares
3 small boxes of Jello
(3 watermelon for pink, 3 blue raspberry for blue)
3 Knox Gelatin envelopes
heavy whipping cream

Mix the Jello and the Knox Gelatin together (this will be dry). Add 3.5 cups hot water. Add 1/2 pint heavy whipping cream. Stir.Pour in a 9x13 pan. Refrigerate. The cream will separate and go to the top. Cut and serve.

Raspberry Limeade
1 can of raspberry lemonade concentrate
1 bottle of cold, carbonated lime water
1 bottle of cold, carbonated raspberry water
Mix those ingredients and enjoy!

Coffee Punch (dyed blue)
3 cups strong coffee
2 cups sugar
1 pint cream or half and half
1 quart milk
2 t. vanilla

Dissolve sugar in hot coffee. Cool. Add other ingredients. Freeze. Remove from freezer about 30 minutes before party. Mix and serve very icy. This is a favorite punch of ours for baby showers...but we don't usually dye it.

For more fun...

Cody and Chelsea had the baby's ultrasound video playing on the TV during the party.

They had plenty of pink and blue balloons so we could suck the helium out of them and sound silly.

The balloons came in handy for being goofy in other ways too....

Kirby and I wish we looked like this pregnant. I never had a perfect, all belly pregnancy. I looked like a line backer from behind. Seriously.

Kirby announced we needed to take a miserable pregnant picture...


The picture below was snapped after I announced that the next picture we were taking was going to be of them delivering my baby.

How I love laughing with these girls. What sweet friends.
Aren't they gorgeous?

Kirby may or may not have had real live tee-tee on her clothes.

How fun was this party?

I'm so proud of these girls and their creative ideas....and I know we were all blessed beyond words to share Cody and Chelsea's special moment with them.

We love you Cody and Chelsea...and that sweet little boy Groves.