Modest Swimwear

The challenge of being modest and still enjoy swimming and other outdoor sports has bothered many young ladies for a long time. Click to find out more about HydroChic's solution, an go to AmandaBeth to learn about a giveaway.

Every Christian young woman needs to give serious and sober consideration to the testimony she makes at the pool or beach. Consider how you can best represent the Lord by being modest, tidy, and considerate of others. Actions do speak louder than words, and in our culture clothing makes and even bigger statement.

Girls are like Apples

"She looked absolutely stunning in the white dress."

The music, the lights, the pure excitement sent shivers up his spine. At the end of the aisle as the music stopped, daughter turned to father to give him a hug. He handed her a box. It was small and simple. As she walked up the carpeted steps with the box, smiling up at him, curiosity grew obviously on the grooms face. Still at the end of the aisle, the father of the bride looked up proudly and said, "son, this box has a symbol that represents my daughters heart...it is an apple, clean, fresh, and new. She is giving this to you as a symbol that she has kept emotions pure, and saved her heart for you."

The groom smiled as the bride slowly handed the box to him. He opened it.
inside was an apple, to be sure...but it had been eaten. A bite here from one man, and a bite there from another, and yet nothing more was left but a bitter, rotting core for him to take what was left. The brides family gasped in astonishment.
"This..this is whats left?" He whispered.
She nodded in shame, tears coming to her heavily makeuped eyes.
He handed the box to her and walked away, tears forming in his own eyes. He had been fooled. He could not marry someone who so readily gave away her heart to other men.

“Girls are like apples...the best ones are at the top of the trees. The boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples that are on the ground that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples at the top think there is something wrong with them, when, in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree...

Found this story and quote a while ago, and since there are so many young ladies that read this blog I thought I would encourage you with this.

Save your hearts!

In Christ,

Jillian

Imagination is The Necessity of Motherhood?

Dost thou agree? I said that by accident.

Jillian

An Announcement

We have an announcement to make that is most exciting.
On July 3, 2010 Roman Mallery asked Caitlin to marry him and she said," Yes!" They are engaged!!
So the Blair Carstensen family will finally gain a son, with the blessing of parents, the delight of sisters, and the utter joy of the couple.
After five months of prayer, work, and a lot of talking we are moving towards a September wedding. The summer just keeps getting busier, and it will
be so much fun. The plans are underway, and we will get more details together in the next couple of weeks. Now for the proposal story:

Roman arrived at our home Saturday evening with his parents and an armful of packages. The girls were visiting friends so Caitlin opened the gifts of perfume, a jewelry set, beautiful dress, and lovely sweater with eager parents watching. My very nervous suitor had picked out a lovely new outfit and we were all going out to ShowThyme for dinner.



So I got all dressed up and changed as well. Then I presented myself to him. As I walked down the hall he stood up, and then sat right back down. He was delighted!

We then went to a very delicious dinner. The restaurant has a five-star chef, so it was top class.

After things had settled down we all headed to Flathead Lake to watch the sunset.

Roman and I walked out on the dock, and the parents stayed back on shore. It was unusually still, and calm. Around the lake people set off fireworks in preparation for
Independence Day. We talked for a little, admiring the view in this beautiful place where we live. Then he changed the subject, and slowly got down on one knee.
After a short speech he took from his pocket a final package, containing a lovely ring.



After he asked and I said yes, we knelt for a prayer.

Then we hugged, and talked, and enjoyed the sunset.

Before we left he had me write something on the back window of the car.

Then we called all the siblings and went back to our home, and had cake and sparkling cider, and lots of hugs, laughs, and talking.

There you have it. The proposal story, and now it is on to wedding plans, and home plans, and any other plans that may come up.
I will leave you with one last picture, showing the roses Roman gave me, along with the ring.

Have a wonderful summer, and we hope to see you all in September!

The Carstensens,
Blair, Rebecca, Laurel, Jillian, Hayley
Roman and Caitlin