this keeps happening. i blog in my head but never get around to posting and now i have 4 totally different things to blog on, sheesh. women. that is the topic for today. for two reasons. one is that i recently attended a women in business awards luncheon and i found myself smiling the whole time through. the university hosted a table of women and i loved bouncing around talking to all these rockstars. as i listened to the keynote, i realized she kept referring to some female firsts in Charlotte in the 1970's and 1980's - like first woman elected to local government, first women rise in banking industry, first woman city manager, many female started small businesses, and so on. and i realized that my generation of girls aren't necessarily a part of doing and being the first but we were raised by some trailblazers, we were raised consciously or unconsciously a part of the rise in equality for women, especially as it relates to business. it was so cool for me to think that slowly over time people quit telling me i had only two options, outside the home that is, to be a teacher or a nurse. and then to think about baby girl and realize what she will be raised seeing and thinking - i love it! regardless of political opinions, this little girl will be raised in such a different environment of what women and men can do from running the country to serving in the church to leading her math club. i am so excited for her to have the world before her and see all the ways that she will chose to use her unique creation to live and serve in this world. i have great pride in making sure i am not a part of the voices that will ever limit her because of her gender. Okay, i could go on and on there, and i will stop before i get in trouble. Second thing i love about women is the way we celebrate. i grew up in an especially gifted group of celebrators. My mom and Aunt Nanny are next to famous for the way they know how to make you feel like the most cherished and accomplished. I have been blessed to be given some wonderful women in my life here in Charlotte who have journeyed a long way to parenthood with Stephen and I. Recently Sandy, Randy Kate, Kim and Kate hosted a shower to celebrate God's generous provision of this baby girl. The gifts were so amazing i tried to rewrap them after i opened them so Stephen could have the joy to of receiving all this goodness pouring in for Sprouta. She has more diva clothes than me now.

[caption id="attachment_71" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="La Tea's"]

[/caption]

sandy, me, kim, and randy kate (miss ya kate!)