I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed having my daughter Abigail visit for the past two weeks. She’s such a joy. Of course one of the things we did during these two weeks was shop. So when she purchased this off-white sleeveless summer sweater that’s just like the multi-colored one I already had in my closet, I began plotting this photo session. Who can pass up a photo shoot with this beauty?
Abby’s been living in the Atlanta area in Georgia for the past two years, but she’s headed to the coast of Oregon for the summer. She’ll be a staff minister to the college and high school kids working at the Cannon Beach Conference Center family camps all summer. The conference center is situated in one of the most breathtaking locations along the Oregon coast, and our family has fallen in love with it. Abigail worked there for two summers while in college and is looking forward to going back to minister to those kids who are working there now. It’s an amazing family camp, and if you’re looking for a unique experience for a family vacation you really should look into it.
My daughter is 24, and for my readers who are a little younger than me who are wondering if your children will ever grow up…and if you’ll survive the process…yes! Yes they will, and yes you will. Here’s my bit of advice though. Look forward with enthusiasm to the day when they will become your dear friends…because they will…or at least they can. But right now, while they are still growing up and there is still shaping and molding to do, don’t rush into friendship. Be the parent! Then, when they’ve grown up more and set out on their own you will be able to enjoy a sweet friendship.
Abby doesn’t normally like to dress like her mama. But I was in charge for this photo shoot, and she gave in. I just wanted you to see this marled sleeveless summer sweater on two different women…of very different ages! I really like Abby’s natural colored sweater because it can be worn with so many different things. My pink multi-shade sweater is a little more limiting, but it looks great with white, beige or blue denim. I also think it would look stylish with olive green. For reference, we are both wearing a small…and Abby feels like she might should have gotten the extra small.
Here’s a shopping widget with our sweaters as well as a few other beautiful sleeveless sweaters I thought you might like.
Do you hesitate to wear sleeveless tops? I get it. But here’s my story. For about twelve years in my 30s and into my 40s I had a bulging fat tumor on my right shoulder. You can’t make these things up, ladies! It started out pretty small, but it grew over the years to about the size of a golf ball. I liked to think no one noticed it, but they did. It made for awkward conversations and after a while I stopped wearing anything sleeveless. It wasn’t until I’d put up with this adipose tumor for too many years that it finally occurred to me that I might could have it removed. And sure enough, I did. I have a tiny scar now, but it’s nothing compared to the bulge that once sat on top of my shoulder.
The moral of the story? I’m going to wear my sleeveless tops! No my arms don’t look like they did when I was Abigail’s age. And yours don’t look like your daughter’s arms either. But who cares? I think most of us gals spend too much time worrying about what our body parts look like when no one else is looking at us that critically. Let’s just enjoy the bodies God gave us and even be grateful for the years those bodies have served us well.
Okay. I’ll stop preaching now.
My shorts are the Loft Bermuda roll shorts in milky tan. They also come in olive, a pretty light blue, a pale pink and grey. The last I checked they were marked down considerably with an online exclusive sale. Abigail is in the GAP Girlfriend Chino Shorts with a 5″ inseam in capri pink. Her shoes are the Karolyn Flat by Steve Madden. My shoes are from Talbots; they’re the Keri Double Strap Sandal in Napa.
Abby’s earrings are darling. She just picked them up at Loft. And her watch is from Fossil. I’m wearing my James Avery French Heart Pendant and Butterfly hook bracelet. Here’s a similar one. My earrings are from Brighton. Both of us are wearing sunglasses from Loft, but we’ve had them a while. I like buying sunglasses at Loft because they have them marked down often and I’m hard on my sunglasses. I don’t deserve expensive ones!
Y’all! Isn’t she just so pretty? And Abigail is a beauty inside and out. I’m going to miss her so much!
Tell me about your children. I’d love to know. I’m assuming most of my readers are like me with empty nests. But I’d love to know how many kids you have, their ages and genders and a little “somethin’ somethin'” about them!
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I’ve linked today’s post up with Jo-Lynne Shane’s Fashion Friday Link-Up. Be sure to check out all the great styles from other bloggers there.
Blessed for My Day
Do you ever worry that God is mad with you? That you have somehow embarrassed Him? And that if you return to Him, He may shame you? You do realize that those are whispers from the enemy of your soul. Truthfully we have a gentle and compassionate God. He loves you so much. And He has promised to deal graciously and tenderly with you when you return to Him from your wanderings. There is nothing you have done that will cause Him to treat you harshly. He is a good and loving Father.
“He will not cry out nor raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish.” ~ Isaiah 42:2-3a
You and your daughter BOTH are beautiful! My daughter and son BOTH are my best friends! My daughter lives close by and we talk everyday or see each other. My son lives in Charlotte, NC (we live in Okla) but we talk every week for hours it seems and email and test a lot! I feel so fortunate and Blessed to have them both in our lives!! I’m 76 and they are 54 & 52 now! Enjoy your blog very much and I too, am a Talbots girl for many years now!
Oh, I’m so glad you are here, Sondra! Thanks for sharing about your children. 🙂 Yeah, when we talk with our son – usually about once every week or two – he talks our ears off! And we don’t complain. We love it! I sometimes miss the days when they were little, but i just love who they’ve become! Thanks again for commenting!
~ Kay
Kay, you both are beautiful! I agree with you on wearing what you love, I am halfway to 60 and of course my arms and legs don’t look like they did 30 years ago, but I’m thankful for my health and I wear sleeveless anyway! ?. I really enjoy your posts and am glad I found you through the FWTFL Facebook page. We are empty nesters too, and we love this stage of our lives when our grown children are also our friends. May God continue to bless you!
Hi Deborah! I’m glad we connected, too. Yes, we really are enjoying the empty nest and our children’s adult years, too. I do wish we saw them more often, but we feel they are right where they are supposed to be, so we can’t complain really. And we enjoy really sweet relationships with both of them. Thanks so much for being here…and for sharing!
~ Kay
Your daughter is beautiful! What a fun post to see the two of you together!! I have two boys who are 23 and 26. I always wanted a daughter but maybe one day I’ll get a daughter in law. Children grow so fast, don’t they?
Thanks so much, Kathy. Yep, she’s a beauty, inside and out! I’m looking forward to getting my daughter-in-law official, too. They do grow fast. Some days I think back to those child-raising years with such fondness. But life marches on! Thanks for sharing.
~ Kay
How wonderful to include your daughter, Kay!! You know I’m a sucker for the mother/daughter duos, so thanks for including her!!
And I loved your points about wearing sleeveless—we are wonderful as is, so let’s embrace it!!
Have a wonderful weekend!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Yes, you do the mother/daughter thing to the hilt!! Ha! And I so enjoy it. Somehow when we see someone’s family members we feel we know them just a little bit better, huh. Thanks for dropping in, Jodie!
~ Kay
Kay, you and your daughter look amazing! My daughter, you know, is Alia and she is my Guatemalan beauty! Just turned 14 yesterday! We are going shopping together today and I can’t tell you how much joy that brings me! She has never been interested in shopping until very recently! We are getting a dress for her friend’s Quienceanera. Yes a dress! Beyond excited to see her in it! I am just keeping her in prayer for her teenage years! And maybe me too!!
Hi Michelle! Yes, I saw that Alia had turned 14. How amazing! And she’s such a beautiful girl, inside and out! I know she is such a joy to you both. Have fun dress shopping! That’s such a big deal!!
~ Kay
Great pictures! You’re both beauties! Both my adult children live close to me and we see each other often. I am very blessed. My mother comes to stay with me for a month in the winter and I usually feel really down for a day after she leaves. You are exactly right to give yourself grace when your daughter leaves!
How wonderful that you get to see your children often. Both of mine live far away, but we’ve always expected it to be that way since my husband is in the ministry and we never really expected the kids to end up where we are. My mom used to visit me more, but now I get to see her a couple of times a year. Yeah, the let down is really…but totally worth the visit and the knowledge that everyone is where they really belong, too.
~ Kay
You and your daughter are so pretty! Nice that you had time together before your daughter starts her summer job.
We have 4 sons, ages 27, 25, 23 & 20! And I agree with you about being a parent while they are growing up and a friend later. Our boys are good young men and we sure enjoy time with them!
Thanks, Barb. It’s been such fun having her here. Wow! Four boys! I’ve always felt like God chooses special women to be the mom of all boys. And I bet you loved it. All the boy-moms I’ve ever met say they wouldn’t trade their “all boys” for anything. What a blessing!
Hello! What a great post with your lovely daughter. We have two sons; our eldest is almost 31 and lives in Tulsa, OK, far from our PA home. He recently got married and gave us a sweet daughter-in-law. We talk often but sure wished they lived closer! Our younger son is 27 and lives only two hours from us, so we see much more of him, and he calls us daily. Love our boys and new daughter!
How wonderful to have a new daughter-in-law! I wish at least one of my two lived close by. So envious! Thanks for sharing!!
~ Kay
You are so right about our adult children being great friends! I’m 55 and I have 3 daughters and 1 son; ages 32,30,27, and 21. My oldest daughter is married and she has given us 2 grandsons, 10 and 5; and 1 granddaughter who is 15 months. Our son married a sweet girl who has made her place in our family. We all live in a small town in Eastern Oregon called La Grande; I grew up here and I feel blessed to have raised our family here and at the moment to be so close, experiencing the same memories, attending the same church, and celebrating birthdays and holidays. Our Coastline is beautiful and Cannon Beach is a fun town to visit; we honeymooned in Lincoln City and Depoe Bay 34 years ago on the 9th so when we go we tend to visit the Central Coast. I enjoy your blog and the encouraging words at the end; God’s words are delivered at the right time.
Two cuties!! Enjoyed this mother-daughter fashion post!