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Every year Abby’s middle school hosts a Christmas party where the boys must wear ties and the girls must wear pretty dresses. I have learned it is not easy to find appropriate dresses for girls ages 11-13. They outgrow the little girls dresses and the junior dress assortment is either too casual or decidedly lacking in material.

Last year we searched and searched in vain until I drove to Richmond and went to Dilliards. Dilliards is a department store based in Texas. Therefore, they have plenty of teenage girl shoppers who need party dresses for quinceanera and debutante events. They have the most lovely little girl dress department.

Even though Abby can still fit in some of the dresses in the girls department, she refused to buy one. “Look how cute this is,” I would say. She would say nothing and just give me the teenage girl flat eyed glare. She may have done a bit of over exaggerated sighing as well.

Prior to driving to Richmond, Abby had printed out pictures of dress possibilities from their online store. Her father did not care for these possibilities for they were all lacking in material. So, we had discussions regarding appropriate dress length and shoulder coverage. Almost all junior dresses have skimpy straps or no straps at all which forces you to buy a sweater.

Abby loves to shop. My mom loves to shop. I do not love to shop. I suppose this is why on the way to Richmond Abby told me  “You make it no fun.” My most enjoyable shopping experience is when I can give Abby and my mom the money and wait for them to return and tell me about the great deal they found. However, my mom is too occupied for shopping right now, so Abby is stuck with me.

For Abby there are a few absolute No’s with clothing: No elastic, No scratchy netting, and absolutely No puffed sleeves. Even though the sweater was really cute and the puff on the sleeve was really small or the netting was a tiny amount on the bottom of the inside skirt…No! No! No!

Abby tried on dress after dress. Too short…Too skimpy…Too old…Wrong color… Finally a peacock blue dress with a skirt that fell below the knees. The shoulders were bare, so we started in on the sweaters. Too short…Too skimpy… Too old…Wrong color.

Sweaters were abandoned for capes. We disregarded Edna Mode’s advice of “No Capes!” and found a black cape to wear with the dress. Victory! We went to the register to pay and the girl rung up Abby’s dress. Without my being aware of it, Abby had chosen a dress that was 50% off. She did her grandma proud.

Throughout my life I have had friends, like my brother Rob and Space, who are the life of the party. Yet, when I lived in Australia, I met two people who are not only the life of the party, they are the party. Jed and Liz Brien bring the party with them wherever they go. While in Australia, Dale and I attended one of their 30th birthday parties. The first one was held the last night of Jed’s 20s (They celebrate their birthdays together because Liz was born on Christmas). It was a wild and crazy event. The second was held the next day when they were 30 and must now behave like old people. It was a Lawn Bowling party. Lawn Bowling is something the elderly play in Australia. Dale and I attended the Lawn Bowling party since we were on our way to becoming aged. As with all their parties, it was a blast. A month ago, Liz emailed me that she and the kids might be able to swing by on their around the world visits before they all moved to Mexico to teach in a Christian school. I told her that if she came, I would be at the airport with balloons and an obnoxious sign. When I went to the party shop to choose balloons for the kids, I saw one that said, “The Party is Here!” I knew I had to buy it for Liz. The kids had a terrific time swimming, playing pool, and carrying around Patches. The Briens always arrive ready for a party, so conveniently Zeke turned 4. For Zeke’s party, we played the Brien version of Pass the Parcel, complete with forfeits. We also played musical chairs, musical statues, and musical bobs. The kids found glow in the dark bracelets, shot off party poppers, and blew noise makers that made no noise. I heard all the Aussie news and saw all the Aussie pictures. (Trudy, I’d go with the dark green or dark brown choice) and enjoyed so very much the 2 days that they were here. Please pray for them. On August 7th they start teaching at the Lincoln School in Guadalajara, Mexico. Pray that they will learn Spanish quickly and settle easily. The party will soon be in Guadalajara, Mexico. I hope the Mexicans are ready.