The Real Thing

Do you realize that THIS is your high calling? To love your husband and be a keeper at home IS what God has called you to for this season in your life. There is nothing more important you need to be doing for His kingdom. Serve Him daily by laying your life down for those He has placed in your home. Pursue this diligently! Do not be deceived by the words or ways of this world...Pursue the heart of God and you will find lasting peace, contentment and fulfillment right where He has put you....in your home.

"In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of the wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior." I Peter 3:1

"....teach the younger women to LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, to be sensible, pure, WORKERS AT HOME, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Titus 2:4,5

This IS the real thing...it is not secondary to what God has called you to, it IS what God has called you to.

This IS the fight worth fighting for. Pursue it whole-heartedly my beloved sister!

introspective....

I wonder what would happen if I started living like the bible says instead of like other people tell me it says...

Hello Dolly!

OK, maybe I've finally learned THE SECRET...if I want my husband to treat me like his sweetie-pie, one-true-love, I've got to act like it! Who would you look forward to coming home to at the end of the day?

A. some girl he married a decade ago with hair half-in, half-out of a pony-tail; shirt with baby spit and lunch all over it; saggy-baggy jeans; peanut butter breath; cold kitchen, cold house, smell of dirty diapers permeating the air, and fighting children in the background or....

B. hot babe (that's babe not baby) with sweet breath and radiant smile; clean, attractive clothes; brushed hair; dinner in the oven or in the stages of being prepared; content children; soft music playing in the background

It literally takes me about 5 minutes to make the transformation from Super-Mom to Hello Dolly! And the rewards have been much more far-reaching than I could have anticipated. All it takes is a little extra attention to details I know he loves and his homecoming becomes something even HE looks forward to! :)

The girls and I have started playing this game everyday about 30 minutes before we know Dad will be home....it's called, "The King is Coming"!
I run upstairs and freshen up while they begin the dinner preparations (cutting veggies, making salads, etc.) and set the table.
Benjamin is in charge of entertaining the other Prince in the house!
We even put on soft music, light candles, and set the table nicely.

It is so nice to be able to make this transformation from busy, home shool, kid-centered house to "King's Castle". I feel fresh and pretty and "the King" comes in the door in anticipation of what is awaiting him. What a way to teach your daughters to honor and reverence their Father, and their own husband someday!

I know for some of you with very small children this seems like a very far-fetched notion.....for now at least, I encourage you......brush your teeth! :)

Spiritual journey

I've been thinking about blogging again lately. I love to do it but when I am doing it I get obsessed over it. I LOVE to see my thoughts in print! I guess it is the "writer who was never published" in me coming out and rearing her ugly head! (And yes, I actually have submitted a few things for publication but (thank goodness) have never been published.) So, I am trying to decide....do I want to get back into this or not? But in going back and reading through my old blogs....I see it is just too much fun to go back and read things that were going on a year or two ago. So, I'll try it and if I begin obsessing over it I won't continue...

I've been thinking a lot about raising children, staying at home, being a godly wife...you know...the small things in life! I am so saddened to see how our culture has traded the precious jewels of home-making and child-rearing for faux trinkets that have no value. I have also realized that, I have, to some extent, bought into the same lie. When was the last time I truly laid aside my own self pride and vanity to lift my husband up--even when he didn't "deserve" it? When is the last time I cleaned blood off the bathroom floor, mud off the entry hallway and mustard off the kitchen cabinets with a song of joy in my heart? My children are learning through every sigh, every sarcastic remark, every facial expression and overheard comment I make. Am I showing them through my attitude and actions that serving is a JOY? Am I conveying to them that peace is truly found in putting others before me? Am I really teaching them with my own actions to lay down my own life in order to gain abundant LIFE?

When did I realize that you don't have to be a "nazi feminist" to resemble a feminist more than a God-fearing beautiful woman?

Lord,
Guard my heart. Clean me up, purify me. Help me to be a picture of the beautiful woman scripture speaks of.
Amen

Gotta go...the baby is crying....I WILL REJOICE! Thank you God for the gift of Boden Matthew!