Monday, August 29, 2005

Our 7th Wedding Anniversary

Today is our big day! We're planning on getting a matching set of new wedding bands in celebration within the next week. I don't even have a band as our rings were kinda cheap (blush). Mike's ring has held up, but he wants one to match my new one. I cared more about the wedding and reception itself so we chose to pour our budget into those areas. Now we're ready to upgrade. :D We will be celebrating a romantic evening together maybe on Wednesday since he's stuck at work tonight.

Praise God for sustaining our marriage during the unbearable times. Our marriage is everything I have ever prayed for! We held on because of consciousness of God and his will and he has blessed us immensely in his perfect timing.

xoxoxo

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

The Family Meal Table and Hospitality

I finally received my book: The family meal table and hospitality by Nancy Campbell today! I am devouring it..LOL. I went thru the first 4 chapters correctly, looking up supporting biblical verses (there are tons) and answering the questions. Then I quickly read the next 9 chapters...LOL I have to go back and do those questions, and look up those scriptures.

Today I made a pretty table setting for the kids and me to share. We opened up with a prayer for God to be present with us at our meal table, and use this time to teach, learn, and for our family to develop some meaningful conversation. Of course we thanked Him for his provision to us.

Then we ate and talked. I actually got my daughter to converse..usually she just acts strange like she's shy to talk to her own family. How awful for her, and that we haven't made this a priority a long time ago. Then I read a quick story out of John, when Jesus walks on the water. I read a couple verses of proverbs, and had a lovely time. So the book is already a blessing to us. It inspired me to do what I know I should have, and gave me new ideas as well. =D I am excited to share dinner with hubby tomorrow. Tonite he had to work a 12 hour shift.....

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Day of Good Deals

Day of Good Deals
Tonight the moon was so huge and extra bright, low and golden. It was really impressive and pretty.

Anyhow, I found a really great cabinet/hutch type of piece at a tag sale yesterday. It looks like a kit someone bought and put together themselves. They said they used it as a entertainment center. My vision was for its home to be in our kitchen. It has a country look to it with the couple of scalloped edges. It reminds me of something you might see in a country store where they display their candles for sale. Too cute! I was soo excited. I am the Queen of missing good deals because I am never out there looking for them with 6 kids. Well, I got this for $5 bucks!!! It's not stained, but I like it natural, as the other lady was using it. So for now it's in the kitchen as is.

I also did the girls' school clothes shopping last night. The JcPenney outlet moved from CT to a nearby town mall, so we checked it out and did quite well. One of my daughters is plus sized so I always have to buy her clothes at JcPenney. The other daughter did well finding blouses/shirts. She has a lot of shirts with words & pictures on the front, so we found some respectable stylish yet subtle shirts nice enough to wear with skirts to church or a function, but would also look nice with Jeans and boots. We didn't bother with the shoes or coats. We spent enough as it was. I still need to get some things for the 4 boys. They don't need as much though, as I had been slowly collecting clothes for them all summer. Their shirts averaged 8 bucks, as their sweaters; their jeans averaged 13 bucks; the coats started at 19.99.

Normally I hate to spend money, but my husband had a mini crisis and wanted me to buy a new dish set (service of 8), glasses, plastic tumblers, silverware, cereal storage containers, butter dish; and redo our entire cabinet. I was overwhelmed at first and irritated to have to spend money and lug 6 kids with me, but once we got out there I actually had fun. I guess spending money IS FUN afterall....LOL I get so worried about saving money for our house sometimes to a fault.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Hospitality

Something set on my heart lately is extending hospitality. I've always thrown birthday parties for the children with a buffet style meal, so have practice on the informal scale. It's time to reach a little beyond that. My husband and I have walked away from our old lifestyle, and people associated with it. That has left a little lonliness in our life. I know it's for the best, but I have prayed for God to help us find/meet at least a couple other like-minded people that we can get together with and become friends with. I believe my prayers have been heard, and now that we have found a new church home I think it will be instrumental in our meeting the kind of people who can encourage and inspire us, and us them, as we walk the journey to Christ. I feel so settled and at home, I am excited to think of what he has next for us! There is a book I have been wanting for awhile now called: The family meal table and hospitality by Nancy Campbell. Maybe it's time to order my print! I have enjoyed what I've gleaned from online sources about table settings and simple meals, so the book should have all of that and much much more. There are a handful of scriptures supporting hospitality. This one is my favorite:

Hebrews 13:2
2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

1 Peter 4:9
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Friday, August 12, 2005

Summer of Change

This summer was great. I began a home ec curriculum with my daughter(TOD-KAH). My 13 year old learned the basics of Square Foot Gardening, is learning some biblical doctrine, and accomplished a couple of basic sewing projects. These things were slow going as there are six children, and 3 of them are still quite young, our time to pour into these areas are limited. However, I could detect a sense of accomplishment in her that brought me joy and great encouragement.

I shudder when I remember the days, lost in depression while the children zombified themselves in front of the TV, or wandered around outside the home looking for something to do. Praise God that my eyes have been opened and he raised me out of that miry pit before it was too late for them! Now I am excited, excited to introduce my children to Christ and teach them useful skills that keep their hands busy, their minds out of the world, and encourage them by seeing the fruit of their own hands. They are preparing for their future and building wonderful memories of time with mom.

The love I have for my husband has deepened and widened more than I thought was possible. Watching him become the godly man I have prayed before in front of my very eyes is nothing short of a miracle. We used to be stuck in our sins like in quicksand. Our whole life was held back. Now, we have vision, and it is amazing. We've been freed.

Instead of hanging out in bars or gossiping with the Joneses, my husband is self teaching woodworking alongside our older boys (ages 4 and 7). What a useful skill to learn as a boy and bring into adulthood with you. He's showing them when and how they can protect their sisters. He's also spending time to learn keyboarding with a great little book, Keyboarding for Dummies. He's making the most of the time he has at home with his family. He's taking in God's word and teaching his family. All the Glory belongs to God. Most people who knew my husband and where he came from probablly wrote him off, they would be amazed if they knew him today. People who knew us last year would be amazed if they were a fly on our wall this day. We are a new creation in Jesus our Savior. I'm excited to see what is next!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Gratefulness

I'm so grateful for the turn my life has taken. I'm not famous, or the CEO of a multi billion dollar company, or an extremely successful artist; I'm am a child of God. How extraordinary! For so long I couldn't fully appreciate this. For so long I felt I was a Christian because I believed in God and his Son who died for our sins and rose again on the third day. Yet nothing changed. I continued in my sinful ways. I didn't murder my neighbor, I didn't steal, I just lived my life like any ordinary person in the neighborhood. Therein lies the problem. I didn't stand out from the crowd and I didn't reflect Jesus to anyone, I wasn't walking with Him. How extremely blessed I am that I have finally truly become a Christian. I have been reborn! I am changing in ways I and those close to me can see. I am finally believing ON Him, trusting him, and obeying God's word. That is where the difference is. I am stepping out in Faith and living according to his will, even when it's not easy, even when things don't make sense. He is so good! Our family has done a turn around, and all the glory is His. Without him we would have no hope, no destination. We have vision thanks be to God and we are raising up our children for Him.