Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Excerpt from: Doorposts.com
Teaching Our Daughters to be Godly Wives--Now!
"…She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12).
We’re probably all pretty familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman. She’s the perfect one that makes us all feel horribly inadequate. But she’s also an amazing lady, and a great example for both us moms and our daughters to look up to and seek to emulate. We can point our daughters to her example, even at a very young age.
Proverbs 31: 11 says “the heart of her husband safely trusts in her.” Verse 12 goes on to state that “she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Have you ever noticed that it says, all the days of her life? While we are striving, with God’s help, to do our husbands good, we can also teach our daughters to do their future husbands good, even while they are young. Right now, they can be blessing their future husbands.
~I thought this was good!~
Teaching Our Daughters to be Godly Wives--Now!
"…She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12).
We’re probably all pretty familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman. She’s the perfect one that makes us all feel horribly inadequate. But she’s also an amazing lady, and a great example for both us moms and our daughters to look up to and seek to emulate. We can point our daughters to her example, even at a very young age.
Proverbs 31: 11 says “the heart of her husband safely trusts in her.” Verse 12 goes on to state that “she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Have you ever noticed that it says, all the days of her life? While we are striving, with God’s help, to do our husbands good, we can also teach our daughters to do their future husbands good, even while they are young. Right now, they can be blessing their future husbands.
- By honoring and obeying her parents. If a daughter learns to respect and obey her parents, she will be open to their protection and guidance when considering marriage. She will also be prepared to transfer that respect and obedience to her husband on their wedding day. In her childhood and youth, she will be greatly blessed, if she has chosen to honor her parents, and will fully benefit from their instruction and counsel.
- By loving and studying God’s Word and seeking to obey Him. Marriage is not easy. Two sinners cannot live together in harmony outside of the grace of God. A young lady who has learned to cherish God’s Word — who turns to it for wisdom and comfort and strength, who is committed to obeying it in all areas of life – will be a great blessing to her husband and to the generations that follow him. Her first focus will be on Christ, and she will not expect her husband to provide what only God can give.
- By living a life devoted to serving others. Besides blessing her family and all those around her, a daughter that has learned to focus on others will be better prepared to serve her family with a loving and cheerful heart.
- By nurturing a good sense of humor. A lady who knows how to laugh will be quicker to overlook the inevitable foibles of others, will more cheerfully accept what God sovereignly brings to her life, will bless her husband with her cheerful spirit and will spread her joy throughout her household, and will “smile at the future” instead of worrying.
- By focusing time and energy in developing the traits and skills she will need to manage a home. Not every girl will grow up to marry, but most will. And those whom God calls to single life will still need the same skills to manage their own homes and to help in others’. A bride who has learned to be creative, economical, compassionate, and diligent will be a great blessing to her future husband and children.
- By saving and investing a portion of any money she earns into materials for her future home. We had our daughters, starting when they were still very young, set aside a portion of their earnings (mostly earned by working in our home business) in a fund we refer to as “dowry.” This money has been earmarked for purchases related to their future homes. They have purchased items at garage sales and special store sales. They have invested in books and sewing machines, dishes and cookware, cameras, and even pieces of furniture. This helps to ease some of the financial burden when newlyweds are setting up their new household.
- By saving her heart for only her husband. A daughter who protects her heart will be able to give it all to her husband when she marries. We asked each of our daughters to make a commitment to us. We took each one out for dinner and discussed our desire to guide her through her years of young womanhood. We asked her to commit to following our counsel and communicating honestly with us about matters related to boys, and we committed to lovingly protecting and guiding her toward an emotionally and physically pure wedding day. We sealed our covenant with a special ring for each of them, and each daughter has worn that ring as a reminder to her as she travels through the challenges of young womanhood.
- By embracing chaste and modest maidenhood. A daughter who commits herself to purity, who doesn’t engage in flirtatious behavior or silly chatter about boys, who doesn’t pursue the attentions of young men, will be a true blessing to her husband. She will become the kind of woman he can truly “safely trust in.”
~I thought this was good!~
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Oaks...
I recently heard that going out in public is "game-on" Do any of you other Moms realize the same thing? When we go out in public, it really is a "test" to see how well our kids obey, listen, and follow instruction. I feel like the intensity is up...more distractions, more opportunities for new situations, and teachable moments. The grocery store and church--yes, that's usually our weekly test. And, I usually come home realizing I need to beef up my instruction and consistency in 1st time obedience or "sitting still" practice.
Well, at the beginning of the year, we started visiting an assisted care facility in our town. Thursdays at 11 a.m. is their "church-time" Justin was off work then, so it worked perfectly to go up as a family and help my grandma with the music and share something from the scripture. We are continuing to go up...minus Justin. And, oh, do I wish he were able to come with us...today especially! Most days, I wish I could at least duplicate myself...and today at 11 a.m. was one of those days.
The kids were chipper and happy to see the "ladies" and sing w/ them. We brought a kids sing-a-long book today and sang the familiar kiddie Bible songs. Well, not too far into "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" Samuel got a little too wide w/ his hand motions and wacked his hand into Sally's glasses. They went flying!!! I turned around on the piano bench (yes, I play the piano, sing, instruct my kids, and *look* smiley at the same time---impossible, I know), and just imagine my blood pressure! It was an accident, but still! Samuel was so embarrassed...oh, dear!
Well, we continued our singing...Madeline and William were not staying in their seats and were swinging Madeline's necklaces around and around. Thankfully, I caught that before it was another disaster!
A local pastor came and brought the short message after the singing finished. Part way into the sermon, William had to use the bathroom, so I quietly excused him and let him go alone. (Bathroom was right next to us...) BAD IDEA!! Pretty soon, alarms started going off. I saw the managers rushing around, and they all landed in front of the bathroom door. Yes, that was MY SON. :) I quickly went in, and discovered him buck-naked, happily still sitting on the potty...clueless, absolutely clueless. I found the switch, and quickly turned the alarm off. Whew!
Everything wrapped up, and my children went to collect everyone's hymnals. Madeline ran full speed ahead into a lady named "Wanita" and grabbed her hymnal. I saw the whole thing from afar. Madeline scared her so badly...Wanita was reading a hymn and was totally not expecting someone to fly into her and take her book! Oh, my. She was so gracious...but, my, my have I got some lessons to teach my children!!
Even my Grandma was ready to leave...even she seem a bit frazzled! Oh, goodness.
I wrote this down mainly for my own memories sake. Justin laughed so hard when I described our day and told me he still wants me to go. He said that they'll grow up and I'll miss this crazy stage! Yes, I know I will. :)
Give me the park--the kids can run, laugh, scream and whatever. Stressfree!! Yes, that's where we'll be tomorrow!
Well, at the beginning of the year, we started visiting an assisted care facility in our town. Thursdays at 11 a.m. is their "church-time" Justin was off work then, so it worked perfectly to go up as a family and help my grandma with the music and share something from the scripture. We are continuing to go up...minus Justin. And, oh, do I wish he were able to come with us...today especially! Most days, I wish I could at least duplicate myself...and today at 11 a.m. was one of those days.
The kids were chipper and happy to see the "ladies" and sing w/ them. We brought a kids sing-a-long book today and sang the familiar kiddie Bible songs. Well, not too far into "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" Samuel got a little too wide w/ his hand motions and wacked his hand into Sally's glasses. They went flying!!! I turned around on the piano bench (yes, I play the piano, sing, instruct my kids, and *look* smiley at the same time---impossible, I know), and just imagine my blood pressure! It was an accident, but still! Samuel was so embarrassed...oh, dear!
Well, we continued our singing...Madeline and William were not staying in their seats and were swinging Madeline's necklaces around and around. Thankfully, I caught that before it was another disaster!
A local pastor came and brought the short message after the singing finished. Part way into the sermon, William had to use the bathroom, so I quietly excused him and let him go alone. (Bathroom was right next to us...) BAD IDEA!! Pretty soon, alarms started going off. I saw the managers rushing around, and they all landed in front of the bathroom door. Yes, that was MY SON. :) I quickly went in, and discovered him buck-naked, happily still sitting on the potty...clueless, absolutely clueless. I found the switch, and quickly turned the alarm off. Whew!
Everything wrapped up, and my children went to collect everyone's hymnals. Madeline ran full speed ahead into a lady named "Wanita" and grabbed her hymnal. I saw the whole thing from afar. Madeline scared her so badly...Wanita was reading a hymn and was totally not expecting someone to fly into her and take her book! Oh, my. She was so gracious...but, my, my have I got some lessons to teach my children!!
Even my Grandma was ready to leave...even she seem a bit frazzled! Oh, goodness.
I wrote this down mainly for my own memories sake. Justin laughed so hard when I described our day and told me he still wants me to go. He said that they'll grow up and I'll miss this crazy stage! Yes, I know I will. :)
Monday, June 4, 2012
Three out of four of my children have summer birthdays. So, I thought I'd do a little planning over lunch to see what they each had in mind for their individual celebrations. I told them on their birth-day, they get to pick out their meal: whatever their favorite yummy meal is. Here are the results:
Birthday Supper:
Sausage
Salad
Peanut Butter toast
Carrots
Chips, turkey, and hot dogs
Dessert: Chocolate Cake w/ prunes around it (want to make him happy? prunes are his true love...funny boy!)
Drink: Pomegranate Juice (sp??)
Dessert: Vanilla w/ chocolate in it Ice Cream (that's my girl...pickin' dessert 1st)
Punch to drink
"I just want a dog...[me: "a hot dog?"] No a real puppy...can you buy me one when it's my birthday? I don't want a mean one. Actually I want a kitten named Rosalie. [William: "I want a duck"]
...and back to the menu...
Macaroni and Cheeeese and hot dogs
Cucumbas
Samuel:
Dessert: Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Marshmallows
Dinner:
Salad
Cheese Brats
Hamburgers
Mac N Cheese
Peppers
Drink: Grape Juice and water
I thought their menus were too good not to share...I wrote it down just like they described and in the exact order they listed it. Ha, ha!
Of Utmost Concern...
"What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? In addition, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses the soul of his children?
The success of a tree or a man is measured by the fruit that is borne. The fruit of a man or woman is their children; everything else is falling leaves.
May they graduate from my tutorship to become disciples of the Man from Nazareth. May they know good and evil from the pinnacle of obedience rather than from the pit of despair. May they have the wisdom to choose the precious and the courage to reject the trite and the vain. May they always labor for the meat that endures. May they be lovers of God, coworkers with the Holy Spirit, and a friend to the Lord Jesus. And when their trail ends, may it end at the throne of God laying crowns at the Savior's feet."
excerpt from No Greater Joy Volume 1
...encouragement to keep on, keepin' on. We are doing Kingdom work, as we train, teach, and nurture our children, day in day out! Have a wonderful week everyone!
The success of a tree or a man is measured by the fruit that is borne. The fruit of a man or woman is their children; everything else is falling leaves.
May they graduate from my tutorship to become disciples of the Man from Nazareth. May they know good and evil from the pinnacle of obedience rather than from the pit of despair. May they have the wisdom to choose the precious and the courage to reject the trite and the vain. May they always labor for the meat that endures. May they be lovers of God, coworkers with the Holy Spirit, and a friend to the Lord Jesus. And when their trail ends, may it end at the throne of God laying crowns at the Savior's feet."
excerpt from No Greater Joy Volume 1
...encouragement to keep on, keepin' on. We are doing Kingdom work, as we train, teach, and nurture our children, day in day out! Have a wonderful week everyone!
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