Oh So Special

   

If you have children, do you savor the special moments that you have with them, or are you telling them to go play so that you can finish the crazy number of items on your to do list? I have to admit that I am usually guilty of the later. Of course my list of things are important, but time moves so fast, and everyday my kids are saying, doing something different. I have to remind myself to enjoy them, love them, play with them, and for goodness sake, stop letting the t.v. spend more time with them than I do. Ladies, let's put those lists aside for 10 minutes and love on our kids. It just might be the highlight of the day.

Solutions for Itty Bitty Waistlines

I made that sound like a problem, right? Well it can be a bit of an issue if you are trying to find clothing for kids that are kinda on the petite side. My munchkins are all under the age of four, and one of the best places to find affordable, quality clothing is Target. Now, I know other companies make pants with adjustable waistlines, but you can get Cherokee brand jeans from my favorite store for $10.  The pricing is different, but online they  have the adjustable waists for older children, so they may offer them in stores also.  Check it out!

Savin' in the South

Don't you love it when someone does your work for you? I do, especially when it comes to couponing. With the economy in pitiful shape, coupons are definitely "chic". Actually, I don't care about it being chic, I just want to save a few pennies here and there. If you live in the southeast, check out Southernsavers, a website dedicated to compiling weekly grocery and drugstore deals. The site will list a store's sale item and tell you where to find the matching coupon, if available. Jenny, the site's creator, also travels the region training folks on the fine art of couponing. I absolutely love Southernsavers.  Go have a look, and let me know what you think!

Guess Who's Back?

So...I've decided to try my hand at blogging again. Why? I realize as a wife, mom, businesswoman, and serious girly-girl, I have a ton of interests and OPINIONS. Hopefully I can share something with you that will be encouraging, informative, or maybe even funny!

Cultured Pearls

There are several older women at my church that I absolutely love. They are in their mid-forties to late fifties and they have qualities that I want when I get to that stage. Poise, class, spunk, vibrance, humor, warmth, humility, holiness. They are involved in ministry. They love their children. They HONOR THEIR HUSBANDS. Actually, I don’t want to be like that when I turn 45; I want that now! I don’t look at them in envy, nor do I condemn myself because I may not be all that they are. I just find that I feel encouraged being in their presence. I encourage you to find an older married women who has her stuff together and spend some time with her. You might find that she has a few pearls of wisdom to share.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to 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 2:3-5

Love in the Forest

Married ladies, what does your bedroom look like? Is it a cozy retreat for you and your husband, or is it a storage area/dumping ground for toys, papers, unfolded laundry, and the kids’ junk? I will be the first to admit that our bedroom is not a retreat, but I really want it be. It is my goal to create that type of environment because I need it, and I will go out on a limb here and say it’s biblical.

"...And the bed we share is like a forest glen. We enjoy a canopy of cedars enclosed by cypresses, fragrant and green." Song of Solomon 1:16,17  The Message

I love this verse because it tells me that an element of physical intimacy with my husband is creating an environment that facilitates that. This verse makes me think of a calming space; a retreat. Sure, he might not care, but every little bit helps, and honestly, I don’t need any extra destractions.

What Has He Done for You Lately?

My sweet girlfriend was careful to remind me last night that I haven't written anything since February. Forgive me; I'll try to do better.

As I was doing my devotional time this morning, I thought about the way people in the Bible demonstrated worship to God. I read about David dancing before the Lord as he brought the ark of the Covenant to Bethlehem. I read about Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns in prison. Then I started thinking about women like Hannah and her triumphant song of praise when the Lord gave her a son. I thought about the sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair. Then I came to Mary, the young woman engaged to Joseph the carpenter.  The young woman who was surely ridiculed for being pregnant before she was married to Joseph. Luke chapter one records her praise to the Lord, but verse 49 gripped me this morning as a read it.

"for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name."

You see, I am leading praise and worship at a women's retreat this weekend, were we will be learning about several women in the Bible, the challenges in their lives, and how we can learn from them. This exercise this morning is part of my preparation- I gotta get my mind right. When a reflect on my life, I haven't been the most grateful person in the world. Honestly, I tend to show the Lord my gratitude in the midst of what perceive as some superduper fabulous blessing. However, the fact that I'm sitting here typing is one of the great things God has done for me. So many times we take life, our children,  and OUR HUSBANDS for granted. As I share music with the ladies this weekend, I want to focus on the great things the God has done, and is doing for me.

I challenge you to take a piece of paper and list all the things God has done for you. It may help your day seem a little brighter, and help you love Him a little more. Because He is mighty, and holy is name!