Quality Television?

Television isn't doing it for me right now. All the shows I use to like, I don't like anymore. The girls don't wear enough clothes for my comfort level. I am tired of the immodesty and over sexualization of everything. Even in the reality dancing and singing shows, the girls don't wear enough...the guys do, but the girls don't. It has ruined all the good shows for me.

Even the commercials are bad. I think it is a symptom of our decaying society.  I know guys like to see girls barely dressed, but it isn't good for them or us. Godly men pursue godliness and purity and it makes it difficult when there are mean women everywhere...provocative women who like to turn other women's men on.

I know we can tape it and fast forward through some of the junk, but frankly, I am sick of it. I am not watching much television these days. I would rather read, blog, cook, chat with people, or do something else.

Where are all the cute, funny and decent sitcoms I grew up watching? Why can't they make shows like that anymore? Even when my children were young, they had Full House and Family Matters. Today's kids don't get to grow up with any decent, funny family shows.

I've always wondered about labeling shows "For Mature Audiences Only."  If it's trash, it's trash. Why should adults watch it?  It hurts them just as much as it hurts children. You are what you watch and think. This is why God wants us to dwell on the lovely and the pure. It makes us happier when we do that.

So what about you? Oh, there are some decent cooking shows, sports, and reruns of  Little House on the Prairie. So I guess I will still watch it sometimes but not much...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8

Acts Of The Will

"It is an act of the woman's will to treat him with a high degree of regard and awe.  Obedience, submission, and reverence are all acts of the will and not based on feelings...And, when it gets humanly ridiculous to obey that lousy man, and when he gives her every reason to not respect him, there is only one controlling factor left - God.  This woman is obeying and reverencing God, and no one else."  Debi Pearl

Tough words, but good words.  We must remember that we CAN do the right thing even when it is difficult.  The younger you are and more able to control your emotions and base your behavior on obeying God, instead of your feelings, the better your life will be for you and those around you.

"He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." 

I love this verse from Hebrews.  I remind myself of it all the time.  God gives us commands and wants us to obey them, because He knows our life will be much better when we do.  It is not our natural tendency to submit to and reverence our husbands.  They are far from perfect and if we listen to our feelings, we will never submit and reverence them. 

So I encourage you to stop following your feelings and start following God's instructions to us.  They make for a much better and peaceful life...and maybe, eventually, a heavenly marriage!

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.  (Ephesians 5:32,33)

Three Marks Of A Godly Man

This is a follow up to The Seven Marks Of A Godly Woman given by John Mark Comer. When looking for a husband, this is what you should be looking for. If you are already married, you can't try and change him into this kind of man. Pray hard and let the Lord change him.

1. Priest ~ He is a spiritual leader who is a man of prayer. Whether he is a new or old believer, he should be learning scripture and seeking to know Him.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  Ephesians 5:23

2. Provider  ~ John Mark prefers to call them "workers" because God is our provider. Man's job is to work, which is a gift from God. Their job is to provide a roof over their family's head,  food, and clothing, not a Range Rover or a monthly card to Nordstrom.

They need to decide what kind of a life they want to provide for their family and work towards that. John Mark wanted his wife to be a stay at home wife, even if that meant living in the ghetto eating rice and beans. He didn't want to put his children in daycare. He wanted to own a home and enough money for his children to get braces and play sports.  He told women that their husbands may be poor when they marry them (unless they marry a 40 year old), but just make sure they are willing to work hard.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.  I Timothy 5:8

3. Protector  ~ Women should feel safe around their man. He needs to be a man and do manly things...sports, fishing, etc. They should be doing something that keeps them strong, healthy, and masculine.

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life;  that your prayers be not hindered.  I Peter 3:7

Admire Him



                                Alyssa is Jon's crown....Steven is still looking for his! ;) 
                 Thankfully, my children are very good sports and allow me to use them in this way!

A man will allow his woman many, many faults, as long as he know that she thinks he is great." (Debi Pearl)

This has been proven in my life.  Ken doesn't expect me to be perfect.  He doesn't even want me to be perfect.  Since I have accepted him the way that he is and let him know it, he likes me...really likes me.  He likes being with me.  He has fun with me.  I still argue with him some.  I still correct him at times.  BUT it is okay.  He tells me he knows my heart.  My heart is to do him good, not evil.  He knows I appreciate him and accept his faults.  When I blow it, I tell him I am sorry right away and start smiling and laughing. 

Life is so much more fun living this way!  I encourage you to be your husband's crown.  Let him know how great he is, what a wonderful provider he is, or anything that you admire and appreciate about him.  He'll love you for it.

A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. (Proverbs 12:4)

WLW Wednesday LInk-up Party
A Holy Experience 

A Fun Love Factory

Would this description describe your home?  A fun love factory?  Have you ever been in a home that you could describe that way?  The whole family loves each other and has fun together?  Don't you think growing up in a family like this would guard against children leaving the faith when they grow up? 

This is what Michael Pearl writes in his latest magazine  ~

Foremost, before you give attention to training and guiding your children, give them what they most need - parents who love each other and enjoy life together.

I watch celebrities on television talking about divorcing their spouse and they usually give the excuse that they only want to do what is best for the children....Everything they do is "for the children."  Satan loves that.  He loves for people to believe that divorce is the best option for children.  "It is much better for parents to divorce than to fight all the time,"  they say. 

Not so!  (Unless, of course, there is abuse.)  My parents argued most of the time and I am so thankful they stayed together.  I am sorry that no body ever told them that they didn't have to argue, but at least they stayed together.  That is an enormous security for children in  a very insecure and frightening world.

I don't care what anybody says about that...The best gift you can give your children is a "fun love factory"...A mother and a father madly in love with each other and enjoying life together.  How could children not grow up happy and well-adjusted in a family like that?

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  I Corinthians 13:3

Do everything in love.  I Corinthians 16:14

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  I John 4:7

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4:8

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  I John 4:11

My opinion...I think God wants us to love our husbands.

Linked to ~ Vintage Healthy Home Link Up

Love Letters

                                                         Cassi and Alyssa 1991 ~
                   They wrote love letters when they were young...well, maybe not this young! 

Alyssa is moving an hour away.  While I was packing up for her, I found a notebook she had made for Jon of all the letters she wrote since she was a young girl to her future husband.  Cassi told me she has been writing letters to her future husband for many years also. 

It has given them a vision of what they want in a husband.   It motivates them to become the kind of woman the man they are waiting for will want to marry.  They started praying for protection over their husbands many years ago and asking God to guide and lead them.  What a priceless gift that is for these men!

I never thought of doing that when I was young.  I just lived for the moment...short term gain for long term pain.  I wanted to experience romance NOW...starting at 16 years old.  I had no capacity to think about waiting for the right one or even thinking that far into the future.  My girls did...They knew that God gives you the desires of your heart, so they were/are willing to wait for the husbands that God has picked out for them.

Alyssa has found the husband God has picked out for her.  They are perfect for each other.  God keeps His promises.  She always knew He was preparing the perfect one just for her, so she patiently waited  many years.  God is so good. 

Jon, ironically, meets everything she wanted in a husband, except he is the baby of the family and she requested a middle child!  Since she is the first born, she thought she'd run over a baby...until she met Jon.  She doesn't want to run over him.  (He wouldn't let her!)  She lets him lead.

Teach your children the ways of God.  He knows everything...the past, the present, and the future.  He does such a better job picking out your spouse than you do.  Surrender your plans to Him... Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think , according to the power that works in us.  {Ephesians 3:20}  WOW!!!  What a God we serve.

Angry Women

As I share my testimony to women, I can see that some are very angry.  They have spent years being angry with their man.  The thought of smiling at them, being joyful around them, and pleasing them is repulsive.  They seem to think that those things wouldn't help their marriage.  It is too far gone.  Their husband is a jerk and doesn't deserve to be treated that way.

The Bible says differently.  I spent 23 years being angry and upset with Ken.  Our marriage just got worse and worse.  Being angry and upset with people doesn't help at all.  It is not the way of a godly woman.  So I encourage them...plead with them to just try it.  Just try smiling at them.  Try being pleasant around them.  Maybe even start making them their favorite meals. 

I can tell by the way they look at me...NO WAY!!!  Some, however, say that maybe, just maybe, they will at least try smiling at their husbands...a little, after all, that is what won their husbands in the first place.  But somewhere along the way, they forgot to smile and the marriage started spiraling downward.

We win people by loving them, by being cheerful and affectionate around them.  If you are an angry woman, make a commitment to stop today.  It is not healthy for your marriage, and it is definitely not healthy for your children.  Their security is in having a happy mom and dad.  Make every effort to give that to them.  They deserve it.

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.  Proverbs 29:11

For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.  Proverbs 30:33

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Ephesians 4:31

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Colossians 3:8

For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  James 1:20

Women In The Word Wednesday
Imperfect Prose 

Femininity

"It is important for a woman to understand that she must be feminine (devoid of dominance and control) in order for her man to view her as his exact counterpart, and thus willingly respond to her protectively, with love and gentleness.  A woman who criticizes her husband for watching too much TV, playing too much golf, or indulging in any frivolous activity is expressing dishonor.  A man cannot cherish a strong woman who expresses her displeasure of him. The home front should not be a spiritual battlefield; it should be the place where a man relaxes and can be vulnerable with the woman he cherishes." (Debi Pearl)

This is a hard one for most of us women.  We want to be in control.  We want him to spend more time with us than he does with the TV or golf.  We think that is a much wiser use of his time.  We spend our time wisely...cleaning the house, fixing food, taking care of the children...Why shouldn't he? 

We feel very justified in our feelings and even share it with our friends.  They agree with us and think most men are jerks.  This even makes us angrier so by the time we confront our husbands on this, we are really angry and let them "have it"...Pretty ugly, isn't it?

I sure wouldn't want somebody telling me how I should live my life... How I should spend my free time...Criticizing me to their friends and to my face, then blowing up in anger at me.  I want to treat others the way I want to be treated. 

Start treating your husband that way...Like an adult.  Let him live like he wants.  Win him with your feminine ways.  Flirt with him, fix him wonderful food, and look nice for him.  THEN maybe he will want to spend more time with you!

Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.  (I Corinthians 11:3)

Sunny Saturday

Younger Women

This is Emma's favorite place...on the lap of her mommy,  Erin. 

"I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house..."  I Timothy 6:14

I am mentoring a 34 year old woman (not Erin...She is only 23!)  who has a one year old and has been married for nine years. She spent all those years prior to having a baby going to school and working. She said she doesn't know why she felt she needed so much education. She said that being a wife, mother, and staying home full time is where she belongs. She LOVES it. I told her that she had listened to the lies of society, instead of what the Bible teaches. 

Society tells women that they need to get a lot of education and have a career. Most little girls love to wear dresses, rock their baby dolls, and play house.  Somewhere along the line, they stop loving dresses and rocking their babies, maybe because they are made fun of when doing feminine things.  Our society frowns upon a young woman that says she wants to be a wife and mother. I have always taught my girls to be proud of saying that.

To the unmarried woman the Bible says, "The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit..." I Cor. 7:34

One question:  Does college or a career help a young woman care for things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and spirit?  Just asking...

Homemakers By Choice 

Seven Marks Of A Godly Woman

John Mark Comer from Solid Rock gave a sermon on this subject and I thought you would enjoy what I learned from him.  He gave these points so men would know what to look for in a wife.  Since most of you are wives or are looking to be one, I think you will like this.  Here they are {taken from Genesis 24, the story of Rebekah and Isaac} ~

1 ~ She is part of God's family. She loves Jesus and is pursuing a relationship with Him.  She is filled with the Spirit and overflowing with joy. The gravest mistake a godly man can make is to marry a woman not committed to the faith. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (I Corinthians 6:14)

2 ~ She is willing to follow her husband. Men need a help meet. Her role is to help him in his role. And the LORD God said , It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18)

3 ~ She is beautiful, the way God defines beauty not man. "And let not your adornment be external only...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." (I Peter 3:3, 4)  We should care for our body and do the best with what we have, but we should concentrate much more on being joyful and having a sparkle in our eye!  Men are very attracted to happy women.

4 ~ She is committed to purity. Where men have unrealistic expectations of how women should look because of pornography, women have unrealistic expectations of how men should act. She doesn't spend her day watching soap operas and trashy novels. She guards her body and mind. To be discreet, pure, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:5)

5 ~ She has a servant's heart.  Godly guys love a woman with a servant's heart. Two givers in a marriage make a very good marriage. For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. (Galatians 5:13)

6 ~ She desires to become a mother. The Bible says women will be "saved through childbearing." (I Timothy 2:15) Something comes alive inside a woman when she bears a child. The wife will influence her children more than anything else in life.

7 ~ She is modest. "Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly..." (I Timothy 3:9) Men are visual creatures and godly men want to walk in purity, so help  them by dressing modestly.

He encourages women to pay more attention to who they are becoming than sitting around waiting for the right man.

Emma's First Father's Day!

We actually celebrated Father's Day Saturday night with our whole family.  We had BBQ steak and salmon.  That is always our go-to celebration meal.  I thought I would share a few pictures with you.

Love Having Old Things

My cats just broke a very pretty vase that held a plant on my coffee table; shattered it. I like old things. I don't really care if they break. One less thing to take care of. I am not sentimental. Everything is going to burn someday, so I try to hold loosely to things on this earth.

When we bought our first brand new car, a Toyota Sienna, Ken and I were driving to Palm Springs.  The car was only a few days old. A man was working on a sign over the freeway and right as we were driving under it, a big bolt came down and dented our hood. I was so happy! Now I didn't have to worry about it anymore. It was broken in. New shiny things make me nervous. I don't want to ruin them, so I have to be so careful around them. I don't like that.

We got a new kitten several months ago. THE BEST CAT EVER!!! We all love him. He is so soft and sweet. He loves to cuddle and purr. He follows me around and even fetches things.  I have had cats all my life and we always declaw them, because I don't want them to ruin my furniture. All my furniture is old now, so I don't worry about it anymore. I love that feeling! 

Sure, I do enjoy new things. I love a clean, uncluttered home with fresh flowers.  I enjoy a pretty home, but old things make life easier.  You don't care if other children or animals come to your home and ruin things.  It's just stuff anyways and it's all going to burn.

Jim Bob Duggar said after something was broken, "When you're at our place, we're really surprised when stuff doesn't get broken." Michelle Duggar responded, "You can have kids or you can have things but you can't have both and I would much rather have kids than stuff any day."

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 
where moth and rust destroy, 
and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 
where moth and rust do not destroy, 
and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

Matthew 6:19,20
photo source

Cassi's Carrot Cake

Cassi is really getting into this cake decorating thing.  I think she has missed her calling!  For Father's Day, I made the cake part and she decorated it.  When we want to bake something special, we find a recipe we like and make it healthy.  Here is our version of a healthy carrot cake.  It is light and yummy!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a Cuisinart mix ~

3 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

Blend for 5 seconds. 

In a bowl, add the above ingredients and toss well with ~

3 cups grated carrots

In the Cuisinart combine ~

2 cups organic sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup coconut or vegetable oil  (Butter would probably be great!)

Blend well.

Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl, then add 1 1/2 cup chopped nuts and 1 pound of chopped of dates.

Pour into a well-oiled bunt pan and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 45 minutes.  Reduce the heat to 325 degrees and bake for another 20 minutes or until the cake reaches 205 to 210 degrees in the center.

Remove the pan from the oven and allow cake to cool 15 minutes in the pan. After 15 minutes, turn the cake out onto a rack and allow cake to cool completely. Frost with cream cheese frosting. 

Cream cheese frosting ~

1 stick of organic butter

16 ounces of cream cheese

1/2 cup honey

1 Tablespoon of vanilla

Blend well in Cuisinart and use to decorate the cake after it has cooled.  Good luck decorating it like Cassi decorated ours!

Daddy Of My Children

Today is Father's Day.  In honor of Father's Day, I would love to hear about the father of your children.  When I was in college, many years ago, Elizabeth Elliot was speaking in chapel.  She said that if you made a long list of all the things in your life that you are thankful for and you were raised in a godly family with a mom and dad, that should be the first thing on your list.  So if you have a husband that is a good daddy to your children, let him know and if you could, share it with us.  It's always good to brag about our husbands.

My children love their daddy ~ 

He worked out of the home when he wasn't traveling, so they could always go visit with him when they needed him, whether it was for a school project, sports, or just a listening ear.  

He spent many hours talking with them...trying to change bad thinking patterns. 

He modeled what it looked like to work hard and love your family. 

He's always been a fabulous provider and is extremely generous with his time and money.

He's never been afraid to stand up for what he believed in, even if it cost him friends. 

He is a man of integrity and honesty who loves Jesus with all of his heart.

They knew, without a doubt, that there was nothing they could ever do that would cause him to not love them.  He would whisper that in their ear when they were growing up. 

He openly shared the birds and bees with them...to their embarrassment sometimes.  He wanted them to learn from him and not kids from school or Hollywood.  

They were never afraid to share with him, because he was never judgmental or mean. 

He was always fair in his discipline. 

They could always count on him for anything. 

He's always been their biggest cheerleader and supporter. 

He gave my girls lots of affection so they didn't have to go looking for it elsewhere when they were younger. 

Overall,  I would say that he was almost a perfect dad, not perfect, but almost...

Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.  His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.  Psalm 112:1,2

It Ain't Easy Being A Submissive Wife!

Since this post has a BIG apology to my sisters, I thought it right to have a picture of them on here for you all to see! This is the only picture I could find on my computer that had my sisters in it (along with all the members of my side of the family several years ago.) Debbi is the one in the white t-shirt to the left and Alisa is the one in the brown multi-colored dress left of center. At our age, we like pictures to be small and far away! So this picture should make both of them very happy.

If you think being a gentle and submissive wife comes naturally to me, you are very wrong. I am the oldest of three girls. I was bossy and controlling. Ask my sisters. They will tell you I always got my way. (This is my official apology, Alisa and Debbi...I am sorry.  Will you forgive me for being such a bossy older sister?) 

When our Homeowners Association wouldn't allow basketball hoops in our driveway, guess who wrote the letter protesting and went around and got all the signatures...Me! 

When the dog below us yapped constantly, guess who called them all the time, left notes on their door, and wrote a letter telling them to shut that dog up Or Else and got all the neighbors to sign it...Me! 

Ask my children how controlling I was...They had to sneak junk food, so I wouldn't get mad at them.  I think they were actually afraid of me, which I don't necessarily think is bad. Kids should have a deep respect for authority. 

I am  lion...hear my roar! I am no golden retriever like Jon's Mother, Lynette, or my best friend, Sandy.  (I LOVE those golden retrievers!) It is not my personality to be gentle and submissive. BUT GOD worked a miracle in my life. 

I renewed my mind with His truth, His power has worked mightily in me, and I am a new woman.  Ask Ken...He tells everyone he's been married to 20 different women and he likes the latest model the best! (Number 30 will probably be perfect...;) So if I, as a former controlling, manipulative, first-born, bossy lion can change, anyone can, with God's mighty power living in and through you.

I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me. Galatians 2:20

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! 
Philippians 4:13

Start Having Fun!

"I married you, because we had so much fun together.  As soon as we got married, the fun flew out the window..."  I heard this on the radio this morning being sung by an old-timer.  Wow!  This happens so often.  Why and when do married couples stop having fun together?  I see my two children and their spouses and they still have lots of fun together.  Hopefully, they always will. 

Maybe that is the beginning of the destruction of a marriage...When you stop having fun together.  What causes this???  There are a lot of stresses in a marriage, but that doesn't mean you can't have any fun together.  Some of my ideas are ~

You start getting on each other's nerve.  The little things start bothering you.

You start arguing about a lot of things.

You stop laughing at his jokes.

You stop being affectionate to each other.

You don't make time for each other.

You stop talking and sharing with each other.

You see only his faults and dwell on them.

You let all your moods spill out on each other.  You forget to be joyful.

You take your anger and frustration out on each other.

Therefore, recognize these signs of a failing marriage and do something about it.  Don't let your marriage be one of the statistics of failure.  A healthy marriage is one of the best things you can give to each other, your children, and society.

Live joyfully with the wife whom you love, all the days of your unsteady life, which are given to you under the sun, all the time of your vanity: for this is your portion in life, and in thy labour which you labour under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 9:9

Let thy fountain be blessed : and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Proverbs 5:18

Whoso finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.  Proverbs 18:22

Related post ~
The Wedding Dance

Disagree Agreeably

My sister, Alisa, admonished (which is another word for encouraged) me today...In a very nice, gentle way.  She said I need to make sure you all know that just because I tell you not to argue doesn't mean you shouldn't share your opinions with your husband.  I told her I had written a post about disagreeing agreeably.  She thought I should post it soon, because she knows I am no mousy thing who never gives her opinion.  I give it TOO much, so I had to learn to let God work on my husband after I had given my opinion once or twice.  So here is the post a bit early~

Arguing is not a good thing.  I have written about that over and over again.  You can stop.  You just have to keep biting your tongue.  However, that doesn't mean that you and your husband have to agree about everything.  That would be impossible.  You have to learn to disagree agreeably!  You need to let him have his opinion.  If you disagree, tell him once and let it go...No arguing, no fighting...It is that simple.  Give it to God and pray about it.  You don't have to be right.  You don't have to get your way.  Sometimes you may have to compromise and sometimes you may have to give in.  Do anything you can to keep the peace, because we are suppose to be known as peacemakers.  Children like peaceful homes.  It makes them secure and confident in this insecure world.  So stop arguing and start learning to disagree agreeably.  It's a good thing.

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14)

High School Sweethearts

"A wise woman doesn't let little things stir her spirit to agitation.  With a quiet and meek spirit, she seeks to make all things better. Make a new habit.  Most wives reading this book were trained not to honor their husbands.  You were most likely trained by a mother's example to disrespect and resent your dad.  You were trained by watching your mom show displeasure at your father's bad habits, and nothing has changed in the way you relate to your husband.  It seems natural to be angry rather than to seek change for the better.  It is not easy to break a well-established tradition, but it will certainly be worth the effort." (Debi Pearl)

Yes!  Let's start a new trend in this generation...Loving our husbands...really loving them.  Letting our children know what a great dad they have.  Holding their hands in public and laughing with them.  Why should high school sweethearts look happier with each other than married couples?  It should not be that way.  Let's outdo those high school sweethearts!  We are older and wiser and know better.  We should be loving our husbands way more than those high school girls love their boyfriends~

who aren't working hard to provide for them,
who don't give them legitimate children to love and care for,
who don't commit their lives to them,
and who are probably using their girlfriends for their own pleasure. 

They have NOTHING on husbands who have made vows to us, committed themselves to us for life,  and put a ring on our finger!  Show them your appreciation every day.  Treat him like your Prince Charming and he just may live up to it!  So do make a new habit, a good one, a godly one.  It will benefit you, your family, and society greatly!

Above all, love each other deeply (especially your husbands)*, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  I Peter 4:8

*I added that in there! ;)

Cookie Diaries




 

Eternal Souls

This is a picture of my son Ryan and his precious wife, Erin.  They have been married a little over a year and have a four month old baby, Emma Rose.  Oh, how we all love her.  Yes, she was conceived on their honeymoon and we are all so happy about it!

"Absolutely nothing in this world is more powerful than nurturing an eternal soul. This season of a woman's life is only for a certain time.  It is her time of visitation which is only about 20 years of her whole life.  It is the privileged time of a woman's life when she can be visited by God to conceive life." Nancy Campbell 

This generation takes child-bearing for granted.  So many women put it off for many years waiting until they think they are ready.  Some can't even conceive by the time they want children.  Our society gives messages that having children isn't worth it...They are time-consuming, expensive, and difficult. 

God sees it a whole different way.  Children are a blessing and gifts from God.  Pregnancy and birth are very difficult, but nothing brings so much joy and happiness than children that are raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  This world needs good children, children of character and integrity.  It makes the world a better place.

And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.

Genesis 1:28

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 

Psalm 127:3

Sundays At My Home

Every Sunday after church, I have any family that is in town over for lunch and anyone else who is around and needs a good family meal.  It is a special time for me, since they are all grown up and starting their own lives. 

Alyssa and Jon are moving an hour away in several weeks.   Steven has been in San Francisco for the past two years and only has several weeks home for vacation this summer.  Thankfully, Ryan and Erin just live several minutes away.  Ryan works for Ken, so we get to see him a lot.  Cassi still lives at home and is going to school at the local University. 

So as you can see, getting my whole family together isn't that often anymore. Today was a special day, because they were all here, so I had to get a picture of them.  Emma was fussy...Babies don't always cooperate!  They grow up soon enough, however.  Happy times in the Alexander home!

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.  They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.  Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.  Psalm 37:25-27

Low Maintenance Women

                 

Cassi, 22: low maintenance vs. Alyssa, 28: high maintenance

Are you a low maintenance women?  Like I said in a previous post, we women have to battle our emotional natures, ie. our moods.  If we can learn how to master them and not let them master us, we will become low maintenance women.  I am sure low maintenance women are much easier to be married to than high maintenance ones...Ones who give into their feelings and moods and makes every one around them miserable.

Cassi, my youngest daughter, is a low maintenance young woman.  She always has been.  She is a pleaser.  We rarely had to spank her,  because we just had to look at her cross-eyed and she wanted to repent and cuddle.  She hates disharmony in her relationships.  She is easy to be around.  She accepts people as they are.  She chooses her words carefully.  I never remember her blurting out something she shouldn't, as I am prone to do.  Everyone likes Cassi.  We didn't have to train her to be this way.  It was just the way she was born.

Now, Alyssa, was another story.  She was definitely high maintenance, but a miracle happened.  She  realized who she was in Christ and He has worked a miracle in her life.  She is a completely different person.  She may have to battle her emotional nature more than Cassi does, but she knows she can do it because of Who lives inside of her.

The moral of the story:  We can all be low maintenance women whether we were born that way or not.   We can do "all things through Christ who strengthens us" and remind yourself  frequently " I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me."  What incredible promises from Scripture, so take heart and believe them!

Chocolate Banana Freezer Pie

Cassi made this tonight...Yummy!!!   She topped it with organic, whole whipping cream sweetened with vanilla and maple syrup.  Then she shredded dark chocolate pieces and almonds over it. 

She use to work for Marie Calendars, therefore, she became very good at decorating pies.  She also added a  bit of Stevia to the pie filling to make it sweeter.  She loves baking and making us healthy desserts! 

The original recipe used a normal whole wheat crust in a pie pan. I am pretty sure you could also use this crust in a pie pan. I also think that cream in place of the coconut milk would be great, or even just whole milk.

Crust:

1 cup of almonds  (Soaked and Dehydrated nuts would work great!)

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil

Pie Filling:

5 ripe bananas

1 cup of full fat coconut milk

½ cup of cocoa powder

1 teaspoons vanilla

1) Toast the almonds in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until browned and fragrant. Place in a food processor with the butter and honey. Blend until finely ground. Push evenly into the bottom of a greased 8 inch spring form pan, or pie pan.

2)  Rinse out the food processor and add the pie filling ingredients to it. Blend until quite smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Pour over pie crust and freeze until well set (at least 4 hours).

3) Use a very sharp knife to cut into pieces. Can let sit for about 20 minutes to soften it up a bit. For presentation and added flavor, top with sliced bananas, sliced almonds, or chocolate shavings.

Bringing Joy To Others

Ask yourself,  "Am I actively bringing joy to all those around me?"  What an incredible world this would be if everyone lived their lives asking that question, but at the very least, we can impact the world around us.  Actively trying to make others happy would improve your marriage, your children's lives, your friends' lives, the waitresses', the store clerks, the taxi drivers, and many others.  Every one needs some joy in their lives.

So I was listening to Dennis Prager talk about this today and his goal while driving with a taxi driver is to get the  driver to laugh.  He said his mother spread joy wherever she went whether it was with the mechanic, plumber, or neighbor.   I was going to the grocery store as I listened to this.  Both stores I went to I smiled and made conversation with the checkers.  Both were friendly and seemed to enjoy the conversation.  It wasn't difficult at all, but I bet it made their day a bit brighter to have someone interested in their life.

I challenge you to bring joy into every person around you today!  This is a good challenge and should be a life long one.  I think someone who brings joy to those around them is walking in the Spirit..."But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..."  (Galatians 5:22,23)

Teach your children this.  Teach them not to complain.  No one likes to be around someone who complains.  Train them to be joyful.  It is a lot easier to learn habits when they are young and it will benefit them the rest of their lives.

The Wedding Dance

"I know that the angels in heaven stand amazed at how much a man can love a woman, how he can break down weeping at the thought of how precious she is to him.  The reason he loves her so is because she IS precious.  She has earned his total adoration and love.  She is what God asks of a woman, and the end result is a man who cherishes her beyond anything this world can know."  (Debi Pearl)

Jon, my son-in-law, is a manly man.  He's never seen his dad cry.  He believes men should be masculine and takes seriously this role that God has given him.  However, when he saw Alyssa walking down the aisle toward him to become his wife, he wept.  He cherishes her.

Alyssa has learned what God expects of a wife~

They have never argued.  

She loves him just the way that he is.  There is nothing she wants to change about him.  

She loves taking care of him and pleasing him.  

She lets him be the leader of their home.  

She is submissive to him.  

She is doing it right, because she has been taught how to and has seen other married couples who do it right.  God's ways are best.  Our society does it completely opposite the way God tells us to do it.  Is it working?  No!  Marriages are falling apart left and right. 

God knows what he is doing.  He is our Creator and wrote the instruction manual for how we are to live our lives.  Try it...You will love it!

Here is a link to the dance they did at their wedding...Alyssa is a professional ballerina and taught Jon this dance secretly to surprise all of us! Jon and Alyssa's Wedding Dance

Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered. I Peter 3:7