Travel on...

To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while. 

~Josh Billings

"Parenthood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you would have. It's about understanding that they are exactly the person they are supposed to be. And that, if you're lucky, they just might be the teacher who turns you into the person you are supposed to be."

~ The Water Giver

Encouragement

Isn't it funny how you can read familiar Bible passages maybe a hundred times (or more!) and the message - while powerful - is pretty much always the same.. But THEN, one day - a time you need encouragement most - God suddenly brings those words into a light, and you suddenly see them like you've never had  before...?

Clean up your act...

"As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become. Take action on your behaviour. Too many people want to feel, then take action. This never works."

~ John C. Maxwell

thanx for sharing, Moriah!!

Philippians 1:9-11

Some verses that really spoke to me during my Bible reading the other day [expanded for better comprehension]....

Philippians 1:9-11

⁹And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge [insight] and all discernment [judgment],   ¹⁰ That ye may approve things that are excellent; and without offense [sincere, certain, unsullied, untainted and pure, unerring, blameless -- not causing others to stumble] till the day of Christ. [Christ's return] ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness [in fellowship with God,  doing right] which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. [your testimony would bring Glory & praise to God]

I Corinthians 13 - A Prayer for a Wife

The following excerpt is taken from the book: "Becoming the Woman of His Dreams" by Sharon Jaynes. Every time I read it,  it resounds so deeply within my heart...  it nearly moves me to tears. I actually have it printed off, and taped to the inside cover of my Bible, so I can read/pray through/think on it often.  It's a beautiful reminder that, above everything else this world has to offer...  our purpose & priority as Godly wives,  should be to love & honor our husbands. -- be their biggest cheerleader, chief adviser, most trusted confidant,  best-friend., & helpmeet. ~ Enjoy!

picture courtesy of\

Sleeping through the night?

While standing with and talking to two ladies after church tonight... I heard one (an older gentlewoman) ask the other (a mom of a 1.5 month old baby) the age-old question "is he sleeping through the night yet?" At first I bit my tongue, curious to to hear the new-mama's (NM) responses.  But after a few moments of watching her fumble through her wording, embarrassingly trying to figure out the best way to say no ~ without sounding like a "bad mom" for admitting her baby, is in reality.... normal ~ the NM finally confesses that none of her other children (this is baby #4) started sleeping through the night until they were over a year old... and this little guy was proving to not be any different. ~ This, was my cue to speak up.

A Woman's Worth

A friend shared this on her Facebook this evening... and I thought it was way too good to not share...

In a brief conversation, a man asked a woman he was pursuing the question:

'What kind of man are you looking for?'

She sat quietly for a moment before looking at him in the eye & asking, 'Do you really want to know?'

Reluctantly, he said, 'Yes.

She began to expound, 'As a woman in this day & age, I am in a position to ask a man what can you do for me that I can't do for myself?

I pay my own bills. I take care of my household without the help of any man...
or woman for that matter..

I am in the position to ask, 'What can you bring to the table?'

The man looked at her. Clearly he thought that she was referring to money.

She quickly corrected his thought & stated, 'I am not referring to money. I need something more.

I need a man who is striving for excellence in every aspect of life.

He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, & asked her to explain.

She said, 'I need someone who is striving for excellence mentally because I need conversation & mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man.

I need someone who is striving for excellence spiritually because I don't need to be unequally yoked...believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster.

I need a man who is striving for excellence financially because I don't need a financial burden.

I need someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded.

I need someone who has integrity in dealing with relationships. Lies and game-playing are not my idea of a strong man.

I need a man who is family-oriented. One who can be the leader, priest and provider to the lives entrusted to him by God.

I need someone whom I can respect.. In order to be submissive, I must respect him.

I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business. I have no problem being submissive...he just has to be worthy.

And by the way, I am not looking for him...He will find me. He will recognize himself in me. He may not be able to explain the connection, but he will always be drawn to me. God made woman to be a help-mate for man. I can't help a man if he can't help himself.

When she finished her spill, she looked at him.

He sat there with a puzzled look on his face. He said, 'You are asking a lot.

She replied, "I'm worth a lot".

Beauty...

Everyone has beauty. some of us just don't see it all the time.
maybe we're looking in the wrong places, or through the wrong lenses?

People for Change

This *excellent* article was written by my 16 year old brother-in-law, for our local Young Conservatives Blog. ~ Good job, Dave! I'm SO proud of you!!!

(courtesy of)

Leadership

A thought that was shared, and really resounded within me, recently....

"Leadership is not telling someone what to do... but the ability to affect human behavior so as to accomplish a mission, goal, or desire" ~JM

Thank you, Mallie for sharing this awesome, inspiring quote!!

"Women of God can never be like women of the world.

The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith.
We have enough greed; we need more goodness.
We have enough vanity; we need more virtue.
We have enough popularity; we need more purity"

"The Joy of Womanhood," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 15

An amazing speech!

A 12 year old speaks out against abortion in a speech she prepared and delivered for her grade 7 class....

It's so great to hear such a young person, not only take such an active interest on defining issues... but have the courage & boldness articulate her opinion in such a clear & concise manner! wow! She has such a wonderful talent for speaking.... and I only hope she continues to use it it's full potential! What an huge impact she could make on this world! Awesome!

"Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't make you a bad mom. Just because they do something that you don't agree with doesn't mean they are bad moms. You will know if something is wrong simply by being attentive and educating yourself. Have faith, you can raise children without a doctor. It's better than having to try and raise them in spite of one."

~ MrsPil

"If you could have a vaccine for your child, that was RISK FREE,
ENSURED that they would be the healthiest & smartest they could
be, in general it would be the GUARANTEED best thing for them.
SCIENTIFICALLY proven to have NO risks for YOU or YOUR child.
It would REDUCE your risk of cancers more than any other ONE
single thing... and to boot, it was FREE. Would you do it?

That "thing" - that "vaccine" - is BREASTMILK."

- LaLa

Another post blessing from "Generous Wife"...

(an issue I am seriously trying to work on!!)



When your husband says something that you disagree with, the immediate moment may not be the best time to contest what he says. Sometimes it's kinder and more respectful to deal with it later privately and sometimes it's really not all that important and can be passed over altogether.



See everything, overlook a great deal, correct a little. Pope John XXII

Think Generous!

Shortly after we were married, I signed up for this daily email digest called "the Generous Wife" (likewise, my hubby gets companion elist, "the Generous Husband"). Everyday I receive an email with an idea on how I can bless my husband. (a mix of romantic, practical, sexual, relational, and spiritual). The tips aren't always appropriate for where we are.... but we are encouraged to take advantage of the ones that apply.... and then use the rest as a tool to spark your imagination, to find new ways to bless your husband.

Anyway, the subject lately has been a series "Things That Destroy Marriages"... talking to husbands about behaviors and attitudes that are destructive to marriage. Since the feedback from the series had been encouraging, they decided to send us wives the series... with a feminized/edit of the husband's tips and with a few more added that are more common to women.

Today's email esp. blessed me..

Tuesday July 22, 2008
From The Generous Husband series Things That Destroy Marriages ~.

From Paul to the husbands:
When you blow it, big time or in a minor way, do you deal with it in a way that blesses your bride? Do you apologize? Do you deal with it in a way that makes her feel you understand why your actions (or words) were wrong or painful? More than all of this, do you really repent - that is to change direction - make a real effort to not repeat what you have apologized for? If you are repeatedly apologizing for the same thing, something is wrong. If you care about her, you don't want to hurt her, and if you keep hurting her over and over for the same thing it quickly starts to look like you don't care.

By the way, you can also apologize for her feeling hurt by unintended consequences of something you say or do. Even though you didn't intend to hurt her, you can feel bad that you did.

But what about things that "shouldn't" hurt her but do? Maybe she is too sensitive about something - maybe she even admits she's too sensitive about something. Don't make it seem it's your fault if it's not, but you can say "I'm sorry that hurts."

My thoughts:
All of this is appropriate for us gals. Do say you're sorry when you've done something hurtful or wrong. Do be serious about changing when you need to. It's ok to say you're sorry over your spouse's pain, even when you haven't done anything wrong.

Never ruin an apology with an excuse. Kimberly Johnson

Think generous! Lori <><

Inspiration: How to solve problems