Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving!

We had the privilege of having family here in town for the Thanksgiving weekend!
All the brothers stayed here at our house, and mom and Rebecca stayed with friend's from Church.
We all had a great time with one another, and friends.
 The boys enjoyed the xBox throughout the weekend.
I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the food we ate, except for the pies!
This was my first time getting to plan and cook almost the entire Thanksgiving dinner. The menu was Pork Roast, Mashed potatoes, Stuffing, Croissant rolls (made by mom), home canned Pears, Cranberry sauce, Deviled eggs, and Cheery, Apple and Pumpkin pies! It all turned out great, except for the stuffing which came out a little soggy :( But being my first time making stuffing, I wasn't too upset about it!

The rest of the afternoon we relaxed and played games until my Man had to go work a graveyard shift. He was able to take a couple of his brothers for ride-alongs!



















Friday morning Ben made breakfast and Matt did dishes! :) And the boys continued to play xBox.

Friday afternoon we spent time at the range.




And Saturday evening our good friend, Jeff took us all out for Mexican dinner!!

 We were all able to go to the gym a few times over the weekend.


And at the end of the weekend I was able to get a phone camera shot of an awesome sunset!


It was a wonderful weekend! I have so much to be thankful for! I'm thankful for family and friends, for a home where I can host family and friends. For my wonderful husband who worked 2 long overtime shifts on his holiday weekend, and always is willing to help out at work and home and take care of those he cares about. I'm thankful for the Church family God has blessed me with and for the beauty He gives everyday through creation, and the people in my life!

Yesterday, this particular Psalm was very meaningful to me, and I think it's a fitting one to meditate on while considering being Thankful!

Psalm 92:1-6
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, so sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 
to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!
The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this:"

Thursday, November 17, 2011

A Helpmeet in Training!

I've been married for 1 year 9 months, and 18 days! (I'm too lazy to figure out hours, minutes, and seconds, sorry).
I'm still very new to this wife stuff. I have learned a lot in the past almost-2-years (I'm lazy, now rounding). I thank God for the blessing of His Word, Christian authors who have written books on the subject, mothers, friends, pastors, and others along the way that have helped encourage, edify, instruct, teach, help, offer advice & counsel me in my journey of being a wife.

We often think of wives (at least I do) as women who are matronly housekeepers who are supposed to be loving, supportive and submissive to their husbands. They are the ones with the duty of keeping the house clean, meals cooked, laundry clean.... and folded. They do the grocery shopping, and the bookkeeping, pay the bills if needed, and keep track of calender appointments. All while their husbands go to work 5 days a week, 9-5 and earn the pay check.

All of those things are true, and good. And I understand completely that every good wife doesn't look like the stereotype I just described because each woman is unique, and has different lifestyles and circumstances. But you get where I'm coming from.

My passion in life was always to be that stereotype, and someday add children to it. I wanted to be the stay-at-home homemaker, to plan meals, keep house, and build a comfortable, happy home. To take care of my husband, support and submit to him.
But in almost-2-years of marriage I am beginning to understand being a wife goes a little bit deeper than that. For a few weeks now I have been contemplating "What is a helpmeet? How does a woman become a "helpmeet/helper/helpmate"? How can I help my husband, what is the best way to help, how do I know if I'm being helpful or not? etc.
So, I've been studying my husband, trying to figure out and discern how he, as an individual needs help. What his specific weaknesses and strengths are and what the most effective way to aid him in them is. After a few weeks of doing that, and still not having it 100% figured out I was prompted, through various circumstances, to look at the Bible.
The Bible actually has lots to say about wives even if the word wife/wives is not specifically mentioned.

Here is what the Bible says to and about wives:

Genesis 2:18 "Then the LORD God said, "it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."  We are created for man.

Genesis 2:23-25 "Then the man said, "this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."  Reason Man is the head and woman submits.
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." Intimacy is good!

Genesis 3:16 "To the woman [God] said, "I will multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Submit, even though we desire to rule over our husbands.

Proverbs 31:10-31"An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. she rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. she opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. she looks well to the way of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates." (emphasis added).

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a, 13 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliever up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends....So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Complete self-LESS love.

Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 33b "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ love us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.... for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.... Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.... Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.... let the wife see that she respects her husband."

Colossians 3:18 "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."

Titus 2:3-5 "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."
 
For the sake of sparing you an extremely loong blog post I have only recorded a few passages directed to wives, and a few that are not as directed, but still apply.

I am guilty of failing in many of these commands. Especially the ones on Love. I am thankful for the rebuke and correction from the Bible, and even more so thankful for God's forgiveness when I fail. I'm looking forward to continuing this journey, even though I know how challenging it is, and that at times it will be painful and overwhelming.... and I will fail again. But through the power of Christ I can succeed!
In my almost-2-years of marriage I am a very long way from achieving all of this. But I recognize I have only just begun my journey becoming a helpmeet, and have lots of time to learn. I'm am content as long as I am continually learning. When I stop learning, growing and maturing there will be a problem. I am soo thankful that God has given me instruction in His Word on how to fulfill this duty as a helper to my husband!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A Prayer

Peril

"Sovereign Commander of the Universe,

I am sadly harassed by doubts, fears, unbelief, in a felt spiritual darkness.
My heart is full of evil surmisings and disquietude, and I cannot act faith at all.
My heavenly Pilot has disappeared, and I have lost my hold on the Rock of Ages; I sink in deep mire beneath storms and waves, in horror and distress unutterable.
Help me, O Lord,
to throw myself absolutely and wholly on thee, for better, for worse, without comfort, and all but hopeless.
Give me peace of soul, confidence, enlargement of mind, morning joy that comes after night heaviness;
Water my soul richly with divine blessings;
Grant that I may welcome thy humbling in private so that I might enjoy thee in public;
Give me a mountain top as high as the valley is low. 
Thy grace can melt the worst sinner, and I am as vile as he;
Yet thou has made me a monument of mercy, a trophy of redeeming power;
In my distress let me not forget this.
All-wise God,
Thy never-failing providence orders every event, sweetens every fear, reveals evil's presence lurking in seeming good, brings real good out of seeming evil, makes unsatisfactory what I set my heart upon, to show me what a short-sighted creature I am, and to teach me to live by faith upon thy blessed self.
Out of my sorrow and night give the name Naphtali - 'satisfied with favour' - help me to love thee as thy child, and to walk worthy of my heavenly pedigree."

from The Valley of Vision (emphasis added)

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Christians, Members of the Body of Christ

"Since Christ is the head of the body of which Christians are members, he has a right to expect the same services from them, which we expect from our members. Now what we expect from our members is, that everyone, in its proper place, should perform the services allotted it; executing the purposes, and obeying the commands of the head. We do not expect that each member should have a separate will, or pursue a separate interest, or act in any respect as if it were independent. If any part of our bodies does not fulfill these expectations, and yield prompt and implicit obedience to our will, we conclude it to be diseased; and if the acts of the will produce no effect upon it, we conclude it to be dead, and remove it, if possible, as a useless encumbrance. We further expect that our members, instead of attempting to provide, each one, for its own wants, will depend upon the wisdom and foresight of the head, for all necessary supplies. In a word, we know that it is the part of the head to plan, direct and provide, and the part of the members to obey and execute. Precisely similar are the duties of Christians, considered as the members of Christ. No Christian must have a separate will, or a separate interest of his own, or act, in any respect, as if he were an insulated, independent individual. As there is but one head, so there must be but one governing, guiding will, and that must be the will of Christ. If any neglect to execute his will, they are spiritually dead. and were never really united to Christ, for his real members never die. It is also their duty to depend on him for everything, for the supply of all their temporal and spiritual necessities; and never to attempt any thing but in reliance on his wisdom, grace and strength. As well may our feet walk safely, or our hands work skillfully, without assistance and guidance from the head, as Christians can perform any service without the grace of Christ their head, in whom are laid up all the treasures of wisdom, and knowledge, and grace."

Legacy of a Legend, Christians, Members of the Body of Christ. by Edward Payson

Sunday, November 6, 2011

New Project!

While browsing around on coupon blogs and frugal websites I stumbled upon this blog post. A simple tutorial on how to make a knock-off version of the Williams-Sonoma Pumpkin Patch wreath priced at $99.95. The original blog post I saw about it said they could make it for $22.75.
Since I had a shopping trip to "the big city" and hour away ;). I decided I'd look out for some of these craft supplies, because I liked the wreath, and it looked like a fun project to do (Not like I need more projects).

Williams Sonoma Wreath 
I found 2 packages of 8 faux mini pumpkins at Walmart on clearance for $3.00 each.
I then stopped in a JoAnn's and found the grapevine wreath for $4.99, bag of Spanish Moss for $2.49 (had about half left over too), paid $3.49 for glue and already had some ribbon.
My total cost for supplies to make this wreath was $16.97. But considering I didn't use all the glue, and moss, It was actually less than that! There were a few leaves that came with the pumpkins that I glued on mine also.



This was my first time making a wreath. It was fun. I really like the way mine turned out, and I am pleased I got such a lovely wreath for not much money. I actually like mine much better than it's "inspiration".

Epic Shopping Trip 11-5-11

This will be my first "couponing" blog post. I don't have the resources to be an "Extreme Couponer" but I do clip lots of coupons, have a binder full of them, study store ads, and plan my monthly shopping trips days in advance. Do all the sales, promos, and coupon match ups! Here are a few of the really good deals I got yesterday
I only paid $2.56 for all of this at CVS.

Transaction #1:
Bought 2 Aveeno lotion 2.5oz. $3.69 each.
Total with tax $7.89 Received a $7.00 Extra Care Bucks (aka, CVS cash coupon to use on next order).
Almost FREE after ECB(extra care bucks).

Transaction #2:
3 chapstick $1.50 each on sale.
1 Tide detergent 40oz. $5.94 on sale. Used a $2/1 coupon.
Also used my $7.00 ECB I just received. Bring my total down to $1.67 w/ tax!

At Raley's I scored FREE eggs and really cheap frozen pasta.
Dozen eggs were FREE after spending $20. And Raley's had a store coupon sale going on their Nob Hill frozen Tortellini pasta. Priced $3.99 each with a coupon for $3 off (limit of 4). Making them $0.99 a bag!

All 4 bags, only $3.96 total!! $0.99 each!

At Walmart I picked up a FREE box of Idahoan Farmhouse Fix'ns cheesy hashbrowns. Used a coupon good for 1 FREE up to $1.50 value from the All You magazine, Nov. issue.
I also got FREE ketchup at Walmart. In the Deli section they sell individual servings of Heinz ketchup in cute little glass bottles.


These were priced at $0.60 each. I had 4 coupons good for $1 off any Heinz ketchup. Which means, since Walmart now allows overage on coupons, I made $1.60 on buying these. Which means that additional $0.40 per coupon was applied to other items I bought! (a bonus to FREE ketchup is I have lots of fun craft ideas for these cute little jars after I use the ketchup)!!

Here are the freebies I picked up at various stores


Toothpaste was FREE at Smith's. Had a sale on Crest toothpaste a $1 each. I had 3 $1 off 1 Crest toothpaste. Making it FREE!

There are the highlights of my shopping trip yesterday!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Autumn labors..... bring Spring blossoms

This past summer was my first time growing a garden! I had fun. Before getting married I'd grown flower beds at my parents house. This year I didn't bother with flowers, other than a few potted ones. It was kind of hard to grow both flowers and vegetables in the same place. And since my garden spot is behind our house, I'd probably be the only one to enjoy it.

Since our landlord moved the shed that was in the yard, I have a nice corner that looked very empty! So I decided to put in a flower bed! I'm thrilled my landlord is okay with me making changes like that to the property. Having Christian friends as a landlord is a blessing that words cannot express!

My man and I and some friends took a the morning last week to go get dirt! The dirt available where we live is full of arsenic and alkali and sorely lacking in nutrient. Needs furtilized often, and lots of care. So, in order to find enough, good soil for growing for fill a flower bed we had to go up in a hills a ways!

Was a beautiful, and dusty drive up the canyon! We found some nice, black soil, backed up the pick up's and started digging!


It was a very nice day for working outdoors! And I was surprised how fast we filled up the trucks, especially with help!

Once we had the pick ups full, we headed back down the canyon to unload and fill up the flower bed.

I'm excited to have a flower bed this next spring/summer. I've already got 50 tulip bulbs planted. And look forward to accumulating more varieties of flowers and plants this coming year!