Saturday, April 28, 2012

marriage musings

Spoke this week on one of my favorite topics...marriage.  I am so blessed by the gals who come out to learn how to have a healthy marriage.  They are learning that it takes hard work and being very intensional in "seeing to it" that they love and respect their husbands. 

Here are two marriage quotes from our evening together:

"Marriage is the act of two incompatable people learning to become compatible via compassionate compromise."

"Marriage is not intended to fulfill your dreams, (make you happy); It is intended to fulfill God's dream, (make you holy)."

end of quotes

If your goal and your gauge is happiness, you will not make it.  Sorry, I am just saying.

Yes we have an amazing marriage, but we have worked very hard at it.  In my next few posts I will share some of our non-negotiables as it relates to our marriage.

Monday, April 23, 2012

be careful little mouth what you say

Have you ever said something you wish you could unsay?  I know I have. When I took the Gallup Strengths Test I found out that my #1 talent is COMMUNICATION.  That means I like to talk.... a lot.  I have come to realize that words, like the toothpaste, once it is out of the tube you can never reverse the act.  I have hopefully learned a few things with age, and one lesson is to weigh my words before they escape my "big fat trap".  I shared this with a group of moms that I spoke to recently and then shared some proverbs that have helped me consider my words carefully.  They asked me to send them the list of proverbs, so I decided to share them on my blog with you all.

My favorite by far is Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he is silent, is considered wise. (say no more, actually say nothing) I know my mom told me, "if you have nothing nice to say, SAY NOTHING.

Proverbs 10:19 Where there are many words, transgression is unavoidable.

Proverbs 17:27 He who restrains his words has knowledge.

Proverbs 18:7 A fools mouth is his ruin.

Proverbs 13:3 The one who guards his mouth, preserves his life,
                        The one who opens wide his lips come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:11  The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.

I reflect on these proverbs often.  It seems that I need reminded constantly to "be careful little mouth what you say".   Put this into practice and those closest to you will be glad you did.


Friday, April 13, 2012

the power of your love

I am reading a book by Philip Yancy called, "What's so amazing about grace".  In chapter 5, Yancy talks about a theory that sociologists call the 'looking-glass self: You become what the most important person in your life thinks you are.  I so agree with this theory and have alway said a similiar thing when I say that , 'the countenance of a woman is a reflection of how well her husband has loved her."

I am such a woman.  I have been loved well and am grateful beyond words.  My husband has encouraged me to follow my dreams, share my gifts and live life to the fullest.  I want every woman to experience the love I have. 

At the same time, I have tried to love my husband and children in such a way that they will become all that they were intended to be.  The power of love is amazing. It creates an environment where those you love can flourish.  It is right in line with my favorite proverb:

Proverbs 14:1 A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. 

26 years of deep love
I am on a mission to help those in my life reach their dreams and follow their passions.  How about you?  Who needs you to love and believe in them in such a way that it propels them into the greatness they were meant to achieve?

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

what's waiting in your mailbox?

I have three magazines I subscribe to and love it each month when they arrive.


When my Rachael Ray magazine arrives, I flip through the pages and look for the recipies that I want to try that month.  Next....


My Better Homes and Gardens arrives and I flip through the pages, inevitably stopping on the pages with the recipies that look good to me, then.... 


My 'taste of home' arrives and there are usually at least two recipes I want to try out.  More times than not, the recipies are "keepers" that I want to make again in the future.  So, I have these magazines laying around and I can't seem to throw any of them away....


What if there is one more recipe that I need to try but have not had a chance to make yet.  And then before I know it, the next months issue arrives.  What a dilemma I have.  What's a girl to do???