Created to be HIS

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:44:00 +0000

Breakfast cookies just SOUND delicious, don't they? I thought so too, and that is why I decided to make a batch today to freeze for those days when I don't feel like cooking breakfast. I came across this recipe that delivered a healthy, tasty, and easy breakfast treat and, let's get real, when does a cookie NOT sound good?? :) Anyway, they were fun to make and I enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that what I was baking was GOOD for me! Always wonderful. :) The only change I am going to make next time is the size of the cookie. I am going to make them a little larger because I must have scarfed down six or seven of them in the span of two hours. Yikes! It would be easier for me to admit I ate THREE instead of SIX....ha!

Anyway, here is the recipe.

Make-Ahead Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

½ cup peanut butter
½ cup applesauce
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 ripe bananas, mashed
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1½ cups flour (all-purpose or ¾ cup all-purpose and ¾ cup whole wheat) -- I used all whole wheat
¼ cup toasted wheat germ (I used flax seed meal)
2 cups quick-cooking oats (not instant)
1 cup raisins (or dried cranberries, or chocolate chips) -- Optional. I didn't use any

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

With an electric mixer, beat the peanut butter and applesauce until combined. Beat in the brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla, beating until mixed. Stir in the bananas, baking soda and salt.

Add the flour and wheat germ, mixing until combined. Stir in the oatmeal and raisins.

Drop ¼-cup dollops of batter four inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Press down slightly with the palm of your hand to flatten into three-inch rounds.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are browned. Let stand 1 minute on the tray, then remove to a wire rack.

Yields 24

To freeze: Simply cool and seal in a freezer bag.

Juices & Smoothies || Almond Banana & Apple Celery

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:38:00 +0000

As I've recently posted, I am a big fan of juicing. I am also a big fan of smoothies. There are plenty of less-than-tasty things that GREATLY aid in health that can be "smuggled" into a smoothie (i.e. cottage cheese, cod liver oil...) Saturday, while I was at Sam's, I saw a book called, "100 Best Smoothies and Juices" for $4.99. Umm...YES! I had to buy it and I have already made one smoothie and one juice from its list that I will now HAPPILY share with you!

Almond-Banana Smoothie

1 cup of almonds
2 1/2 cups of milk (recipe calls for dairy-free)
2 ripe bananas
1 tsp Vanilla extract
dash of ground cinnamon

Put the almonds into a food processor or blender and process until very finely chopped. Add the milk, bananas, and vanilla and blend until very smooth and creamy. Pour into glass and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Serves 3-4 (you can also freeze what you don't use for later use!)

Almonds are a rich source of vitamin E, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium. They are also high in folic acid, which makes it great during pregnancy. They are good for the brain, the heart, the skin, regulate cholesterol and blood pressure, helps fight cancer and diabetes, and it's an energy booster! WOW!

Bananas are high in potassium, vitamin B, iron (which makes it great for Anemia), fiber, and they help the body fight off depression, heartburn, and even morning sickness! They are good for the kidneys and they help our body absorb calcium.

Apple-Celery Juice

2 apples
2 sticks of celery

Using your juicer, juice both the apple and the celery and enjoy!

OR

finely dice both the apple and the celery
add 1 1/4 cups of milk
a pinch of sugar
a pinch of salt

Put all the above ingredients into your blender or food processor and blend until thoroughly combined. Pour into glass, add ice, and enjoy!

Apples regulate blood sugar and are good for bone health, asthma aid, and they fight lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, and supply galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin.

Celery is known to contain at least eight families of "anti-cancer compounds," one of which is acetylenics which has been shown to stop the growth of tumor cells. Celery helps break up gall bladder stones and fight inflammation, along with promoting healthy kidney function.

The Proverbs 31 Quest || pt 7

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:44:00 +0000

Proverbs 31:16
"She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

Last time, after I posted about Miss 31 getting up "while it is yet night," I ended up being up and at 'em before the sun came up for a few days, too! Unfortunately, and to be honest, it was not because I set my alarm to go off. It was due to my 10 month old "baby alarm." But, hey, I was up! And I loved it. One step at a time....I'm getting there!

Today, I'm hitting the next verse.

"She considereth a field, and buyeth it..."

* Considereth - plan, purpose, devise, ponder.

We already know Miss 31 is organized. We also know that she is a godly woman. In this verse we see that she puts that organization into practice by studying a field, then making a wise purchase of that field. She doesn't do this rashly or on a sudden impulse. Being the godly woman that she is, she no doubt prayed over the matter and gave it careful thought and consideration. She had a plan for her family and she carefully thought about what she needed. Now, of course, this verse does not mean that we must go out and buy property. But I think it is inspiring that this lady put lots of planning and prayer into buying land that she can use to produce her own fruits and vegetables. Maybe wheat and cotton too! Who knows what all she planted and grew! But she considered it before she made the purchase.

Today, our decisions are often rushed and we rarely stop and pray over this-or-that before making decisions and commitments. She, however, pondered it. Maybe she asked herself:

Will this field bring honor to the Lord?

Have I consulted with my husband and sought his wisdom?

Am I financially able to purchase this field?

Am I committed to assume the responsibilities that this field will have for me?

Will this field be a blessing to my household or a burden?

As I have mentioned previously, I do not have a green thumb. I am proud of myself when I can keep flowers alive for longer than a month. For the past two years, I have wanted to plant a garden and, Lord willing, I intend on doing so this spring, regardless of my history. I want to plant my own vegetables and fruits, which will not only save money on fresh produce at the grocery store, but will be much healthier for us to eat. Of course, the pure satisfaction of simply growing something is an added bonus!


"...with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

Maybe she didn't plant vegetables or wheat. It is quite probable that the purpose of the field was to provide a place for a vineyard so that the family and others could enjoy the fruit! Miss 31 is a business woman, we will later learn. We know she is wise and carefully considers things before making a decision. I believe this portion this tells us that she buys the field and plants a vineyard 1) with the funds from previous work she has done, or 2) with funds that her husband has allotted to her. It is "the fruit of her hands." She doesn't go into debt in order to purchase the field. Her whole goal is to bless her household, not add a strain or a burden. We need to take notes! We can all learn so much from her example.

Personally, I want to be wise. I want to carefully pray over every decision I make. I want to be wise with money. And I want to be a good keeper of my home. James 1 tells us that if we lack wisdom, He will give it to us - liberally! So let us ask....and then use that wisdom to further bless our family.

Proverbs 31:16
"She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

When He's Not Superman

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:38:00 +0000

When Imarried my husband, I married a sinner. I married a human who battles against theflesh, same as me.

I rememberthe first marital spat that Grant and I had. Naive as I was, I found myself utterly stunned. THIS man was perfect!THIS man had selflessly fought for me, won my heart, and patiently waited for14 months to marry me. This man was superman! But in the moment of a heated battle, my head screamed: How can he be so AWFUL rightnow?!!

Any of you married ladies relate?

Though myhusband is wonderful and amazing, he is an unfinished work-in-progress. God isstill working on him….and on me. But let’sget real. Sometimes we, wives, grow irritable when our “super” husband is not super. So what doI do when he’s NOT an extraordinary superman? Below is a list I made for myself when my sinful nature rises up. It helps me and I hope it can help you as well.

First, own up to the fact that your husband married a sinner. That's you. Yes, you are a sinner. So is he. Get your perspective right and remember that two imperfect people said "I do." When we remember this truth, our pride will start to fade and our humility will begin to grow.
Next, PRAY. Pick up your Bible. Get alone. Go to the LORD and present the situation to Him. You are hurt. Maybe you're offended. Maybe you are just plain mad - and want to be! Go to Him and tell Him about it. Then be quiet and let Him speak to you and calm your heart. Be still so you can know, and remember, that He is God and He can take care of any issue - big or small. He is the marriage counselor and the author of Love, so let Him speak to you and teach you. Let Him do His job. :)
Make a list of his good traits and qualities. It may take a little time when you are upset, but force yourself to write down all the things you love and admire about him. As you do that, you will more than likely feel a bit more tender and kind towards him than before.
Forgive him. Remember that Jesus loves us and forgives us, even when we spit in His face and willfully sin. And His blood covers all our sins. Jesus is the goal. Jesus is the example. Focus on Him, remember what HE did for YOU, then do the same for your husband.
Here comes the hard part. Apologize. Go to him and humbly ask his forgiveness. Even if you didn't "start it," take the initiative to be the peacemaker. Keep in mind that no matter what your husband does or says, YOU are responsible for your actions. You cannot justify your lashing out in anger just because he did. YOU do what's right, no matter what anyone else does or says.

Marriage is an incredible relationship that teaches us so much about the Lord and His grace. Sometimes, marriage is hard. But it is blissfully wonderful!! Nah, some days he isn't superman. But hey! You aren't superwoman all the time, right?

I'm running this race with you, ladies! Let's run well....

Juicing for Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:46:00 +0000

The other day, I had some apples and oranges that were about to go bad. To my shock, I realized that it had been quite a while since I had juiced any fruits or vegetables. So I pulled out my juicer to make me some fresh juice. While I poured my glass, I thought, "My goodness, my baby boy is a big boy...and I bet he will LOVE this." So I poured some into his sippy-cup and handed it to him. OH MY GOODNESS. You'd have thought I'd handed him the moon. He loved it. He drank it all quicker than he has ever drank anything. And boy, was I proud! Of course, I called my husband and my Mom to tell them all about it! Every time he does something new, my momma-heart swells up and I want to go brag on how awesome and smart my kid is. :) I'm sure you mommies understand exactly what I mean. :)

The next day, I pulled my juicer out again. For two months I have been trying to get carrots into Nathan...to no avail. He does not....like....carrots. Of course, I don't blame him. I have never liked them either. However, I love carrot juice, especially mixed with apple. So, I pulled out an apple, a bag of baby carrots, and made me and him some carrot-apple juice. Again, I poured the juice into his sippy-cup, handed it to him....and held my breath (and prayed!).

And he drank.....and drank.....and drank.....with a smile.

VICTORY!!!!

Juicing fruits and vegetables is SO easy, surprisingly delicious, and unbelievably healthy. I owe my health to juicing. I used to be sick almost constantly. Every cold or sickness that came around, I caught. I was sluggish and lacked energy. Then my family began juicing and now? I rarely get sick! My sisters began injesting vegetables that were avoided at all costs before! :) It became a game to create concoctions, trying to come up with the tastiest and healthiest juice (or smoothie!). So I HIGHLY recommend going out and getting yourself a good juicer. You will reap the benefits, I assure you!

Below is a small list of juices that I have made. Happy Juicing!!

Carrot/Apple juice
Strawberry/Spinach (use baby leaf spinach)
Apple/Celery/Carrot
Carrot/Blueberry
Strawberry/Blueberry/Blackberry
Apple/Orange
Orange/Spinach/Peach/Carrot

Singing Scripture

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:23:00 +0000

A few months ago, I shared a chart that I made for me and Nathan as a way of helping me teach him Scripture. I call it my "Saturate chart." Children are like sponges and they learn so much, so fast, so early in their lives. It has been a challenge for me to remember to incorporate the Word into everyday life happenings, but we are getting there! We take it one day at a time. :)

When I was younger and in the AWANA program at our Church, I remember my mom taking the Bible verses we needed to remember and putting a tune to them. We were all singers and singing Bible somehow made it easier to remember those tough verses. There was a time when one of my little sisters, instead of reciting the verse to her AWANA leader, sang the verse....and had a few body motions to go with it! -- for effect, I guess? :)

Months ago, I began taking Nathan's bath time to recite to him Psalm 51:10. Not long after, I began to sing Keith Green's song that he wrote from that passage, "Create in Me a Clean Heart." Following suit, and being a singer, I took his mealtime verse of Psalm 34:8 and put a tune to it myself. -- Below is a video of my version.

The other day, with all of this on my mind, I thought to myself, "I bet there are Scripture songs out there!" So I pulled up Google and searched for KJV Scripture Songs for Kids. What I found made my heart happy! After looking at various CDs out there, I ended up at iTunes and downloaded fourteen Scripture songs that will make it a lot easier to instill many verses into my son's little heart.

I downloaded songs from the ABC Memory Verse CD, and several songs from the Bible Songs for Kids collection. I am LOVING them! It is a lot easier for me to "soak" him in Jesus and flood his mind and his heart with God's Word through song. And it's easier for me to memorize Scripture more too! (I'm no easy sponge anymore!)

So if any of you mommies love singing around the house and also want to teach your children Scripture, I highly recommend using Scripture songs. Find some you love....or put a tune to verses yourself! Whatever method you choose, I just encourage you to saturate your kids.

This is my tune to Psalm 34:8. I have found that there are many versions out there,
so if you don't like mine, you can find another. :) Though Nathan always gives me a
tiny smile, he is still more interested in his food. However, I am sure that if I stay
consistent, he will have those verses rooted in his heart forever.

My "Love Dare" For You

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:28:00 +0000

Those of you who have seen the movie, Fireproof, may have recognized the title. In that movie, Caleb, on the brink of divorce, is given a "dare" by his father. The dare shows Caleb what marriage is and, ultimately, leads him to the Cross on the way.

Well today is Valentine's Day and, as I type this, I am watching the Tweets and the Facebook posts from people all over. They are posting about flowers, candy, date nights, love letters, their significant others...or their "woes" about being single on this "lover's holiday." As I blogged the other day, Valentine's Day has a pretty rotten origin. And as a Christian, sometimes it's not so simple to know exactly how you ought to respond. My husband and I talked about it again this morning. We don't want to be legalistic but we do want to live righteously. With that being said, I have my own little "Love Dare" for you today. Actually....I have two. :)

If you are single...

I dare you to draw nigh unto God...(James 4:8)

I dare you to trust in Him, with ALL your heart...(Proverbs 3:5)

I dare you to let Him show you how to love...(1 Corinthians 13:4-8; John 13:5)

I dare you to see HOW MUCH in love He is with you!....(Jeremiah 31:3; Hosea 2:19-20; Romans 8:38-39)

I dare you to walk in wisdom, in love, and in purity....(Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:2; Matthew 5:8)

I dare you to let Him lead you in everything...(Proverbs 3:6)

If you are married...

I dare you to love each other as Christ loves you...(1 John 4:7)

I dare you to put one another above yourself....(Philippians 2:3)

I dare you (wives) to be your husband's help meet....(Genesis 2:18, Titus 2:3-5, Proverbs 31:10-30)

I dare you (husbands) to be your wife's protector and leader...(Ephesians 5:23-29)

I dare you to be kind, patient, and servant hearted with one another...(Galatians 5:13; Galatians 5:22-25)

I dare you to let God build your life, your marriage, and your family...(Psalm 127:1-5)


On this "day for lovers," I challenge you to fall more in love with our Lord and Savior. Because if HE is the all-complete lover of our souls, then all else will fall into place and into perspective.

Ten Months Old

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

When Nathan woke up this morning, I picked him up out of his bed and sat him on our bed next to Grant. I went and made him a bottle and, when I handed it to him, I watched him as he took it and, while sitting up like such a big boy, he began to drink. I sat there staring at him thinking, "He is so grown....he's doing this all by himself while sitting up.....he looks like a big boy now....my boy is ten months old." Good golly....

Well, here is the latest. :)

He still has two teeth. More are on the way, but I must say that those two teeth are SO stinkin' cute.
He has always been a smiler, but now he has this WAY cute smile where he wrinkles his nose. *melt momma's heart*
He has this thing where he will deliberately take something and drop it (or throw it), then look at you and say, "Uh oh." It's funny.....and cute....and annoying when he won't stop throwing or dropping stuff.
When I say, "hey," I have a certain flow in my tone when I say it. I am noticing that Nathan will sometimes make the same sound and I am positive he is saying, "heeeey." :) The same goes with "thank you." Sometimes when I hand him something, he says, "ga-ga." It sounds like "thank you".....kinda. --- I know my kid and I believe that's what he is saying, so there! :-p
He says, "Dadda" and he CAN say "Momma"....but he won't say "Momma" unless he's upset. *sigh*
Saturday (February 11), we were doing a concert. A sweet lady was holding Nathan in the crowd and, near the end when he saw us, he gave us this BIG grin. Then he saw his Daddy and wrinkled his nose and said, "Dadda!" Then...he wouldn't hush. He wanted to tell everyone how excited he was to see us. Without knowing it, Grant and I both put our fingers to our lips and mouthed, "Shhh." Suddenly, Nathan, puckered up and blinked his eyes, and pouted. ARE YOU SERIOUS?? He definitely knows how to utilize his cute factor. *shakes head*
If he's in the mood (yes, I have a stubborn kid), you can say, "Kisses!" and he will give you a good 'ole smack. Way cute. Although when he is hurting from teething, he may take the kissing opportunity to bite....which is something we are teaching him not to do.
He is clapping and it....is....PRECIOUS!!!! I love it.
He loves avocados, yogurt, green beans and pinto beans, some peas, and such. BUT his two, all-time favorite things to eat is scrambled eggs and Gerber's Cheetos. That kid can put them away! Fast.
He is a climber. 'Nuff said.

CHEESE!

He sleeps so weird.

KISSES!

Trying to catch Daddy's tongue. lol

My big boy, playing.

trying the yummy stick

EGGS! lol

Pouting. *rolls eyes*

Playing in his room :)

I'm TEN months old!

Valentine's Day Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

I am a wife. I am my husband's sweetheart....and he is mine. :)

But I am also a Christian. And as such, I should be known by my discernment and should be asking questions regarding everything that comes into (or out of) my life and my home. Having said that, it brings me to next weeks' holiday. Valentine’s Day.

What IS Valentine's Day, anyway? It is so easy to fall into step with the rest of mankind and follow their customs and traditions without ever pausing a moment and asking ourself, "Why AM I doing these things?" It's so easy! So because I want to be intelligent and "in the know" about everything I participate in, I did some studying. And below is what I have discovered. I hope, just as they answered my questions, I pray they can answer the questions you may have -- and, indeed, I hope you DO ask questions about the customs you practice as well.

* What is the origin of Valentine's Day? Like most holidays, Valentine's Day goes WAY back. In the days of the Roman Empire, the month of February was the last and shortest month of the year. February originally had 30 days, but when Julius Caesar named the month of July after himself, he decided to make that month longer and shortened February to 29 days while making July a month of 31 days. Later, when Octavius Caesar (also known as Augustus) came to power, he named the month of August after himself and, not be outdone, he also subtracted a day from February and gave the month of August 31 days. We can see that it's still that way today. The ancient Romans believed that every month had a spirit that gained in strength and reached its peak of power in the middle of the month. This was usually the 15th day, and it was a day when witches and soothsayers worked their magic. Since February had been robbed by the Caesars and had only 28 days, it became a very important pagan holiday in the Empire of Rome. The sacred day of February 14th was called "Lupercalia" and on that day, they worshipped the goddess Juno, Queen of the Roman gods and goddesses and known as the goddess of love and fertility. On February 15, the Romans celebrated Luperaclia, honoring Faunus, their god of fertility. Men would go to a grotto and would sacrifice a goat, don its skin, and run around, hitting women with small whips....an act which was supposed to ensure their fertility.

Then the Catholic church stepped in and, as is their custom, "Christianized" the holiday. Today, the Catholic church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. And, oddly enough, they are recognized on February 14. In an effort to conform, compromise, and put a "Christian" stamp of approval on the pagan Lupercalia festival, they glazed over the celebration of lust and fertility and chose to celebrate on that day as well, using the excuse of their martyrs. Make no mistake. It was done intentionally.

Where did Cupid come from? The little baby in a diaper that shoots people with arrows, dipped in a love potion, and makes them fall in love. Sounds like made-up, harmless fun. But it isn't. In Roman mythology, Cupid is a Roman god of passionate love. He is the son of Venus who is the goddess of love and beauty. Again, it is no mistake that he is a primary symbol that dons our Valentine's Day cards and candy.

What is the origin of Valentine cards? I remember, as a little girl, exchanging Valentine's Day cards with friends. We would count them up and, hopefully, have more than everyone else. I remember receiving plenty of "be mine" notes. But....where did that custom come from? Now I know. Remember the above, when on February 15, men would go to a grotto, sacrifice a goat, wear its skin and whip women to ensure their fertility? Well AFTER that, the young women would gather in the city and their names were put into boxes. This was called a "lottery" and these “love notes” were called “billets.” The men of Rome would draw a billet, and the woman whose name was on it became his sexual partner with whom he would play erotic games and fornicate until the next "Lupercalia"....or February 14th. And it was all done in honor of Juno, the goddess of "love"....though "lust" is more what it looks like.

Sadly, THAT is the origin of the, seemingly harmless, "Be my Valentine" tradition.

Obviously, it wasn't about fidelity and true, agape love that 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of. It wasn't even about marriage. The whole thing was to honor pagan gods of fertility and the "love" of the flesh. February 14th - and 15th - became a time of unbridled sexual lust.

So there is some information concerning Valentine's Day and its origins and traditions. I pray that you will take this information and pray and ask the Lord how you should respond. Then obey.

Household Management Notebook -- updated!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:48:00 +0000

Yesterday I spent about two hours or more working on my household notebook. Before, I had Nathan's schedule, natural remedies, Bible verse memorization and things like that. Yesterday, I told myself, "This HAS to be more organized and added to. Pronto!" So I worked hard and I am so happy with the results. Here is a peek at what I have:

When I first open the binder, I have our calendar on the left, inside the
pocket pouch. On the right, I have my daily/weekly/monthly schedule.

The next page is all about perspective. On the left, I have a print out
from Confessions of a Homeschooler that I love, called "Super Mom vs. Abiding Mom."
This is a great encouragement to me, as a mommy, to have the right
perspective going about my day. On the right is what I call my "saturate" chart
with the verses of Scripture I am working to recite to Nathan at various parts of the day.

After that, I have Nathan's info sheet and our daily routine that we some-what try
to stick to. It's just our general guideline. Routine is goooooood.

Below is my edited, fit-for-blogging version, but the real one has
his picture, his SSN, his place of birth, insurance info, etc. But, as you can see,

it also has his current favorites, routine, likes and dislikes, etc.

Next. On the left, I have a handy freezer "cheat sheet" that reminds me
what lasts in the freezer for certain lengths of time. On the right, you can see a few of my
coupons. I noticed that I kept forgetting them when I went out, then they would expire.

SO, my new method is to have the ones that will be expiring within one month IN my purse.
The rest are kept in this pocket. :)

Then comes "the family area." I have a page of phone numbers.
One side has all of our family's home and cell numbers. The other side
has my doctor, the family doctor, Nathan's pediatrician, and emergency numbers.
And at the bottom are a few extra numbers we use from time to time.
After that section comes our bill info, last month's income, our home info,
all of our car info (make, model, year, etc.), and then all of our account

numbers for....everything. lol. :) That way, it's all in one place for me to grab and look up.

Then I have our "address" area. On the left is a print-out of addresses, stapled
together and slid inside the page protector. The ones highlighted are the ones
we use often. Then on the right is an area where I can write down new addresses to be added
to the master list later.

Next is our lists of birthdays. We both have big families, so it took me quite a
while, but I have two calendar-lists of birthdays. One list is of all the birthdays
and anniversaries in our family. The next list is of the birthdays and anniversaries
of our friends that we need/want to remember. :)

Next are my lists. Grocery list. Household needs list.
Nathan's needs list. And my "To Do" list.

Then the last section is for natural remedies, natural cleaning
supplies, anti-inflammatory foods, and a list of the best (aka - healthiest)
foods to ingest in our body vs. the worst possible foods you can eat.

And there you go! This is, by far, the best (and most useful!) my household notebook has ever been! This website has lots of free printables you can use, should you find yourself in need of a household management notebook yourself. :)

What's On My Bookshelf? - 02/06/12

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:50:00 +0000

I haven't blogged about what I have been reading in quite a while, so here is my latest "book love" info!

I read this book a few months back and I highly recommend it for wives and/or mothers. Ephesians 5:22-33, Titus 2 – 3, and Proverbs 31 are the main passages of Scripture that this book uses in presenting us with a beautiful picture of Godly womanhood. I was greatly impacted and will be re-reading this book again soon. It is a great read but, because of her chapter on marriage and purity within marriage, I highly suggest that ONLY married women read. Those who are unmarried should wait in order to keep their hearts and minds pure. Just trust me on that. :)

I love hymns. I always have. So one of my favorite gifts I got for Christmas were these two books. They contain some of the best hymns of all time....and the stories behind them! BLISS. What I have read so far has blessed my heart and has made me fall in love with some of my favorite hymns all over again. Some hymns that I never thought much of before, have suddenly meant something to my life now that I know the happenings behind the music. I definitely recommend these two books...and I just found book #3! Good thing my birthday is coming up! :)

I got this book for Christmas and I am LOVING it!! Every mother needs to read this, in my opinion. The subtitle of this book is: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children and that is my heart's desire as a mother. I don't want to be simply a GOOD example in reaching the heart of my child(ren). I want to follow CHRIST'S example. I really admire Sally Clarkson and her way of discipling her children. Being in the ministry my whole life, this book opened a new area of motherhood for me and I have been powerfully challenged! Two thumbs up. :)

I purchased this book for myself right after Christmas and it is a wonderful collection of poems, quotes, and essays, on true, Biblical womanhood. This book is solid and very well put together. The feminists and humanists hate the notion of being "enslaved" to homemaking, but God holds the position of keeper of the home as a high calling and we should be honored to have that responsibility. This book is an encouraging read that echoes Scripture AND gives a beautiful picture of being a "queen" of the home.

What's on YOUR bookshelf?

That's What Grace Can Do

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:53:00 +0000

I used to think I didn't have a testimony.

I know it sounds strange, but I really did used to believe that my testimony wasn't a "real" one. You know what I mean...the "real" ones are epic and dramatic, right? I used to sit in awe as great men and women would stand up and tell about all the things that they had been delivered from through the grace of God.

I was in prison for 15 years for killing someone....

I would smoke anything you would set on fire....

I was a hit man....

I had sold my soul to alcohol....

I was a prostitute and ran a topless bar.....

I would sit and listen and think, "Wow. What a great testimony! I wish I had one like that...." Little did I know that my thinking was very much off.

I was raised in Church. I was born into a Christian home, with Christian parents, around Christian people. I was taught the Bible from day one. I literally grew up in buses, in Churches, and in the homes of preachers and pastors and Church people. I constantly heard preaching about Jesus, singing about Jesus, stories about Jesus, and testimonies about what Jesus had done. As I often joke, I was born on a pew. When I was five years old, I asked Jesus to come into my heart. I spent my life trying to make choices based upon solid, Biblical principles, doing my best to allow the Lord to, daily, transform me and make me peculiar and set-apart. I never tasted alcohol. I never tried any drugs. To this day, I've never held a cigarette. I never fooled around with guys. I never even kissed anyone until I kissed Grant on our wedding day. I never cussed and used foul language. I didn't tell crude or sick jokes. I never snuck out of my house. I never watched an R-rated movie! I was a good girl!.....by the world's standards anyway.

Though I had never noticed it before, I realized one day that I had allowed quite a chunk of pride to take up residence in my life. Though I could quote "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10), I didn't truly feel the impact of that truth until I met my husband.

Grant grew up on the other side of the tracks. He was raised in an environment of divorce, alcohol, and drugs. He had seen the inside of a jail cell. He was well acquainted with the atmosphere that drinking would produce. He knew the Church routine but, instead of seeing sold-out people abandoned to Christ, he saw hypocritical Christians who would walk into Church, Bible in tow, but could be found on the bar stool beside him that next Friday night. He saw first-hand what I had only heard about growing up.

When we met, I did not know about his past, but neither did I entertain the thought that we would ever be together. I had assumed I would marry someone just like me..... A guy with a family on the road, homeschooled, a singer, a past that held no bad baggage. But the Lord's ways are always higher than ours. I remember a certain night in October of 2008. Grant and I had become very good friends over the summer. We had spent a lot of time together witnessing with our group. We were both attracted to one another and, though I wouldn't admit it at the time, I was falling for him. Hard. On this particular night in October, Grant had asked me if I would consider pursuing a relationship with him. He had spoken with my Dad and I had told him that I needed to think and pray about it. On this night, we were talking and Grant began to tell me a bit about his past and how he had grown up. Though I had heard a few bits and pieces, it was the first time I heard his whole story. And my pride quickly rose up. As he was confiding in me his "dirty laundry," I found myself thinking, "Oh no....no, God. I CAN'T. No way. There is no way I can EVER be with him now. I mean, I praise God for his salvation and deliverance from sin, but that most certainly does not mean I should have to live with it. No. The guy I marry is going to have a clean past... like me."

Immediately, God placed a firm hand over my spirit's mouth. Even though I hadn't spoken those words out loud, they were said very loud and clear in God's ears. And like a swift, spiritual spanking, the Lord reprimanded me and I felt Him say, "Kristen! What makes you think that you are any better? YOUR sin is just as sickening in My sight."

To say I felt ashamed that my thinking had been so prideful is an understatement. And I began to cry as Grant finished his story. I felt sorrow for everything he had had to see and experience. I felt broken for him. But more than that, I felt utterly disgusted with my own sin - the biggest of which I found was my arrogance and pride. As he ended his testimony, he said, "Kristen, I'm sorry and I hope you can forgive me of everything I did that was ungodly."

Suddenly I became aware of what grace really was. For the first time, I was put in a position I had never been in before. I began to think of Jesus and how He looked upon all my sin - all the wretched, foul, and despicable thoughts, desires, actions, and attitudes - and chose to forgive and accept me in spite of it all. He gave me a full pardon. He wiped my slate clean. And here was this man asking ME to forgive him??? With LOTS of tears, I said to my husband-to-be, "If God forgives you....then who am I to refuse to forgive you too??"

That night was a pivotal moment in my life when I suddenly understood grace like I never had before.

Far too many take grace for granted. Far too many do ungodly things in the name of grace. Many choose to lovingly welcome and justify sin and call it grace. Many view grace as the acceptance, without rebuke, of everything that is unholy.

But let me tell you what grace really is.

Grace is the God of all that is just and righteous looking down on a pathetic, despicable, broken sinner and, showing mercy and love, chooses to forgive and cleanse and restore that sinner. Grace is God clothing that sinner in the blood of His Son and sitting them down at His right hand. And grace is that sinner, with thankfulness and praise and humility, showcasing that incredible event to others.

Grace is my husband seeing all my of all my flaws and imperfections and yet remain faithful.

Grace is my husband forgiving my emotional outbursts of hatefulness and disrespect.

Grace is my husband knowing my sins and struggles - past and present - and choosing to love me in spite of them.

....and grace is me doing the same.

Don't frustrate the grace of God. Don't make excuses for sin in the name of grace. If we do that, we miss all that grace TRULY is!

If we - as that broken and shameful sinner - humble ourselves in the sight of God and one another, we will be raised up. We will be healed. We will be strong. We will see the glory of redemption. We will be filled with joy. We will have a bigger impact upon those still in Satan's clutches. And we will have a better understanding of all that was done at Calvary.

That's what grace can do.

Grace! Grace! God's grace!
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
Grace! Grace! God's grace!
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

A Little Room Revamping

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:59:00 +0000

So yesterday, I attacked two rooms in my house. Nathan's room. And the guest bathroom.

The stuff I did in Nathan's room wasn't THAT noticeable but it was huge to me. It was mainly his changing table area. It was growing cRaZy-cluttered and there were a few things within his reach that would have thrown me into "freak-out-mode" if he had gotten ahold of it. Though he doesn't usually play in his room (he keeps to the living room or wherever I am at) I wanted his room to be, well, HIS room! I wanted it to be safe for him. So, I covered the plug-ins in the wall. I moved his swing to the other side of the room (That is, until it gets stored in the garage. Waiting on the hubs for that). And then I reorganized his changing table area.

I moved all his burp cloths and bibs into a drawer in his dresser. I removed all the pins and q-tips and such from his reach and put them in a basket under the sink in the bathroom. Then I rearranged and organized his diapers and wipes. I'm pleased. Here are the pics:

Before:

After:

much better

Where his swing was, I made into a little play area.

P.S. That little piano was mine as a baby. :)

His dresser area

THEN I did something I've been wanting to do for MONTHS. When Grant and I married, we had painted the guest bathroom a dark grey/charcoal color. We were given a light purple shower curtain, so we just made everything light purple. It was pretty but, not something I absolutely loved. So I have spent the last two months debating on what to do. Should I paint the bathroom? Should I just change the decor? And then I tried to think of a way to make it kid-friendly and neutral for both boys and girls, AND have it "grown up" enough for our guests. The bathroom is right across the hall from Nathan's room, so I wanted it semi-fun and bright for him. But it's also the bathroom that friends and family use, so I didn't want it screaming "KID DOMAIN" either. I wanted to be frugal and wise and practical. So yesterday, after two months of thinking, I went to Wal-Mart and started browsing around. I was about to leave when a shower curtain caught my eye and I thought, "This would go well with the charcoal color of the wall. I wouldn't have to spend extra money on paint. AND it would compliment the general colors of our house, too." One savvy move, and $30 later - TA DA! I am very happy with how it turned out.

Before

After!

Nathan's toy bath basket

the sink area

A little here, a little there, and the whole look of the room is different. I love it. <---- happy mom.

The Proverbs 31 Quest || pt 6

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:19:00 +0000

Proverbs 31:15
"She rises also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maids."

Today, I cleaned the kitchen, I finished the laundry, I cleaned out our guest room, I cleaned the study (finally!), I cleaned our bedroom and bathroom, I dusted, I swept, I mopped, and I vacuumed! Nathan was through with his bottle and his breakfast by 8 a.m. I have beans boiling on the stove and jello in the fridge. My emails are caught up and I have everything ready for dinner tonight - all before noon! Can we say, productive?! I feel like grabbing pom-poms and cheering, "Two-four-six-eight! Who do we appreciate? THIS GIRL! THIS WIFE! THIS MOM!"

----thank you for letting me pat myself on the back today----

Though I enjoy getting up early and accomplishing a lot, I have to make one thing crystal clear: I am not, nor have I ever been, a morning person. Or, let me rephrase... I am not a HAPPY morning person. Don't get me wrong, I'm no grouch, but I'm also not one to pop up at daybreak, throw back the curtains, and sing "GOOD MORNING, world!!" with a big smile on my face.

It's just not me...

If I have to get up early, I prefer to get up and get ready for the day quietly. I don't usually want to talk. I don't want to hear loud banging or what-not. Each morning, I think to myself, "Ugh...I'd rather not have to get up at ALL....ever." But I have been convicted in this area of my life, and here's why:

"She rises also while it is yet night and giveth meat to her household...."

In the last posts, we learned that Miss 31 works willingly with her hands and goes to great lengths to prepare healthy meals to feed her family. In this verse, we see that Miss 31 wakes before the first streaks of sunshine light the sky. She doesn't get out of bed at daybreak, she gets out of bed BEFORE daybreak.

Oh no...

For me, this is a big task. It takes a lot for me to wake up at 6:30 a.m. Somedays, it's all I can do to climb out of bed at 7:30! But Miss 31 has a job to do. She has a goal in mind. She has a To-Do list and she wants it done! One thing I have learned in getting up earlier and earlier is that I usually have more free time in the afternoon. The household chores are complete and I can settle on the couch and read a book, or play with Nathan, or tell him a story, or watch a movie, or write letters....or blog. :) I love that. But the thought of getting up before daybreak is still difficult for me to swallow....and I know why that is. Galatians 5:17 tells us that our flesh is at war with our spirit. They are against one another and that makes it hard to do the things that we should....like getting up early, for example. But I should not succumb to laziness. I should make it my priority and my privilege to willingly and joyfully greet the morning, and eagerly rise early - long before my family - and prepare for the day.

Now, one portion of this verse had me puzzled:

"...and a portion to her maids."

So, Miss 31 gets up early before daybreak. Got it. But what's this about her maids? I don't have a maid! Boy, wouldn't that be nice... I brought this verse to my husband and, after presenting my case that I need a maid in order to be like Miss 31 (fail), he gave me a new take on this phrase. He said, "I think this part tells us that she cares for everyone, not just her own family. She treats her help as family."

Mmmm.... so she's kind to her help. She's giving and servant-hearted to her guests. Wow.

As my little boy grows, I need to have a couple of hours under my belt before he wakes. I need to have breakfast prepared for my family and my child(ren). I need to have our home presentable. I need to utilize the hours God has given to us in the day to accomplish as much as I can because, let's face it, a woman's work is never done! We have our house to clean and maintain; we have laundry that must be washed, dried, ironed/folded; we have children to care for, disciple and teach; we have a family to nurture and feed; and we have our own personal goals and needs as well (such as studying and exercising). WE NEED every precious hour we can get!

As our quest for Proverbs 31-ability continues, keep ME in your prayers, for this is an area I want to cultivate in my life. I want to rise early and be a productive "Miss 31" myself. :)

Proverbs 31:15
"She rises also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maids."

Monday Meanderings - 01/30/2012

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:49:00 +0000

My sister is doing so much better! Praise the Lord! As it happened, her fall last week had nothing to do with this problem. Turns out, she has an infection in her hip in the back side, close to the tailbone in the joint. After many, many, many tests, blood work, X-rays, an MRI, and lots of sleepless nights, my parents were told that she will NOT have to have surgery to remove the infection (praise the Lord!!) which also means there is no culture to know what type of bacteria we are fighting. The course of action will be to treat this with antibiotics, then check her blood levels. If her levels improve, then they chose the right antibiotic. If not, then they will try another one. What has been going on in the last three/four days has been a literal "God thing!" Before the doctors did the MRI, they were convinced that they would know exactly what the problem was and how to fix it, etc. etc. etc. Nearly 24 hours later, my Dad was getting antsy, wondering WHEN they would know something. Finally a doctor came and told them that Noel's case had them all baffled. Children's Hospital doctors baffled?? Hmmm.... My Dad told me that he got a peace right then. God was doing something! From what the doctors could tell, the infection was not where it would normally be. They diagnosed her with some long name that NOBODY can pronounce or remember, but it is a type of infection that isn't common, but also isn't uncommon in children. The doctors began IV antibiotics and told my parents that she would be there at Children's anywhere from two to six weeks. Saturday night, however, she somehow rolled onto her stomach in her sleep - something she absolutely had NOT been able to do. Yesterday the doctors said that since she obviously felt better and her levels were dropping fast, they were going to go ahead and switch to oral antibiotics and see how she does. So they did that around 10 p.m. last night. If she handles it well, she will come home today or tomorrow. That is a HUGE improvement from less than 48 hours earlier when they were certain she would be there at least two weeks! :) Thank you all for your prayers. Keep praying!

Well, today is Monday and I have been working around the house. I cleaned Nathan's room and organized some areas that were, in my opinion, areas that I would FREAK OUT if Nathan got anywhere near. I covered all the plug-in sockets in the wall in his room. I reorganized his changing table area (it was horrendous). I bought a little toy basket for his toys and I moved his swing to the other side of the room (which will, sadly, have to be taken down and stored in the garage once my husband can help). I'm washing all the weekend laundry and constantly picking up after Nathan. :) Life is sweet!

Now, on to the meandering....

Bible Study... the Gospel of John

Memory Verse... John 1:14
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Husband Encouragement...
♥ Iron his shirts.
♥ Do all I can around the house so he will have less to do when he gets home.
♥ Pray for him.

Train Them Up...
* Focus on discipline (he is getting to be a bit rebellious)
* Play with him
* Teach him, love him, pray for/with him
* Read to him more

Personal Goals...
* Spend quality time with Jesus each morning. Wake up to Him, first and foremost.
* Stay dedicated to diet and exercise
* Make time for myself. Sit down for 10 minutes a day with a book.
* Clean out closets and problem areas in the house.

New Habit of the Month...
* Cultivate joy

MUST Do...
* ~~Work in Nathan's room~~* Go to post office
* Get gas in car
* Stop by Wal-Mart to pick up a small basket for bathroom

Zone... the study

Menu
M - Lasagna at Mrs. Janet's house
T - Salad and roasted mushrooms and broccoli
W - Salad and sauted' green beans
Th - Salmon Bell Peppers
F - Chicken Fajita Salad
S - TBD
Su - TBD

FUN THINGS!
* Celebrating my brother-in-law's birthday tonight
* Organizing and cleaning (yeah, I know...)
* Playing with my boy

3 things I'm thankful for today...
1. The Lord's healing Hand!
2. Family!
3. Water!

Time for a Pop Quiz!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:47:00 +0000

I was homeschooled but I still had my fair share of tests. I always hated taking a test. My hands would get clammy, my throat would tighten, and I KNOW my blood pressure would spike. I hated it. I still do. But even more horrific was when my Mom would surprise me with those two dreaded words - pop quiz!

oh no...not today!!

PANIC.

Though now I am years out of school, yesterday I felt that same panicky-pop-quiz-feeling. A few days ago, while in revival, my sisters were running and playing and my youngest sister tripped and fell. Like all kids do, she said "Ow!" and got up and continued to play. The following day, however, she began to complain about her left leg hurting. She started having pain when she walked. Then she started crying when she had to move her leg. Yesterday, my parents brought her to the doctor. After lab work, tests, and Xrays, he sent her to Children's Hospital.

NOBODY likes hearing that their little girl (or in my case, little sister) has to be sent to professionals because of some unknown problem. It is scary. It is heart wrenching. It is the panicky-pop-quiz-feeling, times ten. I was out running errands, grocery shopping, and taking Nathan to his nine-month check up when I got the call that my baby sister was headed to Children's. When I got off the phone, as I drove home, I tried to stay calm and swallow the lump in my throat. All the common "what if's" were going through my mind:

What if it's something really bad?

What if she has to have surgery?

What if it's a disease?

What if it's cancer?

What if God takes her home??

As he usually does, Satan will take any chance he can get to flood our minds with the worse possible scenarios. He WANTS us to live in fear. He WANTS us to be in tormented while facing the unknown. He wants us to be kept down. And as I'm sure he did with my parents, he did a number on me.

I started praying and then, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I found myself doubting if God would even answer my prayers. But I love that no matter how many times I question the faithfulness of the Lord, and how many times I fail this test or that test, He continues to teach me that YES, He IS listening. YES, He is in control. YES, all things will work together for good.

By the time I got home, I had a peace. I asked the Lord to help me stay calm through this test. I asked Him to dry my clammy hands so I can hold on to the pencil. I asked Him to bring peace to my parents and my family. Through this "pop quiz" (and, indeed, it is a definite out-of-nowhere pop quiz), I want to have faith. In life, it is certain that we WILL be surprised with a sudden test that will challenge our faith. Sometimes, like the Lord did with Abraham, He simply wants to know if we are willing to obey Him. Sometimes, He wants to teach us more about Him and His sovereignty. Sometimes, He wants our attention. Sometimes, He wants to show us that He is truly all we need.

I don't want to fail those tests. I don't want be so afraid that I miss out on what He wants me to learn.

As of now, we still don't have any answers. My little sis had a long night, full of poking and prodding. IVs, Xrays, blood work, scans. She is scheduled to have an MRI done today. We have no idea what this afternoon holds....or what tomorrow holds....we don't know when another "pop quiz" will be pulled out and placed in front of us. BUT we do know that our Great Teacher has only the best in store. We know that He only wants to mature us, strengthen us, grow us up in the faith, and fill us with more knowledge of Himself.

Please be praying for my family. And I hope you will join me in praying that when God says, "It's time for another pop quiz," we will all say, in faith and with blind trust, "BRING IT!"

Psalm 9:9-10
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 91:2-6
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Isaiah 26:3-4
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

Cloth Diaper Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Okay, so I am nearly a month into 85% cloth diapering. I say 85% because when we go out, I still use disposable most of the time and Nathan wears a disposable to bed. But I am slowly on my way to becoming "cloth exclusive." So today I decided to share what I have bought and the products that I have come to love, thus far (there are so many!).

Nearly a month ago, I spent a grand total of $92.82 for cloth diapers and accessories. You may be thinking, "$92.82?? For diapers? That's quite expensive...." Well, it was a chunk of money that I didn't fully enjoy spending (I'm very frugal), but I am SO SO SO SO pleased with my purchases. AKA - it was money WELL spent! :) When you calculate the cost of disposable diapers vs. cloth, cloth diapers come out on top every time. :) Here is an awesome chart to better understand the amount of money you save when you use cloth diapers instead of disposable. Oh and for the record, I am NOT against disposable! I have several packages in my house. My reasons for using cloth are 1) because it's cheaper (and who doesn't love that?!), 2) because it's more natural and free of chemicals, and 3) because they are the ultimate in recycling. Here is a very interesting article with facts on cloth vs. disposable. Beware, some of it will make you go - EW!

So with all that said, moving on....

Having only one, very small diaper cover, I knew I needed to buy at least three more in the next size for Nathan. So after browsing around for what seemed like hours (....and it might have been), looking at the various functions and styles, I ended up getting one, Bummis Super Lite diaper cover, one Blueberry Coverall One Size, and two Imagine One Size diaper covers. I'm very practical, so of the four diaper covers I bought, three were solid-colored and could be used for a boy or a girl. But I did spend a few extra dollars on the fourth one because I just couldn't resist the oh-so-cute pattern....monkeys.

After purchasing the covers, I knew I needed more cloth diapers. I wanted to have enough to last two, maybe even three days should something prevent me from being able to wash every day. So I purchased two dozen Imagine Indian Prefold diapers. Love them. They are very soft and are thicker than the Wal-Mart brand cloth diapers and they look so much more comfortable. If I were a baby, I would much rather have them on my bottom than disposable. I am very glad that I purchased two dozen as well, as that makes it where I wash one load of cloth diapers - with covers - every other day. If I had to, and I haven't had to yet, I am sure I could make it every two days, but I don't like having soiled diapers in the pail for that amount of time. Ew....

To top it off, I bought one wet bag. There were - and are - so many to choose from, but I ended up getting the Bumpkins Zippered wet bag which I am VERY pleased with. I used it for the first time last weekend when I spent the night with my family while my husband was out hunting with friends and I am officially happy with it (I was nervous at first!). In fact, I will most likely be buying a bigger one in the future. The wet bag is for storing the soiled diapers (and clothes if need be). It is leak-proof and smell-proof (glory be!) and very easy to manage. I had it hooked to my diaper bag and never had a problem with it.

I have found it to be incredibly easy to use cloth diapers. There are many websites you can go to in order to buy various cloth diaper products, but MY personal favorite is NickisDiapers.com. Do your own research. You may find a place that better serves you, but I was incredibly impressed with Nicki's Diapers and will be using it more in the future. :)

So there's the cloth update! I'm loving it and....judging by the boy's face....I think he loves it too.

Beauty Crowns and Bloody Crowns

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:12:00 +0000

When I was a little girl, I remember various people telling my parents that they should put me and my sisters in local beauty pageants. Though I know those sweet people meant well, my parents always politely refused. They did not want to get caught up in the praise of physical beauty. They did not want me or my sisters to grow up believing that our value or sense of beauty is found in how many crowns we win or how many trophies that fill our shelves. Of course, that isn't to say that you will grow up believing that way should you chose to be in a pageant, but they wanted to steer clear of such functions to protect us from the temptation. I so treasure their teaching!

A few days ago, the 2012 Miss America Pageant came on TV. Having watched the pageant years ago, I decided to go back do some studying on the history of the pageant. Then I decided to sit down and observe. I was deeply burdened - though, sadly, not surprised - at how far the organization had "evolved" since 1921. The women competing for the crown each year are very lovely and very accomplished women in today's society. They are very smart; some aspiring to be doctors, lawyers, and teachers. They have wonderful platforms such as homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, diabetes awareness, and literacy that should be encouraged. But as I sat and carefully observed every contestant, I found myself wondering "Just what part of this pageant is about providing "personal and professional opportunities for young women" or promoting "their voices in culture, politics, and the community"? The Miss America website states that the program provides "a forum for today's young women to express their viewpoints, talents and accomplishments to audiences during the telecast and to the public-at-large during the ensuing year....The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance." While I believe that is wonderful, I do not see that "statement of belief" displayed on the TV. What I see is beautiful women showcasing their physical beauty, some doing so in a very provocative way.

Now, there is nothing wrong with beauty, or admiring beauty. Miss America, though, takes it a step further and, while I am not throwing stones at the organization as a whole, I have to rightly call out a grave flaw.

This blog post isn't about the world's fixation with external beauty. It isn't about how difficult it is for girls and women to see themselves as beautiful in today's society when they are smacked in the face with the Miss America's that are a representative of "today's woman." It isn't about how the very organization that promotes a woman's intellect places the interview score barely above talent, evening wear, and swimsuit.

This post isn't about how many preliminary pageants have been held on Baptist campuses. ---leaving that one alone for now---

And while I believe that no Christian woman of God should "strut their stuff" in fashionable underwear in front of dozens, hundreds, thousands, and nevertheless millions, this blog post isn't even about that. I have posted so much on modesty, that it is - and should be - VERY obvious how I feel about the swimsuit competition that is masked as "physical fitness." If you know me or have spent time browsing this blog, than it is very clear how I feel about both. So I will let past posts speak for themselves on those subjects for now. This post is about something else.

Crowns.

Fifty-three girls competed for Miss America's crown last Saturday; each of whom already own at least one other crown from their state's preliminary competition. Many others all over the world compete for the title crown of Miss World, Miss Universe, etc. I remember when I was a little girl, I wanted to be a princess. Golly, I'm 25 years old and I STILL want to be a princess! What girl doesn't want a crown? There is something so royal and dignified about wearing one. I'm sure each of those fifty-three girls - and all the other "Miss" winners in the past - thoroughly enjoyed wearing their crown. I know that if I had one, I would likely be wearing it while folding laundry or grocery shopping!

But there are other crowns....

There is a crown of rejoicing - (1 Thessalonians 2:19 - "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?")

There is a crown of righteousness - (2 Timothy 4:8 - "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.")

There is a crown of life - (James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.")

There is a crown of glory - (1 Peter 5:4 - "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.")

And then there is a crown that nobody would EVER want to wear. Yet, it was worn by our Savior. There is a crown of thorns that was once violently placed upon the Lord's head 2,000 years ago. Though He was King of all, that crown was put upon Him as a cruel mockery. His royalty was laughed to scorn. His crown was not one of shimmering gold, but of painful thorns that dug into His head and caused blood to pour down His face.

I am guilty of desiring a pretty crown of jewels over my Lord's crown.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 tells us that so many in this life are running the race for their own praise. They are going about their Christian life trying to attain physical crowns; be it beauty crowns, crowns of prominence, crowns of prestige, crowns of popularity, crowns of wealth, or the like. But we should run the race for the incorruptible crowns, because, at the end, all the crowns go to at the feet of Christ. He does not need the crowns of wealth, or fame, or prominence. He is GOD! He does not need beauty crowns either. What He needs are the bloody crowns - the crowns we have won through tears and sweat and blood; crowns we have attained in working for Him, serving our fellow man, loving much, giving all, and proclaiming to the world that He is the Savior. Those crowns may not be made of gold and gems and they aren't placed on our head before we walk forward and wave to millions. Once God Himself places them on our head, we will immediately take them and cast them down at His feet as we give glory to Him because in light of the REAL significance to life, crowns mean nothing.

Revelation 4:10-11
"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Gullabagoo

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Today, I have been thinking back to my childhood. And I am willing to bet that many of you grown girls will relate to this post.

Next month, I will be 26 years old. I am married. I have a little boy. I am grown.

...but sometimes I still feel like a little girl.

When I'm hurt, I cry.

When I'm upset, I sometimes throw a fit.

When I want something, I often don't have much patience to wait for it.

....you'd think I'd be more mature by now.

Sometimes I wear my feelings on my sleeve. Sometimes I just want to go run through a field or play on a swing set. Sometimes I want to go grab up my favorite teddy bear. Sometimes I want to lay my head on my Mom's lap. Sometimes I want to curl up and listen to a story from my Dad.

Which brings me to right now.

Growing up, my Dad told THE BEST stories. If you are an avid Andy Griffith-watcher (like me!), then you can remember the many times Andy Taylor would tell his son, Opie, the perfect thing in the perfect way. When Opie struggled with history, Andy made it interesting. My Dad has always reminded me of him! The coolest thing is when he would make up his own stories. Since I am remembering my childhood (and missing it in a way), I thought I would share with you one of the first stories my Dad ever told me as a little girl. It became a regular tale and, in 2006, Dad wrote it down and made it into a little booklet for me! Today, I pulled it out and read over it again and, I have to say, I got teary-eyed. So for all you women who sometimes feel like a little girl and for all you mommies who may want to tell this story to YOUR children, I thought I would share it...in my Dad's words. :)

It was a stormy night in Arkansas and a little girl named Kristen Elizabeth was awakened by the storm. There was lots of wind blowing, lightning flashing, thunder roaring and rain falling down hard to the ground. The water was rising fast towards Kristen's house. During the storm, Kristen began to cry and then she started to pray, "Dear Jesus, please help me tonight in this storm. Lord please stop the loud thunder. And, Lord, please stop the bright lightning and the strong wind from blowing hard. And Lord, stop the flood waters from getting into my house. Help me, Lord Jesus, not to cry or be afraid. Amen."

Well, way up in Heaven, the Lord called all of His special angels to His throne and said, "I've got a special job for a special angel to go help calm the heart of Kristen, one of my little children, who is scared tonight." Then the Lord said, "Which one of you angels would like to volunteer for the job?"

Just about that time, a little angel shouted for joy, and said, "Lord Jesus...please let me go and help Kristen. I don't want her to be afraid of anything, please Lord, let me go! Pleeeeeeeease!"

I never knew the name of that special angel, so I'll just call him "Gullabagoo."

Then the Lord said to that little angel, "You're just the one I was thinking of for this job!" The Lord said, "Gullabagoo, you will go and help Kristen and I will tell you what you must do."

Gullabagoo was so happy to be chosen, and he smiled and grinned from ear to ear and said, "Thank you, Lord." Then he was off and on his way to help Kristen.

When Gullabagoo saw the horrible storm, and heart Kristen crying and praying, it broke his little heart. Gullabagoo saw the lightning flashing and streaking across the sky. He saw the rain falling hard and fast to the ground. He heard the wind blowing and howling through the trees, and he heard the loud thunder roaring and banging on the clouds.

And then, Gullabagoo saw that old mean devil trying to scare the children. So Gullabagoo spoke and said, "In Jesus' Name: RAIN...you stop that right now!" And all of the sudden the rain stopped, and the flood waters began to go down.

"Lightning...stop flashing right this minute!" And as quick as a flash all the lightning just stopped.

"Thunder...you are way too loud tonight, so you just hush right now!" And all the loud thunder just stopped.

"Okay Wind...you quit blowing so hard against Kristen's house!" And all at once the wind stopped.

Gullabagoo then turned to that old mean devil and said, "The Lord Jesus sent me to tell you to get outta here right now, and leave Kristen alone!!"

Well, that old devil started running through the briar patches, and through the bushes, through the swamps, through places that even a rabbit couldn't go! He ran and he ran. He ran so fast that even the hounds couldn't catch him!

Well, Kristen began to smile, and said, "Thank you, Lord." Then she laid her head on her pillow, and softly went to sleep.

So when the storms come in your life,
and you don't know what to do,
just call on the Lord
and He will help you.

He may send an angel,
who will know what to do.
And who knows? His name just might
be Gullabagoo!

Thanks, Dad! :)

Shutterfly Photo Books

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Yesterday, I received a lovely little "gift" in my email inbox. What was it? $20 from Shutterfly! To be used on any Shutterfly project. Eeeeeeeeeee!! Can you tell I like Shutterfly? :)

Back before Christmas, I attempted to make my first "photo book" and I did it for my Mom. With the sneaky help of my sisters, I collected various pictures of us growing up, threw in some of my favorite quotes on motherhood, and created a book of memories for my Mom for Christmas and....she.....LOVED.... it. Actually, when it finally arrived in the mail, I was tempted to just keep it for myself. hehe. While I was busy putting it together, I began making a few for myself and Grant, but I hadn't ordered any....until yesterday. Thank you, again, Shutterfly!

Below are my projects thus far. To be honest, if your friend or loved one simply LOVES pictures, this is THE gift to give. :)

The cover of my Mom's photo book

the first page

one of my favorite "sister" pages...

I also made individual pages for each of us.
This is Noel's page

Jamie's page

Brooklyn's page

Mercy's page

Melody's page

Melody's graduation and my first page

My page

The rest of the book were various Christmases, snow fun, birthdays, and random craziness throughout the years. I loved it and my Mom REALLY LOVED it.

For myself, I decided to go back and collect pictures and various journal entries and blog posts and make a photo book documenting my pregnancy with Nathan. This is what I ordered yesterday. (Excuse the "warning" icons. They were being annoying and difficult. :p)

The cover of my pregnancy photo book

The first page

"bump" pictures :)

I CANNOT WAIT until this book is in my hands. I am SO excited!! I will definitely be making one of these for every child I have if the Lord chooses to bless us with more one day. I am already beginning to put one together documenting Nathan's first year, month by month. SO FUN! :) I would love to have a collection of each year for him, documenting his firsts, his adventures, his likes and dislikes, and how he grows. What a treasure that will be!

I currently have two left to finish and order. One is from our wedding. On that one, I added pictures from the photographer, along with various photos that friends and family took on our wedding day. To make it different than just a photo album (which I already have) I also included our wedding invitation, our wedding program, the lyrics to the songs sang during the ceremony, our vows, and various other things that meant a lot to us on that day. I'm excited about ordering it soon. ;) Here is a tiny preview:

*sigh* Happy day.... :)

The last project is a photo book that isn't quite ready to be ordered. I still have some work to do on it, but it WILL eventually be Grant's and my story. I'm going to tell the story - in his words and mine, which we wrote down before we married - and compliment it with pictures leading up to our wedding day. If I can ever get it completed, it will be wonderful. :) When it is finally ready, I will post about it. Until then, go find some pictures, create a Shutterfly account, and have fun!!

Nine Months Old

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:36:00 +0000

I am so proud of my little guy. :) Nine months old! Wooo! Time sure is flying and he sure is growing. The last month was a month of major changes, so....here is the latest!

On Christmas Eve, he began crawling. What a great Christmas present! :) We were beginning to wonder if he would EVER crawl! But now, he is most definitely not inch-worming anymore, but is officially crawling....everywhere. :)
A few days after Christmas, he pulled up for the first time. Now, you can't keep him on the ground for long. He crawls to the coffee table, then pops up. He crawls to the couch, and pulls himself up to say "blah-da-da-tha-blah-da." He crawls to the TV and pulls himself up so he can take everything off the shelf. :-o Uh oh....
He loves to eat. He loves the Gerber "crawling snacks" and loves apple juice and water too. As for "big people food," he loves avocados, black-eyed peas, purple hull peas, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, sweet tea (though I'M not the one giving him that), ice cream (uh oh) and just about everything else that is put in his mouth. He isn't fond of carrots or asparagus, but I force-feed them to him anyway. He has tried scrambled eggs and green beans, but can't seem to make up his mind if he likes them or not. :)
On January 5, I felt his first tooth pop through. Then on January 11, the SECOND tooth came through. Ahhh!!!! C.U.T.E.
A few days ago, I was trying to get him to say "Momma" but all he would say is "Da-da." Then I whispered - in desperation - "Nathan, say Momma!" And he WHISPERED "Da-da." LOL. Crazy nut.
Okay, so he knows what the word, "No" means. You can say "No!" and he will either 1) pucker up and give you puppydog eyes, 2) begin crying like he just lost everything he loves, or 3) look disappointed and crawl off. When he's being mischievous and gives me those big, sad, pleading eyes, it is HARD not to crumble into hysterical laughter. He knows how to take full advantage of his cuteness. I have a feeling he is going to be QUITE the handful very, very, very soon.

Now, for the pictures....

Playing while Momma cooks

Almost up!

Christmas Day!

Baby's first Christmas :)

With Momma, Daddy, Marmee, and Poppie

Watching Veggie Tales in his "club house" hehehe

Eating Pop's mashed potatoes

Road trip!

First time in a hotel!

In a big-boy highchair at Denny's

He's up!!

TWO teeth!!!

I'm nine months old!!

I Want to be Pretty Like That!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:20:00 +0000

"A pretty woman, with lovely soft features, kind eyes and dark hair. She was never angry, never impatient, never resentful, she patiently wore away prejudices and hatred by her gentle, gracious presence and her blameless life. She had all the firmness of a man, and yet a more gentle and womanly woman it would be hard to find."

Said of Lottie Moon, young single missionary to China

"She seemed endowed with a peculiar magnetism when you were in her presence so that you could not help thinking yourself in the presence of a being much higher than the ordinary run of humanity. I have heard her pray, and she could offer up the finest petition to the Throne of Grace of any person I ever heard in my life. She was always gentle and kind to the Indians, as she was to everyone else. She took an interest in every one at the mission, especially the children. Everyone loved her, because to see her was to love her."

Said of Narcissa Whitman, young married missionary to Native American Indians

“They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is loved of that Great Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this Great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight; and she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on him… she has a strange sweetness in her mind, and singular purity in their affection… you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful…. She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind…. She will sometimes go about from place to place, singing sweetly; and seems to be always full of joy and pleasure; and no one knows for what. She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves, and seems to have someone invisible always conversing with her.”

Said of Sarah Edwards by her husband, Jonathan Edwards

The Proverbs 31 Quest || pt 5

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:16:00 +0000

Proverbs 31:14
"She is like the merchants' ships;
she bringeth her food from afar."

Obviously, they did not have Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, or Kroger in Biblical times. Unfortunately, there was no Pizza Hut or Crackle Barrel either. :) As the woman of the home, Miss 31 did what all the other women did in those days - she grew her own food and she shopped at the market of her day.

Now, I will take a brief moment and say that I do not have a green thumb. At all. However, I still would love to have a garden. I am taking my sweet time in that endeavor, but it IS a goal I hope to achieve before I die. Until I master the art of keeping a plant alive longer than a week, I am perfecting my grocery-shopping skills. :)

In studying this verse, we see that Miss 31 travels about obtaining food for her family (and most likely their livestock as well). I'm sure she was frugal and wise, shopping for the best "deal" of the day. The last few words of this verse stumped me a little: She bringeth her food from afar?? How on earth did she do that? And how am I supposed to do that? Should I order a shipment of fish from Norway?

It's so easy for me to think like the above. But if I take a minute and be practical, I can usually understand things a little easier. :) In those days, people walked just about everywhere. Maybe she had to walk into the village which was two miles away. Or maybe she planned a trip once a month to the city market and rode her donkey. In a time when there were **ahem** no automobiles, I'm sure 2-5 miles was "afar." Who knows? But maybe our "afar" can be the grocery store 10 miles away. And - get this - we don't even have to walk! We can make it there in a few minutes as long as we know where we placed our car keys. :) We don't have it so bad.

One thing I did learn was that merchants' ships are used for transporting goods, especially perishables (aka - food). They are not fast like airplanes. They are rather slow. However, they can carry a much larger load than one, or even two airplanes, can. Interesting. So Miss 31 is like a merchant's ship. Okay. Now, how can we tie this together?

Have you ever stopped and looked at the amount of "instant everything" we have? When I first married, cooking for two was a totally new experience! I came from a family of eight and so there was always lots to prepare at every meal in order to feed - and fill! - everyone in our family. In the first month of my marriage, I cannot tell you how many times I made twenty biscuits for two people or found myself cracking 10-15 eggs to feed just me and my husband. After a short while, I thought to myself, Why do this? I can easily pick up a couple of frozen meals at the grocery store. That will be quicker, easier, and I won't find myself with too much food. In short, this was lazy of me. Later, I looked back and realized that I spent more money on various single dinners than I would have, had I chosen to learn to cook for two. So I began to put extra time and effort in learning how to 1) find good deals, 2) buy in bulk, 3) freeze leftovers, 4) reduce waste, and 5) cook healthy. Most all frozen meals are either overpriced or completely unhealthy (or both!). Would Miss 31 resort to that? I don't think so.

A merchants' ship may be slower, but it gets the job done and it carries more than any other mode of transportation. Making healthy, home-cooked meals make take more time out of my day, but it is time well-spent. And as the keeper of my home, it is time that should be of utmost importance. In being like a merchants' ship, the food I serve my family should not be whatever is most convenient for me. It should be what is best for my family. Miss 31 takes time to plan nutritious meals that bless her family. She grows and purchases volumes of groceries that are cost effective, healthy, and go further than any "instant" meal found at the supermarket! I want to be like her. I want to manage my time well and make a point to wisely create well-balanced and home-cooked meals for my children and my husband. Kind of an odd thing to aspire to, but I'll say it anyway: I want to be a merchants' ship! Don't you? :)

Proverbs 31:14
"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar."

Monday Meanderings - 01/09/2012

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:50:00 +0000

Bible Study... "Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent" - Psalm 120-134

Memory Verse... Galatians 5:22-23
" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Husband Encouragement...
♥ Be gentle.
♥ Praise him.
♥ Pray for him.

Train Them Up...
* Play with him more. He loves when I play with him.
* Stay consistent on "No"
* Introduce new foods to him this week (starting with scrambled eggs this morning!)

Personal Goals...
* For heaven's sake, JOURNAL this week.
* Stay dedicated to diet and exercises
* Make time for myself. Sit down for 10 minutes a day with a book.
* Spend quality time with Jesus each morning. Wake up to Him, first and foremost.

New Habit of the Month...
* Cultivate gentleness

MUST Do...
* ~~Finish laundry~~
* Give Nathan a bath
* Get mail
* Clean my car
* ~~Clean kitchen~~

Zone... the guest room

Menu
M - Salad and veggies
T - Salad
W - Salad and veggies (yes, we are on a strict diet)
Th - ?? eating with my family
F - TBD
S - Grilled chicken salad with feta
Su - TBD

FUN THINGS!
* Spending the night with my sisters, Thursday
* Having a "me" evening on Friday
* Reading all my awesome new books

3 things I'm thankful for today...
1. A clean house
2. A forgiving husband
3. Cold weather (it reminds me that spring is coming next!)

The Proverbs 31 Quest || pt 4

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen Elizabeth) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:05:00 +0000

It has been a while since I have posted about my quest to be like the Proverbs 31 woman. I will admit that I have not done so well at being like Miss 31. But that is what grace is for, right? :) When we are weak, then we are strong because we realize that it isn't US achieving great things in our own strength, it's God working IN us. One step at a time. So let's plunge into part four!

Proverbs 31:13
"She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands."

"She seeketh wool, and flax...."

Pretty much everyone knows what wool is. It is obtained from sheep and other animals and is a soft material that does a very good job at keeping one warm! It is elastic, and it holds in moisture. Flax is something I had never heard of prior to Proverbs 31. After looking it up, I discovered that Flax is an annual plant native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India. Flax is grown both for its seeds and for its fiber. Various parts of the plant have been used to make fabric, dye, paper, medicines, fishing nets, hair gels, and soap! It is also used as an edible oil, as a nutritional supplement.

Hmmm.... That is interesting.

So Miss 31 seeks after wool and flax. What does that mean to us? Well, to me, I see Miss 31 out in the yard shearing sheep, then taking the wool and making coats, blankets, and soft, warm mats for their cold floors. I can see her working to make sure her home and family are clothed and cozy. Then I see her out in the garden gathering up the flax and using it make fabric and medicines and also using its nutrition to feed her family in a healthy way.

I know as a mommy, I want my home and family clothed and warm. I want to make sure my son has a coat when we go out into the winter weather. Every night before I climb in bed, I check on him and make sure he is covered up in his crib. Though we have no sheep to shear and live in a different time, we can still do as Miss 31 and seek after "wool." We can tirelessly work to clothe our children, our husbands, and ourselves.

Also as a wife and mother, I want my son healthy. I want my husband healthy. I want myself to be healthy! Several years ago, before I married, my family and I ate rather unhealthy. It was no big deal to have chips and sodas and candy in the house. As a result, though I'm sure none of us put two and two together at the time, several of us were prone to catching every little illness that came around. I was one of them. It didn't take much for me to get sick. I had several colds a year. I would feel sluggish easily. I was tired all the time and was a victim of any passing stomach virus that came through our community. Then my parents began heavily researching health and nutrition. After that, they bought a juicer and began juicing fruits and vegetables. Before, I would turn my nose at pretty much any veggie. I hated them! Fruits were great, but I would usually pursue chocolate over an apple any day. But we began to juice vegetables and fruits and I began to feel better. Then I started craving veggie-fruit concoctions. I would throw a banana, a strawberry, spinach, carrots, and kale into a juicer and blender and drink to my hearts' content. I would research healthy herbs and foods and find a way to ingest them into my body. As a result, I began to feel better. Now, I rarely get sick and when I eat the amount of junk food or candy that I used to, I feel ill! As the keeper of my home, I want to pursue healthy habits and, I believe, that is one of the many things Proverbs 31:13 is referring to.

"...and worketh willingly with her hands."

Oh dear. Must I? :)

* Worketh - maintain; accomplish

* Willingly - joy; earnest

If you will be completely honest with yourself and the Lord, you will most likely admit to having plenty of days when you just want to be lazy. Especially any of you women who have been pregnant and who have small children. You just want a day when you can to sprawl out on the couch and not do a thing. Miss 31 doesn't do that. (Isn't that intimidating?) Though I'm sure she wouldn't object to sitting down with a nice cup of coffee and a book from time to time, she is not idle with her time. She is productive. She is a hard worker. She prioritizes. She accomplishes things. She gets her "To Do" list done. She doesn't dilly-dally or dawdle. And she does those things WILLINGLY. She works earnestly and with joy. She doesn't complain or whine about her work, she enjoys serving her home and family. How inspiring! I'm sure she does what Snow White sang about, and "whistles" as she works!

MY prayer as I continue to study the attributes of Miss 31, is that I won't think so much about perfection (which is what I tend to lean toward when reading Proverbs 31), but that I will dwell on Miss 31 as a whole. I don't need to consume myself with every little detail of Miss 31 (i.e. She seeketh wool? Okay, I need go buy some sheep, right now! Where's the checkbook? Dear husband, can you put a fense in the backyard?). Rather, I need to dwell on her goals and her character and do my best to accomplish the same things in MY life (i.e. She seeketh flax? Okay, I'm tossing that bag of Doritos in the pantry and I should probably go buy some carrots...). Think how YOU can best apply her traits to YOUR life. And above all, work willingly. Don't bemoan your wonderful calling as a wife and mother. Rejoice as you scrub that pile of dishes. Hum a hymn or praise song as you fold the mountain of laundry. Smile at your baby as you change that smelly diaper and wipe the snot from their nose. Be kind to your husband as you pick up his dirty socks....again....and clean his facial hairs from the sink. Rest assured, I'm in training along with you. But, through His grace, we can do the impossible. :)

Proverbs 31:13
"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."