Not too much to report today. It's Wednesday, middle of the week, and time's running out. I did ZERO sewing last night. By the time I got home, fixed dinner, ate dinner, exercised and went to church, I didn't have the brain power left to sew. I learned a long time ago not to sew when I'm brain tired! I make really bad mistakes and it takes more time to fix them than if I would have left it along to begin with!
I hope to get another jacket sewn tonight At least to have it almost completed. That would mean the last one could be done tomorrow night and I could sew the dresses Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I received a wonderful voice mail message from Ryan last night. He left a message telling me that he went to visit a church in Splendora and the services was "awesome". His words, not mine. He met the pastor and the assistant pastor. He is really encouraged and excited about this. He wanted to go to the Kerrville meeting, but couldn't due to lack of $$$. This church has a youth rally in Conroe this weekend, and he CAN afford to go to that one. He's really pumped up about it. I hope he uses this opportunity to develop a firm foundation. He is an adult now - he has to get this faith, this determination to live for God, for himself. I can't do it for him. Keep him in your prayers. He still needs victory - but he is heading in the right direction.
My scale and I currently have a love/hate relationship. I keep saying "go down" and it keeps saying "I like where I'm at right now". It hasn't moved a bit in 2 days! Grrrr.... Something's gotta give and it's NOT gonna be me! I think I need to pep up my meals a bit. They seem to be getting bland. I've lost my focus. It seems like I had the same problem last round - the first week. I need to go to the grocery store and get some variables - flavorful variables. (That's another word for protein and veggies, in case you didn't know that!). :)
Well, for someone who didn't have a lot to say, I did write a bit. Gotta get busy now - time's a wasting. Bye, now.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
A lot of talking...
Last night I completed 1 jacket for the wedding. I hope to have all 3 completed before Friday. That will give me the entire weekend to work on the top of the dresses. They are going smoothly so far.
Have you checked out Rhonda's new blog? I LOVE IT! http://cupcakeloveandmore.blogspot.com/
I'm hoping the virus is gone for good. Kirstyn had some problems with it yesterday, but seems better today. I DON'T WANT IT!!!
Yesterday was Amber's birthday. She's 20 (NOT!). We had a party for her at work and it was a lot of fun. I am truly thankful for my besties at work. They keep me going and make life bearable and fun. You don't know what you're missing until you finally have a group of women to work with that makes you enjoy Monday-Friday 8-5! If you get a chance, ask Amber about the new "word of the day" she started with Pam! HILARIOUS!
In other news, Breaking Dawn is becoming the daily talk at work. We have team Jacob and team Edward. I think it's really funny. Pam and I loved the story before there ever was a movie! The books were very good - entertaining - romantic. Not realistic, at all, but dreamy and fictional. It was a nice, light read. The closer the new movie gets to coming out, the more "frenzy" there is about it. It's funny to watch everyone's reaction. I just finished reading the Shiver trilogy - it was really good although I don't like the ending of Forever. Cole and Isabel are unfinished. I think it needs closure. Oh, well. It wasn't my book to write. I'm currently reading The Help. The movie has great reviews from what I've heard, and Amber had the book, so she lent it to me and I really like it. It's the kind of book that makes you think. And for all those out there who think we haven't made any progress - read the book. Remember or research what it really was like and compare it to today. It's a world of difference. Some good, some bad.
Last of all, with Game On, I chose my good habit to be writing to an elderly person (various) in my church each day. I've written 2 letters so far. I really am going to enjoy this habit. I know how much it means to me to receive a phone call, a card, or letter from someone. Just knowing that someone thought of me and took the time to let me know about it. I hope this new habit of mine helps others, brings them a little joy, even if only for a few minutes. I hope that I use this opportunity as a chance to allow God to work through me. Bro. Hammer has been talking about stepping up in our walk with God, witnessing, outreach - all things I am sadly lacking in. I really need to let God work on me. I need to take time out to stop and listen to what He's asking me to do. And DO IT! Lord, help me be obedient to Your will, not mine. I know You have great plans for me. Don't let me be foolish and let this selfish, prideful flesh get in the way. It is an honor and a priviledge to do a work for God - no matter what or where that work is. If it's working on a team feeding the hungry - so be it. If it's helping clean the church - so be it. If it's watching little children that are brought to church via our bus - so be it. If it's cooking or helping someone too ill or feeble to do for themself - so be it. His will. Not mine. That's what I want. More than anything!
Have you checked out Rhonda's new blog? I LOVE IT! http://cupcakeloveandmore.blogspot.com/
I'm hoping the virus is gone for good. Kirstyn had some problems with it yesterday, but seems better today. I DON'T WANT IT!!!
Yesterday was Amber's birthday. She's 20 (NOT!). We had a party for her at work and it was a lot of fun. I am truly thankful for my besties at work. They keep me going and make life bearable and fun. You don't know what you're missing until you finally have a group of women to work with that makes you enjoy Monday-Friday 8-5! If you get a chance, ask Amber about the new "word of the day" she started with Pam! HILARIOUS!
In other news, Breaking Dawn is becoming the daily talk at work. We have team Jacob and team Edward. I think it's really funny. Pam and I loved the story before there ever was a movie! The books were very good - entertaining - romantic. Not realistic, at all, but dreamy and fictional. It was a nice, light read. The closer the new movie gets to coming out, the more "frenzy" there is about it. It's funny to watch everyone's reaction. I just finished reading the Shiver trilogy - it was really good although I don't like the ending of Forever. Cole and Isabel are unfinished. I think it needs closure. Oh, well. It wasn't my book to write. I'm currently reading The Help. The movie has great reviews from what I've heard, and Amber had the book, so she lent it to me and I really like it. It's the kind of book that makes you think. And for all those out there who think we haven't made any progress - read the book. Remember or research what it really was like and compare it to today. It's a world of difference. Some good, some bad.
Last of all, with Game On, I chose my good habit to be writing to an elderly person (various) in my church each day. I've written 2 letters so far. I really am going to enjoy this habit. I know how much it means to me to receive a phone call, a card, or letter from someone. Just knowing that someone thought of me and took the time to let me know about it. I hope this new habit of mine helps others, brings them a little joy, even if only for a few minutes. I hope that I use this opportunity as a chance to allow God to work through me. Bro. Hammer has been talking about stepping up in our walk with God, witnessing, outreach - all things I am sadly lacking in. I really need to let God work on me. I need to take time out to stop and listen to what He's asking me to do. And DO IT! Lord, help me be obedient to Your will, not mine. I know You have great plans for me. Don't let me be foolish and let this selfish, prideful flesh get in the way. It is an honor and a priviledge to do a work for God - no matter what or where that work is. If it's working on a team feeding the hungry - so be it. If it's helping clean the church - so be it. If it's watching little children that are brought to church via our bus - so be it. If it's cooking or helping someone too ill or feeble to do for themself - so be it. His will. Not mine. That's what I want. More than anything!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Busy, busy weekend
The sewing frenzy has begun! I have finished cutting all the pattern pieces to the 3 bridesmaid dresses, ironed on the interfacing and marked all the pieces for pleats, darts, etc.... Tonight I begin! Bridesmaid Dress Marathon! Woo-hoo. Bring it on.
I was able to cut out the Cinderella dress this weekend,also. It only took me 10 hours! 10 HOURS! 600 MINUTES! OMW! I haven't marked any of the pieces, just cut fabric, lining, netting, crinoline, and interfacing. Oh, and that was with a rotary blade! I'm tired just re-thinking about it! I think I am going to let Malissia mark the pieces for me! :) That ought to keep her busy for a year or two.
In other news - Ryan came home to visit for the weekend. It was a nice visit. I have missed him terrible. Everytime he comes home he looks skinnier! He went to church with me yesterday morning and last night. It was really nice. Last nights service was soooo good. It's so wonderful to go to a church where the Holy Ghost is allowed to move - where man's idea of the perfect order of service is put aside to make room for His will. God came and visited with us during song service. It was such a sweet spirit. Ryan was moved and went to the altar. He prayed so good. He did not get victory - but he will if he keeps going back to the throne of God. If he will just believe that he is worthy by the grace of God to receive the Holy Ghost, to receive strength, power, joy, hope, love, faith...there is nothing to big for my God. I will be praying for Ryan more and more. I know that he has a desire to live for God, he just needs a made up mind. He needs some deep rooted convictions and the backbone to stand up for them. It was a step, a very important step, and I am thankful that God touched his heart again - reminded him of Who was in control.
Today begins Round 3 of Game On. There are 14 of us playing this round. I am excited! I can't wait to see what happens this go around. I hd the hardest time coming up with a bad habit to break. Not because I am perfect, but because it needed to be something I can work on EVERY day. I finally decided to make my bed up each morning before I leave the house. I am really bad about making my bed up. I get in a rush, jump out of bed and return to my room only to put on clothes before running out the front door. It's something that I need to do and I can do. I thought about my good habit, too. I considered a prayer meeting with my girls (family prayer) to add to the bible studies we've been having. However, I decided I needed to think outside the box (my house). I am going to write a letter each day to an elderly person in our church and mail it to them. Not necessarily the same person each day. I think it's important that we bridge the gap between the youth and the elderly. They paved the way for us, we owe them some respect and acknowledgement. I need to learn to think of others. This will be good for me and will hopefully bring joy to others.
Is that enough for one day? Oh, well...there's always tomorrow! See ya!
I was able to cut out the Cinderella dress this weekend,also. It only took me 10 hours! 10 HOURS! 600 MINUTES! OMW! I haven't marked any of the pieces, just cut fabric, lining, netting, crinoline, and interfacing. Oh, and that was with a rotary blade! I'm tired just re-thinking about it! I think I am going to let Malissia mark the pieces for me! :) That ought to keep her busy for a year or two.
In other news - Ryan came home to visit for the weekend. It was a nice visit. I have missed him terrible. Everytime he comes home he looks skinnier! He went to church with me yesterday morning and last night. It was really nice. Last nights service was soooo good. It's so wonderful to go to a church where the Holy Ghost is allowed to move - where man's idea of the perfect order of service is put aside to make room for His will. God came and visited with us during song service. It was such a sweet spirit. Ryan was moved and went to the altar. He prayed so good. He did not get victory - but he will if he keeps going back to the throne of God. If he will just believe that he is worthy by the grace of God to receive the Holy Ghost, to receive strength, power, joy, hope, love, faith...there is nothing to big for my God. I will be praying for Ryan more and more. I know that he has a desire to live for God, he just needs a made up mind. He needs some deep rooted convictions and the backbone to stand up for them. It was a step, a very important step, and I am thankful that God touched his heart again - reminded him of Who was in control.
Today begins Round 3 of Game On. There are 14 of us playing this round. I am excited! I can't wait to see what happens this go around. I hd the hardest time coming up with a bad habit to break. Not because I am perfect, but because it needed to be something I can work on EVERY day. I finally decided to make my bed up each morning before I leave the house. I am really bad about making my bed up. I get in a rush, jump out of bed and return to my room only to put on clothes before running out the front door. It's something that I need to do and I can do. I thought about my good habit, too. I considered a prayer meeting with my girls (family prayer) to add to the bible studies we've been having. However, I decided I needed to think outside the box (my house). I am going to write a letter each day to an elderly person in our church and mail it to them. Not necessarily the same person each day. I think it's important that we bridge the gap between the youth and the elderly. They paved the way for us, we owe them some respect and acknowledgement. I need to learn to think of others. This will be good for me and will hopefully bring joy to others.
Is that enough for one day? Oh, well...there's always tomorrow! See ya!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Happy Friday
The sewing marathon has begun! Last week I finished fitting the wedding patterns to the bridesmaids and the birthday dress to Malissia. I've cut out the corset to the Cinderella ball gown for the birthday and cut out the tops to the bridesmaid dresses. I have the bolero's pinned on and ready to cut as soon as I get home. Then to cut out the skirts and mark all my pieces. Tomorrow is going to be crammed full of sewing bridesmaid dresses! They have to be finished before I will allow myself to work on the birthday dress!
Kirstyn & Colby want to come to the party as Shrek & Fiona - how funny, and appropriate! - so I will probably have to work on those later. I don't expect those to be as hard. I have no idea what Ryan will come as - we'll discuss that this weekend when he comes home for a visit. IF I have any time left over, I'd like to come as Jo from Little Women. We'll see....
Tonight is the lingerie shower/bachelorette party for Jayde. Fun, fun, fun. I won't be staying for the night, but I'll be there for the gifts and the food (of course!). The wedding is in 2 WEEKS! Hard to believe it's here already. I know they are excited.
Monday will begin Round 3 of Game On, the diet game. I'm excited. We have 14 ladies playing this time. I'm trying to start a simultaneous round at work and have 5 confirmed and 1 maybe playing. Woo-hoo!
With craft sale coming up I've decided to pull out an old craft that I haven't made in about 12 years. My jack-o-lantern dolls. They have a plastic jack-o-lantern head and a softly stuffed cloth body with muslin hands & feet. They are so cute with their floppy bodies. They can be used as a treat bag for children going trick-or-treating, or they can be used as a candy jar on a mantle, centered on a table, or on the edge of a desk at work. They truly are adorable. I've probably made 100 of them in the past. I'm not sure what my baked goods are going to be yet. I'll get that set in stone AFTER the wedding!
Happy Friday, ya'll! See you on Monday!
Kirstyn & Colby want to come to the party as Shrek & Fiona - how funny, and appropriate! - so I will probably have to work on those later. I don't expect those to be as hard. I have no idea what Ryan will come as - we'll discuss that this weekend when he comes home for a visit. IF I have any time left over, I'd like to come as Jo from Little Women. We'll see....
Tonight is the lingerie shower/bachelorette party for Jayde. Fun, fun, fun. I won't be staying for the night, but I'll be there for the gifts and the food (of course!). The wedding is in 2 WEEKS! Hard to believe it's here already. I know they are excited.
Monday will begin Round 3 of Game On, the diet game. I'm excited. We have 14 ladies playing this time. I'm trying to start a simultaneous round at work and have 5 confirmed and 1 maybe playing. Woo-hoo!
With craft sale coming up I've decided to pull out an old craft that I haven't made in about 12 years. My jack-o-lantern dolls. They have a plastic jack-o-lantern head and a softly stuffed cloth body with muslin hands & feet. They are so cute with their floppy bodies. They can be used as a treat bag for children going trick-or-treating, or they can be used as a candy jar on a mantle, centered on a table, or on the edge of a desk at work. They truly are adorable. I've probably made 100 of them in the past. I'm not sure what my baked goods are going to be yet. I'll get that set in stone AFTER the wedding!
Happy Friday, ya'll! See you on Monday!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
I'm feeling Fall-ish
It's almost Fall, ya'll! :) I do believe that Fall is my favorite time of the year. I really, really love Christmas but Fall has my whole heart! I love the crisp, cool air. The drop in humidity. There always seems to be a "shift" in attitudes - a "perkiness", if you will.
I don't really know what brought on this love of Fall. Probably the hustle and bustle of Craft Sale, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and BLACK FRIDAY!!! The baking, the crafting, the sewing, the shopping! In addition, my children have birthdays in September, October and November!
Kirstyn just turned 21 and is getting ready to complete her Associates degree in Elementary Education. I am proud of her! She is going on to get her Bachelors in Special Education. She definitely has a calling in this field. She is never happier than when she is around little children.
Ryan is a Senior in High School! I am proud of him. It hasn't been easy for him, but he has been persistant! He has a new job working for Kubota, and he got a "new to him" car that he is ultra proud of. I'm praying that he stays on track and gets everything in his life parallel to God's will for him. I can see that God has been working on him, but he still has a way to go. He's going to be a wonderful man, I can tell.
Malissia will be Sweet 16 this October! We're having a ball - kinda. She wants a costume party where everyone comes dressed as their favorite story book character! She's coming as Cinderella, which is predictable for all who know her! I started cutting out the corset to her ball gown last night! I can't wait to get it finished. She still doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. She has been talking about being a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. The last 3 years or so she wanted to specifically be a marine biologist. However, the last few weeks she has been considering going to college to get a basic business degree and trying to become the best homemaker, wife, mother she can when the time comes. She has a lot of praying and fasting to do before this time comes - I pray she will let God will lead her along the path He has chosen for her. She is very talented, artistic, creative, and bubbly. God has His work cut out for Him! :)
Then there's the weddings. There have been 4 so far this year. There are still 2 to go. Jayde & Brandon and Macy & Daniel. So exciting - romance in the air and all that!
Last, but not least, is the Craft Sale! It's in 5 weeks! OMW! I have 3 bridesmaid dresses and 1 ball gown to sew before Craft Sale gets here. That doesn't include my crafts, which are going to be sewn! AAAAUUUUGGGHHH! What have I got myself into? Well, the house is clean, laundry is done, bills are paid - so that leaves SEWING! I can sew with NO GUILT! Yea! It's my favorite thing to do besides bake, which I will probably do, also!
So, that's about all I have for today. I'm not talked out, by no means, but I've probably said all that any of you would be interested in. Anything more and I'd be rambling. Bye, now!
I don't really know what brought on this love of Fall. Probably the hustle and bustle of Craft Sale, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and BLACK FRIDAY!!! The baking, the crafting, the sewing, the shopping! In addition, my children have birthdays in September, October and November!
Kirstyn just turned 21 and is getting ready to complete her Associates degree in Elementary Education. I am proud of her! She is going on to get her Bachelors in Special Education. She definitely has a calling in this field. She is never happier than when she is around little children.
Ryan is a Senior in High School! I am proud of him. It hasn't been easy for him, but he has been persistant! He has a new job working for Kubota, and he got a "new to him" car that he is ultra proud of. I'm praying that he stays on track and gets everything in his life parallel to God's will for him. I can see that God has been working on him, but he still has a way to go. He's going to be a wonderful man, I can tell.
Malissia will be Sweet 16 this October! We're having a ball - kinda. She wants a costume party where everyone comes dressed as their favorite story book character! She's coming as Cinderella, which is predictable for all who know her! I started cutting out the corset to her ball gown last night! I can't wait to get it finished. She still doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. She has been talking about being a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. The last 3 years or so she wanted to specifically be a marine biologist. However, the last few weeks she has been considering going to college to get a basic business degree and trying to become the best homemaker, wife, mother she can when the time comes. She has a lot of praying and fasting to do before this time comes - I pray she will let God will lead her along the path He has chosen for her. She is very talented, artistic, creative, and bubbly. God has His work cut out for Him! :)
Then there's the weddings. There have been 4 so far this year. There are still 2 to go. Jayde & Brandon and Macy & Daniel. So exciting - romance in the air and all that!
Last, but not least, is the Craft Sale! It's in 5 weeks! OMW! I have 3 bridesmaid dresses and 1 ball gown to sew before Craft Sale gets here. That doesn't include my crafts, which are going to be sewn! AAAAUUUUGGGHHH! What have I got myself into? Well, the house is clean, laundry is done, bills are paid - so that leaves SEWING! I can sew with NO GUILT! Yea! It's my favorite thing to do besides bake, which I will probably do, also!
So, that's about all I have for today. I'm not talked out, by no means, but I've probably said all that any of you would be interested in. Anything more and I'd be rambling. Bye, now!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Game ON!
I apologize for no post yesterday - the virus has hit our household and it hasn't been pretty! Poor Malissia! She is on the mend now and hopefully will be back in school tomorrow! Other than that, not too much to blog about except the Pot Luck at my house Monday evening to announce the winners of Game On Round 2.
And the winners are: Sis. Karen, Sis. Rhonda & Kirstyn! Woo-hoo! They each were the lucky recipients of 6 $10 gift cards to various retail stores and restaurants. Collectively we (all 9 ladies) lost 90 lbs! In 4 weeks! Winners, all! Yea! Are you tired of my exclamation points yet? :)
We had a wonderful time - lots of food, enchilada casserole, chicken salad sandwiches, Italian pasta salad, spinach & strawberry salad, butter beans, and I can't remember everything else. The funniest thing was that everyone brought a dessert! A yummy raspberry filled cake from Rao's, pumpkin cake, strawberry pie, cookies, cranberry orange bread, and more. We sure know how to feed! It was fun going over all the ups and downs, issues with habits, time frames for meals, what constitutes a "sanctioned" meal, weight fluctuation - the whole 9 yards. The two main things I realized is #1 - every body is different, and #2 - everybody lost weight! This diet works! It's doable. It's maintainable. It can become a lifestyle!
I'm looking forward to Round 3 which starts next Monday. We have about 14 people wanting to play now, with 3 more we are trying to convince that the CAN do this - it's not too hard. Fun, fun, fun. We all agreed that the best part of the whole thing (other than losing weight and becoming healthier) is the communication requirement. We are a random group of women (various ages and families) united with a common goal. This game has given us a chance to refreshen friendships and get to know each other better. I enjoy sending emails to my friends as much as I enjoy receiving them! All in all, it's been a blast! I totally recommend anyone interested in having fun, bonding with friends and losing weight buy the book - Game On Diet.
I'm proud to be a LOSER! :) Tasha, I know you will enjoy that statement more than anyone else! K. Bye now!
And the winners are: Sis. Karen, Sis. Rhonda & Kirstyn! Woo-hoo! They each were the lucky recipients of 6 $10 gift cards to various retail stores and restaurants. Collectively we (all 9 ladies) lost 90 lbs! In 4 weeks! Winners, all! Yea! Are you tired of my exclamation points yet? :)
We had a wonderful time - lots of food, enchilada casserole, chicken salad sandwiches, Italian pasta salad, spinach & strawberry salad, butter beans, and I can't remember everything else. The funniest thing was that everyone brought a dessert! A yummy raspberry filled cake from Rao's, pumpkin cake, strawberry pie, cookies, cranberry orange bread, and more. We sure know how to feed! It was fun going over all the ups and downs, issues with habits, time frames for meals, what constitutes a "sanctioned" meal, weight fluctuation - the whole 9 yards. The two main things I realized is #1 - every body is different, and #2 - everybody lost weight! This diet works! It's doable. It's maintainable. It can become a lifestyle!
I'm looking forward to Round 3 which starts next Monday. We have about 14 people wanting to play now, with 3 more we are trying to convince that the CAN do this - it's not too hard. Fun, fun, fun. We all agreed that the best part of the whole thing (other than losing weight and becoming healthier) is the communication requirement. We are a random group of women (various ages and families) united with a common goal. This game has given us a chance to refreshen friendships and get to know each other better. I enjoy sending emails to my friends as much as I enjoy receiving them! All in all, it's been a blast! I totally recommend anyone interested in having fun, bonding with friends and losing weight buy the book - Game On Diet.
I'm proud to be a LOSER! :) Tasha, I know you will enjoy that statement more than anyone else! K. Bye now!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Allergies - YUCK!
Today finds me sniffling, sneezing, coughing with running eyes and nose! YUCK! I am a posterchild for an allergy medication advertisment! I know I'll get better, but it feels like it's going to be a long week!
On a more positive note - tonight is the potluck at my house where all the ladies who have played the 2nd round of Game On will find out which team won! Yea! In reality - we ALL won. I can't wait to find out how much weight we lost collectively. I already have my mind made up that I'm going to play round 3. Why not? It's doable and it's working.
My daughters and I are continuing on in our study of Esther. We have made it through chapter 4. It is interesting to watch her struggle with her pride, with fear, with denial - and then to see her take a deep breath and place everything in God's hands. It's easy for us to brush this off - we know how the story turns out. However, I'm certain it was NOT easy at all for Esther. Her statement about "if I die, then I die" just about broke my heart. I don't know if I could have done it. After all, we already know what a foolish and fickle man the king was! I'm sure by this time she had realized this character flaw, also. As much as we like to romanticize about how much he was smitten by her beauty and LOVED her SOOOO much, at this point in the story she had not even seen the king in 30 days. Can you imaging being married to someone, living in the same house with them, and not seeing or hearing from them in 30 days? He was not off fighting some war or wandering around to various lands under his rule trying to maintain order. He was at home - living life day to day and not being bothered about where his Queen was or what she was doing. I'm sure that he probably had chamberlains who kept him apprised of her comings and goings - but still - you would think that he would like to see her with his own eyes - touch her, talk to her, spend time with her. Again - what a man!
In all of this, Esther loved him. With all of her heart, she loved him. Only God would come before her husband. Even after she realized that her people would perish, she did not want to bother her king. It wasn't until she was made to realize that she, too, would perish and Mordecai chastised her with the fact that God put her as Queen for "such a time as this", that she mustered up the courage and backbone needed to go against the law of her husband and honor the law of her God. That's really the way it should be. I believe more women need to learn to love their husbands second only to God. We need to learn to submit ourselves to them, to love them, encourage them, to obey them. This is not an easy task. It is much easier to say this (or to write this in a blog) than to actually act upon this. But it is what God commands of us. He is the head over us. Our husbands should answer only to God. We must answer to both God and our husbands. If we are disobedient in this act, then we are violating God's commandment to us. Is it not true that if we believe in one part of the Bible, then we should believe in EVERY part of the Bible? We were not given the option to pick and choose which scriptures we wanted to follow. We were given His Word to follow ALL of it! Lord, help me to remember this and to instill this in my daughters that they will be found worthy wives. Worthy of the love of their husbands and of God.
On a more positive note - tonight is the potluck at my house where all the ladies who have played the 2nd round of Game On will find out which team won! Yea! In reality - we ALL won. I can't wait to find out how much weight we lost collectively. I already have my mind made up that I'm going to play round 3. Why not? It's doable and it's working.
My daughters and I are continuing on in our study of Esther. We have made it through chapter 4. It is interesting to watch her struggle with her pride, with fear, with denial - and then to see her take a deep breath and place everything in God's hands. It's easy for us to brush this off - we know how the story turns out. However, I'm certain it was NOT easy at all for Esther. Her statement about "if I die, then I die" just about broke my heart. I don't know if I could have done it. After all, we already know what a foolish and fickle man the king was! I'm sure by this time she had realized this character flaw, also. As much as we like to romanticize about how much he was smitten by her beauty and LOVED her SOOOO much, at this point in the story she had not even seen the king in 30 days. Can you imaging being married to someone, living in the same house with them, and not seeing or hearing from them in 30 days? He was not off fighting some war or wandering around to various lands under his rule trying to maintain order. He was at home - living life day to day and not being bothered about where his Queen was or what she was doing. I'm sure that he probably had chamberlains who kept him apprised of her comings and goings - but still - you would think that he would like to see her with his own eyes - touch her, talk to her, spend time with her. Again - what a man!
In all of this, Esther loved him. With all of her heart, she loved him. Only God would come before her husband. Even after she realized that her people would perish, she did not want to bother her king. It wasn't until she was made to realize that she, too, would perish and Mordecai chastised her with the fact that God put her as Queen for "such a time as this", that she mustered up the courage and backbone needed to go against the law of her husband and honor the law of her God. That's really the way it should be. I believe more women need to learn to love their husbands second only to God. We need to learn to submit ourselves to them, to love them, encourage them, to obey them. This is not an easy task. It is much easier to say this (or to write this in a blog) than to actually act upon this. But it is what God commands of us. He is the head over us. Our husbands should answer only to God. We must answer to both God and our husbands. If we are disobedient in this act, then we are violating God's commandment to us. Is it not true that if we believe in one part of the Bible, then we should believe in EVERY part of the Bible? We were not given the option to pick and choose which scriptures we wanted to follow. We were given His Word to follow ALL of it! Lord, help me to remember this and to instill this in my daughters that they will be found worthy wives. Worthy of the love of their husbands and of God.
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