Be a Lady! and a link-up

I am not what you'd call a feminine woman. Or at least I wasn't. Back in school I was a tomboy. I even had a boy-like haircut back in my really really uncomfortable years (in my own defense, I *detested* that haircut the minute I stepped out of the salon and literally prayed every night that my hair would grow overnight). I was not petite (I didn't prefer "big boned" either). I didn't have long fingers. My feet were big. I can't even remember when I started wearing make-up. I despised wearing skirts and blouses.

Now that I'm an adult, I'm still not petite. I still don't have long fingers (although I've stopped biting my nails). I still have big feet (size 10, y'all!). Now, I believe God has called me to some of the hardest jobs He created...that of wife, mother, and woman in general (at least in today's day and age). In that role, I have become more feminine than I've ever been. And it's something I'm still working on.

I'm not afraid of skirts anymore. My work-outside-the-home job requires uniform, so skirts aren't an option there. But skirts and dresses (especially sundresses in the summer) are no longer my nemesis. My hair is now long and curly (thank you, mommy and dad for giving me those curly genes!), and although it's in a ponytail much of the time (especially summer: thick, hot hair + midwestern humidity = sticky, hot mess), I love to wear it half up. I'm hoping to get one or two Lilla Rose flexi-clips or hair sticks sometime (I'm considering becoming a consultant too!). I wear a little make-up from day to day, and I've sought out make-up tips and tricks specific for my coloring. I even have a Pinterest board for make-up, hair and nails, and another for clothing and shoes.

All of these things are, I believe, easy little things almost every woman can do no matter what season of life they're in. Now as a brand new mom, I wanted nothing to do with anything but stretch pants and a (hopefully) daily shower. {smile} But I am trying to make a point of getting a little "made up" each and every day. It's sort of like FlyLady's getting dressed to your shoes: putting those little finishing touches on can really lift your spirits and make you feel like you're ready for anything.

None of this has to cost major coinage either, friends! I buy my make-up at Wal-Mart, not Estee Lauder. Most of my clothes come from Goodwill, not Macy's or Coldwater Creek. I do look at certain clothing magazines and modest feminine websites to see examples of what looks good together. You can pair up pieces from different shopping trips...just know what you have in your closet already. Keep it to basic pieces that you can mix and match, or add simple "flair" with a scarf, belt, brooch, etc. If there's something special you just can't get off your mind, save up for it or put it on your Christmas or birthday list.

Ladies, the Master Creator made us women to be women. It is very possible to accentuate our femininity without "baring our all" for the entire world to see. Be the woman God created you to be.

Today I'm linking up with Finding Beauty:

P.S. Check out Finding Beauty starting in November, when I will be a weekly contributor on Mondays (visit every day for other writers as well!).

Nourishment

Good morning, friends! Can I tell you something? An old high school friend posted on Facebook last night about not liking to cook. About liking the idea of cooking, but not the act. She asked for opinions from people who love to cook...she asked if there was any way to learn to like cooking.

This got me to thinking. I enjoy cooking. I might even go so far as to say I love cooking. Some days are worse than others, at least for now, because I'm still working outside the home. Some days I get home just in time for the kids to be "starving", others I'm not home in time for dinner at all. But the days I get home with time to spare, I love to prepare a meal for my family. I'm not very ambitious with food however, which is sad. But when you have a set (read: limited) food budget, it's hard to try out a new dish...even if it turns out perfect, if the family doesn't like it then you are stuck, scrambling to throw something together so the masses get fed.

So...why cook? Why love to cook? Why love putting different ingredients together to create a completely different taste? Is it all about the food? I will admit that certain flavors just push me over the edge...my homemade garlic cheese bread?

TO. DIE. FOR.

But is it just the food? Flavor is important, of course. But the bottom line is we use food for nourishment. We need it. Our bodies need it to survive. I enjoy cooking because it nourishes my family.

In that same line of thinking, I enjoy reading the Bible because God's Word nourishes my soul. When I feel all dried up, I look to The Ultimate Source, the River of Life, to water my parched heart. When I just can't operate anymore because I'm simply starving, God gives me life-sustaining chapter and verse, an all-I-can-eat buffet of absolute truths.

So yes, I love to give my family nourishment. Whether that nourishment comes in the form of family dinner, hugs and kisses, a bedtime story, teaching my children the Word of God, a safe, relaxing, tidy home...it's my God-given job.

Today I'm linking up with Raising Homemakers and A Wise Woman Builds Her Home:

Home Keeper?

Oh friends, what an adsolute slacker I've been! This poor blog suffers so much!

That's not to say I haven't been on the computer. Can you say Pinterest? Or facebook, or my overstuffed email inbox. You name it, and I've been a slacker.

It is time for me to step back. I can't say take a break, because I haven't been posting anyway. Maybe "take a break" is right, but in regards to the computer in general. I've always been a proponent for technology-free homes, but it's so easy to get sucked in, isn't it? There's always one more email, one more status update, one more pin to pin. I do believe that technology can be a useful tool. Self-control, however, is so very important, and that's something I lack. Matthew 26:41 tells us:"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak". I'm so very, very weak.

My family is suffering. Suffering, and I didn't even notice. Proverbs 27:23 says: "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds". They were suffering, and I didn't even notice. While the older children are doing okay, Bean has just been a terror (and I say that with all the love a mom could have). I know she wants me...she just wants me to be with her, not on the computer with her, not talking on the phone with her. Just with her. Her behavior is so different when that happens.

My husband has a new job, which he's had for awhile now, but this month marked the beginning of turnaround. This means two things: 1) he's working a gazillion hours every week, and 2) he's on midnights. So when he's home, he's sleeping (or at least trying to). I've neglected him and his needs. I've been snappy with him when we do speak. 1 Corinthians 13:5 says: "Love is not self-seeking, it's not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong". I think the past few weeks I've just done the opposite of whatever the Lord has told me to do.

Philippians 2:3 tells us: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves". I have been selfish. I have not humbled myself at all. Oh Lord, help me to serve my family and in turn serve You. I don't need to be a miracle worker. I don't need to have perfectly folded clothes in the dressers.I don't need to have the shiniest kitchen sink on the block. But I do need to love my husband and children. I do need to manage the home. I do need to be the heart of the home, or rather, to allow God to be the heart of the home through me. It is written that I "be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

For any of you who have struggled or are struggling with this same thing, be comforted. Not only are you not alone here on Earth, but the Heavenly Father is with you always as well, waiting for you to turn to Him and ask for forgiveness. He gives it freely, friends.

Today I'm linking up with Deep Roots at Home

Lord, HELP ME

Good Tuesday morning to you, friends. I'm sitting here in a quiet house (until Bean wakes up, anyway) drinking coffee and...not worrying.

You see, last night the transmission went out on our only working car. Yup, our only remaining working vehicle no longer works. A great friend rescued me and loaned us her van to use for the remainder of the week, barring urgent need for her. Before this happened, Daddy and I got into a teeny tiff, over nothing really, because we're both tired, and he's working extra long hours, and I was just cranky. We also got something in the mail yesterday concerning the accident we had on vacation back in July, which we thought was taken care of and apparently isn't yet.

Yesterday just had bad juju in general.

But this morning, I woke up with Casting Crowns Praise You In This Storm in my head.

And a couple different verses:

Matthew 6:24 (NIV) says: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Proverbs 21:9 )NIV) says: "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife."

Yikes.

Did I ever worry last night. And quarrelsome is an understatement. No one wanted to live with me last night, let alone my own husband, I'm sure.

Truly, ladies, two of the hardest things to do in life are not to worry, and to be loving and respectful to our husbands 100% of the time. And yes, of course everyone is going to make mistakes (thank you, God, for grace). But the most important earthly thing is our husbands and children. And the most important heavenly thing is to be pleasing to God and to bring Him glory.

Lord, help me today and every day to live the life you want me to live. You are my strength when I have none, my patience when I have none, and my courage when I have none. Hold my tongue when I would rather bite back, and teach me how to be a blessing to my husband at all times, even when we're cranky, because that's when he (and I) need it the most. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Today I'm linking up with Time Warp Wife: