What’s Cookin’ in the Country?

May 12, 2014March 28, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

What’s cooking? LOVE! Last weekend was the wedding! Whew! I’m taking a bit of a break from writing posts after a very busy season in our lives! This week, I am just going to post a few of my favorite wedding pictures each day. These are just my snapshots of casual moments, or poses the photographer took. I hope you’ll pop in each day to take a look! Next week I’ll share the details, the blessings of the Lord, and the joys we shared with our family during this very special time.

Now for today’s pictures :

These are pre-wedding day shots. Instead of having a wedding guest book, Alli chose to have a fingerprint tree. She asked me to paint a tree on a canvas. Then everyone came through and added their fingerprints to make the leaves on the tree. Here are the bride and groom last Tuesday adding their prints onto the swing. I made their prints into little birds. (To see the pictures better, click on the image)

The tree in the process of being filled up with “leaves.”

Did you do anything special or different for your wedding guest registry?

With love,

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Freshen Up Friday

May 9, 2014March 28, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

This weekend is Mother’s Day. Maybe you have a hard time thinking about how you can be refreshed because this is a hard day for you. I heard something recently that I’m going to paraphrase:

To those who aren’t moms, but wish they were, my heart aches.

For those that have lost a baby, my heart sympathizes.

For those who have lost their mom this year, my heart hurts.

For those who have a wayward child, my heart prays.

For those in the tough years of parenting, my heart embraces you in encouragement.

For those who dread Mother’s Day because you know you will probably not be acknowledged, decide right now, not to focus on your expectation of what your family should do for you. Think of another woman (your own mom, mother-in-law, sister, widow, neighbor, etc) that you can honor on Sunday. If your focus is on someone else, you’ll be far less likely to be disappointed.

I have a precious mom, for whom I thank the Lord very often. She’s such a blessing to me – a true gift from God! She raised three girls to love the Lord. She listened to us, loved us, lavished us with affection, encouraged us in our callings, and prayed for us. She did without so she could supply for us. She taught me how to love my husband by her example to my dad. She was a great cook, a skilled seamstress, an outstanding decorator. I couldn’t imagine a better mom than the one God gave me. I’m excited that I’ll get to see her tomorrow!

Isn’t she pretty?!

If you are thinking of honoring someone on Mother’s Day and don’t know what to do, here are a BUNCH of cute ideas.

Why not go to a wedding this weekend? I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be refreshed,

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Firm, Fair, Fun Parenting

May 8, 2014March 29, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Earlier this week I wrote a post about pointing our children in the right direction while they’re in our home. It’s a daily responsibility and sometimes it can get overwhelming. Other days it’s discouraging because they don’t seem like they’re “getting it.” We then fall into a disheartened mode which also influences the rest of our family. Can I encourage you on your parenting road today?

I heard a preacher recently say that in parenting you need to:

Be Firm
Be Fair
Be Fun

All three are needed.

Be firm – Say what you mean and then follow through. Don’t promise a spanking for disobedience and then not carry it out when you get home. That kind of neglect takes a huge amount of effort to undo. If you’ve set a curfew for your teen, expect them to honor it.

Be fair – Too often we hit the first one strong and hard. We’re firm. “No!” “No!” “No!” at every request, every attempt the child makes, at every word they say. But stop and ask if you’re also being fair.

What does “being fair” entail? Being fair requires really listening. Proverbs 18:13 says,

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,

it is folly and shame unto him.

Did you hear your child out completely before you answered them? Do you understand where they’re coming from? Or did you cut them off? If the teen was late for curfew, let them speak before you discipline. Hear them out. There may be a viable reason for their tardiness. If we’re wise, we will obey the Scripture above and hear them out. Let them know you care about what they have to say and that they are worth listening to.

Be fun – Lastly, we need to take time out for fun. If things are stressful in homeschool, drop the books and do something just for fun! If there’s been tons of stress in relationships, add a dose of something everyone will enjoy.

Go on a picnic for lunch.
Build a fort in the backyard.
Eat ice cream sundaes for supper.
Go shopping for sunglasses with your teen daughter and have lunch at her favorite place.
Learn to laugh – long and hard with your children
Isn’t it easy to scowl? Let your kids see you smiling- and at them!

Firm, fair, fun. If those words don’t describe your parenting, ask the Lord to help you incorporate the needed areas into your home today!

Which of these three areas is hardest for you?

With love,

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A Peek From My Porch

May 7, 2014March 28, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

A peek into my life this week

From the day we moved into our house, I would look into the dining room and anticipate being able to sit at our table and go through the Gospel with a neighbor and give them the Gospel. My husband and I began praying, by name, for each of those who live around us. How we desire to lead them to Christ!

Then, about two months ago, the door opened for me to invite one of my neighbors to join me in doing The Exchange Bible Study. It’s a great tool to introduce the Bible and the Gospel to those who don’t know Christ, or aren’t sure of their salvation. She seemed eager to participate and faithfully came each week.

I could tell right from the first lesson that God was at work in her heart. She was tender and full of good questions, yet also guarded; she rightly wanted to understand before making any kind of decision. How she was prayed for! I so longed for her to understand God’s great love for her in sending Christ to exchange her sinfulness for His righteousness.

Then last week, as we sat with cups of coffee, Bibles and study books, we did the lesson that teaches about God’s love. We talked about how personal it is – that He loves her! Tears welled up in her eyes. I then asked the question that is at the end of the chapter, “What would you like to say to God right now?” “I want to be saved, but I’m afraid I won’t live up to what He expects of me.” I reminded her that because we have a sinful heart, that we will sin after salvation, but we confess it, get back up , and by God’s grace move on. Then she asked, “How do I do it (ask Christ to save me)?” We had already talked all about what Christ had done to show God’s love, and why we needed to trust Him, so I opened my Bible, tears in my eyes and joy in my heart and I showed her Romans 10:9, 13. We clasped hands and she prayed and asked the Lord to be her Savior!

I cried. She cried. Dale cried. Oh, the joy of seeing a sinner repent and trust the Lord for their salvation! That dining room table will always be a special place for me as I think about how the Lord answered the desire of my heart to see someone trust Him in this house. That sweet young woman has become so dear to me and now we’re no longer just neighbors – we are sisters in Christ! What a blessing!

Are you seeking to disciple others and bring them to Christ? Keep praying for the opportunity – the Lord will open that door for you!

With love from my country porch,

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Bow Release Day

May 6, 2014March 28, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

Every time a new baby is born at our church, my husband reads Psalm 127. It’s a precious passage:

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:

and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Last week we got to go see a precious baby girl born into our church. Her mommy and daddy and big brother are all quite taken with her, and with good reason. She is so sweet. I got the privilege of holding this baby girl as my husband read the above Scriptures to the family. Then he began his explanation:

“This little girl is an arrow. All the while you’re training her, you are “holding her in the bow. While she’s growing up, you pull back the bow a little further and a little further. One day, when she is grown, you’ll have to release this arrow. If you have trained her for the Lord, she will go straight; towards the Lord. That’s what you’re aiming for all her life.”

This is my nephew and his son.
I know he and his wife are doing exactly what this verse teaches!

Suddenly I was taken back to twenty-two years ago when God gave us a third arrow in the form of Alli. As I listened to my husband reading this psalm now, the clear understanding of an upcoming wedding and “bow release time” hit me. I blinked back the tears, swallowed hard and prayed in my heart,

“Oh God, let Alli and Andrew both go straight when they’re released on May 10th. Help them to stay the path of walking with you all their lives!”

Do you have an “arrow” that God has given you? Are you daily pulling the bow back as you train, teach, and pray? One day you will have to release that arrow and it will go in the way in which you have been pointing it. Which direction will that be? You’re the one in control today; make good choices – Bow Release Day is coming sooner than you think!

This isn’t written in sadness, but sobriety. I hope it stirs you to parent with God’s help and strength today!