Joyfull Living

Does your husband have little things that annoy him?  He is not alone!  It's always interesting to me that the things that bother my husband, usually go unnoticed by me.  Things like bananas.  This fruit get sweeter the more it ripens although the outside peel gets darker and darker.  Almost black (on the peel) bananas make the best banana bread!  But one of my husband's pet peeves is seeing 'rotten bananas' on the counter.  I can simply over look them, but it seems to really get under his skin.  Dish towels are another issue (apparently)!  My dish towels get used alot through the day.  A comment was made recently that let me know the dish towel was looking dirty (stained, not dirty!).  Again, I could easily overlook this, but it seemed to bother him.  What is the right thing to do in this minor tug of war? Although these are minor issues, how they are handled can make it a bigger issue. A good wife knows that a...

Around here, we’re having a busy week.  Our middle son will graduate on Saturday,  Since we’ve been through this once before, we know the routine.  We’re doing the celebrations, the photos, the ceremonies and all that comes with this special time. But we also know beyond this weekend and the celebrations, come real life.  Plans are being formed now that will determine the future of life – work, college, life skills, career etc.  Choices which can make or break the future.  This is not a time to relax and sit back, but to press on. My son didn’t realize it as he hung his gown on the only available nail on the wall.  But that nail also held a plaque – a verse.  I pray that he will always hang things on the Word of God.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3: 5,6 So, now we’re ready for thi...

Recently my husband used his day off to take are of some ‘honey do’s'.  This project was replacing a ceiling fan. It sure comes in a lot of pieces!! Since the living room space was taken up, I found my own project to do – baking! I just love days when things get accomplished!!

Happy Mother's Day!! The last few posts have leaned toward encouraging us as mothers to be the best we can be, knowing the power of God's love is within us.   Today brings a remembrance of how important our own mother's influence is.  My mother has passed on, but truly, her memory and her love are still alive in my life.  YOUR MOTHER IS ALWAYS WITH YOU Author unknown - She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow,  she is Christmas morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion....Happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, hel...

Moms have a love like none other.  But what does true love look like?  In I Corinthians, we receive some guidelines on how to love genuinely - not selfishly.  As moms, it is easy to get sidetracked in how we love.  Here is a fantastic reminder of a true mother's love! If I live in a house that is spotless, perfectly in order, and people are not free to LIVE because my home is more important than my family, I have not love. I have kept a house. I have not made a home. If I spend an exorbitant amount of money on decorations, and care more about the appearance of my house than the atmosphere of my home, I have not love. My children have learned materialism, not godliness. If I try to control my husband, responding in irritation to him and finding only fault in him...and I do not seek to build him up, I have not love. My children have learned to disrespect their father, not to honor him. Love is patient - seeking to assume the best of those ...

Can you tell it's almost Mother's Day?  From television commercials to in store displays, to radio and newspaper ads encouraging us to get the right gift for mom, this holiday is special.  I've found some fantastic things relating to Mother's Day to post about through the weekend about moms, so please check back!  But one of most important things on Mother's Day is to remember the blessing of being a mother.  "Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalms 127:3.  Motherhood can be described as a ride in life that takes you to depths of love, caring, worry, fear and other emotions never before experienced.  The responsibility of shaping and caring for a child is a monumental task we've never been faced with before becoming a mom. Being the source of love, trust, discipline and knowing what we live out day to day in front of them, will live on for generations. That's a lot of pressure!  B...

As we approach Mother's Day, it is easy to ponder expectantly on what we're going to 'get'.  Accolades and acknowledgement for our hard work, thanks for our dedication, perhaps a meal out, flowers or a present. But as any mother knows, it's not all about getting, it's about giving !  Mothers are born givers, nurturers and love to take care of the family.  The work is hard, but the rewards are fantastic!  Here is a pretty printable to help mom - GIVE . a powerful gift -  31 days of prayer for her husband.   Does he need a little 'tuning up'?  Instead of constantly reflecting on the things that bother us and what we wish we could change, let's place him in God's hands and let Him mold him into the man he was created to be.  Instead of nagging, let's pray about those qualities we want to see in him. Try it for 31 days and see if God doesn't make a difference in him and in us!  The Better Mom (I fixed the link..sorry...

In our area, the wild flowers are in full bloom.  A normal drive can turn into a marveling of God’s creation, if we take a moment to notice.  This quote from Lady Bird Johnson, seemed appropriate – flowers are in bloom all around us, and hope is never far away. For Texture Tuesday, I used the textures “Cherish”, “Word” & “And Then Some” all is soft light blending mode. May hope bloom in your heart today. “Now may the God of hope fill you with a ll joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

Work - as women we are well acquainted with it!  Our outside jobs fill our days with work and when we arrive home...guess what is there waiting for us...more work!!  "A woman's work is never done". Work is a part of life and our attitudes make the difference in it being a drudgery or a ministry.  The challenge for this week from 5 Weeks 5 Disciplines 5 Challenges , is WORK!   This area is sure to stretch us in discipline, but it is a needed facet for our lives especially as Christian women.  The Proverbs 31 woman who is a model for all Christian women worked and worked hard!  Some pieces of this passage give us a peek at the attitude towards work from a godly woman's perspective: She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. *She went above and beyond and did her work eagerly* She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. *She did the necessities, then stayed busy* Give her o...