Be Still

I wake early to the sound of my husband crawling out of bed for his early morning run. It is too early for me, and so I turn to face the window, snuggle deep under the covers and return to sleep. Quickly though, I breathe a prayer of thanks for this wonderful man of mine, for his safety, and I'm gone.

When I do wake, my mind runs over a mental list of things to be accomplished this day. So many- and yet, there never seem to be enough hours to get it all done. Today I must work with Collin in his chemistry book. And geometry. Yes, we'll sit at the table, and go over his lessons. I want to make another batch of soap. And barbecue sauce. The ingredients have been sitting on the counter for over a week. There are loads of laundry, and the floors need swept.

I jump on Facebook to catch a glimpse of Mac, only he isn't there. But God is. I drink in the Scripture verses that several friends have posted for the day. I read slowly, gathering nourishment for the day ahead.

I throw in a load of laundry, and start cutting onions. Eleven of them. I press 22 cloves of garlic. I measure, and I stir, and I pray. Will I accomplish all that I need to?

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

I get the lye water mixed for the soap. I measure the oils. I prepare the mold, and I pray. So far, so good. I really need to work with Collin.

Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself

from his holy dwelling. Zechariah 2:13

I clean up the kitchen, and talk to my sweet husband on the phone. I realize there are errands that need to be run, and I pray. My list never seems to end. Why can't I accomplish all that I need to?

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

I start to sweep the floors, and the phone rings. It is Autumn, and I sit to chat with her. It is good to hear her voice though we saw each other just last night. I realize, this is how my heavenly Father feels about me. No matter how often I come to Him, he enjoys hearing my voice.

Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Psalm 4:4

I ask Collin and Abigail to get ready to go to town. There are groceries to buy, letters to mail, and gas tanks to be filled. And I pray all the way there. Lord, give me the strength to get everything done. I'm going to miss Mac though he wanted to video chat today. Give me peace.

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

My phone rings in the store, and it's Mac. Of course he understands that I had errands. We talk through several aisles, and I find myself smiling. And we agree to talk later in the evening.

And I pray on the way home. Thank you, Lord, for working out the details. Thank you for caring about every little thing. You are marvelous, and I love you! I realize I may not get everything done on my mental list, and it's okay. God doesn't love me any more or less because of what I do or don't do. He loves me because I am His, and that's enough.

And when I returned home I found a sweet email from a dear sister in Christ with all of the above Scripture verses, reminding me of God's love once again.

Photos by Collin

Mother Daughter Tea

My dear friend Lori welcomed us into our home for a weekend retreat, mothers and daughters. We arrived to a beautifully set table, and a buffet of delicious foods at noon.

The afternoon was filled with cake decorating, making kitchen trivets, a beading craft, and free time. Big girls played with littler girls while mommies talked and relaxed.

The evening meal was served in the gazebo, and was followed by singing, and watching Louisa May Alcott's The Inheritance. We talked into the wee hours of the morning, until we finally made our way to our lovingly prepared rooms.

A breakfast feast was prepared by Rebecca. A leisurely morning turned to afternoon, and we slowly parted ways. What a blessing to have friends that go out of their way to make others feel special.

Make Your Husband Your Priority

Oftentimes, women can get so caught up in caring for their children that their husbands have to take a backseat, or worse yet, become resented when they desire their wife's attention and affection. This can be especially true for women with very young children.  

Motherhood can be all consuming. We're responsible for the hygienical, nutritional, and spiritual needs of our children. Whether we home school or not, we must at least assist in our children's education. Add to all of this the care and maintenance of the home with the tasks of cooking, cleaning, and laundry, and we can be easily overwhelmed. 

When husbands come home, they are eager to spend time with those whom they love, but are frequently greeted by wives that are too tired or preoccupied with children or getting super on the table to make him feel welcome. This is a big mistake. 

Children learn what they live. After making sure that our children know the Lord, His sacrifice, and His love for them, the most important thing that we can do for them is to love our husbands. Our children are given to us for a season, but our husbands are given to us for a lifetime. 

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother 

and hold fast to his wife,

 and they shall become one flesh. 

Genesis 2:24

He answered, " Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,

 ' Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'? 

 So they are no longer two but one flesh. 

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." 

Matthew 19:4-6

Muddy waters within the family make everyone miserable; fathers, mother, and children. If there is disharmony between the mother and father, children are most definitely affected by it. Children who are made the priority in the family relationship are often spoiled, and are not learning the biblical design for marriage. 

So, how do we make our husbands our priority?

♥Do you make yourself presentable each day? 

One of the first mistakes that women make is letting their appearance go. Yes, I know that babies take time. However, you can place a baby in an infant seat, their crib, or playpen while you get a 10 minute shower. You'll feel better, and your husband will be blessed.  

♥Do you greet him with a welcome home kiss and hug?

Even though my children aren't "little" any longer, 5 PM seems to be my busiest time of the day. I'm routinely in the kitchen working on dinner when my husband arrives home from work. Despite the fact that I'm busy, as soon as I hear his vehicle pull into the driveway, I dash to the door and stand there waiting. "Daddy's home!" The children generally line up behind me. I get the first kiss (and usually the second third, and fourth...) while the children clamour, "I'm next!" My children have learned from me, from the time that they were very little, that when Daddy arrives, we greet him, and make him feel special. I often have to head straight back to the kitchen, but he understands, and usually follows me to chat about the day. 

♥Do you make his favorite dinners, or only things that the children will eat? 

I listen when my husband drops hints about a particular meal that he's hungry for. I often ask him for menu suggestions, and we almost always have dessert since he has a sweet tooth.  I hate cooked mushrooms, but I'll often make a recipe that includes them because I know how much my husband likes them. These may seem like little things, but he notices. 

♥Do you spend time together? Alone?

We've always lived on a modest one income salary, and didn't have the money to go on dates when our children were young. 7 PM was our children's usual bedtime, and it was followed strictly. We didn't wait for a certain night to be our "Date Night", but we spent entire evenings together all week long. We played games, and ate ice cream, or watched movies and had popcorn. Sometimes we would just sit and talk. We often didn't drag ourselves to bed until the wee hours of the morning because we were enjoying one another's company too much. 

The truth is, the more you make your husband a priority, the happier you will be. You must cultivate a relationship with your husband now if you want to have a relationship later. Just as we can't ignore our children when they are young and then expect them to be our friends when they are adults, we can't ignore our husbands until the children are grown. 

♥Do you listen to your husband? 

Do you know about his work? Do you ask questions in an effort to get to know him better, or to understand his interests? My husband is in sales and is thrilled when he mentions an account and I interject, "Oh, you mean so and so in western ...."  It shows that I've paid attention and that what he does matters to me. It also tickles him that I can (vaguely) talk football though it doesn't really interest me. It does interest me when he smiles because he feels loved and cherished! :0)

♥Do you ask for his advice? 

When I ask for his opinion, I listen to what he says. If I were to second guess him, or to go to another man for advice, I would be disrespecting him. God gave me my husband, specifically. He who knit my innermost being knew the kind of man that I would respond best to. I may not always agree with Verne on every issue, but I trust that he has my best interest in mind. Many women find this especially hard when it comes to issues regarding their children. We think that as mothers, we know what's the most appropriate action for them. Many times in the past, I've acted without consulting my husband because, "I just knew what he would say." That way of thinking almost always gets me into trouble. I then have to confess that I acted without his counsel, and that I made a mistake.  

♥Do you adorn yourself with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit?  

Do you nag because you want your own way or do you mention a topic to your husband in a respectful way, and then wait patiently for his answer, accepting his response  graciously, even if it doesn't result in the outcome that you desired? 

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands,

 so that even if some do not obey the word,

 they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 

when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

 Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 

which in God's sight is very precious.

For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves,

 by submitting to their own husbands,

 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.

 And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 

1 Peter 3:1-6

Mother's Day is this coming Sunday. What kind of message are you sending to your children about marriage? Do they think that their daddy matters little and that he'll wait, or do they think that their daddy is an amazing man and that their mommy is proud to be his wife and best friend? 

Proverbs 5:18 tells husbands to "rejoice in the wife of your youth".

Can your husband rejoice in you? 

Sisterhood

Do you ever question why you blog? I know I do. There have been many times that I've thought of packing it up. My husband encourages me to keep writing. He enjoys reading each and every comment that you all leave (as do I!)

Blogging has helped me to connect to so many wonderful women. Women who are raising families just like me. Women who like to cook, sew, etc. Women who are living out their faith daily; sharing scripture and prayer requests with one another. And still I wonder, 'Do I make a difference?'

I received the sweetest email from a woman in Brazil this weekend. Her words touched my very core. I want to share them with you, not to build myself up, but to build each of you. Taking time to write is rare in this day and age. I believe that we are making a difference, and that even though we may not realize it, someone else may be encouraged by what we have to say.

Hi Tracy,
I visited your blog yesterday, and today I felt that I shouldn't leave it without sharing my impressions.
I'm a Brazilian music teacher, and I don't know if you can track exactly the places from where your blog was visited, but it's quite far from where you are, in southern Brazil, in a city named Curitiba, in Paraná. Maybe the Iguaçu falls are a reference - they're in the same state.
But I'm not writing to share geographical data with you. I just want to thank you. After a rough day at work, facing personal problems with nasty colleagues, I put my kids in bed and went on a hunt for ideas of self made gift for their teachers. In Brazil, October 15th is teacher's day. Once they are tiny (3 and 6), there's quite a lot of people around them, teachers, assistants, hygiene aids, etc. I thought that making a gift for each of these people, who help me take care of my babies while I'm teaching my classes would be much better than spending a lot of money and buying gifts that in the end wouldn't be so meaningful.
Hunting for ideas, I decided that making some personalized totes, with each teacher's name embroidered on it would be a charming gift for teacher's day. But I don't sew...
Searching for templates or patterns that would suit both, my expectations and my skills, I ended up finding your blog. I went up and down through it, fascinated by every little detail you placed there. I even read (almost all of) the 100 facts about you. And every time I scrolled down the page, my eyes caught a glance of those eternally true words: "Be still and know that I am God." Every time I read them, I was touched by those words, and scrolling my way through your blog, each touch was like a balm for my sore heart. I didn't need to read or to hear more than those 8 words. That's the beauty of God's word: it's so simple, and so powerful. And still, people have a hard time believing it can be true.
Let me try to come to an end: I just wanted you to know that your posts are a precious testimony of your faith. Through it, you are telling people the good news of God's love. Softly and gently, between recipes and news about your kids. Your posts are reaching out farther then you might have expected.
May God bless you and your wonderful family, which I know a little bit now. I'll visit you every now and then.
In the love of Jesus,
Marilene (Mah-ree-lay-nay)

PS. I attached a picture of our family, for you to get to know us, too.
PS.II The recipe attached goes to Autumn - for Jon. These are very traditional Brazilian sweets - no party without them, and everyone goes crazy about them. When my nephew got married in Nashville, my sister and I made this recipe (times 100) to serve with the cake. I'll try to make my mini-tutorial almost as good as yours...

Links List

I've come across a few blogs of interest, and some really different ideas. I thought that you might enjoy them, too!

As a mother of two girls, I love the blog Hair Today. This woman has oodles of creativity. Looking for a cute way to style your girl's hair? Look no further!

Are you hosting a baby shower any time in the near future? This punch is adorable, and would be a great conversation starter. Ooh, ooh! How about substituting little boats for the rubber ducks. That would be perfect for a young boy's party!

And on to more serious topics: Visit Stacy for an interesting read concerning modesty and swimwear.

Be informed! We all know that our skin is our largest organ. I'm becoming increasingly aware as the years go by, not only about what I put into my body, but what I put on it. Do you think that you're saving yourself from skin cancer by using sunscreen? Maybe not. How about your make-up, shampoo, soap, and deodorant? Do you know what's in them? This website is amazing. Simply type in the product that you want to know about and it will tell you how safe it is, and what effects it may have on your well-being. It's a real eye opener!

Putting It into Practice

image courtesy of Allposters

As a result of Autumn attending her Entrepreneurial Leadership camp, she came home equipped with a whole new set of skills. She can write a business plan, and a financial plan. She learned about marketing, and a whole slew of other business solutions.

Autumn has been baking for a neighbor for several weeks. She had been paying me for ingredients, utilities, and so on. This week, I had her buy her own supplies. We went to the grocery on Wednesday, and she had her list in her hand. She bought flour, sugar, Crisco, butter, vegetable oil, brown sugar, confectioner's sugar, eggs, nuts, jam, and chocolate chips. She was quite surprised when she got to the register and the total was $42!

When we got home, I had Autumn measure how many cups of flour, sugar, and so on were in each bag. From there, she figured out the price per cup of everything. This way, she could figure out exactly what each recipe was costing her to make it, and she could see what her profits were. She made a table of the cost of ingredients so that she can figure future recipes out quickly.

Last night after she finished baking for another customer she had two dozen cookies left. She divided them evenly. She then made a flier with a list of her cookie choices, and her phone number. She walked around the neighborhood giving out samples and fliers. She got another order on the spot. She'll be baking again today!

National Apron Day

Interested in an apron giveaway? Go here to enter!

Selling our Birthright?

My husband has recently been in contact with a large company that was interested in hiring him. It seems as though his name precedes him in the work field. His name flows from the lips of people who have never met him. He has integrity. He's a team player. He works hard. Everyone knows it.

After many phone conversations with the president of the aforementioned company, she told him that she wanted to fly him to Minnesota for a meeting. Verne agreed. The next day, this female president called and told Verne that the travel arrangements were made. She would pick him up at the airport to take him back to the office.

Verne and I have a policy that we will never be alone with a member of the opposite sex. He proceeded to tell the company president that he would not ride alone with her. He was kind, and explained himself very well. (I was in the room.) He asked if perhaps a man could pick him up, someone else could ride along, or he could just rent a car. She was silent. She didn't understand. Her exact words to Verne were, "Don't think of me as a woman. Think of me as your boss." Verne politely said, "You are still a woman. I don't have a problem working for a woman. I just have a problem putting myself into a situation where we would be alone." The conversation ended with her saying that she would think about how to handle this.

Later that evening, he received an email saying that his plane ticket had been canceled. She regretted to inform him that she canceled the interview, because if he took the job, there would be many times that he would be required to ride with female salespeople as he would be overseeing them.

Instead of being upset, my heart soared when I realized that God had closed the door to this job before the interviewing process went any further, when it might have been a temptation to bend our scruples. Of course, Verne was upset, but I was so proud of him for standing up for what he believed in, even when it was difficult and awkward to do.

The words spoken by this female company president resounded with us for several days. The next morning, Abigail was taking the dog outside to use the potty. Verne walked up the driveway as he returned from his run. He said that as he looked at Abigail standing there, her skirt gently blowing in the breeze, he hoped and prayed that his daughters never said to anyone,
"Don't think of me as a woman."

God made us women to fulfill a unique role. It's not that women can never work outside the home, but to throw away our femininity to do so is no different than Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of stew.

Genesis 25: 19-34

• 19.
• Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son : Abraham became the father of Isaac ;

• 20.
• and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

• 21.
• Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren ; and the LORD answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.

• 22.
• But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If it is so, why then am I this way?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.

• 23.
• The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb ; And two peoples will be separated from your body ; And one people shall be stronger than the other ; And the older shall serve the younger."

• 24.
• When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

• 25.
• Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment ; and they named him Esau.

• 26.
• Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob ; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.

• 27.
• When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.

• 28.
• Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

• 29.
• When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished ;

• 30.
• and Esau said to Jacob, "Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom.

• 31.
• But Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright."

• 32.
• Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die ; so of what use then is the birthright to me?"

• 33.
• And Jacob said, "First swear to me"; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

• 34.
• Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew ; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

image courtesy of Allposters