Here is a little sneak peek at the flour sack towel I am embroidering for my sister-in-law. She has a cherry motif in her kitchen, so I hope she enjoys this towel. I am also giving her an Americana heart shaped pie pan. (Don't worry dear friends, she does not read this blog) Her birthday is at the end of September, so I need to hasten. What projects are you enjoying in your free time?

Classical Christian Schooling
I have been an avid researcher of curriculums prior even to having children. Since reading The Well Trained Mind, I have become more and more convinced of the importance of teaching children history chronologically. I know there are a myriad of ways to teach the trivium, and I think I like parts of each. But I especially like the way Susan Bauer recommends teaching History in The Well Trained Mind:

Ancient Civilizations (5000 B.C.-400 A.D.) - studied during grades 1,5,9
Medieval/Early Renaissance (400 A.D.-1600 A.D.) - studied during grades 2,6,10
Late Renaissance (1600-1850 A.D.) - studied during grades 3,7,11
Modern (1850-present) - studied during grades 4,8,12

What I love so much about this method is it's throughness. If you missed learning some elements of Ancient Civilization during your first grade year, you can pick it up during fifth grade, or even ninth grade. I also love that you can homeschool multiple children this way. At first I was a little confused on how, since I will have a 1st grader and a 3rd grader at one time. What Susan Bauer suggests, is that you just start your first 1st grader off at Ancient Civilizations, and fold in the other children wherever you are. Your younger children will have heard you teaching your older children about the previous historic periods. (even if they were busy playing with legos at the time) I really love the idea of integrating all the children into the lessons. I was a little confused on the logistics of this, but I found a really helpful link here. Say you have a 1st grader, a fifth grader, and a ninth grader, they will all be learning Ancient Civilizations, but the older they get, the more in depth it will be. For example, you might read to your first grader a more simplified version of the Odessey, and your older children will read versions appropriate to their level. Your first grader will perhaps color in a lovely Ancient Egypt Coloring Book, your fifth grader might make model pyramids, and your 12 grader might write an in-depth research paper on why and how the Egyptians failed. I love the idea that you can learn more as a family, yet the lessons are not dumbed down for the older children. Most children are very confused about when various events occurred historically because they are taught American history first. As Susan Bauer says, that is a very narcisstic and confusing view from which to start. We are to teach our children American History in it's proper place, but we ought to start history "at the very beginning." If you have already started a typical history program with your children, and you are interested in following this classical pattern, you still can. Even if your child is in third grade, for example, you simply start at Ancient Civilizations. You must start at the beginning to prevent confusion.

Science:

The Well Trained Mind model for science is as follows:
Life Science (animals, humans, plants)- studied during grades 1,5,9
Earth Science and Astronomy- studied during grades 2,6,10
Chemistry- studied during grades 3,7,11
Physics-studied during grades 4,8,12

I simply loved the order of these! Again, the family can study together, just have appropriate work on each level. One of the best resources to do this which includes so many projects and fun family activities, is here. This wonderfully Christian curriculum set covers grades 1-8 and is available risk-free for 30 days. You can also buy the books individually from Answers in Genesis. For high schoolers, my favorite pro-Creation science is Apologia . We need to saturate our children's hearts in the truth that we are wonderfully and purposefully made. I pray that God guides you in a mighty way as you teach your children His Ways.

My Little Babies Loving the Front Porch
We just love sitting on our front porch, enjoying the warm sunshine. (Though here in N. Carolina, it is quite hot right now.) The great thing about North Carolina is that it is front porch weather usually 3/4 ths of the year. As I have mentioned before, I love reading to Lily as we sip tea or lemonade on the front porch. These moments are such treasures of mine. If you can, make some memories with your children today. Children are such a joy!
If you get the chance, please pray for Lily. She has some dental work that needs to be done. (Nothing drastic, but it still makes me worry.) Thank you!
*** UPDATE*** We just got back from Lily's dental appointment and we really need your prayers. She needs quite a bit of work done, and she was quite uncooperative. The dentist wanted to have her go to the hospital and be put under anesthesia to complete her dental work. This terrifies my husband and I . We do not feel peace about having such a young girl have general anesthesia, so we are praying that God will lead us to a dentist who will have the patience to work on her teeth. If we do nothing, her teeth will just get worse. I just cannot believe that they could not complete the dental work! She had medication last night and this morning, to calm her, and they gave her novicaine today. She was great when they gave her the shot, which is supposed to be the most painful part. After that, she had a fit that they wanted to touch her mouth. We truly covet your prayers for our little angel. If anyone has had any similar experiences with your children, I am most grateful for any wisdom you might share. Thank you so much.

Ain't nothing like mashed taters!

One Woman's Treasure
This picture is a treasure of mine, which I found about two months ago. My hubby called me up on his cell phone and told me that someone in our neighborhood was throwing away a beautiful picture, which was "so me". So I walked down the street to casually look at it, and I was stunned that someone would be getting rid of this beautiful image. The only question in my mind was, "How does one non-chalantly carry a heavy 28 x 34 inch framed picture down the road?" So I did what any self-respecting person would do, and I picked up the picture and hastened down the street. I bet all the neighbors were laughing as they peered out their windows. The family that got rid of it was moving, so I know they were happy to see it gone. I found the old adage that "one man's junk is another man's treasure" is far too true. I am thankful that God blessed me with this beautiful art, despite the funny way I obtained it. (Sorry about the glare, I am still figuring my digital camera out!)

Hooray, God has blessed me with a digital camera! Here is a picture I took right before bedtime of the love of my life, Stephen II, and our two precious darlings, Stephen III (18 months) and Lily (3 1/2 years)! Lily insists on wearing one of daddy's shirts to bed, since it is so cozy and reminds her of him. I am just so blessed to have such a dear family. I am just so unworthy. (By the way, that little boy might look angelic, but he is a big stinker! He is always looking for some trouble to get into. I sure love him just the same, though!)

Out of the Mouths of Babes:
Today, I was dramatically telling Lily and Stephen III the account of Noah. I told Lily that Noah faithfully worked on building the ark , for around 100 years. My sweet little Lily turned her head to the side and said, "That's it?". I nearly busted my side I was laughing so hard! Oh, children are just too precious and funny.

Passing Your Convictions on to Your Children:
Before I had children, I worried that they would not hold the same biblical convictions I have. Now that I have two little blessings, I really worry that they will not hold to my convictions. I wondered why so many children neglect doing things which were so near to their parents hearts. This past Sunday, my pastor gave a, well, very convicting sermon on handing down one's convictions. He so poignantly said that if you cannot defend your conviction biblically, then it is just a preference/opinion. The way to hand down our convictions is not just to say "do this" and "don't do that", but rather, to show biblically why you do what you do. Do your children know biblically what you believe about:

• Homeschooling
• Modest Attire
• Family Integration at Church
• Dads being the spiritual leader
• Moms staying at home
• Children are blessings from the Lord

It was very convicting for me to remember that just because I know why I believe what I believe, doesn't mean my children do. My pastor reminded us to teach the next generation why you have your convictions and where they can be found in Scripture.

I have often wondered why some children from large families say that they don't want any/many kids. As someone who heartily believes that children are an "heritage of the Lord." I always worried that my children would not understand this concept. The difference between the children who see children as a blessing or as a curse, are those who have been shown biblically the beauty of having children. Another large impact on our children, is whether we as parents act like our children are a chore or a blessing. As a parent, instead of living in the flesh and sighing when there is another dirty diaper, I need to rejoice in the Lord. There will always be drippy noses, a messy table, and one more load of laundry to be washed. But if I can be a joyful mother who does these things with love and purpose, how blessed will be my childrens' view of motherhood! I pray that you and I will be effective in being faithful witnesses to our children. May we also always have a Biblical reason for our convictions.

"Rejoice in the Lord Always: and again I say rejoice." -Philippians 4:4

Graphic Courtesy of www.allposters.com

The Power of Motherhood
I just received the Bible Study Manual compiled by Nancy Campbell, The Power of Motherhood, and I have been so blessed! As mothers, it is essential that we solidify ourselves in what God's Word says about our role. Otherwise, it is far too easy to despair and to forget just how important our duty is. If you are feeling discouraged about your role as a mother, I heartily recommend this book to you. I am planning on studying this book during a devotional time, daily. (I want to take my time through it and look up all the scripture references) I just love Nancy Campbell's tapes and books for renewing and refreshing my vision as a mother. She has a gift for putting things in the right perspective and showing what is most important. If you are interested in any of her edifying materials, please contact Above Rubies. She is such a tremendous reminder that mothers' have such a high calling and need to abide in His Word constantly. What a blessing to have such helpful materials from a Titus 2 woman! I am still amazed at how far God has brought me since I first became a mother.(though I still have a long way to go!) I cannot believe how little I understood about the importance of raising up godly children. I suppose I thought it would happen on it's own. But now, I want to fill my children's hearts and lives with Him. I am glad we serve such a patient and faithful God who loves us too much to let us stay as we are! How have you been blessed by Nancy Campbell's materials? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Handmade Handiwork:
Making handmade treasures is quite catching today. It always makes me smile to see old customs revived in our modern times. Lately, I have been embroidering a flour sack towel for my sister-in-law, for her birthday. She loves all things "cherry" for her kitchen, so I pray that she will enjoy the towel I am making for her. I was pleasantly surprised to see the plethora of resources, patterns, and links regarding two of my favorite crafting methods: embroidery and crochet. Any craft can be a very rewarding experience to make. I encourage you to try a handicraft to keep your hands ever busy, as was the custom in Victorian times. Many crafts can be done while traveling, listening to a cd, or during naptime.
If you are new to embroidery and are interested in learning more, there are many helpful websites. For embroidery lessons, find the link here. Other free resources include an embroidery primer ,Dictionary of stitches,and patterns. It is a very calming and enjoyable activity. I love making myself a fresh cup of tea (especially calming chamomile) and settling down to embroider. I am so grateful that my grandmother taught me the basics of embroidery when I was 8 years old. She was so patient and loving towards me; she always took time to teach me something new. I sure miss her, but the memories I have of her truly warm my heart, especially as I embroider.
Crocheting is my other favorite handiwork. I am amazed at the amount of patterns one can find for crocheting or knitting! One site had lovely vintage type crochet patterns, which you can find here . Their beautiful website was replete with directions for making lacy shawls, little girls' gowns, and even aprons. I taught myself the basics of crocheting, many years ago. I am always trying to find ways to hone my skills.
I encourage you to teach your young daughters these skills as well. Even a very young lady can find ways to bless others through her handicrafts. There are so many examples of women throughout scripture who use their sewing and crafting skills to bless others.Some of these fine ladies include: the Proverbs 31 woman, Tabitha (Dorcas), and Lydia. It is best to teach these fine skills to our daughters when they are young and enthusiastic.
God has innately given us ladies a desire to create something beautiful.(though only He can create, in the true sense of the word) He, who creates in us, new and precious life, gives us a yearning to make our own handiwork. Please don't just say it is too difficult for you; every excellent crafter has had more than her share of mistakes. All that is needed is joy and effort. It is amazing what you will reap, if you sew!
Image by Mary Cassatt
"Lydia Seated on a Porch, Crocheting"
From www.allposters.com

"Time for Tea" by Judy Gibson www.allposters.com
The Family Altar
The fire is blazing in the fireplace; papa, mama, and the littles are snuggled under a cozy blanket on the couch. Father brings out his large and worn, family Bible. He reads a chapter to his dear ones, who are hanging on his every word. After Bible study, Father teaches his family the deeper meaning of the scriptures they are studying. Then, they lift up their hearts together in prayer. Every family member prays for the needs near his heart. Dad and Mom smile when they hear their 2 year old's innocent prayer. Afterwords, they recite their bible memory verses and sing old favorite hymns. Beth, an 8 year-old daughter grabs her violin and provides lovely accompaniment. The children laugh all the way upstairs and giggle as they snuggle into their beds.
It truly must gladden the heart of God to see families gather together daily to worship Him. He has chosen these precise people, our family members, to fellowship and pray together. Our modern churches, in a desire to draw people closer to God, actually put much strain on the family. Often, parents who are so involved in ministering to others outside the home, have no time for those within their homes. The revival that God has wrought about through such ministries as Vision Forum has truly touched many fathers' hearts and turned them to their children. If we go off seeking the salvation and sanctification of other souls, yet neglect our own family, we reject a great blessing from the Lord.
When I was first saved, I stayed with a Christian family and was surprised to see that they did not have an evening prayer time. Christianity was rather individualistic to them. They were taught that the church was where you learn about God. They had no time left from their hectic ministry schedules to simply pray together as a family. We were not created just to be lone rangers, but to dwell together in prayer and study as a family.
Many men may feel unworthy of the call to teach their children. But he who trusts in the Lord for guidance will be abundantly blessed. He will reap so much from investing in his children's spiritual lives. Men are to be the spiritual leaders of the family. Ladies, what are you to do if you want your husband to step up to bat and lead your family in devotions? First and foremost, I would pray that God softens hubby's heart so that he will be the man he needs to be. Secondly, I would suggest talking with him about it. Do not be harsh or nagging. But rather, tell him that you always love studying God's Word with him, and would he be so kind to lead the family in devotions? My husband told me that he likes it when I am encouraging to him about it. Simply saying, "Honey, may we please have devotions tonight?" can do wonders. As in all things, nagging just leads to frustration and being frazzled. If he absolutely refuses, turn towards our Lord and beg Him to help you. How he ardently loves you and your family. He alone can change a hardened heart. The revival that can be wrought through family prayer is immense. It softens family relationships where there might be strife or anger.
Let us savour these times with our children while they are little. May we plant His truth deep within their hearts while they are still young. I fancy that family altar memories will probably be the sweetest treasure in my golden years.
Do you worship as a family? What are your favorite things about family devotions? What is your family altar time like? I would so love your input! Blessings!

I have been tagged by Mrs.Wilt. This should be fun!

4 Jobs I have had in my life:

1. Babysitter

2. Cashier (at Food Lion)

3.Telemarketer (for Kirby vacuums- yikes, this is hard to admit! I know telemarketers are America's most respected profession! I only made local, cold calls in Virginia.)

4. Preschool and Christian Academy Teacher

4 Movies I could watch over and over:

1.Love Comes Softly + sequels

2. Pride and Prejudice (A & E versions)

3. 7 Brides for 7 Brothers

4. Gone with the Wind

4 Places I have Lived:

1. Virginia

2. North Carolina

4 Things I Like to Do:

1. Read a book

2. Embroider/Crafting

3. Play with my littles.

4. Spend time with hubby.

4 Websites I visit Daily:

1.Sparrow's Nest

2.Biblical Womanhood

3. Joyful Homemaker

4. Lindsey

4 Places I have been on vacation:

1. Los Angeles, CA in 7th grade (to visit family)

2. Orlando,FA in 7th grade (hey- it was a good year)

3. Mexico City in 10th grade

4. Michigan- 2 years ago

4 of my Favorite Foods:

1. lasagna

2. all things chocolate

3. chicken and dumplins

4. steak and mashed taters

4 Places I would like to be right now:

1. An old Irish cottage (my dream spot)

2. A coffee shop with hubby

3. the Vision Forum Entrepreneurial Conference (do I get extra credit for spelling it right?)

4. Chatting with a Titus 2 lady over tea

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about me. I tag anyone who is brave enough to try this meme. Please leave a comment so I will check your blog! Blessings!

Image by Ann Mount, courtesy of www.allposters.com .

Children in the Congregation:

• The concept of children (of all ages) being in the church congregation during worship, is founded on biblical principles. This is the norm and standard during 4 major time periods of the bible.

Time of Moses- Deuteronomy 31:12-13

Time of Nehemiah- Nehemiah 8:1-3, Ezra 10:1

Time of Jesus- Matthew 18:1-5, 19:13-15

Time of Paul- Ephesians 6:1-4, Colossians 3:20

The above references were found in Scott Brown's articles, which can be found here. It is vital that we look to the Scriptures alone to make our decisions, not the modern day customs. In the book of Joel, we see a beautiful image of families being called to worship together.

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out of his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room." -Joel 2:15-16

May God pour His choicest blessings upon you as you seek His face today!

Image courtesy of www.allposters.com "Gathering Place" by Ann Mount

A Blessing: Family Integrated Churches
For a year and a half now, my family and I have been attending a family integrated church. It has been a blessing to me in so many ways. I have been so edified and encouraged by the Titus 2 women at my church. My relationship with my Savior has deepened and ripened under so many wonderful influences and godly preaching. I am grateful that I feel free to worship with my husband and two children during the church services. I do not feel like there are a million ministries that I have to divide my life amongst. Scripturally, I have seen that as a wife and mother, my primary means of serving God is in the home. I must be a help meet to my husband and a loving mother towards my children. It is revolutionary to be taught in church that this is your main calling as woman. So many women in modern churches feel guilty unless they teach Sunday school, monitor the nursery, and teach clubs. It is often time consuming just to prepare for one of these tasks. But since my church does not have all those extras, my family has more time to focus on the essentials.
What are the essentials? Well, first and foremost, Dad needs to disciple his wife and children. This is based on the biblical principle of Deuteronomy 6. One clearly sees that God wants the parents (not a babysitter, a clubleader, etc.) to lead their children to God. Here, God shows us that He is to be a natural and integral part of life. We fail as parents when we do not fill our children's hearts with Him and His Word. He is to be on our minds and hearts at all times: while we are walking, talking, sitting down.
Those who join my church enter into a covenant of fellowship. In this, we agree to daily have devotions with our families. This is the way God wants us to lead our children to Him. When daddies lead their families, 80-90% of the time, children will follow that way for the rest of their lives.
Sure, some good has been wrought by clubs and Sunday schools. But we must not say that the end justifies the means. We must disciple others in a biblical fashion. If I wanted to go around leading a men's ministry, some might be led to the Lord. But I would be disobeying a biblical principle found in I Timothy 2:12, which states that women should not teach men. Remember, we must follow God's principles to ultimately fulfill His Will.
For more information on Family Integrated Churches, please visit Vision Forum . Their website has wonderful articles and a national directory of family integrated churches. A book called Family Integrated Church has also newly been released. You can also visit my church's website for more information.
I cannot sing the praises of family-integrated churches loud enough. God is truly reviving many by returning the hearts of fathers and children towards each other. Only by first establishing loving fellowship in our homes can we go out and lead others to the Lord.

Graphic courtesy of allposters.com

Woman's Role in Marriage
One thing that constantly amazes me about God is His patience in teaching His children. Often, I am ADD when it comes to learning His most important lessons! One topic that He has been dealing with me a lot on lately is my relationship with my husband. See, when I was first wed, I thought marriage was all about me! (well... I guess I thought it was about 3 people: me, myself, and I) But now I realize the 3 beings it should really be about: God, Stephen, and then me. It has taken a lot for me to realize that the purpose of marriage is not for Christine to be happy and fulfilled. Don't get me wrong, those sound fun to me, but they are not the reason God united hubby and I in matrimony. Actually, it has been very convicting reading the scriptures lately. Genesis 1:28 states that God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." GASP!!! Contrary to my former beliefs, marriage is not all about me! Shocking, isn't it? I was created to meet a God-given need, for a particular man, my husband. I am to be a helper. As 1 Corinthians 11:9 states, "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." So, that would mean that my husband was not created to fulfil my every whim? Poor guy, I sure messed this one up! When we were first married, I demanded that Stephen take me everywhere I wanted to go, so I wasn't bored. I would ramble on to him for hours, seeking him to comfort me. In actuality, I was distorting the beauty that God created marriage to be. I am to help my husband with his often heavy load. Am I freeing him from some of his more menial tasks so he has some free time? Or am I just another weight hanging on him? How sad it is when we are a burden rather than a help meet to our husband! Everyday, we must strive to make our spouse's life easier and lovelier. If today was our last day to help our husbands, tomorrow would he notice all we had been doing for him?
God has wrought a change in my heart regarding this topic by revealing to me two simple truths:
1.As a wife, you are to help your husband daily and joyfully.
2.Come to the Lord with your frustrations rather than laying all of them upon husband.
I had erroneously thought that my husband was the one who should hear all my problems and tell me how to solve them. I also always laid a bunch of nonesense on his ears. (I need help from Him on this one) But I am learning to lay it on the Lord. Men often don't want to talk for hours or be talked at for hours. God is waiting at every moment to hear from you. If you feel that hubby is acting unjustly towards you, don't gossip to Aunt Matilda about it! Seek the Lord and He will calm your burdened soul. Marriage can be a helpful tool for learning how to die to self. (Sadly though, too many enter marriage as I did, selfishly.) Jonathan Edwards was a difficult man to be married to, but Sarah Edwards was a grand help meet to him. He was oblivious to so many things, yet she was a terrific wife because of her relationship with the Lord. As Psalm 37:7 states, "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." As Christian ladies, we must lean upon our Lord. He alone can transform this sinful and selfish creature into a vision of Godly womanhood.

How God worked in one woman's life:
The fact that I am a child of God is nothing more than a great testimony to our God's mercy and grace. I attended public school during elementary schools and was raised in a Catholic home. Both sides of my family have been Catholic for many generations. It wasn't until I started attending Catholic school in 6th grade that I became such a devout Catholic. I would go around telling people what they were doing wrong and that only Catholics go to heaven. I could not stand any tepidity; to me, Catholicism was all or nothing. I felt the bondage to Catholicism at all times. One is baptized into it almost as soon as he is born. If he continues in it till death, he struggles with it's teachings all his life. I was such an adamant Catholic that I thought that I could convert the world. We were constantly taught that Martin Luther was the bad guy who started it all. I attended a fervently Catholic college for two years. It was as if all their teachings were constantly being pounded into me. During the following summer, my boyfriend at that time (now my husband) led me to the Lord. This was no small task, my dear friends! I was the most stubborn person on earth! I would talk to him for hours going over every point that almost every pope had made on some matter. He would calmly listen and often, he would just say that he would pray for me. His prayers definitely were heard. One evening, I just was at a breaking point. I was tired of worrying about whether man-made rules were sinful or not. I cried buckets because of the bondage I had experienced. I was ready to give up my quest for jumping through hoops. I had attended church with his family that morning, and the sermon had really amazed me. His pastor told a story about a woman who was dying of cancer. She was so excited because she was going to see her Lord. I remember thinking, "How can she be so sure? I wish that could be true!" The pastor said that woman knew she was going to heaven, not because she was good. She was certain of her salvation because she trusted in her Savior, who made her white as snow. I had been taught that if I jumped through enough hoops and did enough penance, I could enter heaven one day. (after spending a couple hundred years in purgatory) My life was truly changed forever. I was born again on July 16,2001. Such a joy entered into my heart, such as I had never known before. I want to thank my dear husband for being patient with me and for never giving up on leading me to the Lord. I beg you, dear friends in Christ, to never give up on leading anyone to the Lord. Prayer is the most important ingredient in hearts being transformed.
Afterwards, I quit college and worked for a year and a half in a Christian school and preschool. I quit working two months before Lily was born. I had always known that children need their mother to be at home full-time. When I was little, I was sent to one babysitter after another. Then, when I turned two, I went to daycare from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.. I never wanted my children to even spend a minute in a daycare or at a babysitter's. I am grateful that God taught me this lesson at an early age. But, I was a confused by the world, so I often contemplated finishing college so "I could prove to myself that I could do it." (Like that is the most important thing in life) I was going to take correspondence courses, which would take precious time away from Lily. God showed me, through godly Christians, the proper role of women. It would have been selfish if I finished college for my own selfish interests. My joyful duty is to be a helpmeet to my husband, a godly mother, and a homemaker. Anything done out of obedience to the standards of the world is sheer bunk!
A little while after I was saved, I grew sad to see how much the modern Baptist churches mimic the world. I was disheartened that they wanted my child separated from me in the service. I was appalled at how few children the other families had. I was starting to feel like I did not belong. I was one of the few church members who was seeking to have a home centered, Titus 2 heart. By chance, I found a Vision Forum catalog at my in-law's house. (They never requested it or anything, how it got there is a heavenly mystery.) I was pleasantly surprised when I saw their views about the sanctity of life, the role of women and men, and the family and the church. God would use them as a catalyst to draw me into a deeper and more mature relationship with Him. My hubby and I had been the only Christians we knew of, who were entrusting our fertility to the Lord. It was such an encouragement to find resources that could help us in these areas. We wanted to find like-minded Christians to live near, so we contemplated moving to San Antonio. (We thought that was the only place that had a family-integrated church.) But one day I was looking at the Vision Forum Ministries webpage and was elated to find a family integrated church 15 miles from my house!
God has just done so much in my life through all the families I know, who are such tremendous examples. Attending church at a family integrated church is like a breath of fresh air after being in a stinky barn! You are not looked at like you are weird if your baby makes a joyful noise in church. Everyone rejoices with you, when you have a new one on the way. When you find difficulties in child-rearing, you have so many wise people to call upon for advice and tips. Often, the women encourage each other to be feminine and godly mothers and wives. I have just been so exceedingly blessed by God. It can be awful lonesome if you do not have fellowship with like minded believers. They can exhort you and challenge you, by their examples. Even if everyone else in your life disagrees with you, you need strength from the Body of Christ. God is faithful to give you your heart's desires, even when you don't know how to articulate them to Him. Now, I want to be like a flower for Christ. I want to be feminine, fragrant, and beautiful both inside and out. It makes me rejoice to glorify God as a woman, living today. I want to be bold for Jesus, regardless of what the world is doing. I want to raise boys to be chivalrous men. I want to raise girls to be a vision of biblical femininity. For this task, I need a lot of grace, prayer, and joy. May God be praised for His marvelous works.

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are made new." -2 Corinthians 5:17

Image courtesy of AllPosters.com "Far Away" by Michael Wood

Jumping for Joy !
Congratulations to Joy , who recently found out she is expecting her fourth blessing! The poor dear is having a tough time with morning sickness, so please stop by her site and wish her well. I have enjoyed reading her inspirational blog, which I only found a few weeks ago. Joy and her husband, Dave, are missionaries to the Indonesian people. She truly is an example of godly womanhood and joyful, Christian living. Blessings to her and her growing family.

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." -Psalm 16:11

7 Pillars of Biblical Womanhood:

• a helpmeet (Genesis 2:18)
• a fruitful bearer of children (Genesis 1:28)
• a keeper at home (Titus 2:4)
• a teacher (Ephesians 6:1-4
• a demonstration of unfading beauty (I Peter 3:4-6)
• humble, obedient, and respectful toward husband (Ephesians 5:22-24)
• a domestic entrepreneur (Proverbs 31:10-13)

These were gleaned from the scriptures from the dear folks at Vision Forum. What helpful guidelines for us aspiring Proverbs 31 women!

Martin Luther on childbearing:

He rebuked those "who seem to detest giving birth lest the bearing and raising of children disturb their leisure."

An Answer to Prayer
I am so ecstatic that Amy Wilhoite's cancer appears to be in remission. We are so blessed to serve a powerful God! Though we are sinful and tainted vessels, He faithfully answers our prayers. His promises in His Word constantly ring true. As James 5:16 states, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." One is only righteous if he has repented of his sins and has been washed by the blood of the Lamb. The same Lord who healed others throughout the New Testament, works miracles today. Truly, the greatest weapon in our armory is prayer. Please continue to pray for this dear sister in Christ. She longs to leave the hospital and be with her precious family. Her 8 month old son recently started walking, and it truly grieves her heart to be away from him. One of her greatest encouragements is the notes and cards she has received.