My Does and Don'ts of Packing

• Do overpack:  you'll definitely want options!
  
• Don't forget your hair dryer...  been there, done that.  Not fun.  
  
• Do take your own pillow... they're never the same in the hotel regardless of how nice the place is.  
• Don't forget to change your pillowcase if they're usually white:  You don't want the cleaning ladies to think it's one of the hotel's cases!  
• Do make a list of things you want to see/do while you're gone.  
• Don't forget to take pictures of each thing so you'll remember it forever. 

Enjoying My New Camera

Photo Ramblings from NY

So You Want to Be a Homemaker?

There's nothing wrong with that!

When I was in high school, I often found myself having the following conversation:  What are you going to do when you graduate?  Where do you want to go to college?  What career do you want?  I would then explain that I was definitely going to college, planned on majoring in music (it later changed to elementary ed.), but I did not plan on having a “career” because I wanted to eventually be a wife and a stay-at-home mom (domestic engineer).  This always got strange looks and reactions, especially from my fellow students and professors. 

This post is really addressed to younger girls.  It’s okay to want to be a wife and a mother!  Do you need to plan in case that doesn’t happen within “your” time frame?  Sure you do.  You don’t want to be living off your parents when your 48 if you haven’t found “the one.”  However, it’s okay to prepare for the homemaker position you desire (in fact, I encourage you to do just that). 

That said, I don’t think that means you should stop math in the sixth grade because you want to be a stay-at-home mom.  It’s my opinion (I know, I know, you never asked for it) that you should take every opportunity to learn something new, whether it’s math, science, or Bible.  Whatever you learn, the Lord will allow you to use it for his glory.  What if you’re a missionary one day and you’re teaching kids on the field?  What if you decide to homeschool your kids?  Just because you want to “stay at home” you don’t have an excuse to slack off on your education. 

So stay the course.  Do your best in school.  Take classes that challenge you.  Study your Bible.  Prepare for your future; be open to whatever God would have that future to be!

Note: Perhaps I should go back to the bank and thank the lady who helped us for sparking a good blogging idea in my mind!  I would have never thought I’d get three posts out of one statement.  This thought is simply sticking with me, though.  

Proud Homemaker, Continued

I bought the book Created to Be His Help Meet (along with the companion journal) by Debi Pearl yesterday.  Before David and I were married, I read bits and pieces of this book that I feel really helped our marriage before it even got started.  Now, some young, newly married girls at church want to begin going through it on a regular basis, so I bought it myself. 

As I was delving into the first chapter, I found a thought that went along with my last post.  Debi Pearl says:

If you are a wife, you were created to fill a need, and in that capacity you are a “good thing,” a helper suited to the needs of a man.  This is how God created you and it is your purpose for existing.  You are, by nature, equipped in every way to be your man’s helper.  You are inferior to none as long as you function within your created nature, for no man can do your job, and no man is complete without his wife… A unisex society is a senseless society – as society dangerously out of order.

I like her point.  We’re not inferior to anyone if we’re doing the job God created us to do.  Just because we’re different doesn’t mean we’re inferior.  I really like that point.  I think the world is convinced that a biblical view of women is that they are inferior to the men, and that simply isn’t so.  

Proud Homemaker

Unfortunately, in our nation today, many women find the term homemaker degrading. To the general public, it seems to bring a mental picture of a passive woman being controlled unkindly by her heavy-handed husband. In our world, women want to be viewed in the same light as men. They can do everything just as well (I really like a point Bro. James has made a few times: When a woman fights for “equality” and receives it, she should get no special treatment on a job. If she gets a job as a UPS delivery person, should she really get help with the heavier packages? Should she have been hired for the job if she’s incapable of dealing with the size of packages?).

I couldn’t disagree with this way of thinking any more than I do! A woman who lives in a truly Christian home, though commanded to be submissive to her husband or obedient to her father, will be treated with the utmost respect, love, and kindness. She won’t be forced into “obedience.” A loving man who is in submission to God proves he is worthy of her trust and reverence (Eph. 5:33).

Now, I don’t say all this thinking that a woman should, in every single circumstance, be at home without work (the term work is very loosely defined in that sentence. Does the work in a home EVER end??). There are times when the husband you are commanded to follow asks you to get a job. There are times when it is financially necessary (though I think many people can do with far less than they think). The Proverbs 31 woman was obviously a very busy lady both inside and outside her home.

All this is a prelude to the following story story: At the bank today, the lady helping David and me was asking about my occupation. When I said I didn’t have a job, she asked me if I am a house wife/homemaker. She looked almost apologetic and said, “That sounds funny, doesn’t it?” I didn’t mean to contradict her, but couldn’t avoid saying, “Not at all.” David and I just looked at each other and smiled. It’s a job I’m very thankful to have! Even when I had a job outside our home, I was a homemaker. It’s much easier to devote all the necessary attention to that task now that I am not working, though!

One last thought for you ladies: The Bible doesn’t ask us to reverence (Eph 5:33) our husbands only if we deem them worthy. There are no conditions. We as wives are simply given the command. Let’s pray for each other that we’ll do just that.

This post is just in case you're wondering...

why I've changed the look of my blog once again.  I really haven't found a background that I'm 100% happy with, and today I got some feedback that said some of my posts were hard to read due to the brown background.  Consequently, I went on a quest for a cute, light-backgrounded background.  This is the one I came up with... I like that fact that it's brown, too!    

Michael Jackson

I was in line at Wal-mart today, and the lady right behind me, out of the blue, said, "Can you believe Michael Jackson died?"  I said that I couldn't, and mentioned something about his only being fifty.  She said she was sad because that's how old her husband is.  I mentioned that we're all going to die and the most important thing is being ready.  So, I just want to encourage you to use this as an opportunity to witness.  If random people mention Michael Jackson to you, give them the gospel!  He probably didn't think he was going to step out into eternity yesterday...  you have no idea when it'll be your turn!  

I'm Thankful For...

When I was at Barnes & Noble the other day, I saw a journal that really caught my eye.  It contained writing prompts for lists!  When I saw it, I immediately thought, "I am so buying this!" but as I flipped through the pages I saw that I would have to leave many of them blank (list of movies you've been to this year, list of bars you frequented in college, etc.).  So, I bought a blank journal and decided to make up my own list book.  I've made lists of list ideas (I'm a dork, I know!), things I'm thankful for, etc.  

Thought I would share what I'm thankful for today:  

• Jamie & Grandma were both saved, and are now in heaven with our Savior!
• My own salvation
• Not having to get up and go to work today after having 25+ people at my house last night and having to clean up from it
• Most of my house is clean
• David and I are going on a date tonight (Thanks to all who gave us the gift card!!!!)
• Got to spend some time with Nana yesterday... talking about Jamie and how good it is that he was saved!
• My dad.  I've been blessed with an amazing dad!  

When you list the things for which you're thankful, it's hard not to be a little bit happier!  

When It Rains, It Pours!

Around 10 p.m. last night, my paternal grandmother went to be with her Savior.  She had been in the hospital since last Tuesday, but everyone, including the surgeon and my aunt who's an RN, expected her to make a full recovery.  She had surgery on Sunday, and was moved to ICU Monday due to some blood pressure complications.  Last night, she started having trouble breathing and was in quite a bit of pain.  David and I went to visit around 9 p.m., and left when she started throwing up, thinking we would go back to see her today or tomorrow.  

Thankfully, both of her children were with her.  I know that was very important to her.  I'm thankful that David and I were able to see her last night and tell her that we love her.  

As with Jamie, it's so comforting to know that she's in heaven!  Absent from her body, present with her Lord.  I never spoke to Grandma when she wasn't praising the Lord or thanking him for something.  She was a truly sweet lady who was trusting in Jesus Christ.  

Please pray for my dad and aunt during this tough time!