Marriage Mondays Part 1

I love romance! Yes, I am definitely the one my sisters call "mushy" and I definitely receive some good- humored poking fun about it! But I'm okay with that:)

I am forever a dreamer which makes me smile knowing my husband! He is incredibly practical and a definite realist! But God is the perfect match maker and truly gives us a mate that helps us to thrive and refines us to be more like Christ each and everyday! So I have a challenge! I have prayed about what God would have me do to serve my husband better and guess what? He answered!

Challenge 1: Wear joy

Simple sounding right? I thought well thats easy enough- I am a very chipper person! But I know with our spouse they are the first ones to see our worry, our lack of poise after a long day, etc. And I realized that often times what my husband needs after a long day of work is not for a perfect house, not a to-do list that is completed, not for my clothing to fit a certain way, or my make-up to be perfect, not even the perfect meal served to him. My husband excels the most, when he finds me at home and being joyful! It ceases to amaze me the times I've looked completely unkempt but have great joy and my husband just lights up. And I have seen the opposite as well. When I think I have done everything perfectly, I have completed all my errands, the house looks amazing (rare:) and my hair is curled....but I wear worry and stress and it is written all over my husbands face. We are called by God in....

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

So I have learned that sometimes the best gift I can give my husband is a joyful heart! Don't get me wrong- I know we cannot be constantly happy but instead we are to wear joy in all circumstances because we are confident in God's plan!

I pray that you will choose a joyful heart this week! :) Please leave a comment and let me know how the week went!

I love Pinterest for so many reasons!

(Okay I love love love this little blue-eyed angel!!!)

Pinterest is my new best friend- not really:) but you know what I mean! I was a little skeptical at first- a virtual pinboard- hmmm really? But then I decided to give it a try and soon afterwards I found myself plunging in! I felt at first that it could be a frivolous hobby and would be of little impact to my days but I have been surprised in an awesome way! I leapt into the craft section for Lily! We have made an ornament called Lily's favorites with her favorite things glued on (mickey, a bear, dog, etc.), and beautiful handprint cross with red and green alternating handprints and more. I feel so inspired! I also have a million new recipes to try both simple and complex and some wonderful biblical resources  Advent ideas, and more! I have found links to blogs to teach me how to manage clutter, schedules and time. And you know what? After much deliberation, I do not feel guilty! I so desperately want the world to see Jesus and I don't want to waste time so..... where in the world does pinterest come in???? I feel like we too often apologize for taking time to make our house a safehaven for our precious family, to make memories of our babies sweet little handprints, to teach them scripture in a fun and memorable way, to cook new meals to serve our hard-working husbands, and more. In Titus 2:4 Paul speaks to the nature of womens role stating: "Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Thank you Lord for this New Year of 2012 that will soon be here! I CANNOT wait to bring in the New Years praising the Lord for all of the blessings in my life and for all of the amazing and I mean AMAZING friends and family that surround me! God is indeed so faithful! The Lord has just laid a verse on my heart the last few days which I would like to close with: Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom"

Leave me a comment if you will and let me know what pinterest treasures you have found!! :)