Favorite book, chapter, verse

My most favorite book in the Bible is James.  My favorite chapter is Proverbs 31.  I read the Proverb that corresponds to the day each morning.  I just wanted to share chapter 31, starting at verse 10.  And oh my favorite verse is Phil 4:13:  I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^{10 [b]}A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
http://www.biblegateway.com

I bolded especially favorite verses.  :) 

Have a blessed day!

Anger

Really good lecture on anger.  Sean and I watched it together and learned quite a bit, especially that feelings we thought were other feelings, were actually just feelings of anger.  Now we are trying to turn feelings of anger into actions of love.  It's about 90 minutes, but well worth it. 

http://www.embassyinstitute.org/node/125

Daddy/son night and Mommy/son night

Mommy and Hunter got to spend a relaxing evening alone.  I ate dinner, we went for a long walk, Hunter took a snooze, Mommy got a shower, fed the baby, and gave the baby a bath.  I also decided to get my camera out for the 2nd time and take a couple of pics and try to learn something.  I learned how to make color pics different colors like B&W and sepia, as seen here!  Baby steps.  :) 

Meanwhile, Sean took Ryan to his first baseball game!  Ryan had a lot of fun and it was such a blessing for Sean to get some Daddy/son time.  He has always dreamed of being able to take a son to baseball games.  :)  Ryan got 2 balls from the players, ate 3 hotdogs with Daddy, and sipped on Coke.  :)  He came home last night full of energy from all the fun and excitement and then crashed!  Here is a pic before the game that Sean sent me from his cell phone. 

Fostering/Adopting

Ryan went to our Pastor's house yesterday, while Sean, Hunter, and I drove to Lakeland to have a date at Outback and then to go to an adoption orientation through Florida Baptist Children's Homes.  We have decided (through much prayer and God's awesome guidance) to become foster parents, with hopes of eventually adopting.  We feel that fostering would be a good place to start and then possibly adopt after that.  The orientation went really well.  Next up, we have to fill out all the paper work, go through extensive background checks and home studies, and start MAPP classes.  I think the next ones start the end of August and go once a week a couple of hours each time.  It's a 30 hour course.  We are REALLY excited.  We have decided to foster ages 0-5.  We will keep you all updated on the new ways in which God is working in our lives.  :)

Gymboree and Clothes Mentor

Recently we went to International Mall and went shopping for Ryan.  He had gotten some clothes from Gymboree for his birthday and that gave us $25 in Gymboree bucks.  I didn't know exactly what those were, but we were able to get $50 worth of clothing for $25 by using the bucks.  I only shopped the sales racks and we ended up being able to get 7 shirts and 5 pairs of socks for $25.  I thought that was a pretty good deal.  Usually we shop consignment, but every once in a while we can find some really good deals on new stuff.  :)

I got to go shopping for my birthday and I went to a consignment store that just opened here.  It s called Clothes Mentor.  They have great stuff!  They only take new or gently used, but sell at consignment prices.  Everything is so organized, too, which made shopping a breeze and much more enjoyable.  They group all the tanks together, jeans together, short sleeved shirts, dresses, skirts, etc.  And maybe the best thing of all.......they had a ton of Coach purses for really good prices!  I didn't get one this time because I really needed clothes, but next time.  :)  I was able to get like 5 skirts and 4 shirts for $100.  :) 

Have a blessed day!

Yum!

Layered Ice Cream Cake

 

Makes a 9”x 13” Pan

24 Ice cream sandwiches
8 oz. Cool Whip™
1 Hershey’s™ chocolate syrup bottle
1 Smuckers™ caramel syrup bottle
2 king size Butterfinger™ candy bars chopped up
1st layer -12 ice cream sandwiches
2nd – half of whipped cream
3rd - half of Butterfinger™ bars, Squeeze 1/2 of caramel &
chocolate over that.
4th - rest of ice cream sandwiches
5th – Cool Whip™
6th - rest of Butterfinger™, caramel & chocolate

Yesterday was Pappy's (my Dad) birthday and we made this for him.  It was really good and really simple to make!  He enjoyed it, as did everyone else, and so did Ryan!!!!!  We split the recipe in 1/2 because this was just too much.  :)  Enjoy!

 

http://www.duggarfamily.com/content/duggar_recipes/30478/Layered%20Ice%20Cream%20Cake

Article

Pursuing Sexual Purity in Your Marriage

By Randy Alcorn

In my book The Purity Principle, I write about how Christian marriages face the same heartaches, struggles, and frustrations as other marriages, especially in the area of sexual purity. (But we have supernatural resources to deal with them.) The following guidelines for sexual purity in marriage can help you guard your relationship in this vital area.
(And whether you're married or not, sexual purity is inseparable from a committed Christian life. You want to know God’s will? You don’t have to wonder. Here it is, in 1 Thess. 4:3: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.” For more from God's Word about purity, check out these Guidelines for Sexual Purity.)
Guidelines on Sexual Purity in Marriage
1. Regularly evaluate your relationship with your spouse. Beware of poor communication, inadequate conflict resolution, poor sexual relationship, discontent, and other red flags. Keep your fingers on the pulse of your marriage!
2. Spend regular uninterrupted time together to communicate on all levels: spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically. (Date your spouse. If it’s not happening, put it in your schedule!)
3. Share openly with each other—don't harbor secrets or withhold personal struggles. (Every adultery begins with a secret.)
4. At work, surround yourself with reminders of your spouse and children. (Reinforce the connection to home.)
5. When away from home, make frequent contact with your spouse and children. (Call daily if possible.)
6. Be sure your relationships with the opposite sex are either casual or, if close, familial (sister/mother, I Timothy 5:1-2). Discern the subtle signs of attraction, and back off when you see them.
7. Be fiercely loyal to your spouse; speak highly of her/him and never downgrade her to anyone.
8. Don't share your marriage problems with someone of the opposite sex, unless it is in a familial or professional relationships. (Even then, be careful).
9. Be sensitive to your spouse's sexual needs (they may be different than yours). Communicate honestly; don’t harbor resentment.
10. Get your info on sex from those with a biblical perspective—watch out for popular sexperts and the media.
11. Be careful what you feed your mind on—what you watch and listen to and read, how you talk about sex, and what you laugh at. Guard your mind!
12. Anticipate, and then act to prevent, avoid and resist sexual temptation.
13. Be quick to confess and repent when you have engaged in mental impurity. Beware of cloudy thinking and rationalization!
14. When your sex drive is activated, mentally transfer it to your spouse.
15. Take time to cultivate your inner life. Take care of your spiritual health. You need internal strength to resist external pressure. There is no substitute for character.
16. Pray with and for each other.
17. Take care of your physical health; be as attractive to your mate as you can.
18. Be modest with others in public, and sexy with your spouse in private—not the opposite!
19. Ask to be held accountable by a Christian friend or prayer partner.
20. Rehearse in advance the devastating consequences of immorality and a broken marriage. Count the cost of neglect and unfaithfulness!

www.epm.org/blog
www.facebook.com/randyalcorn
www.twitter.com/randyalcorn

Sean and Ry

We took Ryan to the pediatrician on Thursday and it turns out he has either coxsickie virus or adenovirus.  Today he is doing much better and last night he slept through the night again so that was good.  He was pretty miserable for a few days.  Poor little guy! 

Sean just finished up his summer semester.  He did an awesome job!!!!!!  I am so proud of him.  He got all A's.  He had a rough summer.......summer classes are really tough and he was taking Micro and Speech, which are not easy classes any way.  He had some moments where he was really stressed out, but he persevered and made it through, with A's at that!!!!  Way to go Daddy!!!!!!!!!

First time using new camera

I get my handsome from my dad :)

We took Ryan to the park on Monday and I got to try out my new camera.  I really only know how to use the auto function at this point, so I still need to get into my manual.  I don't know how to edit my photos yet either so what you see is what you get.  But either way I wanted to share my first ones.   Ryan had a good time at the park.  It was one we hadn't been to before, which is odd because it's right down the road.  Ryan has been running a fever between 100-103 since Tuesday afternoon, poor guy.  :'(

Nursing Wrap

I FINALLY found a nursing wrap that covers me completely!!!!!!!  The one I had before just didn't do it.  It covered the front, but not the back.  I had been searching for one that covered front and back (a poncho type thing of sorts).  I had started looking back when Ryan was little, but to no avail.  Well, now I have one.  I just got it in the mail today and I love it.  They have a few styles and colors, which are really cute. Now I won't be confined to nursing in the car when we are out and about and will feel comfortable enough to do it out in public while remaining modest.  :0)
http://www.modestmomz.com/

Mommy reminder

To keep one's voice sweet, one's face bright, one's will steady, one's patience unperturbed, in the arena of the home, in the light of one's own family, is no light task.  -Margaret Sangster

A little bit more Joyce Meyer and etc

*Keep the strife out of your ministry and out of your life.  (ex:  Don't be in an argument with your spouse at home and then an hour later at church putting on a different face, just to get back in the car afterwards at which point the arguing continues). I have perfected this behavior!

*Do what you do with excellence.

*Always be a person of integrity (be honest and do what you say you are going to do).  If you're at work, work!  Don't be texting, facebooking, etc!!!!  

*God wants us to NOT get our way sometimes and still have a good attitude (hard concept for an only child!!! lol)


Hunter had his 4 month checkup this morning.  My good friend Cicely watched Ryan at her house, which made it super easy for me to take Hunter and Ryan got to play with Brodie so it really worked out.  I feel so blessed to have her friendship!  Hunter is now 16# 3 oz and 27 inches.  He is doing really well.  I brought up the 2 bloody stools that occurred over the 4th of July weekend and that since then he has had greenish colored stools mostly.  Dr. Pai was not concerned at all about the odd (to me any way) color and he thought maybe the blood was from an explosive diaper (OK, sorry about the details) that may have burst a blood vessel.  He only said to call again if it happens again.  I have been non dairy since the 5th, thinking Hunter had a dairy allergy, but Dr. Pai doesn't think so, which means I can start reintroducing dairy into my diet.  The box of Klondikes in my freezer will finally be opened!   :)  Praise the Lord for keeping our little son safe and healthy.  It's been a real struggle to remain at peace and not worrying about the little man. 

My dear husband had a trail of flower petals leading up the stairs to our bedroom with a single red rose lying on the bed with a card that read "You will never know how much I love you".  Awwww, so sweet!  When I first saw the petals on the stairs I thought it was trash left from Sean and I was thinking in my head "sheesh, he can be messy sometimes!"  lol

My birthday is tomorrow and so Dad took me shopping yesterday.  I got a really nice new camera, a bag, memory card, and extra battery!  It's a Canon Powershot SX 130 IS.  My mom recommended it, as did the lady at Best Buy.  It's not a DSLR, but she said it does the same as a DSLR and cheaper, which was good for Dad.  :)  I'm so excited.  I have no idea how to use it so I will be cracking open the manual, which is NOT something I usually do or like to do for that matter.  Sean also got a new Samsung Galaxy tablet for his birthday, which he is really enjoying :)  

Have a blessed evening! 

Believe by Joyce Meyer

*Believe that you can do anything that God asks you to do.
*Believe that God can change anything and anyone.
*Believe that any circumstance can change.
*Believe that anything you do wrong can be taken by God and worked out for good.
*Believe what God says about you in His word.

Bible stories

http://www.oneverse.org/kidsdiscover

We have started a Bible study as a family.  Ryan is still little, but he does ask for "story" so I think he is enjoying it.  Although his attention span is really short and he talks almost the whole time.  We aren't really trying to perfect our storytelling abilities, but we are enjoying the stories each week.  This is free and they send you new material every week to work with.  It is pretty funny because they have vocabulary to learn every week and Ryan's 2 favorites are "evil" and "beast" so he will go around the house saying "evil beast!".  He says "evil.....bad" and when you ask him where the beast is, he will look for Allie, point at her, and say "right there".  It's hilarious.  Also, he says "Jeshush" all the time (Jesus) and he has a Jesus book so he will say "Jeshush, stairs" and I'm like, "yes, we can bring Jesus downstairs".  LOL  It is such a blessing to see that Ryan is picking up on our beliefs and values and our love for our Lord.  Now, if we could just get him to realize that Jeshush does not like little boys hitting and kicking their parents!

All American Babies

We went down to my uncle and aunt's for the 4th and had a great time.  We didn't stay for the fireworks (or as Ryan would say "farts" lol) because they weren't until 930.  Hunter was not doing so great down there any way.  I think he was hot, overstimulated, and tired.  I've been worried about the little man.  Saturday he had 2 bloody diapers.  After a call to my FIL and to our ped, we were told it was probably either something I had eaten or a virus.  I stopped dairy for 2 days and any kind of spicy food and we gave him some Pedialyte and watched to make sure he was acting and eating the same.  He has been totally fine and no more bloody diapers. His stools are greenish though.  We called my FIL again and he said that is fine.  Last night I was unable to sleep because I am worried about him.  He had a tinge of blood again in the middle of the night.  I got on my knees and prayed and asked God to heal our little one, to take care of him, and I told God that He promises to take care of us and to keep us healthy.  You see, I'm learning that faith means that which is not seen; not things that have already happened.  So I am confident through faith that he is going to be just fine.  Any way, on the way down to the party, we stopped with Pappy and Naner to take a couple of pics of the family and of course the matching outfits.  :)

Happy Independence Day!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” -Psalm 33:12

Flowers and cookies

Flowers out front

Ryan finishing 2 chocolate chip cookies that father and son made together for the first time :)

Their creation

12 Power Thoughts by Joyce Meyer

1.  I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ. 
2.  God loves me unconditionally. 
3.  I will not live in fear.
4.  I am difficult to offend.
5.  I love people and enjoy helping them.
6.  I trust God completely, there's no need to worry. 
7.  I am content and emotionally stable. 
8.  God meets all of my needs abundantly.
9.  I pursue peace with God, myself, and others. 
10.  I live in the present and enjoy each moment. 
11.  I am a disciplined and self controlled person.
12.  I put God first in my life.