Everyday Blessings

Life is so full of blessings.

And I wanted to share a few of them with you.

So here are *ten,* simple, everyday blessings which brighten my days and I'm sure will add a bit of fun to yours.

1. Crickets 

Making nighttime sounds as the sun fades in pink and grays. (Just as long as those critters stay outside the house ... am I right? ;-)

2. Babies!

My sister is quite lovely and preggo-plump with her first born. Earlier this week, while Skyping, she mentioned how badly her back was hurting her. A later chiropractor visit revealed that she was in fact having early contractions. Wow!

3. Baby showers

My mom, a sweet friend, and I are planning my sister's babyshower. Although I will not be able to attend (she's thousands of miles away) I love tossing ideas around. Here are some of my most favorite themes:

(If you are absolutely loving these check out their homes and other ideas here! :)

4. God's Word

Yesterday morning D and stayed home from church and enjoyed reading the book of James together. It was exactly what we needed to re-connect with each other. My favorite portion was:

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

5. Downtown Walks

I haven't been walking as much as normal as it has been quite dripping-with-humidity hot lately. But yesterday I ventured out into the sunshine and loved it. The warm sun felt so nice on my skin and I loved walking pass the capital and people-watching the tourist stretch their legs.

6. Trains and Rivers

I am so very thankful we live next to both! Our little home is located in the older part of Jefferson City -- less than a mile away from busy train tracks and the muddy Missouri river. Hearing the sound of a train passing by reminds me so much of my daddy (he worked with trains for much of my childhood years) and I have always lived near a body of water.

7. Worship Hymns

I am *loving* Pandora's "Hymns 4 Worship" genre. It lifts my heart and adds so much serenity and joy to our little home to have worship music playing in the background.

Oh, and I am  l o v i n g  JJ Heller's The Boat Song. So much adorableness.

8. Cheesy, Ranch Hamburgers and Golden Potatos

Need I say anything more than yum?

9. New Friends

Moving to a new city can be a really difficult transition and so I have really appreciated finding kindred spirits out and about this beautiful city. Let's see, there is this amazing mom of three little girls who is always demonstrating lovely motherhood ... something I love observing! (And she brings me milk and veggies in exchange for my watching her fun girls once in awhile! Win!) Then there is the very sweet woman who saw me in church once and then, a few weeks later, noticed me walking down the street. Her love for the Lord is evident and I loved being "dragged" into eating dinner with her and her parents that night. :) Oh, and I can't forget one certain woman who I love chatting with about birth stories, theology, and gardens.

10. Free Finds!

How can I help being excited when I'm getting free bookcases from generous Craigslisters who are downsizing, moving, or changing their décor? ;-)

What blessings have been coming your way lately? I'd love to rejoice with you!

Frannie


 

What Poo Covered Teacups Means to Me

Sometimes days can be hard.

Like sewage-backing-up-into-the-basement-splattering-the-china-your-mother-gave-you hard.

I don't like those kind of days. In fact, I do everything possible to avoid them. I plan, schedule, and prepare so to avoid disasters. And I'm happy, so happy because most of the time my life is full of easy, happy moments.

So when a sinister root successfully breaks into the sewage pipe promoting all manner of poo to come floating though the grate I tend to get a bit irritated. Of course, my dear husband took the lead and conquered the mess (And, whewie!, does that man know how to clean a basement and look good doing it. ;-)

I later went down to manfully perform final inspection and bleach the appliances down.

But before long I was crying, crouching on the floor, hovering over my now brown-and-slimy china set. Like a small child I wept while emptying a stinky, poo-covered tote. Weeping ... I'm sure the construction workers across the street thought I was a crazy.

I was sad and hurt.

Hurt over something we couldn't predict or prepare for. Frustrated over unpleasant events.
Sorrowful for feeling like we had been let down.

A still, small voice whispered, "Give thanks in all things, rejoice." I tried. I failed. I tried again, yet angry emotions continued to appear. I felt worse because I had not succeeded. I wept harder and still He whispered, "Rejoice."
 
"Okay." And in the midst of poo-sodden teacups, over my bleach-burned hands, despite my disappointments I knew joy and peace. I learned a very important, tangible lesson--joy is always present within the sorrow. Circumstances, events, let-downs, disappointments will very often damper happiness but choosing to thankfulness will produce peace and joy.

So let the poo keep on keeping on ... well, not really. It really is the most horrible thing in the world. But may I continue to press into the grace and joy promised me by the Lord. 

Jane Eyre on Marriage

I absolutely love this quote from Charlotte Bronte's novel, Jane Eyre. Enjoy this bit of fiction which triumphantly expresses the realities of a good marriage.

I have now been married ten years.  I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth.  I hold myself supremely blest—blest beyond what language can express; because I am my husband’s life as fully as he is mine.  No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am: ever more absolutely bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.  I know no weariness of my Edward’s society: he knows none of mine, any more than we each do of the pulsation of the heart that beats in our separate bosoms; consequently, we are ever together.  To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company.  We talk, I believe, all day long: to talk to each other is but a more animated and an audible thinking.  All my confidence is bestowed on him, all his confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character—perfect concord is the result.

Mr. Rochester continued blind the first two years of our union; perhaps it was that circumstance that drew us so very near—that knit us so very close: for I was then his vision, as I am still his right hand.  Literally, I was (what he often called me) the apple of his eye.  He saw nature—he saw books through me; and never did I weary of gazing for his behalf, and of putting into words the effect of field, tree, town, river, cloud, sunbeam—of the landscape before us; of the weather round us—and impressing by sound on his ear what light could no longer stamp on his eye.  Never did I weary of reading to him; never did I weary of conducting him where he wished to go: of doing for him what he wished to be done.  And there was a pleasure in my services, most full, most exquisite, even though sad—because he claimed these services without painful shame or damping humiliation.  He loved me so truly, that he knew no reluctance in profiting by my attendance: he felt I loved him so fondly, that to yield that attendance was to indulge my sweetest wishes.

The "Words of Wisdom" Notebook

I have learned (throughout my extensive lifetime ;-) that there are two kinds of people who I meet. Those who produce good, genuine fruit and those who do not. I really like the first. I like people who, however flawed, I can count on to show me exactly what Christ living in human vessels looks like; people who speak, act, and live in a manner worthy of praise. Of course, many of these dear folks have their quirks, their fears, and their failures. But they are good--because they have met the living Savior and reflect His grace continually.

For a wedding present, Dalton and I received a notebook filled with advice, encouragement, and exhortation on this thing called marriage. It is full of handwritten notes from a variety of friends and family--people like the ones I described above. I picked out some of my favorites--the ones which inspire me to think and a few which make me laugh.

Enjoy!

Life and marriage is like the ocean! Sometimes the tide is in ... sometimes the tide is out! If you hang  in there and wait it out ... the tide will always come back in!! :)

Our advice would be to communicate, communicate, communicate. If that doesn't work(and lots of times it won't) love in spite of it. And then forgive.

Serve God above all else and you will not fail in serving each other the way He intends. 

Disagreements shouldn't be hidden from your children. If done respectively, they can see that even though people don't have the same thoughts or feelings, they can love one another and learn from each other.

Argue naked. ;-)

Never let the abundance of God's gifts cause you to forget the Giver.

The best stories ever told contain the phrase, "Don't tell _ _ _ _!"

Love like there is no tomorrow!

Find a way to serve the Lord together. Working to accomplish the same goal side by side makes strong bonds and great memories.

This is one of God's greatest gifts and one of His greatest mysteries as now you two become one; that is 1+1=1.

Let your joy in the Lord be your foundation each morning.

As you learn to increasingly honor your parents, now honor each other's parents as well. A long life is a fine thing. As you progress, what they have done and do will make more sense.

Renew your love for each other. Fifteen minutes a day, one day a week, and one week a year.

When all the newness has faded away, when you have found the great fault in your spouse that you can't live with, when their most precious trait reverses as they mature; then you must still openly give them your total loyalty and respect--honoring, loving, and adoring them in all you do. When others speak against them you stand by each other, closing your ears and heart to their words while remembering only how special you are to each other. Let your words and actions always build each other up and teach your children to respect and love your spouse. In other words, be best friends to each other.

"be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath."

Remember, Jacob didn't go with Esau because of the tenderness of the women and children. Men often think women are strong, and they are, but not as strong as men. Be her protector and friend.

If in a disagreement, don't take it to others to get other to side with you.

Both love and respect must be unconditional, not earned.  

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

:Don't forget the reason we are here in this earth.  It is so that we may know Him. (John 17:3) Everything else flows out of that. In everything that you do may you get to know Him more.

 

What do you think?

What bit of wisdom or encouragement has impacted your adventure of knowing Christ fully?

 

With love!

Frannie  

Stinkin' Thinkin'

Lately, I've been battling the grouch-o-la. You know, the irrational, emotional ups and downs which like to blindside and attack the unassuming public? How surprised my husband must be when this sweet wife sprouts horns, blows smoke, and manages a snarl within every sentence--how tiresome!

 

 

"I haven't been feeling well," I say. "It's that time of month and well ... I woke with a headache and it's so hot and ..." The whine list goes on and on as I try to account for my unbalanced, damaging flare-ups.

 

 

But the truth is that I have been waiting all day to spew my venom. Not purposefully, of course. I would never prepare to verbally and emotionally bully anyone. But inwardly, my mind has been brewing over a stout mixture of ungrateful, discontent, and bitter thoughts. Stinkin' thinkin' at its finest.

 

 

You see, thoughts really do matter. I can pretend to be sweet and good and gentle and as long as every thing goes my way I'm pretty convincing. But the moment someone rocks my boat, asks too much, or wounds my delicate pride the real Frannie reveals herself. Reactions show the inner being; the natural person hiding behind the mask.

 

How can I change this terrible habit? How can I truly keep sweet ... always?

 

Practice.

 

Practice thinking truth. Practice being content. Practice joy.

 

When someone cheats you refuse to practice bitter revenge; instead employ the art of meekness. If you feel left out or passed-over learn to give "thanks in everything." If your husband doesn't understand you negate giving into a sulky, self-pitying mindset. If insecurities won't leave you be, practice thinking the truth of who you are in Christ. Do it again. And again. And again.

 

Because practice makes perfect.

 

So endeavor to practice the right thing.



July: Goals and Favorites

Happy July, sweet people!

Can you believe that we are only months away from school beginning again? Or that we are five short months from Christmas time? (Oh, boy! I personally cannot wait for my first winter in the bungalow to begin ... hot chocolate, snow, Christmas lights glistening in the cold downtown air, walking muffed hand in muffed hand with my beloved ... )

But before I get too far down dream alley I need to get some things done. So here are my goals and favorites for July.

Goals:

o Paint the front door
I've been wanting to paint our front door for so long! I've been doing my research and cannot wait to get this project done.

0 Change last name
Hehehe ... I'm not technically, legally, Mrs. Frannie Anne Duncan ... yet. I had a small misunderstanding of the legal process of changing one's maiden name which has created a big mishap in applying for college this semester. Need to get that resolved.

o Visit the zoo
Yes! It is on our to-do list. (Funny how you need to schedule such things.) I cannot wait to visit the St. Louis zoo next weekend, Lord willing!

0 Clean basement
Our dryer doesn't have a vent for it to ... vent itself. The poor, ancient creature deposits the collected lint along the ceilings, wall, and floor of our basement. You can imagine what horrors the lint-webs create.

0 Finish one library book
I have been loving our library. I hope to finish Country Living's Simple Country Wisdom this month -- I highly recommend this lovely book!

0 Make and freeze homemade hot pockets
I found a delicious recipe for homemade hot pockets. D loves them and I plan on making plenty and freezing them for quick, yummy lunches.


Favorites:

0 "Old Pine" by Ben Howard
Any time I am needing something calming and nostalgic to listen to I click on this song. So many good memories associate with it!

0 Fourth of July Carnival
D and I are so excited to spend some of tomorrow and Saturday night at the carnival so neatly squatting just a few blocks from us. I am planning a special blog post about this special day/event--keep an eye out!

0 Scrabble
Recently, D and I have been spending the evenings in an instance game of Scrabble or chess having a blast! We set the stakes high. Last time, the winner was to receive a special date day from the other. Dalton won (like always!) and the dear heart split the reward and we had two date days for each other! What an amazing husband I have!!

0 "Rejoice in the Lord" and "In every thing give thanks"
These bits of Scripture have inspired so many moments and days of peace, true joy, and happiness. I have notice how rejoicing in the Lord and giving thanks in everything seems to turn the worst days and hardest times into the best, most happiest of days. The joy of the LORD really is strengthening! How good He is!

0 Birthday Cake Ice Cream
Oh. My. Yum. Sometimes D and I enjoy a special treat and walk to Central Dairy--our local ice cream shop. Now, when I say walk I don't just mean around the corner. Its quite a few blocks away, cross a highway, and fin-daggle your way through the older, German area of Jefferson City. But oh, it is worth it. I love getting the waffle cone jammed full of birthday cake delight!

0 Skype
For the last month my dear sister and I have been enjoying our Skype visits. It has been such a special treat getting to actually see her developing pregnant belly and for me to show her my house even though we are separated by hundreds of miles!

Dear friends, what does July bring your way? I'd love to hear about your busy lives!

 

Love and blessings!