My Valentines

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! I hope this finds each of you very well and beginning your week full ohope and peace. I am doing well, enjoying a quiet night with my dear family. Growing up, Momma always blessed and spoilt us children by making every Christmas, Easter, and Valentines Day special. Some of the special and memorable things she (and Daddy!!) would do were: give us new pajamas on Christmas Eve, always (for my last 21 years!) decorate eggs and hide them on Easter morning, and bring us a special "foo-foo" coffee for our birthdays. For  Valentines Day I have fond memories of helping pick out my siblings balloons and candy from Fred Myers; and I can remember waking up to find Valentine themed trinkets and goodies hand-picked for each of us kids on the table . . . no wonder I love holidays--I have a wonderful mommy who made them extra special for me!! I learned so much from my momma and one of those things is this: it is worth the effort to bless others and make their day special. {I LOVE YOU Mommy and Daddy!} :) 

This year I am very excited because I was able to make a few valentines. In my yonger years I would try to give out valentines to various people ... but that was during schooling years which were full of insecurities and fears. So often I felt that I was on the bottom of the totem pole (and perhaps I was :), and so most of my efforts, thoughts, and actions were aimed at my some how climbing the social ladder and into popularity. :) Needless to say, some of the valentines I handed out were simply for selfish, vain reasons and thereforethey never meant much to me. But this year has been different; this year I was able to make just a few valentines and the dear people I want to give them to are people who I love and that makes a world of difference from my schooling years. For my twenty-first birthday Daddy and Mooma bought me a Cricut and I have been having a blast working with it!! :)

Aren't they cute? I am so excited to give them to my family members tomorrow . . . fun!! Lord willing, we will be having heart shaped biscuits and gravy too.

 I hope that you all have a blessed day tomorrow.

With much love from your sister in Christ,

Photo Credit: The lovely valentine seen above is from graphicsfairy.blogspot.com

Oh the Joys

Greetings! I hope this finds each of you well and rejoicing in the love of Jesus. These last few days have been quite full—a good full. And the business we have been experiencing in our household has me smiling with joy. Over what, you may ask? Over the joys of home making. I hope you will not mind, but I feel like creating a list containing the joyful aspects of being at and serving the home. Here I go!

Freshly mopped floors, pulling frozen desserts out of the freezer,

finding a special organized place for each object, washing windows and seeing a sparkle of sunshine enter,

sweeping the front porch on a chilly winter day, changing decorations to match the season,

coffee brewing, seeing the furniture fresh and smiling after a long-needed dusting,

making time to make cards,

candles giving comforting scents and light, white curtains in a feminine room full of morning rays, making time to read a good book,

being able to cook a good meal for a hungry family, being able to whip up no-bake cookies, :o)

resting with family members after a busy day, answering phone calls, an impromptu trip to the bakery with Mommy-dearest,

Christmas lights through a window, poinsettias on the hearth . . .

Have I said enough? :)

Oh, I know there are many struggles and difficulties with keeping a home, but can you not agree that there are also many simple, lovely blessings as well? Truly, God was kind and wise in making girls to be help-meets and, if He wills, keepers of the home?

What blessings do you enjoy when helping around your home? Would you like to share?

May Jesus bless you!

With love,

 Frannie

The lovely photo was found at graphicsfairy.blogspot.com

Ah, the struggles of a blank mind

 Greetings dear sisters and friends! It feels like many moons have passed since I last wrote, but these are the struggles of not knowing what to write. I hope I’m not the only one who suffers from blank mind! So, to break my silence I thought I would just share a few things going on in my heart, mind, and home. :)

♥  First, fall is coming. . .at least it feels like it here in Missouri! While the leaves are not changing we’ve had a dramatic change in temperature and it is such a blessing! It is a great joy to have our windows open, work outside without a heavy humidity drenching our bodies, and being able to enjoy a walk. Truly, our Lord is a kind God who gives us lovely summer, but also a refreshing fall!

♥  Working at the daycare is teaching me so much. I’m learning necessary things like when to change a diaper, how to judge fairly between two squabbling pre-schoolers,and  how to feed an infant without painting his face with carrots. I’m also learning important things like patience, how to snuggle with a little one when they’ve woke up from their nap, and how to forgive a naughty attitude. Truly, God was serious and wise when He said that we young women need to learn how “to love their children.” Titus 2:4 I have so much to learn it isn’t even funny! But God is good and patient with me and I thank Him for making children understanding and patient too. :)  Here are some of my favorite quotes from the kiddos:

1. Me: “DO you like your new motorcycles?” Little boy: “Yes, Daddy let me get them since they are not too many dollars.”
2. Three year-old boy: “Will you help me pick out a name for my new baby?” Me: “Well do you like any boy names?” Little boy: “Well, something like Grandpa.”  :D 

♥   My family and I are doing well despite my having a cold, Momma an ear ache, and Daddy battling with allergies. :) Tomorrow, Momma and Jeremiah will be leaving for a trip to Alaska, and so I’m preparing to be the keeper of the home (although I will not be able to fill the lovely shoes my Momma has!). :o) That means I get the challenge of scheduling myself to do some chores and preparing dinners. A definite learning experience! Beyond having dinner prepared and a sparkling floor, I hope to be a blessing and joy to Daddy. . .for home keeping is so much more than physical things, but a chance to refresh and bless our families! Please pray for me that I may use my time wisely and be a blessing! 

♥  Lately, the Lord has been teaching me how to lean on Him—to lean on His everlasting love and grace for trials and temptations. The Lord has also been using Romans 6 and 8 to teach me that He has conquered sin and that He has given me the victory over it.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Romans 6:1-5

We do not have to be worried or feel hopeless against sin or temptation. If we are born-again Christians, we have been given the same power that Jesus used when He rose from the dead . . .we have victory! Oh glory! What a lovely reality! I have found it so hard sometimes to fight against temptations, but by God’s grace, I hope to rest in the victory Jesus has provided for me. And when we are able to live victorious lives, we will be a light and example to others. Another thing my Lord has been teaching me lately, is that He is a good and benevolent wise God. His wisdom is unsurpassable and we can trust in Him. What a lovely thought! Illness, death, family problems, and any other difficulty cannot separate us from the love of God and we can safely rest that He will work out all things good for those who love Him. I’ve been clinging to Proverbs 3:5-6 which reads,

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

I don’t know about you, but I have heard that verse all my life, it is almost cliché', something we write on graduates cards or for those who are ill. Lately, however,  the Lord has given it real life and meaning to me. If I trust in the Lord with all my heart and if I don’t lean on what I understand (which is often very limited), He will lead my paths. Lately, I’ve been facing some unknown possibility and God has been allowing this verse to comfort me. I don’t understand why and I don’t know what my future holds. “Will I be able to be a missionary?” “Will I be able to go to school?” These kind of thoughts float through my mind and I praise the Lord that, if I rest in Him, He shall direct my paths. Whatever those paths are, He will be there. What a glorious thought! Sisters, let us wholly lay our futures, dreams, and paths down at Christ’s feet and allow Him to lead us. He is good! (And His path is the only one worth walking!) :o)

♥  Well, I best be going. I hope you all have a blessed week with Jesus.

With lots of love and sweet thoughts,

Frannie 

Summer with a purpose: Week Nine!

Greetings dear sisters in Christ! I hope you all are well and had a lovely day!

Another week of summer has passed on and I’m left to ponder how well I used it. I did not have a very productive week at home this week, but I did get a few things done.

Reading: This week I’ve been trying to work away at Are You Serious About Marriage? by Susan Zakula. This book is filled with godly wisdom and I have really enjoyed it so far. One particular section spoke greatly to me. It reads,

“Similarly, young women who have been in the working world have a difficult time changing their focus. They may make a great effort at finishing the ‘housework’ so they can go on to the more seemingly important things in life. They do not realize that making a happy home and meeting their husbands’ needs are the important things in life. As a woman grows in the Lord, she begins to realize that what her husband thinks is important IS important.”

 p. 26,27

I know that I have often struggled with the “I must get the cleaning done so I can do things important to me” mind set. I’m reminded of a saying which says “If a things worth doing, its worth doing well.” Ah, how true this is! How many times have I hastily dusted the furniture, skipped over changing my sheets, and put off the laundry? Too many times. I believe that part of training to be a godly woman and helpmeet is to diligently apply myself to these important things! I am so thankful the Lord has opened my eyes just a little to this important lesson and I hope I learn it well!

Anyways, it is my great hope to finish this book this week!

Cleaning: I was able to tidy up my room and go through a few of my decorations. This was such a blessing because my dresser was starting to collect more junk than pretties. I’m very excited because it is now orderly! :o)

Special Things: This past week I was very blessed to start working full time at a nearby day-care. God was so faithful and timely in giving me this job and I am learning so much! One thing God has been teaching me is to love little children. To many people this comes very natural, but I struggle with impatience and the unkind thought “If these were my children.” :(  I confessed these feelings to Momma and she gave me some lovely advice: Talk to Jesus about it. Jesus already knows my struggles and faults and He can help me. And you know what? I prayed about it, and I felt a love and patience the very next day! God is so faithful! I know this all may sound silly, but patience and gentleness is something I need to learn. I feel like this job is God’s way of trying to teach me! While learning this lesson I was reminded of Titus 2:4 which reads,

“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”

I had never given that part of the verse much thought. To love their children? That seems so easy, but is it really? Is it really easy to truly love anyone who is disobedient and sometimes selfish? For me it isn’t. But as Jesus loves me, though I am often disobedient and selfish, so I need to love others. And what does it mean to “love their children?” I feel like I have much to learn from this verse and am very excited!

One extra special thing is that I was able to go on a float trip with my family today. I was very blessed to be given the day off and truly enjoyed God’s beautiful creation and my family’s company!

Well, that is about it for my week.  I hope you all were able to be more productive than I. God bless your night, dear sisters, and let us continue pressing on towards Christ!

With love,

Frannie

Picture Credit: This lovely painting was created by Helen Allingham.

Summer with a Purpose- Week One!

Oh dear! My third post for the day. . .I guess this is what happens when one procrastinates. :)
However, I am very excited about this post. :)

Emily Elizabeth from My Life Belongs to Him has set up a challenge titled "Summer with a Purpose." She wrote on how summer time will often bring out the idle, bored, or lazy side in her life and I must say that that happens to me too! Lately, after getting home from work, I have been getting into the bad habit of zonking out onto the couch or I will sit and "rest" for the rest of my day. In short, I struggle with being idle and lazy during the summer; my to-do list lays unchecked and my days are not used to their fullest.  I greatly desire to honor my Lord by obeying His word which says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" Psalms 90:12 and "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" Ephesians 6:15,16. I know that properly managing my time is an essential and good skill I need to learn whether I am blessed to marry or not. So, if you cannot tell, I am whole-heartedly joining in with this challenge. Every Friday I will link up to Emily Elizabeth's blog telling one productive task I accomplished that week. For this first week I am to set some goals in the following catergories. Here I go! 

  Edifying Videos...

As a family we do watch tv and movies. It is my goal to only watch movies which lift up the standards of the Lord in what I (Though none go with me, still I will follow . . .) watch. (What I mean by that little line is that I cannot change the standards of anyone, I can only change myself).

Cooking/Baking...
This summer I hope to learn and practice the skill of canning, make granola, and try a few new recipies. Lately, I have been interested in preparing nutricious foods; I hope to pursue that in my cooking/baking this year.

Reading...
Oh, so many books to read so little time! I hope to make a booklist for this summer and follow it! My goal for this month is to read Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Malley and The Power of Crying Out by Bill Gothard along with reading my Bible.

Exercise/Health...
Using Emily Elizabeth's exact words, "(I tend to lean toward the side of going to bed late and sleeping in late. That makes for a very unproductive day, and makes me feel very sluggish. We plan to exercise and eat right... with little sleep and not enough healthy foods, we're not going to want to do anything!)"

This is exactly me! It is my goal to go to bed early, so that I may rise early (and joyfully!). I especially need my sleep while working and find it very difficult to efficiently and clearly function when I haven't gotten a decent amount of sleep. During this summer I also desire to eat healthy. I so desire to be a godly example in every area (even in my weight) of my life and I know eating habits are one of them! And finally, I hope to exercise by walking at least three times a week! "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms" Proverbs 31:17.

Scripture Memorization...
I greatly desire to be the person God wants me to be and memorizing His Word will help me in every way! At this monet I am trying to memorize a chapter in Psalms and also the Book of James. I hope to apply myself to this subjest greatly this summer!

Cleaning...
It is my goal this summer to apply myself to our cleaning schedule and stick to it! A clean home can help it be a happy home and part of being a keeper of the home is presenting a tidy and clean home to your husband. Since I am not married I am still in training and what better opportunity to learn the skills of cleaning and homemaking!

Biblical Womanhood...
This summer I desire to learn and apply godly virtues to my life, virtues which make women godly. Part of this is looking into God's Word and seeing what He says a godly woman is and does.

Music...
This summer I will apply myself to bettering my violin playing. After ending my lessons two or so years ago, I love to play. Like Emily Elizabeth said, I hope to be able to teach my children one day and so I better prepare myself! This summer I will apply myself to mastering (as much as I can) my Suzuki songs while working through the new fiddle book I bought!

Projects...
There are a few projects I need to do this summer. First on my list is to sew some jumpers; at this moment I have two fabrics I need to use.
Secondly, I need to repair a few of my dresses. I have not done this before, but this summer I will apply myself to fixing clothing.
Being blessed with stamps and card making equipment I hope to make several cards this summer.
And finally, I one emroidery project that has been neglected for a few years. This summer I hope to finish it.

Well, that's my summer! If you are one who struggles with being productive during summer, I'd encourage you to join (especially if you need a little accountability like myself). The button on my sidebar will take you to Emily Elizabeth's blog. Have a wonderful day sisters!

Wisdom from Mr. Knightly

A quote I enjoy from the movie Emma by Mr. Knightly. I find it very true!

"Men of sense, whatever you may say, do not want silly wives!"

I just asked my brother Jeremiah, a man of 15, if he agreed with this quote, if it is true that men do not want silly or foolish wives. And he promptly answered yes! Let us seek to be shame-faced and sober, to be jewels for Christ in whatever He calls us!

Have a lovely week! 

How Firm is Our Foundation and His Goodness Never Ceasing!

Hello dear sisters,

I hope this finds you all well. I had a very nice trip up to Alaska and praise the Lord for allowing me to go! I spent my pleasant week going yard saling, visiting with my dear, old church family at the Memorial Day picnic, had a good lunch with my violin teacher, a challenging and great lunch with my old pastor, and many special moments with my Mom, Jeremiah, and our good friends, the Rowlands. In short, it was wonderful! :)   

While I greatly enjoyed my visit, I was very excited to come home. Why, you may ask? My pastor encouraged (and challenged) me to go home and apply myself to becoming my Dad's best friend. You see, who better to teach me how to be a godly woman than my father? . . . a man who knows what character traits make a good person and wife. If I learn how to be a blessing, a joyfull servant, help-meet, and a listener now while serving my father, I can be a blessing, joyful servant, help-meet, and listener when and if I get married. And my husband (and everyone else I meet) will be greatly blessed. My pastor also encouraged me to ask dad what character traits I need to improve on. I have not done this much in the past, but surely, this could change my life. I know that this coming year is going to be life changing as I live away from home and start school. It is so important that I learn what and who I believe in and to gain godly character; I know that by listening and obeying my Papi, I will gain a godly foundation which will carry me.  I just want to encourage you, my fellow sisters in Christ, to seek to win your father's heart. God was very wise in giving us the parents that He did; He never makes a mistake and is very purposeful in all He does. Whether or not you have honorable parents, seek to honor and lift them up. In honoring un-honorable people we gain godly character and the Lord's blessing!

 "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Ephesians 6:2, 3

Well, I guess I'll get off of my soap box. :) I just love how God will us authorities in our lives to change us into His likness! How good He is to us! Finally, a true and encouraging hymn, "How Firm a Foundation."

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said,

You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;

In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;

At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,

As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove

My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;

And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,

Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

-John Rippon

God bless you dear sisters with His peace and grace!

Praise the Lord I'm done!

Hello dear sisters! I hope this day finds you all well. This is such an amazing time in a my life, a time of spring, a time of being with my family (either physically or in heart!), a time of cleaning, and a time of growing in the Lord (although I must say that He is the gardener, not I).


I'm happy to say that I am officially done with my first year in college. For many of you who don't know, with the blessings of my parents and the urgings of the Lord, I have been taking classes with the hopes of becoming a teacher one day. This past school year I have been taking classes from a local satellite school two days a week. My momma has even been taking classes with me and tonight I took my last test! Praise the LORD! I also want to congratulate my dear momma who also is done with this year and also finished her associate degree! Congratulations Mommy-dearest!

A second announcement is that I will be attending College of the Ozarks starting this January. I recently received their letter of acceptance. This whole thing is pretty neat because I had applied once before and was not accepted. After applying the second time I felt that I was going to be accepted and was very disappointed when I was not. However, our God works in mysterious ways. You see, during this time I was developing a feministic and "independent of my authorities" attitude which I believe is very dangerous and outside of the will of God for a woman and daughter. So, when I was not accepted for the second time I saw that my heart was in danger and that I desired things outside of the will of God. By God's grace I asked Him to show me the meek, quiet, submissive, and home-keeping heart I knew He wanted me to have. And praise the Lord He did! So, you see, it is no coincidence that I was accepted only after the Lord did a work in my heart. No, I believe that God knew exactly what He was doing and I praise Him for it. . .even though it involved disappointment in the beginning!

In the mean time I am purposing to become more and more the Christian girl, sister, and servant I ought to be. Sometimes I get so off track! But God’s love is amazing and He pulls me back through His discipline and love. A few goals I have for this summer are: To be a productive and encouraging servant at Discover Ministries, the Christian camp where I work as a cook. To learn home duties and spring clean! Learn how to can and can some things. Write my sister Allie who is working in Wyoming. (Allie we miss you and I hope you are having a splendid time) To grow in the Lord and becoming a godly woman.
And to be a blessing to my family!

Well, off I go to look for some ideas for the give-away. Please don’t forget to vote!
May the Lord bless you all, dear sisters. Have a wonderful day!

Daughters and Wives

Greetings sisters! I hope this day finds you all well and growing in our Lord. Lately, I have not had much brain-power or creativity for blogging. . .perhaps it's because of school? :) I'm not sure. So in place of some creative article which I could offer, I found two sweet, true, and attention-grabbing quotes which I enjoyed.  I love to find a good quote. . .often, it will give me new ideas or put my thoughts into well-phrased words. I hope you are blessed!

“An undutiful daughter will prove an unmanageable wife.” -Benjamin Franklin

"If you would have a good wife, marry one who has been a good daughter.” -Thomas Fuller

As girls and young women, what we are practicing now (discontentment, rebellion, an impure attitude, disobedience and unsubmissiveness, and all the other sinful behaivors) will show up in our later years if we do not allow the Lord to cleanse out our hearts. This is painful, but the blessings that will gain when we are obedient to the Lord is greater! Let us prepare now so that, if the LORD wills, we can be sweet and good blessings to our husbands.    

Have a blessed day and God bless you!

The Sweetness of being Me. . .a Lady

I found this lovely quote by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey and have found it very encouraging, sweet, and true! I hope you enjoy it!

"It seems to be the fashion nowadays for a girl to behave as much like a man as possible. Well, I won't! I'll make the best of being a girl and be as nice a specimen as I can: sweet and modest, a dear, dainty thing with clothes smelling all sweet and violety, a soft voice, and pretty, womanly ways. Since I'm a girl, I prefer to be a real one."

Isn't that so encouraging?! Let's embrace the way God created us--to be sweet, modest, gentle, quiet, meek, feminine, charitable,  and good. Have a blessed day!

Your sister in Christ who enjoys being the girl God created her to be!

Picture Credit: This lovely painting is by Daniel Ridgway Knight. Please go enjoy more of his incredible paintings!

Ode to a Bad Test--and the Kindness of a Good God!

Oh, the horrors! Greetings my sweet friends and sisters! Tonight is a sad night. I took my Physical Education test (a class I am required to take as I work towards a teaching degree) and *sniff* I do not think I did well. I only share this to encourage you and myself to remember our daughterly duties. As a Christian we have the duties of loving our Lord with all our hearts, souls, minds, strengths, and to love our neighbor too. As women we're to be good, merciful, pure, and responsible for our bodies. As sisters we have the responsibilities of being sweet, helpful, friendly, and forgiving. As friends were to be kind, understanding, and faithful. And as daughters were to be obedient, meek, humble, submissive, loving, forgiving, studious, industrious, and good.  (And these lists are not complete!) Perhaps this is to be a reminder and a consequence of my failure in this important area. So, while I am sad at my less then the best, I hope to press higher in my daughterly and scholarly duties. . .and bring my father and mother honor while I do it!

Remember dear Anne's letter which said:

"As Rachel Lynde used to say, the sun will go on rising and setting whether I fail in Geometry or not. . . ." :)

Have a blessed day dear sisters!

Your hopeful sister,

One Week Later:

Well, hello sisters! Guess what? I am super excited! Why you wonder? Because our God is good. I did not study for this test like I should have. . .I neglected my duty. But tonight I was blessedly surprised to get my grade. . . a 98% I am so blessed by our God who helps us and has given us common sense (it was a P.E. test and they are generally pretty self explanitory). But, I must remember to be a good and diligent student and daughter bring my parents and Lord glory.

Have a blessed night sisters!

Frannie

                                                             

Contentment-A Goodly Virtue

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Greetings my dear sisters in Christ. I hope this finds each one of you growing in our Lord and King. I'm doing well. . .simply enjoying spring, our good friend Mr. Rowland's visit, and spending time with my family. This post deals with contentment because that is exactly what I am being taught during this season in my life. I've never thought of myself as a discontented person, but oh, how I was wrong. first, let me start from the  beginning  . . .

Part One- "The Beginning"
We had been living in Missouri for about eight months in a small, but sweet rental home in the middle of Ozark country. Even better, we were settled nicely in Round Springs state park. It was very lovely and I believe God used that close space to bring us closer together. We were a walk away from a spring, river, and cave. . .surely, one would think I'd be content. But we're so far from town and the road is so curvy! 

Part Two- "The Nice Home Near Town"
This was my complaint and as we began house searching it became louder and louder. Daddy and Momma wanted a nice house with some farm/hunting land, (and we did too) but it was difficult to find those things within our price range. So after some time we found a nice home settled neatly by town, with a garden, a good amount of space, and it was very convinient. Yes, we had found the one (or that's what some of us thought). We eventually did buy this nice home in town and are here to this day. I was so happy. . .at least for awhile. I began to think of farmland, chickens, a milking cow, and sheep and began to dislike our nice home. Its not nice enough, we we can't have a cow, no fruit trees, why did we buy this house? This was my self speaking and through the sin of discontentment I began to grumble and complain.

Part Three- "An Opportunity"
After living in this nice home for about six months or so, we recieved a phone call from an old friend of mom's. "We have a home for sell with 37 acres, surrounded by conservation land, located near the highway, with ponds on it; why don't you come down and take a look at it?" Imagine, dear friends, our excitement as we went to look at the inviting prospect. First Daddy went, and when he got home his eyes sparkled as he told me not to get too excited. We visited a few times and left wanting it more and more.

An Intercession- "The Realization"
This is where I have to stop, dear sisters. It is during this time that I learned what true contentment is. My discontentment had made me very unhappy during this time. My unthankfulness made me grumble, and most likely, unpleasant to be around. As I stood looking out our dining room window the Lord helped me realize that "If  I'm not happy here I won't be happy there." Ooh. . .such a true thought. If I cannot be happy with the good that I have now, will I be if I have good later? I'm afraid the answer is no. I should have been happy in our nice little rental, I thought I would have been happy with our nice home by town, and now I think I will be happy with something else? No, if we are not satisified with what the Lord has given us, we won't be satisfied with anything else. The Lord gently led me to a place where I realized that I needed to be happy now. . .and I can thankfully say He has helped me!

Part Four- "The Grace of God Brings Joy"
Here I am sisters, joyfully happy with where we are living. I don't know if we will move, but until then, by God's able and faithful grace, you'll find me happily sitting in this home that's becoming dear to me. Now I can say,  "Oh how nice to be near a grocery store, where I'm able to become friends with the stockers and the cashiers. What an opportunity to witness to my lost neighbors, and to bless the widows nearby. How good it is to have a garden we can 'practice' at without having to work new ground. What a blessing to have a sweet country home which has plenty of room for us and guests, is comfortable, and very hardy. And the smallish kitchen I use to dislike?. . .it is so sweet to have a kitchen where every decoration has a nook to rest in and it is nice to be able to work closely with my dear family as we cook up a meal." Can you tell the difference God has wrought in my heart? Maybe we will never move, and at this time that is okay with me. We are here for a reason and I want to make the most out of it.  

The Conclusion- "A Few Points"
I still have much to learn on conentment and I can say that I do not always apply it like I should. But isn't God good to help us start? I wanted to share a few points real quick concerning contentment.
~ Nothing will ever fill our hearts except Jesus. We often seek for happiness by buying/sewing clothes, visiting friends, going shopping, eating, and so on, but these things never fill our hearts up. If we allow Jesus to become "all we need" He will bring peace and joy.
~Let us remember that conentment is a good trait we need to practice now--before we get married. For most of us, our parents have provided plenty to eat, a comfortable home, and nice clothing and that is a blessing. But when we get married, dear sisters, life will have challenges. Our husbands will be just starting out and life is difficult. I know my parents had hard times when they began.  So let us learn to be content now, so that, Lord willing, we may be a sweet and happy blessing to our future husband.

Let us continue pressing heavenward as we learn to become the content and joyful maidens God desires us to be. I have much to learn, but God is faithful!
With much love from a sister,

P.S. The above sweet picture I found at brandie-life.blogspot.com. If you would like, pay Brandie a visit--her blog is very sweet!

Feminine Farmgirl Challenge Report! How Good our God was to make us Feminine!

Greetings my dear sisters in Christ. I hope this finds you all well and growing in our dear Savior. How good He is to us!
Well, as many as you know I joined with Feminine Farmgirl and with Feelin Feminine for the challenge of wearing skirts or dresses for the first week of April. When I became a Christian about 5 years ago I became convicted to dress modestly. . .this eventually led to my wearing skirts and jumpers. So, while wearing skirts and dresses was not new to me, this challenge helped me focus on dressing femininely and on why I wear dresses/skirts--it helped pull me out of the "because its expected or tradition" mindset. I'm a little sad because my outfit pictures of the last few days are stuck on a unworking computer. Oh well! :) If the Lord wills, I'll get them up later!

The below questions are from the Feelin' Feminine website and I'm excited to get started and tell you all about how my week went! Here I go!

~ How was the experience for you? It was alot of fun. I was blessed by seeing all of the fellow Christian sisters and their modest clothing. . .such an encouragement! A second blessing I gained from this experience was that I had to think about being modest. Now, I've have sought to be modest for a few years and I feel like I have been. But it was becoming an expected and normal thing for me to do. This challenge reminded me that being modest is a choice- one we must make every day.

~ Any particular stories? Oh yes! On Friday I really struggled. . .I was to go and help my sister at daycare she works at. They were going horse back riding and I really wanted to participate! *Gulp* I must be honest, I do wear jumpers and skirts 97% of the time. But my Daddy and I have decided there are a few activities where wearing loose sweatpants would be more modest than a dress (playing softball, going caving, participating in my P.E. class, and so on). Unfortunately, you all caught me on the 3% side of wearing a pair of pants! Imagine the dilemma I was in. . .continuing on in this challenge or putting a pair of loose pants on. I am so thankful that I chose to stick with the challenge. I found a full brown bohemian skirt, some leggings, a sweet and modest blouse, and a pair of tennis shoes. And what did I do? I hopped onto that horse and noticed that my skirt was more modest than any pair of loose sweatpants! Truly, our God is amazing! I felt feminine and pretty as my skirt lay loosely over the saddle while holding onto a dear little preschooler. I think I enjoyed myself more, knowing that the shape of my thighs were modestly hidden, whereas pants tend to reveal every shape. As you can tell, I was truly blessed by this experience.

Addie over at Girlish Musings , who also participated in this challenge, had an excellent thought. (I'm paraphrasing), but Miss Addie says that women have worn skirts for ages, often crossing "oceans," "continents," and "mountain ranges" and that if they could do it, so could she. Isn't that so true, dear sisters? Let's take courage and be like the women of old. . .I bet Sara, Abraham's wife, did all of her ancient chores and travellings in feminine and modest attire. :o) Thank you Addie for such a thought-provoking idea!   

 ~ Did wearing skirts rather than pants affect the way you felt? Yes, jumpers and skirts help me feel sweet, feminine, and more aware of the fact that I am a lady created to be a helpmeet.


~ The way you felt about yourself? Yes. I have often struggled with my weight and the modesty and loveliness that comes from wearing skirts/jumpers has encouraged me to trust that my worth is not found in beauty, but in following the Lord. Several years ago I wore very wordly clothes. My worth was in my beauty, and because of that I became very immodest. Since Jesus has worked in my heart and life, I have found that by doing things His way (being modest and having a meek and quiet spirit) my beauty comes from within. And that makes me so glad!

~ The way you acted? Yes, I feel that when I dress modestly I tend to be more gentle and patient.Women are supposed to be sweet and gentle and I believe God intends modest clothing to be a reminder and help of that.

~ The way you carried yourself? I believe so! :) Again, I feel God designed modest clothing/dresses to help women be gentle. I can testify for this first hand. When I wore immodest clothing (which often were tight pants) I walked in a way to gain attention. I feel modest clothing helps us sisters to be meek and quiet. It helps with accountability!  
~ Were you able to go about everyday activity as freely as pants? Yes! While wearing a skirt or jumper I studied, went to school,  worked in the house, helped in the garden, went shopping, attended a wedding, rode a horse, and even climbed a tree (with a pair of leggings!)   

~ How did people respond? My family is used to me wearing skirts, so every thing was normal with them. (Although they rejoiced with me when I discovered I could wear a skirt while riding a horse!)
I feel strangers, especially men, give me a sweet respect that I am very much blessed and in awe at.

~ Were you more respected? In the general public? I do believe that wearing a modest skirt/jumper does bring respect although I did not pay too much attention to that this past week.
I also wear a head covering and I believe that wearing modest clothing and covering my head has brought me much respect over the last 5 years. God is good!  

~ Did you feel more like a lady? Yes :o)

~ After the challenge do you desire to keep wearing skirts more regularly, or were you desperate to wear pants again? I desire to continue in wearing jumpers/skirts. I believe that modesty is so important to God and I am so glad that He has worked it into my life. Even though I struggle with immodesty sometimes, I desire to continue on in the godly maidenhood He has planned for me.  

I hope that this challenge has been a blessing to you, dear sisters, as much as it has been for me. Let's give up our vanity and follow after our Lord. He is able to give us strength! 
With lots of love,  


P.S. I found this lovely photo and I do not know who to give credit to! I think it can be found on photobucket.com, but I have never tried. If you have any idea, please leave a comment! I would greatly appreciate it!

McGuffey Mondays

Hello again my dear sisters in Christ! About two years ago I picked up a few  revised McGuffey Readers published by Christian Liberty at a yardsale. At this time I'm reading a revised McGuffey Electic Reader. Some of you may have read these before, but I have never read one and I am so thankful I found it! I have been blessed many times by the various stories within this Electic Reader and because I was so blessed I wanted to share a few stories with you! So, after seeing the creativness of other fellow bloggers I decided to make Mondays "McGuffey Mondays"! I'm very excited. I'm hoping that the sweet old-timiness, slightly difficult reading, and the uplifting of good character may bless you as much as it has me. So, even though today is not Monday I thought I would get started.

"Who Made the Stars"

"Mother, who made the stars, which light

The beautiful blue sky?

Who made the moon, so clear and bright,

That rises up so high?"

"'Twas God, my child, the Glorious One,

He formed them by his power;

He made alike the brilliant sun,

And every leaf and flower.

"He made your little feet to walk;

Your sparkling eyes to see;

Your busy, prattling tongue to talk,

And limbs so light and free.

"He paints each fragrant flower that blows,

With loveliness and bloom;

He gives the violet and the rose

Their beauty and perfume.

"Our various wants his hands supply;

He guides us every hour;

We're kept beneath his watchful eye,

And guarded by his power.

"Then let your little heart, my love,

Its grateful homage pay

To that kind Friend, who, from above,

Thus guides you every day.

"In all the changing scenes of time,

On him our hopes depend;

In every age, in every clime,

Our Father and our Friend."

Isn't that lovely dear sisters? If the Lord wills, may we be as the mother in this poem. And if God decides to keep us single, may we be kind and gentle, answering younger people's questions, and always pointing to our Lord. Well, that is all for today! Let's be all He wants us to be my fellow sisters.

By his grace,       

Feminine Farmgirl Challenge~Day One & Two

Hello all! I joined Jenna at Feminine Farmgirl and Feelin Feminine  for the April challenge. . .the challenge of dressing femininly and modestly for one week! I've been wearing skirts and jumpers for about five years, pretty much since I became a Christian. I did not start out dressing modestly though. Before I became a Christian I tried to dress as immodestly as I could in order to gain attention from men. This is such a sad state to be in and I thank the Lord that He has helped me in dressing modestly and desiring to be a blessing~ not a hinderance ~to men and Christian brothers in Christ. I also cover my head. . .something for which I have gained many bessings from! So, I hope as I post my outfits for this week I may be a blessing and encouragement. Let's rise to the highest, dear sisters, and glorify our Lord in our dress (which starts with our hearts!)  

Day One:

Here is the outfit I wore on Easter Sunday. Momma and I found our outfits while visiting Pennsylvannia last week. I'm wearing a paisly light pink and black skirt, a purple shell, and a light black sweater which I really like because it is feminine and modest. Momma is wearing a purple flowered skirt which buttons in the front and a purple blouse (very sweet).

Here's Momma! So pretty!

I work at a Christian camp called Discovery Ministries as a cook. Because we had a group of campers over Easter weekend I had to go in on Sunday afternoon to make up a little meal. So, I quickly changed into a jumper, white shirt, my favorite white sneakers and bobbie socks (so cute:). I have found jumpers to a real blessing. They are feminine, practical, and because I am a little bigger they have proven to be one of the best ways to be modest. Please excuse the dying dandilions! :)

  

Day Two:

Here I am on Monday afternoon. I'm wearing a white jumper with a blue and red flower print, a blue t-shirt, and a pair of sandals. Thank you Jeremiah for being such a willing and good photographer.

May the Lord bless your day sisters! By His grace,

A Peek into a Busy Afternoon and the How-to's of Working Joyfully

Greetings from a lovely Missouri afternoon and a sister with dishes in the sink! : )
 Today is Friday and I have been washed over with a list of to-do's. I was surprised with a work schedule for this weekend and although I enjoyed my first day back as a cook I came home to the realization that the work has only begun. Dishes have piled themselves high, laundry limply overflows the basket, and a bathroom screams in need of attention. Don't forget the sweeping and mopping which needs done. : ) I ask myself, "How shall I get through all of this?" A few things come to mind and I hope to apply them.
~ Give praise that I am learning to keep a home now and not later.
~ Give thanks that we have dirty dishes to wash, dirty clothes in the basket, and a family to pick up after.
~ Praise the Lord for His care, for my ability to clean up, a momma who taught me how, modern convinieces, and a dishwasher!
~ Put some lovely godly music on to uplift and encourage my day.
~  Realize that my duties have been given to me by the Creator and Lord of the universe and that I have the blessed privilege of making home a clean and joyful place to be!

"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:4,5

This is what I would like to be as an older woman. What a lovely thing to be used by the Lord! But as young women we have the responsibility to obey God here and now, not in our own homes Lord willing. I hope that this verse can become a realization in me! May we all press on and learn to joyfully obey the Lord here at home!

 Your house-cleaning sister in Christ,