by tascha
I missed my scheduled posting time last week. But the children and I had great fun visiting my grandparents, whom I have not seen since my oldest child was a few months old! It was so wonderful for them to meet the other 3! It was a rather spur-of-the-moment trip, so I had time to schedule any posts.
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| my grandparents, my children & myself |
I have long heard it proclaimed to men: “The best way to love your children is to love their mommy. and let them KNOW you love their mommy!”
This obvious affection creates stability that children so desperately need.
This idea is rooted in Biblical truths, but for today I am simply relating personal experience.
And I am going to tip the tables and say it backwards: “The best way for ME [mommy] to love my children is to love their daddy. and let them KNOW it!”
I must be INTENTIONAL about my love for him.
I have come to notice that the more I devote my time, attention and even Bible study & prayer to simply loving my husband in the way he feels love [his love language], the nicer I am to my children when they are whiny and the more joy comes to me when doing the mundane–laundry, dishes, etc.
Happy Mommy = Happy home.
So, my goal is to commit my mind to pleasing my children’s father; and whether or not the clothing actually gets put away, our home will be a happier place! [but I’m working on getting the laundry put away!!]
I pray these thoughts are encouraging to someone today!
being part of:
by tascha |
But today I am going to tell you a few things I have personally learned about being the wife my husband praises {wow! that sounds boastful, but his praises are how I know I have done something right! so I am going to share what that has been recently}.
**And just because my husband has noticed these things does NOT mean I can give them up as “accomplished”! I still struggle with these -and so much more- every. single. day.**
1. being intentionally “beautiful” for him- dressing more for his eyes.
{I know that might sound like I think I’m pretty, but really, I just mean that what he enjoys about my wardrobe has become more of my focus when I dress & shop}
When I keep my hubby’s likes in the forefront of my thoughts when dressing for the day, I find there are a few items of clothing that really need to go! And when I allow it to influence what I buy, I feel better about spending a few dollars on my wardrobe. I also find that I feel more feminine knowing that there is a man out there that appreciates the way I look { 🙂 }.
**Have you ever asked your husband what clothing he likes on you? or just taken note of his expressive reaction to your outfit?
2. making our supper daily- and usually it is edible. { 🙂 }
I try to make note of the meals he eats quickly and those he gives me some “direction” on… and take the direction as a gentle reminder that I am not the only one eating the food I prepare! While I do try to make our food as nutritionally healthy as possible, sometimes I just try to make something I know he thinks is YUMMY! because HE is my #1!
**Do you let your husband occasionally criticize your food with an open mind {and heart!}? It’s not easy sometimes, but it can show him your love.
3. allowing God to work in my heart.
{if he can notice it, it must not be my imagination that God is working, and He has shown me some ugly things about myself recently}When I ask and then allow God to show me that ugliness called SELF in my heart and then also allow Him to work a change in my life, it makes me a more pleasant person {just trust me on that if you have never experienced it}. And living with a woman who has a pleasant disposition is at least part of EVERY man’s dream! { 🙂 } Yes, it IS hard sometimes.
It is painful to know… sometimes agonizing to admit… that I am wrong– that things I have thought and acted on were just not right, not Godly, not Christlike.
But when I have allowed God to work, and I have humbly told my husband that I know this or that was wrong and will you please forgive me, there is such a freedom that comes. And usually he turns right around and tells me that he realizes it was not all my fault.
** When you have conflict with your husband, do you ever honestly asked God to reveal your own fault in the situation? and then talked humbly and openly with your husband about it?
How do you intentionally show your husband he is your #1? I’d love to read it in the comments!
I pray these thoughts are encouraging to someone today!
being part of:
by tascha |
One of my favorite quotes that can motivate me to have and seek the proper spirit each day is:
Duty makes us do things well,
but Love makes us do them beautifully.
I love beauty: a clean table, dresser drawers closed neatly, covers pulled up to the bed pillows, toys in their home, children playing together, a lovely kiss when he comes home.
And each of these situations could occur every day, but just because they happen does not mean there is beauty in HOW they were done.
It is the love of God in my heart that causes me to accomplish these tasks beautifully– to enjoy the moment-
to take pleasure even when the chaos ensues~~
to live a beautiful life
in the ordinary-everyday.
[I Corinthains 13]
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!
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by tascha |
or How many do I serve?
How do you measure greatness?
I have a quote in my Bible:
Your greatness is not measured by how many servants you have
but by how many men [people] you serve.
I am not sure where I heard it. I failed to write that part down.
Is this not what Jesus taught? sometimes I need to be reminded. I have no illusions of actually having servants {laughing hysterically}, but do I treat my family as my servants? Or do I delight in serving them?
Mark 10:43b, 44 …but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mark 9:34b-35 …for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
These are just some thoughts {among others} that have convicted me recently.
When I truly seek to serve God with my day, I will readily serve my family–with a smile in my heart!
I will be willing to serve others as He makes opportunity in my life; and I will teach my children that real JOY comes from serving God [without even telling them! though we ought to express it verbally, too].
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!
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by tascha |
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Dueteronomy 6:6,7—we must teach our children God’s Word.
{This is the way we do this. it is not the “perfect method” for everyone. not what every family must do. Just what we do. and I pray it can be a blessing and an inspiration to someone seeking for a place to start.}
Our family’s evening devotion time centers around preparing for bed. The older 2 can get their pjs on by themselves. though I do have to check to see if they picked up after themselves. They are often silly during this time and I love to hear their conversations. so serious. so pretend grown-up. except Mikalah. she loves to ROAR. and be 3.
We have our set time that we start. with the goal of them being in bed by 8:30. We have two different routines. one for evenings we have been at church and one for all the other evenings. As a family, we do our best to not schedule our time to be out late on nights that are not church simply because our children are still young and need the stability of a set bedtime. I am so thankful we are able to do this.
Our non-church night devotions begin with each of us saying something we are thankful for and then read a story with a Biblical principle and a Bible verse. During this last month [December] we simply read our Advent verses each evening instead of our story. Then we work on a Bible verse for memorization. We end with our quiet song [God Is So Good] and then have prayer.
On church nights we skip the story and memory verse. We talk about one thing to be thankful for as a family. then our song and prayer.
After prayer, everyone kisses Daddy [and the baby-man], and Mommy trails them off to bed. covers and kisses. lights out.
Good-Night.
Not every night is smooth sailing! Sometimes there has to be a reprimand for wiggling. or a potty stop. or… something. but we have been doing this as a family for 4 years now. and since they know nothing different, this is normal bedtime routine and they really do very well.
linked up at: raisingarrows
