"The Wedding Ring"

What a great reminder from Proverbs 31 ministries

The Wedding Ring
20 Jul 2009
Marybeth Whalen

"An unmarried woman is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband." I Corinthians 7:34 (NIV)

While shopping for some nail polish remover, I stumbled upon a bottle of jewelry cleaner. As I picked it up and tossed it into my cart, I reflected on the days when I always kept jewelry cleaner so that I could keep my wedding ring sparkling and shiny. Somewhere in the rush of life, I stopped doing that, and it had been years since I polished up my very dirty, dingy diamond. When I got home, I cracked open the new bottle and put my rings in to soak overnight. The next morning, I fished them out and used the little brush to scrub away any remaining dirt. As I slipped the rings on, I couldn't believe the difference! I knew my rings were dirty but I had no idea how sparkling the cleaner would make them. All day I kept looking down at my hand to admire the way the diamond reflected the light, brilliant and shiny instead of dirty and dingy. God reminded me that my experience was a great illustration for how I have treated my marriage at times. Where once I worked hard to look nice for my husband, I often meet him after a long day in my pajamas—unshowered and unprepared to welcome him. Where once I took time to really listen to him, I let my thoughts wander when he talks, figuring I had heard it all before. Where once I looked forward to our time alone, I get in the car with a bored sigh, and a, "Where do you want to eat?" My shiny, sparkly, exciting marriage that I couldn't wait for had turned into a dirty, dingy drudgery that I forgot to take care of. As I admired my diamond that day, I thought of ways I could "clean" my marriage, restoring it to the brilliance that God desired for us:

• Taking time to at least brush my hair and put some gloss on my lipsbefore I saw my husband at the end of the day.
• Committing to regular exercise and taking care of myself, so I would feel better and look better.
• Treating him respectfully and watching both my words and my tone to him.
• Apologizing when I blow it and humbly seeking his forgiveness.
• Investing regular, consistent time into us by making the effort to plan date nights and secure a sitter.
• Really listening to him when he confides in me, not letting my thoughtswander to my to-do list.
• Spending time with him without feeling like we have to talk all the time.
• Respecting the differences in each of us, instead of fighting against them.

Of course I don't do these things perfectly every day, but I do have a renewed vision for what my marriage needs. Just like my diamond needed to be restored after neglect, so did my marriage. I can't become complacent or despondent about this most important relationship. I have to strip off the buildup of stress and busyness, scrub away any resentment or distance. When I do that, God has shown me that He will restore my marriage to its original brilliance and sparkle, reminding us both why we said "I do" all those years ago.

Parade in Hull, IA

We went to the parade over this last weekend with Mark and Ashley and their kids, It was super fun!!

I Am Truly Sorry

Sorry it has been so long, our computer is not working correctly, and I am now using a friends. The boys are getting big, and school is done for the year so the summer days have begun. We will be in MI, in two weeks, and the Kids and I will be there for 2 weeks(Troy will be there just for the weekend). Hope to see all of our MI family and friends soon, hope all is well with everyone. Miss you,

unsure of what I am feeling...

I am so unsure of what i am feeling these days, is it the winter blues, homesickness, or just frustration that I am picking up the same toys and vacuuming the same carpet over and over again? Is this just the mundane same-ness of being a at home mom? Sometimes at the end of the day i think .....why is it that at 9:00 in the morning my patience seems to be all but gone.

Am i grieving that this will be my last baby, my last nursing child?

I feel like I am drowning, in laundry, making dinner, cleaning, and toys.

Is this what God has planned for my life...is this his purpose for me.....and that fact that I am asking it..should I be worried?

Am I feeling old due to an upcoming birthday?

Lord, Please help me to feel your purpose for my life, and feel like I am worthy to be called one of your children.

Bathtime Fun....

This was fun for the boys, I let them splash as much as they wanted. It's just water right?

For Ben's room, a little color

A cheap great way to add some color , all it takes is some ply-wood and scrapbook paper :)

A church bag :) for Zach

Zach was needing something to carry coloring book, and crayons, ect. to Church, so today I made hime this bag. It was so fun, not bad....

My 2nd ten month old walker.....

Finally I caught this on Video....sorry it took me so long. Enjoy :)

Between Ben being so sick and actually catching him walking with the camera ready...it has been a while since he started walking.

Walking with God

A good friend of mine shared this with me this morning by email. I wanted to share it with you...What a great way to start our day :)

Of Enoch and Long Walks
9 Jan 2009
Karen Ehman

"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." Genesis 5:24 (NIV)

Do you have a favorite Bible character? One who inspires you, challenges you or one whose story you simply love? Perhaps it is Moses and his vast leadership skills. How about Esther, the compelling queen who, being both gorgeous and smart, used her quick thinking to help God save an entire nation? Maybe Joseph is your pick as you contemplate how someone so mistreated could continually take the high road; the road that lead him not only to political power but also to family forgiveness. All of these are marvelous choices, but none are my pick. I like Enoch.Since first hearing of Enoch as a young teen, that guy has fascinated me. Not a lot is writt en about him in the pages of scripture, but what is there sure piques my interest. He "walked with God and then he was no more because God took him away." Hmmm. My young mind pondered that strange description.As I grew as a believer, I learned a bit more about this biblical mystery man. In Hebrews 11:5-6 we catch more of the story. "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV)Ah ha! Enoch was whisked away, spared the pain of death and transported immediately to God's side all because of one simple thing. He pleased God. I say simple. But I don't say easy. It is a simple thing to please God. You just do what He says in His word. Straightforward enough, right? However, my years as a follower of Christ have taught me that simple is not always easy. Choices present themselves. The world screams. Our flesh gets in the way. We want revenge or our own glory. We lack faith and instead try to control our own destinies. We mess up the "pleasin' God" part with our very own hands.Enoch "walked with God." Oh, don't we long for that to be said of us? I'll admit I don't always walk with God. I take a stand for God; believe the right things and make it known. I may walk after God. And sadly, sometimes I run ahead of God; make my own plans and then say, "Oh yeah. By the way God, do ya mind blessin' these plans? I made them in Your name. I may have forgotten to consult You in the midst of them, but they are for You all right!" What a shame and a sham!No two ways about it, walking with God means that we daily give up our right to navigate our own lives. We pla ce our faith in Him, admitting He knows what is best for us and realizing He might not always reveal the hows and the whys until the very last second. Remember, God is seldom early, but never late. Only day-by-day faith-walking pleases God.Oh, dear one, do you long to be one who pleases God this way? One who makes Him smile as He sees you daily place complete trust in Him and His infinite wisdom? Maybe then we just might be like my Bible hero Enoch; the one who walked so closely by our Creator's side that one day, during one of those long walks, God looked at him and said, "You know, we've been walking together for so long now that we are actually closer to my house than yours. Why don't you just come on home with me right now?" Glory!!!Dear Lord, I am ready to learn to walk with You in faith; not ahead of You or behind You, but right by Your side. Show me how, step by step. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Ice Skating

5 YEARS

5 years ago today, I left my parents home and married my best friend. He is my lover, my confidant, and is a wonderful father and husband. I thank God every day for the person that he has given to me, for a time on this earth. We never know how long we have together, so we should live every day like it our last.

What has happened in five years? Five moves, one 750 miles away from the home that we have both known. Two wonderful children that God has blessed us with. 8 or 9 kidney stones- I had a hard time remembering, must have been the morphine :) Multiple job changes for both of us and one of us deciding to stay home with the boys, which could have brought on financial strains but didn't. (Thank God for Dave Ramsey) The purchase of a business, the sale of a business. The purchase of a home. Five years of love and support from all of our parents, who we are truly grateful for. And nothing but love and respect from each other. God has richly blessed us in ways we could have never imagined.

No matter what comes our way, we know that if we center our marriage on Christ, there is nothing that we can not overcome, nothing. I love you Troy.

Mark 10:7-9 " For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Merry Christmas

My God is So Great.....

Zach is so proud of his singing!!

Extreme Home Makeover...

There were two walls in our bedroom, that were paneling :)

On this bookcase, there was an ugly thing with stained glass in it that went all the way to the ceiling

I did not take before pics, but just picture ugly, and lots of pink.

We're really movin' now.

It's beginning to look allot like Christmas...

And yes..it came as a kit :)

The Train....and Breakfast

The Mall has this train for free for the kids on Saturdays until Christmas...Zach loves it. Sara, LaShawn and I took all the kids to Brakfast at the Bakery and then to the Train Ride.

The Train....and Breakfast, Part 2

Ben is enjoying riding with Kayla, Zach's friend

What fun, free train rides at the mall!!!!

Hmmmm...

Okay so I think that I got the pillow case thing down

So yea, this one is for me :) All of the boys have John Deere ones!