Fathers, Daughters, Butterflies and High Tea

Daughters

need time

with their fathers...

I've heard it's wonderful. 

If you are able to attend, definitely do!

You can sign up here.

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If you are looking for a set of beautiful heirloom teacups to buy for your daughter or her hope chest
look no further! Click here for the perfect set.


 

Sense and Sensibility

Look at the beautiful details of this dress...

It is from a 1780's portrait gown pattern...sigh...don't you just love it?

and look at these:

So lovely and looks like she is straight from a classic art painting...

I suddenly have the urge to watch Jane Austen movies!

My friend, Mrs. Jennie Chancey, has these patterns at her lovely store:


Sense and Sensibility Patterns


Be sure to stop by and visit!

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She also has amazing patterns for little girls too!

Inward Appearance

I've been thinking a lot about the inward appearance of a woman. Often times we get caught up in legalism and performance, and forget that which is most valuable and eternal to God.

What are you wearing today? Is it anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip, rebellion, or hate?

While you put on your pretty dress, is there resentment disfiguring your body? As you line your lips with gloss, does your mouth dabble in curses and gossip? Your hand automatically covers your eye with shadow to bring out those beautiful baby blues, but what are those baby blues coveting?

Look in the mirror today, but instead of your usual morning routine cry out to God and ask Him to give you that which is most precious in His sight - a gentle and quiet spirit.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I Peter 3:3-4





This encouraging post is by Jasmine of Far Above Rubies~
Thanks so much for sharing!





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If you are looking resources to help you with the above, you might want to consider the Godly Woman's Adornment Collection-a four  book set or Putting On a Gentle And Quiet Spirit: 1 Peter (A Woman After God's Own Heart).

Invest In Your Family This Christmas

Every year when we buy gifts we try to make sure we include gifts that will sharpen the character of our children, teach them something new or grow in their spiritual walk with the Lord. I love Vision Forum because their products are family centered and help me to accomplish many of my goals in strengthening my marriage, family, and homeschool. I love what they have out this year for our daughters:

Heroines of Christ's Kingdom Paper Doll Set (Set of 6) now 50% off
 That is the ENTIRE set that is regularly priced at $78

--is NOW ONLY $39!!!!

 We own these and my daughter's absolutely love them!

“Daughters of His Story” is a new series of beautiful, full-color paper dolls that will entertain your girls and strengthen them in biblical femininity, character, and love for history. The women of God featured in these collections were dedicated to serving the Lord through their missions as wives and mothers. Each set comes with two women from history, along with a short biography and three outfits, two dolls inside a keepsake folder, two stands, and six dresses.

The Sewing Answer Book 
just marked down to $10.50!
A great way for our daughter's (or ourselves) to learn the domestic skills they will need one day for their future homes.They also have books for baking, knitting, crocheting and beading that you may find here.

What Our Father Taught Us About Boys
just marked down to $7!!

How can young ladies keep their hearts pure? What responsibilities do they have toward young men? Is it possible to be “just friends?” Listen to practical advice on navigating the tricky waters of relationships with boys, and how these relationships—properly conducted—can be edifying and strengthening to a civilization that honors marriage and family life.

My daughter really enjoyed this one and so did I! Believe me, I am very picky about teaching regarding the opposite sex, and this was worth the investment! Listen to a sample here.

The Godly Woman's Adornment Collection-50% off-
 now only $22!!
This accessible and hard hitting series addresses four Biblical fruits which are not some fleeting ideal, but a reality that God enables women to live out daily. Perfect to meditate upon throughout the day, each short devotional looks to Scripture for words of encouragement, correction, wisdom, and guidance to help direct women toward a true, enduring satisfaction in Christ. Books include the virtuous topics of Joy, Contentment, Trust and Purity.

For the dads:

Fathers and Daughters: Why Every Father is Leaving a Legacy-$10
now marked down to $5!!!
Every father leaves a legacy for his daughter whether good or bad, whether by design or by default. Daughters watch carefully what dads prioritize as well as what they neglect, and then form their own ideals—including the kind of man they look for in a mate—in response to this. Dr. Voddie Baucham explains this powerful influence that fathers have on their girls as well as the destructiveness of male abdication. His charge: Dads must set aside selfish pursuits and lovingly lead their daughters. Listen to a sample here.

Feminine by Design- only $9
just marked down to $6.30!

Feminine by Design - The Twelve Pillars of Biblical Womanhood, is written for teenage girls to help them understand biblical femininity. Here, Scott Brown explores some of the major passages of Scripture that explain it. You will find the biblical texts that he used to teach his own daughters as he sought to “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Oh, I couldn't help but throw this cutie-pie in! Isn't she adorable?

Lady Jocelyn Leigh Dress now 19% off

and we can't forget the lace parasol:

and I will throw this one in here for me---I mean for the moms! :)

Building a Winning Curriculum-only $10
was just marked down to $4!!!

Written by a homeschool mom with twenty years of experience teaching her three children, this handy guide combines the majority of Vision Forum’s resources into a single, easy-to-use handbook. Each product is placed into overarching categories, such as Creationism and Science, the History of Christianity, Western Civilization, etc., and recommendations are provided on how you can use Vision Forum’s resources to develop and enhance your own unit studies. Also included are tips on ways to use these materials to encourage your children's growth in the Lord.

They are currently offering a flat shipping rate of $5 only!
With many of their products at 60% off! 
And get a free gift for your $150 purchase-a $95 value

Put gifts under the tree that will help strengthen your family this year and have a wonderful day searching out wise investments for building up your home!


(What are you waiting for??? Go there now and see what other goodies they have!)



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Note: Dear readers,  I am affiliate for Vision Forum--if you decide to make a purchase from them please consider making them through this site through any of the links above or the catalog in the sidebar.  It would greatly bless our family and we would truly appreciate it! I love Vision Forum and am happy and honored to be able to introduce you to their fabulous resources! They also have sales everyday until Christmas!

Characteristics of a Meek and Quiet Spirit

I found this wonderful list~ Characteristics of a Meek and Quiet Spirit, over at Revive Our Hearts, a ministry of Nancy Leigh Demoss:

Meekness is calm confidence, settled assurance, and rest of the soul. It is the tranquil stillness of a heart that is at rest in Christ. It is the place of peace. Meekness springs from a heart of humility, radiating the fragrance of Christ.

 

The meek will be at rest in the storms of life …
(Matthew 11:28–30; Psalm 37:7; Hebrews 4:1–11)

The fretful will be fearful in the storms of life …
(Mark 4:35–41; Jeremiah 50:6)

 

The meek will react to circumstances with peaceful trust …
(Isaiah 26:3–4)
The fretful will attempt to manipulate individuals or circumstances …
(James 4:1–3; Proverbs 7:21)

 

The meek will make life choices based on Scriptural principles …
(Psalm 119:105)
The fretful will make life choices based on emotions or fleeting passions of the moment …
(James 3:13–18; Proverbs 19:16)
 
The meek woman’s confidence is in the security of the truths of Scripture and the faithfulness of God …
(Proverbs 3:26, 14:26; Psalm 119:165; Jeremiah 17:7–8)
The fretful woman’s trust is in her own abilities and power to control others and details …
(Proverbs 12:15, 14:12, 16:25; Jeremiah 18:12)
 

“Meekness is the silent submission of the soul to the 'providence' of God concerning us.”
—Matthew Henry

The meek woman finds her worth and value in knowing who she is in Christ …
(Ephesians 1:3–8)
The fretful woman finds her worth and value in her own accomplishments and what others think of her …
(Psalm 49:11–20; Proverbs 11:28, 16:18–19, 29:25)

The meek woman finds her strength of character in Christ …
(Ephesians 5:8–11)
The fretful woman finds her strength of character in her own personality traits …
(Proverbs 28:26)

 

Meekness restrains the stormy tempest of our emotions and passions by commanding them“peace be still” …
(Proverbs 16:32)
Fretting fuels the stormy tempest by venting passions and emotions …
(Psalm 37:8; Proverbs 14:29–30, 29:11, 22)
 
Meekness is the strength and courage to battle and overcome our own sinful anger and passions, by holding fast to peace—through trusting in the providence of Almighty God …
(Romans 12:18–19; Colossians 3:1–17; 1 Peter 4:19)
The fretful woman is too fearful and weak to trust God,but allows her sinful emotions and passions to rule …
(Proverbs 28:25)

“The work and office of meekness is to enable us to govern our own anger when at anytime we are provoked, and patiently bear out the anger of others that it may not be a provocation to us.”
—Matthew Henry

Meekness is constancy and steady composure in spirit and frame of mind, reflecting the consistent stability of our Lord, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(Psalm 102:25–27; Ephesians 4:13–15; 1 Peter 3:13–16; Hebrews 13:8)
The fretful woman is always on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, continually up and down …the only thing consistent about her is that you never know what mood to expect.
(Proverbs 21:9, 19, 25:24)

Meekness does not allow the mind to run away with vain imaginations and to dwell on thoughts which inflame volatile emotions and passions …
(2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Philippians 4:8–9)
The rash woman is filled with suspicions, doubts, and assumptions based entirely on emotion, and allows these imaginations to determine the course of action …
(3 John 9–10)

The meek woman does not avoid or run from controversy, but walks through necessary confrontations under the control of the Holy Spirit …
(Galatians 6:1–2; Proverbs 27:5)
The rash woman enters controversy hastily and recklessly …
(Proverbs 10:19, 13:3, 14:16–17, 29:20)

The meek woman is at peace because she is master over her passions …
(Proverbs 17:27, 25:28, 29:11)
The rash woman is fretful because she is mastered by her passions …
(Psalm 37:1–8; Romans 6:16; James 1:14–17) 

Read the rest here.

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The Modest Mom: Lovely Skirts and Maternity Plus Giveaway!

Do you desire to dress in fashionable, feminine, yet modest clothing?

Consider your search over!

The Modest Mom, has provided the solution for a woman's changing wardrobe throughout the seasons of life. Sometimes for us women it can be a challenge finding modest clothes in the mall or stores and just can't seem to find just what we are looking for or the exact size we need. Don't you agree?

And--if the good Lord has blessed you with a pregnancy, it can be even tougher! But The Modest Mom has a wonderful solution for us by offering long custom made maternity skirts in a variety of stylish and attractive fabrics-- and the great thing is that they also carry gently used modest maternity tops at very affordable prices!

I love the fabric pattern above...perfect for the holidays!

Isn't she cute in this  Flowing Long Maternity Skirt?

Ruched Ruffle Skirt

The Modest Mom, a family business having all their products made in the USA,  has a heart to provide us with affordable, quality maternity clothes for that special time in our lives while encouraging us to  wear lovely clothes that are still an option for moms and moms to be!

What a great gift these would make for a special woman in your life or even yourself during the holidays! And now--

They are having a special sale with FREE shipping from now until December 18th on orders $50 or more when you use the code 50FREESHIP at checkout! So be sure not to miss it!!!

They also carry these delightful nursing covers! Aren't they pretty? I wish I had one of these when nursing my twins-- and not only that but they come with a velcro neck strap so that the baby can't pull or kick it off like it would with a regular blanket. It's a wonderful thing when a mom can nurse her baby in style!

Peek-a-boo!

Now let the fun begin---!!!! The Modest Mom is generously giving away to one of my special readers-- a ruffled denim skirt-either maternity OR woman's skirt and you get to pick your choice of length!!! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your email (if you don't have a blog).

For extra entries:

• Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or blog about it. (2 points each, leave two comments each)
• Visit The Modest Mom and tell me what you like. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
• Like The Modest Mom on Facebook or Twitter. (3 entries each, leave 3 comments each)
• Become a follower to the The Modest Mom's blog. (4 entries, leave 4 comments)
• Buy something from The Modest Mom. (10 entries, leave 10 comments)

***This giveaway is now closed!***

Hope you win!

Many thanks to The Modest Mom!

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Feminine Clothing for Lovely Daughters

It is so hard today to find beautiful clothing for our little girls. The mall is filled with clothing that is unfit for lovely young maidens being raised to love the Lord. Thankfully, there are still places where you can buy beautiful patterns to create your own beautiful dresses.

My sweet friend, Mrs. Jennie Chancey, of Sense & Sensibility Patterns has gone through great lengths to bring us gorgeous patterns fit for a princess--

The 1780's Portrait Dress Pattern! 

Here is the front---simply adorable!

And here it is in blue--a back view

Lovely maidens dressed for the ball...

These playful dresses were inspired by classic artwork such as seen above.

What young lady would not love to wear such sweet apparel? 

They are perfect for church, special occasion, tea party or just beautiful for any day!

If you are as smitten as I am with these dresses,
be sure to check out Mrs. Chancey's lovely, feminine and modest patterns at


Sense & Sensibility Patterns.

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Daughters Who Walk With The Lord

I have three beautiful daughters whom I love and cherish.

Teaching my daughters homemaking skills is very important to me. I want them to know how to cook, clean, run and manage a home, care for children, love their husbands and so forth,  but nothing is more important to me than having them walk with the Lord.

There are many daughters out there doing wonderfully virtuous and industrious things, but of all these—if I am not teaching them to walk with the Lord, then I am not doing my job.

We must take the time to invest in and evaluate our daughters spiritual life.

Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself:

1. Does my daughter have a personal Bible time with the Lord?
2. Does my daughter have a prayer time outside of meals where she is praying to Him?
3. Is she engaging in learning more about Him, through Bible study, devotions, books, conversations, godly mentors, etc.
4. Does she seek Him in the course of every day life?
5. Am I modeling this example to my daughters?

It is too easy to measure our daughters by comparing them with other godly daughters that we see out there at church, online, or through friends. But that is an unfair comparison—each daughter will be different and possess different giftings–we should not try to make our daughters fit a preconceived mold or judge them because we think they are not living up to our expectations of what a daughter should be like. God has made them unique, they were beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), they were fashioned by the hands of their loving father our King,  and we should seek to illuminate that to the best of our abilities, not against it.

Yes, we want well-rounded daughters. We desire to raise accomplished daughters, but we cannot forget that our main goal is to raise godly daughters—daughters of the King who will be raised for His mighty purposes.

If we seek these things first, the good things, then the rest will follow.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

-Matthew 6:33

Have a blessed day as your turn your daughters hearts toward the King!

This post is being featured over at Raising Homemakers today.

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HomeBuilders and Ladies Tea Pictures

Many of you know that I recently hosted a Ladies Tea and Bible study at my home for our HomeBuilder's meeting. The topic was Battling Lies and Hardship and I was privileged to co-teach with Mrs. Rhonda Devine. Here are a few pictures of the day:

(All the men and children were outside while we enjoyed the peaceful indoors!)

Mrs. Devine is sharing her notes from the study---

be sure to check them out here.


I will share my notes soon.

Hungry to learn more about biblical womanhood? I absolutely loved this DVD What is Biblical Femininity? by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin--this is a must-have for every woman and daughter!

If you click here you will find they are on currently $4 off, now only $11! By the way, I recently became a Vision Forum affiliate because I just absolutely LOVE them! So if you are interested in buying products from Vision Forum you could do so through my blog--there is a catalog on my sidebar if you'd like to browse their wonderful products or you can also just click here.



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Femininity Lost in America

Is femininity lost in America?

You would think so by hearing that women are wearing this.

Is this what glorious femininity has been reduced to?

Is this whom the majority of American girls idolize and imitate along with their mothers?

I hope not.

Mothers and fathers allowing little daughters to learn wrong ways.

Sacrificing their daughters to the world.

But I am hopeful...

so hopeful...

because I know that many are raising up daughters as pillars in their homes.

They are teaching them to be feminine, to be noble, to love God, to be servant-hearted, to love children, to love and advance the church, to love their families and to esteem that which is good and righteous.

Really, I have met them---they DO exist!

With God's help, I am also trying to raise them....:)

But without God, I know that I would be in the same place.

With or without a meat dress, I need Jesus just as much as the next person---if not more.

Let us pray for these woman and daughters to have discernment and not to be lead astray by the worlds ways and to be pleasers of men.They have been deceived by the seduction of the entertainment industry that they have become enslaved to.

Not because we are righteous,

or any better than them.

Because we aren't.

We need Jesus as much as them.

And because we love them and want to see their souls saved from the only one who can save it.

Are you saved?

If you are not sure,

click here.

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Teaching My Daughters

Today I am over at Raising Homemakers

sharing my experiences of teaching my daughters how to sew. 

It is such an honor to train our daughters to learn to become better homemakers

and our blessed responsibility to as well.

Train them while they are young

and cultivate the their natural tendencies

to want to learn to do these things.

See you over there:

Simple Sewing Projects for Daughters

Have a blessed day!



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Her Creation is Her Home

The ideal domestic worker is an artist
and her creation is her home.

The artist takes what materials he has and manipulates them, 

but the goal is not just to create something interesting,

but to express a vision of love and beauty.

Even Michelangelo worked with the most banal of materials and ordinary techniques. 

All was imbued with imagination and vision.

It may seem ridiculous to compare a humble home
filled with love and simple beauty

to the Sistine Chapel. 

But, they are the same in that they are both works of artistry

and express first and foremost the human soul. 

- Laura Wood 

~Hat tip to Jennifer Harrel and
Antonia Cunningham~




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Feminine and Modest newCreation Apparel Skirt Giveaway!

A few years back when I was having babies one right after the other it was hard finding maternity clothes that I liked that were modest, feminine and pretty. I would search the mall for that perfect skirt and was barely able to find even one that I liked that fit well---and then I would quickly wear myself out looking since I was pregnant (how many of you have been there?). How I wished I would have heard about  newCreation Apparel back then! newCreation Apparel is a Christian company that carries an entire line of lovely long skirts, slips, silk comforters, luxurious nightwear, pretty jackets and beautiful maternity skirts in all the colors to mix and match with that are comfortable for mommy and baby. newCreation Apparel specializes in and are dedicated to helping women find modest and feminine clothing without the lengthy hours of shopping disappointment. They have a wide variety of colors and styles for every taste to choose from.

This cute maternity skirt is my favorite, I would have loved to have had something like this for going out:

(Maternity Black and White Floral---only $26)

This one is perfect and just in time for fall:

(Maternity Signature Dark Chocolate-$26)

They also sell  long regular skirts that are just so hard to find these days, long flowing skirts that are graceful, classic and flattering. Their elegant skirts will take you through every season, event and holiday! How practical and the price cannot be beat--they purposefully kept their prices down to keep it affordable for everyone.  How can you not love that???  I know many of you are trying to dress more feminine this year and are looking for modest clothes to add to your wardrobe--I recommend newCreation Apparel as truly a great place to shop for fine clothing. Take a peek at this lovely jacket:

(Classic Corduroy Lavender Jacket--$31.20 on clearance!)

And don't you just love the cute regular skirts:

 (Rainforest 36--$24.75)

And ladies, we all know it can be a challenge to find the perfect jean skirt but newCreation Apparel has a WIDE variety to choose from that range from simple to classy. I love this one with the ruffles:

(Double Crunch Ruffled--$33)

Now I have a surprise for you--newCreation Apparel is generously offering my special readers a chance to win one skirt of your choice from their online store!!! All you have to do is leave a comment with your email---that's all!

(Important Note: This giveaway has free shipping and handling to those living in the U.S.--if you are outside the U.S. you may still enter the giveaway but will be responsible for shipping and handling costs. This giveaway ends on 9/11 at midnight.) 
 
If you would like extra entries:

Facebook or Twitter this giveaway (counts for 1 entry for each, leave 1 comment each)
Follow me on Twitter, subscribe to this blog or blog about this giveaway ( counts as 2 entries each, leave 2 comments)
Visit newCreation Apparel's Facebook page and like them. (counts as 3 entries, leave 3 comments)
Visit their website and tell me what you like from there. (counts as 3 entries, leave 3 comments)
Buy something from their store. (counts as 10 entries, leave 10 comments)

Hope you win!

 Thank you newCreation Apparel!

***This giveaway is now closed.

Thanks to all who participated!***

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The Winner of the Marie Madeline Giveaway...

Wow! There was a whopping 504 entries for the Marie-Madeline Studio custom made apron! You ladies really know how to get into a giveaway! Their aprons are so cute I couldn't resist posting another favorite picture of one of their aprons that I would love to order, I especially love that one on the left:

Okay, now for the winner----it is:

Kelli at Homeschool Ramblings!

Congratulations! Please follow the directions I left at your blog.

As I promised there will be more giveaways and more winners, so stay tuned and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus in the meantime.

Have a blessed day!


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Gentleness of Voice

It’s not so much what you say

As the manner in which you say it;

It’s not so much the language you use

As the tone in which you convey it;

“Come here!” I sharply said,

And the child cowered and wept.

“Come here,” I said-

He looked and smiled

And straight to my lap he crept.

Words may be mild and fair

And the tone may pierce like a dart;

Words may be soft as the summer air

But the tone may break my heart;

For words come from the mind

Grow by study and art-

But tone leaps from the inner self

Revealing the state of the heart.

Whether you know it or not,

Whether you are mean or care,

Gentleness, kindness, love and hate,

Envy, anger, are there.

Then, would you quarrels avoid

And peace and love rejoice?

Keep anger not only out of your words-

Keep it out of your voice.

Author Unknown

Article posted by Miss Jocelyn @ Training Daughters, Teaching Wives