Duggar's New Book! A Love That Multiplies

I know that many of you just love the Duggar family just as much as we do 

and that is why I know you will be DELIGHTED to know that they have a brand spankin' new book that is available for preorder now entitled 

A Love That Multiplies:
An Up-Close View of How They Make It Work

Here is are the publishers comments:

In this second book from the Duggars, they focus on the principles that equip them to face life's challenges—drawing from their most recent challenge with the 3-month premature birth of their newest child, Josie. They also share the new challenges their older children are facing as they prepare for adult life. Central to the book is a section on the principles that the Duggar's have consistently taught their children. These simply worded principles are basic to the Duggar family and are shared in a way that other parents can incorporate in their own homes. A special chapter on homeschooling gives valuable information to parents who are considering this route or are already invested in it. The world continues to be amazed by their nineteen well-groomed, well-behaved, well-schooled children and their home life, which focuses on family, financial responsibility, fun—and must importantly, faith. The Duggar's show how parents can succeed whether they’re rearing a single child or several.

Table of Contents

Preface: Our Biggest Test Begins

Part 1: Little Baby, Big Challenges 
 1. Little Eyes Watching
 2. More Babies on the Way!
 3. A Surprising Test Begins
 4. Praying without Ceasing
 5. Miracles and Milestones
 6. Difficult Priorities
Part 2: Shaping Hearts and Minds
 7. Living under the Microscope
 8. Opportunities to Reach Out to Others
 9. Developing a Servant Heart
10. Making Faith Fun
Part 3: Big Hope for Our Children’s Future
 11. Homeschool, Duggar Style
 12. Vocations, Goals, and Roles
 13. Daily Training, Tips, and Practicalities
 14. Life Is a Classroom
Part 4: Big Hearts, Full of Love
 15. Protecting and Cherishing Our Relationships
 16. Michelle’s Heart for Children and Moms
 17. Jim Bob’s Lifelong Hobby
 18. Do the Duggars Date?

 P.S. Answering the Big Question




What an encouragement it is to have a mom of 19 children take time in her day to minister to women!
It is wonderful to see Titus 2 women rise up and bless those around them even with busy schedules like Michelle's and especially be a testimony to the lost.

Be sure to get your copy and

preorder new the book here!

(they have it in hardcover, Kindle and audio)


*******************

Wise Woman Tip:

Family movie nights are a great learning experience and kept wholesome when watching the Duggar family in action in their hit TV show 19 Children and Counting.

 You can get their movies here 
starting from ONLY  $4.49!

Happy Valentines Day!

-I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine.

-My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

-Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. 

-Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. 

-My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

-Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.

-His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend.

-Song of Soloman

**********************

Valentine's Day is Around the Corner...

...have you gotten him anything yet?

Here's a great idea:

It has a nice Bible verse on the inside:

I found the one my heart loves.

Song of Solomon 3:4

and when he's done, this is what he gets to see each time---

what a lovely reminder!

Click here to view the entire

Mr. and Mrs. Love Collection

or

here for more ideas.

How do you like to celebrate Valentine's Day?

*************

Note: A reader just shared that you can get free shipping with a $25 purchase using shipping25 at checkout! Thanks, Jennifer!

Don't Be Robbed

Don't be robbed today of the simple joys of life...

Don't be robbed of your home---or angry with those in it, unhappy that things are not going your way or that your husband and children are not how you want them to be. Don't let Satan rob you of your happiness there, making you think that you don't have this or that. Don't compare yourself to others but be grateful for what you have and know they are a gift from the Almighty Himself.

Don't be robbed of your time---don't waste excessive hours with frivolous pursuits such as watching TV, being online, always being away from your home or other idleness that can spring up in a woman's life keeping her from truly caring for the very ones that you love. Guard your time carefully.

Don't be robbed by lies...the world will tell you that  you are wasting your time, that you need to look outside God and your home for true happiness. They will put you on 'their' path and lead you down the wrong paths. Keep yourself immersed in truth at all costs.

Love your children.....

Their smiles, their laughter, their questions, their hugs, their innocence, their smell, their thoughts, their health, their presence, their everything. They are God's gift to you. Care for them and educate them and raise them up in His ways. Enjoy life and share it with them, they are learning about the world through your eyes. What an honor we have been given! You are making memories today---rejoice in your special moments!

Love your husband...

Remember that he is not perfect, he is not  you and thinks differently than you do. He is God's gift to you. Love him in spite of his failings, love him wholeheartedly, extend to him the same measure of love, respect and forgiveness in the strength that has been given to you in Christ Jesus. Do something special for him today. A word of praise or encouragement, a massage, a gift, bake his favorite treat. Most men would die for their women, and we need to love them as our heroes (even when they might feel at their lowest). A noble wife rises up to the occasion to bless her husband with all her heart.

Care for your home...

Only a mother truly knows what is needed in the home. Perhaps the special meal, the socks that need darning, the gesture of love to cheer up a sad heart. Cleaning, decorating, planning, and reading to learn more about homemaking. Busy yourself with these things, and don't think that being home is boring!!!! There is so much to do and your are only limited by your own mind.

We have the blessed opportunity to start the day off as a clean white palette--new, fresh and clean, as we look forward to painting loveliness, creating order and putting our all into the our homes and our families. 

Guard yourselves, dear wives and mamas, 

from being robbed

and live your life serving

the Lord...





"I have come so that they may have life

and have it to the full."


John 10:10

Wise Planning for a New Week

I like to do my weekly planning for the week on Sunday night. Last night I was able to plan the entire week and even get some extra Bible reading time in which was the icing on the cake. I was thinking about how I used to plan when I was a younger wife, I would plan in many things that were unnecessary and by the end of the day I was exhausted. My husband would come home and I would have tears of frustration because I had too much on plate that day and he would wonder why. Well one look at my list and it was easy to see why!

Then I read a book about a wife who would try to structure her day around the Bible verse Titus 2:4-6. You know, love your husband, love your children, etc. She would get her planner out and ask God what he would have her to do that week and then write them in (ex: read her Bible daily), then she would think about what her husband would like her to do and she would write those things in  before she got to anything else. Usually our husbands do not demand too much of us. They are happy with the simple things such as a cooked meal, clean clothes and children that are alive when they get home from work! 

When I come to think of it, many godly women I know also do this. They put God first, and their husbands right after that, then  they tend to their children's needs, homeschooling, etc. I think this is wise, because it is so easy to ignore our husbands and have the house and children dominate our time and day if we are not careful to make sure we are tending to our husbands needs first.

I also think that planning that way helps us to respect our husbands more. It is reserving a special place for him in our hearts to serve him, this way we also know we are actually DOING it. We can have good intentions, but actually never really do anything with those intentions. So many times we can start the week off running and never think twice about how we can really help our husbands. Then little things might not get done such as ironing his shirts, making his lunch or preparing (timing) his coffee for him before he runs out the door.

Think back with me, ladies. What has your husband been suggesting to you? What things do you notice that you are not doing for him but he has been quietly not saying anything about? Let us tend to our husbands needs for this is how we love our husbands. If he requests nothing but taking care of the children and schooling them, then do it well. If he asks you to help run his business, then make that a priority in your life before everything else you would like to do, knowing that you are serving the Lord wholeheartedly.

Because at the end of the day you want to know you did everything you could to be the best wife possible with your priorities in order! (Well done good and faithful servant....Matt 25:23)

For those of you who are already implementing some of this--

how do you try make your husband a priority?





****************

Christmas Gifts for Godly Husbands To Lead Their Homes

All men are leaders of their homes. Some are doing it well, while others are not. Some are second generation Christians having had a rich legacy built into them from the time of childhood--while others are from broken homes, in many cases without fathers. In any situation, we need to be patient with our husbands and do our best to encourage them in their roles, just as we would want them to be patient us.

I  wanted to share with you some resources that have encouraged and helped our family in the past in understand the roles and positions of the this ever important role (you might want to consider tucking some of these under your Christmas tree!) :

  Family Man, Family Leader

Biblical Fatherhood as the Key to a Thriving Family

Save 30%--now only $10.50

What this country needs is a few good men — husbands and fathers who are willing to love and lead their households with manly resolve and godly vision. Family Man, Family Leader first presents the vision of biblical household leadership. Next, it addresses the many practical issues necessary for achieving victory as a man, from learning and acting upon God’s priorities, to decision-making as a father, to growing in oneness with your wife, to personal accountability before the Lord and victory over secret sins.

How to Disciple Your Family

A Plan for Generational Victory (Set of 10 DVD's )

An $82 value now only $42.50 (50% off)

Many Christian families suffer today because they fail to capture the hearts of their children. Too often they fail to communicate vision, convictions, and wisdom to their sons and daughters. In the battle between pagan culture and the Christian family culture, paganism often wins. The sad response is that too many Christian parents simply give up. Others set their goals so low that their best strategy is simply to see their children ‘survive‘ a little bit longer, or to lose the battle for the generations as slowly as possible. Douglas W. Phillips and Geoffrey Botkin gear these valuable teachings at equipping parents with helpful discipleship tools for passing on a legacy of godly experiences and wisdom to their children that they can build on as part of a long-term vision for generational success.
Watch video clips here.

 The Visionary Father's Role in Home Education-CD

Save 30% off now only $7

The Scriptures offer a powerful vision of what a father’s role is to be in discipling his children. Sadly, many men today are falling short in discharging their God-given duties as family shepherds. In this powerful message, Doug Phillips lays out seven critical components of a father’s role in home education. He is to be: 1) a vision communicator; 2) a Hebrew discipler; 3) a defender of the realm; 4) a household manager; 5) a discipline enforcer; 6) the family’s resident historian; 7) and the leader of family worship.
The Visionary Father’s Role in Home Education is a great primer for dads who want to faithfully lead their families with vision.
Listen to a sample here.

Building a Family That Will Stand- (Set of 7 CD's)

Blueprints for Biblical Fatherhood & Multigenerational Thinking

Now only $21 you save 30%

God appears to be touching the hearts of a growing number of Christian fathers with a hunger to learn more about biblical manhood. This quiet revival is taking place in homes where teary-eyed fathers are standing before their wives and children, repenting for their lack of vision and leadership, and recommitting themselves to God’s priorities for men. With this revival comes the awareness that Christian men need to make dramatic changes in their lives; changes which reflect a biblical re-examination of the way our fallen culture approaches family, work, finances, education, citizenship, etc. The goal of these conference tapes is to encourage men to see “the big picture” of biblical manhood.

 Listen to a sample here.

Father to Son

Manly Conversations That Can Change Culture (6 DVD's)

Save 30%--now only $42

Fathers need to begin speaking to their sons. But the conversation can’t be aimless or trivial. Fathers need to talk in manly and specific ways about the duties of Christian manhood. Enter Father to Son, a six-part DVD series designed to provide fathers and future fathers with simple examples of manly discussion. Where does a dad begin? With the pressing issues that weigh on young minds, these informal, unrehearsed conversations between Geoffrey Botkin and his five sons show how it can be done.
Watch the trailer here.

The Heroism of the Fathers is the Legacy of the Son-CD
now only $8.40
This one of my favorites that I always like listening to over and over!

What causes men to act with nobility and heroism? What is the link between fatherhood and leadership in times of crisis? In a never-to-be-repeated special evening dedicated to 150 years of heroic manhood, Doug Phillips answers these questions and presents the remarkable story of multi-generational fatherhood and Christian sacrifice from Teddy Roosevelt to Lord Baden Powell, from the Birkenhead to the Titanic, from 9-11 hero Todd Beamer to the remarkable story of home school heroes Joshua and Noelle Goforth.

Listen to sample. 

 iPod Nano: Fatherhood Collection

Regular price $386-now 40% off and only $231.60

An iPod just for dads! Encouragement, inspiration, and fun-filled messages covering all sorts of topics on fatherhood, leadership, and vision on one 6th generation iPod® nano.These include 40 powerful, life changing messages by Geoffrey Botkin, Doug Phillips, Voddie Baucham and more. This is great for husbands who love listening to messages and what a wonderful way to redeeming their driving time to and from work! There is also 5.57 GB of additional space! (8 GB total capacity). All pre-loaded iPod products come with back-up discs containing all of the available content. Click here to view some of the many titles it comes with.

 And until tomorrow they are having a flat shipping rate of only $5! They also have everything discounted in their store from 25%-60% off until the 17th. AND you will  receive a free $95 gift with your purchase of $150 or more — their special 2011 Homeschool Resource of the Year!

These are excellent products that have greatly enriched our home, and not only has my husband learned from them--but it has give ME the bigger picture of what the home and leadership looks like and has helped me immensely in helping my husband lead better.  The DVD sets are also wonderful because we were able to sit and watch it together as a family and it raised awesome discussion while mentoring my children--especially my young sons who will one day, God-willing, be dads themselves. I am so grateful to Vision Forum for carrying such high quality products for the family. Wives would be wise to invest in their family's this Christmas by purchasing resources that will strengthen their husbands in leading their homes!

So, dear readers, wherever your husband is at, I encourage you to love and respect him with all the strength that Jesus provides. Remember that he is a work in progress (just like you!) and pray that the Lord will do a mighty work in him and through him.


***************

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!

Love Your Husband

What things are drawing your heart away from loving your husband?

I mean REALLY loving your husband?

We can be so distracted by the meaningless. Thinking that these things matter but they really don't.

I was created to be my husband's helpmeet, but I need to constantly examine how I am doing in this area.

I need to look at my life through his eyes to see how I am doing.

I want to live a quiet life.

A simple life

and be busy with my hands.

And be busy with that which pleases the Lord.

I want to use my hands to build a home.

I want younger women to know that we can do many good things, many meaningful things--but we must do the FIRST things that God has called us to and that is to be a helpmeet and to love respect our husbands. It is so easy to get off track, myself included. The homeschooling, the children, the house, the list can be endless while our husbands quietly take a back seat out of love for us.
 

I want to bring him good and not harm all the days of his life.

Lord, help me to do just that.


************

Ask Your Husband

Many times, as women, we will have a 'problem' and then look everywhere to find a solution.

We will search high....

and low.

We will ask our girlfriends.

We will write complete strangers in magazines and newspapers.

We will even ask on other people's blogs.

or sometimes even on Facebook.

We might even do a google search...:)

And we forget to ask our husbands!

The very man that God has placed in our lives to give us wisdom and direction!

When I was a young Christian I was fortunate to have a mentor always ask me "have you asked your husband?" ...

At first, I thought it to be strange. Ask my husband? What does he have to do with it???

But she was right by always pointing me to him. And the great thing was that she would always tell me her stories about asking her husband--(yes, there are women that actually do this!) What an example!

So what did I do? Well, I started to ask my husband. And something special started to happen---I could tell that he felt more respected since I wanted his opinion. I didn't have to go to the Pastor, the pastor's wife or my Bible study leader...no, just Him. And the Lord used him mightily to give me the answers that I needed AND to teach me a thing or two about humility and deferring to him. The more questions I asked, the better he got at answering them too. He knew I valued his opinion and would try to answer the best that he could.


So next time---ask your husband!

And see what the Lord will do through him...





*********************

Note: I am not referring to those who occasionally ask for advice, as it is good to get wise counsel-- but to those that might always ask others or valuing their opinion more, never thinking twice of asking their husbands first.

The Mark of a Foolish Woman

She is not satisfied with the mate God has provided…

Rather than looking to God to fulfill the deepest needs and longings of her heart,

she focuses on what she does not have and looks to others to meet those needs.

Rather than pouring her love, attention, and devotion upon her husband, 

she invests her heart, energy, and efforts in another man, other vain pursuits and material things.

Do not follow the path of the foolish woman!!!!

But learn steadily and faithfully the marks of a wise woman.

And your efforts will be blessed!

*******************

 -Thanks for visiting A Wise Woman Builds Her Home! If you enjoy and are challenged by what you read here you can get free updates sent to your email by subscribing and never miss a post.

She Delights Him

She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12

A lovely portrait of a true and noble wife:


"She delights him with her company and conversation,

sustains him with her strength,

stimulates and sharpens him with her wisdom and intelligence,

emboldens him with her praise,

bolsters him with her cheerfulness,

comforts him with her love,

and heartens him with her courage."

-The Botkin Sisters, Biblical Femininity




(The Botkin girls are a wonderful source of encouragement and have written the book So Much More. A sweet reader of mine, Stephanie, is having a giveaway of this wonderful book over at her blog.  Be sure to enter at My Way Home.)



******************

The King That Dwells Within

Good homemaking is an admirable virtue

but often times it can be overdone.

If we are creating and building up a home

it should not just be a mere showplace to impress others.

A good husband appreciates homemaking efforts made for his sake

but wouldn't want it to take priority over him--

or his children--

or the things he finds more important.


Woman would be wise to heed
these simple words of advice:



The castle is not more important
than the king that dwells within.

**********

Home is His Castle

*Home is His Castle*

The Godly wife sets the Atmosphere of the Home.

A wife is called upon to create the environment and right climate in which the tender plants of love and marriage can grow and flourish.



1. Think back through the past week:



* a. In the time shared with your husband before he left the house, what kind of atmosphere did you set for the day?



* b. When you greeted him upon returning home, what kind of atmosphere did you set for the remainder of the day or evening?



2. What principles for helping to set a good atmosphere in the home do you find in Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32?



3. What do you think your own attitude and appearance have to do with setting the atmosphere?



4. What have you taught your children regarding how they can help set a good atmosphere when their daddy arrives home?





















(Hat tip to Practical Housewifery)

Our Blessed Legacy: 18 Years

Marriage is the blessed sacred union between a husband and wife and today I announce the celebration of 18 years with my best friend! We have been blessed because the Lord has strengthened our marriage through the years and patiently showed us how to have a Christian marriage and home. We have eight beautiful children and one in heaven. We have been through happy and good times, hard and troubling times and yet have been shaped and strengthened through it all.

We are both first generation Christians and we also came from broken homes. But we have chosen to take a stand for Christ in our lives-- to defend Him, our Christian family and homelife. We are determined to leave a godly legacy for our children. We have resolved that this will be the generation in our family to end the destructive cycle of divorce. If God is willing, we will not pass down a broken heritage to our children but instead a rich inheritance---they will be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that they may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
(1 Peter 2:9).

God has definitely weaved a beautiful tapestry in our lives and as our hearts and souls became one. The glory of his magnificent work all goes to our Savior! Each year we are married is a victory for His kingdom and a reminder of Satan's defeat. We are blessed to be witnesses to the mightiness of his loving kindness and grace and we give Him thanks and praise for turning that which was nothing and using it for His glory!

Which makes me think of this poem:

*A Christian Home*

O give us home built firm upon the Savior
Where Christ is Head and Counselor and Guide
Where every child is taught his love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that through his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

O give us homes with Godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him:
Whose tender patience turmoils never bothers,
Who calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho' days be dark and grim.

O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds on love no enemy can sever
If thou are always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor--
Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

-Barbara B. Hart




Happy Anniversary, Steve!
I LOVE YOU
And I am so honored to be your wife,
and my prayer is to have many more years with you~
so that we can hold our grandchildren and great grandchildren in our arms
and kiss their faces
with tears in our eyes
and know that we did all we could to give them the best start
in knowing our Savior
who saved us both from the grips of the enemy
and our darkest hour.
May we leave a legacy
that last for generations
impacts the world for His glory
and share eternal life with them
in the glorious heavens.








(You can read Steve's blog at The Male Domain)

Sound Asleep

Dear Mothers of America,

As our nation arises this morning from a sound sleep I would like the opportunity to awaken us all from another type of 'sound sleep' that is subtle, dangerous and destroys.

We, as 21st century families and mothers, have been lulled to sleep by...

-government propaganda that desires to control our homes, right down to how worship and educate and raise our children

-feminists theories that whisper from us from the magazines and books on the racks that falsely dictate what home and family life for us should be like and what our 'rights' are

-consumerism that threatens and robs us of our financial and future well-being

-entertainment that blinds us and permeates practically every fiber of our being as we run from our plasma TV's to our laptops to our cell phones, ipods and Wii's.

-worldly philosophy that turns our hearts away from home and God, dictating that buying more 'stuff' for our children than our parents bought for us somehow makes us successful parents. (In turn we neglect teaching them about God because we are too busy making the money to buy them the all 'stuff' they don't need and end up taking for granted anyway. Really though-- why bother, isn't that the youth pastors job anyway?)

The alarm is sounding....

WILL YOU WAKE UP?

or will you join the millions of woman who have bought the lies of this century--which are not new but have been whispered from the very beginning of time in a garden called Eden?

The alarm is sounding...

WILL YOU SAVE YOUR FAMILY?

or will you mindlessly continue to run the rat-race? You know, the one where you allow others to dictate your life to you, and you change what you know your heart is leading you to do because you begin to follow someone else's prescription for your life?

WILL YOU SAVE YOUR CHILDREN?

or will you let others raise them and disciple them to the worlds glory and not the Lord's? To serve a humanistic pagan agenda instead of seeking first the kingdom of God? Look well to ways of your household, mothers,and do not eat the bread of idleness, lest your children be stolen from you.

WILL YOU SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE?

because this takes courage. You cannot be easily swayed or influenced by a magazine article, TV show or unruly, critical girlfriend or family member. You have to grow a spine of steel because you understand your calling. You understand that if you are going to take part in the reformation of history and culture that it will take faithful steadfastness and a bold spirit of courage.

The alarm is sounding...

WILL YOU WAKE UP?

.................................

WILL THEY WAKE UP?

.................................

or


will it be----



too late?






*****************

Searching The World

A man

travels the world

over in search

of what he needs

and returns home

to find it.


-George Moore

The Nursery of the Nation

The home is the nursery of the nation,

and the deep and sacred love that binds into existence

the hearts and lives

of husband and wife

is the soul

of the home life.






-True Womanhood,
Pearables

Accolades!

Have I ever mentioned how great my husband is? He never ceases to amaze me! Not only is he a patient husband, gentle and fun-loving father but now he has an article published in Indiana's homeschool magazine, The Informer, in the May/June 2009 issue--here it is:

(If you click on the images below you will be able to read the article.)

(The below picture of us is an older picture, maybe 5 years ago)

Steve is a wonderful husband and what you might call a 'jack-of-all-trades'. Over the years he has blessed our whole family in several ways--most importantly washing his wife (me) with the Word, spending loving time as a dad mentoring and discipling our 8 children--his invaluable knowledge and skills around the home has saved us loads of money through the years and his ministries have encouraged many. Here are also some of the other things he has done in the past:

*led several Bible studies, including one for families
*headed up a Baptism ministry
*taught parenting classes
*preached regularly for a year and a half at the local prison in Northwest Indiana as a ministry
*men's conferences coordinator and speaker (and homeschool events/conferences)
*a Christian book distributor
*church website designer and technician
*main sound technician for a church
*headed up the church bulletin ministry
*had opportunities to preach at 2 churches
*homeschool graduation speaker
*created a homeschool organization/community online
*runs a blog for Christian men to encourage them in their walk

at home he:

*has built a deck
*landscapes
*finished part of the basement
*knows how to repair just about anything that breaks (how does he do that????)
*repairs cars, etc.
*leads our family in Bible study and worship
*is very hospitable and enjoys having huge get-togethers
*is currently working on our kitchen remodel
*has a crazy sense of humor that keep us all in stitches

Whew, what a list! Just looking at all that gets me tired and I'm sure I didn't even get it all in this one post--this doesn't even contain all the top secret stuff that I know he wants to do and we will be trying our hand at someday... :)

I just wanted to give honor where honor is due and let you see a glimpse of my husband and the things he has done over the years. I have been very blessed by the Lord and definitely see God's hand working in the life of my husband. I am looking forward to many more years with him and the adventures that will come our way.

I love you, Steve!

A Wife Clothed in Spiritual Beauty

The wife who would always hold in her husbands heart the place she held on her wedding day will never cease striving to be lovely. She will be as careful of her words and acts and her whole bearing toward him as she was before marriage. She will cultivate in her own life whatever is beautiful, whatever is winning, whatever is graceful. She will scrupulously avoid whatever is offensive or unwomanly. She will look well to her personal appearance; no woman can be careless in her dress, statternly and untidy, and long keep her place on the throne of her husband's life.


She will look well to her inner life. She must have mental attractiveness. She will seek to be clothed in spiritual beauty. Her husband must see in her ever-new loveliness at the years move on. As the charms of physical beauty may fade in the toils and vicissitude of life, there must be more and more beauty of soul to shine out to replace the attractions that are lost. It has been said that "the wife should always leave something to be revealed only to her husband, some modest charm, some secret grace, reserved solely for his delight and inspiration, like those flowers which give of their sweetness only to the hand that lovingly gathers them."



She should always care more to please him than any other person in the world. She should prize more highly a compliment from his lips than from any other human lips. Therefore she should reserve for him the sweetest charms; she should seek to bring ever to him so new surprise of loveliness; should should plan pleasures and delights for him. Instead of not caring how she looks or whether she is agreeable or not when no one but her husband is present, she should always be at her best for him.

Instead of being bright and lovely when there is company, then relapsing into languor and silence when the company is gone, she should seek always to be brightest and loveliest when only he and she sit together in the quiet of the home.

Both husband and wife should ever bring their best things to each other.

--JR Miller, a 19th century preacher, excerpt from The Family formerly titled Homemaking

Living In His Shadow

"And God's beautiful woman is pleased to be her husband's crown.

Shunning the spotlight, she gladly gives her life behind the scenes so that her husband may be noticed and honored. She is glad when he is the center of attention, when he excels, when he is recognized, when he rises to the top.

Indeed, she delights in living in his shadow.

His promotion is her greatest reward. She desires that her husband be highly respected and esteemed, so she contentedly offers the supreme sacrifice of herself for him."

---Elizabeth George, Beautiful in God's Eyes

Building A Good Marriage

A good marriage is the union of two forgivers.

--Ruth Graham