Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Wow-ful Women Wednesday

Oh what dread! I am holding you in suspense. Here it is, after lunch, and I am just now posting this week's video! I am so sorry. I'm sure you had set your alarm to wake early for the sole purpose of being inspired by a Wow-ful Woman or two...

My apologies.

However, without further ado: today's selection.

When asked "What is the first song you sang harmony to?" I will answer "Blessed Assurance." I recall my mom playing that hymn on our organ (oh yeah. We had 2 organs in our house...) and my sister singing lead (of course) and I singing alto. It is one of my very first harmony experiences.

Yet, beside that is the memory of listening to this album on our record player while doing some form of quasi-step aerobic/ jazzercise routine in our basement with the carpeted pillars (sweet).

These women are wowful. As evidence I direct you to their vocal talents, their hair volume, their eye shadow, and outrageous amount of shiny lip gloss. I was hooked. I was starstruck. If I had any hard feelings towards them, it was that they reinforced my belief that only blondes could be in the lime light. And that brunettes had to primarily be in the shadows (yes, my beautiful sister is blonde...I'll begin counselling someday. snort). I wanted to be the third girl (despite the fact I was 5) in ABBA (wow, too bad I can't make that B backwards...).

Enjoy....this is my favourite of all time:





Of course you knew they'd get 2 videos (my second favourite...highly inappropriate for a 5 year old, but I digress)...

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Heard At My House: Two for One Edition

two funny-ish things have been said within hours of each other and it is only 8am. I thought I would share them both.

First:

Setting: 1:59am really windy outside, the first snow of our year is falling accompanied by some sleet.

6 year old daughter, tiptoeing toward our bedroom: "Mommy, I'm scared of the wind. It is so windy it is making my hangers shake in the closet".

"No precious girl. That is the sleet hitting the window."


Second:

Setting: me, noticing the still folded and not-put-away laundry in my children's bedrooms, and knowing that in only a few hours I would be adding to that pile with still more laundry that was washed and dried yesterday.

"You may want to put that laundry away this morning because after breakfast the amount you have there is going to increase excrementally....I mean exponetially."

Friday, October 24, 2008

I am not useless!

Look look! My friend just had her first baby, and I was wanting to give her a beautiful pink something to celebrate with her. So I got all brave and went to Wal-Mart (which as you know has been very difficult for me in the past! If you don't know what I'm talking about, go read this...after you read today's post of course. It hasn't been moved over to my new blog here yet, so don't be alarmed that everything looks different when you follow the link.).

Anyhow, at Wal-Mart I found this entirely gorgeous fabric and made a blanket for the wee girl. This photo does not do the colour justice but trust me when I say that the pink is hot and the check is clean. Lovely to look at.

My sewing skills leave a bit to be desired in the accuracy department, but these blankets are easy to put together in very little time. It was really fun to do, and slowly but surely I am getting better. So if any of you would like to have a baby so I can practice making gifts, I would appreciate it!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Watching Movies is Good for You



My darling husband and I have been watching the HBO series "Band of Brothers" lately. I already briefly mentioned a couple benefits of doing this. First, I get to snuggle with him for a whole hour while watching the DVD. Second, I get to imagine my husband being Lt. Speers running like crazy, somehow dazzling the Germans into inactivity, and saving the entire mission by just being that brave. My Chris could absolutely be that guy. He is amazing.

So that's good enough right? Some snuggles and an even moreso elevated view of my husband's excellence.

Now before I go on, I have heard a shocked reply from one of our guy friends at church about all this: "What? Barbara watches war movies with you? Incredible. But does she actually like them or does she just tolerate them to make you happy?"

I truthfully really do like them. Once upon a time I was a history major (a really bad one mind you) and I do find all these war movies fairly fascinating. Lots of character traits to be inspired by and to try to emulate.

And that is the biggest thing I am learning from watching Band of Brothers. How, you might wonder, does a housewife get inspired to improve in her duties at home by watching a war movie? I'm so glad you asked....

Numerous times in the story the men are hunkered down along the side of a ditch or in the relative safety of their fox holes. Some body who is taking charge for the moment does some little hand motions and next thing you know all the men are up and running full tilt. There is no hesitation. There is no second guessing. There is no waiting or counting the cost. All that has been done before they ever enlisted. They are there, in position, knowing what is required and what needs to be done. And they know that if they don't get up off their behinds and run right now, the mission will fail, their friends will die, and they will live with the shame of inactivity the rest of their lives.

So now, imagine me, the happy housewife, sitting on my bed with my laptop on my legs, happily typing this post, or reading yours. I see the mission ahead of me. I have counted the cost of having children and staying home with them and choosing to homeschool. I see the task at hand; the dishes in the sink, the pot of soup to make, and the applesauce to puree. And yet, here I sit. Inactive. Wishing there was another way of getting it all done.

What I need is that drive that says "now is the time to move. So go." What I need is the focus that I am fighting a battle here, not only against my own flesh, but also a battle for my childrens' hearts. My inactivity can be just the thing the enemy uses as the foot hold and the opportunity to weaken them and their faith.

Lord give me the courage and the focus to just get up and do the very obvious things you are showing me to do. I want to not have to convince myself to get up and do the next thing. Give me feet that move and hands that serve quickly, willingly, consistently.

Right now I am holding the line. Things are okay. I'm not retreating. But I'm not advancing either. Lord give me the faith and the character and the desire to conquer the next hill.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Wow-ful Women Wednesday

I first saw this video on Randy's blog. When I saw it, I (shock) got all choked up thinking about how something like this was supposed to be done by Kristina, and Cheryland I. Then Kris and I tried to sing with Laurie, which was quite lovely, except now none of us live anywhere near each other. Then of course I had the incredible privilege of singing with Joy...oh my word. And yet as nice as it was to sing together (despite her barefootedness!) we are no longer together to sing except for a rare living room experience. Now Kate and I can sing on occassion when the Sunday morning schedule is favourable to us, which is nearly never.

So I wait for my missionary friend Kristina to return so we can sing with Martins tracks that cut out and microphones that sound like spaceships.

I wait to sing with Joy even though we pick "slow songs" instead of "something the women can clap to".

I will try to sing a grace with Laurie this weekend over our belated Thanksgiving.

I will hope for another Kate date.

oh. And I will thoroughly enjoy these Wailin' Jennys. They are delightful.




Beautiful Dawn by the Wailin' Jennys

Take me to the breaking of a beautiful dawn
Take me to the place where we come from
Take me to the end so I can see the start
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I don't feel so small
Take me where I don't need to stand so tall
Take me to the edge so I can fall apart
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where love isn't up for sale
Take me where our hearts are not so frail
Take me where the fire still owns its spark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Teach me how to see when I close my eyes
Teach me to forgive and to apologize
Show me how to love in the darkest dark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where the angels are close at hand
Take me where the ocean meets the sky and the land
Show me to the wisdom of the evening star
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I feel no shame
Take me where the courage doesn't need a name
Learning how to cry is the hardest part
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Heard At My House: the Grandparent Edition

Setting: At WOW:Surf's Up! (a kids' program at our church)

TL (our Children's Ministry Director): Did you know that our bodies are 70-80% Water!?


My mom: (leaning quietly over to me) "So you mean I'm not fat; I'm just really wet!"

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Simple Woman's Daybook




FOR TODAY... Monday, October 20

Outside My Window... a leaf castle complete with many bedrooms and even a bathroom along with lawn chairs and other stuff that likely should not have been taken out of the garage.

I am thinking... that it is so funny when, at our Christian Homeschool Co-op, our deaf Sign Language teacher talks to me using swear words in front of the students and they have no idea.

I am thankful for... Veggie Tales and the 40 minutes of down time they just gave me as I wind down from said Homeschool Co-op. I *heart* Mondays...

From the kitchen... the call of dishes waiting to go in the dishwasher that I should not have ignored for these last 40 minutes.

I am wearing... a sweater the colour of Kristina's eyes and my favourite trouser jeans.

I am creating... a new set of abs. Can you say "Tae Bo Boot Camp with Billy Blanks"? yikes.

I am going... to not cry with exhaustion the rest of today.

I am reading... way too many blogs.

I am hoping... my husband doesn't have to work late tonight.

I am hearing... my 2 babies not waking up yet. Thank you for nap time.

Around the house... boxes of school books that I should weed through, but can't bear to part with.

One of my favorite things... playing UNO with my kids, and giving them the freedom to be "mean" to me with all their plus 4 cards.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Laundry, painting baseboard and trying not to eat the rest of the Nutella in the cupboard.

A picture thought I'm sharing today: Brothers are Good for Each Other


http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 17, 2008

Heard At My House

Background Information:

I have a precious 2 year old daughter named Victoria. We call her Tora or Tori. When she was born we considered calling her Vicki, but it just didn't suit her. So she gets Tora alot. And Victoria, when I'm serious of course. Any how, this wee two year old smartie pants has recently begun pointing at her self and saying "I Vicki". To which I respond, "No, I thought you were Tora". "No, I Vicki".


So, after a brief negotiation, she now says "I Vicki too". She has come to the compromise that she will respond to either Vicki or Tora or Victoria. How congenial of her.

Now onto Heard At My House: The How to Talk to Yourself Edition.


Tora: Aaaachhoooo (sneezing)

Tora: Bless you Tora.

Tora: Thank you Vicki.

Tora: You're Welcome Tora.


Wow. What was that about talking to yourself being the only way to get intelligent conversation?

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wow-ful Women Wednesday

For Kate. And for me, as I am reminded of the process the Lord is taking me through. I am not who I was. I can be who He is making me. Each moment He is making me a new creature. I will not be like this forever. In a blink He can make me His wholly, completely, entirely. I will be found in Him.




Brooke Fraser singing Shadowfeet

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing, less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when I began.
And I have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day


When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

There's distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

You make all things new

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Monday, October 13, 2008

Matthew 5:16

I saw it today on the road. Walking through town. It was the temporal image of the converse of Matthew 5:16.

Didn't that make sense to you?

Okay. Let me try to be a little more clear. What I saw today was a pair of maybe 12 year old girls, both quite overweight, both dressed like prostitutes, both with unkept hair and poor physical hygiene, both walking down a busy street in a questionable area of a biggish city, and I said to Chris, "Where are their parents? What kind of mom do they have?"

And that is exactly the reaction I DO NOT want people to have when they see my life and hear that I'm a Christian.

"Wow. What kind of God are you obeying? What kind of faith is that?"

Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men that they might see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."

I was NOT praising the parenting of those little girls. I should be praying for them rather than my knee-jerk reaction to judge them. I understand that. But the point of the lesson to me is the same as I look at my life. Am I living in such a way that others glorify my Father in Heaven? Do I make God look good? Do I make Him more Glorious by my life, my attitude, my actions,....?

Lord, I do ask that you would give me the discipline and the grace to live in a way that shows what kind of Parent I have. Let it become clear that when I am a jerk, it is the rebellion in my own heart, not a short-coming of Yours. Forgive me for the times that I have given Christianity a bad reputation, and in turn, given You a bad name. I pray that in some way You would give me the chance to make up for that, and instead show the world (or at least the world immediately around me) that you are great and greatly to be praised. That You are good, and a joy to follow.

Give me a light to shine, and let me shine it like crazy.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Heard At My House

Setting: 4 year old Son and 6 year old Daughter looking out the window, apparently watching a couple of birds "frolicking", shall we say.

Daughter: *sigh* I can't wait until I get twitterpatted like that.

Son: Wow. I hope he doesn't step on her.

Mental note: boys and girls think differently.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Really really delayed gratification

I may have stumbled upon a wee bit of a breakthrough for myself. (Brace yourself: this is likely not earth shattering. I just tend to be a bit of a slow study.)

Matthew 6:1-6 is no fun to read. It just isn't. Do you know what it says? Not off hand? Okay, I'll copy it here for you.


Mat 6:1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Mat 6:2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Mat 6:3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Mat 6:4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Mat 6:5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Mat 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.


See, I bold-ed all the bits that apply to my "revelation" this week. (I'm getting *so* good with my computer skills).

I am realizing that I don't want to wait for the Heavenly reward. I don't want to have delayed gratification of that extent.

Some Sundays I feel like I've really done my best to be hearing the Lord and serving Him in song with His strength and for His glory and I don't hear any feedback. No big deal. I'm working on having faith that so long as no one has kicked me off the team or written to the elders about me that I'm probably okay. I can wait for my 'reward of affirmation' until I see my name on the rotation again next time. I can wait three weeks for that reward.

And sure I may not get a lot of thank you's from my kids some days, but in 15 years when they are having their own kids I know they will come to me with a "Wow Mom. You were amazing to me growing up. I see that now." Okay. I can wait 15 years for that reward.

But there are myriad times that I am doing something, saying something, trying something, that I think deserves a reward RIGHT NOW and I get a big fat nothing. Now see technically I should be okay with that. I should say "That's okay. The Lord who sees in secret will reward me. If I had a reward now, I would have my reward in full and I want the Heavenly blessing more than the temporal blessing so PLEASE DON'T NOTICE ME!!! Just ignore this martyr of a woman here, serving in silence. Don't even toss a grin of acknowledgement my way because I want the reward in Heaven."

But I don't say that. I also don't say "Hey look at me! I'm AWESOME! Somebody pat me on the back!"

Nope. I reward myself.

With a new magazine.

With a cup of tea on the couch.

With another 30 minutes in front of the computer.

With a chocolate bar at the grocery store.

With any food, really, that looks even remotely appealing in my pantry.

With any little 'extra' that I think I deserve to make up for my "great sacrifice".


How disgusting! Really. How pathetic and useless. I'm no better than the fool Esau trading in his birthright for a stinkin' bowl of soup! I am trading in the reward my Father wants to give me for some secret, stolen Snickers bar. Am I that Stupid? How will I feel on that day when I stand before my God and He shows me the treasure I might have found in Him, in this world and the next, had I not thrown my self into these trifling pleasures?

Oh Lord, I cannot see my screen for the tears in my eyes. Don't let me waste this life! Don't let me waste this good work I am actually doing by tainting it with this self-indulgent, "you owe me", "aren't you impressed with me" attitude. This is no sacrifice of praise. This is no offering of true worship. This is self worship.

I can only imagine that my ability to serve You, and joy in serving You, will increase as this rotten motivation decreases. Help me to focus on Your reward for me, and Your joy in me. Give me a heart to legitimately serve You without "trumpets".

Forgive me Lord. May this be a day of new beginnings. I want to wait for Your reward. I want to not reward myself. I will wait. I will wait. I will wait. And in the waiting is part of the reward, yes? Finding the ability to wait, (joyfully, patiently) is part of the reward.

So back to you: How do you reward yourself? What do you choose as a reward over what the Lord is holding out to You? What are you willing to trade your Birthright for? Surely I'm not the only one....will you join me in learning to work without reward in the short term? Will you learn to love really, really delayed gratification with me?

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Holy Sonnet 74: by John Donne

BATTER my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due,
Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie:
Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe;
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Wow-ful Women Wednesdays

I've decided to go out on a limb here and post something a little heavier this week. We've been pretty calm and delicate here lately and I felt like showing a whole different kind of Wow today. Really hope I don't lose half my readership over this: having only 2 readers would be sad.


Without further ado, here is Natalie Grant singing "I Will Not Be Moved". It is loud and rocky. The lyrics are brilliant. She is very wow-ful, as is her back up singer. If I had one complaint about this video, it is that the camera work is a little too ADHD for my liking, but this is about vocals, not cinematography so I can overlook it if you can.


I even have a jacket similar to hers that I intend to wear some Sunday. I will not, however, be wearing the fingerless gloves. I'm just not there yet. (she says, stating the obvious).





I have been the wayward child
I have acted out
I have questioned Sovereignty
And had my share of doubt
And though sometimes my prayers feel like
They're bouncing off the sky
The hand I hold won't let me go
And is the reason why...

[Chorus:]
I will stumble
I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes
I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved

Bitterness has plagued my heart
Many times before
My life has been like broken glass
And I have kept the score
Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed
That I was far too gone
My brokenness helped me to see
It's grace I'm standing on

[Chorus]

And the chaos in my life
Has been a badge I've worn
Though I have been torn
I will not be moved

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

What I learned from my housekeeping abilities (or lack thereof)

There is A LOT to be done in order to achieve excellence in homekeeping. The deficit in cleanliness and orderliness is staggering. I could work all day, everyday, never taking a rest (or at least very rarely) and the work is still never done.

Never. Never. Never.

Not one day in my life have I gone to bed thinking "Well, there you go. I have completed all the work that needs to be done in my home and in my family." There is always an extra project to work on, a gift to make, a meal to prepare in advance, a school unit to write, a report to correct, a shirt to mend....it is never finished.

Never. Never. Ne.ver...

I want desperately for my efforts to be good enough. I want to know that the work I did was sufficient for the job ahead of me.

It isn't. It hasn't been. It won't be.

Ah yes. And now it sinks in.

I will never be good enough for Jesus either.

I cannot work, serve, give, love, believe, hope, try, want, obey, or think enough to be good enough or to pay off the sin deficit that I have, that I contribute to each and every second of my life. No matter how hard I try I will never say "Ha, there we go. I got it all done today. I bet God is really impressed with my effort on this one."

Only, only, only, ONLY through Christ's sacrifice can I be saved. I'm still not good enough. Still can't be. But His blood over me hides all my sin and washes it away.

And you know what? It makes me cry (with Joy? With Relief? With Incomprehension?)when I read that Christ said "It is finished". At least one part of my life is done. Completed. Accomplished.

Sola Fide. Sola Gratia.

Lord let me remember every day that I work in what seems like futility that I cannot do it all. And that is exactly the point. I Can't. But You Have. Thank you.

Now back to my vacuuming...

Saturday, October 4, 2008

A Great End To the Week

After I felt the love from my comments on the last post, I have been in the mood to count my blessings. So let me share with you the highlights of the end of this week.

The gift from the inlaws started a good thing. Thursday night my parents came to babysit so Chris and I could go on a date night but prior to our departure, Mom and I went to the ladies' clothing store in town where I tried on a cool denim skirt (as opposed to a typical homeschool denim skirt....yes, there is a difference). And here is one of the highlights: I grabbed a size 12 as usual, and (wait for it) IT WAS WAAAAAAAY TOO BIG!!!!

And I mean way too big.

So I tried on a 10 which fit, but was almost too big as well. This is good news. Maybe the reason they were on sale is that the sizes were cut wrong. But even so, it sure felt good to be a small 10.

I wanted to check out to see if there was any good news on the scale when I got home due to my excitement with the size 10 and wouldn't you know, I am down to where I was when I got pregnant with my 5th! Yee haw. It was a number on the scale I haven't seen in over almost 5 years. Now we are into happy happy mode! What a great motivator to stick with the hard work I'm trying to do in the "less of me" department.

Supper and date with Chris were bliss and we both thoroughly enjoyed having an actual conversation about things other than kids: we discussed church life, ministry opportunities, work changes and our hopes for moving closer to church. It was so nice to just sit and talk and hold hands... wonderful.

Then, Friday came and Chris had the day off which is unreal and unusual. We were packing him up to go on the Church's men retreat but before we said goodbye we snuck some time to watch another episode of Band of Brothers, which is the theme of the retreat. How great to steal an hour (in the middle of the day) of snuggling in front of the laptop watching a DVD. Even if it was a shoot-em-up kind of movie. It still works in the 'date mode' because the whole time I am watching these soldiers risking their lives for one another I am thinking "my husband is man enough to do that. I have the bravest, strongest husband in the whole world."

But as Friday wound down to the end of its hours and we had to take Chris to the drop off point for his ride to the retreat the biggest highlight of my day came. I helped him carry his stuff up to Jason's door and with Jason standing there, my husband, the bravest, strongest, most romantic man in the whole world, leaned over and gave me a kiss goodbye....in public. With another guy watching. Amazing. Do you know what that says to a wife? It says "I am not ashamed to be married to you. I think you are so great and I will miss you so much that I will hug and kiss you goodbye even when the guys are watching." That was sexy. Can I say that on this blog?

He tells me and shows me he loves me a million times in a million little ways every day, but that,... that little kiss and hug was just the thing to send me swooning. That guy that made my head spin and my pulse race in 1995 when I first met him still gets my pulse racing today.

And now as I am missing him and waiting for his Sunday return, I am living out the old adage "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". All in all it is a great way to end the week.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

A nice little gift I received

My dear inlaws just returned home from a camping trip and wouldn't you know they brought me a lovely little gift.





When I first saw it I smiled and almost got choked up because of how I interpreted the use of the word "Siren".

See I was an English major once upon a time and I read all kinds of Greek Mythology in my studies. So I know about the Sirens. Do you know about them?

They were women, possibly half birds, half godesses who sat on rocky islands singing. They were irresistable to the sailors who passed by both because of their beauty and their voices. So much so that, if I recall correctly, The Odyssey talks about the sailors plugging their ears and putting blinders on their eyes so they would be able to withstand the temptation of these Sirens.

yup. That sounds like me.

(Let's just pause here for a moment while the people who know me in real life now take some time to find a paper towel to wipe up the coffee they spewed all over their keyboard while laughing at that description having ANYTHING to do with me.)


But in all truthfulness, I remember reading about them, even when I was in Highschool, and thinking I'd love to be them. I suppose I'm not so thrilled about the "following their song and being swayed by the Sirens could lead you to a shipwreck on the rocks of their island where you will possibly be cannabalized by the Sirens" bit, but the ravishingly beautiful, mesmerizing singing part I liked quite a bit.

So that is how I first took the play on words on this dear plaque. I am my husband's siren. He is irresitably drawn to me. That sounds like one of the 5 points of Calvinism, don't you think. That would be a fun post: the Five Points of Barbara-ism...I'll work on that.

But I digress: as my father-in-law began chuckling at my reaction to the perceived sentiment, I realized that perhaps it was much more in lines with this image:

Pro 21:9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

What's that? you didn't get it the first time? Don't worry it gets repeated a few verses later:

Pro 25:24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Or how about:

Pro 27:15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

So now I'm thinking maybe he meant that I am my husband's "siren"...you know that loud annoying thing that gets your attention and points out to you everything you are doing wrong....

Betcha none of you spit out your coffee laughing this time!

Except my father-in-law likes me, and I like him. And as far as I know he had no problem with his son marrying me....of course I was on my best behaviour in those days. hmmmmm.

This does remind me of a time when my dear friend Jake lovingly called me "that woman in Proverbs". Let me back up:

This was in the days when my husband Chris and I had just started dating, and he and Jake and I were leading the youth group at our church. Jake and I were both students at Western and I had a break when he was supposed to be in a math class. Every day I sat at the coffee shop (Lucy's, if it is still called that) where he would walk by on his way to class. As he would walk by I would call him over to say hi and then say "Why don't you skip class and join me for a Tim Horton's coffee? You are so smart. You can miss one class. I'll even buy for you. We can plan which memory verses we want the youth to work on this Wednesday. Come on, I'm bored and lonely. Hang out with me."

And one day, as he succumbed as he sometimes did, he said "You know, you are like that woman in Proverbs." And I, with tears brimming and joy overflowing in my heart, replied, "Really! The Proverbs 31 lady? That is just who I am trying to be so that I can be a good wife to Chris some day!"

"No", he said. "Like the harlot of Proverbs 7 calling innocent men away from their life of good intention and causing them to fall into a life of waste and despair".

Anywhoooo, I will hang my lovely plague with great pleasure in my home. It is adorable and it will remind me to try to look pretty, sing nicely, and keep my mouth shut alot more often.

Thanks Mom and Dad! I love it! :-)

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Wow-ful Women Wednesdays

How,you may be asking, HOW has Barbara got this many weeks into Wow-ful Women Wednesdays without posting her favourite woman of all time, Sara Groves?

Well, wait no longer. Today is the day. This video that I picked shows what I think is truly brilliant about Sara Groves. Yes, she has an unbeliveable voice, and yes she is an outrageously gifted lyricist, but she is primarily a woman of the Word. She loves her God and that is so beautifully illustrated here. (not to mention the fact that she sounds just as good singing off the cuff here as she does fully mastered in studio).

Enjoy. (and yes this one makes me cry too).