Catching up and Thursday Thoughts

Just wanted to catch up on posting a few pics. These first few are from a few weeks ago. The first two are of Isabelle in a dress my mom gave her. There is sort of a "glow" about her in them. I think she looks like a little angel.

I babysat my two nieces, Ainsley and Sienna one day for my sister.

They were being silly and putting on Isabelle's bibs: OKAY, you asked, I'm delivering. I did a post about Isabelle putting things on her head, and a couple of you asked for pictures of her with the bloomers on her head, so, as embarrased as I am for you to see my pink bloomers, this picture was just too cute not to post:
Look at that fiery red hair!
Last week was my niece Ainsley's 7th birthday party! They had it at the lake, and then most of the family stayed and camped out that night (except for us.) It was a really cute party. There was a "picnic" theme with plates that looked like watermelons, and cupcakes in the shape of a watermelon.

Here is a picture of the birthday girl:

Isabelle chewing on a glo-stick (probably not the best idea, I know.)
Rubbing Uncle Don's bald head for good luck:
Checkin out the beard:
The two Bens standing under the pinata:

I really wasn't planning on doing a Thursday Thought today, because I haven't been very consistent in my Bible reading this week, and didn't really have anything prepared, but then I came across something that I wanted to share. On Amber's blog, there is a link to another blog called Fiddledeedee. It has a lot tips for how to save money, etc. on it, and I found a link to the right that said "Supermarket Savings 101" or something like that and it took me to this link to purchase some ebooks from Biblical Womanhood. They looked like they would be really beneficial, so I went ahead and bought them, and I'm so glad I did! They have been a big encouragement to me and I'm learning so much already, but most importantly, I'm learning what an important and valuable job I have as the keeper of our home!


I don't know about all of you, but as a stay-at-home mom sometimes it's easy to look around you at all the "career women" and get discouraged and feel like what you are doing is not that important. I have felt this way sometimes, but then I look at my precious little one and see how fast she is growing and learning new things, and I realize that I don't want to miss a minute of it! (Of course I need a break every once in a while, but I'm still very thankful that I'm able to stay home with her.)


One of the ebooks I bought is titled "Simple Tips for Successful Home Management". It was written by Crystal Paine. Here is a link to her blog, Biblical Womanhood. I wanted to share with you a section of the book titled "Choose you this day..." It's from page 31 of the ebook. (I asked her permission to post this on my blog.)

Most people today don't understand why a woman would want to give up a career, financial success, and independence to be a wife and mom. It doesn't make a lot of sense from the world's point of view. that is because most people today live only for today. Without God, there is nothing else to live for besides the moment. However, in Christ, you can find a whole new life, a life that is so much more than today. It is for Eternity!

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." (I Corinthians 3:12)

There are a lot of things in this life which may seem urgent, but there are only a few things which are important. In eternity, the money we made, the houses we lived in, the cars we drove, the clothes we wore-none of this will matter.

You have a choice...a choice to build your life upon things which will satisfy you for the moment (wood, hay, stubble) and may give you pleasure and enjoyment here and now, but which will leave you sorely lacking at the end of your life. Or a choice to build your life on the foundation of Jesus Christ and to live for His glory. It is not an easy, carefree life. It is a life of serving, giving, and loving. It is a life lived not for yourself, but for the glory of God. It is also a life of the greatest blessing, fulfillment, joy, and peace you will ever know.

Those who are choosing to live only for that which will someday burn up, won't understand why I would give up possible earthly riches, honor, pleasures, and fame in exchange to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by being a helpmeet to my husband, by endeavoring to have our marriage be a testimony of Christ and the church to the world, by raising up my children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by seeking to make my home a beautiful haven for my family and all who enter. it doesn't make sense to them and that's okay. I don't base what I do upon what other people think. My life is not a wasted life in God's eyes and that is all that matters.

Pouring our lives out for others might seem like a waste to the world, but it is not a waste to God. A life lived for self is a wasted life. A life lived to God's glory is never a wasted life. Which life are you choosing?

"...Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)

I am definitely not judging women who choose to work. It is not my place to judge others, nor do I claim to be a perfect wife or mother, far from it, actually! This little article was just very encouraging to me as a stay-at-home mom, and helped me to realize the importance of what I'm doing, so I wanted to share it with the rest of you.