5 Minute House Blessing - Housewife Tips For a Tidier Home

Am I a failure if I don't get up EARLY?

*beep...beep...beep....*

5:00AM

I was out of bed

Shower - Check

Dressed for the day - Check

Backpack - Check

By 5:45AM I was sitting in the administration building having my devotions.

This was my life all through collage!

Today...

WHAT HAPPENED?

Life...

That's what happened...

Real life...

Babies...

Husband who works late...

A busy life....

For a long time I beat myself up every morning for not getting up earlier.

"Early to Bed Early to Rise, makes a Man HEALTHY, WEALTHY, and WISE."

These words would run through my mind.

I felt like a failure.

I felt like a bad wife.

I felt so un-spiritual.

But I was SO tired.

One morning it was like a light bulb was turned on in my brain.

Those words are not scripture, Rachel.

NO DUH!

Quite frankly God never promised that He would give us health and He never promised wealth.

He DID promise wisdom if we ask Him for it in faith!

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." - James 1:5

He DID promise to supply our needs!

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" - 2 Corinthians 9:8

Benjamin Franklin is the man most associated with the saying, "early to bed, early to rise'', and he may not have even known Christ personally...only God knows his heart.

Though that little proverb may be good advice, it was just a man's advice.

So I stop to think...

What does God want from me?

What does He ask me to do?

God wants me to be faithful in what He has given me to do! 

1. God gave me a husband to care for and encourage and help.Right now that roll calls for me to stay up waiting for him to get home from a late night at work and spend some time talking to him and hearing about his day.

2. God gave me a little girl to care for physically and spiritually. Sometimes that means getting up multiple time throughout the night.

3. God wants me to walk with Him and get to know Him better.

Can I be faithful in these things without getting up early every morning?

Actually....YES.

In fact, where God has our family right now requires more late nights than early mornings.

I can fulfill my role as a wife better by staying up for my husband. In fact, it's better for our marriage for us to have time together after he gets home from work.

I can still fulfill my role as a mom. I need to be rested in order to take care of my little girl. Yes, with  a little one I need to be willing to get up during the night or in the early morning to care for her needs. But when she sleeps till 9:00 it may, in fact, be the wised things for me to get the rest that my body needs so I can be a better mom.

I can still walk with God and can still cultivate my relationship with Him. In fact, I've been able to be more consistent in my Scripture reading if I have that time in the evening after the baby is in bed as I wait for my husband to get home from work.

Dear Moms, please don't beat yourself up as I have done! Evaluate your roles. Be faithful in what God has given you to do whether that requires staying up late or getting up early!  Ask God for wisdom and thank Him for providing for your needs! Be compassionate and encouraging toward other mom's to be faithful in their roles whatever that may look like!

My life does not allow for me to live by that little proverb - early to bed early to rise - but God does not require it of me!

I don't need to feel like a failure, a bad wife or nonspiritual!

God can help me be a godly wife, godly mom and walk with Him day in and day out even when I go to bed late and get up late!

Thanks, God!

Feeling Thankful

Savoring Someday - One Year Ago

One year and a day ago I married my best friend! I was going to post these pictures yesterday but I had much greater things to take my time and attention! We had a great morning with our church family then we left Baby with her Grandpa and Grandma, who were thrilled to be her first babysitters, and J took me out to a nice restaurant for Lunch! It was a wonderful day looking back and enjoying what God has done in our lives this past year!

Here is a flashback, in photos, to our wedding day!

My Handsome Groom! 

My Dad escorted me to the end of the aisle where we waited as my Father-in-Law shared about Christ and His Bride, the Church. Then he told J, "Go fetch your bride!" as a picture of our Heavenly Father telling Jesus Christ to go fetch His Bride at the Rapture! J ran down the aisle to claim me!!

We each made unconditional vows to each other, binding ourselves to one another until death do us part or Christ returns to call us home! 

Sealed with our first kiss! 

J and I chose my 4 best friends, my little brother, J's 2 brothers and cousin to be our witnesses. They love us, encourage us in our walk with God and in our marriage and are to hold us accountable to our marriage vows! 

We are more in love than ever before!! 

Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow!!

Just for Laughs

Scenario:
We were driving through town in our rumbling Suburban. The street was a relatively busy for our small town. A cool motorcycle was parked in front of our local Ace Hardware Store, catching J's attention. We were getting uncomfortable close to the car ahead of us...

I called out J's name a bit hastily with some fright in my voice.

J slowed down and gave the car more space.

"I'm sorry", I was quick to ask his forgiveness, I'm sure I frightened him with my quick exclamation.

He smiled at me, "It's OK...it's just your HORROR-Mones!"

We laughed!

We have called them by that name ever since....

quite appropriately if you think about it!


I'm so thankful for my husband! He has been so patient and understanding with me all through pregnancy and now motherhood! We have the greatest relationship I could ever ask for! I love him!

Be quick to laugh together! 

I Love My Family!!!

God Created Marriage

My brother-in-law is soon to be married to a great girl I have known for a long time.

Today a bridal shower was held in her honor.

I woke up this morning thinking about the days events and it dawned on me...

God CREATED marriage in the very begging when He created the heavens and the earth and everything therein!

Throughout the Genesis chapter one account of the creation, God sees His work and says it is "good".

It was not until after He created male and female did God say that His creation was "very good".

So often we stop there.

We jokingly say "See, God did not say it was very good until He created the WOMAN!"

But we can't stop there!

What I realized this morning is that God did not just create two individuals and say that it was "very good".

God created MARRIAGE between one man and one woman.

THEN He looked down on all He had made and saw that it was "Very Good"!

Praise God for created marriage!! 

Savoring A Past Memory

November 6^th, 2011

It was potluck Sunday at our Church.

The morning services had come to a close and all the ladies were in the kitchen getting ready and setting out all the wonderful smelling food.

Someone whistled to get everyone’s attention and thanks was given to God for the meal.

The line began to form towards the kitchen.

I took the opportunity to slip out and use the “other room”.

I re-joined the others, glancing around for a curtain boy…

who I liked a whole lot!

But, had no idea if he returned the feelings.

He was nowhere to be seen.

Hmmm….I thought, maybe he went down to the town outhouse (our tiny little church only had one bathroom).

I got in line.

Filled my plate

I love potluck Sundays, so many yummy things to try!

I looked around for my family and went to join their table.

I sat down…

realized my Papa was gone too…

.

All of a sudden, the plate in front of me looked huge and I had NO appetite.

“The Boy” AND my Pa were nowhere to be seen….

This cannot be happening….

You are just having wishful thoughts, Rachel.

Eat your food!

I couldn’t…

I busied myself helping my little brother cut his food and get him a glass of water.

Not sure how much time past…

Then, there they both were, coming in from outside TOGETHER….

My head was spinning. 

I watched as “The Boy” sauntered over to his dad and gave him a thumbs up.

His dad broke into a huge grin.

What just happened?

I tried to act casual as I watched from the corner of my eye as “The Boy” went through the buffet line

AND THEN….

came over and set himself down RIGHT ACROSS the table from ME!

He shot me a grin.

I’m sure I smiled back.

I looked down at my plate….

Now I HAD to eat it….

He was watching me!

My mind is blank to what ensued in those next 15 or so minutes.

The meal was wrapping up.

“Girl, let’s go for a walk” I heard my Pa say.

That was the moment I knew SOMETHING had happened!

We began to walk down the block

Snow crunching under our feet

Papa explained to me that “The Boy” had come and asked permission to court me and wondered what my thoughts were on the matter….

THE REST IS HISTORY!

I was the happiest girl in the world on that day and still am today!!

“The Boy” was my J!

FOUR years ago, TODAY!

How time flies!

That wonderful boy is a man… my husband!

Oh how I love him more and more with each new day!

Don't forget to look back and remember how God worked in the past to fulfill His great plan for today! 

National Take Your Wife to Work Day

January 26^th, 2015 – National Take Your Wife to Work Day

Ok well, you won’t find that on your calendar…

But IT SHOULD BE!

For J and I, this last Monday was “Take Wife to Work Day”!

It was a wonderful day indeed!

J is working in the State Park cutting down trees that are blighted with Pine Beetle Larva.

These tinny beetles infest and kill thousands of pine trees every year.

J, along with many others, is employed with the task of taking down infested trees in order to kill the larva before they become active again in the spring.

Monday morning, bright and early, we bundled up and took off for the job sight with dad (who also does this line of work).

Following a 45 minute drive, we parked the truck, donned our backpacks and began our hike higher into the hills.

Along the way we spotted some kitty tracks (BIG kitty tracks!) in the snow!

After 20 minutes or so of tromping through the snow, dad pointed out a hillside, “There’s our trees”.

The trees are inspected and each one that shows sighs of beetle is marked with a red line about two feet up from the base and a dot at the base.

These are the ones to be taken down.

We set up base and the guys began to sew.

It was a beautiful day for January!

This was my view from base

I settled down against a tree and opened my Bible. 

There is something about reading God’s Word out in the middle of His creation!

There is not the distraction of the dishes still needing to be done, the phone ringing or the washing machine rattling in the other room.

Of course, J is a distraction - that big strong man over there falling trees and providing for his family…but I think God made it to be that way! 

I was able to write some wedding thank you notes and read almost an entire book!

Sitting down and reading a book has nearly become a lost art for me since collage days.

It was very enjoyable!

Around noon, J’s chain sew malfunctioned.

It was ether call it quits for the day or leave Dad to keep sawing and the two of us go get it fixed in town and return ASAP.

We chose the latter.

Hand in hand we made our descent from the hills and drove the 45 minutes into town.

Sixty bucks later we were back in business.

I must say, hiking down the hill is much faster than the second assent…

From time to time, J would make his way down to base to re-fuel or grab a bight to eat.

It was nice to be able to hug him and chat for a few minutes throughout the day!

Most of all, being out there seeing the hard work he does day after day gave me a better appreciation for him and a better understanding of his tiredness when he comes through the door in the evenings and crashes on the living room floor for a while!

I love and appreciate my husband so very much!

I’m convinced it would be beneficial and encouraging for ever husband and wife to observe their own “National Take Your Wife to Work Day”!

I challenge you to make it happen!!

PS. I’m very thankful for Dad as well who raised the godly man I fell in love with! 

Packing up base after a hard day’s work

J fell, limed and bucked 21 trees that day!