Seeing the Light

I stayed home all day!

I got my planting started. 

Played Scrabble with actual tiles! 

It was a good day.

Marriage

We imagine everyone else's marriage is SO good and only our marriage is filled with turmoil - and it's HIS fault! 

Haha!! That is a great statement because it resounds over and over in many marriages. 

My friend Marla sent this article .. it tells us that the key to a good marriage is our relationship with God. The more we trust God with our life, the closer we will feel towards HIM. As a result ... all of our relationships are better ... 

When our lives are based on our relationship with God and not what our spouse or other relationship can provide, we have peace.

""Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 (NAS)

A joyful wedding party celebrated the new couple on an evening wrapped in good cheer and candlelight.

The bride and her father danced, followed by the groom and his mother. Adoring eyes framed the room.

Finally, couples young and old hit the dance floor. After a few musical notes, the DJ announced, "All couples married a year or less, step off the dance floor." Then he asked those married five years or less to take their leave. And so the invitation, to make room for couples married 10, 20, 30 years, continued.

While dancing with my husband, I noticed how few people remained.

"40 years!" The DJ broadcast to us last three couples dancing.

When the song ended, our friends, their children - now young adults - and our son, reached out with high-fives, pats on the back, and "Congratulations!"

Many asked, "How romantic ... what's your secret to staying together?"

The question came as no surprise and their idealic vision of marriage made me smile.

Romantic? Not so much. I would describe our years together as lots of tears shed over misunderstandings. Selfishness. Loneliness. Hard and difficult times, pushing through emotions I didn't understand.

Painful words. Challenging moments. Loads of opportunities to compromise. We were stubborn - both of us! As I look over my shoulder on the past 42 years, I know the real glue that has kept us together has been God and the power of His Word.

When I wanted to criticize my husband for offenses real and imagined, I read that love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5).

When I felt lonely, I read that God was with me (Zephaniah 3:17).

When I thought I was right and my husband was wrong, I read that I shouldn't think too highly of myself (Romans 12:2-4).

When the daily grind of work, chores, errands drained me and my wild heart longed for more, I read that when I leaned on the Lord, through Him, I could get through anything (Philippians 4:13)

Marriage is like a triangle. Want to grow close to your man? Grow closer to God. As both of you reach upward you'll not only come close to God, you'll grow closer to each other. And if you are in a marriage where your husband doesn't want to draw near to the Lord, you keep on anyhow. In Him, you'll find the support, love and hope your heart desires.

A long time ago I was a young bride, asking older married women for advice. I heard a lot of things like keep the fun and adventure in your marriage. "Life is a gift," my mother taught me. "Don't let the sun go down on your anger," Daddy shared with me. "Know your husband" a friend encouraged me. Understanding my man's personality and love language taught me about conflict and acceptance.

I wouldn't hesitate to share any of these wise words to newlyweds. But the very BEST advice I learned along the way? 

The greatest marriage counselor and guide is God and His Word.

Marriage can be hard, but it's easier when we spend more time focusing on God's encouraging truths and less time concentrating on our husband's faults. 

Today, let's start a practice of turning to the Bible for answers about our marriage, thanking God for our husband and the Lord for His wisdom.

Father God, You alone are perfect. Help me to keep my eyes on You. I know that no one is an easy forever-partner. Remind me daily to curb my critical spirit. Teach me to see my husband through Your eyes. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen."

{http://vanwalton.com/}

What a Day!

Blini, salmon and caviar at the culture fair today. 

Don brought home some love from home group. 

Elisa and David busy with wedding ideas. 

Happy Engagement

Our Elisa and our future son in law, David.

He announced their engagement today at church. 

Glad wishes, hugs and smiles all around.

Later, Mama Cobb had planned an engagement lunch to celebrate. 

The families gathered, thanked and 

praised the Lord. 

It was a happy occasion. 

April 20th, 2013

Family Rules

I found this on Pinterest.
It's simple, everyone in the family can use it as a tool.
While discipling - I mean disciplining - use the simple chart as a reference.
"In our family we listen and obey." Or "Our family rules tell us to use kind words in a kind voice"

Kids do well with boundaries and these are clear and understandable. Each rule should be explained and reviewed.
As parents there should be an expectation of compliance towards the family rules.

Those rules apply to mom and dad too. And parents can't let pride get in the way of being reminded of the family rules (respectfully).
It creates team spirit. Everyone knows the deal.

I'm thinking there may be a dear child that will disregard the family rules - in that case there must be a predetermined consequence that is previously understood and is expected. So on that fateful day of family rule disregard, the dear child will indeed experience the expected consequence.

Step one, a reminder of the family rule.

Step two, opportunity to change their attitude and apologize to the family.

Step three, if steps one and two did not bring the dear child to repentance, then comes the natural outcome - the encouragement - each family must decide before hand what that - encouragement -will be. Some families spank, some use time out or time away. Each family will have the predetermined action, or discipline. At step 3, apply the discipline.

At the end of the discipline, review family rule and the Bible verses, expect a sincere apology to the family or God if He was the one offended.
Then move on and don't bring it up again.

In time, even our strongest willed souls will get on board. There will be a unity and peace.

Spring

Little Helpers

I had a lot of fun visiting my grandchildren. 

They were happy and energetic. 

Sometimes they needed a bit of encouragement to get working or obeying 

so I had a couple tricks up my sleeves. 

1. Twinkle spray .. 

you'd a thought I was paying 

them $10.

If they were sluggish, 

I would get out the spray and say 

"I'm looking for who is working, 

who wants twinkle spray?"

2. My phone has a strobe light flash on it.

 I would say 

"Spot light on obedience"  

and they would get going 

so I would spotlight on them. 

3. I like to keep a "carrot" dangling,

 it helps keep their attention. 

Keep the ideas new and fresh, 

use whatever is close at hand. 

 Each idea works for a day or two, coming up with new ideas is exciting and motivating for the kids, and which of us don't need a little help to be motivated? 

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.