Are your priorities according to God’s plans?

Last year when I started this site, I had a vision. To encourage and inspire christian homemakers.  It was a Godly vision and it became the mission of this blog.

But somewhere along the line, my priorities got screwed up a bit. In my goal to achieve this vision for A Proverbs 31 Wife. I missed my first vision and calling as a wife and homemaker.

There were days when I got very little done around the house. Nights when supper was late, and long after Jason was in bed and asleep, I’m still up, typing away. My priorities were a bit skewed, instead of focusing first on my calling as a wife and homemaker, and then working here. I had nearly put my first calling clear at the bottom of my priorities.

It’s easy to do that. Get an idea in your head, even an idea that God has planted there; and be so excited about it, that you completely neglect everything else.  I love this mission here.  Sharing homemaking tips, lessons I’ve learned as a wife, and everything else that goes up here. Writing has always been something I’ve enjoyed.  But if my writing is taking away from my position as a wife and homemaker, am I really qualified to write here? You know, it would be like the blind leading the blind!

Sometimes it’s good to sit back a bit and look at yourself.  Just like we women don’t like to look in the mirror at our physical self, we also dislike looking inwards at our spiritual self.  Some-times what we see, just isn’t at all what we should see.

In Corinthians Paul talks about examining ones self.  In the context there, we are to examine ourselves before approaching the Lord’s table (communion). But as Christians, our daily walk should also be examined. Like David says “Search me O God, and Know my heart, try me and know my thoughts”.

Sometimes we need to step back from where we are at and ask the Lord to search our hearts, and we need to examine ourselves.  Look at where we are, and where we are going. Sometimes, we just need to just take a few steps, other times we have to completely turn around. And sometimes, we are right where God needs us to be.

For me, I needed to start saying “no”. Sure it’s a good topic to share, sure it would encourage some-one. Sure, it’s a great recipe/story/craft, but if it’s taking away from family, then I need to say no.

So, at times, I may not post much. If I can be spending time with hubby, then that’s where I need to be. If there is stuff to do around the house, then that’s what I need to do. And most of all, I really need to put God back into the center of my life.

And that’s my priorities. God, Family, and then this ministry.

The post Priorities. Are they According to God’s Plans, or Mine? appeared first on A Proverbs 31 Wife.

Mounted photos make great decor, and as I discovered, they are very easy to make.

We have this lovely flowering bush in our back yard.  A couple weeks ago when my mom came up and we all went for a walk and took photos, she took a photo of my bush. Then she put a verse from the Song Of Solomon on it and printed it for me. So pretty and springy, and I decided that it had to be displayed. So I made a mounted photo, it was really easy and I’m pretty sure if I can do it, so can you.

I really recommend using solid board for your mount, rather than doing what I did and going to the shed and finding “something that would work”.  You will see why in a moment.

My photo was 8 1/2 by 11 and I wanted 1/2 in of board around the edges. So without really thinking it through, I asked Jason to cut it 10×12 for me. Oops, as you can see, there is more board showing on the top and bottom than there is on the sides. Oh well.

I sanded my now cut board, and put my first layer of paint on it. Pretty sure I used trim paint, since I think that’s the only white paint we have in the garage. But hey, it works!   If you look at the photo below, you will see, why I recommend using solid wood instead of plywood like I did.

Yup, that wood soaked up my paint and you can see how rough the edges became again.  Oh, and another thing, don’t lay your board directly on top of your newspapers or drop cloth when painting edges. It doesn’t work so well.

Paint stuck to the underside, I had to take a knife and scrape the newspaper off.  That was the first coat of paint. Once it dried, I sanded it really good. Tried to get the edges really smooth as well. And when I went to paint on the second coat, I sat the board on a huge roll of duct tape. Worked like a charm.

Two coats of paint was all I needed to use. Depending on your board, paint, and how thick your put your layers on, you may need more than two layers.  This time I very lightly sanded the top of the board, and them sanded the top edges pretty hard. It gave it a somewhat distressed look and really defined the board.

Make sure you measure and mark in pencil where the edges of your photo should sit on your board. Once that is all lined up and ready, take the photo back off, and using a brush, spread Modge-Podge in the lines where your photo will go.  You want a thin layer, and make sure there are no lumps or bumps in it.  I left a small little lump in the Modge-Podge because I figured it would dry and disappear. However, it did NOT disappear. In the right lighting, I can still see that little bump.

Once your Modge-Podge is spread, care-fully lay your photo in place and gently smooth it flat. Be very careful not to smear Modge-Podge onto the top of the photo as it will smear the ink. Let dry.

In a well ventilated spot lay down newspapers or drop cloth (making sure to sit your board up off the paper a bit) and following the instructions on the can, began varnishing. I highly recommend spray varnish. I gave my mounted photo at least 10 light coats of varnish, waiting 20 minutes between coats.

Normally after varnishing I would lightly sand and apply one last coat of varnish. However, because I was afraid of scratching the photo, I didn’t sand at all. There are a few areas that are slightly rough, but you can’t see it. Only by rubbing your fingers over the surface would you know it’s rough, and who’s going to do that?

The end of my couch table was the perfect spot to put my mounted photo. See, how pretty!

I love how nice it looks sitting there, and trust me, if I can do this, so can you. And I made all the mistakes, so you should be in the clear!  Hmmm, what do you think, should I make some mounted photos for gifts?

The post DIY Mounted Photos. It’s Easy! appeared first on A Proverbs 31 Wife.

The first post I wish to feature Comes from Delora Now.

My Lack of Respect for My Husband, Led to My Son’s Disrespect.

I love her honesty and openness. Her post was very similar to mine in that she talked about our words and the tone of voice we use.

Her wake up call was when her son began… Read the rest here.

The Happy Wives Club is a blog I just recently discovered, and I must admit I really enjoy it. So the second post I want to share with you comes from there.

Give your marriage a boost in 10 minutes or less.

It seems like we are all a bit short on time these days, so if I can boost my marriage in just 10 minutes a day… Well, I’m all over that!

In 10 minutes you can have an instant pick-me-up in your marriage, put a smile on your face, fall more in love with your man, make his day, and reach a new level in your relationship.

It sounds like one of those gimmick cure all pills. Guarantied to fix every thing.

However, I can vouch for it, and I think you will be able to as well.

So go on, learn the secret here!

On to Matrimonial Monday! Share any posts you have written that has to do with being a Godly Wife.  Remember to visit the link before you and leave a lovely comment, you just might make someone’s day!

The post Matrimonial Monday #35 appeared first on A Proverbs 31 Wife.

The High Calling of Motherhood:

Being a mom looks scary to me. Not because of stretch marks, wrinkles and grey hairs; I already have a few of those. Not because of the late nights, or no nights; brother number 3 was very colicky and I was his second momma.   Not because I’m afraid I cannot properly care for a child; besides helping raise my 2 younger bubbies, I’ve worked in a child-care center for years and now work as a nanny.

No, what scares terrifies me about being a mom, is the high calling of motherhood. These little bundles that get sent to us, are not really ours, they are God’s. Our charge is to raise them up for the glory of God. To raise up a generation that will lift up the praise of God.

In this world, that looks hard, very hard. But even worse is the thought “what if I fail?”  What if we bring a child into this world and fail to teach it in God’s ways. His word is clear, those who do not call on his name, will not be saved. There is no such thing as God’s grandchildren, each generation must come to him on their own.

This high calling of motherhood is what scares me. I have seen teenagers die, and while only God knows for sure the state of their hearts; from all appearances and the way they were living, they died with-out Christ. How do the parents feel, I wonder?

I was talking to a mom in our church, (she’s probably my moms age) and I mentioned something to her about my fear. I loved what she told me. She prayed for her children before they were even conceived, and and prayed for them, and with them as they got older. Another thing that really stuck out to me is how they prayed for each child’s spouse long before they were of marrying age.

Long before I met him, I prayed for Jason. Why should I not pray, for my yet unborn children and their spouses?

I’m not saying I no longer feel intimidated by the though of being a mother, and to be honest I have some huge trust issues. But at the same time, I am a doer. And just being able to take my fears to the Lord and plead for his guidance even before the children come, helps calm my fears and point my focus towards God, as it should be in the first place.

For you mothers, I pray for you; that the Lord would guide you in bringing up his children. And remember, in God’s eyes, and in the eyes of your little blessings, every-day is Mother’s day! God bless you as you fulfill the high calling of motherhood.

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A couple Sundays ago, my mom and the kids came up, and we all decided to go for a walk. The boys had binoculars and mom, sis and I had cameras. Yup, fun fun!

I thought I would share a few, because, well, we are goofy!

Oh wait, I promised you some goofy ones, didn’t I? Enjoy!

I’m having my site redesigned and figured I should have some updated photos, so mom tried taking some of us. Poor thing, between Jason and I, we are probably the worst couple to take photos of. Since I’m using the few good ones as part of the new design, I’ll give you a peek  at a couple others.

We all were trying to photograph the same thing, but then I decided I had a better shot to take. lol

Not sure who took this photo, one of the boys I suppose.

A couple funny collages my mom put together. My sis and I being totally goofy!

And of course, typical of guys; One must always play king of the mountain. It’s a pretty funny collage, made funnier by the story. Brother tackles Jason, Jason picks him up and swings him over his shoulders, brother’s rear, is close to Jason’s nose, so he farts; brother gets dropped and lays on the ground holding his belly and laughing his head off!

Those guys are really something else, and to think I married the one and am related to the others…..

Some pretties….

And a last one of Jason.

We really had a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoyed seeing these totally goofy photos as well!

The post Sunday Walks appeared first on A Proverbs 31 Wife.

How’s your tone? Or in this case mine.

Saturdays we sometimes sleep in, hubby more so than I. I wanted to go to the store and knew we didn’t need a lot, so we could walk. I went into the bedroom and told Jason to get up, because I wanted to go to the store. He asked what that had to do with him and I told him I was walking and he needed to come along to help me carry the bags.

Less than 2 minutes later, I hear him bagging things around and muttering under his breath while getting ready. I go back and ask him what’s wrong. True to the man style of communicating, he won’t respond. But I know he’s mad, so I press a bit. “WHY ARE YOU MAD?!”

Then it comes out. Instead of asking him to come to the store with me, I had demanded. My tone was not kind, or respectful towards him. To me, it just seemed like he should be getting up and out of bed any-way. To him, I was being rude and disrespectful. End result: angry husband and confused wife. Discord and not harmony.

We worked it out. He forgave me and we went to the store. But it’s something to think about, next time your man seems mad about something, ask yourself how’s your tone?  I know I have a long way to go in that area, but I’m not giving up yet.

On to Matrimonial Monday. Link up what you’ve been learning the last week about being a Godly wife. Feel free to share anything that has to do with being a Proverbs 31 wife.

The post How’s your Tone? MM link-up #34 appeared first on A Proverbs 31 Wife.