With Joy...

 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

~Ephesians 5:22-28

By God's grace, Chris and I celebrated 21 years of marriage yesterday! I couldn't be more grateful for the man the Lord gave me. Our years have been filled with love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, growing, and striving to honor the Lord together! Ups and downs....through hard times and easy...it's always been us ~ together. The Lord gave us to each other for His perfect reasons. In the wise words of our son, Xavier, "He's my best" (When X was little he would speak of something that was his favorite by saying: "It's my best". :o) 

Today is a beautiful fall day, blue skies and sun with a cool breeze. I hung out some laundry but did so in a fleece hoodie as it's chilly outside ~ but I'm loving it! I have candles lit throughout the house and have been getting a lot of housework done. I need to check the boys' schoolwork as well as plan the next week's work. We'll be busy tomorrow getting logs and starting to get our wood shed filled for the winter! 

Here are a few photos of my porch...(I'm hoping to get the floor stained next spring/summer. I didn't get it done this year!): 

I need to get going...still much to accomplish today. But I just wanted to drop by and check in and share my joy in my wedding anniversary! I hope you all are doing well! Thank you so much for dropping by! I know I am not the best blogger! I hope you will come by again soon! 

Joyfully,

Katy

Celebrating 20 Years & Some Updates...

 

Today marks a blessed day for my husband and me! We celebrate 20 years of marriage today! I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am for this man the Lord has given to me ~ the absolute blessing he is to my life. He is my very best friend. He is a great provider, comforter, and protector. He is talented (if something is broken...Chris can fix it!). He isn't perfect (nor am I) but he sure is absolutely fantastically mine. The Lord made him for me...and me for him. We fit together so well that I detest being separated from him for very long! 

I love how we take care of each other. We have traditional family roles in our household (as anyone can tell if you have read my blog for any length of time). I take care of Chris...and he takes care of me. He works hard to provide and works on fixing up our home (which he just finished the siding on and I will have to post about!). I make his breakfast and coffee every morning and pack his lunch for work. I homeschool the children and tend to the home chores (and make supper in the evening). I love my simple life. It's not perfect this side of heaven...but it is good. The Lord has cared for us in innumerable ways and I am truly grateful. 

I'm not sure if Chris read this post or not...but if so: Happy Anniversary Love! There is absolutely no one I would rather have spent the past 20 years with! I pray the Lord grants us many more years together! 

A few quick (but rather big) updates from lately...

Madelyn has moved! Yes...it's true. She's 19 and working and was ready to be on her own (sort of). She's renting a little house right next to my parents (that's the only reason we agreed to it....it's affordable and her grandparents are *right* there). For anyone wondering ~ she didn't go to college. We don't think college is the correct path for children. We aren't against higher education but rather we believe it is best for young girls to marry, bear children and keep the home as submissive wives to their husbands. Of course, there are circumstances where this can't happen for some...but we believe it to be the way the Lord would have most young women go and that it is the ideal. 

I'm struggling a wee bit with it...she was gone a lot anyway with work and things...and X is gone a lot working too. He does his schooling, then helps at my dad's garage for a few hours in the afternoon and then works at a farm on many evenings. So...the supper table looks bare many evenings with just Chris, Jaxson and me around it. But this is how the seasons of life go I suppose. It's how it is suppose to be. My babies can't live here forever (and honestly...I wouldn't want them to! ha!). Madelyn is still settling in at her place but I will share some photos when I can! 

And in other news....due to a few reasons...I had to have a hysterectomy at the beginning of the month. My doctor who is also a Christian, called to check on me a few days after surgery (it was done laparoscopic and in and out of the hospital in one day). He told me we need to thank God I had my uterus removed for they found abnormal cells in my lining that were a step away from cancer!! Praise God for his care for me! He is so good! I don't deserve His mercy and love...but He gives it anyway. I am deeply grateful! Recovery has been good. Honestly, I have felt fantastic from right after my surgery...this has been bad though because I just want to do everything like normal...exercising, weight lifting, housework, mowing etc. I have over-done it in the past 3 weeks and am heading to the doctor today to make sure I'm healing okay. Although I hate insurance and all the garbage that can come from technology ~ I must admit that the technological advances in surgery are *such* an amazing blessing! 

I actually need to go finish getting ready for my appointment! I just wanted to pop on and share this little update! I hope you all are well. Thank you for stopping by! I hope to post again soon! 

Warmly,

Katy 

Making Marriage Last

I have been asked what is the key to making a marriage last? I don't have all the answers...but I have been married for almost 17 years and have seen how the Lord has admonished me and grew my husband and I closer and closer over the years. We have had ups and downs through the earlier years...but oh, how the Lord has worked in us! Marriage can truly be a *beautiful* thing!!

 First and foremost it is vital to have a relationship built upon the rock of Christ. We should seek to glorify the Lord in *all* we do.,, being selfless and growing in holiness constantly. We, as women, cannot control our husbands. Even if your husband isn't glorifying the Lord...you must. Do the right thing even if he doesn't and *pray* for your husband constantly! The Lord is faithful and hears your prayers! Of course, having a Godly husband is ideal...but sometimes that isn't the case (sometimes two unbelievers wed and then the wife is saved...but her husband is not etc.)

Our job is to be "submissive in all things". Yes...you read that correctly. Submission in all things (unless it goes directly against the Word of God or in cases of abuse...seek help from your church or family!).

 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

~Ephesians 5:22-24

Submission isn't always easy (especially for those of us who like to control things)...but quite necessary for a happy, thriving, Godly marriage! These days, Christian women are often not reminded of this requirement of marriage (and some women try to weasel out of this verse by making a bunch of exceptions to it). This is what the Lord has instructed! If we want a joy-filled, Christ-honoring marriage, we must be obedient! This doesn't mean we hover in a corner and don't speak...timid and scared. This *does* mean that we can usually have input (if you have married a Godly man as I have ~ they will often come to us for our opinion!), however the husband gets the final say. He's the boss. That doesn't make us less important or insignificant. It actually takes the pressure *off* of us! He has to be responsible for all the decisions that affect his family. That's some serious pressure. This is where we come in wives! We are designed to be *helpers*! What a gift to be a helper for our husband. We should strive to be the best helpmeets we can be! What can make his life easier? How can we ease his burdens?

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

~Philippians 2:3-4

How can we selflessly serve our husband as Christ did for us?

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

~Philippians 2:5-8

It can be terribly difficult to watch your husband make a decision you seriously disagree with. But you must be submissive and trust that God is absolutely sovereign. Find your complete rest in Him! Don't go to friends and family and complain about your husband or speak badly about him. Pray about it and seek Godly counsel from an older, wiser woman in your church if you need it. Whatever you do...don't nag!

...a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

~Proverbs 19:13b

Some resources I can share with you to encourage (and admonish) you are some great ones that have helped me. I am so very far from perfect but I have seen how being a submissive wife can make my marriage even better than I thought it could be! We don't argue or get angry with each other (as we could from time to time in our earlier years of marriage when I was quite selfish).

First ~ I definitely want to tell you to be in God's Word daily...yes, daily! If you have time to watch a TV show or to talk on the phone (or read my blog)

...then you have time to read Scripture! Read...even just a chapter a day...and get to know the Jesus we love more and more. Learn to live in holiness and a life that glorifies Him! Also...look up verses on husbands and wives and focus on how you are to treat your husband. Find verses on selflessness and servant-hood. Not only will it improve your marriage...but will shine the light of Christ as you selflessly serve others around you! :o)

I also encourage you to read "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace and "Created to be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl. Pearl's book is a bit rough....it is raw and full of hardcore truth....straight forward with no excuses....but it is worth the read. Humble yourself and be open to change....to better yourself in light of God's Truth to be more Christ-like and to honor and serve your husband! "The Excellent Wife" is one of my favorite books...gentle but full of truth. It hands out the truth to women but in an encouraging way rather than the more brutal way Pearl's book does. But I truly believe BOTH books to be edifying and important for women to read (more than once!).

The last resource I want to share is a blog! It used to be Always Learning...but it is now called The Transformed Wife by Lori Alexander. There are great articles at both sites! Read through them from time to time! They are of great encouragement (and full of truth that we women need to hear)! The truth is spoken plainly there...but it is done in love. A women seeking to train up young women and to share God's truth! :)

Here are some posts I have written previously about marriage that you may enjoy (they include links to other books and posts I have found helpful):

The Beauty of a Biblical Marriage
Covenant Keeping
The Wonder of Marriage

If you have some favorite resources to share...please do leave them in the comments!
So glad you were able to stop by today! I hope you visit again soon!
Warmly,
Katy

"The principle of submission in marriage is...

...an acceptance of God's created order of male headship. Rebellion against this order is rejection of the biblical legacy of womanhood."

~ The Legacy of Biblical Womanood by Susan Hunt & Barbara Thompson 

(All quotes in this post will be from this book!)

We were created to be helpers. That is our design. It's not a bad design since it comes from the perfect Creator! Feminism has taken this beautiful design and beat it, smashed it and thrown it away. Now the role as helper is seen as something to be ashamed of...when a woman is a stay at home wife ~ fulfilling her role as helpmeet to her husband and managing her home ~ it is often looked down upon.

"...God's world was not complete without man and woman. The woman was not a clone of the man. God made one who was equal but different from the man. The God of glory created woman as a helper. Our redemption frees us and compels us to glorify God by fulfilling this helper design in all seasons and circumstances of life. This is our calling as redeemed women."

Girls are automatically expected to go to college after high school (with a career oriented mind-set!). Most of these girls want to get married and have a family but they find themselves in debt and in a "must work outside the home" situation after college. I am definitely not against higher education. I am against debt ~ which the Bible warns against as well (Proverbs 22:11, Romans 13:8).

"The helper proclivity of women is crushed in a culture of individualism and independence. Women are encouraged to pursue self-fulfillment and self-actualization."

I remember watching Reading Rainbow when I was younger (which I am not against that program...I had always really enjoyed it) ~ but the theme song told me I could "be anything". Thoughts swirled in my head of being an astronaut, a marine biologist, a school teacher and more. None of these are bad! However, when thinking of what "wonderful" thing I could "be" ~ "just" a mom and wife never seemed as exciting as all those other careers. My mindset was on **myself**. How I could fulfill *me*...how I could be "great". I was not set on thinking of how I was created as a helper. I wasn't having the Christ-like attitude of a servant. Thankfully, the Lord did a great work in me...opening my eyes to His truth and although I still fight that "self" monster...my heart is set in the right direction. I have a desire to glorify Him through my role as helper.

"When the Lord God breathes new life into our dead souls and makes us disciples of Jesus, our helper heart will overflow in life-giving covenantal ministries. We will be gifts to our churches. Community life will be richer. Compassion will flourish. The kingdom will be extended.....We disobeyed, and Jesus was cursed. He obeyed, and we are blessed. Such grace compels us to obey from a heart of gratitude and love."

Thankfully, as I was finishing high school, the Lord put it in my heart: all I truly wanted to be was a homemaker, wife and mother (I still didn't totally comprehend my helper role...but over the years ~ the Lord has opened my eyes to so much!). I went to college for a year since that was "what you do" after high school...but I just picked a random major because I had no particular desire to go to school for anything since my heart was *at home*.  From there, the Lord continued working in my life to put everything in order for me to fill my helper role. Chris and I got to know each other more and soon, fell in love. We were married in fall of 2000 and 10 months later, we had our daughter! :)

So, back to the reason for this post. Submission. It is a scary word to a lot of people....but it is what the Bible requires of us all (wives to husbands and husbands to Christ. All of us are to be submissive to governing authorities etc.). We find the Scriptures telling us to be submissive to our husbands in Ephesians 5:22 and 1 Peter 3:1. Submission is *not* a threat to redeemed women.

"The redeemed helper is not threatened by male headship. She values male and female distinctiveness because she knows that they are God's design and order. She knows that submission has nothing to do with status. Submission has to do with function and is a reflection of the ontological equality and yet the functional difference in the Trinity. Submission is built into the way God has ordered life in the kingdom, and it is good because He is good. Headship and submission are God's ordained order for achieving oneness in marriage and unity in the church....The redeemed helper knows that submission does not restrict her; it actually frees her to fulfill her life-giving mission." (emphasis mine)

Are you really being submissive? It is a question I have to ask myself often. Sometimes I *think* I am being submissive...but if I really am honest with myself...I realize I'm not. I have a bad habit (or should I just say "sin") of trying to convince my husband that my way is right. Submission does *not* come easily or naturally to me. I have to work at it. I always think I'm right (ok..not always...but often) . I have improved a lot through the years but still have a ways to go! I often have to humbly tuck my tail between my legs, apologize and admit that I was wrong. In some circumstances, I *am* right...however, the way I go about expressing it and fighting for my way is wrong. I often have to remind myself to be "submissive in all things". I am reminded of Eve...in the garden...who was deceived and then convinced her husband to follow suit. We know how that turned out!

Do you have a teachable, meek, quiet spirit? Humble and loving? These are things I am constantly asking myself and praying for. I strive to glorify the Lord in the way I am submissive to my husband, a helper to others and in training up my children. I fail....which makes His grace even more beautiful to me. As I continue to be sanctified by Him...I can look back in my life and see how He has been working. Sometimes I cringe at things I have done and then I praise God for His grace and lovingkindness towards me despite myself.

Submission, God's created order, a servant's heart and a helper's spirit are things that are very important to me and I am passionate about. In a culture where people are calling right wrong and evil good....I think it is important for God's people to keep things in order. God made males and females. He did not make one better than the other...He just made a system of order. He is a good God who does all things well. Women don't have to fight to be like men or to be as strong as men. We need to be women...the helpers God made us to be. :o)

A couple good reads (from trusted sources) that you might enjoy and glean much from:

23 Things I've Learned in 23 Years of Marriage ~ a post by Michelle Lesley

What does it mean for a wife to submit to her husband? ~ a post from CARM

This has been a bit of a longer post....and indeed...I need to get moving. My morning is flying by and I have much to get done! Thank you for taking the time to read and hear my thoughts on this. I'm sorry if they are a bit scattered. Sometimes organizing my thoughts is difficult (especially when I am helping with school work, answering phone calls, and more all while trying to write a post). :) I would love to hear your thoughts as well! Please share your comments and emails with me! I would most certainly love to hear them (even if you don't agree). If you don't agree...I do just ask that you talk in love and respect to me as I will to you! :)

I have just intertwined some pictures from home in this post! I hope you have enjoyed them!

A letter from the child we sponsor through Compassion. I treasure these letters! They are just too sweet...

Although super cold outside...we are enjoying some sunshine...

Thanks so much for visiting! I encourage you to be a helper to those around you. If you are married...after your relationship with the Lord...remember your husband comes first. Be submissive (even when it isn't easy) and you will honor the Lord in your behavior!

I really gotta run! This is why my posting has lessened over the years....it just takes so much time and thought to post! ;o) I hope you will bear with me! Have a great weekend friends!

Warmly,
Katy

Biblical Womanhood in the Home

Hello friends! I recently finished a couple books and really wanted to share them with you. They are full of great wisdom and truth! I am totally sharing these from my own desire to....this isn't any sort of sponsored post or anything! :)

"Wives, in light of the Lord's instruction to us, we have to ask ourselves the hard questions on a regular basis: Do I care for my home in a way that helps my husband or serves me? Do I manage my time in a manner that assists my husband or serves my own agenda? Does the way I serve others support my husband or promote me? Do I ask for my husband's input before committing myself to a plan? Am I oriented to him and the work to which God has called him? We honor the Lord when we minister to our husbands in ways that enhance our God-given roles as companions and helpers." 

~Carolyn Mahaney

Biblical Womanhood in the Home is edited by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth (although it was made before she was married). It has contributions written in it by her, Susan Hunt, Mary A. Kassian, Carolyn Mahaney, Barbara Hughes, P.Bunny Wilson, and Dorothy Patterson.

It is such a great book and ranks right up there with "Homemaking" by J.R. Miller and "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace! It covers having a biblical view of femininity and beauty, being a woman used by God, a wife's responsibilities, the joy of submission, raising feminine daughters, and older women mentoring younger women (and MORE)! It is definitely not a *dry* read...especially if your heart yearns to glorify the Lord in all you do! :)

"God is glorified through thankful, trusting, obedient, compassionate, serving, virtuous, joyful, feminine women who reflect to our world the heart and character of the Lord Jesus Himself. As we are filled with His Spirit, we radiate His beauty and make the Gospel believable."

~Nancy Leigh Demoss

Sometimes, I can get caught up in my appearance (especially as I battle my weight) and wanting to be beautiful...but really...where is my mind focusing then? (which is why I read the second book that I will share in a bit). I think women have the tendency to focus on *self* so much...with a lot of focus being on outward beauty.

"Do our thoughts and actions regarding our appearance reflect a cultural standard or a biblical standard?....God exposes our pursuit of the perfect figure and beauty to be idolatrous...Nowhere in the Bible are women instructed to wish for, ask for, or strive for physical beauty....our beauty 'should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight'....Our culture defines beauty by how we look on the outside. God defines beauty by what we are like on the inside."

~Carolyn Mahaney

You can find this book for *great* prices at amazon: HERE  (It is there for .01 cents...plus 3.99 shipping!) That is not an affiliate link or anything...just a link so you can find the book quickly if you are interested in it! I have so many things underlined, highlighted and circled in this book! One more quote before I talk about the other book I want to share.

"The redeemed helper will be a woman of prayer....The redeemed helper whose convenant sensibilities have been honed understands the importance of the virtue of domesticity [a devotion to home life] and the ministry of hospitality...The redeemed helper is not inward-focused....She knows that submission has nothing to do with status. Submission has to do with function. It is the way God has ordered life in the kingdom, and it is good because He is good."

~Susan Hunt

The second book I want to share is a short, little book by Tim Keller. It's called: "The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness". It has less than 50 pages. It is worth the quick read (and maybe re-read!). I struggle because I don't want to be selfish. I want to be *selfless*...but the more I focus on trying to BE selfless...I end up still focusing on *self*! Ack! It's like an unending, circular struggle! It drives me crazy! I cry out to the Lord in prayer. I am thankful for His Word and also this little book which just gave me some extra things to focus on...to keep my mind *off* myself! Quotes below are from Tim Keller...author of the book. Any emphasis given is mine. :)

"True gospel-humility means I stop connecting every experience, every conversation, with myself. In fact, I stop thinking about myself. The freedom of self-forgetfulness. The blessed rest that only self-forgetfulness brings."

"This is gospel-humility, blessed self-forgetfulness. Not thinking more of myself as in modern cultures, or less of myself as in traditional cultures. Simply thinking of myself less."

"A truly gospel-humble person is not a self-hating person or a self-loving person, but a gospel-humble person. The truly gospel-humble person is a self-forgetful person whose ego is just like his or her toes. It just works. It does not draw attention to itself. The toes just work; the ego just works. Neither draws attention to itself."

You can find this book HERE. It's a quick and easy read and really points you to Christ and serving others and away from self! :) If you read it (or Biblical Womanhood in the Home)...I would love to hear your thoughts on it! If you are looking for good, quality, gospel-centered books...these are for you! Biblically and wisely they point you to Christ and how to reflect Him in our lives! :o)

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Have a great week!
Warmly,
Katy

Linked up at: Strangers & Pilgrims and The Modest Mom blog

Motherhood and The Way Home

"Firmly and lovingly, parents needs to take back the care of our little plants. Mother needs to be home so her children can be home. Then, when they are ready to leave the greenhouse, they will be mature. They will be really independent. They will have strong characters formed by saturation in God's Word and the sight of it in your life. You will have given them roots and wings!"

~Mary Pride, The Way Home

If you haven't read The Way Home *beyond feminism back to reality* by Mary Pride, you definitely need to. It is a *great* read. It is convicting, encouraging and biblical. If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I believe, biblically, women are to be home raising their children. I am also a huge advocate for homeschooling.

I *do* understand there are situations where mothers must work...not because they want to but because they have to (single parent situations, husband unable to work etc.). I also know there are a lot of pressures (and desires) with women to want more stuff and even go to work to give their children more "stuff". Then there are women who want their career and put their children with babysitters or daycare without thinking twice about it.

Situations vary....but the truth of the matter is this: if you have children, God has given the job to *you* to raise them. When children spend most of their waking hours under the care of another then *you* are not raising them...someone else is ~ and that is a shame. Raising souls is one of the greatest responsibilities you will ever have. Nothing is more important. Mothers have the *best* job and so many (unfortunately) hand the reins to someone else. I'm not here to judge but rather encourage...that if this is *you*...sit down and crunch the  numbers... you may have to take off the *extras* but you may be able to make it work. It is truly worth it to find out!

Tending the home is not drudgery. It's not always blissful fun of course, it's work...but it is the woman's ministry. Think of how a society will improve or decline according to the family home! Mothers at home, tending to her husband, the house and the children ~ nowadays it sounds old fashioned and too-good-to-be-true. Now women are almost expected to go to college, join the workforce and earn money, money, money. But this need not be so!

"Homeworking is more than a dirty chore. It is a ministry. Humble, yes. But she who humbles herself will be exalted."

"God intended women to spend their whole lives serving other people. Young women serve their children, their mothers, their husbands, and the community at large. Older women train and assist the younger women, and in some cases become church helpers. Women are not called to pursue motherhood for five years, get a career, and thereafter live for themselves. We are responsible for keeping society healthy and human. And for this, we get respect. Charity at home? What an opportunity! What a ministry!"

~Mary Pride

,

Lately, here at home...

Above and below are pictures of my latest knitting finish.

Candle-lover here...(always bought on sale though!)  ;)

Making caramels for the guys (my husband, FIL, BIL, and others) at the meat market who have been working tirelessly processing deer meat after this past deer season (I made them one year and now it has become a bit of a tradition. It's a bit of a pick-me-up for them after a busy couple weeks)...

I am such an apron-lover! Isn't this one so pretty?

Cutting caramels is *not* an easy job!

Here is a portion of the ones I made, cut and wrapped for the guys. I made a double batch (completely unintentionally...but found I used double the brown sugar in my first batch so had to double everything and just make a double batch)...and gave some to my Pastor and his wife for Christmas...

Please know ~ I desire good for others...and I *know* that you will thrive when serving your family in love and glorifying God in the process! This is why I post things such as this....because I desire women to follow our biblical roles and watch society improve and the gospel spread as we are obedient to the Word! We, as sinful people, always try to do things our own way. If we would stick to God's Word...how much better life would be! I can understand unbelievers not abiding His Word...but if we claim Christ as our Savior then there really is *no* excuse for us as believers. We simply *must* be obedient (not out of legalism...but out of a pure love for God and because we know His ways are always best!).

I leave you with this admonition and encouragement:

"Be a homeworker. Work to build up your husband, and help him attain an elder's qualities. Exercise hospitality. Serve people in your home. Be creative. Worship and praise the Lord, first with your family, then with others the Lord will bring. Seek further knowledge and the example of older women who have successfully raised godly children. Become the kind of woman who is now more rare than diamonds, and who has always been more precious than rubies (Prov. 31:10)." 

~Mary Pride

Please, if you can, get the book that I linked to at the beginning of this post (or see if your library or a good friend has it for you to borrow). It's wonderful! Also, I just finished reading "The Holiness of God" by R.C. Sproul. I think I have read it before but it was great the second time reading it too! So much truth and not difficult to understand! I highly recommend it!

Find your way home...it'll be the best decision you ever make. Not always the easiest choice, but so worth it, truly. Your husband, children and home *need* you!

Warmly,
Katy

Linked to: The Art of Homemaking Mondays

Simple Beauty

My aunt and uncle were taking a road trip to their daughter's house for two weeks. They asked if the children and I would take care of their goats and chickens, get the mail and such while they were gone. I just love their home. It is incredibly sweet and if I had gotten their permission, I would have shared photos of the inside. It has character and is just so lovely! It's not extravagant or showy...it's simple and truly beautiful!

Her flowers outside were blooming and pretty!

While the children started to feed the animals, I went to collect the mail (as their mailbox is beside a blind curve and a busy road)...

The goat house (below)....isn't it just perfect? I seriously could have taken many, many beautiful photos around their property.

My Jaxson...helping feed the animals!

We were very excited that while my aunt and uncle were away, their chickens started laying for the first time! While they were gone, we collected over a dozen eggs for them! We washed them up and brought one of our egg cartons from home (since we have a lot to keep up with our chicken's egg production). I was so excited for them to come home to fresh eggs from their own chickens!

They even have a pool and gave us permission to swim...so while the children swam for a couple of hours, I mowed the front lawn. I wanted my aunt and uncle to be able to come home and just relax and be happy to see that things were neat and taken care of while they were away! :) When they got home, my aunt called me and asked if I had wanted a workout!? :) I had to admit that push mowing their front lawn was *quite* the chore....it doesn't seem too large at first...but after awhile, I realized I got in over my head! But I finished...I was quite determined. I couldn't leave it half mowed! How silly would that look!? :) The bottoms of my feet were terribly sore afterwards and I skipped spin class the next morning to rest them!

At home, the sun has been shining and temperatures have been comfy. I took a few photos around my home to share...just simple things.

Can you believe we are halfway through August already? 

For us, that means school, school, school and books, books, books! Schooling is going well so far this year...and I am grateful! 

Things have been busy around here lately...birthdays, tearing down and re-building our rock wall (my mom is the master builder...I am just a helper...I'll get photos to share soon!), a reunion, baptism service, mowing, schooling, cleaning, and spin classes! It's a good sort of busy though so I am not complaining! :)

Amid it all, the Lord is working on me with *so* many things. Sanctification is quite the process, isn't it? His Word and the wisdom of theologians of the past as well as good, godly friends are such blessings to me. He is ever teaching me and although it's not easy to struggle through things sometimes, in the end, it is so worth it. To know He is ever with me ~ growing me and changing me for His glory and my good ~ what could be better?

My husband is a constant source of strength, wisdom and encouragement for me. He also admonishes me in love when I need it. I am so thankful for his leadership and companionship. When we were first married, almost 14 years ago, I was unsure, nervous and jittery. What was I doing? Was this the right thing? Was Chris the man I needed and who needed me? How the Lord has shown me over the years that He has had this all planned out and knew *exactly* (from before we were born) what we needed. To watch my husband grow in the Lord...as he constantly leads our family in a righteous way (and as he is daily in God's Word) is an amazing blessing to me! Seeing the Lord work in our lives encourages us to live more holy, Christ-like lives. We are so terribly far from where we want to be in our sanctification...but each day, God moves us one step closer in the right direction. May He be glorified!

Today's post has been a bit lengthy...lots of photos and words to chew on. If you have followed along until now, thank you! I appreciate the time you take to come and visit for a bit. It is my prayer you find my blog to be a peaceful, God-honoring place to just sit and rest for a moment.

Oh, I wanted to let you know (in case you are interested) I added a few more books that I have read onto my BOOKS page (found in the right column towards the top). To me, it is fun and interesting to know what others are reading and it also gives me ideas of what I may want to look into reading. Maybe you feel the same? If so, check out the page! I will tell you though that I read mostly non-fiction books. Most are theology. So, if you are looking for non-fiction recommendations, I don't have many! Also, the list I have made of what I have read is not finished. There are so many books I have read over the past years and I often forget to list them. When I remember one that I would recommend, I add it to the list! I hope you will check it out!

May your week be God-glorifying and may you find your ultimate satisfaction in *that*!

In love and kindness,
Katy

Giving & Receiving

For Madelyn's birthday, instead of gifts she asked for her friends and family to consider giving to a local organization who helps abused children. You can read about that HERE. She made her mama and daddy proud, I must admit, as we did *not* suggest this to her! She came to *us* with this idea!

 Above, you can see her with Mrs. Pat as she hands her the money that was donated as well as all the items for the organization! A lady from our local paper came to photograph it and write up an article!

Below is a picture of Mrs. Pat giving a Madelyn a t-shirt in *thanks* for her donations...

My boys were given a treat as well. The sweet lady from the paper has a brother-in-law who makes these handmade cars and gives them to all kinds of charities. They gave a couple to my boys to paint up and enjoy! My boys were so excited!

After doing some all-over painting at their pop-pop's garage, the boys finished up their cars by lettering and adding details here at home...

Last evening, Chris took the children and me to a local cruise-in we like for supper! We don't eat out often...but since the children and I helped with the meat chickens, this was Chris's way of thanking us! We all enjoyed our food! We know the owner of this restaurant (she and I spin together at the Y). She was there and treated us just wonderfully! Smiles were abounding...

I love my husband! He makes me giggle!

I got a healthy strawberry smoothie as my dessert. It was delicious!

I wanted to be sure to blog these things so they are here and will be remembered! I need to have more of my blog books published but it can be so costly! It's so nice, though, to have them in book form! It's like a scrapbook that I document throughout the year! I truly treasure these memories! Thank you for sharing in them with me!

With a thankful heart,
Katy