James 1: 2-5, and v.12

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

John 16:33 Jesus said:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Thank you all SO MUCH for your prayers and notes. Definitely have a praise because it does not appear we are dealing with anything malignant. We won't know for sure for awhile, but the surgeon felt pretty confident on that point. On the other hand, I will be facing some pretty major surgery soon--hysterectomy and other surgery which will put me out of commission for awhile. I don't want to make this blog boringly all about my medical issues, though this past year has been somewhat of a challenge in that regard, with more to come.

Also, I won't go into much detail, just for privacy's sake, and also so I don't get notes like "did you try other alternatives?" or "are you sure you want that surgery?" I've had enough of that in real life, unfortunately.   Not that any of you would do that!

Suffice it to say, I have been suffering with certain issues for a few years, and things have reached a point where a surgical solution is a necessity. As one who thrives on being independent and is pretty proactive about my health, exercise, etc these are definitely trials. I don't like feeling like I need help. I don't like having to lay down and rest every day just to keep going. But I know God has a plan. I definitely pray for bodily healing,  tempered with the knowledge that in this world we will have trouble. As Christians, we are not promised that we will escape this. In fact, we are promised the opposite. I just pray I can glorify God in this process, trusting Him with my very life. It's the only thing I know to do. HE is faithful.

So much life is going on lately, that I find myself with less time to write/reflect about it.

What little time I've had online lately has been spent researching in preparation for a surgery consultation this week about some longstanding 'female' issues. I won't dwell on that, but will direct anyone having similar struggles to this great resource I've found. This is not only about surgical solutions (and sometimes they truly are the only solutions and I am thankful we have them) but other options as well.

Here is another good article by Home Living .  While I don't necessarily agree with everything they write (and my girls and I don't wear only dresses), it gives a Christian woman much to think about.  What is a Christian to do in this immodest age? We know God looks on the heart, but are we to be separate from the world? Should someone looking at us know we are Christians? (Or perhaps have a suspicion?)  I love what our chaplain preached about today....sometimes Christians are only known for what they are against. He proposed that perhaps we should get back to our NT roots and be known for what we are for.  Virtues such as love, helping others, kindness. To that I would add humility and modesty. Hard to find these days, even in Christian circles. So!  Here is a link from Home Living which has some ideas for way cute skirt/dress outfits.  There are also some good articles here and here. Have fun!

Wow, what a weekend!!  The Women of Faith conference  in San Jose was AWESOME. I didn't decide to go until a few days beforehand, but with much prodding from my husband, I am so glad I did! Our church group had bought a block of tickets ahead of time, lucky for me.

The biggest thing I came away with was the thought of letting things happen as God sees fit, and not stressing about little things. A lot of the speakers have come through incredible hardships to end up with these amazing testimonies. (Me going "Lord, I'm not sure if I want an amazing testimony, ok?")

The thread that ran through it all was God knows us. He cares about every detail of our lives. I know this, but it was a good reminder. I laughed, I cried, I ate and talked (and shopped!) with my girlfriends. I'm glad my honey insisted I go.

I can't believe I'm actually leaving in 2 hours for the San Jose Women of Faith conference!!! Our base chapel ladies' group is going, and Steve pushed me to go too after the month we've had. And I just found out Anita Renfroe is going to be there!!! Can you tell I'm excited?!!!

My sister and I were talking about some 'real life' stuff earlier. And how when you choose to live and be real, things can get messy. Sticky. Not so neat and pretty as you'd like. Ugly, even.

I am blessed with friends who were real with me this week. I told them, nay, insisted that We Did Not Need Meals after my hand surgery and to save it for something 'big'. Well, one general anesthesia later coupled with a day of being sick and woozy from the meds and boy was I wrong. Thankfully, they hadn't listened to me anyway and showed up bearing casseroles, notes, a gift basket, flowers, and chocolates. Wow. They blessed my socks off. My family's too.

Trust me when I say someone near you is going through something real this week. Will you be real too? Leave your cocoon and roll your sleeves up and get in there with them? Or perhaps you need to be real enough to receive some help. Wow. That is humbling, isn't it? But that's what being in the body of Christ is all about.  I'm so thankful He set it up that way!

Galatians 6:2 

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ

I think it's often a source of pride, especially among military wives to 'not need help'. We're strong, right? This article, sent to me by my wonderful mother-in-law is a good reminder for any of us feeling self sufficient, to remember just exactly Who is our source of strength.

10 lbs, that is! I hit a milestone this week in my renewed effort to get rid of some excess weight and realized I am down 10 lbs since the end of June. Yay, me! Or more importantly, yay, God! I know it's only with His help that I've been able to do this and that's no exaggeration. I have absolutely no will power when left to my own devices. I am like a spoiled toddler sometimes when it comes to food.

I never struggled with weight until after the birth of my third child. At that point I heard of another program that introduced me to the hunger/fullness idea (ie wait till you're hungry to eat, stop when you're comfortably full)  Makes sense, right? I fairly easily dropped about 35 lbs. Went on to have another child, found out the founder of that program, Weigh Down, was a lulu who was going off the deep end. (c'mon folks, she started her own church and began  firing staff members who wouldn't join) To anyone involved in that, I'd say run! Fleeeeee!!!  The original premise is good, but there is so much other baggage that goes along with it, it's not worth it. There is a lot of legalism and guilt that go with it.

Enter Thin Within  I just started reading this book about 2 weeks ago and it compliments what I feel the Lord has been showing me about eating. They have been around for 30 years, and have a more 'grace-oriented' approach. It's like a breath of fresh air. I beat myself up enough when I mess up. So to those of you who also need to 'release' excess weight (I love how they say that. I don't want to 'lose' it, because it implies I will 'find' it again!) I highly recommend this book!

These days, it's not so easy to find resources aimed at encouraging our daughters to be godly women. This looks like a wonderful resource, produced by  homeschool writer Jill Novak and her daughters,  The Beautiful Girlhood Home Companion  Looks like a delightful read, full of everything from gardening to tea time! Check it out if you have girls maturing into young ladies. My 11 yr old is definitely at the prime age for this.  In the words of the author:

"The Girlhood Home Companion is a delightful keepsake Treasure that centers on one godly character quality at a time. Each edition's theme is explored in-depth through editorials, articles, and stories that will minister to the heart of your daughter."

We just returned from a wonderful week in Florida with my in-laws. It was beautiful and relaxing, and just what we all needed! It was our first real 'get-away' since dh returned from his deployment in February. Here is the view from the balcony where we stayed--can't beat it!

I came home to a full email inbox and am still getting through it all. However, I did take a moment to read this article sent on to me from my friend Kim at Starry Sky Ranch. Wow. We need to be constantly assessing whether we are letting the world mold us, or if we are truly living up to Biblical womanhood. (How is it defined by Titus 2?) Many things that are labeled "Christian" are just the world in spiritual packaging. Many things that seem 'good', are still not for us as Christian women, as they are not God's 'best' for us. We want what we consider our fun, and it sounds better if we can couch it in spiritual terms. I have to think that anything that pulls my heart from home, husband, and children, just may not be worth my while at this season of life. There are some strong words in this article, but it is well worth reading. I am glad for summertime, and a slower pace to reassess my priorities and how I choose to spend my time.

My sister sent me this fun link! She is making a quilt for her boys out of her husband's old uniforms and jeans. Perfect for first time quilters! My brother-in-law leaves this week for a lengthy (13-15 months long) deployment to Iraq. We are praying for you, Jason!

Run, don't walk, over to Elizabeth Foss' site and read this article. It's beautiful, and I promise, uplifting. I was going to write a post on this very topic, but she said it better than I ever could. It's one of the best pieces I've read lately, and it had me in tears.

God has very much dealt with me in past days about living on purpose, vs. reactively. About taking time for things we enjoy as a family collectively and individually. About not taking on burdens or tasks that were never mine to take....about remembering that time is too fleeting and it's my fortunate job to love my husband, raise my children and that no one else can do it for them as well as I can. The rest can wait. Thank you Elizabeth, for wording it so eloquently and allowing God to use you this way. I so appreciate it. We are finding the 'joy' in our homeschool again.

It's been a wearisome week. We received the terrible news that a cousin of mine was murdered last week. This is on the heels of my grandfather's death, so I would especially covet prayers for my uncle who lost both a father and son within weeks of each other. Our only hope is in knowing they are both with Jesus now. I wonder how people get through times like this without that hope.

"If you can't change the world, you can move the furniture"--Gladys Six.

This is a saying I grew up hearing, as it was spoken by my great-grandmother and oft repeated by my grandmother. Honestly, as a child it didn't make a lot of sense to me. What did moving furniture have to do with anything?

It makes so much sense now.

I have little control over what happens in my life--none of us really have any, it's just a matter of realizing it, I suppose. The past couple of weeks since Steve left for his deployment have been kind of a 'holding pattern' for me. Just trying to get through, do the next thing, deal with the kids' issues and not lose my mind in the process. He's not been gone that long yet, but the months stretch out in front of me.

I read something simple yet profound a couple of days ago. Basically it said, we can deal with anything, once we accept it.

Gladys had to accept many things now that I look back at her life. She lived through two world wars, her husband Ray serving in WWI. She was a missionary to China as a young wife in the 1920s, and delivered several of her children there, including her first, my grandmother, Mary Virginia. My grandmother told me how she had to walk down a mountainside in the dark to get to the midwife to deliver. That's some woman.

Gladys also lost a son in his early adult years, to diabetes. That's a heartache I can't even imagine going through. She saw her husband pass away before her.

I'm sure my great-grandmother had many other struggles I know nothing about. Yet she was remembered by her children as a loving mother, friend, writer, gardener extraordinaire. She obviously took the time in the midst of her busy and challenging life to cultivate beauty, love, and friendship.

It helps me to look back at her and realize my tiny trials will also pass.

In the meantime, I'm moving the furniture.

I admit it--I used to love watching makeover shows. You know, those kind that tell you why what you are currently wearing is all wrong for you, or 5,000 ways your house is decorated just too old-fashioned, or not hip enough, etc......

Little caveat--I do strive to make my home beautiful and love new ideas. But how often on these shows, do the 'experts' walk into a room or look at someone's clothing/decorating choices and go "oh you look WONDERFUL! You need no changes!" Of course not...the 'experts' would then be out of jobs!

Which brings me to my point--I noticed after watching too many makeover shows, I was actually becoming more discontent. If you take these thoughts to their natural conclusion, nothing can ever be good enough. I can always improve on my clothing, my appearance, my house. I also noticed that the experts typically eshew anything too fuddy-duddy. It's your space according to them, not your home. So anything old-looking you may have passed down from your family, your grandmother etc is relegated to the attic.

No more makeover shows for me.  I would rather my house had some personality, and I love it that we have things from all over the world, from different generations, on display. Never mind if it doesn't fit into a tight category of retro, early American or Victorian. Same for clothing choices. I am picking what suits me and is functional, feminine and modest, not whether it's cutting edge fashion. (ok maybe not on shoes--I do love shoes! LOL) There is a freedom in not being enslaved to material things or being molded into what the world thinks is 'it' at a given point.  

The girls and I were invited to a lovely tea party last week, just for moms and daughters, by our friend Mary and her girls. They are moving this week and it's sad to say good-bye to friends we just made, but such is life in the Air Force. We wish them the best in their retired (from the AF, that is!) life! They have been a blessing to us in the short time we've known them.

For obvious reasons, I won't share the photos of all the other girls but thought I would show the lovely table that was laid out. It was a special treat for my girls to dress up, get their hair fixed pretty and practice acting like ladies.

 You might think setting out cloth napkins, fresh flowers and lace tablecloths is a bit much for children, but I was pleased to see how much the girls truly rose to the occasion, on down to the 3 year olds! Nothing spilled, polite manners, and the girls sat quietly and behaved so sweetly.

Here is the big table (for the girls!), pre-tea:

The mom's table:

It's that time of year when women all across America basically disrobe as the temperatures soar. With two young daughters watching me, I have often struggled with the question what does a christian woman look like? What does she wear? How does this play out in my real life? Actually, I think it's just as important for my boys too. While I know grace works in our hearts, I also believe we shouldn't just blend into our society either. We are Christian women, and should be set apart. Yet practically speaking, it has been a journey of many starts and fits for me. I am not 'there' yet. 

We have been going to the base pool a lot lately. Seeing girls and women in public wearing what would basically amount to being their underwear or less has suddenly become very embarrassing to me. I used to pay no attention (in fact, I worked as a lifeguard in high school!). My girls both choose to wear shorts over their swimsuits and are very modest in comparison. Yet I'm not sure that's even enough. The past few years I have become more and more stunned and embarrassed by the way women and girls in our country dress. It makes me ashamed. It seems to me we have given up our last shreds of dignity and feel no shame in wearing what would have been underclothing in generations past. Some may laugh and call me old fashioned. I suppose I am!

However, instead of taking a negative defensive posture to all this, I am choosing to go at it a different way with my girls. We talk about dressing like a lady, being feminine. Here's a great article with some practical ideas. Also, yet another great post by my friend Kim with a link to another good article. My little 7 yr old came down the stairs the other day with a cute little skirt on with her tiny purse over her arm and sighed happily and said "I just LOVE dressing like a girl!"  That makes me smile.