Day 8: Overcoming the curse (and some pictures from a friend's birthday and JAPAN!)

Happy Monday morning!

(I know, that phrase doesn’t seem to flow very well for most of us, huh?) Ok, I can qualify: It is a happy Monday because my hubbie is home!! Yey! That’s the good news.....

The bad news: He leaves again May 6th.

(Sigh)

This trip, he has Hawaii in the picture.

 Let’s just say I will be looking into a hop this time! Haha!

Anyways, I do want to share some pictures with you from his trip though:
 

 A view as he leaves Alaska

 In the cockpit

                       He ate a lot of sushi while he was there (and you will see as the pictures progress!)

Over Japan

 Shopping in Japan

A day of exploring and snorkeling:

 Driving on the left side of the road!!!

Back in Alaska, I got some pretty gorgeous views myself!

 We got to enjoy a beautiful bike ride when he got back. What a gorgeous day!

In fact, we rode over to a friend's house for her birthday. It was a lot of fun!

 So her birthday wish was to get a slice of the royal wedding cake....

And guess what she got! Haha!

What great friends!

Tons of flowers to accompany this celebration too!

It was a lot of fun to hang out with friends and enjoy being there with my husband as well. Nothing compares :)

Now that that chapter of the weekend is covered, ONWARDS!
Last time I wrote, I ended with the hope we have despite the curse. Today, the devotional expanded on this topic:

How do we then overcome and stay motivated?

“We have to keep our eye on the eternal value of our work.”-- Sarah Mae

In Christ, it has two fold value: here on earth and ETERNALLY! Work was created by God for us to do and, because of the cross, we now have the power, the authority, and approval to carry it out. God uses our domains to perfect us in worship and service to him.

I remember when Andrew and I were first married and the reoccurring question of “So what do you do?” kept sneaking up in conversations with people I would meet. Eventually, I became so discouraged and distraught with having very little to tell them besides ‘Oh, I just follow my husband around’, I literally had a meltdown on a long drive back from a wedding. Strangely enough, I would dare to say it was the best thing I think I could have endured in my walk. Just like we talked about previously, we have to eventually be strong and courageous to face the hard things that we don’t know to approach. I went searching through the scriptures to see what God had to say about who I was and my roles. The result was a renewed sense of value and more joy than when I tried to mask my internal struggle. If I hadn’t endured that trial, I would have still been attaching my identity to something the world accredits value to and missed where God wanted to confirm my value and shape me more into His beloved daughter.

Now, as I look at today’s challenge and really look at my work and it’s value, I am encouraged to strive forward in my many responsibilities as a wife, a life-giver to our home, a daughter of the King and a soon-to-be mom.

^"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." --James 1:2-4

How we go about taking up our burdens reflects houw we response to His calling. He gave us these domains and the ability to give life to them, according to Sarah Mae! So do as James calls us: accept our tasks with all JOY! Be thankful for what you have been given. It will lead us into more Christ-like character and more humility.

Well, I have the whole day to spend with my hubbie so I shall end here!

Keep enduring and overcoming!



Day 6 & 7- The Six List and The Curse

If it seems I am cheating in this 31 day challenge, I promise I’m not!


My husband was supposed to come in last night, then he was supposed to come in this morning. Now he is not coming until tomorrow sometime…. I am starting to believe I might never get my husband back! Ha!


Thus, in hopes that he will be back tomorrow (as he has said), I am going to do Day 6 & 7 together so I can spend time with him at his arrival (whenever that may be!).


Moving right along: Day 6—The Six List.


Sarah Mae spoke of a fabulous piece of advice she learned about in the Mary Key business. It cost a business man almost $25,000! What is this secret you ask? It’s a list (yes, Andrew and Dad, a list. Look who’s laughing now!). From one business man to another, the business man stepped out on a 90 challenge and tried out the list strategy. The strategy consists of making a list each night of the top six things (in order of importance) you need to accomplish the next day (and no more than six). Then, systematically, complete the list in order, transferring anything that was not finished to the top of the next day’s list of six things (never exceeding six things).


Yet even being a seasoned list maker, I still feel like I lack priority in my list formation. Thus, I will be applying this little piece of advice almost immediately!

I can see how people, as avid list makers, can get discouraged as they keep seeing that one or two things on their list never go away (hopefully this six list method will help a little bit with that). Maybe there is something that keeps popping its evil little head up when you thought you finally exterminated it at the final blow (like the laundry stacked high the day after you finished laundry or the floor you just mopped is again covered in puppy paws and mulch…). Well, that is where the next chapter is a helpful insight to why this keeps reoccurring. Two words, Sarah says: The curse. In summary, after man broke the law of the Lord, we were given curses that pertain to our work here on earth—‘cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life’—and in bearing our children (Read Genesis 3:17-18 for the full passage). It is because of the curse the command the Lord gave us at the beginning of time (to rule, subdue, be productive and multiply) has becoming increasingly difficult to fulfill. It all heads towards decay, and we are to strive against it. Notice though that work is not the curse, unproductive work is (it destroys your labor).


Yet, despite the dark and hopeless picture this leaves in our head, we do have hope (no, your load of laundry will not magically go away after reading this, but hopefully it will encourage your heart and soul!). It’s in Romans 8:20-21:

“20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”

Yes! We have hope that there will be restoration right around the corner! That’s something to encourage us all in our walk through our tasks today (though hopefully you also plan to do something fun today. It’s Saturday! Go spend some good time enjoying your family :) )


I hope you have a wonderful weekend and remember that your lists are not there to condemn you, but hopefully, help you to be more productive in your fight despite the curse… because we have victory in Christ (1 Cor. 15: 57)!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”



Day 5: Priorities

Wow. Isn't it great the the Lord knows exactly what we need to benefit our soul? I needed to evaluate my priorities this morning. It has been evident to me, especially with the way I responded to my husband last night on our g-chat that my priorities are way out of wack and affect others way more than assumed they did.

Thus, I made a list of my priorities from most important to least. I used her suggestions as a guideline to help form my own (though they were very closely related to hers). I made a grid table for it on my computer, but since my blog hates grib formats (apparently), I listed it: 'Priority' on the left,  'Why?' centered, 'Motivational Verses' on the right and the goals of how to accomplish these things following these priorities.



God:

Time in our relationship and his word. Early rising at his feet of reading, worshiping and praying.

Psalm 5:3; Ps. 16:11

Jeremiah 31:25

Mark 1:35

Husband:

To remain a faithful, life-giving wife that brings comfort and help in love to my best friend. Respond lovingly and gently; serve him first; do not nag; show respect; give lots of grace.

Proverbs 31

Children:

Train in the Lord; make childhood memorable and cherished Get home in order so I can focus more on my child than my house’s state; plan creatively; read and soak up wisdom.

                                                                                                 Deuteronomy 6:7-8

                                                                                                                                                         Proverbs 22:6
Home (and dog):

Clean, but not perfect, place to make children feel secure and a resting place for my husband; a place people can make themselves at home (honoring others); manage what God gave me. Work hard and put off lazy feelings and complaining; put family before self and clean home for them.

Proverbs 31:27

Colossians 3:23

Philippians 2:14

1 Tim. 3:2

Titus 1:8

Others (friendships and relationships):

I want to make others valuable in my life as God made me valuable, taking time to encourage and love them because of the gifts they are to me. Make time for friends/girls in squadron, have intentional conversations instead of flippant, serve them by offering to take kiddos while they refresh.

                                                                                                                                                       Hebrews 10:25

                                                                                                                                                         Romans 12:13

                                                                                                                                                      Hebrews 13:1-2

                                                                                                                                                    Ephesians 5:1-21

Gifts:

Use for God’s ultimate glory and manage well; strengthen church and be a light. Serve in the church, offer to host bible study sometime; encourage others around me.

1 Peter 4:10

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Personal:



Sharpen skills, stay in shape, continue blogging, read others blogs and learn new things. After I have done everything else, may I be able to take time for sanity, in order to keep going in other priorities.

Hebrews 10:5-7, 36

Phil. 3:13-14

The ways I want to accomplish these things (my goals):

 

God: Early rising at his feet of reading, worshiping and praying.

Husband: Respond lovingly and gently; serve him first; do not nag; show respect; give lots of grace


Children: Get home in order so I can focus more on my child than my house’s state; plan creatively; read and soak up wisdom


Home: Work hard and put off lazy feelings and complaining; put family before self and clean home for them.


Others: Make time for friends/girls in squadron, have intentional conversations instead of flippant, serve them by offering to take kiddos while they refresh.


Gifts: Serve in the church, offer to host bible study sometime; encourage others around me.


Personal: After I have done everything else, may I be able to take time for sanity, in order to keep enduring within other priorities.

I'm sorry this post is so short this morning, but I really do need to get to the other priorities on this list.. especially since Andrew is coming home tonight! Yey!
 
Yes, that's right, Andrew Update: He took off an hour ago (8:00am my time, 1:00 his time) and he should be back in Alaska by 6:00pm tonight! I was glad to hear, because communication has been very difficult lately (the Ipad was really not meant for long distance communication-- all of the internet options at the Air Force Inns he stays at require you have an internet plug... thus, it made communication difficult when he had to rely on the very finicky wi-fi)-- o well! Lesson learned and now he is coming home. Pray for his safe arrival.
 
Before I go though, I can leave you with the projects I am very close to finishing:
 
This is going to be our hall locker for shoes, jackets and purses:

 This is our media center (which will be painted white) with the locker again:

This will be a little organzational kitchen desk I will use to store our computer, bills, etc on.

Well, that's all for now! Time to get to work!!

Have a wonderful day learning how to sort priorities as God leads you.

Day 4: A Place to Put Your Feet Up

Well, good morning!

Eli and I have been enjoying our “banana pancake day”: waking up late and enjoying some sunshine from the kitchen, not in a rush to do anything! It has been down-right pleasant.

This morning’s challenge was to make your home a place for you to put your feet up in. Inviting that comfort level into your house and making a welcoming place for people to come is what are our houses are for! I do hope we can recover from our military move soon in order to be able to that.

My challenge for myself is to invite people into my home REGARDLESS of its cleanliness level. I have so many goals for myself before this baby comes and before my husband comes back that I forget even to let the Lord to come into my home…. The home of my heart.

This morning, as he was speaking to me, I read from Isaiah 25-26 and found these verses a comfort, a place I could put my spiritual feet up and enjoy the Lord!

“For you have been a stronghold to the poor,

a strong hold to the needy in his distress,

a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat….

 

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

A feast of rich food, a feast of aged wine…

And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast

Over all the peoples,

The veil that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever;

And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

And the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

For the Lord has spoken.

You keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on you,

Because he trusts in you.

Trust in the Lord forever,

For the Lord God is an everlasting rock…

 

The path of the righteous is level;

You make level the way of the righteous.”

Isaiah 25: 4,6-8; 26:3, 7

Amen! We do have a place of trouble (especially for all of my family and friends back on the east coast who are dealing with tornados—you have a place to run!) and we do have a Savior that loves to celebrate over us! That is a great thing to come to knowledge with—not only did he love us well while he was here, he died to save us and still actively cares for us to this very day. When God loves, he goes beyond himself: it goes out to us all. What a God we serve! We can trust in someone like that. We can confident before this God that we have been forgiven and dearly loved. Jesus, come and dwell in the home of my heart all the day long…. Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation (Isaiah 25:9b).

Baby update: Speaking of rejoicing and being glad in him, I am rejoicing over the little baby girl I carry today. I don’t know why today of all days, but maybe its because she has been more active! I can feel the kicks when I put my hand on my stomach—which is super cool (before when I put my hand on my tummy, the kicks would disappear! Little stinker!)

However, I don’t know about you, but I was comparing the size of my belly from week 13 to now (week 21/22 weeks) and I really hope its normal to be this small: It seems I really haven’t made much progression, but I could be TOTALLY wrong.. I don’t know: what do you think??

Oh Dad and Mom! We just got a sweet and yummy Easter package! HA! THANK YOU!!!

 Can you tell he likes it just a little too much?? Haha!

 And yes, I have already consumed two cookies and two eggs filled with peanut M&Ms! SOOOO Bad!! But so yummy ;)

 Loving this dish towel! Thank you!!

Andrew Update: He is still in Japan... and living it up! He has explored the island and snorkeled while he has been there! I am anxious for him to get back though... for two honest reasons: I miss him and I am TOTALLY jealous! Haha! Still don't know when he will leave the ground, but I will keep you updated!

 

I guess that is all I have to share today. Even if you won’t be having guests over anytime soon, remember to invite Him who is always knocking in, because he loves you!

Day 3—10 Ways to Give Life to Your Home

Man, it feels good to sit down for a moment….

So yes, it's been a crazy day and I need a breath of fresh air, for my heart and my lungs!

                          Isn’t this a refreshing sight? This picture was taken at 9:30pm.

  

 Beautiful, huh? This was taken off our front deck.

Ok, so now that my lungs have been refreshed, let’s move on to the heart.

I apologize for getting a late start on this post. It has been a day of inconsistencies—and that is bound to happen once in a while when you are only able to talk to husband on weird Japan time, then not get to bed until LATE, then wake up in a rush… Not a preferable way to start the day, but hey, you have to be okay and roll with these kind of challenges in our crazy lifestyle sometimes.
Speaking of challenges, today’s challenge was a bit of an expansion on yesterdays: Being a life giver!


Here is what the author suggests as ways to bring life into your home (I added some questions that might provoke you to apply these suggestions):


1) Retrain that tongue of yours to be ENCOURAGING, COMFORTING, and EDIFYING!


• Can you identify the times more negative comes out that positive? If you can, that’s great! Now you can pray that you catch them in the moment and tweak it to a more positive note, by God’s grace!


2) Let your words be grace-filled towards your husband and children


• If you were to mock a conversation of you and your husband/child, what does your tone of voice sound like and how do they walk away from your conversation? Are they encouraged? Does their face reflect a kind of hope that we have after coming away from being before the Lord?


3) Make the home a place of sanctuary so mistakes and sins are met with love and hope.


• When your child/husband are bearing the troubles of the day, can you lovingly put aside the things on your schedule and tend to them properly?


4) Decorate to make it a place of beauty (Remember: beauty raises life above mere existence)


• I know the areas in my house that need DEFINITE beautification!! But it doesn’t mean you have to shovel out your savings to accomplish that! One sight that I love to use is Tipjunkie.com. Great ideas there—and super frugal!


5) Develop cleaning habits, skills and clutter control—reduces stress!


• Where are your messiest areas?? I know mine usually fall in the downstairs area and the kitchen… shesh!


6) Face angers, anxieties, fears and depressions with the Lord and ask him to replace those emotions with faith and hope: helps our keep the mental/spiritual/emotional aspect of home healthy!


• For me, this is getting in the word and learning to apply it in these situations in whatever way I can- scripture memory is a good start, so is worship music


7) Plan regular times away from home to rejuvenate and regain perspective.


• This can also be a basic walk or an outing with a friend/ by yourself. Keeps you sane in my opinion!


8) Persevere in planning fun activities for your family on weekends or ordinary weekdays.
 • I fail HORRIBLY in this. Partially because we have very little consistency in our lives right now… if you do a good job at this, you should share the ideas!!


9) Play praise/worship music to lift everyone’s spirits (Remember how King Saul was also refreshed in the same way when David played worship music for him? Yea, same affect today.)


10) Ask the Lord: What areas of my home are causing stress or dwelling in spiritual/emotional/mental “deadness”? What can I do to bring light to those places instead to make them a place of refuge?


For better direction, why not ask your family what makes them feel the most loved when it comes to the home?

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.”

Isaiah 58:10-11

This has been an encouraging and thought provoking exercise for me. I hope it encourages you to pick out the areas that need a good spring cleaning as well! One of the areas I cannot WAIT to give life to is little baby girl’s room! Right now, it is quite the storage facility, but I cannot wait to change this.

Yes, it needs A LOT of help! Here are some of the ideas I have for it:

Isn't this the cutest?? I LOVE the curtains and want to make some just like it!

The colors that she mixed and matched were just what I have been looking to do as well--

It's PERFECT!

My question is how do you make a little gig like this?? It's super cute, but I guess I would have to do some research on how to assemble it. Ashley Ann, you are truly a creative genius!

 Thus, this is my dream nursery (with my own tweaks and personal touches, of course!). I really love how this lady used the yellow/oranges and pinks! My plan would be to add some blues and yellows in there too, but overall, I really like the warm feel of this nursery (and in Alaska, you are happier with WARM ANYTHING!! Haha). If you are just loving this gals style, you can look her up. Here blog is called 'Under the Sycamore' and her name is Ashley Ann. Great ideas and more!

Well, that is about it. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow afternoon and another busy day, so I really need to cut it off here. If you get a moment, try to look over these questions and really pray on how to change and apply them. You and your family will not regret doing so.


So here’s to cleaning both the inside and the out!


Day 2-- Created to Give Life

...A peaceful, clean home :)



Yesterday was very productive and I am proud to say that I chugged along the day doing chores and paying bills with joy knowing that I am doing a work that will result in a fruitful produce! This morning I woke up to a clean home and was encouraged to know I had endured in my work, finishing the tasks I had made for myself.

                                            And today’s challenge is to become a life-giver!

“All women are life-givers… Life-giving is raising life above the level of mere existence.”

I think this challenge needs to be looked at with more depth as well.

First off, where do we get life?

Jesus tells us we get life from one source alone: Himself (John 14:6—‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.’) So our life comes from Christ’s sacrifice we celebrated on Sunday!

Secondly, how to we have it?

Since he now lives in us through the Spirit, he empowers us with this true life. We get it by relying on His work and sacrifice rather our own work. He depend on him for meaning and purpose that makes life make sense.

Thirdly, what do we do with it?

There are many ways! Once we realize where our life-giving is coming from, we can use it in:

• Our Words

• Our homes- decorating, meal prep, a peaceful atmosphere, hospitality, etc

• Education- our children, ourselves, and others

• Church—utilizing our gifts

• Socially— in our circles of friends, those we come in contact with, those we serve

• Heritage and traditions- enriching lives around us

“Who is woman? She is the redeemed life-giver, enlivened by the love of Christ and continuously renewed by Him as she nurtures others”—Barbara Mouser (Five aspects of a Woman)


As we get nearer daily to the time we will greet our little girl, I realize just how much I want to just give her life to the fullest, in our home and in Christ! I want her to have the most joy possible by realizing she has hope for the future when she puts her trust in Him who can be trusted.


My challenge today is to look around my home (sphere of influence—I like that! Haha) and see what I can bring to life for my family. Ironically, I have already started as I am building furniture! I have many plans for my home (as it will morph slowly into a personalized homey domain), but right now my focus is on the two places people will see most: our den and kitchen. I feel like making furniture that reflects our personalities and our preferences really makes our home feel like, well, home! Plus it has started to form in me a sense of hard work, endurance and appreciation.

Every time I work on my projects, I try to do it as carefully as possible with the resources I have been given, knowing that God took his time too and created something beautiful when He created us. It is a good simile to remember each time I pick up a project from where I left off. I can’t wait to tell my family about all God taught my heart through this trade!

Today I do have quite a busy day so I really need to get going and get into God’s word before it takes off on me!


Oh, an Andrew update: He was supposed to be in Singapore last night (just so you know, I told most of you all he was going to the Philippines when it instead is Singapore!), but because of maintenance issues, it only got to Kadena Air Base in Japan. I don’t know what the plan will be from here, but be praying that whatever happens, the crew gets safely to their next destination.


That’s all for today: Be blessed and may He be glorified in the way you give LIFE!



Day 1: Why do I want a clean house??

Messy, cluttered table...

..and even messier living room with a dirty dog who just tracked mulch and dirt all over the kitchen/living room after getting into our garden for the second time in the last two days...

...Sigh..

So why do I want a clean house?

Hmm.. Not intended to be a deep question, but let's look at that question in a more thought provoking angle.

(However, the pictures should be enough for you to wonder why I should even start contemplating such a simple question instead of cleaning my messy home!)

The challenge today was to think of WHY I clean my house and to make a mission statement with supportive bible verses to encourage me in this very undesirable task.

Here is what I came up with:

"To manage a place of peace and sanitation to better acutely tend my family's needs and not hesistate to invite guests into our home; to form a sense of diligence and build up endurance by creating a sense of belonging in the work of creating a 'home' in our military lifestyle; and finally, strengthening  my ability to be content and grateful in any circumstance, thus filling my heart with joy, a deeper sense of purpose, and greater ambition."

The verses I used to support my mission statement are Phillipians 4:11-13, Proverbs 31 and Titus 2:4-5.


I am not only excited about getting to work this morning, but encouraged that I am doing this with a purpose that is deeper than just sanitizing my living place for the second time this week (though that is enough of a reason to get me going!).

Looking forward to praying more about this throughout the day!

Until then, time to get to work in the kitchen before Andrew gets on Skype to chat a while from Japan.

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know howto abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret to facing plenty, hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." --Phil. 3:11-13