No Higher Calling

There is no higher calling according to the will of God, than for a woman to be a wife and a mother. She is designed to be a mother, a nurturer. Her success and worth are not rooted in her position on the corporate ladder, nor in her the shape of her body, nor the smoothness of her face. The measure of a woman lies in the extent to which she serves as the heart and soul of her home, her family. The world's plan, under the mask of feminism and incorrectly labeled as freedom, is in fact a crack in the foundation of family life. God's plan is for a woman to give her best and her all to her family and her home - to her husband and children. He has given her the strength, the creativity, the thriftiness, the love, the care, the attention to detail, the wisdom and the skill to run a household. It's no small job. And woman, wife, mother... is no small position.

1 Timothy 5:10
And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 3:20
The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

Titus 2:4-5
and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

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This post was inspired by the book I'm currently reading, Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free, for the Women of Hope summer bible study. Lie #20: A career outside the home is more valuable and fulfilling than being a wife and mother.

Squeaky Clean

The little guy loves his baths these days. This is a far cry from a few months ago. We caught his first "real" bath on video a few days after his umbilical stump fell off. He screamed through the whole thing. I felt like such an amateur, struggling to hold on to his slippery little body while fumbling with a wash rag. My whole family was watching, too. Fortunately my dad, who is amazing with babies and small children, was helping me. It was a proud moment for him, I think, to be a part of his first grandchild's first bath.

I've added bath time to his nightly routine - every other evening - as he approaches the age where we'll be able to put him down at the same time every night. He's still in newborn-mode, sleeping whenever his little internal clock tells him to. I see small changes from week to week; his naps are getting longer and he plays longer, too. He falls asleep a little earlier every night. I keep pushing the routine earlier and earlier, but it doesn't make too much of a difference. He's either ready to sleep or he's not. One of these days I expect it to click, and before long we won't remember nights without baths and bedtime stories.

There Is Time...

To do everything (that God has intended for me to do.)

I'm currently reading Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free for the Women of Hope summer bible study. I think I've reached the most critical chapter of the book for me personally, and that is Lies that Women Believe... About Priorities. Instantly, lie #18 stuck out like a sore thumb.

"I Don't Have Time to Do Everything I'm Supposed to Do."

Could this book be any more relevant to my current struggles? A few weeks ago, I cried while sharing the mountain I've been climbing both emotionally, physically and spiritually. My thought process was as follows:

It's an hourly struggle: 'what am I supposed to do with my time?' I have a million things I could be doing, but I don't know which is most important! Should I work (and try to make some money) or should I play with my son? Should I attempt to clean this house or should I watch a movie with my husband? Should I get the exercise I need or take a nap? Should I spend time in the Word or finish my assigned blog by midnight? At the end of the day, I feel like I have nothing accomplished and I'm still worried about the bank account.

DeMoss presents an entirely different perspective that is incredibly liberating!

"The Truth is that all I have to do is the work God assigns to me. What a freedom it has been for me to accept that there is time for me to do everything that is on God's 'to do' list for my day, for my week, and for my life!"

I need to drop everyone else's agenda and focus on what God has for me to do. Each season of life has its own set of priorities. It has become increasingly clear what my role is supposed to be, and I have learned to take my "to do" list to the Lord to have it cleaned out. When Micah falls asleep for his nap, I ask God, "What should I do with this time you've given me." Usually the important task at hand becomes clear. My Monday may not look the same as my Tuesday because of this. Sometimes dishes sit in the sink until the next morning, but I have a happy baby and a healthier walk with the Lord. I may not get to work on my blog until midnight (I write for Families.com), but it always gets done and we're eating healthier meals these days. I have eliminated the frustration I used to feel when my baby would wake up sooner than expected or need to be held more than usual. When this happens, the truth is clear in my mind: I am a mother, this is my highest priority right now. This is exactly what I should be doing with my time... right now.

As long as I am not wasting time and I am committing my plans to the Lord, I can be assured that I am accomplishing everything He has set out for me to do that day. I can rest easily at night in full confidence that I have finished all that was supposed to be finished.

Homemade Italian Salad Dressing

Last night I went to pull the dressing out of the fridge when I realized every single bottle had expired in March. Just goes to show you how long it's been since we've had salad... (either that or we were eating expired dressing.) Well I found a recipe online and I tweaked it a little bit. It was light, yet tasty - perfect for a summer salad. Plus, I already had all the ingredients in my fridge or pantry.

(Make sure you shake it well before you pour it on your salad.)

Combine the following ingredients in a jar and shake well:

• 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Oregano
• 1/3 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Dry Mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon Basil

Bubbles While You Sleep

How long will you blow bubbles in your sleep?
How many days do I have left to enjoy
Your tiny coos
Your tiny toes
The roundness of your tiny nose?
The weeks fly by
I watch you grow
Each morning you seem bigger still
My tiny one
My precious son
How many bubbles will you blow?

Hazelnut Cafe Frosting - Recipe

For my husband's birthday cake, I cut my buttercream recipe in half and gave it a twist:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 1/2 Cup Butter Flavored Crisco (shortening)
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 1 Teaspoon Hazelnut Syrup (Find it in the coffee section)
• 1/4 Cup Strongly Brewed Coffee (I used Folgers Caramel Drizzle)
• 2-3 Cups Powdered Sugar

Directions:

1. Beat butter and shortening on medium/high speed for ten minutes.
2. Beat in milk, hazelnut syrup, and coffee.
3. Gradually beat in powdered sugar.
4. Blend until smooth.

You can use more or less coffee according to your taste preference. This made more than enough to frost a 13x9x2 cake. It's delectable!