Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day.  

A day filled with roses, flowers, chocolates....and Love.  

Our family celebrates Valentine's Day differently then most folks.  We take turns pairing up to cook the family a special dinner!  We hang curtains all around the kitchen so no one knows what is being made.  We decorate the table and make beautiful menus/place cards.  Then we all dress up and enjoy an evening with our family (grandparent's included!).

A HUGE reason I love this is it really focuses on one of the true meanings of Valentine's Day- love.  Love is not about getting what I want, but showing others how much I love them.  I value this family tradition and plan to continue it for as long as I can! 

What is your Valentine's tradition?

Now, while I am not an overly romantic person, it is hard to see this day.  If it I let my mind linger, I feel stabs of pain that I don't have someone to share this day with...yet.  I mean, who (being single) doesn't?!?  Truly deep down we want to.  Here is a great blog post by a friend that I thought really hammered in some good points about the day.  Some I hadn't thought about but make so much sense.

If you are a courageous person, read it here.  And great job to Desarae!  It was a hard post to write, but truth was in every word!  Thank you for sharing it with us!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Rebecca

Why Hello 2014

Well, I laugh that I really have not spent as much time blogging as I thought I would.  Life I guess has just been beyond me! haha!  I am looking forward to a new year with me setting aside the time to blog more.  I have millions of blog posts floating around my head just waiting to be snatched up and written.  

I think part of my problem was the concern of hurting or wounding others with some of my thoughts.  While that is a burden every blogger should take into consideration, I am not going to be hindered by it this year.  Instead I will ask God for a special grace of words to put my thoughts in a loving way.  

So, that is what is going on in my life!  I am looking forward to January being my time to really sit down and decide what "things" are my top priorities of the year.  There are several activities that I want to do that thus decisions need to be made on them.  That is sometimes the hardest part- there are so many good things out in the world that you have to decide what is best for you.

What does your 2014 look like?

Rebecca

Fun Pinterests

A few Pinterests I have that make me laugh every time...... Enjoy!

And my favorite.......

Have a Fantastic Day!

~Rebecca

Happy Birthday!

20 is a big age and one that feels like you are finally "making it".  Sarah, though, has never needed to "make it".  She shows it in her daily life.  Some words that describe her and that I love about her?

Drama Queen
Lovely
Spunky
Fun
Fiesty
Sweet
Discerning
Kind
Loving
A Good Friend
Fiddler
Violinist
Guitarist
Pianist
Singer
Writer
Daughter
Sister

and last but not least,

Godly Woman.

Happy Birthday to you!  I pray that this year is wonderful and that you grow even more like your Lord and Savior!

~Remember I will always pick you up when you fall down........after I stop laughing!

A New Day Has Dawned!

This was the devotional I found in my inbox from Mark Hamby today.  I thought it a great post full of food for thought!  How privileged we are!  God is the ONLY God who has Risen from the grave and conquered death!  He is Risen!

Have you ever considered why Mary Magdalene was the first to enter the tomb after Jesus's resurrection? Early in the morning she approaches the tomb; she stoops as she enters and weeps. There she sees two angels, one at the foot of where the body had lain, and the other at the head.

The mercy seat in the OT had also had two angels, that were made of gold, one on the left and the other on the right. The priest, the only one allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, sprinkled blood upon the mercy seat. Even he entered with fear and trepidation, because if he did not follow the specific requirements laid out by God, he would die. They may not have realized it at the time, but they were enacting one of the most important scenes yet to occur in human history.

And who would have thought that the first to enter the holiest of holies in the NT would be, not a righteous ceremonial cleansed priest, but a woman who previously dirty, unclean, and whorish, whose actions give us now a picture of true holiness. And there as she stoops, weeping, you have the two angels, one on the right, the other on the left, and the blood stained clothes of Christ left behind in the center.
 

This once-defiled woman is now stooping in a posture of humility and worship in the Holy of Holies, replacing the privileged priest. A new day has dawned! The doors have now been opened to come into His presence. All who are willing to stoop in a posture of humility are welcome.

Blogs I have recently Enjoyed

I stumbled upon a couple of blogs/blog posts that have been very good.   The first is a blog you should just follow.  This woman has a love for singles and being an encouragement to them.  The two posts that have been neat to me are;

Why Women and Men Can't be Friends
(Watch the video at the bottom- it is pretty eye-opening!)
and
Single By Choice

These blog posts have brought up questions I haven't thought about- which is a good post!

The other blog post is by Lady Abigail at Lady Abigail's Soapbox.  It is on the;
patriarchal movement and our daughters.
Lady Abigail really wrote this post well- it is a controversial subject and can easily step on toes.  Although she didn't waver from her opinion, she said it in a very gracious manner- something few bloggers do!  She did a great job of presenting what she has seen over the years.  I value her words as she is someone who has and is living them out.  Rather than someone who has had no experience in the matter.

Go read them and leave a (nice!) comment letting them know what you think! (That is what we all want- lots of comments!!)  Then come back and tell me what you thought of the posts.  :)

~Rebecca

Make 'Em Laugh!

If you are wanting a few laughs, make sure you are comfortably seated and watch these videos!  They have become our favorites in a short time!

The first is a comedian, Mark Lowry.  Just hilarious!  Some comedians tend to mock others to be funny and I don't appreciate that.  Mark Lowry doesn't mock (that I've seen), but rather puts things as they are- using himself as an example.  He absolutely loves his momma, which always puts stars for me when they love their family.  :)  He never married and just enjoyed being a gift of laughter to others and using his gifts for God.

Ever heard the song "Mary Did You Know"?  Well, here is the author.  :)

This is my favorite video of his- because it is too true!   It is clean, so grab your siblings to watch.  You know they will hear it and come running right at the middle anyway, so just start out with them!!!! Oh- and your mom because she will appreciate it the most!  Introducing Mark Lowry in "Mommas Had Enough!"

My second video is one we just found today.  We have already watched several of their videos and love them!  Too cute!  Again, these are very clean and your whole family will enjoy them.  :)

Well, let me know what you think!  My family has really enjoyed them and has to almost say "only 3" or else we are online all day long watching them!

~Rebecca