Titus 2 Tuesday - Second Mothers

What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)

Write your own "Titus 2 Post" (linking back here somewhere within the body of your post) and enter your link below!

Today I wanted to share someone who was deeply impactful during my growing up years, Jan. She was the mother of my best friend (Heather) and our families were close. They welcomed me over at their house day or night and I often celebrated holidays (like Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.) with their family. As I reflect though, two things stand out in my memory.

1. I knew Jan loved me (through the ups and downs of those formative years)

2. She used her kitchen amazingly during our teen years.

What teen doesn't want to cook fun things over at someone elses house? :) While canning vegetables was hated in my own home; I was happy to freeze blueberries over at Jan's house! (Gotta love teenagers!)

She was a wonderful cook and our families cooked many things differently so I enjoyed making dinners, desserts, the renowned family rolls, etc. Not only did I learn a lot about cooking (and enjoyed eating!); but Jan made the most of those late night talks. We discussed many things over the years: Spiritual issues, home and family, boys, life dreams and goals. She invited me to put my views and ideas on the table. She may not always agree with me (and said so), but I knew she spoke in love and wanted the best for my life. Many a night ended after midnight with the sink full of dishes. Those times were invaluable to me in the formation of my own beliefs, thoughts and life desires. While I am sure her main desire was conversing and engaging her own two daughers, she opened her home and heart to me and I will be forever grateful.

Now, as a mother myself, it is my desire to invite my children's friends over with open heart (and refrigerator!) I beleive it begins even now in these younger years as I open my kitchen to my own children and invite them to cook with me.

Thank you Jan. God used you and your family mightily in my life. Thank you for loving me and opening your home to me. I don't believe I will ever forget the Friday nights eating pizza and chips while watching, "The Princess Bride;" making Cream Puff Dessert, chicken with broccoli, and enjoying your laughter as we played games and talked while waiting for many a delicious morsel to cook in the oven. I love you.

What have you learned from another Christ following woman? ALL of us can learn something from one another. Join in and then go read these posts!
**Please write your "Titus 2 Post" linking back to this post first and then enter your link below.**

Marital Moments Issue 30 - Of Phone Calls and Sticky Notes

I was going to begin this post with an "Ode to a Traveling Spouse," but sadly, poetry still escapes me. I will however, attempt to paint a picture for you with words so you can understand where I am as I begin this post.

Night has surrounded the house. All is quiet and still. I hear the serenity of rhythmic breathing and an occasional hint of snoring from my oldest son's room. The pendulum of our grandfather clock that resides in our entry way has paused; hoping silently that someone might wind it back to life again. My home, that was so orderly just a few short days ago, has managed to experience some sort of sunami in the past 48 hours between the tides of life rushing in and out. I am worn, ready to retire myself, but am still desiring to create a welcoming atmosphere for my equally fatigued spouse who has been on a journey.

A trying, emotionally exhausting venture where he transformed from a mere child to the encouraging adult that his parents desperately needed. He is coming home; where it is my desire that he can be restored, filled, and rest. If only for a few short hours before he will depart again into the throws of this life.

I turn on two lamps and an overhead light on the dimmest settings. The downstairs, which had formerly been completely dark except for the glow of my laptop, now seems warmer, inviting. It is a beginning.

My cell phone rings, "Thank you, thank you.." the sweet recording of our littlest one's voice captured and now featured as a ring tone. Although it is rarely loud enough for me to hear when a call is coming in, I would miss a thousand calls before erasing it. It is him, my beloved, and he is delayed. I am encouraged to close my eyes in rest. However, I want my spouse to be greeted upon his arrival.

Fatigue is beginning to win. I resort to greeting my spouse with words. Many a meaningful word has found it's way onto sticky notes around our house. Timely Scriptures or encouragements, expressions of love, gratitude. This time however, all I seem to be able to write is, "I am aware...and I am sorry." The physical disorder of my home and a sticky note aren't going to cut it. I cannot seem to allow myself not to address the state of our home and it is not communicating the warmth that I desire.

So I stay awake, offering myself instead of a mess and I pray that although I fear I don't have much to offer at this late hour that it will be enough. Enough to show that he is loved, that he has a home to return to that is more than a physical structure, that although there are toys and shoes strewn about the floor, that his life has order, structure and meaning. "Bless my spouse Lord, please fill him up...I don't have much to offer him right now, but I pray that you will multiply my efforts...in Jesus Name, Amen."

(This is a re-run of Marital Moments Issue 7; we are traveling this week and there hasn't been much time for posting.)

Scrapbooking Hope

I would really love to be an amazing scrapbook-er (if there is such a word!). It seems so many of you all are. I have all the "gear." I actually completed one of the small books for my daughter the year after we had moved here to VA; but it never seems I have enough time or space to get it all organized and done. Shutterfly has become my version of photo books for now.

But there is just something about the handmade isn't there? My daughter adores her album that I hand made for her. Just last night we were looking through it together. I am not one of those people who can just whip a page together. I agonize over which photos should be used, where they should go and how to lay it all out on the page. When I look through her album now I can remember painstakingly putting it together. One of the photos that I went back and forth on to include:

This is from the burial of my father. (I am the brunette holding my son's hand & my sister is kneeling. My daughter had just placed her rose petals on the casket. I'm not even really sure who took this picture, but I believe it was my best friend from growing up.) As you can see, it was an emotional time for all of us - even my children clearly understood that Grandpa was no longer with us. I debated back and forth about adding this picture; but it was a big part of our life. He was a big part of our lives. And it was a photo book of that year of her life so in the end, I included it. I left the page simple. The dates of his birth and death and his favorite Scripture.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

You see, my dad was a factory worker who had gone through a bitter divorce (after having two children) when he met my mom (who was 16). They got married and had my sister and I. Life had not been easy. My parents marriage was rocky. Then someone at his "shop," as he called it, showed him a video and shared the hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ with him. And he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. His heart was changed. His mind renewed. His life forever altered. 2 Corinthians 5:17 became his life verse - his testimony.

Growing up, I remember how he would tear up (this is a man's man mind you) singing songs like, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace" at church. He knew this grace first hand. He had experienced the love, forgiveness, and he believed that his Redeemer lived.

He died close to Easter. But the joy in that is the immediate reminder of the hope that this season brings. Jesus died on the cross as payment for each of our sins. What separates Jesus from other "wonderful men," is the fact that not only was He the Son of God, but that He rose from the dead 3 days later. He (through the power of God) defeated death and made a way for us to one day be in the presence of the almighty and holy God.

If you are interested in reading my personal testimony of Salvation through Jesus Christ, click here. If you have questions or would like for me to pray for or with you, please e-mail me at ateachableheart@gmail.com.

(As a side note, I am not interested in debating issues of faith. I understand that not everyone will believe as I do and that matters of faith can stir up strong emotion. If you have sincere questions they are welcome here.)

Rejoicing in the Hope of Easter!

Shanda

Titus 2 Tuesday - Be Real

What have learned from another woman this week? (or ever)

Write your own "Titus 2 Post" (linking back here somewhere within the body of your post) and enter your link below!

Today I will be sharing my friend, Kristen, with you. She is one of those naturally likable, cool, and real people that just make you want to spend more time with her. I met Kristen in MOPS. (Mothers of Preschoolers) She is a nurse by trade and just has the gift of holding any baby and having them be completely content to have her hold them. After I gave birth to my last son, it was almost a closure moment for me to bring him to MOPS and to have her hold him.

The thing that I learned from Kristen was the power of being real. She is one of those people who is attractive enough to make you slightly intimidated until you see her interact with someone else or she speaks to you. She diffuses that "female competition" thing that often happens by being humble, genuinely caring, and real. She could easily pull off the "I have it all together look;" but she chooses instead to be relatable, real and open.

She has spoken to our MOPS group a couple of times. The first time I remember her sharing with us, she said, "Going to marriage counseling is o.k.." The second time she shared about Post Partum Depression. While I wasn't struggling with either of those things in those moments; the mere fact that she was willing to stand up and be open about deeper topics resonated deep within me because I knew that was something God was speaking to my heart about and it was so refreshing to see someone doing it with beauty and grace. Being real doesn't mean that you have to share every, in depth, and ugly detail. It just simply means that you are willing to admit that you aren't perfect. You've walked paths of darkness and struggle, and you have embraced the fact that none of us are perfect; it is only by God's grace that we are walking at all.

She is easy to get to know and be around because you don't feel like you have to pretend to have it all together yourself. It is easy to open up and you feel safe asking questions that you may not have even asked your sister or mother about before because you know she's not going to judge you.

I absolutely LOVE the group VOTA's song, "Honestly." Here are a few of the lyrics...

"If you don't see the real me, you won't see what mercy's done


If you don't see my weakness you won't see what love has won.


If you don't see the distance from the darkness to the Son, you won't see. Honestly...


Let the light escape from these holes inside my soul,


When I start to break, then grace begins to flow


Let the light escape from this wounded place inside my soul... Honestly."


God has used Kristen in my life; along this path of mine to allow others to see my weaknesses. To allow them to see God's mercy, grace, and love through the holes inside of my own soul. It is my prayer today that she will inspire you to be a little more "real" today too...

I love you girl.

What have you learned from another Christ following woman? It can be something practical and simple that we can all use in our day to day lives or something deeper - ALL of us can learn something from one another. Join in and then go read these posts! **Please write your "Titus 2 Post" linking back to this post first and then enter your link below.**

Do you know the Secret?

Today my blog is being featured with an on-line blog group, The Secret Is In The Sauce! If you have never heard of them before, click here to learn more. It is a fun way to get connected with fellow bloggers of diverse backgrounds. SITS was created by the fabulous duo: Heather and Tiffany - who truly do an amazing job connecting us all and getting the word out about wonderful give aways and new products.

Regardless of how you came upon my blog today, Welcome! Make yourself at home. Grab your favorite beverage and feel free to stay awhile! Like most of us who blog, I enjoy comments and feedback and I will do my absolute best (even with Spring Break less than a week away!) to visit each of you who take the time to read and comment.

Some posts that you may enjoy...

If you have a daughter - Butterfly Struggles

If you have a son - Soul Stitches

If you are looking for some practical "tips" - Never Return an Empty Dish, The Traveling Spouse, & Giving and Receiving

Faith posts: God Provides the Worms, Becoming Golden, That's Where the Power Is

Thank you so much for stopping in!

Dear Designer of Low Rise Jeans,

I have a confession to make. I have been harboring evil thoughts about you. So, in the spirit of making things right and letting go of my frustrations, I write. I really did try to see who you were. Ask.com, Google.com, none of the .coms seem to know exactly who the mastermind behind the low rise actually is. If I were a betting person, I think I'd bet that you were male...or maybe a female with a cool tatoo that you wanted to be able to expose without looking too obvious; but I digress.

While I understand that you must be thrilled with your successes (and financial gains); many (MANY!) of us struggle with covering our backsides appropriately. It seems that your design is quite popular and it is getting more and more difficult to find a pair of jeans with a more standard "rise."

You see, I have a two year old. A very active little guy that I bend over often to pick up (occasionally it looks a bit more like a wrestling match) and when I am trying to take care of a bruised knee or get on his level to correct him (as it really needs to be done), I have difficulty bending or squatting without flashing the world. In my younger years I probably would not have minded quite so much, but I am a mother of three now still working on getting a few extra pounds off. I understand that you may not have children so this may just be an oversight in the design process. Surely your "target consumer" was a tad younger and possibly a bit more in shape.

To add a bit of insult to injury, the last time I went to try on jeans and asked for a slightly higher "rise," the sales girl (a mere child who is less than 1/2 of my age), smiled and put her hand on my arm and said, "Sweetheart, you just need to go on down a few stores to V.S. and pick up some low rise or thong underwear. They are very comfortable!"

I'm also having some difficulty finding shirts that are long enough to compensate for the space difference between shirt and jeans. I know I am on the tall side, but now I'm also having to buy additional "undershirts" to wear under my normal shirts. (Thus, ultimately cutting into your profits...)

So I implore you to go back to the drawing board and try sketching a line of jeans with even a half of an inch or so more of a "rise." I do *heart* the "whiskered" look and also the flared bottoms that add height and slenderize the look of the thighs (well done there!!). Thank you for your time and considerations.

Very Sincerely,

Shanda

A Little Bit of Everything

I wanted to share a few really great posts that I have read in the past week or so that have touched me and I believe will bless you. I also have a couple of blog awards to thank people for and pass on...

Angie wrote this post titled "Canvas." It touched me on a lot of different levels.

Kathryn wrote this post on "The Power of Prayer"that is timely and thought provoking.

Pam wrote this post today titled, "Flying in the Dark" (as a part of "Word Filled Wednesdays") that was so simple and yet profound that I wanted to share it.

There are so many more that I have greatly enjoyed along the way, but I hope that you will take time now (or later on) to spend some time reading them.

Onto the AWARDS!


Shannon over at "Focused on the Center" blessed (surprised!) me with this award last week during our Titus 2 Tuesday posts. She is authentic, inspiring, and someone who I'd love to meet face to face one day.

For this award, you are supposed to:

1. Confess 5 things you are addicted to.
2. Pass the award on to 5 deserving bloggers.

My Second award was given to me (a long time ago - sorry for the delay!!!) from Dana over at "From Chaos to Grace." (Thank you Dana!!) I am so excited about what God is doing in Dana's life - He has BIG things planned for her photography I am sure! This award is for honesty and in Dana's words..."Not quite sure how the picture goes with the award, and if you are the one that made the award, my apologies, but again, the award is for honesty." ;)

For this award you are supposed to list 7 random facts about yourself and pass it on to 7 other people.

I have decided to combine the two awards...so I will list 7 random addictions and award 7 people BOTH AWARDS!! (How fun is that?!?)

So in no particular order...here are my "7 things."

1. Kisses and hugs from my Littlest One.

2. Green & Blacks Organic Chocolate with Caramel

3. Hearing Gentle Strength (middle child) & Beauty (daughter) giggle uncontrollably.

4. Bible Study (especially with Beth Moore - LOVE how God has blessed her with insight!)

5. Photography (although I am horrible at uploading my photos)

6. Time with my husband

7. Sweet Tea


The Seven people I am passing these awards on to:

1. Gretchen from "Jewels in My Crown Someday." I lurve me some Gretchen! She is real, open, witty, & my week just wouldn't seem complete anymore without reading one of her posts, comments or e-mails.

2. Lisa from "Soaked to my Soul." I've always loved the title of her blog, her love of life & Jesus, her authenticity, AND she is a gifted writer! To read the story that prompted the title of her blog, click here!

3. Rachel & Mr. Daddy from "Once Upon a Miracle." I am just getting to know Rachel & her husband. I love the dialogue between the two of them (often found in the comments!) Rachel has depth and beauty as she shares and both have wonderful senses of humor. Check out their "True Story Tuesday" meme.

4. Lora from "Take Me The Way I Am." I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lora over the past couple of months. She is creative (check out her etsy shop!), she values true friendship, and I appreciate her ability to embrace fully who she is in Christ.

5. Kelly from "Joan Of All Trades." I enjoy the Q & A she does with those who leave comments, her ability to laugh at herself (and her husband), and the strength and passion this woman embodies.

6. Jeneil from "Autism in a Word." Jeneil is one of those people that you can instantly become friends with. She shares her heart for her children, her love for her Savior, and she also has a great sense of humor!

7. Shelley from "I'm Changing My Name to Ouisa." Shelley shares my love of worship music, she loves being a mom, and her profile picture just makes me smile every time I see it.

*The down side of passing on awards is that there are SO MANY more people that I greatly enjoy and would love to keep on "passing" to...please know that I greatly appreciate all of you who comment on my blog and make this experience all the more meaningful to me. *