My First Sale!

YEAH!!!  I sold my first sign at school today!   Remember this one?

I sold one, AND someone else asked to have another one made!  Yippee!  And on Saturday, I will post some in my etsy store for you all, too!

We are going to go see this on Saturday to celebrate.

Well, we may actually be going to see it because I made it all week without doing any of the things that irritate my husband (except for one accidental slip-up when I tickled him a little while we were watching television when I came home from work, which my husband forgave because I started crying when I realized what I did).  But still!  We are going to see it on Saturday and I can't wait!

Plan B Anyone? (Subtitled: i am not baker)

I am so thankful that God only operates on a Plan A policy. . .  That is the comfort I need on my days where I am shifting to Plan B, and Plan C, and Plan D.

I just had one of those days.  I offered to make a cake for my little sister for her friend's birthday.  This was the perfect opportunity for my to try this out like I had been wanting to for so long!

So, I read the directions on Thursday night and then got the supplies on Friday morning while I was running other errands for the household.  Ummm. . .

(SIDEBAR:  Yah.  You may have noticed that I only post pictures of our dinners.  That is because we rarely eat dessert.  I think I have baked MAYBE four times in our marriage.)

Let's just say they weren't kidding when they said it was rated difficult.  I pa-shawed that when I was skimming the recipe.  I've got a Master's degree; who are they kidding?

Needless to say, my degree is apparently not in baking nor is it in reading carefully.  I neglected to notice that the recipe takes like 6 hours to make!  I noticed this after I had baked the cake layers and when I had about thirty minutes until I had to leave to deliver the cake.

Oops.

I was thinking, how important can it be that you freeze between every layer?  That's just a suggestion.

Five layers in, as the orange layer is cracking and the green layer is sliding out from between the blue and yellow- I am thinking it is pretty important.  More importantly, I'm thinking Plan B.

Thankfully, there was a grocery store on the way to the party.

And my friend, Paul, and his wife Alyssa were more than happy to enjoy a little Plan A with us later that night.

All in all, while it wasn't party worthy, it was still pretty tasty!  Pretty AND tasty.

Oh yah, by the way.  Here is what it was supposed to look like! 

Amanda, I am not even joking- you are my baking HERO!

My Dominion

 I started reading the book Womanly Dominion awhile back when the girls over at Girl Talk picked it for their book club.  In my opinion, every Christian woman should read it.  I rank it with Feminine Appeal, and even ahead of The Excellent Wife.  It is both practical and immediately put-into-practiceable. . .  I recommend it for any one who is married, engaged, wants to be married or ever talks to married people.  I like it that much. . .

Anyway. . .  This week, I was going back and reading Chapter 3: Women Dominion Deceitfully Assaulted.  There was a section that really resonated.  The author's wife agreed- she even commented "That is so huge!  That strikes at the root!  That is why I struggled terribly during the early years of our marriage.  I just didn't get it!"  What could it possibly be that she blamed for single handedly causing strife in the beginning of her marriage- which radically changed her marriage when she got it?

She met someone who showed her to embrace the truth that she is her husband's helper.  That's it.  That's her role, and her primary way to bless God and make an impact in his kingdom.  From sun up to sun down, her job is to bless him and do him good.  Seem daunting?  Need help?   Need a plan?

We have the perfect Step by Step guide laid out in scripture.  The truth of the Proverbs 31 wife helped the author's wife, and provides one of my primary models for how to establish my marriage:

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find? 
       She is worth far more than rubies.
 ¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her 
       and lacks nothing of value.
 ¹² She brings him good, not harm, 
       all the days of her life.
 ¹³ She selects wool and flax 
       and works with eager hands.
 ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, 
       bringing her food from afar.
 ¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark; 
       she provides food for her family 
       and portions for her servant girls.
 ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; 
       out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
 ¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously; 
       her arms are strong for her tasks.
 ¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, 
       and her lamp does not go out at night.
 ¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff 
       and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
 ²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor 
       and extends her hands to the needy.
 ²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household; 
       for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
 ²² She makes coverings for her bed; 
       she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
 ²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate, 
       where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
 ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, 
       and supplies the merchants with sashes.
 ²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
       she can laugh at the days to come.
 ²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, 
       and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
 ²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household 
       and does not eat the bread of idleness.
 ²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; 
       her husband also, and he praises her:
 ²⁹ "Many women do noble things, 
       but you surpass them all."
 ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
       but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
 ³¹ Give her the reward she has earned, 
       and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

If we want to be a Proverbs 31 wives, it starts with each of us, right now.  Accepting our role, and the duties associated with it.  Satan's lie is that we as wives are victims, that the grass is always greener on the other side.  "If only I were single. . .  If only I had a different husband. . .  If only I were not working. . .  If only I had a child. . ."  If you want to be a good wife- start now.  Be your husband's helper as the Bible intended, and embrace your husband for who he is and not who you want him to be.  Memorize Proverbs 31, and repeat it's truth to yourself when Satan wants to tell you a lie. . . 

***

 

PS  You all convinced me.  I am A) keeping the hat and B) going to start loading my signs in my etsy store this weekend.  I will post a link after I get a few in there.  Also, if you have requests or want a custom sign let me know!  Especially if you have a certain Christmas song or hymn you would like, or colors to match a room, or a Bible verse.  I started today by putting some signs in the work room at school to see if I had any takers.  Any that don't sell by Saturday, I will post in my store!

'Cause I Can

We had Wednesday off of school for Veteran's Day. What do you do with a day off smack in the middle of the week?

Well, if you are me, and your husband works for an airline. . .

You go visit your sister in Denver!


I left on Tuesday night and took a late flight. We spent Wednesday sleeping in and then going to brunch. . .



. . .Walking around the park.


. . . Checking out squirrels.




. . .Watching the geese.



Pretty much just having a great time with my sister. They took me back to the airport in time to make it home for dinner with my husband. Can't beat that!


What a fun way to spend a day off!

PS Did you see my hat in the picture above? Tell me the truth- does it look silly? The jury is still out on it, but I think I love it. . .

Everybody's Doing It

So, I have been thinking about starting an etsy store. My wonderful husband designed on for me and everything. Lots of people have told me that I should start one for my signs.

What do you think?

If you have one, is it worth it?

If you shop there, what makes you buy things?


These are the signs I have made so far. . .

We were thinking of charging $15-$25 based on what I have seen at craft fairs. Thoughts?


Thanks, friends, you are great help for making decisions!

Two for One. . .

I sometimes get sad.  Most of the time, I am a pretty happy go lucky girl and not much phases me.   I have such a great life filled with blessings, and I that I am the recipient of only God's goodness.  I treasure the knowledge that I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.  But sometimes, the weight of this world, the consequences of sin- they weigh me down.  

I have a couple songs I really like when I get down.  They help pick me right back up.  I thought I'd share them with you today, so you can find your job in the truth of God.

Valley Song

Jars of Clay

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I'm crying out to you

Chorus
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death like a Gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear you aren't listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness and the hunger
For a faith that assures

Chorus x2

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

Blessed be the Name

Matt Redman

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow

Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name

When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
Blessed be your name

When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be

Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name

On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

My Sweet Husband

Those of you who know my sweet husband in real life know many things to be true about him. He loves football. He hates vegetables. He loves UFC Fighting. He hates salad.

I learned something knew about him today. He hates water. How much you ask?

We normally have tea and juice of some type in our refrigerator. I don't drink either (Diet Coke anyone?), so from time to time when I am not paying attention, we run out and Mike asks me to get or make more. . .

Well, this morning, I came down and was getting ready to go run errands. It was about ten in the morning, and I noticed Mike was eating a hot dog for breakfast (not unusual) and also drinking a Corona (slightly unusual). I commented, but didn't really question (I drink Diet Coke from sun-up past sun-down; who am I to judge?). I didn't think any more about it and went on my merry way.

It was not until I came home later in the day and was putting things away that I noticed that we were out of tea and juice. My husband drank beer for breakfast rather than have to drink water. . . Slightly troubling, but he is so sweet that he just didn't want to bother me to ask to make him some tea when I was so busy.