Happy Birthday Kylie!

My Kylie Bear! What can I say about you that people dont already know? You are so smart, and have a wonderful loving, giving heart.

Being the first born, you gave me a little more problems figuring out this whole mommy thing. But you have also been very patient with me and very loving and you tell me that it will be okay...you tell me not to worry and to just pray about it.

It is hard watching my little girl getting ready to really start school (homeschool) and deciding already that when you grow up you want to be a mommy and stay home and teach your kids.....I can only pray that you get to do that....that you get to accomplish your dreams. You make me feel really good about what I am doing as a momma and a teacher....when I really dont think I am doing all that great a job.

You love animals and hate to see anything hurt. Although you dont mind wanting to kill a deer like daddy. You are such a good mommy to your little dolls and you are a great Big Sister to Alaina and Jason!

And you cant wait to cook all on your own! You are so ready to grow up and I am not ready to let go.......

I pray that you have many more joyous years and that you are able to grow up and live your dreams....whatever they may be when you do grow up. I miss your baby years, and I am sure that in another 6, I will miss this year...but I am so glad that I get to share your years with you! I love you my Kylie Bear......my little "mommy"

Blessings
Crystal

Husband Encouragement and Up Early! And Happy Birthday Kylie!

Do you realize that we are over halfway through with the Husband Encouragement Challenge? But should we really ever be through.....We should encourage our husbands everyday! Not just because it is our job, but because we want to! How is the challenge coming for you?


Day Sixteen:
"And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a
helper comparable to him." Genesis 2:18
God says that it is not good for man to be alone. But the way some women criticize their
mates, the husbands may long for solitude. Be careful today not to criticize your mate,
but look for ways to encourage him personally and publicly.
Speaking of communication, does your husband communicate with you? God has made
you a companion and helper for your husband, and part of being "one flesh" with him is
the privilege of sharing and discussing personal needs and concerns. Thank God for
that wonderful gift. Thank your husband for communicating with you.
If your spouse does not communicate as you wish, look for ways that he communicates
that are normal for him - smiling at you, nodding his head, even a pleasant "grunt!" - and
then thank him for letting you know that he cares. Perhaps he needs to be lovingly
taught how to communicate. Be patient with him...and listen when he does speak.

Paul is not a very big speaker....Not saying anything negative trust me...He is the most loving caring man but he just is not a big talker. He communicates in other ways.....bringing me a snack or something speacial when he goes to town.....or coming in and helping with supper.....or helping with the house chores I have left to do (which I shouldnt have any left to do...) He holds my hand in the car...almost constantly, puts his hand on my back as we walk through a store or through a parking lot, sneaks little kisses throughout the day, calls me just to say I love you! So see, your husband does not have to talk to communicate with you.

I have been doing okay on getting up early. I have missed a few days but Paul has told me not to worry about it, just do what you can. I dont know why but the past few days, I have been exhausted and havent been able to get out of bed. I think I may have caught a little bug or something....because Kylie, the one who is always out of bed by 7 has been sleeping until 8 or until I wake her up....so I think either allergies or a bug has gotten us.

But I will keep trying!!!!

And later today, a birthday post to my Kylie Bear! She turns 6 today....6 Oh my Gosh where did the time go? Love You Kylie!

Blessings
Crystal

Misc....

Starting with the Husband Encouragement Challenge, I have a some Misc. stuff.


Day Twelve:
"With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."
Eph. 4:2
Part of the difficulty you may face as you continue in this 30-day challenge to encourage
your husband is that you really are struggling to find positive things to praise. Perhaps
the problem is not with your husband. Have you checked your own heart?
Sometimes we get disillusioned because of our own unreasonable or unrealistic
expectations (Prov. 13:12). It may not be that our mates are doing something wrong; it's
simply that we expect too much in some areas.
Our expectations must be met in God alone, and then we will have the right perspective
to ask God for the healing and grace we need to respond to others.
How sad that we give more grace to others than to those in our own homes. Today, try
to look at your husband through eyes of grace. Verbally thank your husband for what he
is already doing.

This was yesterdays Challenge. I know how difficult it is at times to think Positive and find things to praise your husband for....While I am not currently having a problem with this, I do need to thank him for it verbally and to show him more that I appreciate all that he does. I do however know of a young woman who is having problems with this and with blaming her husband for all the problems they do have, everything is his fault. While I have been there, and know what is going on, and I know how my situation was handled, I was wondering if any of yall have any suggestions and ideas for how to help her and him.

On the homeschool side of life, we are doing good! I have almost worked all my curriculum plans out, and am working on a daily and weekly schedule. The girls are really enjoying doing Starfall
I am reading over all my Charlotte Mason books. Whew...I never knew I could love to read a book about education....

I will post more soon over on my homeschool blog.

I am so ready for fall! We have our fall decorations in a tote in the girls closet, and everytime we open the closet door, we can smell the candles.....pumpkin pie, mulled cider, apple pie....yum. We are so ready for the cooler days of leaving the oven on with baking....

That is about all for today...sorry for the rambling.

Blessings
Crystal

Husband Encouragement Challenge

Have you ever thought about how many different ways that you tear your house down with your words? Actions? I finished up the book Biblical Womanhood the other night.....there was a chapter in it about how the foolish woman tears down her house..........I had never thought about how I tear down my house with my words. I know some of you are probably going to *gasp* at that but I never had. I was raised in a rebellious house so it never struck me as wrong to be sassy. I have gotten better over the last 6 yrs of marriage. My husband says that I am pretty submissive, and have really put a guard on my tongue.

But the book got me to thinking about what else I do that is foolish. I dont always just take what Paul says in front of people....sometimes I have to stick my opinion in there and make him feel little and not worth alot.

Then Sunday, Day 5 of the H.E.C. Was about this
Day Five:
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Eph. 4:29

Yeah bad day for that! We had more words than I can think of. But when I got home and was reading Biblical Womanhood, I realized that I should have just shut my mouth. I was being very foolish.

Yesterday was better, Today is going good so far. I have been up both mornings this week to see him off to work which he really enjoys. He doesnt like leaving without someone to tell him bye!

Todays challenge.......
Day Seven:
"Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!...for riches
certainly make themselves wings..." Prov. 23:4-5
"That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries."
Proverbs 8:21
Money is the root of much marital discord. Ask yourself, "Am I being negative toward my
husband in the area of finances?" Determine not to speak evil of your husband in this
area. Discover ways to encourage and help him instead..........

Thats just part of it..... But I am going to try really hard today, to not only build my house up, but to build my husband up! I dont want to be the foolish woman who tears her house down.......not only with words but with actions too.....

Oddly enough, I am also on Day 3 of the Power of a Praying Wife......guess what today is.. His Finances!

Share with me though, some ways that we can build up our homes and our husbands!!!! And how is yoru challenge going?

The getting up early, I'm getting there, I was lazy a couple of days, but mostly, I have been up at 6 or earlier.....this morning, my alarm was set for 5:30, Paul turned it off instead of snoozing it, and told me to go back to sleep, I tried I really did, but it seems like my body was ready to face the day, now if I could just do something about the circles around my eyes :0)........

Progress......

I have been making progress....I was up early for two days and then I was up most of last night with Jason fighting a cold...so Paul kindly told me to go back to bed this morning. I am planning on keeping on with it though...Praying that Jason is not sick again tonight.

Thanks goes to my dear Sister who is joining me in this...and to Kelli my dear blogging friend. I know I for one need all the ecouragement and help I can get.

The Husband Encouragement Challenge hasnt been going too well....I picked a bad week to start back on it :( I also had jury duty today and worrying about what I was going to do with the kids made me really grouchy and snappy and just all out miserable to live with. I realized about 2 am this morning that I shouldnt have worried at all and that I really had nothing to worry about because My God was taking care of me.

So, making progress. I am learning to lean on the Lord again....( I tend to forget this often also and try to do it all myself) I am in a better mood and have not once snapped at my husband today....He says this is encouragement enough for him.

Now if I can just work on habit forming in the children at the same time, I will be doing really really good!

Thank You Julie and Kelli.....your support and encouragement is greatly appreciated!

Blessings
Crystal

Up Early! and Husband Encouragement!

I am starting in on trying to make it up early again! I know that I should never have quit this, but I did, I let circumstances in my life get my routine all off and now I am behind like you wouldnt believe.

So today, I am starting the Challenge of getting up early again....It takes 21 days to form a habit, so today, I am officially starting.....I will take Sundays off, but Monday through Saturday, I will be up at 6:00 am or earlier. 21 Days will be up on Sept 1st. I know last time I did this for 28 days but this time, we are just going for 21 days.

Join me if you will! I am so ready to do this!

Also, I am going to start this again!

30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge!

I will be starting this Monday August 17th. I of course will not be posting on this every day as I have discovered that I have less time for Blogging than I used to. But if you wish to join in and leave comments to help others along the way I will gladly welcome them.

Now, I have to go wake up the little blessings and get started on our day...lots to do!

Blessings
Crystal