Book Review: Wife After God By Jennifer Smith

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I felt honored when I was accepted for the opportunity to review the book 

Wife After God.  This is a 30 Day devotional book for wives by Jennifer Smith, better known to the blogging community as Unveiled Wife.  

I am already a follower of  the Unveiled Wife blog, and I am very familiar with her openness in her style of writing, so I was looking forward to reading this devotional. 

Now to be honest with you I have talked about in the past how I am not an avid reader.  When I do read I like to read a good book, that by the end I feel like has changed my life.  Especially since it often takes me a little longer to read through an entire book. I don't know about you, but I find myself getting distracted and then reading over the same chapter again. 

I decided I wanted to get through this book in the proper amount of time. I mean let's not forget it is a 30 Day devotional, how hard could it be? I think as soon as I thought this I set myself up.

So the question is did I get through this book in 30 days?

"No"... it took me a few days longer.  When I got distracted and missed a day I made sure to get right back to it.  I definitely took the time to focus on each day and what I was reading.  I made sure to pray about what I learned so I could fully benefit from the lesson God was teaching me.  

What I loved about the book is how it starts off with a prayer from the Unveiled Wife.  This makes it feel so much more personal.  You can feel the heart of the Unveiled Wife, and her purpose of this book. 

The book definitely takes you on a journey.  You have to be willing to accept it if you want to experience the fullness of its intention.  

Each day includes a focus verse to read, along with a thought, and then a prayer.  In order to take you deeper  there is also a challenge, status update, and a journal question.  

Personally I prefer devotionals that give me a challenge.  It's like a call to action, which allows me to apply what I learned to my life.  This is the only way I can truly see a change take place.  

I did enjoy reading through this book and now I am thinking of passing it along to my sister, who also desires to be a wife after God.  

I just wanted to say thank you to Jennifer Smith(Unveiled Wife) for taking the time and pouring out your heart to write this book. It has changed my perspective on marriage, and how to be the wife God desires  for me to be.  

If you are interest in more information or want to pick up your own copy of the book click here.

MLK Day:Teaching Kids To Serve

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Every year on Martin Luther King Day the kids and I are part of a device day in our town.  We have done this for three years now.  I think it is a great way to teach the kids the message of Dr. King, as well as allowing them to serve God by serving others. 

It is so important to teach our kids at a young age the value of having a servants heart. Being willing to give to others, and help others  like Jesus did. 

The younger we teach our children this principle the easier it is for them to learn. 

This is a principle that God teaches us in His word. 

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 

1 John 3:18

Many times in our culture charity work and acts of service are emphasized and boasted on. These type of gestures are a good thing, but we must remember to look at our hearts, and examine our motives behind the act.  We want to make sure we are serving for the right reasons.  

Serving can make us feel good about ourselves.  Also it can make us feel proud that we have helped others.  

We need to remember the main reason to serve is to glorify God and it is what He has called us to do. 

This is the key to serving that we want to implant in our children's hearts. 

The best way to do this is to lead by example.  Let our children see this truth lived out in our lives.  Not only on special service days  like Martin Luther King Day, but everyday.  That's what will make it real to them.

As our children grow they will want to honor the Lord with their service, just as they have learned. 

Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

What are some ways you teach your children about serving?

What example are you setting for your children when it comes to serving?

Happy Birthday Daddy!

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Today my family is excited to celebrate a milestone in our family.  It's my dad's 70th birthday.  It's hard for me to believe my dad is 70 years old today, especially since he doesn't look 

his age.  

I'm sure there are days when he wakes up with aches and pains, and feels like he is 70 years old, but over all I'm sure he would say he has lived a good life.

My dad has three children.  I am the youngest(Daddy's little girl), and he has nine grandchildren.  I know everyday my dad thanks God for his family, and he is very proud of each one of us.  

My dad has overcome many obstacles in his life, and he was able to make it through.  He is a great man of God, as well as a great dad , and grandfather. 

I look forward to getting together tonight with family and friends to celebrate his special day!

Today is also another special day for my hubby and I.  On this day seventeen years ago, I sat down on a Greyhound bus next to what eventually became my future husband.

That was the best seat I ever sat in because it was truly ordained by God, though I didn't even know it at the time. 

He and I began a conversation about colleges that lasted the whole ride to Baltimore, Maryland.  This is where he got off to go back to his college Morgan State University.  I was riding with my mom, and we ended up getting off in Washington DC.  

Our story of how we met is an interesting one, that I will definitely share in another blog post. I never would have known on that day if I fast forwarded I would be right where I am today.  

I am so thankful that God's ways are not our ways.  

The one thing that I have learned about having a relationship with the Lord is that, He works in our lives, even when we don't even know it. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose  for them.  Romans 8:28

Be Blessed!

How does your family celebrate birthdays?

Honey & Jackie:Happiest Couple I Know

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The question is: Who is the happiest couple I know(besides me & hubby of course)? 

The answer is: Without a doubt, hands-down, the first couple that immediately comes to mind, are my grandparents(from my mother's side). 

They will forever be that picture of true love, and of a happy marriage in my mind.  I am so thankful for their example to me, of what a happy marriage looked like.   Honestly for a long time they were the only example that I had to look to, so their marriage was very important to me. 

They both passed away more than ten years ago.  My grandfather passed first at the age of eighty-eight.  My grandmother soon after passed, from what everyone was sure, was a broken heart.  She just wasn't the same without him.  The great part was their marriage left a lifelong legacy for our entire family.  

When they were together they were inseparable.  You would rarely see one without the other.  Everyone knew of Honey & Jackie.  My grandfather's real name is Horace, but my grandmother called him "Honey."  So did many others, including my grandmother's sisters.  

Ever since I could remember, they would continually tell the same story of their first date.  My grandfather would make sure he emphasized the part where my grandmother almost stood him up, while she went to the movies to see the infamous Clark Gable, with her sister.  The way they told the story with so much love and joy, it never got old. 

They really had a unique relationship.  They just knew how to do the little things that made each other happy.  

One of the cutest things they would love to do was dress alike.  I think it was just their special way of showing others that they were together, and they wanted everyone to know.  

I'm sure just like any other couple they had their share of challenging days, but they made a conscious  choice to love.  They also made the choice to share their love with others, and that's what their relationship is remembered by.  

Dear Lord I pray that my marriage as well as others can experience all the love that I saw my grandparents share.  

Fawn Weaver, the founder of the Happy Wives Club wrote a book about the best marriage secrets the world has to offer. They say the book is like “Eat, Pray, Love meets The 5 Love Languages.” I say the book is inspiring. You can grab a copy here.

Now it's your turn to answer the question.  Who is the happiest couple you know? 

Do you feel that the happiest couple is you & your husband and why? 

Craftsy Affiliate Program

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Since I am still pretty new to this blogging thing, I recently have been doing my research and looking for ways to connect with different brands, that I like or would be interested in working with.  As a blogger there are so many sponsorship and affiliate programs that a girl can become overwhelmed.

"How do you know which one is right for you?"  

"How do you even know how to go about it?"

Well... at least I know that's exactly what I was thinking.

That's why when I came across this great opportunity to become an affiliate with Craftsy, I thought, "Why not give it a try?"
(Thanks to fellow blogger Deliberate Mom for sharing the info.)

**Note:This blog post contains affiliate links. By clicking on any of the links and follow an action(i.e. become an affiliate, sign up for classes, etc.) I receive compensation.**

Like me at first you may not be familiar with Craftsy but once you check out their website you will see all that the crafting classes they have to offer.  They have everything including knitting, home & garden, cake decorating, photography, and food & cooking, just to name a few.

Their affiliate program allows you to get compensated for promoting something that you already love.

"How do I know you will love it you ask?"

To be honest, I don't.  I have signed up to become an affiliate and after doing my research I have come to love the program they offer.  I am now sharing the opportunity with you in hopes that you will come to love it too.  

If you sign up and are accepted one of the exciting parts of your affiliate member benefits include:

1 FREE crafting class of your choice(valued up to $49.99.) 

Also as an affiliate you will receive $10 for your referrals.  You can't beat that!

Does this program sound like something you would be interested in?  Please take some time to look through Craftsy's affiliate benefits, and consider becoming a Craftsy affiliate. 

Click this link for more information on the Craftsy affiliate program:
Join Craftsy's Affiliate Program Today


If being an affiliate doesn't work for you, but you are interested in taking a Craftsy crafting class.  

Click here to find out about their FREE mini-courses.

I just want to thank you in advance for your support.

 

2013 Favorites

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The new year is here, and I am officially saying goodbye to 2013 with a recap of some of my favorite things. 

Come reminisce with me.  

Here are my top favorites of the year...

1. Flower garden-Ever since my family moved to our new place two years ago, I was determined to start a garden in a little area in the backyard. I grew some veggies like green beans and zucchini. I am completely new to this gardening thing.  I wouldn't say that I have a green thumb or anything, but I am learning. I then decided to plant a bag of wild flower seeds in my backyard. Once they started to sprout up I felt so proud, especially since my 3 year old helped me with the whole process.  They were beautiful. All different colors and types. Every time I looked at them it was a constant reminder of God's beautiful handiwork.

      2. Colossians 3:17-And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,    

           giving thanks through Him to God the Father.  One night my hubby and I were watching a 

           sports documentary about the life of a female basketball coach, that had been diagnosed     

           with cancer.  In the documentary they talked about her teenage son. Her son shared his 

           favorite verse, which was Colossians 3:17.  After I watched this documentary I read this verse 

           and it really  touched my heart. I realized that this was how I wanted to live my life. I know 

           that all I am is due to Jesus Christ in my life.

        

      3. Roses-When my hubby & I were dating it was kind of his tradition to give me roses for

          special occasions like Valentines Day or our anniversaries.  He knows how much I love 

          flowers so it was a very special gift.  After a few years of receiving the flowers I began to lose 

          excitement for them. I guess because I got used to them and the gift just lost that element of 

          surprise(of course I never told him that.)  Well fast forward years later and we are now 

          married, and real life takes over.  I begin to miss all those days when I received those 

          beautiful bouquets of flowers(I guess I had to learn a lesson in appreciation.) 

          One evening I was totally shocked when my hubby came home from work with a bouquet of

          roses.  They were all red, except one purple rose right in the middle, because he knows that's

          my favorite color. I was overwhelmed, and completely shocked. This time it was a gift just 

          because.

      4. Joyce Meyers conference-I am a big fan of Joyce Meyers so I was extremely motivated 

          for the opportunity to go see her live in Hershey Pennsylvania.  I worked it out that I would 

          go with my mom for a three day weekend, and it was also my birthday.  My mom is Deaf, so 

          at the conference we were able to sit in a reserved section for the Deaf, that is right up front. 

          I was even blessed with an unexpected opportunity to sign interpret part of the conference

          with the interpreter that was there.  I learned so much and gained so much information that

          I was able to bring home, and apply to my every day life.

     5. "Living Beyond Your Feelings" Joyce Meyers-This book was one of the awesome 

          resources I was gifted for sign interpreting at the conference.  To be honest I am not an avid

          reader, and it usually takes me quite a while to finish a book.  This book drew me in from the 

          very beginning. I buzzed right through it, and enjoyed everything that I got out of it.  It was 

          especially helpful for people like me, who need to learn to not react off my emotions, and 

          trust that God is in control.

     6. Service for Service Day-This was a day that my church decided to give up a normal 

         Sunday service, to go out and serve the surrounding community(read more here.)  It was 
         a great feeling to be able to take the focus off myself and my needs and put them on others 
         who have greater needs.  Plus my children were involved so it was a great opportunity for 
         them to learn a lesson in serving others.  


     7. Brown boots-I love fashion and especially being thrifty when it comes to fashion.  One of 
          favorite places to shop is the thrift store, and I just love getting a good deal. Even more, I love 
          getting clothes for free.  I always welcome hand-me-downs because another persons garbage 
          can always become my treasure.  Plus I just love the idea of getting something free and then 
          working it into my wardrobe.  Once I come up with just the right outfit, I have been known to 
          get a little excited. On Christmas I was at my sister's house and we were talking about boots. 
          My niece who is a stylish 17 year old, began to talk about a pair of  boots that she didn't want, 
          because they hurt her feet.  Well you know my ears perked up then, especially since my niece 
          and I are the exact same shoe size.  She was more than willing to give me her beautiful, 
         brown leather,  knee high boots.  They fit me perfectly and are so comfortable.  Now I 
         wear them almost every day since.   I don't even care that my hubby teased me, about the fact
         that I took the boots of my teenaged niece.  No need in wasting a good pair of boots.  I assured
         my niece that I would definitely return the favor.  
         


     8. Dylan's Candy Bar-This year my hubby and I decided that we wanted to spend more time
         in New York City, and take the kids as well, since there is so much you can do. 
         November 14th it was our 4 year anniversary(read more here.)  My hubby and I spent the 
         whole night in NYC. That was the first time we visited this wonderful candy store(aka candy 
         heaven, at least that's what I call it.) They have two floors of any candy you could think of.  
         The top floor is a little cafe with all kinds of treats, like cupcakes, doughnuts, and ice cream. 
         We enjoyed it so much.  We knew we would have to come back the next time and bring the 
          kids.  We decided to take the second trip there after Christmas, so we could have the chance
          to go to the Children's Museum, as well as see the tree at Rockefeller Center.  As soon as we 
          walked into the store our kids were in awe.  It was a great family time!

What are some of your favorites from 2013?

         

          

          

Getting Organized

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Okay ladies it's time for me to get organized, not that I haven't said this before, but now I have all the necessary tools.  One of my goals for 2014 is to be more organized in all parts of my life, especially when it comes to my homemaking duties.  I have seen various bloggers mention it, so I decided to start using a family planner binder.  

I have never been a person that followed a schedule. I don't even like making a to-do list.  Which tells you why it is time for me to start using this family planner binder.  

My hubby on the other hand, likes to write down lists, or he uses different apps to keep himself organized, and he has often mentioned to me that I needed to do the same.  With a family of four, ministry, among other responsibilities, I need to have something in place that will keep me organized on a daily bases.  Trying to remember everything and keep dates straight is just not working.  

Also I never thought I would say this but, I would like to be more on top of the house cleaning and grocery shopping. I think using this binder will be a big help. 

So after putting it all together here is how it looks.

I started by Googling family planners.  After going through a few options, I decided on some free printables from blog.worldlabel.com.  They offer a variety of organizational worksheets and labels for your home management binder. 

The pages I decided to download for my binder include:

• Dates to remember
• Today is the day
• Get it done
• This week

 

 

They make it all very easy to access, and that was key for me.

In the beginning of my binder I included my family mission statement.  This was important to me because it keeps me focused on my goals for my family. The mission statement is what my family represents.

This is my family's mission statement:

To love and serve God with our lives always giving Him the glory
Committing our lives to following the Word of God
Remembering to act and speak with love to everyone at all times
Using our God-given talents to share the love of God with those around us
Being good stewards of our time and resources that God has given us
Living each day in unity, uplifting one another, and respecting each other

In my binder I have five sections that I separated with dividers. These are the main areas I want to focus on when it comes to being more organized.  The section labels are:

• Cleaning schedule
• Grocery List
• Meal Planning
• To-Do list/Schedule
• Blogging

I am ready to put this binder to use.  I pray with God's help I can become more organized in my home as well as my family life. 

I'll keep you updated on how it goes!

Do any of you use a family planner binder?

How do you feel about organization and your household duties?