Modest Mommy

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In thinking so much lately about how to teach my girls modesty, it has also made me think about what that should mean as a mommy. 

We should be living by example for our daughters, right? Not just telling them why and how to dress but also dressing appropriately ourselves. 

There is also a balance between looking modest and looking nice for our husbands. While I don't feel that I have issues with dressing in an modest way, I think that my problem is my desire to live in pajama pants an a t-shirt. haha. It wouldn't kill me to look a little bit nicer sometimes and when I do, it usually makes me feel better!

However, recently, I overheard a conversation while sitting in a waiting room on this topic and it really made me think. 

The two women (neither of which I know) were talking about how women should dress "sexy" for their man. Although I would not completely disagree with them, I also believe that word can have many meanings. To me, when I hear that word, it means provocatively. While I believe that there are for sure times IN PRIVATE that this is not a bad thing for us to do, I think that women today, even Christian women, are crossing a line. 

There is not a need to be showing certain parts of your body in a public setting.  What are you trying to accomplish by doing so? I have noticed lately how many women walk around in public (grocery store, mall, restaurants...etc.) with super low cut shirts and/or a skirts or shorts that leave little to the imagination. 

You can argue that men should be able to control themselves and this is their issue, not ours, but I think that God has called women to something higher than that. 

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." (The rest of this through verse 20 is also great on the topic)

Please, sister in Christ, do not think that I am passing judgement on you. Although modesty may not be my top issue (although I am sure there are times that I unknowingly wear something that maybe I shouldn't) I come with my own issues. We are all sinful or there would be no issues but we are to strive for perfection even though it is unattainable.

What I am asking is to think twice about what you are putting on. If your low cut top is your favorite, stick a cami underneath. Think about why you love it. Why does it make you feel beautiful? Are you looking for attention from your body?

Let's not cause our brothers in Christ to stumble and let us teach our daughters the same....or our friends daughters, or our nieces...you get the picture. Let's teach our sons  and nephews and so on to love a woman from the inside out rather than aiding this World with the perverse things that is already accepts. 

In the Culture we are exposed to on a daily basis, we have to work twice as hard to teach modesty because it is not being modeled almost anywhere else. 

Let's stick together and be a "Modest Mommy".

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Five Minute Friday: Mighty

Today's word for five minute Friday is "Mighty". When I think of this word, it just immediately brings songs to my head. Maybe it's because I love love love worship music. Maybe its because I feel like so much of my measly little life is Mighty compared to God. Maybe it's because I don't feel like it is even possible for me to do anything "mighty".

But God....Oh He is Mighty.

"...He is Mighty to Save"...
"...What a Mighty God we serve..."
"...Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God..."

But what does it really mean. I am not sure if this is cheating in terms of the 5 minute Friday rules of not editing but I just looked up the definition and some synonyms for the word:

Mighty
1) possessing great and impressive power or strength, esp. on account of size.
2) extremely

Fearsome, ferocious, exceedingly, enormously, immensely, tremendously, hugely.


We cannot even begin to imagine how "Mighty" our God is.

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Let's Get Healthy

So....here we are....back from our Florida trip and back to reality. The reality is that now it is time to focus on what we are eating. For several reasons, Tom and I have been "searching" for years for a healthy way of eating that works for our lifestyle. We believe we have found it. We started changing a few things in the last month or so and can definitely see that it will work for us as a whole a family.

I was introduced to the book "Trim Healthy Mama"  (THM) and read it, in its entirely, in a very short amount of time. It makes so much sense to me. It's not a fad. It's not about gross food. It's not something that requires me to change my eating habits but continue to feed everyone else in the house the wrong food. It is realistic. It teaches you why eating a certain way is better and it is not about getting skinny. It is about getting healthy and that is what we want.

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Like with any lifestyle change, it is hard. It is going to be a learning process for Tom and myself but I am really excited to go full force and see the healthy changes in our entire family.

One thing that really bothers me about trying to change eating habits is how hard it is for us as moms. The more we want to eat the right things, the more time we have to spend thinking about food.

I tease my hubby because he says he has no problem going full force 100% on a new eating plan. Of course he doesn't. I am the one who buys his food and prepares it for him. I told him that I need to go to work so eating healthy is easier! hee hee.

So anyways, I will likely be posting any new and helpful information that I find. Please pray for us as we embark on this new journey. I need the prayers to stick with it as I know that this is what God wants for our family for many different reasons.

I am sick of diets that don't work and that aren't really healthy. I am ready for a life change! I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a change. It makes total sense and has so many healing qualities for various illnesses or medical problems that you may be experiencing.

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Fun in the Sun

Ok...I must apologize for the hiatus that was taken over the last few weeks. I have been trying really hard to post consistently but life happens. My kids come first and they were all sick a couple of weeks ago...then the hubby got sick...and then I was getting us all ready to go away.

A friend of ours got married this past weekend in West Palm Beach, Florida. My amazing parents kept all four kids while we went from Thursday night to Monday night. It was the first time we have ever left any of the children for longer than 2 nights so It was an adjustment for sure, especially leaving the baby, but I am so glad that we did. We had a wonderful time together and with friends that have all moved away. We all rented a beach house together for the first two nights and then moved to the hotel where the wedding was for the last night. It was a reunion of sorts and also a great time of celebration for our friends getting married. Here are a few pictures. Yes....I got incredibly sunburned on Saturday (with Sunscreen on!)

Tom and I on our first plane together (We have both been on planes before but not since we have been together...we even drove on our honeymoon!)

With Friends at our Rental near the beach

Tom fixed the Batman pinball machine!

 

The groom with his brothers hanging out!

Some of the guys before the Bachelor Party (which consisted of dinner out and cards at the beach house after)

Cards after the dinner out!

My hubby doesn't need his kids to play in the sand :)

At the beautiful beach!

This was just breathtaking!

Hanging out in the room before the wedding

View from our hotel suite!

Bumped into the guys before the wedding in the Lobby!

 

Sitting at the ceremony

I now think that every wedding should be at the beach so I don't have to wear shoes!

Loved these decorations!

Gettting Married!

Husband and Wife

Cutting the Cake

Photo Booth Fun!

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Seven Years Betrothed

Seven years ago today, my wonderful husband proposed to me.

Tom and I had been dating for just over eight months. A group of our friends from church decided we would take a weekend trip down to Maryland to visit my best friend, Bethany, and her husband James. They lived between Washington DC and Baltimore so there was a lot we could see and do. Unbeknownst to me, Tom had swiped Bethany's phone number from my phone and called her to make a plan.

To this day, I still cannot believe she didn't tell me...we kind of tell each other EVERYTHING!

So, On March 2nd, 2007, we hopped in the car with some friends, Jeff and Heather, and drove down to Maryland.

Jeff and Tom in the back seat on our way down....I cannot believe how young they look! 

Now I know more details, of course, but the first night, Tom was sleeping downstairs with the guys while the girls were upstairs and he showed them all the ring he planned to give me. So...everyone knew what was coming but me!

The next morning, we packed up and headed into D.C. James and Bethany had sort of planned out our route. To be honest, I don't remember what we did first. I do remember walking down the street towards the Science Museum that we were going to check out. Bethany suggested that Tom and I separate from the group and head over to the Botanical Gardens across the Street. Her reasoning was that it was a beautiful place to have a picture taken together and then we could just meet them back at the museum. I hesitated...I mean...we were there to all be together but then decided it would just be for a few minutes and it would be nice to have a picture of us.

We walked through the Gardens looking for a nice place for a picture. When we decided on a spot, Tom handed the camera to a stranger and asked him to take our picture. I turned around to take off my jacket and when I turned back around, Tom was on his knee. OH MY GOODNESS!

Of course I said yes.

The best part was that the guy taking our picture had no idea so he started yelling to people, "Look what he's doing!" and a huge crowd had gathered around while he proposed.

Of course I called home right away to talk to my parents and sister while we walked back to meet our friends. We swore them to secrecy so we could be the ones to tell the rest of our friends and family when we got home.

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur but here are a few shots of the rest of our weekend.

From Left to Right (Heather, James, Bethany, Jeff, Rachel, Adam (who is getting married to an awesome Girl next week!!), Tom and me!)

Never in our seven years together so far have I regretted marrying my amazing husband. I love him more everyday. The decision to marry him was easy. God  very obviously brought us together when we least expected it and has blessed our marriage abundantly.

As in every marriage, we have our ups and downs. We have things that we have to talk through and we have moments of frustration but with Jesus as the Center, it makes it easier to keep perspective.

I am so excited to see what God has in store for our next seven years....four more kids? haha....well...I guess you never know!

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