Proverbs 14:1

I am so burdened today over the recent turn of events in the Gosselin family of TLC's John and Kate + 8. As Phil scanned the groceries in the self check-out yesterday, I managed to keep the kids from getting us kicked out of Safeway while simultaneously reading an article in People about what Kate is going through. It was tragic. Tragic that a woman could list everything she had done right over the years, and nothing that she wished she had done differently. Tragic that their children have had to listen to their mom's sarcastic and demeaning words toward their Daddy for all these years, in their house, in public, and broadcast on cable television. And of course, tragic that now Jon has not been the faithful, honorable man he was supossed to be. Well gee, when a man doesn't quite feel like a man in his own home, he wouldn't want to be there so much, now would he? Let's not be stupid and say that Jon made the only error in this situation. Dr. Laura probably has a lot to say about this, and it's not that Kate's organic cooking should have been enough to keep Jon home. It's all about respect, which Jon wasn't getting. Proverbs says it well: "A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands." Our own hands! That is the power that we as wives have! It is time that we stop blaming men for not being men, and instead do our part better than we have. Is there anything you can say today to affirm your husband? Hasn't he done anything today worthy of your respect? Did he go to work? Take out the trash? Read to or play with the kids? Pray that God shows you something you can do or say to build up the man God gave you, and see what happens. No goodwilled man (and most are!!) will abandon his home is he feels respected there. And no, it's not about you turning into a doormat and elevating him to superior status. Reject that feminist thinking! We are ALL equally valuable. However, when we begin meeting our husband's needs for respect, they will natually show us the love that we crave. It's a win-win, and that's the way it should be, am I right?? Let's pray that Jon and Kate will take the time for their family in these next days, that they will leave stardom behind and do everything it takes to repair their marriage, and that there won't be another 8 children ripped apart by a sadly broken family.

Mother's Day

This is a picture of my mom and me, taken last Sunday. She and my dad came down from Sacramento and spent a very fun weekend with us here in Monterey. I just have to use this opportunity to list a few things I will forever be grateful for about my mom!!
1. She has been a loving and supportive wife to my dad, giving me a strong foundation and a great example.
2. She home-schooled me every year but 8th grade, even when she probably reeeeeally didn't want to. (We'll put it this way: I wasn't the most excited student all the time. ;))
3. She began each day with prayer and worship, sometimes playing guitar and sometimes playing piano. She didn't know at the time what an impact that had on me.
4. She was never too busy to listen to me or to share things that were on her heart.
5. She shared current and past struggles she dealt with, modeling transparency and giving me the opportunity to really know who she was.
6. She trained me using a lot of Proverbs, which helped me to see that what she expected of me was also God's best for me.
7. If I was down, sometimes she would put a bit of lipstick and blush on me. Amazing how looking good helps you feel better! =)
8. Her energy is contagious and often helped me get interested in things I wouldn't have been otherwise!
So there it is, just a few things off the top of my head about my amazing mom who loves me in a way that no one else on earth does. (And I know that now because I have 3 girls of my own! =))