KHATS(2)

My second tip to you single mothers out there is to KEEP SWEET!  Every conversation I have on the phone with my mother-in-law ends with her challenging me to keep sweet.   {Instead of saying, "Bye." she says "Keep Sweet!".}  I have often wondered why she has felt the need to tell me to keep sweet.  I mean, my husband tells me that I am so sweet I would melt in the rain!  {Ha-ha-ha!  I don't believe everything he says. LOL} On days when your husband (or boss, or whomever) gives you a to do list a mile long, but one child - who you just fed an hour ago- is crying and saying, "EAT, EAT!"; and the other child has said, "Mama, Mama." about fifty times in the last five minutes...it can be a challenge.  I will offer you two tips to help you in your effort to keep sweet.

1. Whisper when you feel the need to yell.  When Aaliyah notices that I am whispering the situation immediately becomes serious to her.  She sits up straighter and listens harder.  This has REALLY helped me in my effort to have my children remember me as a happy mother instead of an angry one.
2. Outlaw certain words from your home.  Two illegal words in our home are shut-up and stupid.  Anytime Aaliyah hears anyone say either of these words she says, "Ooooh, don't say that.  That is not nice!"

I hope these tips help you on your journey of motherhood!

Proverbs 31:26
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Until next time,

KEEP SWEET!

KHATS

KAHTS

Titus 2:4,5
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.


So what exactly is KAHTS?  Keeper at Home Tips for Singles.   I have a burden for single mothers. My mother was a single mother. My grandmother was an orphan and became a single mother. My sister is a single mother. Both my aunts are single mothers. They each have daughters who are now single moms. Many of the people I grew up with were raised by single mothers. (You probably get the picture by now.) I am not a single mom; but there are certain things that I have observed and learned that may help single moms.

Some of you reading this may not be a single mom. If you think this information could be a help to someone you know, please SHARE. Many of the things I plan to share will also apply to married as well as single moms.

Some of you reading this may be single mothers; perhaps by choice, perhaps not. My mother’s childhood was stolen from her by my father. I praise God often that she did not CHOOSE to abort me as so many women who were put in her situation have chosen. Maybe your husband experienced an untimely death and you now find yourself rearing your children alone. Maybe you made some poor choices earlier in life and now you have one or more beautiful children that you are bringing up by yourself as a result. Please know that in the Bible children are always spoken of as a blessing! Do your best with what you have and leave the rest up to God. I hope these little tips and lessons will be a blessing to you and enable you to be the best mom you can be.


Luke 18:15-17

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Psalm 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:4
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Proverbs 31:28a
Her children arise up, and call her blessed;...

KHATS (1)

Get yourself a good umbrella!

My first piece of advice would be for you to get yourself a good umbrella. No I don’t mean that thing you keep in your car in case it rains! I mean a COVERING. A man in your life who will become a father figure for your children.  In choosing your COVERING I would advise you to choose wisely. This covering will provide you and your children with some authority, stability, and wisdom for your journey as a single parent.

Purpose for your Umbrella:
1. Someone you go to for advice when you have a big decision to make (ie buying a car or home, changing jobs, moving.)
2. Someone to serve as a role model for your sons.
3. Someone with whom you can exercise submission.
4. Someone you can go to for help when you feel your emotions are clouding your mind especially in the case of a Mister right (or Wrong) entering the picture.

It is often hard for women who have been raised by women to easily submit to their husbands, or any man for that matter. This will not only be practice for you; but an example for your sons and daughters. I would like to take this opportunity to say it is very important that you chose someone whom you will obey even if you disagree with him about something. Often as married women we don’t agree or see eye to eye with our husbands on every subject matter or decision; but if we desire the best for our families we will submit to our husbands as the Bible commands. I find in my married life that 9 times out of 10 my husband is right about whatever we disagreed about. There is always that one time; but I believe that the Lord will take care of that and work it out for good if I do right. I chose to call this an umbrella because of what my former pastor's wife taught me.  She said that when we obey our husbands, even when we disagree, it is like we are stepping under an umbrella in a rain storm.  The Lord will bless and protect us from the storm.  I know one young lady who is single who has chosen as her umbrella a  man who is a deacon from another church near her home.  He is a godly, older man with a wife who has become like a mother to her.

Until next time,

And the Winner is...

And the Winner is ...Mrs. Pat!

Hello Kitty bow

Polka Dot bow

Lollipop bows

Congratulations Mrs. Pat.!  If you will email me your address and choice of bow(s) I will get that in the mail to you! 

Who is this man!?!

My Beloved preaching at Lighthouse Baptist Church

Last night my husband preached an amazing message about prayer!  As I sat in the back with my two little hooligans princesses I was amazed at the preacher and man of God he has become. Anyone who lives in or around Newport and missed that message truly missed something special. When I left the service I felt like I was ready to change in my super soaker for a fire engine and charge the fires of Hell -through prayer- for our Lord.  Of coarse all you blessed ladies who have a husband who is also your pastor probably know exactly what I mean.



My Beloved at home in California



 I married a man of integrity and I am so thankful for that; but I also married a man who truly loves God.  I am not afraid to trust him with my future and with the future of my children because I know that he strives to depend on the Lord to direct his every step.  Because my husband does not like for me to blog about him I will close now by saying I am SO blessed and God is SO good!!!

Bows R Us!

Announcing my first Giveaway!!!

I have been wanting to do this for a long time; but (as I do so often) I have been waiting until I could sit down and figure out exactly how the best way is to do a giveaway {the professional way}.  Well, I will defer no longer.  In order to win you...

1.  Become a follower of my blog!

2.  Post my giveaway on facebook.

3. Post my giveaway on twitter.

4. Post my giveaway on your blog.

Option A:

These Lollipop Bows are Pink Polka dotted with white, pink, and blue in the center.  They are each about the size of a quarter (not including the clip). They will look SO cute on some little girls pig tails!

Option B:

Can you tell I like Polka Dots!?!  This bow is about 6" X 4".  It is a basic white bow beneath a basic green polka dot bow with a little white star button for a little accent. 

Option C:

This bow is a Hello Kitty bow in Black, White and red.  It is really three (white; then red and black polka dot; then Hello Kitty ribbon) basic bows in one with korker and lollipop style ribbon for accent.  {This one is Aaliyah's favorite because it has a kitten on it.}

Tell me (through commenting on my facebook or here) how many entries you did (minimum1 maximum 4). I will put your name in a hat based on your comment (minimum1 maximum4).  Aaliyah will pull the winner's name out of a hat on Monday and I will announce the winner on Tuesday.  (The old fashioned way - I know- but it works!) the winner will then pick her favorite bow {Option A, B, or C.} Have fun!!!

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary...

Our garden area before we tilled it up.

How does your garden grow!  Every year we are excited about planting time.

My hard working husband

 This year we are trying a couple of new things - corn, stevia, and a few herbs.  My gardening tip is to plant attractive flowers in your garden to attract friendly bugs. Friendly bugs will help pollinate your plants and some can help keep pests away. Here,  here, and here are a few helpful websites about this topic.

I planted a lot of seeds in egg cartons this year.

After everything was planted this is how it looked.

My new thing is to use yarn to keep my rows straight.  These are my onin plants.  Red onion can be expensive so I planed my own this year.

This photo is about a month old.

Planting time for us is over, but I am still waiting for a few things to come up.  In the mean time my goal for my garden is to keep weeds, grass, and pests down.  Our garden is right in the middle of a bermuda grass patch.  Bermuda grass is sort of like cudzu.  It seems the more you pull, the more it grows.  I spend time almost every day pulling up weeds or grass.  It is a lot of work; but it will be worth it!

Growing.



My husband is an aspiring photographer!

Zuchini squash flower.

Growing!



More photography by Ray.



Until next time,