I'M MOVING!!

My friends, the day has come.

I've been dreaming about this for some time.

I finally have my very own self-hosted Wordpress blog: my website!

JaimieRamsey.com is where you'll find me now. Starting this coming Monday (six days from now; the 30th of September) I will no longer be posting at Living in the Light. I'll also switch the name of my Facebook page-- nothing will change but the title. :)

Please take notice:
NONE of my Google Friend Connect followers will transfer over to the new site!!! That means that there are 125 of you who read either regularly or occasionally, who will need to re-follow the new site via some other method (either another reader or by email). I will be getting the new email signup ready to go in the next couple days, so you'll be able to subscribe to updates from JaimieRamsey.com before the weekend.

Also, if you follow me with a reader, you WILL have to update the URL in your reader, or you will stop getting updates entirely--and that would be awful!

If you're already an email subscriber, your email subscription WILL transfer to the feed from the new site. You won't have to do anything about that!

The Facebook page will continue to post updates from both here and the new site until Monday, at which time updates from Living in the Light will stop.

The website isn't fully ready yet, but feel free to head over and take a look anyway-- just click on the image above or here: www.jaimieramsey.com.

I am excited to make this new site into something that will serve me now and in the future, as a personal blog and a professional author's website. I'm incredibly thankful for the help I've received with getting it set up, especially from Elsie Callender of Richly Rooted, Jami Balmet of Young Wife's Guide, and Amy Andrews from Blogging with Amy (I don't know her personally, but her site has tons of incredibly helpful and easy-to-follow tutorials to help make blogging on Wordpress WAY easier!).

So-- if you follow me via GFC or a reader, head over to JaimieRamsey.com and update your reader. By Friday you'll be able to follow the new site via email.

I'll post another reminder or two later this week, and then I will leave a post pinned here for anyone who happens upon Living in the Light--a forwarding address, so to speak. :)

Thank you for being the ones who have helped me grow this little tiny blog into something still pretty tiny, but also a community that has blessed me greatly. It's been almost three years since I started Living in the Light, and I am SO excited to keep moving forward and see what God has planned!

FLASH SALE of Real Food for the Real Homemaker!

For only twenty-four hours (less than that now), Elsie, Jami and I are offering Real Food for the Real Homemaker for 50% off!! Happy Labor Day!

This is a fantastic deal. For less than $7, you get two copies of the book (a PDF and a copy for your Kindle), recipe cards with each recipe from the cookbook printed on them, and an Excel meal planner and list generator.

If you haven't gotten a copy of Real Food for the Real Homemaker yet, NOW is the time to do it! This price won't get any better, and it won't last.

The sale goes till midnight TONIGHT (PST). That's 2 am Tuesday morning for those of us in the Central Time zone.

If you're still torn, check out what some of our very happy customers have to say HERE on our Testimonials page. We pray that this cookbook will be a blessing to you--and we're excited to offer it at such a great discount! Don't miss it!

If you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me, or check out our FAQ page on the website.

I realize my blogging has been rather sporadic lately, and almost non-existent in the last week. We started our new semester a week ago, and life has been pretty crazy. I'm getting used to the new schedule and building up my stamina again-- summer was much more relaxing than this week has been! It's been great, though, and God is so good. We are blessed and thankful every day. However, that's no excuse to neglect writing, and especially no excuse to neglect my lovely and faithful readers. Please forgive me. I will do my best to get back to a normal writing schedule this week. I've missed it, and I've missed you!

Paying it sweetly forward

I'm so terrible with these things.  Lindsey Brackett gave me this award two weeks ago and I'm finally doing a post myself.

I have to be honest with you: I don't always pass these on.  Sometimes they feel like those emails that guilt-trip you into forwarding them to 10 friends.  But this one was different.  Lindsey described me as "the sweetest girl I don't know in real life."  Awwww.  That made me feel special. :)  And Lindsey, it would be lovely to actually get to know you in real life!  Someday. :)

Anyway, there are a few rules that I'm passing on from Lindsey's blog:

• Thank the Super Sweet blogger who nominated you
• Answer 5 super sweet questions
• Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post
• Nominate 12 other bloggers

Thanks again to Lindsey for her thoughtfulness!  It's lovely to be recognized. :)

Super Sweet Questions:

1. Cookies or cake?  Honestly... it depends on the cookies and cake!  Generally, though, I'll go for the cake if I'm given a choice.  I like both, but I LOVE cake.  Of pretty much any kind.

2. Chocolate or vanilla?  Chocolate.  90% of the time, anyway!

3. Favorite sweet treat?  Just one?!?  This is going to require some thought... I'm very, very fond of cheesecake.  Especially if it contains chocolate.  And caramel.  And toasted pecans.  So... I guess, turtle cheesecake would be way at the top of my list of favorite sweet things. :)  Then there's Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.  I love cinnamon.  And my mom's frosted cutout cookies... and homemade brownies... see, I told you I can't just pick one!

4. When do you crave sweet things the most?  Usually in the evening, when I'm hanging out with my hubby.  If there are no sweets in the house we usually whip up a batch of homemade brownies!

5. Sweet nickname?  My brother's godmother--a dear friend of our family--started calling me "Jaimiekins" when I was little.  Twenty-plus years later...she still does!

Now for a shout-out to the sweetest bloggers I know!  These are all wonderful ladies who are such a blessing to me, whether I know them in person or not.  Stop by their blogs and leave them some sweet comments!  (Also, ladies, don't feel obligated to continue the Super-Sweet award... but just know I think you're awesome!)  P.S.  These are in no particular order. :)

Jami from Young Wife's Guide--a good friend who I've never met.  Her blog is inspiring and encouraging!
Amy from A Contented, Common Life--I love her encouraging posts and meal plans!
Jamie from See Jamie Blog--I enjoy reading about her family and homeschooling (what is it with all these Ja(i)m(i)(e)'s?)
Julia from black tag diaries--I know Lindsey already nominated her but this is another of my best blogging buddies who I've never met!  Love doing Thankful Thursdays with her!
L from All Glorious Within--a beautiful sister in Christ whose love and passion for Him is in every post she writes
Lora at eager hands--an artist who makes beautiful things and gives her Creator the glory
Cari at Life as We Know It--a new wife and mommy-to-be who I met in college, loving following her pregnancy journey
Shaye at The Elliot Homestead--a hilarious writer, whole-living inspiration, and dear sister in Christ
Elsie at Back to the Source--another dear blogging friend and sister in Christ (who I get to meet in person this summer!) whose recipes inspire me in my cooking
Ashley at Stay-at-Home Daughter--a beautiful woman who encourages me in my faith and is on an amazing missionary journey right now
Elisabeth at a blissful simplicitea--a real-life friend who shares my passions for tea, Jane Austen, and Jesus
Nikki at Kindred Spirits--another dear real-life friend who inspires me in so many areas of life: marriage, homemaking, cooking, and living for Jesus

So many amazing bloggers.  Go visit them now! :)

Reflecting on the A to Z Challenge

Well, I made it!!  This was my first year doing the A to Z Challenge, and I jumped in the deep end right away--not only did I sign up for the challenge itself, I volunteered to be an Ambassador for the fantastic Arlee Bird, whose idea it was to begin the Challenge in the first place.

I'm glad I took this opportunity.  It was a lot of work, but it was worth it!  I planned out all my topics in March, but I didn't pre-write or schedule any of my posts.  I like writing every day, but since I only have a certain amount of time every day in which I can do my blogging, that meant I didn't have time to visit as many other blogs as I would have liked.  I feel bad about that, and that's something I would definitely change for next year (you bet I'm doing this again!).  April was a busy month for me in other ways, but I'm proud of the fact that I did keep up with my posts, generally having them published the night before.

I am following quite a few new blogs as a result of the Challenge, and I'm delighted to welcome new followers myself!  This event has been a blessing in that area, allowing me to get to know other bloggers, some of whom have interests similar to mine, and others who I would have never found if not for the Challenge.

In terms of how the administrators organized everything, I have no complaints.  It's a massive job to host such a huge link-up, but I think they did well.  Those many of us who helped patrol the link-up list did our best to make sure everything was running smoothly.  I think perhaps it might be helpful if there were even MORE of us ambassadors/minions/whatever-we-were next year, especially if the Challenge grows in popularity (which I sure hope it will!).

I think perhaps it might be beneficial to have a few separate link-up lists, divided by type of blog (personal, writing, cooking, photography, etc).  That would make the list a lot less overwhelming to navigate, and it would help bloggers find more easily the blogs they're interested in, versus just blogging the whole huge list.

I will definitely be doing the Challenge again.  I appreciated the fact that it required me to be disciplined with my blogging.  I enjoyed the community, and getting to know other bloggers.  I definitely appreciated the major boost in visitors it gave me this last month!  I also enjoyed the mental challenge of having to come up with a post topic for each letter of the alphabet.

There are a few things I'll be doing differently next year.  I will start visiting blogs in the days and weeks leading up to the Challenge, as they are added to the link-up list.  I will plan my posts six weeks in advance and start writing them four weeks in advance.  Then I'll spend my time each day visiting blogs and leaving comments instead of writing.  I hope to be an Ambassador again next year, too (just for future reference, Lee!), and I hope to do a better job of it next year.

Did you do the Challenge?  What did you think?  Head over to the A to Z blog and share your post!

The Big Reveal--My Theme(s) for the 2013 A to Z Challenge!!

Well folks, it's one week away.

The beginning of the craziest thing I've EVER done blogging.

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge!!

Yup, starting next Monday, April 1, I will be blogging every day on a topic that starts with the corresponding letter of the alphabet.  So on the 1st, the topic will start with A, on the 2nd, B, on the 3rd... well, you get the idea.

Not only am I going to have alphabetical topics, but I'm going to have a theme for each day of the week!  If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you might have noticed a bit of a pattern.  Well, I'm sticking to that!  I won't have a single theme for the whole month, but instead, six themes--one for each weekday I'll post.  I bet you're dying to know what they are.

Marriage Monday

Titus 2 Tuesday (topics on godly womanhood)

Into the Word Wednesday (topics on theology, Scripture, and how awesome God is)

Thankful Thursday

Foodie Friday

Serious Saturday

And if you've checked your April calendar yet, you'll see that there are FIVE Mondays and FIVE Tuesdays in April!  So we'll get Marriage Mondays and Titus 2 Tuesdays five times.  How exciting!

If you're not following me yet, you'll want to now, so you can see all the fantastic things I'll be talking about this month!  Just wait till K...Q...and of course, U, V, W, X, Y and Z.  I've got some creative ideas for those letters!

In the meantime, head over to David's blog at Brits in the USA, where I'm joining a bunch of fellow Challengers to share our big theme reveals!

And come back on Monday, April 1, to start out the Challenge with me!  In the meantime, have a blessed Holy Week, and a joyful Easter!

It's Happened!!

I've officially hit 100 followers!!!

This is a HUGE milestone, and I can't thank you all enough.


It's a great day, people.  I'm drinking tea, writing, and finally reached this goal.

YOU ALL ARE AWESOME!

You know what this means.
I have to come through on my promise for a giveaway... which means it'll happen sometime next week!  Stay tuned for details!!

But I promise... it will be something good. :)  And worth waiting for!

Blogging from A to Z: I'm a Challenge Ambassador!

Meet one of Arlee Bird's 2013 A to Z Challenge Ambassadors!

Yup, that would be me!  I'm SO excited, and honored, to be one of five bloggers working with Lee to be a monitor, cheerleader, and worker with the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  Basically, I get to read a LOT of  blogs, see how they're contributing to the Challenge, and cheer them on!  Sounds like a job designed for me.

These are the other members of Lee's team, with links to their blogs:

Judy at raisingthecurtain.net 

Tim Brannan at  The Other Side and his secondary blog that he co-runs Red Sonja: She Devil with a Sword

Yvonne Lewis at Yvonne's Poetry Corner   

Alana Garrigues at Writercize

If you haven't heard about it before, the Blogging from A to Z Challenge is just what it sounds like.  During the month of April, I'll write a post every day with the subject beginning with the letter of the alphabet assigned for that day.  So Monday, April 1st, the subject will start with "A," the 2nd "B" and so on.  Sundays we don't have to post.

The "challenge" for me will be actually coming up with a topic for every letter--especially "Q," "V", "U," "Y" and "Z"!  I'm starting to plan out my post topics already so hopefully by the middle of March I can start writing and scheduling posts.

If you happen to be a blogger I have good news for you--you can participate, too!  This is like a MASSIVE link-up (there are hundreds of participants already), so every day your link in the list will be updated, and other Challenge participants will visit your blog.  Click on THIS link to sign up, and THIS one for answers to some questions about it.

The idea is to build community, so whether you have five followers or five hundred, this is a great opportunity for you to get to know other blogs and to get your own blog "out there."

Personally, I'm praying that this will be an opportunity for me to share the love of Jesus and the good news of his life, death, and resurrection (for US!) with even more people!  I'm so excited to have this opportunity.

If you don't follow me already, please do so now so you don't miss any of my posts for the Challenge in April!  You can follow via Google Friend Connect, email, or other blog readers.

What do you think?  Would you like to participate in a blogging challenge like this?

Planning and Consistency

Do you like consistency?  I like consistency.  No, not as in texture, although that's a good thing too.  I mean a pattern, a regular schedule, something predictable.  Sometimes it's fun to stray from the pattern, but it's comfortable to keep to it.

I've been thinking about this for a little while, and I want to establish a pattern of sorts in my posts.  I like alliteration too, and I like sharing in others' good ideas, so this won't be entirely original, but I'm going to be posting on a (fairly) specific topic each day of the week.  Several of these correspond to themed link-ups that I like joining, but I won't do that every day.
Here's the plan:

Marriage Mondays (with The Alabaster Jar, and others)--posts having to do with my husband, our relationship, and/or my role as a wife
Click HERE for today's post!
Titus 2 Tuesdays (with Far Above Rubies, Time-Warp Wife, and others)--posts having to do with Godly womanhood
Into the Word Wednesdays (with Upward Not Inward, and others)--posts having to do with Scripture and our walk with Christ
Thankful Thursdays (with black tag diaries and others)--posts having to do with how God is awesome, and how thankful I am for who he is and what he does
Foodie Fridays--posts having to do with my experimenting and eating

I recently posted a poll on my Facebook page asking for feedback on what kind of posts my readers are interested in.  The most people asked that I write about marriage and homemaking.  Other topics--like Godly womanhood, cooking, and frugal living--fall under those.  I'll try to focus on those topics in particular, especially since they're the ones I have the most knowledge about.  If you haven't taken the poll yet, hop over to my Facebook page and do so, and click "Like" while you're there!

Finally, I'm excited to announce that I will be participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge this year!  I heard about this massive blogging party a few months ago, and it's been simmering in the back of my mind a bit since then.  The premise is simple: every day in April, except Sundays, your blogging topic must start with a letter of the alphabet--A on April 1st, B on the 2nd, and so on.  Hundreds of bloggers participate in this, so I'm excited to get to know a lot of other people!  I don't intend that this will interfere with my weekly topic schedule.  In fact, I'm looking forward to finding topics that coincide with both things.  These next two months will be brainstorming and planning for that!

If you'd like to participate in the A to Z Challenge, just read all the instructions, follow the hosts' blogs, and sign up!


What kind of posts would you like to see the most on Living in the Light?  I want to write what YOU want to read, so talk to me!

My Purpose for Writing and for Life

I was inspired today to reevaluate my purpose and goals for this blog, and for my writing in general.  Why am I writing?  About what am I writing?  For whom am I writing?

Bottom line, I'm writing to honor and glorify God.  I am writing so that you can know my Jesus--the Son of God who is Lord of all.

And within that, I'm writing to encourage, build up, and inspire you--those for whom I write.

I want to write about a lot of things: homemaking, marriage, cooking, life.  But I want the good news of Jesus Christ to be the common thread that runs through all of that.  God is all-pervading in my life; he's the reason I am alive and he gives me purpose for life.  I want my blog to reflect that.

I'm writing for you, and I'm writing for Jesus.

Maybe that sounds kind of corny.  But in this little space on the internet, I have a voice, and I can use that voice to serve him: to praise him for who he is and what he has done, and to talk about the good news of his life, death, and resurrection.

I want to share a lot of things with you.  I'm thankful for each of my readers, and yes, I hope my readership will grow.  But I want that mostly so that I can tell all of you who read these words of mine, that Jesus loves you.

I want you to know that:  Jesus loves you.  So much.  So much that he, the Son of God, came to earth as a human, lived, and died, and rose again, for you.    He did this so you can have a relationship with him, have faith in him as your Lord and Savior, and spend eternity in heaven with him.

As a sinful person, I won't always accomplish what I set out to do on this blog.  I might focus more on myself than my God.  When that happens, I ask that you graciously look past my faults to the perfect God who, by his grace, I do my best to serve.

He has done everything for me, and he has done everything for you.  Please rest in the knowledge today that the Creator and King of the universe--loves--you.


Linking with:  The Fontenot Four, black tag diaries, There's Just One Mommy, Loved and Lovely

One Word 2013

I've been hearing about this practice since last year--picking one word to define yourself and your life for the year ahead.  Ann Voskamp does it.  So do a lot of other bloggers: Julia at black tag diaries, L at All Glorious Within, "Beloved" at Treat Me to a Feast are just a few.

I thought it would take a lot of time and thinking to determine just one word for the theme for my whole year.  But pondering it briefly yesterday, I realized that there is a pattern to my prayer for myself and my life this year.

I want to focus more on my husband.
I want to focus more on homemaking and housework.
I want to focus on a specific, pretty big project for school.
Most importantly, I want to focus more on my heavenly Father and His Word.

So, my one word for 2013 is:

Focus

I really want to work on this, this new year.  Life goes by so quickly.  I've had people tell me that one's twenties are the most exciting part of life, with the most changes and new experiences, but they are also the years that go by the fastest.  Before I know it, I'll be graduated from college (just a year to go!), a mommy (Lord willing, and no we are not pregnant yet), moving, starting a new life as my husband begins teaching, and who knows what else.  I don't want to miss any of the blessings that God gives me each day.  I want to pay attention to the little things, and not take anything for granted.

And how do you take special notice of the little things?

You focus.  Zoom in on the details.  Ignore the distractions that surround you.  Pay attention to what's important in that one moment.

That's how I want to live my life this year: savoring each moment as it comes, focusing on what is at hand, and not letting myself get distracted by what the world throws at me.  I don't want so much to look toward the future as I want to experience the present.

Pray for me?  That God would help me ignore the distractions and focus on the important?

And if you're doing One Word--tell me about it!  Link up your post about your One Word in the comments. I'll be praying for you, too.

Blogging and real-life friendships!

One thing I really, really love about blogging is the community that develops among bloggers and readers.  I've gotten to "know" several fellow bloggers via Facebook, and I am so thankful for the blessing they are to me.  It's wonderful to have friends who have had similar life experiences as me, and who are just a little ahead of me in life, to learn from and be encouraged by.  I have gotten to know a few bloggers with whom I have real-life connections.  One, Kayla, is married to a former fellow camp counselor, and another, Beth, goes to my parents' church and became friends with my mom before Beth and I ever "met" via blogging.

I am absolutely thrilled that I get to meet both these amazing women during Joshua's and my visit to my parents' this week!  I met Beth this morning at church and Kayla and her family are coming over tomorrow.  Neither of them is blogging regularly at the moment, but Kayla has a website for her photography business, and I'm linking to Beth's post full of her wedding pictures.  It is a delight to get to know both these beautiful women, and I hope to meet more of my "blogging friends" in real life someday!

2012: The Best Of

This summer was by far my most dedicated blogging period yet.  I would love to be at that daily-writing pace all the time, but during the school year there are so many other things that take up my time.  I do hope to write more this coming semester than last, but knowing myself as I do, we shall wait and see if that happens or not!

However, this past summer I really enjoyed the community that grew here, getting to know new bloggers, and the feedback I received on my posts about marriage.  Those were, by far, the most-viewed posts from this last year, so I give you:

 2012's Ten Most Popular Posts

(in chronological order)

February: Marrying Young

May: From My Husband: A Special Guest Post

June: To All Christian Wives and Mothers: I'm Rooting for You

A Wise Woman Submits to Her Husband (this post has a record number of comments!)

To Be Beautiful for My Husband (Married Women Only) (this is my most popular post ever!)

July: My Husband's Helper

{The Top Ten Reasons} Why I Love Being Married

Cultivating Your Marriage After a Baby {Guest Post by Mary Beth}

August: What a Young Wife has Learned

The To-Do List That Will Change Your Life

Highlights from the rest of the year:

January: Why am I in College?

March: Our Love Story: Part Three (parts one and two are linked in the post!)

April: (just one post this month...) I'm Back!

September: I'm Experimenting...With Homemade Liquid Soap!

October: These Yellow-Tinted Days

November: (I didn't write in November, but here's a November-related post) Why I'm Voting for Romney/Ryan

December: Born to Live...and Die

If you've missed any of these posts, I invite you to read them now!  If there are any you particularly enjoyed, might I humbly request that you share them?

2012 has been a fantastic year.  I have learned so much, been so blessed, and realized all the more how amazing God is.  I'm excited to see what 2013 has in store!

I'm here, and I'm writing.

This is good.  Two days in a row.  No link-ups, but you know, I think that's a good thing.  A dip in pageviews will be good for me--a reminder to not let that affect me.  A reminder of the real reason why I write: not to get my words out to as many people as possible, but just to get them out there for the people who really care about what I have to say.

(Hint: if you're reading this, that's you.)

Today has been a much better day than yesterday.  It's 8:00, I have two hours before I'll be home (to my hubby, yay!) and I'm not exhausted yet.  This is a good sign.  I had supper with my best friend and her two sweet house-mates tonight.  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and veggies.  SO good.  Best meatloaf I've had in a while.  (Thanks, K!)

Half a week in...I think I can handle this.  I know I can.  Philippians 4:13, for Pete's sake.  This week has been a wake-up call: I can't do life alone.  I really need Jesus.  Bible reading has got to become even more important, because I need the spiritual strength so much more.  I mean, I need it all the time, but you know what I mean.

Guess what.  I discovered something.  I like writing like this, unpolished, not really thought through ahead of time, just letting the words go out on the screen.  A journal for a lot of people, most of whom I don't know personally and probably never will (and that's okay).  There is, of course, a time and place for those posts that I spend more time thinking about, planning, wording carefully, writing to fit all the various link-ups I do in a day.  But I'm really loving this freedom, to just write about whatever, and not really care what anyone else thinks--or even if it gets read or not.  It was written.  That's what matters.

to keep on keepin' on

Today was the first day of school.
Technically, it's my senior year, but I have a year and a half to go and Joshua has two.  So we'll be "super-seniors," which isn't that big a deal...a lot of people follow the five-year plan.  Or four and a half, in my case.

We didn't get to bed nearly early enough last night, so that might contribute to my tiredness.  I'm exhausted.  It'll probably take a few days to get used to the school schedule again.  I don't have a massively busy schedule, but it's plenty.  Figuring in classes, work, homework, meal-making, cleaning, dishes, and time with friends and most importantly with Joshua...it's a little overwhelming.  But I know we'll get into a system, and I'll get used to it.  I always do. :)

So far I've only been to three of my eight classes.  Two of them are choir and handbells, which both are very familiar.  I have two new professors this semester, and I met both of them today.  I think this will be a good semester.  I'm looking forward to all my classes.  They will all be useful and interesting. :)

I want to keep blogging, and linking up, but I have a feeling that, at least for a while, blogging might have to take the back burner.  I know writing is really, really important, but did you see that list of everything I have to do every day?

Give me a couple weeks.  At the most, a month.  I'll keep writing as much as I can...but it might be a little less than usual in the next few weeks.  Bear with me.  Stick with me if you want to.  Keep your eyes open... I'll keep posting.  I'll be here.  I just might be a little scarce for a while. :)

Because this is important to me.  Writing.  Blogging.  Keeping up with this community.  I know I have an obligation to my readers, to keep on keepin' on.  I have even more of an obligation to myself.  This is important.

But I talk a lot about priorities...keeping first things first.  Blogging is an important thing, but it's not a first thing.  Not right now.  So it will happen--I hope fairly regularly--but I need to keep other things first: God.  My husband.  My friends.  School.  Work.

Thanks for sticking with me. :)

Blogging, Bragging and Baking: Why God is Amazing

God has been working in some pretty cool ways this week.  As always, he gives us so much to be thankful for, but this week he reminded us how awesome he really is!

A young married lady, E, started reading my blog several months ago because she saw a comment I made on a blog that I visit on occasion.  A few months later, she started going to my parents' church and met my mom and dad.  Recently, my mom had this lady and another young married lady over for tea.  My mom was telling them about my blog, which is when E realized that she read it already.  This past Tuesday, E and I commented on each other's blogs, which was when I figured out she was from near my hometown.  Long story short...we have an insane amount of things in common, and we spent two and a half hours facebook chatting and getting to know each other.
Yeah, told you God is awesome. :)  E and I are hoping to meet in person when Joshua and I visit my parents over Christmas break.  It is a very small Lutheran world!  I'm excited to see what plans God has for this budding friendship...because he obviously orchestrated its beginning!

My husband is awesome, and other people are well aware of this fact, too!  Very good things are happening with his job.  We are blessed, and I'm so proud of him I could bust.  God is amazing; that's all there is to it.

I got to take a nap this morning (which is why this post is two hours late...oh well).  But I woke up to cloudy skies and the gentle rolling of a little thunder...I sure hope we get more rain!!  It sprinkled a little bit!

We had dinner with some new-ish friends last night at their home.  It was sooo yummy.  Also, I made dessert, which you should all try... chocolate chip cookie dough in the bottom of a paper-lined muffin tin, a mini Reese's cup on that, and then brownie batter on top.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Oh my goodness, SO delicious.  And if you wanted to make it really easy you could buy store-bought cookie dough and use a good brownie mix...but I didn't feel like doing that so I made a quarter batch of cookie dough (had some left over) and half a batch of brownie batter (which was exactly enough).  YUM.

I'm thankful this week, also, for new blogging friends, and bloggers I'm getting to know better.  Blogging is a big world, and yet we still manage to find people like us--for me, that means a heart crazy in love with Jesus, almost as crazy in love with my husband, and with a passion for homemaking.  It has been so encouraging to find others who are doing and loving the same things I am, and who have been able to encourage me in my faith and in life.

This is a ridiculously long Thankful Thursday post...I apologize.  But what's a girl to do when her Jesus is so wonderful? :) :)

Linking up with some other thankful (and thriving :) ) ladies this week:
black tag diaries; The Fontenot Four; Passionate and Creative Homemaking; Live Called; a punk, a pumpkin and a peanut; Kate Says Stuff; First Day of My Life

family, friends, faith--so many blessings

I love Thankful Thursdays.
They're a rock in a sea of change.
They ground me.
They re-focus me.

OK, maybe that's a little dramatic, but I still love having a day every week that reminds me to focus on all the amazing blessings God has given me.  I mean, I know God is awesome, but really!!  He is so incredibly gracious all the time.  (For more on that, see yesterday's post.)

Today, I am thankful (as always!) for my amazing husband.  I can't put into words the blessing he is to me every day.  He is my reality check, my self-esteem-booster, my source of romance, my personal comedian, my best friend and my favorite person.  And just this morning he told me that the homemade cinnamon rolls I made for breakfast were the best he's ever had.  Bar none.  Including Cinnabon.  If he hadn't already endeared himself to me, that would have done it right there.

I am thankful that in TEN DAYS not only will my parents and sister be here, but so will my best friend and her family...and the two families will get to meet for the first time!!  I last saw my family in May and I last saw my friend...well, about two weeks after that, so it is high time for a visit.  And THEN the first week of August we're going to a family reunion with my parents, siblings, and, well, the whole family on my grandma's side.  (This happens about once every two years, so we are tight. :) )  And Joshua gets to meet most of them for the first time...which will be a little overwhelming, but I'm so excited!

I am thankful for good food.  Beef, cream-of-mushroom soup, and red wine in a slowcooker for six hours on high results in some of the most yumminess I've put in my mouth for a while.  And, as I mentioned, killer cinnamon rolls.  YUM.

I am thankful for friends with whom we can talk about our faith, and who challenge, inspire and encourage us.  We and another couple decided to start meeting on Saturday nights for dinner and a Bible study for the rest of the summer (and maybe into the school year) and I'm so thankful for them and our time together.  And we get to hang out again the day after tomorrow!

I am thankful that God continually speaks to and encourages me, and the many creative ways he chooses to do so...books, blogs, friends, family.  I have felt his presence more clearly the last week or so than I have before.  I want nothing more to be in intimate fellowship with my heavenly Father...may he grant me the grace to be open to that and to be in communication with him.

I'm also so very thankful for the new, wonderful people I am getting to know through blogging.  I wish I had more hours in a day to keep in better touch with everyone!  It's amazing to realize how many other people are so much like me...and how far the Body of Christ really reaches.  Heaven is going to be incredible (we'll have to have a big bloggers' get-together once we're all there! :D ).

Share in the comments, if you would like, all the ways God has blessed you in the last few days.  I love to hear how he is working!


Linking today with:
black tag diaries; The Fontenot Four; First Day of My Life; Kate Says Stuff; A Punk, a Pumpkin and a Peanut; Live Called

Simple Faith

I recently read a book by Janette Oke called A Bride for Donnigan.  I won't give a full synopsis--it was just the end that really moved me yesterday.  (However, I would recommend this and all her books!)

By the end of the book, two parents are trying to raise their six young children as well as they can.  Neither parent was raised in a Christian family, but they believe there is a God, and that they should teach their children about Him.  Slowly, through much study of the Bible, they come to understand what God has done throughout history.  But there is something missing.  The husband and wife are both still burdened with anger and unforgiveness as a result of their past.  Finally, while talking with their children about Jesus, their little girl realized what they needed to do.  "I want to tell God sorry," she sobbed.  Her parents had not yet understood what it meant to pray--that they could just tell God anything--but their small daughter spoke simply to God, telling Him she was sorry for the bad things she had done, and asking Him to forgive her.  When she finished, she looked up at them with a smile full of joy and peace, knowing she was forgiven.

Her parents wanted that.  So, not long afterward, they each told God that they were sorry for what they had done wrong, asked Him to forgive them, and asked Him to help them live their lives in obedience to Him.

It was that simple.  They, too, felt the peace and joy that their little daughter had.

Now, I know this is a fictional story.  But Janette Oke is right.  The apostle John wrote in his first epistle,

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).

It's that simple.  When we confess our sinfulness, God forgives us and purifies us from the sin within us.

I've been a Christian all my life.  I was baptized when I was less than a month old, and I've had saving faith in Jesus Christ ever since.  I am thankful for this, but sometimes I make my faith more complicated than it needs to be.  Sometimes I'm fooled into thinking I actually have to do something to earn God's forgiveness...that I have to live a perfect life in order to please Him.

Well, I would have to live a perfect life to please God...if Jesus hadn't already done it for me.
There's nothing more I have to do.  Jesus has paid the price for my sins, taken them away on the cross, and provided the means necessary for my eternal forgiveness and salvation.

I don't have to try to impress God.  All He wants me to do is "tell Him sorry."
Thanks be to God for His immeasurable grace!!

Yesterday, as I closed this book, I was in tears.  I realized that I had been trying too hard.  I don't need a big, complicated faith.  Jesus encouraged His followers to have faith like a child--and that's what I need, too: a complete, unassuming faith that expects nothing of myself.  God doesn't expect me to be perfect.  He knows I can't be, and that I can't do anything good on my own.  He is the One who gives me the willpower, strength and ability to please and serve Him.  

So I asked Him for that.  I asked Him if this blog is really what He wants me to do--if it's pleasing and glorifying to Him.  I asked Him to help me be the best wife I can be to Joshua.  I asked God to help me honor, glorify, serve and praise Him in everything I do.

Then, last night, a friend messaged me on Facebook.  She said that my blog was a blessing to her, and even asked for help in coming up with an idea for a devotion.

A comment on yesterday's post suggested that I write devotions for women.

My husband reiterated once again that I am a great wife to him.

Now, it's not often that God answers my prayers quite this clearly.  Sometimes I'm not sure what His answer is.  Sometimes it's "No" or "I have something better for you."  But yesterday, the answer clearly was "Yes."  I am so very thankful to have been encouraged in this way.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins

and purify us from all unrighteousness."

When we pray, "God, please forgive me," that is a prayer He always answers with "Yes."

God keeps His promises.

Whenever we confess, He will forgive and cleanse us.

And it really is as simple as that--as simple as a child's faith.

June: Blessings and Lessons

This has been quite the month.  God has been teaching me so much in every area of my life.  I've learned a lot about what it means to be a godly wife.  I've been learning more about taking care of our home.  And blogging has taught me some lessons, as well!

A few very popular posts have made this month my busiest ever.  My pageviews have skyrocketed, and my most popular post has nearly 1,000 pageviews!!


This is absolutely humbling.  Thank you all SO much--and to God alone be the glory!


In case you missed them, or want to go back and read them again, here are the most popular posts from this month:

To Be Beautiful for My Husband (Married Women Only)
What does it mean, according to Scripture, to be beautiful for our husbands?  This has become my most popular post of all time.  It's also the one with the most comments--there is quite a discussion here!  If you haven't joined it yet, please do so!


A Wise Woman Submits to Her Husband
This is a personal favorite of my posts, and another one that sparked a really interesting discussion.


To All Christian Wives and Mothers: I'm Rooting for You
Can you see a pattern in the things I'm most passionate about in my writing?


To My Younger Self: On Relationships
I wrote the advice I would share with my younger self, if I could go back in time and talk to her, or to any young woman.


My Greatest Desire
I'll give you a hint: it's not to be rich or famous.


From My Husband: A Special Guest Post
This was actually written at the end of May, but it's one of June's most popular posts.  I have such an incredible husband.


Marriage Compromises
When is it good to compromise in marriage?  When is it not?


Loving Him in Little Ways
One of several "loving my husband" posts, this one on smaller ways I show love to my husband.

of friends, old and new

In the last week I've been blessed to spend time with family and friends, to talk with other family and other friends on the phone, and to get to "know" some new blogging friends!  There are many women who have been a blessing to me through their words, but this week two ladies in particular have blessed me in several ways.

This is Jolene, from The Alabaster Jar, and her husband Eric.

Practically every post of hers that I've read so far has had me nodding in agreement, fighting back tears of happiness, relief, and/or conviction, and quickly sharing the post with friends on facebook.  She has SO many good, Gospel-filled things to say, and she's been a personal encouragement to me lately as well.  I highly recommend that you stop by her blog and read around for a while!

This is Monica, from The Atypical Housewife.

She is another sweet lady whose blog posts have been encouraging, inspiring, and convicting to me lately--AND she's another woman with a passion for homemaking, being a godly wife, and not conforming to the standards of society when it comes to womanhood.  It's such an encouragement to know that there are others who share the same passions I have.  PLUS--I'm guest-posting for her in a few days, and I'm so excited for the opportunity!  (I'll let you know when my post goes live on The Atypical Housewife.)

These are two sweet "new friends" who I dearly wish I could meet in person--but we're sisters in Christ, and that's what matters most.

Other sisters in Christ who I am SO thankful for this week...

My mom, Paula

My mother-in-law, Debbie

My brother-in-law's girlfriend, Whitney

One of my very best friends, Sara

My grandma, Carol

My other grandma, Dottie

My "new" friend, Ashton (we've known of each other for a while but we're finally getting to really know each other now)

Today and always, I'm thankful for the wonderful women (and men, of course!) in my life.

I'm Back!!

I just realized yesterday that it has been over a MONTH since I posted last.  That is a long time!  I have definitely missed blogging, and I think it is high time I quit playing Bejeweled Blitz on facebook so much and started writing more often.  However, this month has been a great chance to think about why I blog, and to get myself out of the rut of writing just for those higher numbers of page views.  It was also a month that I kept quiet about my personal and family life, and that was a good thing.  I didn't really intend to, but I see that I "gave up" blogging for Lent...and I'm okay with that.

That said, I have so much to share with you all about where I've been the last few weeks--spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.  That outlines the posts I'll be writing in the next few days.

Spiritually:  What has God been teaching me?  How am I doing in my prayer/devotional life?  What ways can I encourage you?

Emotionally:  I'll focus on my marriage, and the ways we have grown as a couple, and I have as a wife, in the last month.  I'll also share some things I've learned about marriage that will, Lord willing, be helpful and challenging for you.

Mentally: What kind of other things have I been learning?  What's been on my mind?

Physically: What have I been doing for and with my body?  I'm going to use this post to focus especially on what I'm doing to enhance our physical lives, meaning, cooking and homemaking.

School will be out for us in just a few weeks--the first week of May.  I have several job applications to fill out and return, and I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for both of us this summer.  Joshua already has a full-time job lined up working on campus with the Buildings and Grounds department--same thing he did last year.  I hope to work about half-time and spend the rest of the time focusing on honing my homemaking and wifely skills. :)  This morning I wrote out a list of my cleaning, organizing and home improvement goals for the spring and summer.  I'll share that with you, too.

For now, it's great to be back in the blogging world, and I'm looking forward to encouraging one another once again, as we seek to live in the light of Christ!