Recipe of the Week

www.onceuponachef.com/2011/03/asian-slaw-with-ginger-peanut-dressing

WOW. WOW.WOW.

This is a salad to die for. Travis and I LOVE ethnic foods. Thank you to my mom and dad for never taking us to Applebee's or Longhorn, or any "regular" places to eat. More like Zaytun, The Grapeleaf, Mirage etc. We love our fresh hummus, and lamb kebabs, with grilled vegetables all seasoned with exotic seasonings from the Middle East. We love the tea from the stores that are a little terrifying to enter. Anyhoo, this recipe is of asian influence and I found it looking for Travis something because of his love of all things peanut'y.' TRY it. It seems a little long but I promise you, it is well worth it. Even my littles ate it right up.

Proverbs 17:22

"A joyful heart is like a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

This week this verse has been coming up over and over and as my family has been down one by one with a virus, I couldn't help but take note! Oh for a medicine that will kill a virus! When I was a teenager, I went through Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God. (more about that here www.blackaby.net/expgod) Blackaby always mentions that when a verse continues to come up around you, PAY ATTENTION! Well, its come up at least five times over the past week. Soooo, I have taken heed! We all know about being joyful but do we all live it? What in the world does that mean?

Children are fantastic models of joy. I am amazed at how much my children daily teach me about being more like the Lord. Forgiveness, joy, helpfulness, cheerfulness, love, and I could go and on! Last year while beginning our homeschool journey, I was searching for some music with substance and found this: www.songsforsaplings.com. Wow. My kids picked up on these verses and truths so quickly. One of the songs is none other than "A merry heart does good like a medicine, Proverbs 17:22" So simple. So easy to understand. So childlike. Yet so hard sometimes for me to remember! I decided to sing in my heart this song whenever I felt myself having an ugly heart....and it has helped so much! So if you are around me, and I start whistling a little tune, know I am just reminding myself and my babies to practically put into our lives, God's word.

Weights~

     So as I am sitting here thinking and praying about our upcoming school year, I am realizing the enormity of the task I am beginning. I have always looked at motherhood and marriage differently than most I feel. As a younger person, I, like many females, looked forward to marriage, home ownership, and babies. I didnt think too much about it. But as they began to occur in my life, my views on them began to shift. 

     Let me explain. I read, alot. I read devotionals, and blogs, and missionary stories and obsure books many would find "boring" because I always find treasure and gems within these stories. The Lord has entrusted me with a husband. If I ponder that statement for a moment, I should feel the weight of it. He has allowed me the great responsibility to be a man's helpmate. I have the privilege to help Travis, pray for him, sharpen him, serve him, feed him, give him a place to rest, love him, listen to him, friend him, praise him, encourage him, and push him closer to our Lord. The weight of that is heavy, really heavy. I am really strong girl, I promise. I mean, my sister and I are pretty proud of how strong we Greenwell girls are. But the weight of that is immense. Because one day, I have to stand before a holy God and account for how I have helped him, and "wifed" if you will, him. This is why, even though at time, I really could throw him to the curb, :), my promise of til death parts us, will stand firm. I also now, have three littles who watch me. They see in my and Travis' relationship, a picture, be it not perfected mind you, of Christ and his love and relationship w/ the church. So not only do I have to account for my actions with my husband, but also how I have modeled this to the littles with whom God has entrusted me! Talk about heavy!

    This week as I have been reading, several devotionals have reminded me of the great privilege it is to help my husband, the amazing opportunity I have to mother these babies. More on that in another post :) But today, I can take refuge in the promises that my God has given me in his Word. He is a good God. He is a sure God. He is a steady God. The enormity of my tasks is nothing to His broad and strong shoulders. I am only to listen to His words, and obey them. He will carry the weight of the rest.

Jumping onto the Blog Wagon.....stay tuned for accessories posts!!!

So i ve been extra reluctant to begin blogging. i don't know necessarily why, but i guess i just always thought it was a big narcissistic. a blog? just about me? who would read this? my sister, my dad maybe? my thoughts were always "why would anyone in their right mind, care to read what i have to say!" and "i'm just not gonna think that many people care!" lol... no clue why....BUT now i DO see the reasons....family, friends, keeping in touch, getting a glimpse into one's life.....or personally, because individually posting on etsy is just way to time consuming for this mama....so stay tuned for pics of all my creations for my shoogie and to share w your girl :)