Well, to finish my last thought...I was blogging about the super mom of the bible, the Proverbs 31 woman. I thought it would be neat for you to ask your spouse (or a significant other) how many times they had read Proverbs 31. I asked Dave how many times he had read that passage. Now, he is a pastor and has been to seminary where they study the bible in detail, even going back to the original Greek and Hebrew languages to interpret it exactly!! He said he may have read it a couple of times! A couple??? I mean, come on! I've read this passage one hundred times!! I probably heard it read to me a hundred times too; well maybe not quite that many, but a lot! There is no shortage of material out there on Proverbs 31. There is even a ministry called Proverbs 31 (which is excellent, by the way, and you should check out their website www.proverbs31.org). It seems everywhere a girl looks Proverbs 31 is in her face! Why, just tonight, I began a new bible study and I am here to tell you that we sang a song taken right from Proverbs 31:30!! And when I ask myself "why?", God showed me the reason.
Take a look at the latest magazine and you will see all kinds of beautiful ladies throughout those pages. Most are tall, thin, graceful, and strikingly beautiful...models, to be exact. They show us the latest outfits, handbags, jewelry, perfume...heck, the chic in the Swiffer Sweeper ad is quite a looker. They are all trying to show us, or model, what the world thinks we should look like, have, do, be, etc... God, however, is trying to model what He thinks we should look like through the Proverbs 31 mom. All the characteristics she possesses are those that God has gifted to women. She is our example. Could we ever attain all that she is? Maybe. Should we strive for that goal?? Absolutely. In Philippians 2 verse 4 and following we are told,
"Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men."
The Proverbs 31 gal sure doesn't seem to be looking out for her own interests! She is always looking out for others. Even though her children call her blessed and her husband praises her, she clothes herself with dignity, not vanity. She empties herself out to her household and is not lazy! I don't know about you, but I see a woman, who even before her Savior came, was modeling His walk. God has given us a model to go by; not only in the life of Jesus, but in the life of this everyday woman who knew what it was all about. She is not selling us the latest fashion, shampoo, or "game" for Nintendo DS that will turn us into the Iron Chef; she is showing us how to be the Bride of Christ. We may not do things exactly like her, may not have the exact abilities or even the same desires. What we do have is the responsibility to clothe ourselves in strength and dignity. We can smile at our future with Christ Jesus as our Savior(vs 25). We need to speak wisely and teach kindness in what we say and do(vs26). We need to look after our household, to the best of OUR ability(vs27). We can't be lazy or apathetic when it comes to raising our kids, we only get one shot(vs27-28)! And verse 30 says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." Give God the praise for what He has gifted you to be able to do and you will be a Pro!! A Pro 31 girl, that is!!! Love ya'll! Shannon

Workin' Mom Goes All Pro 31 On Everybody!

Well, I have just finished my first week back at work after being on "maternity" leave with Sam. I was privileged to be able to spend October 13 (when we left for Guatemala) until January 5 being an at home mom. I got to stay in my pj's a little longer, drink another cup of coffee (or 2), and bond with a precious little boy! It was a really special time. I enjoyed it!! This week has been good too. I got to see all the kids at school again, hear their Christmas stories and get loved on!! My mom was able to keep Sam and enjoyed every minute of it (or so she said...). It really hasn't been as hard as I thought. Don't get me wrong...I would stay home if I could! But right now that is not an option.
I have thought a lot about working moms today. Even read about one in the bible. You may even be familiar with the Proverbs 31 mom. She's perfect! She gets up real early and cooks breakfast for everybody. She dabbles in real estate. She earns money and then spends money and knows how well she has invested. She can make clothes for her family and then some. She is like a boy scout and is always prepared for anything. She is well dressed. Her husband is well known and respected! Her children love her to pieces and her husband just adores her! Man!! What an example of a working mom!!!
I have read her story over and over. Sometimes I hang my head in disgust because I know I am no where near any of those things! I can barely sew on a button, much less make a shirt! I do not, repeat, do not get up early and certainly not while it is still dark!! I love cereal for breakfast so no cooking is involved! The list goes on!!!
Then again, this passage has inspired me to try and become more like the Proverbs 31 woman. I become determined! I get up a littler sooner, burn some pancakes, iron a shirt, and maybe pull some weeds. I may mop the floors and do 3 loads of laundry. By then I am so tired that when my child "blesses" me by cleaning the bathroom with his shampoo, I might just bless him out!! This of course ruins any kind of loving thoughts my husband might have had about me and if he goes out in public he certainly doesn't want anyone to bring up the fact that he is married to me!!! Has anyone else been here??? Have you tried to be her???
I'm going to continue this thought in another blog because I know this is long. In the mean time, I want you to ask your husband how many times he has read Proverbs 31 and then ask yourself how many times have you??? I bet you'll be surprised! Bye for now! Love to you all, Shannon

Are you redeeming the time??

I have been thinking...I know, I know...Dave always has some remark when I begin a sentence with those words. But it's true, I have been thinking a lot about this new year. As I look back at 2008 I really can't remember a year that has gone by quicker for me. I can clearly think back to last January when we had our home study done for the adoption and then it was like a blink and we were traveling to Guatemala and then another blink and we celebrated 2009! What happened to all the in between time?? To be honest, I have no idea. I don't have a fat bank account that showed I worked a lot during that time. In fact, this past summer was the first in many years that I haven't worked full time. I don't have a scrapbook full of photos showing all the cool trips we took (although somewhere in there we did go to Disney!) I don't have friends calling me saying, "Remember the great time we had? Let's do that again!" In fact, I barely spent any time with friends because I was so busy with other stuff. The problem is, I can't seem to put any value on what all that other stuff was!! That is a lot of time with no redeeming value!! One thing I do remember over this past year is that our pastor gave a message on redeeming the time that we have missed. At first I didn't understand what he meant. I mean, how can you redeem time? Time spent is in the past, you can't get it back! Then, the more I thought and as he explained, it all became clear. It is true that the time was past, I couldn't go back and re-live a moment of my life. That day I spoke really harsh to Max, I couldn't have a do over. The day I criticized Dave for basically living, I couldn't say, "oh, my bad"! The damage was done! But God has chosen to allow me the beginning of another year, 365 new days. Not to go back and try to fix my past mistakes but to take the initiative not to make them again. When I resolve or set a goal to do something this year, I don't want to look back at wasted time. I want to redeem, or take the time that I know I will lose if I allow myself to make the same bad choices. This is my challenge to you. Redeem this time, this year. Put forth your best effort and choose to make your time count for God, your spouse, your kids....you know what I mean. The things that are important. Love your neighbor, bless your enemies, praise the Lord in all things. That is how you and I will redeem our time. And maybe when 2010 rolls around, quick as it may seem, we won't have to regret that 2009 is gone. Thanks for letting me vent! Love you all, Shannon

Happy New Year!!!!!!!! What a blessed year we have experienced and look forward to what God has planned in 2009. We had a few milestones this year. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in August. Max played football for his first season. We have been serving at our church for 3 years. We adopted our son, Samuel, from Guatemala. It has been a great year, with some stress, a little chaos and a lot of joy. We pray that in 2009 God will allow us to grow in the knowledge of Him as a family; That we will share our love for Christ and His forgiveness with others. But most of all that we will remember what a great big God we serve and give praise and thanksgiving for whatever this new year brings. May God bless you and your family in the new year!! Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." All these things are the blessings and plans God has for you. Seek Him, seek righteousness in 2009, and see what He will do!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!! It has been a while since the last update but here goes. We got through Amber's big wedding and the next thing you knew it was Christmas day!! Where has this year gone?? I'm sure you all are asking that questions as well. We had a very blessed Christmas. Sam loved every minute of it, such a little ham! Max got a Nintendo DS and that is all he has done since!! He loved spending time with his cousins and is now enjoying some time with Grandi and Papa. I am posting these pics although I took none of them. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Mary, I have some photos of our Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am the worst when it comes to picture taking!! Happy New Year to everyone and may God truly bless you in 2009!!

Well, we celebrated a wonderful weekend with Carey and Amber Scott!! That sounds funny but Amber Dee is now Amber Dee Ezell Scott! Her wedding was marvelous and it was a great weekend. Max was and usher and did such a good job (even if he didn't want to wear the monkey suit!!) Sam was so good; he slept through dinner and woke up just in time to get out on the dance floor. We'll have to see if we have any video clips of that!! It was so good to see all of the family that could make it!! Love to everyone and we'll catch up more later!!

It was a great Thanksgiving at Aunt Becky's and we have so much to be thankful for. Sam is home and we are now a family of 4! That is just amazing. We have celebrated his first birthday, his first Thanksgiving and soon to be his first Christmas! There is an old hymn that says, "It is no secret, what God can do..." I want everyone to know that it was a miracle from God that brought Sam to us and that God will carry us the rest of the way through the journey!! We pray you had a blessed Thanksgiving as well and that you can enjoy this holiday season by celebrating Jesus, our Savior and Friend!! Love to all!!!