Marriage

Many of you have probably figured out that my last post on this site was a little different than all the others.
That is because I accidentally posted the store pictures here.
So, if you enjoyed that, you can check my other blog for more. =0)

In the mean time, another note about marriage.
I've heard it said that the very things you love about your spouse can also be the things that bug you the most. So true.
My husband is a perfectionist in many ways. He gives 100% (plus) to anything he does. If
he builds something I've asked him to, he takes a long time, and does it the very best he can. ( It didn't have to be perfect for me, and I wanted it yesterday!). =0)
But he took pride in knowing he had done the best job he could.

Years ago he was in school. He was always reading, writing, and sitting at the computer. That usually resulted in straight A's.
I felt like I shouldn't interrupt him. I resented the time he spent studying. I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself and my self esteem went downhill. I was a very needy person, so of course I wanted ALL his attention. I felt alone, especially since our kids had grown up and left home.

Needless to say I survived.

Well, the very thing I resented then is now an area I admire in him. I understand it is part of who he is to give his best. It is how God made him. And, it is certainly a different story now that the time he is spending 'away' from me, is actually 'for' me, and for others. He is reading books on marriage in preparation for whatever 'classes' we get to lead in hopes of helping others NOT have to go though what we went through. I am so blessed to see him reading, and knowing he is praying for us and others.

I won't make this any less important by saying I am not as needy a person as I used to be. That I have grown too. We have both grown, and at this point of almost 40 years of marriage, our life together is wonderful. I wonder if I would really appreciate that if we had not had such hard years?

In closing, if you're having a hard time, try to think of the good things about your spouse.
The things you loved about him when you met. I'm sure there are many and they are still there, we just lose sight of what they are sometimes.

Blessings on your day.

Cleaning House

We'll be moving some things around shortly, adding more Fall, and then in November adding Christmas decor and gifts.

These cute kitchen things, and the adorable little table and chairs will be finding a new home shortly. Last chance to have a look!!

The Iron table and two chairs is $85. It is very heavy iron, with cute upholstered chairs in pink fabric. We may keep this out if we can find a place for it over the Holidays. It would make a nice gift for some special little girl. The tea set is complete with sugar, creamer, tea pot, and plates and saucers. A 4 piece place setting. $25. We'll try to leave it out for Holiday Gift giving.

Please click on photo to see everything a little better. Oh, Teddy is for sale too.

These are photos of the kitchen area. Mainly blue and red here, although i did find these wonderful yellow shabby folding chairs. There are 6 of them, and only $15 each.

In the stand on the left is tinware, and more of that around too. In the corner is a vintage snack set. It is clear glass with a unique design. We also have old magazines, and cookbooks.

On the right is a child's ironing board, and a teddy tea set. The melon dishes are gone, but canisters still available.

Hope you enjoyed another look at the store. Be sure to come by and check out the new Fall decor, and there are new arrivals every day.

Marriage Research

I must tell you my husband is taking this class on marriage very seriously. He has been reading the marriage books we have here, has picked up a book on his own, and is even thinking about a marriage conference in Colorado next Spring!!

I must say it is exciting to see him doing all this research, and I know it will greatly benefit us, as well as those we will be having in classes, and small groups. If I had known this would happen, I would have prayed we'd be group facilitators long ago!!

OK, now I know it is all in God's timing, and it seems like it would have been really nice a number of years ago, but it was obviously not the right time then, and it is now.
I'm so grateful He sees the whole picture, and that we can trust His timing is perfect.

I guess I'd better quit sewing so much for our Holiday Faire, and not blog quite so much, so I can try to catch up with him. (that will be a problem no matter how many other things i put aside. He is a fast reader, and I am slow). =0) I will plug along anyway, and in the mean time he has promised he would share any outstanding things he learns.

Blessing on your week.
And remember, God's timing is perfect!

Waffles and Spaghetti

I've made reference to this briefly before, but want to tell you a little more about it.

Scott and I have been married almost 40 years. We have had our good years, bad years, and now seems to be the best of all. We have learned a lot over the years.

We have had marriage ministry on our hearts and minds for some time. As a matter of fact, we feel that no matter how well, (or poorly) things seem to be going for you and your spouse, there is always more to learn and apply. If you aren't growing, in both your relationship with your spouse, and the Lord, you become stagnant. Marriage is a full time commitment, and it takes a lot of work.

We read a little book a couple of years ago, "Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti" by Bill and Pam Ferrel. That book gave us a better understanding of how men's and women's brains work, and it helped us learn to communicate better. We have the video series now, and will have a small group in our home, and later teach the series at our church.

In light of all this, we have been reviewing it all, and discovering, again, a lot of good material to put into practice. (we read it all before, but sometimes need a reminder of the little things that make such a big difference in a relationship).

In preparing we are also realizing what a huge responsibility we are taking on. It is not just getting ready for meetings, but realizing how much thought and prayer needs to go into this. Realizing the need for prayer support from others and more time on our knees together. Knowing that we are offering ourselves up, not as an example of a perfect marriage, or a couple who knows everything and has it all together, but of real and honest people, who are willing to share their hearts. We have been through a lot together, and grown through it, and want to continue to grow.
We know that as we trust the Lord to do this, He will be exalted. We also know that Satan would love for this whole thing to fall apart. I'm sure a battle is in store for all of us.

So, to any of you who feel lead to pray or be involved, please let us know.
Looking forward to partnering together in God's work,

Barb and Scott

Weekend trip/mindrest

It just occurred to me, that this day and half away was also a good "mind rest". (from previous blog).

I guess that would fall into the category of "time with God". Nice thing about being away in our time with Him, is that you can't do anything about all the things you think about that need to be done every day, and you're too busy to think about them anyway. So I guess the best two parts of the whole conference was seeing friends, and spending time with Him. Thus, the peace of mind that comes only from Him. =0))

Weekend Trip

I went to my first "Women of Faith" conference this weekend. A group from our church went, along with several other groups from churches around Oregon and neighboring states. There were about 11,000 ladies there, (and a few gents).
I've heard about Women of Faith in the past, but had never gone because of the anxiety i get in large groups of people.
I went this year because I think the Lord 'arranged' it, and i didn't want to miss out on anything He had planned for me. I want to be obedient when He calls me to do something, even when it is uncomfortable to do it, and once on the road to the conference i was fine.

I'm not going to write in detail about our 'adventures' of getting lost, (or as a friend said "temporarily on a different path"), or details about speakers and singers. There were some good insights from speakers, and some good praise music, and that is enough.

What i would like to write about is what i came away with, or maybe, didn't come away with.
I didn't come away with a mountain top experience, or a high that has me bouncing off the walls, and wanting for more, and not wanting to come down from the mountain. That would be the norm, and that's what made me examine what was different this time from the times I have ventured out before.

What I did come away with is an appreciation for getting to know some of the women from my church family; a realization of how much I enjoy the quiet of my home and every day life and how much I enjoy being with my husband, doing anything.
How much i appreciate that my walk with the Lord is a steadfast, day in and day out, can trust Him in anything walk. It's not dependent on my feelings, high or low. It's not dependant on outside influences or sources of music or people to lead me in worship. I can do that in my own heart, anytime, anywhere. It's not dependent on other peoples teachings, (though there's always much to learn), but on dependence on Him, searching His word, and knowing Him better.

So, I would say i came away with a lot. In the midst of 11,000 women singing and praising, worship teams, flashing lights, professional singers, comedians, speakers, and writers, I was able to settle into the presence of the Lord.
I was refreshed by the Spirit in the quietness of my own soul, and feel the calm of His peace in me.
Thank you Lord, for a day away, but even more for every day with You.

Mind Rest

We have all heard that we should give our bodies a rest, lest we wear them out.
Well did you ever think about your mind needing a rest?
Mine certainly does, and often!

I get so many things going on in my head i can't even think straight. Everything gets to be major, confusing, and frustrating because i can't get past square one. Everything is so attached to everything else.
In a book Scott and I read called "Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti", by Bill and Pam Farrel, it says a man's brain is like a waffle. It is all these little compartments where they keep everything separately. They can't be in more than 1 'box' at a time. There is a box for sports, one for work, a separate one for mowing the yard, for Bible study and so on. They have a 'listen to your wife' box (ever wonder why when he's watching sports he doesn't listen to what you are saying? It's because he isn't in his 'listen to his wife" box). And, they have a "NOTHING" box!!!!

Now, a woman's mind is like a spaghetti noodle. Everything is attached to everything else. So, we can't just simply chose one problem to work on, but we think about how it is going to affect everything else along the line. They are all attached together. Now men don't understand this, any more than women understand how they can have a "nothing" box.

OK, I got a little off track here.
What i started out to say is how we need to rest our minds. I have several ways i do this.
I have grandchildren. Wonderful grandchildren!! When i need a break from all the things that are going through my mind, i hang out with them. You can't think about life's problems and decisions when you are reading a story, drawing, playing Polly Pocket, or playing hide and seek.
Works every time.
Another thing that works is helping someone else. Sometimes i go help prepare the church dinner on Wednesday. If I don't concentrate on chopping those onions, it might be my thumb in the soup instead!
You can help someone else by listening to their problems. Kind of puts your aside for awhile and helps them all at once. Or you could even have a friend listen to yours. Sometimes a fresh perspective helps clear your mind.

Have you noticed a pattern here? All these ways of clearing my mind involved other people.
And most of them involve helping others.
WOW! Isn't that great? We can help others, and end up helping ourselves at the same time!
We are blessed, and we have blessed others!

One more thing. You must take time to do it.
Taking time to be with the Lord brings the best peace of all.
I know you don't feel like you have any time. But you won't have more time by worrying either.

So, give it a try.
Hang out, help people, listen, spend time with God, and let your mind rest.

Hope you have a peaceful day.