Happy Monday! It's another week and I don't know about you but it's pretty dreary around here. Lately it's been wet and rainy and gray and just yuck! Obviously, some winter blues have set in. And everybody knows that the best way to cure the winter blues (or any kind of blues!) is to laugh!
Now, for today's post, here are a few videos from my favorite comedian of all time! Ladies and Gentlemen, Tim Hawkins!
Well there you go! I hope you enjoyed today's post and you went away smiling. Keep that smile on! Until next time!
"Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it." ~ Henry Ward Beecher
Hello my lovelies! Today... I went wedding dress shopping for the first time. And today, I found my wedding dress! It is absolutely gorgeous and I LOOOOOOOOOVE it!!!! It fits perfectly, no alterations needed and it was exactly in my price range! God is so very very very good! Wanna see? :D :D
............. Ha! Gotcha! ;) My most wonderful fiancee reads my blog sometimes soooo you will all have to wait. Sorry. :) Instead, I will give you something interesting to read! I was curious about some wedding traditions and so I wanted to share with you some of what I've found.
The Wedding Ring
According to Brides Book of Etiquette, the circular shape of the wedding ring symbolizes never-ending love. According to folklore, the ring protected the bride against evil spirits; if the bride or groom dropped it during the ceremony, bad luck would follow. Originally, rings were made of rushes, hemp, or braided grass, which had to be replaced every year.
Romans chose more durable iron to symbolize the permanence of marriage. Gold has always been a popular, but more expensive choice, symbolizing lasting beauty, purity and strength. In ancient Egypt, before coins were minted, gold rings were used as currency and as a symbol of the groom's wealth and his intention to wed. To show that he trusted his wife with his money, the Egyptian husband placed a gold ring on the third finger of her left hand . . .
Why Does the Bride Wear a Veil?
Originally, the bride's veil symbolized her youth and virginity. Veils helped bride's remain modest and hide themselves from jealous spirits. Even today, in Muslim countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, a young man is bound by constraints of religious modesty to conduct his entire courtship while his bride-to-be remains veiled. He's not permitted to see her face until after the wedding . . .
Why Does the Bride Wear White?
White has been a symbol of celebration for some 2,000 years, since the Roman era. In the 19th-century Victorian times, white was a sign of affluence–since it was assumed that a woman would only be able to wear a white dress once or twice, before it was soiled. At the beginning of the 20th century, white became synonymous with purity. Today, the color white once again symbolizes joy on the wedding day; women who are remarrying may choose among many shades of white–from bright white to ecru to champagne.
Why Does the Bride Wear Something Old and Something New?
This custom stems from an old English rhyme, "Something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe. . ." Brides throughout the decades have taken care to include these touches in their bridal outfit, a nod to tradition and superstition. The symbolism: continuity, optimism for the future, borrowed happiness, fidelity, and good fortune.
Why Does the Bride Wear Something Blue?
Brides in ancient Israel wore blue ribbons on the borders of their fringed robes to denote modesty, fidelity, and love–ideals still associated with that color. Blue is also the color that represents the purity and innocence of the Virgin Mary
Why Does the Ceremony End with a Kiss?
From the days of ancient Rome, the kiss was a legal bond that sealed contracts, and thus, the betrothal. Christianity incorporated the betrothal ceremony into the marriage ritual. It was also believed that when a couple kissed, part of each of their souls was left behind in the other when their breath was exchanged. Occurring at the end of the rites, the kiss announces a new status.
There you have it! Some traditions. :) Now for your song!
Now I'm going to go happily dance around my room and sing for the rest of the day. Keep smiling! Until next time!
"Till I loved I never lived—enough." ~ Emily Dickinson
"Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile." ~ Elizabeth Browning
"A happy marriage has in it all the pleasures of friendships, all the enjoyment of sense and reason - and indeed all the sweets of life." ~ Joseph Addison
Good morning! I hope your week is going well, dear reader! I have caught a cold so it's lots of water and tea and soup and sweaters on the menu for me. And good music of course. :)
Today I wanted to tell you about my gardening plans! Or rather, my gardening dreams. My mom loves gardening. As long as I can remember, we've had flower beds in our yard,, beautifully kept and tenderly cared for. A few years, we had a vegetable garden and grew a variety of things to eat (all of which turned out well). Well I recently realized that if I want flower beds and vegetable garden in my own yard, I'M the one who has to plan it and care for it! Revolutionary thought huh... Honestly, I'm not so sure I am the gardening type. I've not really tried it so I won't say it's something I don't enjoy because I don't know. I want to learn though! Here is one idea that I absolutely love!
Growing herbs inside and it looks cool too! Herbs cost a fortune so I think this is something that would be easy to do and profitable to my cooking. In all, a practical idea.
I also read an article in a magazine once that stuck. The idea was to put a large flowerpot (or two) on your front porch and plant different flowers in it that bloom at different times and then some greenery as well so the pots will look gorgeous all year round! I really really like this idea! I love having fresh flowers so I'm thinking I may start a small pot of them in the Spring. Maybe the herbs as well (if I can get Dearest Carl to manufacture the holders for me :) ). The biggest thing for me is that they can be moved. So I can have them in our apartment and if they last until we get a house, I can take them along! Someone was brilliant.
Keep your smiles on dear readers! Until next time!
"Weather means more when you have a garden. There's nothing like listening to a shower and thinking how it is soaking in around your green beans." ~ Marcelene Cox
"God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done." ~ Anon.
"I never had any other desire so strong, and so like to covetousness, as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and a large Garden." ~ Abraham Cowley
Have you ever read a poem and just sighed with a thought of "That is beautiful..."? Well, I have. It's an old and well known poem which was first introduced to me in 'Anne of Green Gables'. I liked what Anne read so much that I looked it up for myself and found it was called The Lady of Shalott. So, without further ado, here is that very poem!
Hello my lovelies! It's Friday again and today I actually have something on my mind. I've been reading a very good book,Created to be His Helpmeetby Debi Pearl. There are so many things in it about the marriage relationship that I never knew before, things I wouldn't even think of! I'm also finding it very convicting about some things. Yesterday, I was reading a section on what types of men there are and what he needs from his wife. It really got me to thinking about what is expected of wives. Here is what first came to mind.
Wives are expected to:
- Have babies
- Clean the house
- Cook the meals
- Do the dishes
- Keep track of the family's agenda
- Teach our children about God
- Have a quiet time
- Stay physically fit
- Take children to and from lessons, sports and events
- Be involved in church
- Satisfy her husband's intimate needs
- Keep up with family and friends
- Have a garden (sometimes)
- Host parties at her home
- Fix things around the house (sewing, gluing, duck-taping)
- Keep track of the finances
- Go grocery shopping
To name a few! When I've thought of being a wife, that's what I've thought of. But reading this book has shown me that there's a whole other perspective! Not only is there the physical things a wife does but her CHARACTER is just as important!
Wives are expected to be:
- Patient
- Loving
- Kind
- Joyful
- Self-controlled
- Hospitable
- Selfless
- Gentle
- Thankful
- Listening
- Wise
- Helpful
- Encouraging
- Respectful
- Submissive
Phew! Overwhelmed yet? Well I certainly am. The more I think about it, the more I wonder "How on earth am I going to do this?!" The answer to that question, I'm not! I'm going to fail miserably. I'm going to be short tempered sometimes. I may never get the house completely clean. There will always be dirty laundry. We might even have frozen pizza for dinner sometimes! But this morning, God quieted my heart, took my worry and reminded me "You can do all things through me. I will give you strength. I will support you. I will carry you through each day. Through me, you can!" (Phil. 4:13) So no more worry or fear of failure. Failure is inevitable. Instead, I'm going to start practicing these traits now and maybe, someday, I'll master at least one or two. Maybe....
Keep your smiles on! Until next time!
“A man's best fortune, or his worst, is his wife.” ~ Thomas Fuller
“It was a wife's duty to be interested in whatever interested her husband, whether it was politics, books, or a particular dish for dinner.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Welcome to our second special day during the week! It's called (as you probably guessed) 'Homemaker Wednesday'! On Wednesdays, I'll be posting something about the home. Maybe a recipe, a project, some new tip I learned or possibly an aspiration for my own home. Hopefully whatever it is will be interesting to all you homemakers and aspiring homemakers out there. :)
So, to begin. Today I have a wintery project! Making paper snowflakes!
Making paper snowflakes during the winter has always been a tradition at our house. Once last week, when I had a free afternoon, I made a bunch and put them up around my room (picture above). I think it makes any room look wintery and its a great craft for kids to do! You know how they like to display their work. :) I personally prefer to just fold the paper and start cutting but some people prefer to have a pattern to follow. So hereis a link to a few patterns that I thought looked cool.
Also, there is a larger more intricate (3D!) paper snowflake that has become the fashion this year and I think they're awesome! I've not made one but my little sister did and it hung in our front window all December long.Here is the link to that snowflake.
Winter will be over before you know it so you better get cutting! :)
Enjoy your day and keep your smiles on! Until next time!
"A snowflake is winter's butterfly." ~ Anon.
"Winter is a time to gather golden moments and enjoy every idle hour." ~ Judith Boswell
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." ~ Edith Sitwell
Hello my favorite readers! Today we start something new! To give my blog a little more structure and a little less randomness, I've picked a few special days to post specific things. Don't worry, Feminine Friday is staying. :) But I've added two more! The first is 'Monday Favorites'. On Mondays, I'll be posting favorite things of mine. It could be a particular song, a new dress, an activity, a story or poem, the possibilities are endless! The next special day is called.... well how about you come back Wednesday to see. ;)
So, today's favorite is a new find. Rosebud Salve by the Rosebud Perfume Company.
I found this on another blog and, seeing the many uses and inexpensive cost, I decided to check it out! I've been using it the past few days and found that I really really like it! You can use it for chapped lips, dry hands, sunburns, and even diaper rash! I personally have been using it for my lips lately and I really love it. I don't wear lipstick but I like chapstick that tints and moisturizes and this does both! So, if you have a few dollars to spare, you may want to try it yourself. :)
And now I'll be more than happy to give you a favorite song! Enjoy!
Enjoy your day and keep your smiles on! Until next time!
"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~ J.M. Barrie
"Which is loveliest in a rose? Its coy beauty when it's budding, or its splendour when it blows?" ~
Hello my lovelies! Today... I went wedding dress shopping for the first time. And today, I found my wedding dress! It is absolutely gorgeous and I LOOOOOOOOOVE it!!!! It fits perfectly, no alterations needed and it was exactly in my price range! God is so very very very good! Wanna see? :D :D
Hello my lovelies! It's Friday again and today I actually have something on my mind. I've been reading a very good book, Created to be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl. There are so many things in it about the marriage relationship that I never knew before, things I wouldn't even think of! I'm also finding it very convicting about some things. Yesterday, I was reading a section on what types of men there are and what he needs from his wife. It really got me to thinking about what is expected of wives. Here is what first came to mind.
