Some ROMANCE Fun!

The DAILY MUNDANE of life needs to be broken up by CELEBRATING life!  I really love creating celebrations for our family to enjoy.  I make a BIG deal out of the usual Birthdays, but I also like to celebrate special days throughout the year and make members of our family (and friends) feel special and blessed.  It brings joy to the dailiness of life.

Ahhhh.... February, the traditional month of love!  My husband and I have never really celebrated Valentine's Day because we celebrate our "Dating Anniversary" on February 4th.  This year we celebrate 19 years!  Wow!  In May we will celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary.  LOVE!  

WAY BACK in February of 2008 I posted the following Frugal Love Game.  This is a FUN way to add a little spice and celebration to your marriage and worth a re-post! Break up the daily mundane of life with a little extra FUN in the ROMANCE department!

Simply Frugal Romance Game

Create some new fun in the Romance Department!!
It is easy to let things go as "usual" in the area of intimacy. However, with a little creativity this game helps mix things up!


The Love Dice
This game can be purchased, but why when you can make it yourself for next to nothing
(and it will be personalized just to your style).


What you need to make the game:
* 1 dice
* 1 3*5 card

Directions to make the game:
* On the 3*5 card number it 1-6
* Next to each number list an action (kiss, touch, show... etc... this is a G rated site... be creative)

How to play:
*Each take a turn rolling the dice three times in a row....
*Then the spouse follows the numbers and does what the card says
(for example, He rolls a 3, then a 5, then a 1... so you will do what the card says for 3, then for 5, then for 1)
*Take turns
*Have fun... don't be surprised if you ditch the dice after a turn takings... it has a way of creating the mood!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Loving in the right LOVE language

Do you know what your LOVE LANGUAGE is??  What about your loved ones??  This is a great online quiz resource from Gary Chapman, author of the book The Five Love Languages.

My husband and I took the quiz a while back and I was surprised by the results.... I thought I KNEW what his love language was!  Now I know how to SPEAK in the right language.... makes him feel much more loved!

They also have one on there for teens.... my daughter is going to take it now .......she has been watching me type this up and her interest is piqued! 

If you take the quiz, or already have before, leave a comment and share what your love language is!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

"B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G" prayer for my husband

Praying for my husband is one of the most powerful things I can do for him.  Prayer moves mountains.  With God all things are possible.  The enemy does not want us to pray and will work hard to make prayer seem like it really isn't "doing anything".  However, that is far, far, far from the truth.  Prayers move mountains!  When we pray we release God's power. 

Several years ago I heard this prayer outline and I love it!  After I drop off the kids at school I pray (out load..... keeps this attention deficit girl focused) on the way home.  This BLESSINGS acronym has been such a helpful frame work for me.  It covers so much!  I encourage you to set a time each day that praying for your spouse will be come a habitual part of your daily routine.  Your spouse will be BLESSED!!

BLESSING my husband with prayer

B- Body, health, strength, safety

L- Labor, favor and success at work

E- Emotionally, encouragement, joy, peace

S- Spiritual, personal walk and as leader in home

S- Socially, Godly and strong friendships

I- Intimacy in marriage, emotionally and physically

N- Needs, specific

G- Guidance and wisdom, as the leader of home

 

SOOOOO true!!!!  Make your loved ones FEEL your love today!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Discover What your LOVE Language is.....

 Taking this 5 Love Language assessment from Gary Chapman is easy and fun!  They have one for husbands, wives, singles, teenagers and children.  My husband and I took it a couple of years ago and I learned that his love languages are NOT what I thought they were!!  Man, and after all that effort that could have been spent more wisely and effectively.....  Oh, well... any effort to show love is good, but hitting the mark with their love language is much better.  We found that we actually have the same primary love language: Words of affirmation.  Learning this has helped me focus on SPEAKING and writing  words of respect and encouragement to him.  It is also easier for me to express this love language because I know how much I love it.

Anyway, I'm going to have my 2 oldest children take the assessment..... I wonder if I have them figured out correctly!  I'm all for learning how to better love my family.

Have you taken this assessment??  What did you discover was your primary love language??

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Deer Butchering and Guys!

My husband LOVES to hunt, loves to talk about hunting, loves to watch hunting shows. I will admit that at times it is almost more than this gal can handle, but he provides us with great meat to eat. Last night we spent the evening helping one of his good buddies butcher up the nice doe he got Monday. Chris' friend was drawn to hunt at our local state park. It was a nice doe and all together he ended up with 30 pounds of (boneless) meat. 25 lbs was ground and turned into bulk sausage and the other 5 lbs was loin roast. Yummy! Some of our best investments have been our quality butchering tools. Our grinder has been one of the best things we ever bought.

After I helped them I jumped in the suburban and headed off to pick up our 13 year old son and 3 of his friends from basketball practice. I was on car pool duty last night. I am blessed that there are 4 boys the same age all living within our neighborhood (a few country miles) and can share the driving with all the moms. Anyway, when I jumped in the truck I turned on the radio and was scanning through the channels when I came across Brad Paisley's song "I'm still a guy"! I just had to laugh and I really like this song..... As much as all the "GUY" stuff sometimes gets old (in our house there are 4 guys to us 2 gals) I am so very much thankful and appreciative that my husband is a GUY! In our society all this 'guy stuff' isn't appreciated like it once was. Enjoy this fun song.



Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

I want to be "Weird" like the Camerons!

According to the DJ on our local country music station (yes, I do enjoy my country music) yesterday was Kirk Cameron's birthday. The DJ made a point to say how "WEIRD" Kirk has gotten in the past few years.... know what?? To be a Christian and be called "weird" is a HIGH compliment that he should be proud of! The Bible says we are to be a "Peculiar People" compared the the world's standards. I hope I am "weird", too!!

Know one thing that is WEIRD about the Camerons?? Kirk and Chelsea have been married (first marriage for both of them) for 19 years!! By Hollywood standards that is eternity. Today I happened to be listening to past Focus on the Family broadcasts (listening while I clean is a great way to keep my going) and came across a recent two part series on Marriage that the Cameron's were on. If you have some laundry to fold or some dishes to wash turn this Focus on the Family Making your marriage a priority series on! ENJOY!!

Want to know more about the Cameron's?? At home with the Camerons is an interesting read from the Focus on the Family magazine.


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

You know you are a country girl when.......

You totally ENJOY a romantic Valentine's Day afternoon spent with your hubby out working in the barn!! LOL!! I spent the afternoon with my husband (and middle son) out rebuilding our chicken coop. We totally enjoyed our time together.... I know it is crazy, but hey, we are just country folk!! There is something so wonderful about working together and creating something that will benefit our family. We are both DOING people so working together suits us both just fine.

I have had chickens for six years and over that time our chicken wire has rusted and we had some holes... something got in and destroyed my flock... very sad day! Now, thanks to my husband's great uncle we are getting a new one year old flock! Yea! Our coop is totally fortified and ready to keep them all safe and sound. When I say fortified I mean it! This week I will once again have chickens.... I have really missed them! I am also missing my barn cats.... saw four mice yesterday... haven't seen live mice out in the barn in three years.... where oh where did my barn cats go?! I HATE mice!!

I'll post pictures of my new flock as soon as they are settled in.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Life has been a little different.....

I have been missing from the computer for the last week due to two events. First we were away from home enjoying a 2 night family vacation.... our first family vacation in four years! It was WONDERFUL! We took advantage of the Indiana State Park system's "stay one night get the second free" winter special and stayed at a Brown County State park in one of their family cabins. They have an indoor water park (passes come with the rental of the cabin) and so we were able to enjoy some 'summer time' fun at the pool!! We had a GREAT time!!!!! It was an extremely affordable way for us to have a family vacation. The cabin had a complete kitchen and so we were able to cook our meals and enjoy them right in our cozy cabin.

When we got home our computer (has been giving us fits for a while) decided to STOP! YIKES!! Not only do we like to get online, but we have a business to run..... So the old computer went to the computer guy for four days. Now we have it back (all clear of massive infections) and running smoothly. I now have TWO virus programs and TWO spyware programs to keep us safe (hopefully). I have always had one of each, but that isn't enough anymore........ frustrating! Our computer is also getting OLD and we will have to budget replacement in the next year.

I will be away from the computer the next few days while Chris and I get away for some COUPLE time!!! Nothing like packing vacation time so close together, but the State Park's winter special was just too good to turn down. Chris and I will enjoy our 3 days/2 nights together celebrating our 17 year "Together" anniversary! I can't believe that I have now been with my husband longer than I was alive before I met him! He was my high school sweet heart and God blessed me with a GOOD man right from the start!! I was saved from heart ached that comes from multiple dating relationships. I am glad that our get away falls on this special anniversary.... I love to celebrate all kinds of things! I feel that celebrating life is important! I am so thankful for my mother in law staying with the kids (and getting them all off to school/babysitters in the mornings). I think that the kids are looking forward to their time AWAY from us and we are!! :)

I'll be back next week.....
I do have one sad homestead experience to share and many SPRING fever dreams!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

The BLESSING prayer

Prayer is powerful... it moves mountains. We all know that, but somehow it is easy to get busy and not finish our prayer list. I have found that the BLESSINGS prayer helps me stay on track... Helps me to really cover my husband in prayer. We could make one for our children, too! This way if I am praying and get distracted I can jump back in where I left off.... helps this scatter brained mama stay on track! :)

B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G-S prayer!
B= Body (health, strength, any physical issues)
L= Labor (all career and job issues. Favor with those he is around)
E= Emotions (ability to express, cope and thrive)
S= Sexual Fulfillment (need I say more! This is also a prayer for us wives)
S= Spiritual life/growth (A reminder that WE are NOT our husband's holy spirit)!!
I= Intimacy in marriage (communication at all levels)
N= Needs Met (A time to lift up particular needs)
G= Guidance and wisdom (As he goes through his day and makes decisions)
S= Social connections (godly friendships and hobbies)



Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Dancing the night away!

Whew... are we out of shape! We did have a BLAST on our country western dancing date night last night (Thank you, Melissa for keeping the kids over night!)!!! We danced, we laughed and we remembered that we USED to know how to dance. Some of it did come back and I was very excited to still remember one of my favorites, the sweetheart scottish (although the super fast and LONG song about winded me for the rest of the night)!! I REALLY need to get back in shape! It was nice seeing some of our old dancing buddies (read way back before kids when we used to have a social life, friends).

There was this couple there that is in their early 70's and they were on the dance floor for almost EVERY song.... unbelievable the moves they could make!!! What an inspiration. We are going to try to go a couple of Fridays/month. I think it will be good for us... both our marriage and our bodies!! We have a teen baby-sitter now!!! That is HUGE! The kids are also getting older so we NEED to make our Date nights a priority... I want to have some FUN with my husband... alone!

Well, have a blessed weekend... while I hobble around with sore muscles!! No, not that bad, just a little stiff!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Happy Birtthday, Chris!

Happy Birthday to my handsome husband!
He is pictured here with his prize Turkey that he got last spring. He is VERY ready for this spring's turkey season! I'm glad he has such a passion for living and that he shares this passion with us! He loves to include us in his hobbies.... wants us to spend time with him!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS!!!!!!!!!


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

A FULL love tank!!!

At the tail end of Valentine's weekend my LOVE tank is FULL! The funny thing is it doesn't really have anything to do with Valentine's day.... I really don't like "forced" gifts... I much more treasure the random wildflower picked along side the road "because I saw it and knew you would love it"! Anyway, Hubby FILLED up my love tank by working on the house! We are slowly but surely tackling projects in our 98 year old farm house.

I will post pics soon... I am much too dusty and tired to do it now, but I have FINISHED ceramic tile in the kitchen, NO tile on the dining room floor (Chris got all the NASTY tile we inherited with this house out!), and he framed in the new coat closet and new pantry. We are getting ready to dive into the laundry room/ second bath project..... it will be a long one... pay as we go....!

Well, my house is a mess...... but my HEART is full of love! I really enjoy spending time working with my husband.... we have fun and get things done!!! I can live with a little more dust for a while... the wood stove makes so much anyway we won't notice a little more!! LOL!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Marriage Challenge... Day ONE

Choosing to put deliberate action into your marriage will be a BLESSING!!! Choosing to build up your marriage can be hard, but it will be 100% worth it!!!!

Today is day one with the Revive our Hearts 30 day marriage challenge. It is not too late to join in! Please go HERE to join up with us and to read the daily challenge. If you have signed up please make sure you add the email address to your address box so it doesn't go to your spam box. If you signed up and haven't gotten any messages check your spam box and then approve the email address. I had to do this in my own personal email.

I am excited to see what God is going to do in my marriage and in yours! Please know that I am praying for you all!!!! With God ALL things are possible!!!!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Inspiring!!!

My husband came across this story..... It is GREAT to hear some GOOD news for once and hear about extraordinary love!!

The stock boy!

---

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY
AND
BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice
came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was
almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the
call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the
new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was
only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find
out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card
and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only
to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left
the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she
accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again,
outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained20she had two children and she couldn't afford a
baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted
his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived
at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The
baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well,
let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not
taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet
her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis
thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a
paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't
come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman
with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband
and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a
different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the
movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he
needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and
brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening
, Brenda
knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life
with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children.
Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well,
Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed
as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his
Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Is this a
surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

He has also been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's

Most Valuable Player.

Also, don't forget to sign up for the 30 Day Marriage Challenge... It starts MONDAY!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Join me! Building up Marriage!!!

Ahhh, love!!! Marriage can be WONDERFUL, God created it to be. However, sometimes it isn't so great. Marriage is HARD, we get hurt, we hurt our spouse. Feelings go up and down. It takes determination to make a marriage GREAT!! It takes maturity. I am no "marriage expert", but as a wife of 12 years I know that it is worth any effort we put into it! We have had our share of life's difficulties and I know that through it all I have a choice: build my marriage or tear it down. I am choosing to be a wife the builds rather than destroys.

Do you want to strengthen your marriage?? You may not FEEL in LOVE with your husband.... You many not FEEL like it would even be worth it... but it is! You might already have wonderful relationship or you might be on the verge of divorce... either way, this 30 day Challenge from Revive our Hearts Ministry is for you!!!!!!! Sign up and join the free yahoo group I have created. Starting Monday, January 26th, 2009, you will receive a daily "challenge" to build up your marriage!! Are you up to it?? Are you willing to invest 30 days in the love of your life?? Sign up now, and prepare for a challenge well worth every effort!!!!!!!!


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Appreciating each other!!

Saturday night the kids spent the night with my Mother-in-law.... they had a wonderful time and hubby and I enjoyed a nice evening out and came home to an empty house.... strange, but wonderful!
Sometimes in the business of everyday life you forget that you love being together! It is easy to loose sight of the romance that brought the two of us together... it somehow gets lost in work, bills, dishes, mowing and kids! I'm so glad we had this time.... I need to make it a greater priority focus on my marriage.... God has given me some ideas, now I need to implement! What kinds of things do you do to keep the fire burning???? Suggestions are always welcome!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

I'm on a food kick!

As you all know.... I enjoy cooking... I also enjoy eating! Last night we had our first batch of fresh, locally grown, sweet corn for supper!! YUMMY, melt in your mouth! Prices have gone up from last year...$4.25 for a farmer's dozen (14 ears). I am thinking we should grow and sell sweet corn next year... hmmm this has me thinking! Any of my readers do this?? I am open for suggestions.

I wanted to pass on a GREAT article from Making Home about a *RICE* diet... with a twist!
Check it out and let me know what you think!!!!!!! I have always loved rice, but this article made me think about *RICE* in a whole new way!!!!!

Also wanted to pass along another interesting link: calculate the number of calories you need in order to loose weight by certain dates... you just fill in some simple answers and it gives you a calorie count.... it was actually encouraging! I don't *need* to loose weight.. my BMI is fine... I would really like to tone up and loose about 15 pounds. This would get me back to my favorite weight... my skinny weight, not my being a mom weight. We eat healthy... at meals. What gets me is all my eating in between!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

It is 5 o'clock.... What is for supper???
To end this daily stress join me at www.simplefamilysupper.com

Wedding!!!

My youngest sister is getting married on SATURDAY!!!!! We are all so excited for her and her future hubby!

The bridal shower was a blast and I'm sure that the wedding is going to be beautiful. She has the wonderful opportunity to be married by our Uncle (a minister). My daughter is a junior bridesmaid! I am sooo glad it is her turn as bridesmaid.... I experienced my fair share! I will post pics on Sunday or Monday... Till then I will be busy with helping with last minute details. My other sister and I (there are 3 girls in my family of origin) are in charge of decorating for the reception. We had a wonderful "sister's night out" last Saturday as we shopped for all the decorations! Weddings can be stressful, but enjoyable.

Please pray with me as my sister, Sriyani and her Brent, begin their life as husband and wife.
See you all in a couple of days!
Heather

Since I have been extra busy this week I have been using my crock pot like crazy!
What are you having for supper? Let me get you organized and take the stress out of supper for you and your family. Visit me at: www.simplefamilysupper.com

Choosing simplicity by walking in Forgiveness

Resentment and grudges use up a lot of time and energy in our lives. YUCK!!! I hate days wasted in bitterness.... never has done me any good! This week as I have focused on "Romance" this Valentines week guess what my husband has been doing every evening???? Sleeping!!! How dare he! By the time I have gotten the kids down (between 8-8:30) he has been asleep...... so much for "romance"! I have had two Choices:

*Frustration, anger, bitterness, self pity
*Forgiveness, understanding, grace, mercy

At first I could feel option 1 welling up inside.... then I CHOSE (made a direct decision to go against what I wanted to feel) to go with option 2. I really thought about things from his perspective and began to THANK God for all the wonderful things about my husband. I went from frustration to feeling very blessed... all because I CHOSE to follow forgiveness, understanding, grace and mercy. My husband works HARD (physically) as a custom ceramic tile installer. The past several weeks have been LONG.... he is exhausted!!! Sleep is what he needs right now.... Romance will wait for him to be rested up!!!! The weekend is coming!


It is 5 o'clock.... What is for supper???
To end this daily stress join me at www.simplefamilysupper.com