What's My Deal?!

Assorted ramblings from a Christian wife, mother and public school teacher.

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Location: Iowa

I am a Christian, I am a wife and mother and am a public middle school teacher of math and gifted education. My Blog, "What's My Deal?" is just day to day ramblings. My other Blog, "All About the Fish" is more like a personal webpage about my Christian experiences.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Proverbs 31...Not Even Close

Okay, Here's My Deal...

According to Proverbs 31:10-30, the ideal wife is:

A woman who is...virtuous: 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. A woman who is...trustworthy: 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. A woman who is...loving: 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. A woman who is....industrious: 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. A woman who is...resourceful: 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. A woman who is...responsible: 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. A woman who is...entrepreneurial: 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. A woman who is...healthy: 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. A woman who is...financially astute: 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. A woman who is...skilled: 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. A woman who is...charitable: 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. A woman who is...prudent: 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. A woman who is...fashionable: 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. A woman who is...married to a respectable husband: 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. A woman who is...productive: 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. A woman who is...self-confident: 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. A woman who is...wise: 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. A woman who is...managerial: 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. A woman who is...praiseworthy as a wife and mother: 28-29 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." A woman who is...reverent: 30-31 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Great things to strive for...and I keep working on it.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Something Better In Mind

Okay, Here's My Deal...

I read this somewhere, "God answers our prayers in one of three ways: a.) yes b.) no c.) I have something else in mind."

This weekend, going up to see my mom, I heard on the radio an interview with the lead singer in some Chrsitian band. He was talking about an organization that raises money for research into diabetes. His son has it. The interviewer asked him about how he (the father) deals with the idea that his son may never benfit from the research, depending on how long it takes to find a cure. His answer ties in with the quote above.

He stated that above all, God is to be glorified. If that means that his son be cured, that would be awesome. If that means that numerous others are helped in the future even though his son isn't, then that is awesome, too. He is involved because he felt God calling him to do so and he is obeying God, so whatever outcome happens, God is glorified and that is what matters. Of course, he said it so much better and eloquently than I am paraphrasing him more than 24 hours after I heard him speak.

Many people say that God doesn't answer their prayers, so why bother. It's not necessarily that He isn't answering their prayers, but that He answers prayers in His time and in His way. He may just be answering them in a different manner and timeframe they are expecting or hoping for. This is just one of many ways Satan has of trying to undermine our faith in God and our relationship with Jesus. The more discouraged we get when our prayers seemingly go unanswered, the more we begin to doubt.

I am guilty of this line of thinking and I can feel it eroding away at my faith...my prayer life has been virtually nonexistent for months. That needs to change. I have reached out to strong Christian women in my life to pray for me...and I know they are, I can feel it. However, I am not praying along with them. How can they be praying in agreement with me if I am not praying?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Don't Want to be One

Okay, Here's My Deal...

Yeah, I like penguins. Quite a bit. However, I don't want to be one. School is canceled today. Why? The temp is about -7. With the wind chill, we are looking at -35 to -50 temps. That is just crazy.

I had to laugh yesterday when I pulled up to school. Here were the kids, waiting to go inside, all huddled up together--they really looked like a colony of penguins huddled together for warmth.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

This is Your Brain...

Okay, Here's My Deal...

...This is your brain on stress.

At least, this is what my brain feels like. And I know stress. I did have a graphic that showed a penguin in a strait jacket, because my brain also feels like that.

AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Clinging to the Cross


Okay, Here's My Deal...
Jesus, here I am. Where are you? I know you are here, but I just feel so abandoned right now. Father God, I know that I am not perfect, I haven't been in your house for so long, I haven't read your word, I haven't been crying out to you...I just complain about things and I only come when things are rough. Just now I accused you of not being here...when I know you are. You are at the door, waiting--I am just not opening. Why?!?!? Why do I do this? Why do I not ask, seek or knock? How can you draw nigh to me when I won't draw nigh to you?
It's no wonder I am having trouble with discipline in my classes...how can I expect my students to respect me when I can not seem to respect the God that created me, that loves me, that has given me everything?! It's no wonder my health has not been good or that we can't make ends meet or that I can't seem to be happy. I know you are not punishing me, you are not that kind of God...
Holy Spirit, please come to me...you are the comforter, the companion. I need to feel your protection and guidance right now in my life. Help me to be a better child of God, wife, mother, daughter, sister, teacher, friend...restore my desire to help myself do all these things. Amen.

Monday, January 05, 2009

What Time is it, Mr. Fox?

Okay, Here's My Deal...
Don't know if anyone else will remember playing this game in elementary school or not. I don't remember the specifics, but I do remember saying, in a sort of exaggerated, whiny sort of way, "What time is it, Mr. Fox?"
Well, today, I knew exactly what time it was and what I needed to be doing. Routine...ahhh, I had it back. Christmas break was over and I was back at school and the boys were at preschool and daycare.
Now, don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE my boys--playing with them, reading to them, watching movies with them; you know, mama stuff. But I also love knowing what to do when and that is just not entirely possible with kids that are 4 1/2 and 20 months old.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Play Do? Doh? Dough? Doe?

Okay, Here's My Deal...
A big hit with my oldest for Christmas this year was a Playdoh canister from his NC Aunt and Uncle. Well, for any of you who have kids, you know that you have all of the different colors of dough for about 5.7 seconds before it all gets mixed together and you have this big batch of Graydoh. That is okay becuase they have so much fun playing with it as it gets to that stage.
So, I thought I would make some homemade dough today. It was a simple no cook recipe that I found on the net: 3 c flour, 1/3 c salt, 2 Tbsp veg oil and 1 c water. You mix everything but the water together and then add the water 1/4 c at a time. You have to knead the crap out of it to get it all together in one big blob. Then, just divide into smaller blobs and add food coloring to create all the colors you want. Of course, they will also eventually get all mixed together, too.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Puke, Poo, Pizza, Popsicles and Pool Parties

Okay, Here's My Deal...

A couple of nights ago, my 4.5 year old came into our room to ask me to lay down with him. About 20 minutes later, I was awaken by the smell, feel and sound of being puked on. Yesterday, I picked up my 20 month old and sat him on my lap. when he got down, I saw that his diaper (it was morning, we had not gotten dressed yet) had shifted and there was poo all over him...and me. And this week, I have had many hands on my clothes that were covered in pizza sauce one day and popsicles the other. Finally, today is my oldest's first by iniviation birthday party. One of his preschool classmates is haivng a pool party this afternoon.

Yeah, I am so a mother :)

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Fetal Position, Anyone?

Okay, Here's My Deal...
There are just some days where you feel inadequate. When you feel your emotions are out of control. You know it as it is happening and you don't or can't change it. Then you feel like crap and even more inadequate. Luckily, they come less frequently and go away more quickly for me anymore. Anyway, doesn't the cliche say, "Tommorow is another day." ?

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