Puppy Praises

I really cannot let today pass without posting a praise. We are praising the Lord tonight for selling our last two puppies. In August Maggie had six puppies. They were so cute and we were thrilled to have them. They were ready to be sold and leave mama at the beginning of October. Two puppies sold right away and then the last four have been with us since. I was so sure that they would just sell in a couple weeks--like two--but they didn't. We have had lots of people call, but nobody come to look. We even had a lady drive two hours, one way, to come and look at them. She was confused as to what the price was and she left without a puppy. Kipp and I contemplated keeping one. We had been praying that they would all sell, but nothing was happening. But, praise the Lord, this week we sold all four remaining puppies. We are thrilled. I was sad at the prospect of having one puppy left. It would be lonely and whiny and needy for company and I'm not exactly one to let a puppy roam my house. I'm so thankful for the Lord's timing--even when we're talking puppies!

More of the Proverbs 31 Woman

I am continuing my days of Proverbs 31. Here are just a few more things that have really been jumping out at me.

First of all, the very first thing about this woman is that her husband's heart trusts in her. He confides in her another translation said. I think every wife wants her husband to confide in and trust her more than any other person. But I have been thinking about it the other way too. I think sometimes I tell other people more of my burden's and hearts desires than I do my husband. If I want Kipp to confide in and trust me more than anyone else, I have to do the same to him. I cannot tell my family or friends more information than I am sharing with my husband.

Second, I see how this woman reaches to the poor. She doesn't wait for them to ask her to help. She is obviously searching and knows the needs of those around her. While it is easier said than done, I want to be looking for those with needs. I don't want to have to wait for someone to say can you help, I want to ask what I can do to be a help.

I am really enjoying reading this passage over and over. I am using biblos.com to read it in different versions which is always nice to keep my interest!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

We sang this song on Sunday and my heart was so full of joy just thinking of the words. When we found out we were having twins, some of my initial thoughts were definitely, "How can we afford two more?" After talking to Kipp, he reminded me that God was not surprised about this. He was in control and He would take care of us all, just like He always has. Okay, so emotional, pregnant me decides that I am going to pray about this and then leave it with my Jesus. I would not take this matter back because I couldn't do anything about it anyway. So I have left it with Jesus and have seen His faithfulness over and over.

One Wednesday night after church somebody said there was something by the nursery for me. I walked down and found a BEAUTIFUL high chair with our name on it. There was a sweet, anonymous letter from someone who thought we could use it. This high chair really is wonderful. It matches our dining room table perfectly. We still had our first high chair, but obviously needed another one.

My mom has found some GREAT bargains on clothes for the babies. While we don't know what we are having just yet, she has found some clothes for either gender. She's a great shopper and I always look forward to what she can find!

Tonight at church someone approached Kipp and wondered if we could use a crib. We sold ours at our garage sale about a year and a half ago, thinking we were done with it. We have already been given one that we need to check on, but this one is supposed to be in great shape with a great mattress. I know that we'll need two eventually!

We have received unexpected monetary blessings both from family and from other things that we had no idea we would ever get. And have you seen the price of diapers lately? It's enough to give a mom of multiples a heart attack! :)

So as we continue on the road of having twins, I know that my God is so faithful that He will provide ALL of our needs. We have been so blessed already and I know that whatever we need, He will more than abundantly meet.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not:
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided-
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord, unto me!

Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman

I took a challenge last week to read Proverbs 31 every day for 31 days. I have read this chapter many times and I have heard it preached on many Mother's Days, but I have never read it consistently like this. I'm just about 7 days in and have been struck by a few things.

First, verse 13 says that she works with willing hands. As a stay at home mom, some of the routine stuff does not make me want to work with willing hands. The laundry gets old, washing dishes is among my least favorite of jobs I need to do, the picking up of the same toys for the fifth time today gets old, but I want to have willing hands. My ministry right now is to work with willing hands at home.

Second, verse 27 says that she does not eat the bread of idleness. The Lord has really convicted me lately of how I manage my time. Some days it is very easy to let the day go by and wonder what I really accomplished. Has my day been wasted on the phone, computer, in front of the tv, neglecting things of my home that must get done or have I done something of value? So I am seeking daily to use my time wisely and to the fullest.

Third, several verses point to the fact that she provides for her family so that they have no need to worry. I am about the worst when it comes to meals and menu planning. For a while I did great at this and my husband was thrilled to just get home and have the meal already prepared. Instead of the "what do you want for supper?" "What do we have to eat?" "I don't know" scenario that seems to replay itself at my home. Let me tell you, this pregnancy has made that a bit more difficult. Food is still just generally not all that exciting! But I found nowhere in this chapter any leeway for those who are pregnant or those who don't like to cook or those who don't know how to cook! So yesterday while my sister-in-law had my kids (bless her heart, she's so sweet!) I sat down and planned out 12 meals, checked my pantry and made my shopping list. I proceeded to go shopping, by myself, and get everything I needed for these 12 meals. I am excited at the prospect of just checking my list and making what's on it!

The last thing that keeps jumping out at me is in verse 26 which says, "the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." There is no better place for children to learn kindness than at home. There is nobody home with my three children more than me so that places a huge responsibility on me to be sure that I am modeling kindness in my words to them, about others, for them and my actions also.

While I have miles to go before I feel like a Proverbs 31 woman, I am so thankful that God is making His Word come to life and applicable for me today.