The "un-invited" dinner guest.....

Blessings to all my beloved readers and children,

For Jana's bridal shower, her bridesmaids asked each invitee to write words of blessing/advice to this new bride. Jana was telling me about these bits of advice -- and one really stuck in my mind and heart. Her good friend, Taylor, told her to turn off the TV whenever she and her new husband have dinner. I am not sure if she also added mobile devices - but I add that too! Keep dinner almost "sacred" time. The TV, the mobile devices, all are uninvited guests. Keep them out and away. Enjoy that time of respite with each other. Ask each other provocative questions :) Laugh together. Make dinner together. Clean up together. Simply enjoy this bit of a "vacation" everyday. It is called peace and rest.

As always - I do offer some words of warning; this time can be stolen away, ever so subtly. You will both come home tired and weary. You will just want to veg in front of that TV. You will want to look at Facebook - text your friends - and before you know it, this time of rest and reconnection is gone.... gone.....

This is another plumb line for your relationships. Keep vigilant eyes on that plumb. And when you are are "off" plumb - do everything to get back on line with your relationships. You will never, ever be sorry you did! Truly!

Enjoy each other --- you are the best gifts to each other!

Love and joy to all,

Kathy

The Thankfulness Light

Good Morning Beloved Ones!

I have this picture of Jana - because she so exemplifies a heart overflowing with thankfulness and joy- as she anticipates her wedding!

Jana and Adam got married 3 days ago. We had a lovely celebration with many close family members and friends. I am bursting with thankfulness and appreciation.

This quiet morning (after a very filled week of celebration and joy) I read several devotional selections on thankfulness from "Jesus Calling" - by Sara Young. She really hit the nail on the head about the value of having a thankful heart. She states that as you let thankfulness rule in your hearts an amazing thing happens! - you can see more and more of the amazing riches that God places in your lives. This happens even when times are difficult. "Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity..... Thankfulness opens your heart to God's presence and your mind to God's thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been swithced on, enabling you to see from God's perspective. It is this Light of God's Presence that removes the sting from adversity." (Notice the "aura" of light surrounding the bride!)

So first to my beloved children - grow thankful hearts. I really mean this with all my heart - it takes time and effort to be sure that you look at life from a thankful stance. However, with that work comes amazing blessings through good times and tough times. And sweet Jana and Adam, there will be those tough times. Therefore, remind each other often of this "thankfulness" truth. It is another plumb line for your marriages and relationships. It is actually a great plumb line for life.

To my beloved readers - the heartfelt thought is the same - When our hearts and minds are focusing on thankfulness - then there is just not time for growing a complaining heart. The two just do not mix.

I am asking you all for a "favor"- I am allowing all my friends and family to hold me accountable to this stance as well. Life has a way of pushing us to that "complaining stance." Do not allow me to do that :)

I give you permission to remind me if and when I go to that complaining - worrying place.

As always - many blessings to all!

I am genuinely thankful for you!

Truly and with love,

Kathy

Establish Your "Plumb Line"

I'm not really sure where we heard this nugget of truth.  I think it was at a marriage conference we went to when I was pregnant with Scott (it is amazing how you measure time by your children's events :).  Anyway, this is excellent advice and Paul and I have lived by this one!

   So - what is a plumb line?  Well, a plumb is a weight attached to a line to determine whether or not something is on true vertical.  If you are "out of plumb" or "off plumb," you are off vertical, or true.  In marriage words - if you are out of plumb, if you are sensing that you are not right or true, then you need to make an adjustment to get back on plumb - back on true!  And believe me, there are many "things" that push you off plumb; work, other family members, money woes, not enough time. etc etc etc.

Some of our "plumb lines" are: weekly date nights, praying together everyday, phoning each other everyday, going on annual or preferably semi-annual retreats away-just for the two of us, going to church together, never going to bed angry, and going over our budget weekly.  (There are some intimate plumb lines too!)  Those are a few of the ones that stand out for me right now.  We have decided as a couple that these are some of the "things" that will keep us true. keep our marriage strong, straight, vertical.

Do we pray absolutely every day?  Do we go out every single week alone? Absolutely not!  Stuff happens! We get busy and preoccupied with other things.  We get lazy.  Or, we get plain old tired.  However, because we have established our own "plumb lines" we recognize when we get off plumb more readily.  That is the value!

Wikipedia has another definition for a plumb line: A plumb line is a line regarded as directed exactly toward the Earth's center of gravity.  So establish your marriage's plumb line!  And be sure that you are always pointing that plumb to the Way, the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6)  He is your Center and holds you together!

 

 

 

plumb. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

Retrieved June 26, 2009, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumb

Picture retrieved June 26, 2009 from www.elizabethharperneeld.com