Last Spring semester, a friend and I led a group of ladies through this wonderful Bible study on marriage, "Enhancing Your Marriage" by Judy Rossi. It takes 12 weeks of 5 days/week of work to get through the study, and I recommend doing it with a group, to help you stay motivated to keep at it. If you have ever done an in-depth study such as one by Beth Moore, or "Experiencing God", you will know to expect to look up a lot of verses in the Bible, and do a lot of writing and note-taking in your book each day. The rewards are worth the work!
What I specifically appreciate about this study is how much time she spends on leading the reader to study who God is. If you understand His unlimited power and ability and love, you realize any issue in your marriage, big or small, can be handled with His help. I am currently going back through the first five chapters where she discusses the nature of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, because it was a lot to take in then, and I want to soak it in more slowly. Hopefully I'll retain more this time through!
The ironic thing for me in this study was, while the book asked questions to apply principles to my marriage relationship, I found myself being convicted more in the area of parenting! It happened over and over throughout the class! I'm sure it had to do with the fact that my husband was deployed to Iraq for the first two months of the class, so he wasn't too hard to get along with then. But also, my husband is quite mature and patient with me, so even with him home, our marriage issues often stem from my own shortcomings! So her newest study, "Raising Responsive Children" may have to be my next venture!
This study is applicable to any married woman, whether newlywed, married for many years. It could also prove helpful to a single woman or engaged woman looking forward to marriage in the future, or even a divorcee, or widow hoping to remarry. Judy Rossi also does an excellent job of making the material applicable to Christian women who have unbelieving husbands. This is a very common situation, and she handles how to act in this type of marriage very well.
With marriages under so much strain, and being considered so easily discardable by so many, this study is a valuable resource for any group of women looking to enhance their marriage. I highly recommend it for all!
September 05, 2009
May 14, 2009
Waffles and Spaghetti anyone?
Recently I had a chance to hear Bill & Pam Farrel speak on their book, "Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti". I had heard of the book before, and was amused by the title, but never had picked it up to read. I have been exposed to so many great Christian books on marriage, and figured it would be more of the same. I was wrong!
From their presentation, I gained several practical how-to's for better communication. For example, if you are a wife trying to draw out communication from your husband, you should learn how to go into his box and stay there, and listen to him, and repeat back key phrases. I recommend reading the full explanation on this from the book.
Also, their explanations of how men and women think differently are illustrated so well, and so uniquely that it made even more sense to me having been explained differently. Did you know that we as women sometimes tend to cut the walls between the waffle boxes down in our husbands' brains? That doesn't work well, because then the syrup all runs together, and it's now how God intended for them to process things! God's design for the way we each think differently was a very good design, and we need to learn about each others' differences, and accept and appreciate them, and the benefits of our two differing approaches to life.
To view a video clip of their presentation that I heard, go here.
I thought that Mark Gungor's "Laugh Your Way to A Better Marriage" series was my favorite resource, and it still is, but the Waffles and Spaghetti book, as I call it, has definitely come to the forefront of my recommended resources!
From their presentation, I gained several practical how-to's for better communication. For example, if you are a wife trying to draw out communication from your husband, you should learn how to go into his box and stay there, and listen to him, and repeat back key phrases. I recommend reading the full explanation on this from the book.
Also, their explanations of how men and women think differently are illustrated so well, and so uniquely that it made even more sense to me having been explained differently. Did you know that we as women sometimes tend to cut the walls between the waffle boxes down in our husbands' brains? That doesn't work well, because then the syrup all runs together, and it's now how God intended for them to process things! God's design for the way we each think differently was a very good design, and we need to learn about each others' differences, and accept and appreciate them, and the benefits of our two differing approaches to life.
To view a video clip of their presentation that I heard, go here.
I thought that Mark Gungor's "Laugh Your Way to A Better Marriage" series was my favorite resource, and it still is, but the Waffles and Spaghetti book, as I call it, has definitely come to the forefront of my recommended resources!
January 04, 2009
Online Books and Reference Materials
My last post about the Old Fashioned Education had several resources from Project Gutenberg which can be found at www.gutenberg.org. This is a fascinating project that is ongoing to make public domain works available in digital format for people around the world. They even have works in many different languages.
Along the same lines is bartleby.com. Here you can find online books and reference materials. Dictonaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, etc. You will also find Fannie Farmer's cookbook! That was my first discovery on Bartleby.com. Several works of poetry, fiction and non-fiction exist here. You'll find the King James Version of the Bible, works of Shakespeare, Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States, and Thomas A'Kempis' "The Imitation of Christ" to name a few.
I'm excited to discover all the quality reading material available. Now I just need more time, and a more comfortable chair.
Along the same lines is bartleby.com. Here you can find online books and reference materials. Dictonaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, etc. You will also find Fannie Farmer's cookbook! That was my first discovery on Bartleby.com. Several works of poetry, fiction and non-fiction exist here. You'll find the King James Version of the Bible, works of Shakespeare, Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States, and Thomas A'Kempis' "The Imitation of Christ" to name a few.
I'm excited to discover all the quality reading material available. Now I just need more time, and a more comfortable chair.
January 02, 2009
An Old-Fashioned Education
I'm so excited to share this first post of 2009. I've come across this resource before, but am only now understanding its value. The website is http://oldfashionededucation.com/ and there, you can find links to all kinds of free online teaching resources and books. Many of them are public domain educational textbooks, written in a time when Christianity was the prevailing worldview in education. However, there are links to contemporary resources as well.
Would you like to teach your child Latin (or learn it yourself)? There are several resources for that and other languages. Would you like to read the entire Anne of Green Gables series? How about studying art and artists? How about a complete Scott Foresman grammar curriculum for K-6? You can read biographies by Hellen Keller or Adolph Hitler. Study works of history, or read historical fiction. Teach your child old fashioned manners, or how to write neatly. There's something for everyone here.
The links are easy to follow, as they are categorized by topic. Just today, I downloaded "The Real Mother Goose", and "A Child's Garden of Verses", both classics. Now without owning these books in book form, I can still read them to my children and let their imaginations blossom.
But that's not all. The premise behind the web page author's project is being able to homeschool without spending tons of money on curriculum. So you can view her complete K-12 outlines, and then print out weekly assignment checklists for your students. She even explains how to use it, how to tailor it to fit your family and your individual student. I'm looking at the Kindergarten curriculum and my mouth is watering to try it this Fall with my middle child.
There's a wealth of resources here, and if you're thrifty like me and like free things with lots of value, you'll love what you find here. Enjoy!
Would you like to teach your child Latin (or learn it yourself)? There are several resources for that and other languages. Would you like to read the entire Anne of Green Gables series? How about studying art and artists? How about a complete Scott Foresman grammar curriculum for K-6? You can read biographies by Hellen Keller or Adolph Hitler. Study works of history, or read historical fiction. Teach your child old fashioned manners, or how to write neatly. There's something for everyone here.
The links are easy to follow, as they are categorized by topic. Just today, I downloaded "The Real Mother Goose", and "A Child's Garden of Verses", both classics. Now without owning these books in book form, I can still read them to my children and let their imaginations blossom.
But that's not all. The premise behind the web page author's project is being able to homeschool without spending tons of money on curriculum. So you can view her complete K-12 outlines, and then print out weekly assignment checklists for your students. She even explains how to use it, how to tailor it to fit your family and your individual student. I'm looking at the Kindergarten curriculum and my mouth is watering to try it this Fall with my middle child.
There's a wealth of resources here, and if you're thrifty like me and like free things with lots of value, you'll love what you find here. Enjoy!
December 11, 2008
Margin
On a paper or in a book, the margin is the blank space. It's good for lots of things. Jotting notes down, punching holes for a 3-ring binder, giving our eyes a boundary before the edge of the page.
In the book titled "Margin" by Dr. Richard Swenson, he encourages us to put margin in our lives. For most of us, our schedules are overbooked, our money is overspent, our bodies are exhausted, and our emotions are spent. Dr. Swenson calls us to a simpler life, giving priority to what is most important, and leaving room for the unexpected, the unplanned, and even some peace and quiet. With a disciplined effort in keeping margin in our lives, we are able to do better at what we do, and don't snap when plans are changed or we are interrupted. Having margin gives us the opportunity to spend extra time listening to a friend in need, witnessing to the acquaintance we encountered, giving financial support to the needy, or exercising patience in difficult circumstances.
Check out Dr. Swenson and his resources here, www.richardswenson.org/ including group study resources, and "A Minute of Margin" for a little piece of wisdom each day of the year to inspire you toward this simpler life.
In the book titled "Margin" by Dr. Richard Swenson, he encourages us to put margin in our lives. For most of us, our schedules are overbooked, our money is overspent, our bodies are exhausted, and our emotions are spent. Dr. Swenson calls us to a simpler life, giving priority to what is most important, and leaving room for the unexpected, the unplanned, and even some peace and quiet. With a disciplined effort in keeping margin in our lives, we are able to do better at what we do, and don't snap when plans are changed or we are interrupted. Having margin gives us the opportunity to spend extra time listening to a friend in need, witnessing to the acquaintance we encountered, giving financial support to the needy, or exercising patience in difficult circumstances.
Check out Dr. Swenson and his resources here, www.richardswenson.org/ including group study resources, and "A Minute of Margin" for a little piece of wisdom each day of the year to inspire you toward this simpler life.
August 29, 2008
Cooking and Cleaning
As a mother of 3 small children, I find myself spending the majority of my days cooking and cleaning. I've come to the conclusion that if I didn't have to feed my children, I would have a lot more time to do other things! It's the daily grind of meals, snacks, dishes, cleaning up crumbs, wiping off faces and washing hands, laundering bibs and soiled clothing and kitchen towels, putting clean linens away, making weekly menu plans, grocery lists, running to the store, putting food away, preparing food, etc. I think I could safely say that 30% of my awake time during the week is spent doing these things! I told my husband I feel like an oxen plowing a huge field, as I trudge through these tasks.
However, I need to remind myself that it is part of the noble calling of motherhood. I am not just cooking and cleaning. I'm providing healthy meals for my family. I'm ensuring their good nutrition and ability to fight off germs. I'm giving them fuel for their bodies and brains to help them grow and mature as they should. I'm showing them myriads of things by example on how parents should work diligently to provide for their children, so that someday they will do the same for their own. I'm teaching good stewardship of our resources by not being wasteful, and by keeping the home God has given us clean. I could go on and on listing the many values that are being caught and taught with these daily tasks I carry out.
I think that's a pretty good investment of 30% of my day.
However, I need to remind myself that it is part of the noble calling of motherhood. I am not just cooking and cleaning. I'm providing healthy meals for my family. I'm ensuring their good nutrition and ability to fight off germs. I'm giving them fuel for their bodies and brains to help them grow and mature as they should. I'm showing them myriads of things by example on how parents should work diligently to provide for their children, so that someday they will do the same for their own. I'm teaching good stewardship of our resources by not being wasteful, and by keeping the home God has given us clean. I could go on and on listing the many values that are being caught and taught with these daily tasks I carry out.
I think that's a pretty good investment of 30% of my day.
August 12, 2008
For Women Only
I just finished reading this excellent resource for wives. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is married, newly or seasoned. Not only is it well-researched and well-presented information, but it's dealing with topics that other marriage resources I've encountered don't cover.
Shaunti Feldhahn has explained with real quotes from real husbands, and with real examples why men are the way they are, what makes them tick, and what they really want their wives to know. She conducted two in-depth surveys of all kinds of married men around the country with the help of a survey expert. The results were a surprise, even to her! Her discoveries presented here give wives the tools they need to understand their husbands, to relate to them in inspiring and encouraging ways, and to how to accept the way their husbands show love to them.
You can see more about her book, and additional resources she recommends at her website, http://4-womenonly.com/ . My husband has read her other book, "For Men Only" and found it highly beneficial as well!
Shaunti Feldhahn has explained with real quotes from real husbands, and with real examples why men are the way they are, what makes them tick, and what they really want their wives to know. She conducted two in-depth surveys of all kinds of married men around the country with the help of a survey expert. The results were a surprise, even to her! Her discoveries presented here give wives the tools they need to understand their husbands, to relate to them in inspiring and encouraging ways, and to how to accept the way their husbands show love to them.
You can see more about her book, and additional resources she recommends at her website, http://4-womenonly.com/ . My husband has read her other book, "For Men Only" and found it highly beneficial as well!
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