Week 9 and 10

Hello Ladies,
For those who have been checking the blog waiting for an update, I have to apologize! I have discovered that Satan has been attacking many in this Bible study through technological glitches and computer crashes. I joined the bandwagon a few weeks ago when my computer crashed, which has kept me from blogging like I expected. Then, I traveled to Florida to see Jeff's family. While I was there, my mother-in-law was unable to utilize her Internet, and therefore, I was unable to catch up on blog updates like I had planned. Hence, Satan is manipulating our technology, attempting to keep us from the blessings awaiting us in the completion this virtual Bible study. Hopefully, we are back in working order now, and my prayer for us is to finish this study well!!

Due to the computer glitches over the past weeks, we are going to cover weeks 9 and 10 in this post. I do realize that this is going to place us a few weeks behind schedule; however, I believe that it is more important to finish this study well instead of rushing the final chapters and possibly missing the many blessings that God has awaiting us.

Chapter 9: Tending to Your Career

The topic this week was extremely blunt! The message was pretty much that no matter what, our husbands and family should be our first fruit of ministry...regardless!

Over the past year, our little family has gone through a variety of career changes and responsibilities. For me, I have gone from quitting my job with the Health Department to stay at home with my daughter. Then...to buying a business with my husband. Also, after much prayer and support from Jeff, I just took a part-time job as the nursery minister at our church. I feel like I have done a little bit of everything in a short period of time, which has left my head spinning!

This chapter was an important reminder that our number 1 ministry as wives and mothers is to our families. The other callings that He has entrusted us, ladies, to fulfill are important and a part of His plan; however, He never intends for our careers or outside ministries to take away from our first priority...tending to our families with excellence. We can't just assume that our families will be "o.k." and life will "just work out". We must pray for godly wisdom to guide us in the ways to best minister to our husbands and children so that we can help keep their love tanks full.

Week 10: Making Time for fun

WHOE!!! What a reminder this was! So many times lately I have wondered what happened to the fun things that my husband and I used to do together. Jeff and I love the outdoors and used to do fun things together all of the time. We went on four-wheeler rides, boating trips, hikes, horseback rides, and the list goes on! Then, like Elizabeth said, we had "to 'grow up,' to mature, to put away childish things" (George 163). It seemed that so many responsibilities complied on us suddenly, and we were required by circumstance to shift gears quickly. We began to realize that the decisions that we were making would affect many more people than besides ourselves.

Elizabeth is right that "it's a fact, that the older we get the more serious life becomes" (George 163). But even though life may become serious and somber at times, we can't let this consume our joy and corrupt our ability to have fun. I really liked the challenge for wives to be the "fun planners" at home.

For our blog posts this week, choose one of the two options to discuss...

1) In Chapter 9, what challenged you the most as a wife and mom.

2) From Chapter 10, plan 1 fun activity for your family that is out of the ordinary. Discuss what you plan to do, or either, discuss what you did and how your family reacted.

Have a great week! Lots of love...
Macki