Has it really been that long?!

22 years ago today Andy was born! The day he decided to make his appearance was very much appreciated, since he was 10 days late! He didn't quite make it to Aunt Molly's birthday, but that was ok with me. At 9 pounds 5 ounces, I was ready to have him out! Having 3 older brothers to play war and other games, he's always loved some challenging competition and he's always been good at everything. I remember a time when Andy was about 3 or 4 yrs old and he would honestly whip me good in the game of Concentration- where the cards are face down and you turn over 2 at a time and try to get a pair. He could remember where all the cards were and I had to guess! So to this day if I beat Andy in a game I am so thrilled because he doesn't give up easy. I know that this kind of determination in competition is carried over in other areas of his life, to his advantage, and may he never forget that his family is cheering him all the way.

"How about a game of cards?!!"

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The blessing of brothers

A question I often get asked is "How can you live with all those brothers of yours?" I've learned to just smile and expect this question after I first let people know that I am the only girl of the family. What is interesting is that this comes from women and girls and not guys. I will meet guys who have grown up with only sisters and no brothers, but I rarely meet girls who have grown up with only boys in their life. I want to say that girls who have no brothers are missing a very fun and amazing experience. However, if God has put you in a family with no brothers, then that is the family that is best for you. I have come to see that my family is the best one for me, but of course not for everyone else. That being said, brothers are a great blessing to us girls in many ways.

First off laughter abounds. I have learned to laugh at myself through my brothers. Boys have no trouble in pointing out your faults and showing how silly you are. It's amazing how ignorant you can be of how many foolish things you do that you don't even realize. Well, with brothers around they make sure that you remember the silly things that you have done. In addition to laughing at myself, I can laugh with my brothers because they are just so much fun! "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22). So yes, brothers are fun to laugh with.

Second we girls get to practice on our brothers. I've gotten a lot of practice mothering my brothers (poor guys :D). Another thing that will come with practice is just getting to know how guys think and act. Through my brothers I have learned a lot about boys in general. A last practical thing that I have gotten to practice on my brothers is my cooking. Boys like to eat and they also have no trouble giving you advice on how you can make your cooking better so that it will taste good! So, practicing on your brothers can be fun and helpful to all involved.

Last we have things in common. So to you girls who have brothers that have been reading this, get rid of the idea that your brothers are a burden and annoying because they are different! I have gotten frustrated with my brothers because we are different, but that is normal. You should not focus on your differences, but rather turn those differences into learning about each other. Even if it doesn't seem like you have anything in common with your brothers, you probably do. In our family, a lot of us love to read! That is something that we all enjoy and we are able to talk about or read different books aloud with one another.

In conclusion I want to encourage those girls with brothers to look at the blessings of having brothers and not focus on the fundamental differences between girls and boys. Use the time you have your brothers in the same home for fun and learning and not for frustration and annoyance. God has placed you in your family because it is the one that is best for you and no one else. Learn to see it for the blessing that it is and you will enjoy every minute of your time with your family.

GET EXERCISING!

Here it is!

Encourage your friends and family

to join with you.

Form a team!

It's time to get in shape!

BLESSED MOTHERHOOD

We women are blessed with the privilege of being mothers for the glory of God. It is accomplished through the God-given sphere of the marriage of one man to one woman. Our mission is to give ourselves away for our family, so that they are able to worship the heavenly Father. When the mundane duties of doing the dishes, keeping the laundry going, picking up toys one more time, or perhaps the filthy challenges of changing another dirty diaper and cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night cloud our minds, we must remember what great influence we have over this generation and for many generations to come. Keeping this eternal, futuristic perspective in mind, makes those ill-favored duties of the home fade away. Through the Lord's intervention, we have the high calling of giving our children the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control and, as James says below, making them "ornaments" in society. Since the Lord of all the universe has made us women and has given us this awesome task, we can't help but give thanks and worship Him!

"The Bible gives [woman] her place of majesty and dignity in the domestic circle- the heart of her husband and the heart of her family. It is the female supremacy of that domain where love, tenderness, refinement, thought, and feeling preside. It is the privilege of making her husband happy and honored, and her sons and daughters the ornaments of human society. it is the sphere of piety, prudence, diligence in the domestic station, and a holy and devout life. It is the sphere that was occupied by Hannah, the mother of Samuel; by Elizabeth, the mother of John; by Eunice, the mother of Timothy; and by Mary, the mother of Jesus; It is the respect and esteem of mankind. It is the silent, unobserved, unobtrusive influence by which she accomplishes more for her race than many whose names occupy a broad space on the page of history." A Woman's Mission by John Angell James

Respect for rulers

I've been reading about this subject in By this Standard by Greg Bahnsen. He has a lot of great words to say. To summarize, Rulers are to be respected because they were given their authority by God Himself. Yet our rulers are under obligation to keep the law of God as well, for they are our example. We are also obligated to not stand for injustice when clearly a ruler is not following the law of God. All of these points are prevalent to us today. Another important thing to remember is prayer. Our rulers and those in authority need our prayer, for they have been given a great privilege and awesome responsibility by our great God. We must remember to give them the respect they rightly deserve which includes pointing out the errors they make when they make wrong decisions which are contrary to the law of God. I pray that this will be more practiced and we will be better equipped to follow the law of our God in this aspect in these days.