Karen Kingsbury-Life-Changing Fiction

Thanks to Erika upstairs, I have been enjoying reading Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family Drama book series. I highly recommend these books...not only are they good stories, but there is so much godly wisdom there as well! Last year, I made a commitment to only read books that would encourage me in my spiritual walk because I realized that some of the books I was reading, while not necessarily "bad", were either bringing me down emotionally (didn't need that!!!!) or distracting me from focusing attention on my walk with God. I am very thankful for authors like Karen Kingsbury, who write such good stories that bless and encourage.

I just finished the last book in the Firstborn Series of the Baxter Family Drama and I was kind of sad to finish it! Another great book, but it makes you wish that the series wouldn't end...anyway, at one point in the book, one of the Baxter's sons received a letter from his father that had been written by his mother (now deceased) listing out Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage. I'm going to print it out and put it on my fridge or something...wonderful reminders of how I can love Miguel! So here are these words of wisdom:

Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage

1. God has you here to serve one another. Love acted out is serving.
2. Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you'd lay your life down for her. Continue to date her and admire her. Share a hobby--find something you can do to have fun together.
3. Laugh often.
4. Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.
5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.
6. Keep short accounts. The Bible says, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Make it a habit to forgive.
7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.
8. Learn about the love languages. Not all people show love or receive it the same way. You want a back rub and your spouse wants a clean kitchen. The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time, physical touch, gifts, and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is better received when it's in the language that person speaks.
9. Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.
10. Men are born to be leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him the confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up. Confident men to not seek love outside the home.

(from Forever, Baxter Family Drama-Firstborn Series #5 by Karen Kingsbury pp. 238-240)

Chocolate chip banana pancakes and early morning goodbyes

Chocolate chip banana pancakes for breakfast this morning! We're having a special favorite to console ourselves since Miguel left early this morning and will be gone for a week. As proud as we are for him as he travels to meet a group from our home church and minister in a small town up the mountains outside of Puebla...we miss him when he's gone! We have three more days of vacation before school starts, so I'm thinking of some fun stuff I can do with the kids before we get back to school on Tuesday.

Even if we don't get to go out, though, I would definitely like to spend some special time with the kids. I think both Miguel and I have been somewhat busy in the last couple of weeks and I've noticed that the kids seem to be running a bit low in their "love tanks". I was kind of wondering what was going on with them (whining, acting out, clinginess, etc), but last night I picked up my copy of the Love Languages for kids and it was good to be reminded that perhaps they need some love and special attention. :)

Jkaile loved the pancakes...especially the chocolate chips!

Love Languages

I think one of Miguel's love languages is Acts of Service. He is always doing things around the house to help me. Sometimes I find myself wishing that he would just sit and talk to me more over a cup of coffee...and ungrateful me forgets to appreciate the fact that my husband is doing housework! Apparently my love language is more in other areas, such as Quality Time. A friend and I were talking about it the other day and she reminded me that every time he sweeps the floor or washes the dishes, he's expressing his love...it's like he's giving me a hug. Apparently I have some sort of complex about receiving Acts of Service because I often feel a sense of guilt or shame when he is helping me out, as if he has to do it because I am not 'together' enough. I don't think that's the truth (and Miguel himself has never, ever communicated that!)...and I am wanting to focus more on appreciating my husband and his unique gifts and talents. So I'm going to brag on him just a little...

This is what he did while I was out walking this morning...

on top of taking care of the kids

AND getting the baby to poop in the potty chair! :)

Now that's impressive!

After that, he took Micah over to a friend's house to play and did some shopping.

He often goes shopping for me and I appreciate that, even though

I do like to go once in a while to get out and see what's available.

(In fact, since I don't get out much, sometimes it can be

downright exhilarating to go the grocery store and

look at carrots and potatoes--woohoo, big outing of the week! :) LOL!)

Okay, but back to Miguel, he came home with the things on my list

plus a few extras, like this big stalk of sugar cane!

Thank you, Miguel, for everything you do for me!

I love you!

Becky