Help Meet

One Who Helps

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;

I will make a HELP MEET for him." -Genesis 2:18

The Bible teaches that it is the wife's duty to HELP her husband. You may not agree with that, but it is God's plan. Many women have simply sold-out to the ungodly influences of the feminist movement and refuse to accept any such teaching. There is no greater role for a woman in this world than being at her husband's side.

Many foolish women have DESTROYED their husbands!

"A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands." -Proverbs 14:1

A wise wife builds her family. She can be the most influential power in her husband's life. With her tongue, a wise women can encourage and build her husband up. She can pray over his mind, body, and soul. The same as a foolish woman with a sharp tongue can shred a man to nothing.

Submission

"In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives."

-1 Peter 3:1-6

Let us remember, that Sarah obeyed Abraham, even called him lord.This is greatly admirable for any woman. Sarah's use of the word "lord" was simply her way of saying, "Hey, your the boss Abraham!" Sarah was loyal.

Submission is a biblical principle spoken of throughout God's Word.

"For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is head of the church." -Ephesians 5:22

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is filling for those who belong to the Lord."

-Colossians 3:18

To offer balance both scriptures go on to include instruction for the husband to love his wife, as Christ loves the church (the "Bride").

A home will never be a home if a man and woman refuse to accept their proper roles in the marriage. A husband must be understanding, not a tyrant, committed to God, and an honest man, fair to his wife and kids. A woman must be submissive to her husband and obedient, but the husband must allow her to express her opinions and be fair about the decisions he makes.

Ladies, when you refuse to be a HELP MEET to your husband and submit to his authority, you are allowing the devil to gain entrance into your marriage.

"She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life...Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

-Proverbs 31:10-12, 28

~"You can name anything you want to name, but I am opposed to anything in the world that de-emphasizes the line of difference between the sexes. I believe that ladies ought to be feminine and sweet and lovely and charming. I believe men ought to be strong and masculine and decisive. I'm opposed to anything that makes a man and a woman act alike, look alike, dress alike, or talk alike." -Pastor Jack Hyles

One Step at a Time

Starting a business, is like climbing a mountain one single step at a time.Just when, you think you've cleared the pass, you look up at the challenge that awaits in the miles ahead.

We scouted out buildings for three months. A facility large enough for our plans, but not too big with empty space to fill. It had to be affordable. We found something usable, but really old and kinda small. Though, the location and lease was perfect. Zoning shot us down really quick. We would repeat this scenario three times. Each time finding something a little better, but always an issue. Finally, the right place. We actually looked at this same site three years ago, yes, we have been planning this for along time. A very long time.

At this point, we are about to sign the lease. Just as soon as 'zoning' approves our plans. I think this time will be the "YES" we have been hoping for. Jason has to go before the County Commissioner's August 17. It's just a formality, some of the commissioners have already given him the thumbs up. Parking was the only question and they worked that out.

We formed the corporation this week. Yeah!!
Passing the point of no return now.
Praying through every move we make, and every person we speak with. Thankful for the guidance we have received and the prayers.

Captain Phil

I never have much time to watch television. Tell you the truth, I don't care for TV much. I would rather be working on some kind of project, then planted in front of the tube. Except, for the one show my husband and I like to watch together. Jason has been a fan of the Deadliest Catch since the very first season it aired on Discovery. It took me a little while, but I was slowly pulled into the show. Usually, the marathon of episodes are on during weekends, and as I walk by with my laundry basket, I slowly eased my way onto the couch. I would be there for a while, pulled in, like one of those crab cages out of the Bering Sea.

Once, you get passed the bleep, bleep, bleepity,bleep, bleeps... the show is really good. These guys, risking their lives on frigid seas, to catch millions of pounds of king crab. We started DVRing the show last year and watching it together on Saturday mornings. We sip our hot coffee while these souls battle frozen ice. We are couch fisherman.lol...

My favorite character has always been Captain Phil Harris. He is a rough and rugged, tattoo covered, chain smoking man with a sailors tongue, but under all that ruggedness, you can tell there is a sweetheart of a man inside. Captain Phil died this past February of complications from a massive stroke. I just sat and watched his last episode.

With tears in my eyes, I wondered if Captain Phil knew Jesus. Oh, I hope he did. You never know the heart of a person in their final moments. No, in his life, it didn't reflect a walk with the Lord, but in that final hour did he cry out from his heart? How sad if he didn't. So many souls walk through this life, only living for 'this life.' When, we should always keep one eye on eternity. Yes, live this life! Live well, serve others, work hard, but never forget, we are all going. Either by rapture or by the grave. Always keeping your eye's on Jesus.

Captain Phil Harris

Farewell Skipper!

Stepping Out to Experience Growth

Dears friends,

I have missed meeting you here.

I have missed sharing the happenings of 'this life' with you.

We are taking big steps over here, my husband and I, for our family.

We are starting our own small business.

This is a life long dream being fulfilled for my husband.

I am helping him set up accounts, placing orders, licensing issues, and the list goes on.

We are extremely excited, to say the least, but at times it can feel overwhelming.

With so much to be done in such a short amount of time and on budget.

I am spending a lot of time on my knees in prayer, to keep peace in my heart with so much going on. Diligent prayer, over our lives and God's will be done, in these lives.
Laying it all at His feet.

After, MUCH prayer, for many long YEARS, we are going for it. To be quite honest with you, God is moving mountains to get us there. This is the first time in our fourteen years of marriage, that all the details are falling into place. By the skin of our teeth and sweat of our brow, but mostly the favor of our faithful Heavenly Father.

I'll be back, to share more real soon.

all my love,

Brandi

$100 Challenge week 2

I did good this week.

All of these items below were either free, under $1.00, or they paid me to buy them. :)

Shall I break it down for you???

2 x Finish detergent gel pacs bogo at 6.99. Used 2 x 2.50 coupons=1.99/2=.99each

2 x Lea and Perrins sauce $1.99 each minus $2.00 coupon= +.01
4 x Chips Ahoy bogo $3.69-b1g1 free printable coupon=2 FREE
6 x Hershey syrup bogo $2.19-1/3 coupon(why I bought 6)=.76 each
2 x Bic Solei razors bogo $5.49 - $3.00cp on each= +.51 (overage) yeah!!


This was the rest of my grocery order.

I shopped just once this week. My total spent $83.81 and I saved $84.10.

Not bad, not bad at all!
Did you save a bundle this week??

Tell me about how you save your family money.

I think saving money, is just as effective for the family, as earning money.
It's all about being a good steward.

To join in the $100 challenge jump on over to http://www.thebellamella.com/2010/07/100-challenge-check-in.html

$100 Challenge

Results are in for week one of the $100 challenge.

I found this thrifty find discounted ($11) at a local antique decorative shop.

No, it's not an antique, but it is made of wood and it goes with the theme in Garrett's room. He has a log cabin rustic motif going on in there. I am thinking, that this would look better hanging over my front door.

Especially, since it reads 'Wipe Yer Paws.'
CVS deals of the week.

Some weeks at CVS are better than others.

This week was a pretty good week. I started with 10 ecb's(extra care bucks) and rolled them over for the John Frieda products, H&S shampoo with a b1g1 free coupon, and free contact solution. In all, I spent about $4.00 oop(out of pocket) and ended up with 8 ecb to start me out next week. Standing in line at the checkout, I always take a peek in the clearance buggy. My eyes immediately spotted the watering pitcher clearance for .89 cents. I needed a cheap filler item anyway (I usually grab gum), this was a great find. This will be handy around the house :)

My final stop this week was Publix. Not a whole lot of awesome coupon/bogo matchups for me this week. At least, not items that we need or use. The best deals this week were on Greenwise Organic milk on sale for $4.59 a gallon, the in season cherries bogo (buy one get one), and Musselman's all natural applesauce bogo minus coupons..final price .20 per jar. I stocked up on the applesauce. Other than that, my cart was full of the basic staples for the week. I was doing good coming in about $4 under my budget.

When again, on my way to the checkout lane, the mark down buggy pulled me over.
Darn.... gets me every time! :)

They had marked down the Summer decor items. Have you seen the display of blue plates, glasses, hand towels with little blue fish?? I picked up the blue handled flatware and I wanted those hand towels. I restrained myself from blowing my budget any further. This week!!

If those towels are there next week, I'm putting back the bread and milk...LOL.


My Pub totals were $89.45 with 53.28 saved. That brings me in $4.45 over my $100 budget this week. Not bad! Maybe, I can even it out next week and still get those blue towels ;)

How did you fare this week?? Do you give yourself a budget and stick to it?? I know some bloggers' (money saving mom) budget less than $40 each week. Wow! Is all I can say...
She and her husband also just paid cash for their first house too. Double wow!!

Being a good steward of what has been given and still living the good life.

(please over look my spelling/grammatical errors as I am writing this quickly. They are waiting on me to roast smores :) mmmm...

Nature's Candy

We Picked!They ate!

A hot morning spent picking these sweet blessing's of Summer.
Our buckets and their belly's full, we made our way back home. With blue fingers and tongues, we plunged our sweaty bodies into cool water.

Jason and I, picked eleven pounds of blueberries.

I think they ate eleven pounds of blueberries.

All these years, we never knew that just down the road was a u-pick blueberry farm.

Now we know!

I spent most of the weekend washing and bagging berries.

Enough for the whole year!

Sweet Homestead Blessings!




On another note: My blogger friend Melanie (bellamella.com) is hosting a challenge. The challenge is a $100 a week budget, allowance, or whatever you call it, for household purchases. She puts $100 into her envelope at the beginning of the week for groceries, drug store deals, and any other thrifty finds. Whatever, she has left over, goes into her funD.

I think this is a great way to save money and stick to a budget. I have decided to join in! My usual budget is about this same amount but improvement can always be made. No more impulse grabs in the check out line.

I will be reporting on how I do each week. If you want to join in, jump on over to her blog (it is in my sidebar).

When the lights go out...

The rain is coming down tonight.

The power went out just before dark. They don't like it when the power goes out. To take their minds off the dark and the storm, I went for the box.
I light the oil lamp and we say a prayer over our home.

Then we open the box.
The box is full of odds and ends, glue and scissors, glitter and googlie eyes.

We hardly notice the power back on, but we notice the air back on for sure.

Still, we cut and paste. We share laughter and I praise the art they create.

I always praise their creation's. This boy likes to create with Lego's. I'm convinced, he could build a house with enough Lego's.

I praise the Lego creations.

Yes, I do!

He makes a card for daddy because we miss daddy a lot (daddy works at night).

In the morning, my country mouse works beside me in the kitchen as we roll out our dough for biscuits. We love biscuits with our homemade blackberry jam.

A window into this life of gratitude.

Cherishing this moment...


~Brandi

Keep'n It Real

After watching the cute movie (Julie and Julia), I wanted to prepare the highlighted dish in the film. Julia Child's recipe for Boeuf Bourguignon. So, what did I do......

Googled it of course. The ingredient list was not too expensive. The most exotic ingredients were pearl onions and a young full-bodied wine like Chianti. I don't know about you but I don't cook with pearl onions and red wine everyday. Occasionally, a little Marsala but not usually a nice red.
The Bourguignon turned out delicious.



But....let me keep it real for ya...

I made the biggest mess ever in my kitchen, and I cleaned as I cooked too.
This was an all day and night event. I prepped and cooked for about six hours and then washed dishes until my hands couldn't take anymore.

Just SO many layers to the recipe. Separate sauce pan for onions, one for mushrooms, drain the meat casserole and wash the pot. Put the meat back into clean pot....and on it went.

I wonder if Julia's kitchen looked like a natural disaster??

It was fun to try something new, but I think this recipe will be filed under annual events. LOL!


~Brandi