Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

Ready to Wed {Book Review}

Ready to Wed
by Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley

About the book:

Written for engaged couples, this book is full of tools, tips, and instructions that start a couple on a straight path to a strong marriage. Emphasizing that marriage and family are good, the book integrates the 12 Traits of a Thriving Marriage to help prepare and strengthen marriages from the start. A vital resource for those who mentor engaged couples and for pastors/churches who wish to use it in a premarital counseling program.

This book is written for engaged couples. It’s full of tools, tips, and instructions that start a couple on a straight path to a strong marriage. Emphasizing that marriage and family are good, the book integrates the 12 Traits of a Thriving Marriage to help prepare and strengthen marriages from the start. This would be a great resource for those who counsel engaged couples.

In the book, Gary Smalley discussed the power of honoring our spouse. He said he wrote a list about everything he cherished about his wife and when he was frustrated or mad at his wife, he would pull out his list to remind himself of everything he loved about his wife. How many marriages could be saved by doing that, wow.

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who is engaged or married!  If you’re looking to build a solid marriage with Jesus at the center, this is a must read. I really liked how the book had so many different authors who are expects in their field and they have massive knowledge about marriage. So many of us go into marriage blindly, thinking our fairy tale is about to begin.  When in all actuality, it’s work and sacrifice.  Not just once, but time after time.  This book will help you be prepared for marriage, and the possible struggles, ahead of time.  

Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Dr. Greg Smalley serves as executive director of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the Family. In this role, he develops and oversees initiatives that prepare individuals for marriage, strengthen and nurture existing marriages and help couples in marital crises. He also serves as a media spokesperson on these matters.

Married since 1992, the Smalleys live in Colorado with their three daughters, Taylor, Maddy and Annie, and their son, Garrison.

A Proverbs 31 Woman {Week 7}

She makes coverings for her bed; 
she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 
Proverbs 31:22

So many of these verses we’ve studied focus on what she does for others.  This week we get to take a look at what she makes for herself and what she wears.  I think we’ll find that even those things are done for others, too.

She pays special attention to the place where her family sleeps and spends many hours a night. She makes special coverings for them. Now, I’m not friends with the sewing machine. Not a single bit. But I can still do my part. It’s our job as Mama’s to make sure our family has clean sheets and a comfy special sweet spot to retreat to when the day is over.  Making our bedrooms beautiful and relaxing should be a delight!

Her clothing is silk and purple is not actually referring to “silk,” but “white linen” of very fine texture, and very costly. The purple garments were brought from the Phoenician cities, and were highly esteemed.  The purple color was actually obtained from a species of shell fish found in the Mediterranean sea. The shell was broken in order to give access to a small gland which was removed and crushed. The crushed gland gives a milky fluid that becomes red or purple on exposure to the air. 

I found that ‘Lydia’ in the New Testament was a seller of “purple” (Acts 16:14). Also, the Old Testament speaks tremendously about the colors that were used in the Tabernacle. Purple and white (in the form of bleached linen) were among those colors; as well as crimson (blue), scarlet (red), and gold.

We got a little glimpse into her fashion, which I found fascinating.  We know from past weeks that she is humble, sacrificing and puts herself last. But yet, she doesn’t neglect herself either. She knows that how she dresses reflects on her husband. Her appearance could affect her husband’s character, leadership and opportunities he’s given. She knows that, and isn’t willing to allow her appearance to reflect badly on him.  She dressed in a way so it couldn’t be said she was over dressed or under dressed.

It’s so super easy, when we’re so overwhelmed with the many tasks of motherhood {a lot of them dirty and smelly} to forget about our own appearance and the gift that caring for ourselves can be to our husbands. How you dress, as a wife, will either show honor and respect to your husband or disrespect. And she knows her husband doesn’t want to come home to a frumpy wife every day. We have to remember to take care of ourselves as well. It’s easy to get caught up in taking care of everyone else and neglecting ourselves.  So this week, shave your legs and put on some makeup!
Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
1 Timothy 2:9-10

Summer List ’15

Oh yes, summer is nearly here and we can’t wait!! We have big plans for this to be the best. summer. ever. Here is a list of everything we want to do this summer:

* swim a LOT
* day at Delgrosso’s
* fish…and fish…and fish…and fish…
* 4-wheeler rides
* horseback riding
* go canoeing
* have a picnic in the middle of the woods (without getting a tick please and thank you)
* car shows
* camping with friends
* make homemade pizza
* watch fireworks
* spend lots of time with family
* visit the fam at camp
* county fair
* buy a camper
* tube down the river…multiple times
* late night campfires
* read on a blanket at the beach
* get ice cream
* time with friends
* have mommy+daddy time…pleeeeease oh pleeeeease
* spend a week at the beach + boardwalk
* parades
* movie nights
* walk every.single.day.
* go to Erie for the day
* have a girls weekend
* make homemade popsicles