Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

slowing down

last week my family went on vacation.  i have been looking forward to this vacation for 8 months.  i just wanted to hit the pause button and have a big, relaxing, family-focused vacation.
any time we all head on a road trip, it resembles a traveling circus.  a bunch of crazy, lots and lots of laughing, movie watching, snack eating and naps.  this time it held something new, my boy driving part of the way.  and he did fabulous 🙂
the first morning there, i was up at 5:30 i was so excited.  i just could NOT wait to do my morning devotions on the deck of the porch while watching the sun rise.  it was absolutely breath taking!

we had lots and lots of beach time this week.  sitting on the beach, sand castles, wave jumping, the occasional wave knocking you down and rolling you around a bit (normally accompanied by a swimsuit malfunction) and seashell searching.  it was so super relaxing!
one thing that my family loves is seagulls.  actually, we call them seagulligans.  we kinda sorta like them.  and we name them.  although they are super sketchy, i’m very thankful none of them pooped on me (jade can’t say the same).  and yes, we bought bread and got up early just to feed them.  which kinda sorta incited a bird riot.


no clue who this little boy is, but he sure made a good shot for me.

oh, the boardwalk statue guy that makes a killing just painting his clothes gold, squeaking when he talks and sitting on a bike for pics.  genius, huh?

i am completey, totally and ridiculously obsessed with this.  cotton candy polish ice freeze.  the polish ice was amazing.  and their ice cream?  out. of. this. world.  it reminded me of marshmallow cream.  sooooo wish i had one right now!

oh henna.  i knew i wanted one and knew what one i wanted.  joey decided he wanted one too.  gah.  disaster.  he got this HUGE arm piece.  decided the next day he didn’t like it.  covered it with toothpaste to wash it off?  the toothpaste made his skin raw?  it ended up looking horribly.  and jade?  yeah, she got a henna too.  clearly, her’s included cat paws.

isn’t it so super hard to settle your family back in after vacation?  this week i’m trying to get everyone back on track.  which normally amounts in me feeling like i need another vacation
out for now
~kisses
[jetpack-related-posts]

Wife After God {BOOK REVIEW}

Wife After God
A 30 Day Marriage Devotional For Wives
By: Jennifer Smith
over the past year, the Lord has really been busy working on my heart. He has given me a passion and a heart for marriage. not only for mine, but for all marriages. ones of the things i’ve enjoyed doing the most is reading and learning all i can about marriage…books, blogs, devotionals and bible study’s. one of my favorite blogs is unveiled wife. and when i read that jennifer smith had written a marriage devotional, i was beyond over the moon excited!

Wife After God is an encouraging, God-filled devotional that will, without a doubt, strengthen your relationship with your husband and with Christ.  daily i was more and more convicted on how i needed to work on my own marriage.

WHAT:  there are so many great, real topics in this book.  they aren’t fluff, they aren’t sugar coated, they are just real.  and that is what this wife likes.  real topics that i face every day.  a few of my favs are…forgiveness, intimacy, protecting your marriage and the importance of prayer.  
one of the sections that spoke directly to my heart was about being a good wife.  regardless of my husbands actions, behavior, thoughts and response towards me…i need to love him.  period.  and that ties directly in to the study we’ve recently done on the Proverbs 31 woman.  
WHO:  every single wife.  period.  there is something in this devotional that will touch your heart, i guarantee it.  no matter how many years you’ve been married, there is always more to learn.  God created a beautiful covenant with marriage.  His highest purpose in marriage is to showcase the intimate relationship between Christ and His people. He gave us the responsibility to tend to our marriage and to be a beautiful reflection of His heart.
HOW:  each day there are a few focus verses, a 2-3 page thought directly from jennifers heart that includes scripture and stories, a beautiful prayer, a personal challenge for you, thought provoking journal questions and a status update. i actually kept a daily journal and looooved it!  this would be such an amazing book to use in a ladies bible study.  
WHERE:  to purchase your own copy of the book, click here.  you can purchase it in either paperback or for your kindle.
thank you so much jennifer for your ministry, your heart and your transparency.  you are such an encouraging Christian role model in an opposite world.  
out for now
~kisses
[jetpack-related-posts]