25 Day Praise Plan Valentine Marriage Challenge!

As I mentioned yesterday, I am participating in, and hoping to blog about, this challenge over at Women Living Well. So I guess I better do a post about it! :) 


In this challenge, Courtney is encouraging us to make a conscious effort to "praise, encourage, inspire, admire, build up, thank and appreciate your husband"   and to do that different ways each week. 


Here's the first week's challenge/assignment: "Week 1 starts TODAY! Look for ways to praise your husband verbally.Praise him in front of the kids, friends, family, co-workers, on facebook, tweet it - get praise out anyway you can! Try to mention something noteworthy he has done - in his role as provider, father, husband, lover, or friend. If the thought of trying to come up with one terrifies you, then pray right now that God will give you new eyes to see your husband as God does. Then open your mouth and say something kind and uplifting to your husband today and tomorrow and the next day until Valentine's Day arrives."


I was listening to Doug Phillips' talk "A Wise Woman's Guide to Blessing Her Husband's Vision" a while back and he mentioned that when you are praised for your hospitality, as a wife, it is important to point to your husband when accepting those praises! I am so thankful that my husband works hard all week so I can be home and have enough time to prepare for guests. I am so thankful that he works hard to provide finances for groceries so we may provide hospitality...in abundance. I am so thankful that he has a vision for our home to be a place where hospitality is regularly shown! I have been working on singing his praises for this!!!

This week I am making a huge effort to watch my words. I am, unfortunately, quick to argue when DH and I do not see eye to eye. I am quick to point out things that bother me...and only things that bother me. Yesterday and today I have spent the day thinking of all the things I love about my husband, and what a difference it made when he came home last night! I didn't immediately run to him with my little problems and complaints, but instead spent time thanking him for being him! He seemed a little surprised--a pretty good indication that I do not do this enough!

I will be praying that I can keep up this positive attitude always--not just during this challenge. Thank you Lord, for giving me such a wonderful husband, who takes care of all my needs, loves me unconditionally, makes me laugh, encourages me in my walk of faith, and when he corrects me, does it with love. How blessed I am!

~Sunshine~

Finally, a new post!

Oh dear, how am I ever going to keep up with this?! I am trying to keep my priorities straight and of course keeping this up is not high on the list. If you are reading this, thank you!

Snow on evergreens...is there anything better?!

December and January so far have been crazy busy with holidays and just plain life! I hopefully will be able to post some photos, but I kept very busy with getting gifts ready and wrapped, playing piano for church, baking, baby-sitting my pastor’s sweet girls, shoveling snow, and spending much needed time with family—we were blessed to be able to spend quite a bit of time with both my family and my husband’s family, as well as a quick visit to my Grandma on Christmas Day.

I do hope to update more this year. Here's some things I have in the works: 

I hope to share how God humbled me through answered prayer this Christmas.

I am participating in, and hoping to blog about, Courtney’s “Be My Valentine” challenge over at Women Living Well. I have been following her blog for awhile and really love how she shares her heart for the Lord and for all the daughters of the King! She really does have a passion for women to love their husbands as we are exhorted to in the Word! What an encouragement!

I’ll also be sharing how the Lord is working on my heart and my life through the book “Holiness” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss that we are studying in our women’s study right now. Oh, but it is a painful process! Painful...but oh-so-necessary. 

So please come back and read more!

~Sunshine~

p.s. Guess who got the Baby Conference audio for Christmas?! Oh yes! Happy me! I am not even halfway done listening to it and I have learned so much! I would heartily recommend it to anyone! My hubby certainly does spoil me—all that and a gardening book and brand new cell phone too! :)