First Day of School Letters

Good Wednesday morning!

NOTE NEWBIES - If you are Newbie, you can find out more about A Simple Life by reading my August 8 post. It will "show you the ropes!"

I have a couple of new sections I'm adding to A Simple Life. Beginning today, we will have a small section entitled "Wednesday Wisdom." This will just be a little quote of the week which may be funny, uplifting, life-changing, etc. Oh... and VERY rarely will it be a quote from me (if ever). Today's quote is from Mark Twain as a matter of fact. It's just a fun "little" thing to make you think.

Also, beginning August 26, there will be a new blog under My Blog List entitled "Belinda's Project 365." I will be attempting to take one picture a day for 365 days chronicling my 48th year of life. This concept began with Becky Higgins (see Becky's Blog under My Blog List) who is an amazing scrapbook page designer, mother of three, etc., etc., etc. Another blogger I admire (see Carol of Crazy for Crafting fame under My Blog List) has been doing a wonderful job of keeping up with her Project 365. We'll see how it goes, but as I said, it will just be one picture a day and it can be anything that represents my life at THAT MOMENT! Good or bad. Pretty or ugly. There will be one line of journaling under each picture... unlike A Simple Life which usually has 1,000,000 lines of journaling each day.

Wednesday Wisdom - Mark Twain - Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

AUSTIN UPDATE - I think ONE of the hardest things for me (in this new phase of my life) is that although I speak to Austin every day now, eventually that will change. That is the reason I got on Facebook (and to shamelessly plug my blog everyday). But really, I wanted to have yet another way to stay connected to Austin (and Josh and Roxie). I don't want there to be a "disconnect," although I very much want them to have their own lives. (No... really, I do!)

I also love to write letters. I just like the freedom of talking to someone in a letter, and fortunately, I'm not someone who has to have someone responding all the time.

I'm going to share a Facebook letter I sent Austin today because I don't want to have painted the perfect, rosy picture of his adjustment to living "in the real world." He has had to deal with A LOT of "stuff" in a very short amount of time, and today I sent him a note letting him know we don't take this struggle for granted.

Dear Austin:

I just wanted to say how proud I am of you and your stand with some of the guys about the excessive profanity they are using, and saying no to some of the parties you've been invited to recently. I talked to Josh about it this morning. You left a very sheltered, Christian environment with a very strong Christian testimony, and the second you stepped out of the car at JSU and we drove away, Satan came at you with both arms swinging.

Yes, he'll attack the other guys, too. But if they are already following the wrong people and "trying to fit in" worldly situations, he won't be spending as much time fighting them as he will fighting you.

I wish I could say because of the life you've chosen to live things will be much, much easier. In reality, the opposite is true. Satan will be there at every turn trying to make you fail... and not just fail in private, but in the presence of everyone around you. That's his plan.

Now that we are clear as to what Satan's plan for your life is, let's go back to what we know about God's PERFECT plan for your life. Seek His will. Seek His plan. Seek His wisdom.

Continue to read your Bible every day. Missing one day is exactly what Satan wants... because if you miss one day then it will be easier to miss two... and so on and so on and so on.

Fight the fight, Austin. I know you're going to win!

I love you lots.

Mom

DISCLAIMER - I'm not with Austin on a daily basis any longer. All I have to go by is what he is telling me and Mike over the phone, and at home on the weekends. He could very well be giving into temptations we know nothing about. This is just another reason Mike and I will continue to "hover" a while longer. It's all about teaching endurance. And while we've talked about this in the safety and comfort of our home, he's now having to apply it in his daily life (away from the safety and comfort)... and it's hard.

Throwing him into the middle of a dessert and telling him to run for miles and miles and miles without any relief in sight isn't a plan to help him succeed. It's a plan designed to make him fail. It's the world's plan.

God's plan for His children has more to do with going the distance. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2.

Good plan... good plan.

Topic of the Week - Passing Down the Formula For a Virtuous Woman

Let's see what Ms. Courtney has to say to our boys today, shall we?

"'Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.' (Proverbs 31:11-12).

"This woman is every man's dream come true. She is not a whiner, nor does she bite back with attitude and sarcasm. I am reminded of Proverbs 27:15, 'A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day.' We all know women like this who make life miserable for all in their household. A virtuous woman is not a nagger; she puts the needs of her husband before her own.

Key questions for your son: Does this young lady have a temper? Is she in the habit of complaining and nagging? Does she easily hold grudges and struggle to forgive others?

Brilliant, I tell you... BRILLIANT!

I'm just glad this book wasn't around when Mikie and I were dating!

First Day of School Letters

I know the first day of school has come and gone, but you can write a letter now, AND FROM NOW ON, write it the first day of school. Be a little flexible (like me)... Okay?

This is more than just a note on a napkin in their lunchbox (although I LOVE those, too).

This is a full-blown letter of love, encouragement and scripture. This letter should include everything you want and pray for your child this coming school year. It should begin and end with declarations of love, and everything in the middle should be uplifting and confidence building. This letter should be the most wonderful thing they read all year long! And it should come from Mom and/or Dad.

Leave it on their pillow, taped to the mirror in the bathroom, or under their placemat at breakfast. Keep things simple. Do not put it in an elaborate scrapbook to save. You can use a plain manila envelope or a pocket folder. They can keep it in their room to read any time they want (or need), and you can add another letter each year.

It's a great way for your child to start the school year... knowing they are precious and special and loved.

Have the best Wednesday ever. Do something special and unexpected for another person today (husband, child, friend, neighbor). It could be something as simple as making a batch of muffins and taking it to them for their breakfast the next morning. It's not hard, and wouldn't that be such a treat. Tomorrow I have a date for you to consider and Weekend Family Fun. (I've been a little weak in this area the last two weeks. I'll kick it up a notch for Thursday's post.)

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

(Only one more week of the title... I promise!)