Day 513 ~ Peaceful, Easy Feeling (XXV)

Day 25 of the Husband Encouragement Challenge
courtesy of ReviveOurHearts.com

". . . seek peace, and pursue it." (Psalms 34:14b)

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3) 

  

You're moving toward the home stretch of your 30-day challenge! Just a reminder of what you've committed: 

• You can't say anything negative about your husband . . . to your husband . . . or to anyone else, about your husband.
• Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband . . . to your husband . . . and to someone else, about your husband!

Before you consider whether these verses describe your husband, consider your own presence in the home. Do you promote an atmosphere of peace, or do critical words often flow from your mouth? Do you struggle with anger? If so, before you continue with your Encouragement Challenge, confess these sinful habits to the Lord, and determine to speak words of peace to your family today.

Does your husband bring an atmosphere of peace into your home? Is his presence a calming influence? Does he bring music, entertainment, books or people into your home that build a sense of serenity? Let him know how much you appreciate this wonderful quality, and support his choices.

If, on the other hand, he is quickly angered or he creates chaos rather than calm, ask God to give you an abundance of the kind of peace that will speak to his heart. Be patient and loving. Create an inviting atmosphere of peace, as much as possible. 

Day 25! . . .
I'm going to keep this simple and not let it get too wordy.  

Peace.  

Aaaaahhh.... The word is even peaceful.... p-e-a-c-e.  Nice.

Seems as if ever since I started this challenge that, for the most part, there has been nothing but peace in my home.

Does my hubby keep the peace?  Yes he does.  He knows when not to say some thing.  That is the most important thing to do when trying to keep the peace.

Do I keep the peace here at home?  Yes.  I can say that YES I have learned the skill of keeping peace.  It is more like knowing when to say something, and when to keep it to myself.

And I must admit that this challenge has brought much peace to my life.

More like . . .  a peaceful, easy feeling.

I am thankful for Fall.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 488 ~ Peaceful Feeling (III)

Day 3 of the Husband Encouragement Challenge
courtesy of ReviveOurHearts.com

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His riches of his glory by Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:19)

To refresh your memory, here's the 30-Day Encouragement Challenge for the next 30 days:

• You can't say anything negative about your husband . . . to your husband . . . or to anyone else, about your husband.
• Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband . . . to your husband . . . and to someone else, about your husband!

Love indeed suffers long and is kind. As you consider your Encouragement Challenge, determine today that you will not say anything negative to or about your husband. Speak kindly to him with words of genuine encouragement.

If your husband is considerate of your needs, let him know that you have noticed. Thank him for his kindness and consideration. Thank the Lord that your husband knows how to be both tough and tender.

Sometimes it's difficult for a man to be gentle, kind or tender—especially if he hasn't had role models in these areas. If he's not a considerate person, appeal to him for help without complaining. Let him know that it's hard for you to handle some things alone. Then, when he moves in to help, don't insist that he do it your way. Be glad that he is responding, and express your gratitude.

Ultimately, you can't expect your husband to make you feel more secure, loved, etc.

Remember that only God can meet the deepest needs of your heart.

Here's day 3 ... it's becoming clear to me...  
I'm going to keep this simple and not let it get too wordy.   

I don't know if I have made this clear to you... Dean has no clue that I am doing this.  

I am going to go on a limb here by saying that I have a feeling this is how this challenge is suppose to work.

I am pretty sure that if he knew I was doing this, the end result would not be natural.

So I continue to thank him... letting him know how blessed I am... how thankful I am for all that he does for us...

Do not get me wrong... there were a couple of times that I resisted from engaging...  funny thing was that moments later I could not remember what it was that I wanted to engage with him about.. must have not been that important.

I hate to admit this... but my home seems at peace right now.  lol!  NO! We don''t go around yelling all the time... I'm just passionate... after all I do have Italian blood running through my veins (thanks Dad.)

I think being a wife is about keeping the peace... and if something comes up that is important enough... then I can engage in a loving way.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 342 ~ Keep My Head Above Water (Trying to)

The last two days have been unbearable!!  I am really trying hard to keep my head above water and in the positive...

However...

It is easier said than done!!

The fact that I heard from one out of two sons on Mother's Day, is heart wrenching.  

Most of you are probably thinking I should be thankful... and you are probably right... 

however...

My eldest son has purposely forgotten most of his past, times with me included [I'd call it a defense mechanism~ it hurts non the less... and then 

If it wasn't for my overhearing my daughter (5) telling her father she wanted to get me something... then possibly this holiday would not have been so difficult.

Let me back up...

Right before my birthday (22nd of March), my aunt told me that my mother no longer wanted to talk to me because I yell at her.    

Let me clarify this... The last time I spoke to her I was upset that she did not take the time out for my daughter and I told her so... and mind you all the while I am trying to tell her that my daughter is upset that she does not hear from her abuelita (grandma in Spanish), all the while my mother is talking [louder] over me.  {She has always done this... she does not wait for you to finish what you are saying and speaks over you}  

Where I come from, this is called interrupting... needless to say one should wait for the other person to finish before you respond... but, not with her!

I have shared with you of her OCD, etc... so we are not dealing with a person of sound mind.

So... When my aunt told me that she could not talk to me... I figured that "it" was over.  I am done setting myself up and trying to reach out to a woman whose priorities are nothing like yours or mine.

At this point... you may be thinking... 'well, you do have a daughter?'... 

Sorry... we can't go there because Calley is 5 and has to count on her dad for these things...

and without throwing him under the bus I can not reiterate on the matter.

SOOOOOO..... the last two days have been HEART WRENCHING!

Unless you have children and have had them taken from you.... I'm sorry, but you can not really relate.

The last two days, especially today, have been spent on my trying to stay above water... 

Not only that... but I have been trying to save all that I have accomplished in the last year, as far as my healing process goes.

I am trying so hard to be strong... I am trying hard to be positive... I am trying so hard to be happy... 

But to no avail... it seems as if its not working.  

I am not trying to be negative... BUT after your children have been taken from you, put against you, and with this comes no calls on your birthday or mother's day or Christmas or anything else...

All I can say is this commercialization of all these holidays SUCK!  

No different than the single person on Valentine's Day.  (I'm sure that may have clarified it for  some of you.)

Then I get these 'feel better' wishes from people {with children} that have never had their children taken away from them, or from people that do not have children. 

Sorry... but you can not possibly know what I am going through...

I feel so alone.  No where to go.  

Peace,  (trying to find...)

23 days to go...  

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  © 2012 

Day 331 ~ My Happy Place

Tonight I wish you a happy Friday...

Welcome to my happy place.

Oh how I love the beach.

Aahhhh... the ocean breeze.

As I close my eyes, 

I picture myself sitting on the shore...

As I take a deep breath, 

I feel the ocean-spray kiss me

from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.

God's simple gifts in life.

Blessings...

34 days to go...  

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  © 2012