Identity Part 3: Gender (Female, duh!)

     Female ... Duh! Although in this house that is nothing to snicker at! By all means, I do not claim to be a girly-girl. On the other hand, my life is full of sports (practices, games, watching sports on TV etc.), dirt, fighting, superheros, a sea of blue and any and all boy stuff. So much so I have to remind myself I do enjoy painting my nails, attempting to 'dress up' occasionally, wear make-up (which usually consist of eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss) and every once in awhile a hang out with another female! I think for all females this is important, go out with a sister, mom, friend, church group etc. every once in awhile.
     This just happens to be one of those rare occasions. My friend and I our celebrating our birthdays with a GNO (Girls Night Out)! So don't think this happens often. But to ensure it happens more often than not, we have made a pact to have a GNO once a month. Our birthdays are months apart, but due to weather and other schedule conflicts we are combining them into one night with a pedicure and a nice dinner (and of course going to stores to see what we can find that we might not get to do with kiddos).

     First picture is of our pedicures, matching colors of course!
 

     This is us, we are just browsing at a store to see what screams "buy us" as we wait until dinner time!

     As with the many labels in our lives right now I think this is the one most often we neglect. Not saying we need to drop everything so we can go out all the time. But it should be on occasion we can leave our kids and spend a little time with other women. To simply enjoy the fact that we are women, pamper yourself every so often because you deserve it! We do not even go get pedicures often (this was the second time in my life!), our favorite place to go to is Half Price Books! It can be inexpensive, watch a chick-flick or go window shopping somewhere the men in your life would not likely go with you.

Name: Jamie
Occupation: Mom
Marital Status: Married
Gender: Female (duh)

This section is called 'The Wife of Noble Character' Proverbs (all NIV) 31: 10-31. I'm going to highlight a few of my favorite verses that speak out to me.

v. 10-12 'A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.'

v. 15 'She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.'

v.17 'She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task.'

v. 26 'She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.'

v.28 'Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.'

v.30 'Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.'

Identity Part 2: Marital Status

     In this season of my life I feel like I have so many titles over my head, like; mom, wife, woman, homeschooler, cook, maid, chauffeur etc. ... I almost feel lost in the web of titles and their responsibilities. Anyone else out there feel caught in the same web?! I don't want to lose the love and the person I am, because I am trying to fulfill all these titles. I want to enjoy life's little moments and at the end of the day still have some sanity left!
     Today's topic is about the title of being someone's spouse, a wife in my case. Might I add, thank the Lord I am not raising these 4 boys on my own (single moms ROCK!)! Thank you Lord for bringing me a companion. I could go on and on, but lets stop and reflect on this passage before we continue. It is one of my favorite.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
'There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time to for war and a time for peace.'

     To give you some personal history, my husband (Travis) and I got married on our 3 year anniversary and have been married now for a little over 9 years. This passage doesn't just speak about marriage but it certainly can apply. Speaking of seasons, I think marriage in its own has a few.

Season 1: Puppy Love (as my granny would call it)
     Almost a love but more based on physical chemistry and impressions. You know when you would spontaneously buy them gifts, for no reason other than you loved them. Write love letters and stare endlessly into each others eyes.

Season 2: In Love
     Oh newly weds, aren't they refreshing to see. Still learning each others little quirks. Like how OCD your wife is about cleaning (especially bathrooms) or how your husband leaves his clothes where ever he changes (side of bed, bathroom floor, closet but puts them in wrong laundry basket...). Yet there is still that spark of fire. Holding hands, date nights or other romantic gestures.

Season 3: Real Love
     And there is the love that multiplies... well for us it did! This is the season we are in now. I still remember those date nights, but now they are few and far in-between. Our usual date night now consist of the kids being in bed, watching a movie, and making some late night snack. The love letters have turned into honey to-do list. And there are several little hands in-between ours. Yes, it's busy and crazy but we know this is only for a season.

     These seasons have no set time frame in which they occur. For some it could be but a few short months and others could be years. And yes there are seasons of pain or distance, but these too are just a season and shall pass. So what's the next season of marriage ... Managing Teen Boys, Empty Nest, or something with Adventure in the title??? Honestly I do not know, but I anxiously await.

Name: Jamie 
Occupation: Mom
Marital Status: Married