SRKindredSpirits

So, back before we got married, my husband and I received alot of marriage advice....but the following turned out to be the worst marriage advice I ever received.....   "Don't ever talk about or bring up each other's past relationships or past life."  For me, the above advice turned out to be the number one mistake of our marriage and here's why.   When you can't speak to each other about your past or past relationships, it causes strain on a marriage. And, just like when things are swept under the rug, they will eventually come out.  My husband and I both had previous relationships. He was never married, but I was previously married with a child. My first husband was my best friend in a time of my life when most all other friends and family forsake me. And being told not to talk about him or our past life together, made me feel horrible. So the for the first three to five years of our marriage, we tried to follow the advice - never tal...

Did you know, you are allowed to be happy?! In her book, The Year of Living Happy: Finding Contentment and Connection in a Crazy World, Alli Worthington talks about how we were made to be happy, and that God desires us to be happy. That in being happy, we are living for Him.  "My hope for The Year of Living Happy is to bring the truth of Scripture and best of modern research together as a guide to real happiness." ~ Alli Worthington Whether you're struggling with being happy or not, this little book has some great information and tips to help you live your happiest life! The devotions are short, and a scripture verse is mentioned in each one.  There are one hundred devotions in all. An attached bookmark is also included, which is always a helpful addition to a book. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have e...

Today is our Anniversary..... Every year, we try to take an Anniversary trip to get away, just us two. It's something we look forward to every fall. It gives us a chance to be alone, walk hand in hand, and to simply, just be. We love to hike and spend time in nature. This year our destination was Niagara Falls, NY. It was windy, and cold, and we got soaked a few times, but it was beautiful and fun! Pictures don't do it justice! Veiw from the lookout tower... On the rim trail... The leaves were just starting to turn.... We saw at least six different rainbows in the two days we were there. My favorite view.... Cave of the winds... looking back up at the falls... I was amazed at how close you could get up to the falls.... My love and I....   It was hard to get a good picture of the Horseshoe Falls, because the wind and mist was so bad. The closer you got, the wetter you were. Our camera lenses were cover ...

My Grandpa Stump has been gone for four years this month... gone, but not forgotten. So here's some memories of my Grandpa.... My Grandpa only had an 8th grade education (and skipped 4th grade), yet he was the smartest man I knew. He was a preacher, multi-millionaire, and a great business man . He was a farmer, a landlord, and had the best garden around. He was a traveler, he started a mission in Africa, he helped more people than anyone else I know. He believed in God, and wasn't ashamed of who he was. Grandpa loved singing, playing games (four hand texas was his favorite) , telling stories, eating popcorn, driving fast,  helping people, traveling, preaching,   Shaklee , working hard, having a good time, and his   family .  Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on Grandpa's lap. I loved playing games with Grandpa, him teasing me when he won. Going camping, and spending Christmas weekend at their house with all our cousins, and playing in the o...

If you've hung around me for any length of time, you know that I am weird. I am awkward, I say all the wrong things, I'm too loud, I don't fit in. I like angles - circle and squares are boring. Rainy days are made for me. I don't like people. Being different is one of my best assets. I like the fact that I'm different. So, when I saw this book, my thought was 'if it's about being weird like me, I've got to read it'! Michael Frost continues to challenge me to be bold and brave to think and live differently (weirdly)! Many Christians have become comfortable letting the world mold them, instead of being set apart by God. And many churches have traded in their biblical roots for complacent conventionality. But Jesus and the church are anything but conventional.  If our churches are filled with people not living weird and instead living the same way everybody else is, then what do we as Christians have to commend? The church need...

So, most of you know by now that I do not like clutter.... we have been on our minimalist journey for a few years now and it makes me so happy! We have gotten rid of trailer loads and car loads full of stuff over the last few years, and although I still try to walk through the house daily to see what I can get rid of and still make monthly trips to drop off unwanted items at goodwill, it is getting harder and harder to find items that I want to get rid off. So, I thought I'd try The Minimalist Challenge. Today is the start of a brand new month and a perfect time to try The Minimalist Challenge . Here’s how it works… Find a friend or family member: someone who’s willing to get rid of their excess stuff. This month, each of you must get rid of one thing on the first day. On the second, two things. Three items on the third. So forth, and so on. Anything can go! Clothes, furniture, electronics, tools, decorations, etc. Donate, sell, or trash. Whatever...

They still love playing with legos.... On hard days, these thoughts often linger in my mind.... When it feels like I can't go on...When my head is throbbing with pain. When every breath is more painful than the last, and my heart is breaking into a million pieces. When my tears won't dry, and just keep falling.  I feel utterly helpless - there's nothing I can do. I used to believe in miracles, but I don't understand how God can be so cruel. I love these kids. Why them? Why me? Why this?  My one and only wish is that my kids could be normal. I hate seeing them suffer, not knowing what their future holds or the suffering they will have to endure. The only way I can made it through each day is to keep telling myself... There has to be a reason that God made my kids this way. I pray that someday God will use them in a big way to bring people to Him.   I have no idea why God chose me to be their mom, I lack in so many ways. But God knows I love them. So...