It's A Foxy Mama Post

I would like to explain what a FOXY MAMA is...
It's a woman that is in hot pursuit of her husband and to that end does things that will enhance their marriage and, in particular, spice up their sex life!

Not all fires are bad...

Only ninety-four miles northeast, fires rage in Bastrop.  The flames are licking up the dry, parched land, leaving behind destruction and death.

I really cannot comprehend that kind of devastation.  But I am asking God for comfort, protection for the firemen, and a quick end to it all.

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But not all fires are bad...

With the first day of our 'Out of the Box Academy' over, Love and I sat in our yard, listening to the sound of quiet, rocking back and forth in our 'Freecycle' swing from Germany, speaking of the day's events and unwinding-- just the two of us. 

Soft breezes and mild temps give the hint that maybe the blistering summer is winding down.  For that we are also praying.

As we rocked, our words turned to confessions, then declarations and finally to praying the will of God for our home.  We both recognize that we're in a war, but sometimes the dry, busyness of each day pulls at the threads of this three-fold cord, threatening to unravel us. Yet, in moments like this, I remember He designed this cord and He holds all things together.

Do you have a place to unwind, breathe deep and renew the spiritual fire in your marriage?  Physical passion is fabulous, but the intimacy shared at the feet of Jesus is unparalleled.  Just listening to your lover's heart poured out before a Holy God is not only attractive; it's a gift that only you share.  Do you treasure that gift?  Does your mate feel safe to share their weaknesses in front of you?  If not, why? 

Start a fire in your life by honestly asking the hard questions about what really matters...

What really matters?  One's own relationship with the God of the universe, expressed to us by the coming of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Read about it and then ask Him to reveal to you your need for His love, so you can love your mate. 

Make this your prayer:  Start a fire in me God!

As the waves return to the shore...

After a month or so away, it is so good to be back and writing again...

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"Intimacy is the mutual mingling of souls who are taking each other into themselves to ever increasing depths. The truly erotic is the mingling of souls. Because we are free beings, intimacy cannot be passive or forced."                  Dallas Willard                                                       

Our twenty-ninth anniversary is approaching.  Like waves returning to the shore, my heart returns yearly to the memory of those special moments that remind me that I am his and he is mine...

,~he chose me, a single mom with a little girl named Rachael.

~he embraced and chose her to be his own, adopting and giving her his name.

~I followed him as he followed Jesus to KY for twelve years and together we had two beautiful boys.

~he gave me the gift of staying home to care for our three little ones, as well as freedom to work from home and occasionally get a job only to decide within six months that I wanted to be home!

~he got up every morning to go to a miserable job so I could stay home.

~he put me through beauty school and cared for the children while supporting my dream.

~I learned what love was through this patient, long-suffering man...

~I packed up everything and we headed back to NY because Daddy had spoken His Word to his heart and tears flowed as we headed back home...

~after eleven years of bugging him, he agreed to more children and we got doubly blessed with twins boys.

~after twelve years in NY, three local moves, an unsold home and no job, I followed him again to fulfill God's Word and dream for him to Texas.

~He moved to the country for me, despite his desire to be in the city...

~I learned to trust Daddy's love deeper when he lost his job for the third time, we had to leave the 'Ranch' and he needed me to be his cheerleader.

~He fought for me when we needed freedom from an oppressive situation and God delivered us by giving him His word.

~we grew more in love as we sought His heart for our life together, despite the struggles we found ourselves in...

~he opened his heart and our home to bring my parents to Texas to live with us.

~I wear the same band he placed on the third finger of my left hand so long ago and the Mother's day ring for the right hand back in 2004...the only two rings I ever wear. 

Thank you, my love, for twenty-eight years of adventure...I don't regret any of it, for I know that the best is yet to come.
I love you, Jef.

Envisioning the wind in my hair...

Sitting as close to my Love as possible and is acceptable in public, my senses are acutely aware of this moment...my heart aflame with love for this man, the man of my dreams...is it possible to passionately hunger for him the way I did almost twenty-nine years ago? Can it be that I am falling in love again with this man that vowed to love, protect and cherish me as long as our lungs fill with oxygen...how can this be?  I know I love him, but what happened to passion?

It's like I've been sitting on some train, unaware of the beauty just outside my window because I've been preoccupied, distracted, busily writing a story or so I thought that's what I was doing.  The locomotive is loud, the speed uncontrollable and I am comfortable in this seat...

...but today all that changed*...

I envision myself getting up, clutching on to every seat as I make my way to the back of the car, forcing open the metal door that's keeping me in...then, in an instant, I'm leaning over the edge, the wind pushing against my face, my dress blowing frivolously free. As my left hand holds on for dear life, my right arm, in abandoned freedom, extends towards the trees whizzing by in a fury...and as I open my eyes to this beautiful moment, I am undone...I am never going to be the same again.

...this is what marriage is all about...

...a Divine love affair with the Author of the Universe writing our story with His pen, asking us to jump out of our seat and grab hold of His hand while He ignites passion and inks eternity on our hearts for each other and Him...all the while reminding us that we cannot do this on our own...this ride is too dangerous!

Passion Himself has pursued me, pulled me from my comfort, invited me to join His adventure and lavished on me the love from one man, as flawed as I am, yet one who loves me from his heart...a heart that will never let me go. 

Because I am undone, I must hang on.
I can do nothing else.

Let the flames of passion for my lover burn away all selfishness and mold us into His image together.


*we attended the Love and Respect conference and I am forever grateful for our pastor, Mike Sharrow, for his passion for His savior, Jesus, and his love for His Church.

On Being Intentional...

Ever have one of those days when all you can see is where you are NOT getting it right? Where all 'your' best efforts come up short and the flaws or your children scream, "You made me like this!" Or when your lover confronts you on an issue that is so tender and yet so true?
Or when you believe you have a great marriage and there are no immediate stressers, so, on the surface, it looks like the Happy Christian home, but these 'things' keep tripping you up?
Well, the Spirit of the Living God has so much more for us and He is serious about transforming us into His image, from glory to glory...
So, more than a face lift, He walks alongside to give us a Life Lift by exposing, revealing, and reminding us of the things that lie hidden in the dark-
Mindsets that stay in a corner hiding and are comfortable there...taking up space and time that could be spent building the kingdom, investing in others, and making us more like Him.

Let me be frank, may I?
It has come to our attention, loud and clear, that we've not been Intentional- Purposeful in many areas of our life together.
One particular example that applies to me is going to bed at an hour when I still have energy to love my husband, and my heart is ready and willing. Too many times I don't purpose to love him, want him and tenderly give to him.
Thank you, Holy Spirit for reminding me.
Love and I conversed about a bunch of issues surrounding being 'intentional' in our lifestyle and it could have become volatile, particularly since I sense the monthly weight gain!
But we both recognize that apart from God working in each of us, we could go around and around these mountains again and again and again.
We both chose to look to Jesus. He authors our faith, He perfects it...He is the one showing us where we need Him and He is the one who will change us...I cannot change my love, nor he change me. And we both want God to change us, so we prayed together and repented, then took intentional steps of faith and I have no doubt that He heard our prayers and according to His Word, we are changing.
Yippee!
Being a three-fold chord makes this rope strong.

Eccles. 4:9-12 Two people
can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for
their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But
people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night,
two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be
warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can
stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord
is not easily broken.

Hope is the anchor for my soul. He is faithful and His love is poured out in our hearts so we will not give up or quit.

What a Summer So Far!

Summer has arrived and yet it's been 'summer' here for over three months already!
We've had temps over 100 for atleast a week; the lows have been in the mid 70's, so any outside work has to be done then...
Last week the boys and I did a lot of biking, visited a local park and they swam and I burned calories! Clothes are fitting better! Yippee.
Love and I stopped at Half-Price Books and picked up a book, 'Intimate Issues' and let me tell you, it's what I've been praying for...dealing with my thoughts, attitudes and issues with sex. Don't get me wrong...I love being intimate with my great lover, I've just been praying about certain thoughts that hinder me and the stage of marriage we're at and the physical/physiological issues of my health, etc...(tmi, right?)
I am sooooo grateful we found it and the coolest thing was that it only cost $3! This discreetly written book addresses issues that women deal with and give Biblical truths that will change one's life, IF one is willing to pull the weeds that may be seeded deep in one's soul. I'm likin' it, and I would encourage every woman to read this book, even if you have a great sex life!

We finally took the plunge--we bought a pool...not an in ground one, mind you, but a bubble one! What a gift for Father's day to the whole family!
We started putting it up Sat. afternoon and didn't finally get it filled until Sunday afternoon! But it was well worth the time. The boys, at 9:42 a.m., are still asleep...(reading this over, it's 10 am and they're still asleep!!!)
I so needed something, anything to wear out their energy! I just couldn't seem to give twin ten yr. olds enough activities to tire them out-(They had no trouble wearing me out, tho!)...until now!

Father's day was magnificent....we were awakened with a booming, "Happy Father's Day' and two little boys dressed in their baker's aprons carrying a table leaf laden with two plates. They made scrambled eggs and toasted bagels and made sandwiches for us! We agreed that these are the days! And that we like this tradition!!!
Then the older boys came and Dan cooked on the grill...Jef had marinated steak meat in fajita seasoning all nite and that was delicious!

Everyone swam, I took pix, then it was mom's turn to just lay on an air mattress and relax!
They ended the day by going to see 'Up' and mom rested at home...earlier in the day, I was carrying my coffee and a table cloth out to the yard, and turned my ankle in a small hole and fell...so it was pretty sore, but I am thankful it didn't break and it did not even swell!!! Thank you, Jesus. Besides, I didn't want to infringe on 'daddy time'! Of course, they had to finish off a perfect day with ice cream...now I'm glad I didn't go...that is one of my weaknesses!!!

Oh, I forgot...I painted my kitchen last week, too!!! Been such a busy week. I'd been talking about painting for a year and when I found oops paint for $5 a gallon, despite the splash of color I wouldn't necessarily have chosen, I couldn't resist...total cost of painting...$35! Just gotta keep your eyes open for deals...I love sunflowers and my daughter told me I'm determined to have a sunflower kitchen everywhere I go...! Yup!

Have a great week!