I love my husband!!

So far, I have been married for 2 years, 2 months and 24 days. My husband and I were together "forever" before we finally reached that beautiful day on June 6th, 2009. Yet, somehow, I am still astounded when I realize how absolutely perfect he is for me. This is not a one-time realization, mind you. I am continually taken aback at how his personality and reasoning compliment mine.

It really shouldn't be such a shock. I have an all-knowing, wise and wonder Father who knows me better than I will ever know myself, and he chose my husband for me. He formed him to be just the man I would need him to be. He sensitive and strong, and firm when he needs to be. He has this way of presenting logic to me when all I'm feeling are 15 different impulses that, if followed, would probably land me either a) in a load of debt or b) committed to something that I'm really less than passionate about. But, at the same time, he eggs on some of those impulses (somehow he knows the good ones) and we end up doing things on the fly that turn out awesome! (i.e. getting Oscar)

In short, I am ridiculously blessed and oh so super happy =]

The fruits of my labor!

 

Tah dah!! This is the Amish White bread.

Doesn't it look awesome?! And it tastes d-licious! I recommend slicing with an electric knife if you have one available. The husband and I were fortunate to recently inherit one from my grandparents.

And now for dinner!!

This was the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich ever!!

Suzie Homemaker

I've really been feeling the urge to do more "homemaking," and by that I mean trying to be healthier, to cook more, to be a better house keeper and a better wife. In doing this, I have to decided that I am no longer going to buy bread from the grocery store. I don't like to spend too much on bread so I usually end up buying the cheap stuff that really doesn't taste very good. But a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try my hand at making some bread of my own. While I did have to pay a little more to get all of the ingredients, I also made 4 loaves of bread and have enough ingredients left over to do the same again. Did I mention it was absolutely delicious?

So, from now on, I'm going to be baking my own bread instead of buying the cheap yucky stuff. And, no, I don't own a bread maker. This is good old-fashioned, "two hands and an oven" type of bread making.

Here are the two recipes that I have made with great success:

Amish White Bread

Ingredients
2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. 

Simple Whole Wheat Bread (Note: this recipe says it yields 3 loaves, but it really only yields 2 loaves)

Ingredients
3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/3 cup honey
5 cups bread flour
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon salt
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
2. Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.
3. Punch down, and divide into 3 loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely

Husband and Wife

Lately I've been wrecked/shocked/disgusted with the state of marriage in society. So many relationships around me are crumbling and I feel helpless looking at the pieces. The enemy is at work in our families, and I think we've forgotten a lot of what we're up against.

^"44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."-John 8:44

That's incredibly heavy. And nowhere, in my mind, is his deceit more evident than in the skewed ideas of husbands and wives and engaged couples today. Fidelity is optional, trust is nonexistent, and biblical leadership from the husband has all but disappeared.

Ladies, we are fully living up to the curse passed down from Eve. We beat down and belittle our husbands. We make sure he knows that anything he can do we can do better, and then we berate him for not stepping up and pulling his weight. Feminism has taken hold and women everywhere are neglecting those responsibilities that they were divinely created for:

^"4and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. - Titus 2:4-5"

"Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands." - Ephesians 5:24

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those "women in the workplace is scandalous and sinful" kind of people. I hold a full-time job and will continue to do so even after I have children simply because finances call for it these days. But I do believe that a woman's first responsibility is to her home and her family. If she is so focused on her career that her family takes a back seat, that is sinful. Women were specifically designed to nurture - to "nest" as all those pregnancy articles call it. Our husbands weren't made that way, and that is all part of God's beautiful design.

Now, to all you  husbands (or husbands-to-be). Don't let your wife be the "ball and chain." Lead! Stand up! Assert yourself! But do this in a gentle and loving way. Men today seem to get confused on their role in the home. You either shrink back and let your wife wear the pants, or you rule with an iron fist making demands and barking orders. This is exactly the enemy's plan for you, and the curse brought down by Adam.

"Your(woman's) desire shall be for your husband,
   and he shall rule over you." Genesis 3:16b

A man's desire to be in charge is not, in and of itself, sinful. God created men to lead. They are designed to be the head of the household. Deep in their core, they are conquerors and protectors. But bringing home the bacon isn't your only job, husbands. You're called to lead in your family as well as in the work place. Your wife is called to submit to you, so be worthy or her submission. Lead her in righteousness and train your children in the wisdom of God.

^"19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." - Colossians 3:19

"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." - 1 Peter 3:7

Our Father created a beautiful union for us. One that mirrors His own love and covenant with His church. But we, with Satan's persuasion, have begun to think we know better and try to add things in or take things out. As expected, we've screwed it all up.

We've begun to look at marriage like a graduated form of dating, rather than the life long commitment that it is. We feel those "in love" feelings so we decide to get married, but make sure to sign a prenup so we can get out quickly with all of our own stuff when that feeling fades.

Divorce has become an easy out, and brides walk down the aisle almost expecting it to come.

We let our pride control our actions, and would rather hold on to bitter feelings of hurt and resentment than seek wise council that could mend our relationships.

We trust the enemy when he whispers that we should not show love to the spouse that is unloving, and that an affair is absolutely acceptable because we deserve to feel happy and loved.

We have become paranoid and refuse to trust each other with access to our finances and also to the true desires of our hearts.

A generation of resentful spouses has sprung up. From the time we're kids we're made to think that being married is miserable and you just have to suffer through or divorce.

My prayer for all of my married and soon-to-be married friends is that you strive to understand the purpose that marriage was created for. God has something truly beautiful for you if you will make the commitment to be the best for your spouse and to pray continually for them, even when they are undeserving.

 "²² Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.^{[a] 28}In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰because we are members of his body. ³¹ "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." ³²This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." - Ephesians 5:22-33