Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Friendship










A Commission for a Friend











Patti, Darby, and Lyn...Melissa and Laura left before I could get their  picture

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I can't wait to tell you all about my day! Yesterday I spent the morning in my friend's kitchen watching her make bread from wheat berry grain. I am not exaggerating when I tell you I felt like I was on the Food Network. In the same way that I have millions of brushes and tubes of paint in my studio, Lyn has unbelievable appliances and gadgets on every square inch of counter space in her kitchen.  As I looked around Lyn's kitchen I realized this was her studio. Lyn began with some pretty impressive handouts, and then took 2 and 1/2 cups of wheat berry and in 50 seconds she had ground tiny seeds into about 3 cups of flour. Very cool! Then she mixed a bunch of ingredients including stuff like oil, honey, gluten, potato flakes, and all I am saying is about lunch time she pulled home made treasures from her oven that filled the kitchen with sweet aromas that awakened childhood memories of my grandmothers kitchen. Then Lyn graciously prepared and served me the most divine summer salad I'd ever tasted. It was as beautiful as it was delicious! I thoroughly enjoyed my cooking experience, But my favorite part was being with Lyn and watching her create magic in her studio. I wish you could have seen her! Whether she was kneading dough or greasing a loaf pan her eyes were like Christmas lights and her laughter was a constant reminder that she was completely in her element. I love Lyn's spirit of adventure! I love her fearlessness every time she takes on a new project! I love how she loves her husband and her children. I love her energy her passion and her conviction! And mostly I love her love  for the Lord! I cherish our friendship.
Think about your friendships. How many times did your mother tell you, and how many times have you told your own children, " You are like the company you keep!" It's true you know! I do believe you love everyone, But when it comes to choosing, what my family calls "weekend friends", your closest friends, you should find those people that think like you do, believe what you do, and have similar convictions. Proverbs 12:26 says The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the wicked leads them astray.  Where are your friends leading you? More importantly where are you leading your friends? "Weekend Friends" are few and far between. When you find one hang on to them. Love them. Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times. Grow and nurture that relationship. Protect that relationship. It takes time. It takes effort and sometimes even sacrifice. But at the end of the day the rewards of a true friend are priceless. A sweet friend is a treasure! To my sweet friends, I love love love you! Ruthie

Saturday, July 16, 2011

The Birthday Girl










Happy Birthday

Hi!! I am so glad you came by today because today is my birthday!! I love my birthday! So help yourself to  a piece or two this cake I painted!! (Less calories) I do love my birthday!Do you know what I mean? I feel Like there is a sign on my forehead with twinkling lights that says "BIRTHDAY GIRL!" I love love love it! When I was little I rarely had a party because I had a summer birthday. I am so not complaining because most of the time I was at the beach with my family! And y'all know how I love the beach! This summer is no different... I am at the beach with my man. He is so fine! This week we found ourselves with no children, and so we decided to take a quick trip to the beach for the weekend. I must admit I am not really a gift person. I LOVE to give a gift but I have never been one to receive very well. For those of you familiar with love languages my love language is physical closeness... or  hanging out with the people I love. For example, I love just being wherever my husband is. If he is working in his shop I just love hanging with him.  He does not even have to talk to me I just love being where he is. If he is running errands I love to just ride in the truck with him. Having said that, I realize that when my birthday rolls around my sweet husband feels like he needs to buy me a gift. I get it's difficult for the big day to arrive and all you've got is "Happy Birthday,Baby." Even this morning he has this sad face on and says "I can't believe I have nothing for you to open on your birthday!" It's so sweet. However, I have to say his track record with gifts is not great. One year, sweet thing, he really branched out and got me a piece of jewelry. I must say I was so surprised and when I opened it I was even more surprised. It was a gold necklace with a floating heart the size of my pinky nail. And it was the gift that kept on giving, as I handed it to him to put on me he said "Did you see the diamond in the heart?" Y'all to this day we laugh hysterically about that gift. And if that wasn't enough it would not even fit around my neck. I think he got it in the children's section. What a memory. One year I specifically said NO GIFTS just dinner and a movie with you all by myself. On his way home from the office he couldn't stand it and ran by the jewelry store AGAIN! Before we got out at the restaurant he handed me the box and I just gave him a look like "Baby!" Anyway I opened it and we both just died laughing and he took it back the next morning. When will he ever figure out that He is enough?! Tonight will be the perfect birthday! At the beach, Supreme pizza from Angelina's , and my baby.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Boys Will Be Boys










Boys










My Boys

Just recently I have had many conversations with friends about raising boys. I was born into a house full of girls so when God blessed me with 2 boys, I'll be honest. I had no idea what to do. But I will say every single day is filled with surprise and adventure, lots of laughter and always love!  Anyway here are some of my thoughts from recent conversations.

I vividly remember being on a small school playground with my children and some of my friends and their children. Two of the boys with us were about 5 yrs old and their idea of enjoying the playground was wrestling each other to the ground again and again and again. I never even saw their faces because for the next 2 hrs. they were pushing, tugging, kneeing, squeezing, pulling...coming up for air every now and then crying or tattling and moms would say "Be sweet" "Play nice" "You asked for that" "Would you rather go Home?" I know my mouth was wide open as one of the moms got eye contact with me and smiled and said "Boys will be boys."

In elementary school teachers hope they have a room full of girls because boys can't sit still or follow directions.What do the moms say? "Boys will be boys."

In Jr. high school boys make gross noises and are unable to communicate. So all my friends with boys call girl moms to find out "the scoop" because "You know boys, they never tell you anything!"

Then when they reach High School they have wheels and are no where to be found. Then they graduate and we cry because our baby boys are gone......Are you kidding me?

This is where my friends think I am crazy. But I am not buying "Boys will be boys" when their behavior is unacceptable. Yes boys are tough and build forts wear blankets for capes. They love action and adventure. They like big trucks and sirens, They take things apart and sometimes even put them back together. They like bugs And frogs and dirt. The list goes on ......What is my point? Well, Boys don't outgrow that behavior excused by the phrase "Boys will be boys." They don't. They grow up to be big boys with yukky habits. I don't want that! My desire for my boys is that they grow up to be mighty men of God and to love others more than they love themselves. And to one day be some precious girl's knight in shining armor.

OK, it takes work. I get it. But it can be done. Don't get sucked into "Boys will be boys." Don't close your eyes and hope for the best! Train your son's heart to be thankful. Train his heart to put others first. Train his heart to love his brothers and sisters. Train him to stand when you sit at the table because he loves you. Train him to open the door for you because he respects you and cares for you. Train him to communicate. Train his heart! And most importantly, train him to love God with all his heart and to love His word.

Y'all we don't have long with our boys. We aren't even guaranteed tomorrow. Wrap your arms around your son today and tell him you love him big! Don't waste a minute! Train his heart!

Love love love Ruthie