Women.....Strong Women!

                                 (Friendship Sisters Painting Art Print Block-Together We Were Strong by Sascalia)

        I saw the news this morning in our local area and they were showing the photos of a B-I-G baby that was born yesterday. The baby was 22 inches long and weighed 13 pounds!!! Yes, I said 13 pounds!!!!...and some ounces. But the extra ounces don't even matter...Well, to ME! (I'm sure the baby's mother would disagree! LOL)...because he weighed 13 pounds!!! The only thing I could think was "Us women...we sure are strong!!"
     This reminded me of a poem I wrote many years ago, based on Proverbs chapter 31, in the Bible. (I'll leave it below)...So, on this quiet Sunday morning I'd like to give some "Big Props" {Much respect} to women. You do it all to make life easier, more organized, healthier, balanced and fun for all of the people in your lives!! Woot! Woot! to you!!
     From sun up...

      ...{and F.Y.I. this was the REAL sunrise here in Holyoke this morning}........till sundown...

      ...women are waking everyone up in the house, cooking, wiping runny noses and getting smudges off of tiny faces using their own spit and shirt sleeves...{just saying!} Not to mention carrying babies for 9 months, while diapering other babies, breastfeeding, sitting and waiting while little Johnny learns to use the potty for the first time, running errands, dropping kids off at school, at work, at their endless number of recitals and ball games, making lunches, and helping hubby find......whatever it is he's lost or misplaced this time! LOL
        Then she goes to her secular job where she makes sure her boss and co-workers are put in first place, filing, making calls, and being a listening ear to whoever wants to complain about whoever, coming home to homework, snowed in driveways, raw meat that needs cooking, and hubbies who need lots of attention and love....WHEW!!!
     I could go on and on and on....but I won't. I would love it if you would add to my list with your own comments below........But I just want you to know today, that your hard work, effort, and enthusiasm, while you do all of these things with little sleep and little appreciation, are noticed!! :-)
     I personally have been married for almost 29 years, and I've never been pregnant. But I have cooked regularly, dropped off and picked up my husband...at 2:30 in the morning, I might add...when he worked for the Bread side of his company. I had to drive 40 minutes back and forth. I did it on lots of mornings with a huge coat (in the cold and snow), flip flops, and no bra!! Just because I was half awake when he woke me up and said: "Okay Dear, COME ON! I'm gonna be late!!" {I take a little while to wake up!...but thankfully in those days I drove on automatic. My conscious mind knew the way! LOL By the way, I would NEVER do this now!! I'm older, smarter, and REALLY wouldn't go anywhere outside of the house without my bra!! ^_^} 
    I also was the legal guardian for 4 of my siblings for a while, and had to do a lot of the things I mentioned above, including braiding hair and forcing them to brush their teeth and put on deodorant. And that took place every morning before they left for school! (Long story!) 
      What I had to do in later years, with only my one 6 foot "baby" to care for, is nothing compared to what many of you do every day...day in and day out...whether you want to, have time to, have energy to, or not!! 
      So, from this married woman, with no kids and a husband who is as easy-going as easy-going can get (meaning he doesn't REQUIRE much at all!), I say to you: You are some STRONG women!! And  I say Woot! Woot! to you!! And I leave the poem below as appreciation to you, and acknowledgment to you, for all you do.
    First though let me just say to all of the Football fans here in the U.S. who are about to sit with your popcorn, hotdogs, and various chips and dips, and enjoy the Football Superbowl.....GO Pittsburg Steelers and Green Bay Packers!!!!! {I'm not rooting too heavily for either team this year. They're both seemingly very evenly matched, but they are no Dallas Cowboys!! ^_^ But since the Dallas Cowboys didn't make it this year, I'll respectfully just enjoy the game....and eat!!!...TOUCHDOWN!!! ^_^


Wife-Mother-Woman

A capable wife is hard to find,
says proverbs, chapter thirty-one;
And if you find her, hold on tight.
Because her value's next to none.

You can put your trust in her
as a mother, woman, wife;
and if you do, she'll  reward you
with only good for all her life.

She works well with her hands
at making clothes and other things.
She'll  search hard for a bargain.
What you need is what she brings.

When anyone is sick
she'll  check on them throughout the night-
bring chicken soup and juices,
from sundown til morning light.

She's  good at making deals.
She'll  buy a home and get a bargain;
And when the home is bought
you'll  find her working on a garden.

She's  the 'weaker vessel',
but she can be as strong as men.
If you try to hurt her babies
that's a fight you will not win.

As wife, mother, woman,
it is priceless that she is
in subjection to her husband-
and her goals are always his.

She is also there for others,
whether needy, or the poor.
The encouragement she gives
just makes her family love her more.

Her husband's  name is known,
because of how she makes him shine-
By her deep love for Jehovah,
and the love she's  shown, in kind.

Her mouth she has opened,
with the wisdom of God's  word;
She's  applied that loving-kindness
from all the principles she's  heard.

She's  watching all the goings on
outside, and in her house;
But she's not a meddling gossip.
She's as quiet as a mouse.

While charm may be false
and prettiness may be vain,
if she really fears Jehovah,
her husband's  praise is what she'll  gain.

All her works of love
will praise her-one upon the other;
and her husband and her sons
will love this woman, wife and mother.

Everyone who knows her
will pronounce her happy too,
as a capable wife and mother
and spiritual woman through and through.    

Women's roles..They Are A-Changing!!

     This print is entiled Sari and is done by nidhi on Etsy. It's of a little one hanging on for dear life while she follows mom around doing the shopping. It shows one of the many roles that women have. That of mom and mother.
     Over the last few days I've had much time to think about the subject of women's roles. Mine in particular. With a family crisis underway, the quiet moments have given me much time to re-evaluate, and assess my next move. (I can certainly see my husband's mental wheels turning to do the same thing too!)

       I've never been a mother...That's a long story for another time. But I am, and have been for the last 28 years, a wife. Before the situation with my father-in-law, my hubby and I were going merrily along in our designated, decided upon, roles in our marriage. We only had each other and we spent every day just loving each other and working together as a unit. I think the look in the faces of this couple, as depicted by this Custom portrait illustration of a couple by madebyjenschell shows it very well! Each of us would handle certain things in the household, for work, with our families, and so forth. But I can see my role is changing.

    My husband doesn't need as much of my time as bookkeeper and co-money maker now, as he used to. I suppose, as with most mothers, wives, and women, roles change. And you have to be prepared to change with them. So, with his nerves a little more on end, because of stress about his father's mental state and physical disposition, he needs me to lower my anxious voice a little, give him hugs of reassurance, (as depicted in this print entitled Spring Hug by Meant4amoment) and...without argument...make all of the family phone calls, appointments, and updates. Instead of showing my "CAN DO" side, he needs to see my "I Understand" side, my "don't worry about me" side.
    I must admit....it's going to take some mental readjustment, because with my physical issues the last few years, I've been his baby, and the center of his attention, so to speak. I'm used to him spending every waking minute worrying about ME! (Brought to mind that song by Toby Keith entitled I wanna talk about me!) I know it's kind of selfish, but I guess that's what happens when you don't have kids and you spend every minute with just the two of you!

    I haven't had to divide my attention with anyone, relationship-wise, since I was living at home! There were lots of sisters and brothers around then. (Just like it's shown in this my little brother print by tushtush.) Except that I divide my attention with hubby and his relationship with Jehovah God. But I gladly share his attention on that subject! :-) I mean, what kind of wife....or woman....would I be that wanted to take the attention of God away from her husband?!!! I'm not that bad!!! LOL
    So, emotionally speaking, me having my way and fussing about nothing in particular, and making him pick up behind himself, and running errands, and...you get the picture...will have to go on hold for a while until things change back to the designated roles...I can be petty and irritating any old time, if I really put my mind to it. LOL So......I will! I'll put my mind to it after this crisis time is over. For now this will be me...

    This Original Lioness and Cub pencil drawing is entitled A MOTHER'S PRIDE. It's by BeccasPlace. I'm not my hubby's mother, even though he does call me Mama sometimes. But I am very proud of the way he's trying to step in and do whatever is necessary to make his mom and dad feel cared for. In fact, it appears that his other brothers are changing their roles a little bit too in this regard. I guess all of us have to grow up and realize that times and seasons change...and we have to change and grow with them.
   What roles are you, as a women, fulfilling?! Have they changed over the years?! I'd love to hear about it! (The poem I'm sharing with you today was one I wrote based on the book of Proverbs, chapter 31, in the Bible.)

Wife-Mother-Woman

A capable wife is hard to find,
says proverbs, chapter thirty-one;
And if you find her, hold on tight.
Because her value's  under-run.

You can put your trust in her
as a mother, woman, wife;
and if you do, she'll  reward you
with only good for all her life.

She works well with her hands
at making clothes and other things.
She'll  search hard for a bargain.
What you need is what she brings.

When anyone is sick
she'll  check on them throughout the night-
bring chicken soup and juices,
from sundown til morning light.

She's  good at making deals.
She'll  buy a home and get a bargain;
And when the home is bought
you'll  find her working on a garden.

She's  the 'weaker vessel',
but she can be as strong as men.
If you try to hurt her babies
that's a fight you will not win.

As wife, mother, woman,
it is priceless that she's in
subjection to her husband-
and her goals are always his.

She is also there for others,
whether needy, or the poor.
The encouragement she gives
just makes her family love her more.

Her husband's  name is known,
because of how she makes him shine-
By her deep love for Jehovah,
and the love she's  shown, in kind.

Her mouth she has opened,
with the wisdom of God's  word;
She's  applied that loving-kindness
from all the principles she's  heard.

She's  watching all the goings on
outside, and in her house;
But she's  not a meddling gossip.
She's  as quiet as a mouse.

While charm may be false
and prettiness may be vain,
if she really fears Jehovah,
her husband's  praise is what she'll  gain.

All her works of love
will praise her-one upon the other;
and her husband and her sons
will love this woman, wife and mother.

Everyone who knows her
will pronounce her happy too,
as a capable wife and mother
and spiritual woman through and through.