This 'n That

Last month I was able teach some great ladies about blogging in my Clearing the Blog Fog workshop. We had a great time laughing as we learned. And yes, I learned too! This month it's been fun watching them grow and jump into blogging. What a blessing and encouragement it is to see! I don't think we can ever have enough Christian bloggers! =)

This week Rita, who was in my class last month, is giving away a spot in a blogging class. You can read about her giveaway here at her new blog, Rita's Random Ramblings.

If you're interested in blogging, but you don't know where to start the basic workshop, Clearing the Blog Fog, will help you. We walk through blogging basics and setting up a blog. Then move into posting and all the little things that can be confusing when you're starting out. There's two times currently available: May 3-31 and July 3-31, but if those dates don't work for you, let me know and we might be able to set up other times.

If you've been blogging for awhile and want to learn how to give your blog a makeover, then check out Do It Yourself Blog Make over. It's a two week class and we walk through customizing your blog with backgrounds, sidebar headers, nav bars, and more. The class runs May 17-31 and June 21-July 5.

For more info or to sign up, go to Clearing the Blog Fog.

In other news: SPRING! And it's gorgeous! It doesn't get any better than this. If you know of how to lock this weather in for the rest of my life, let me know! =) The red buds and dogwood are in full bloom, tulips are everywhere (so are the dandelions and even those look nice this year!) and the sun is shining. Life is good!

God is doing amazing things here. In me and my life and at Adding Zest. I am standing in awe of God and all He's done and is doing. BIG things are happening at Zest. A team of ladies has joined us, we'll be moving into a new site "soon" (it's a relative term LoL) and there are a few other things Heidi and I have been working on fast and furious and hope to announce and launch soon. I've been on a HUGE learning curve for three months, and it's been fun! Challenging, but fun. =)

Enjoy these spring days!

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A Gift that Echoes

Well, here it is! My first Adding Zest post! We'd love to have you join us there!

Why is it that all men get the same silly grin when the topic of sex comes up? Really! I wanna know! Maybe it's because they aren't embarrassed to admit they like sex! Oh, I heard that, girls! Truly I did! I heard a collective gasp when you read that!

But they do! And you know it!

Now, before you hyperventilate or die laughing on me, stop and think about things. God gave us each a very special man. He (that's the capital H He there!) gave us our man. God is good, and He gives good gifts, and our husbands are no exception to that rule!

And have you ever counted the times the Bible talks about sex? Lemme tell you, there was a lot of begatting going on! And let's not forget Solomon! That man collected wives like our men collected rocks when they were young!

Awhile ago I was clobbered with the overwhelming need I saw among Christian women in regard to the physical aspects of our marriages. What's right? What's wrong? What's going too far? And would somebody pleeeeeze talk about this?!

Well guess what? We're gonna! Yes, we're going to talk about sex. About loving our husbands and letting him really feel our love in a way he understands emotionally, and about meeting his physical needs. Joyfully meeting his physical needs, not just putting up with or enduring this special bond God has given married couples.

When God was creating this world, at the end of each day when He was looking at His creation, we read that He saw that it was good--until the sixth day. When God created man and woman and looked back on that day, then He saw that it was very good. (Emphasis mine.) So tell me, when you look in the mirror and see you and your husband, do you see something very good? What do you think your husband sees? (And I'm not talking about stretch marks and cottage cheese thighs.) Does he see a woman who loves him? Does he see his woman loving him or just putting up with him?

Loving our husbands as they need us to, in a way they understand it best, is a gift we can give them. And the cool thing is that when we give them that gift (remember, a true gift is freely and joyfully given) our whole family benefits from it. Even those little ones who have no idea what's going on, and those teens that catch us kissing in the kitchen and act like they're gagging. Let 'em gag! Inside they'll be happy to see their parents love each other.

Which gifts do you appreciate the most? Not necessarily the most expensive ones, or the prettiest ones, but definitely the ones that come from the heart. The ones that have had some thought put into them and that are given freely and joyfully. Remember the times you were given something with a grudging attitude—“Well, here. Just take it. It's for you.” It really took all the joy out of the gift, didn't it? Or how about a time when you were given something but you could tell the giver really expected to be paid or given something in return. Oh, now that makes me think of receiving a gift and being pleased with it, only to discover it wasn't just a gift—it was 'sweetening up' for the request. Hmmmm. Some people would think of that as a bribe. Those aren't gifts—not really.

A gift is given freely and joyfully, without thought of reciprocation. It's given just because. It's given as an expression of love or appreciation.

And when it comes to sex, our husbands love gifts. Gifts freely and joyfully given. They want us. They want our hearts and minds involved in making love, not just our body going through the motions.

Loving our husbands, as God intended us to, is a gift we give them that keeps on giving. It's a gift that echoes throughout our homes.

So tell me,
What are some things that keep us from feeling generous with our gift giving?


What are some benefits to giving freely and joyfully?

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It's Today!!

You're invited to a Grand Opening!
Adding Zest

Because this is the introductory post and Heidi and I are both posting it, you'll have to go to Adding Zest to read Heidi's part, but here's mine as promised...

Hello there, you wonderful ladies! Patty here, and I'm excited about getting this going! God has been working and I'm amazed by what I see. What a great God we have! A couple months ago I was impressed with the need I saw amongst Christian women in the area of our physical relationships with our husbands. I have to admit—I pulled a Jonah and tried escaping the call I felt, but God didn't let go of me, and here I am. LoL. And I'm excited! God is so good!

Now, just so you know, I am NOT, sooooo not an authority on this subject!! I'm just a chick that's obeying God's call. My husband, Jim, and I have been married 20 years this summer and we have 5 homeschooled kids between 16 and almost 8.

While Heidi deals with more of the emotional and spiritual side of our sexuality, I'll be dealing with the practical, hands on stuff. I'll be relying heavily on your comments and input, so if there's questions you have, get them to us either through the comments or the email us button. I'll be covering many of the topics Heidi has listed above—starting with our attitude and thoughts, and loosening up so we can find more enjoyment in sex.

We'd really love to see this grow into a community of women connecting and encouraging and supporting each other. And having fun! Oh-my-goodness! I know there will be many laughs along the way. So please, join us! Join the conversations and join the fun. We'd love for you to tell your friends and please, grab a button!

Let's reclaim this ground that is so often used against us, and let's use it for God's glory!!

See you Wednesday!

Be sure to join us at Adding Zest to read what Heidi had to say!

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An Invitation

While chatting with one of my near n dears last night, I realized that I'm at a point in my life where I'm at the end of my wine. In John 2 Mary tells Jesus that the wedding party has run out of wine and then gives the servants in attendance the Best Advice Ever. She says to them, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” This is exactly where I'm at. The only thing I have left is water. Plain old water when my guests are looking for wine. And honestly, it's terrifying.

I'm at the point where I need to be like those servants at the wedding feast in Canaan. I need to bring my water pots to Jesus and allow Him to do His work. I've asked, very specifically, for Jesus to turn my water into wine.

For weeks now I've struggled with a decision and it's this issue of having just water in my pots. In and of myself I am not able to enter this new task He's laid before me. But all I have to do is what those servants did—obey. Jesus will do the rest.

Sometime next week, I'll be starting a new series about Christian women loving their husbands. And yes, I mean loving their husbands. Weeks ago I was clobbered with a need I saw amongst Christian women—the need for us as Christian wives to loosen up and love our husbands--physically. We need to work on this weak area of our sexuality. Many of us desire to learn, grow and change so that our marriages will be loving and strong for the Kingdom of God—but we don't know where to start or where to turn for a safe place. My heartfelt desire is that this series, will encourage women in their spiritual lives (yes, our spiritual lives will be affected) and in their marriages--the physical part of our marriages.

My friend Heidi and I are teaming up and we will be blogging about our sexuality as Christian women and we invite you to join us. We've set up a special place for this, although the first few posts (at least) will be double posted on our individual blogs as well as at Adding Zest. We'd love to have you join us and to bring a friend with you.

Please pray for us as we tackle this need God has laid on our hearts. Please.

And don't forget, Janet Dean is in this week's author spotlight and is giving away a copy of her book Courting the Doctors Daughter. Scroll down for how to to be entered in the drawing.

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