The Blues

OK! DH is away for a business trip! I am glad that he gets to come home earlier than we had thought! No "deployments"? WELL! If I thought things were good regarding this trip away, they got better! He WENT to an ICE HOCKEY GAME!

Saint Louis Blues!

If you know anything about our family, you know that we all are hockey fans. Well, DH was the envy of the whole family last night as he called home between periods to tell us the score. How great for him to get to attend something while he was away on a business trip that we all have wanted to be able to do. I am still in disbelief and thrilled for him all at the same time!

Peabody is really scoring points with the Munro's!

The Blues won and we all were cheering from the stands (in our minds) right along with him!

Download the Entire Entrepreneurial Bootcamp For Free

The Doug Phillips Family

MoneySavingMom.com offers insights to moms on how to save money and even how to get great product for free. Today, MoneySavingMom.com is highlighting Vision Forum’s Entrepreneurial Bootcamp audio album. Visit their site to see how you can receive this timely and practical product for free.

DH

My Hunny is going out-of-town. Typically, the idea of this would send my heart in a tizzy because I would have been preparing for deployment as I did for twenty years. Retirement! Whew is it sweet! So instead of what the USMC would always do--keep him longer than they said--the "new job" is letting him come home a night earlier than they/we had planned. Oh, civilian life. I do miss the "Marine Corps days" but am so thankful for the memories and am glad for DH's civilian job that doesn't deploy! Go Peabody!

As Hollywood Fails, A Christian Film Movement Prevails

“But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk.”
-Homosexual Activist Dustin Lance Black Accepting the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Milk.

The distinction between Hollywood’s toxic culture of death and the burgeoning Christian film movement of life was highlighted in bold this weekend.

Millions of viewers tuned into the 81st Academy Awards where they watched Sean Penn receive the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of homosexual activist Harvey Milk, and Kate Winslet receive the Best Female Actor Oscar for her performance in The Reader, a pornographic story about a female Nazi war criminal seducing a 15-year-old boy. They also watched award-winners use their platform to push homosexual political activism and to encourage teenagers to pursue a homosexual lifestyle.

But just over twenty-four hours earlier, National Public Radio broadcast a seven-minute feature on a very different type of film movement and awards ceremony to a listening audience of more than six million.

“As Hollywood crowns its favorite movies and actors at the Oscars on Sunday, another group is trying to create a rival movie industry. Fed up with sex and violence in mainstream entertainment, conservative Christians are turning out their own films. And they’ve made surprising inroads.”

NPR Religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty reported on the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival in her feature report “Christian Filmmakers Creating an Industry of Faith.” She began her story with this telling question:

“What was the biggest grossing independent film in 2008? No, not Slumdog Millionaire. Not Milk. It was a movie you’ve probably never heard of...” Click here to listen to the report which includes interviews with Kirk Cameron, Steven Kendrick and some of the more than 2,400 people in attendance at the event.

-taken from Vision Forum website written by Doug Phillips

Stumbling Through the Storm

Life is something else but the God that I serve is yet more amazing! I struggle through the refining fire, I stumble through the storms of life and yet He is there with me all along the way. Yesterday, I prayed these words, the lyrics of this song, for my dear friend who is being led by God through a storm and I added myself to my request of Him as He seeks to make me more and more like Himself.

Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Men and Women

Kathleen Parker has been a champion of marriage, family, and differing roles for men and women for years. Her latest book, titled Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care is a barn-burner and pulls no punches:

Ultimately, what our oversexualised, pornified culture reveals is that we think very little of our male family members. Undergirding the culture that feminism has helped to craft is a presumption that men are without honour and integrity. What we offer men is cheap, dirty, sleazy, manipulative sensation. What we expect from them is boorish, simian behaviour that ratifies the antimale sentiment that runs through the culture.

Surely our boys – and our girls – deserve better.

As long as men feel marginalised by the women whose favours and approval they seek; as long as they are alienated from their children and treated as criminals by family courts; as long as they are disrespected by a culture that no longer values masculinity tied to honour; and as long as boys are bereft of strong fathers and our young men and women wage sexual war, then we risk cultural suicide.

In the coming years we will need men who are not confused about their responsibilities. We need boys who have acquired the virtues of honour, courage, valour and loyalty. We need women willing to let men be men – and boys be boys. And we need young men and women who will commit and marry and raise children in stable homes.

Unprogressive though it sounds, the world in which we live requires no less.

Article continues
but watch out for unsuitable sidebar material and some language - not for young readers.)

Can we hope that common sense and biblical truth will win out? Men and women are different. Those differences are beautiful and enjoyable and give us humanity. When we lose our differences, we all suffer. Here's to all the women--and the brave men--standing up for men and against the gender suicide of feminism.

Laughter is Indeed the Best Medicine

Tedd Tripp

By God’s grace, Tedd Tripp’s parenting books and conferences have found a world-wide audience. Here’s some endorsements and recommendations for his materials:

John MacArthur Pastor, author and radio Bible teacher
“With the plethora of material on parenting and the family, it is surprising — and distressing — to see how few books are genuinely biblical. Here is a refreshing exception. Tedd Tripp offers solid, trustworthy, biblical help for parents. If you are looking for the right perspective and practical help, you won’t find a more excellent guide.”

Elisabeth Elliott Author and Radio Bible Teacher
“I am glad to recommend this book for its remarkably clear, biblical, and practical teaching. Earnest fathers and mothers will find it also eminently ‘do-able.’”

Ed Welch, Christian Counselling and Education Foundation
“Dr Tripp’s material on parenting is the clearest, most biblically framed, and most helpful that I have ever encountered. It has become the backbone of my own parenting. I am not alone, either. His seminar tapes are by far the most frequently requested biblical teaching materials among my students, counselees, and friends.”

David Powlison Author and Professor, Westminster Theological Seminar, Philadelphia, USA
“Tedd Tripp knows what he is talking about and who he is talking to. He knows children, he knows parents…and he knows the ways of God. This book [Shepherding a Child's Heart] teaches you what your goals should be and how to pursue these ends practically. It teaches you how to talk to your children and what to talk about. It will inspire you to become a different kind of parent. This is a masterful book.“

as unto the Lord

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. -Martin Luther

God is Working on Me!

Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.

A Girl

AnnaLeah Ashlynde Marie Kuras was born today at 12:13 PM! She weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and was 20 inches long. Her mommy is one of my cousins (on my dad's side) and her proud Momma and Daddy are April and Brett Kuras!

CONGRATULATIONS

Happy Valentine's Day

God’s Valentine Gift

God’s Valentine gift of love to us

Was not a bunch of flowers;

It wasn’t candy, or a book

To while away the hours.

His gift was to become a man,

So He could freely give

His sacrificial love for us,

So you and I could live.

He gave us sweet salvation, and

Instruction, good and true--

To love our friends and enemies

And love our Savior, too.

So as we give our Valentines,

Let’s thank our Lord and King;

The reason we have love to give

Is that He gave everything.
By Joanna Fuchs

28

WE ARE 28 WEEKS TODAY! The seven month mark has arrived and we are getting so close to meeting this precious, nameless child. (ha ha)

How baby's growing:
By this week, Baby weighs two and a quarter pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his/her head to his/her heels. He/She can blink his/her eyes, which now sport lashes. With his/her eyesight developing, he/she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's/She's also developing billions of neurons in his/her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Perspective

God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.

View of Valentines

Reds. Pinks. Shades of purple. Hearts. Shiny and sparkles!

Besides decorations, I like to create ways to make a day our family sets aside to express our love to each other very special and different. As a Christian, I am to show love daily one to another but Saturday is extra special! Upon considering the plans, I realized I was wondering what Hubby might be doing for ME. I was wondering what he might be planning for me instead of focusing on what I wanted to plan for him and for our family.

I realize that me reading "I Love You" inside of a card is the same as him reading "I Respect You" inside of a card from me. The way I receive love doesn't compare to the way that I show I love him which is through respecting him. Admiration, high opinion, esteem, reverence, value, revere, deference...wow, what a list of responsibility! We are reading a book together called Love & Respect. The subtitle is The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs WOW!

Although my plans for Valentine's Day for him are in order, I was reminded that the love I show him daily, all year long needs to be cemented in the value I place in him through my respect for him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Yield. Stop resisting. Surrender. Let another pass. Ouch! If I am not displaying this to my husband, how "unloved" is he feeling when his love is really received in the form of respect?

Afterwards

Game Day at my parents was so much fun! My youngest brother and his wife and children showed up shortly after we did and we all spent the evening EATING and playing games at my parents house! My mom can cook so the food was outstanding and game time was full of laughs and good memories. When we were leaving that night, I heard a chorus of voices exclaiming how much fun it was and we weren't even all in the van yet! It warms my heart that they have great times and great memories with my extended family. We are already looking forward to cook-outs and outdoor games this spring! Badminton, Capture the Flag, Kick the Can, and croquet are our favorites.

I didn't take my camera to my parents nor did I remember it for the church carry-in today. The social hall was decorated so lovely and the food was yummy! It is so fun to be together with our church family. I am so thankful for the family that God adopted me into and that He loves me with an everlasting love. We are so blessed!

Finding Food

Today is Family Game Day at my parents house! So exciting! The girls and I were rummaging through our recipes to hunt down South Beach-friendly foods to make and take to the festivities! DH has announced his way-of-life change in his diet and I am here to support him. So, out go the Pretzel Salad and Chocolate Delight ideas to take and we are replacing them with PROTEIN PACKED PROVISIONS. Um. Little Smokies. Is that enough? And there isn't even a recipe for that! lol

So, we failed miserably for Game Day BUT we did come up with yummies for Sunday dinner. Our church family is having a carry-in after the morning service Sunday so we ordered fried chicken to be picked up on our way to church, made layered lettuce salad and angeled eggs and put them in the garage frig. Yum!

Layered Lettuce
one head iceberg lettuce
medium red onion, chopped
1 bag frozen peas
4 hard boiled eggs, diced
2 cups cauliflower cut small
1 lb cooked and crumbled bacon
shredded cheese

Dressing:
2 cups real mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sugar
Mix well so that no crystals remain.

Chop lettuce and put half the head onto the bottom of dish. Layer half the chopped onion, half the bag of peas, 2 of the eggs, 1 cup of cauliflower and half of the dressing. Begin with lettuce and layer all ingredients and top with dressing. Add cheese and bacon on top. Cover and chill overnight.

Friday Frenzie

We are sharing "Valentine's" with our Tuesday hs group so I have been overseeing the get-this-done-for-all-five-participating-children before Tuesday. lol

I also have thank you notes to write for a comfy lightweight flannel blanket made for our new baby and someone who gave us clothes for the children. Love those hand-me-downs!!

J has a bball game Saturday morning and has stars that need ironed onto his shirt.

We are going to order a side of beef so I need to figure out how I want that cut and packaged and then contact the meat man.

I am heading to Champaign to hunt for material for a dress or two...or three! : )

Decide on food for Game Day

Mail cards

Figure out what we are going to take for the carry-in at church on Sunday

Make arrangements to go to someone's house that has a yard sale going on inside. Clothes for the girls and maybe the baby there!!

DH is going out of town on a business trip so I want to make romantic, interesting cards to tuck in his luggage he is taking.

Help!

Where Ya Headed?

Jesus Christ is the only bridge between heaven and Earth, God and man.

A Blessing!

I woke this morning after a great night of sleep, read my Bible and then began the rest of my morning routine. I had shut the computer down completely last night so among the many other things I had started, I turned it on. The delay for checking my email was, well, delayed -- to say the least. But upon opening it, I had an email from a friend far, far away. It simply said

+

Now, I don't know how many emails you have sent that said that OR how many you have received that say that but I have sent them AND I receive them. And in our house, these emails (both sent and received) are full of screams of delight! So my friend and I both get to be pregnant together (again!) and share the lives of yet another Blessing from the Lord.

Rejoicing in the Munro Household today!!!

Laughing All The Way

I have shared with my children my spiritual struggle over SNOW. Now, the real deal is the sin my my heart but it is exposed BY the snow. Our pastor has been teaching us How People Change. By identifying the heat, thorns, cross and fruit then I can spot the root problem and work towards God-glorifying attitudes and actions in my life. (Note: As parents, we use the book Shepherding A Child's Heart by Ted Tripp as we attempt to raise our children for the glory of God. This is the basis that book uses for instruction to get to the heart of our children thus, revealing the idols of their hearts and therefore, getting to the root of the problem.)

The heat: snow!
The thorns: frustrated with it, reacting angrily to it, Root Problem=wanting my way
The Cross: Trust in the Lord, do not be afraid, live by faith and not sight, believe in the Scriptures, rest in hope, be still and know that He is God!
The Fruit: the beliefs and desires that rule me will be the fruit that is evident in my life. Anything "good" in me is Christ manifest in me and the rest of the junk is just ME. The sinful me--my flesh--the old man fighting against the Spirit that dwells within me. Victory is in Christ Jesus. The produce? Eventually, the character of Christ. Generally, I attend the School of Hard Knocks and the tuition is high.

So, I shared with the children my desire to allow God to change my heart regarding what *I* want and how that contradicts what HE wants in my life. I want to want what I have--my definition of contentment--given to my children as I train their character. This has sparked the girls sharing with me their similar struggles with the same issue. It is sweet to watch the Holy Spirit work upon their hearts.

Waking today to another 2+ inches of snow made me laugh...all the way to T Time! In the snow!

Full Steam Ahead

We got up and things moved along quite well for it being Monday. WOO HOO Our weekday routine is much different that the weekend one and that transition sure can be difficult some Monday's. Well, somehow we managed to change course and built a blanket fort in the family room. Then we were drinking hot cocoa...for a break from building. lol Then R started making Jell-O for a snack this afternoon since the water was already boiling for hot cocoa. While the teapot briefly got ignored, it went from just boiling to a full blown whistle. WJ's eyes lit up and he said with raised eyebrows, "It is crying." There is no place else I'd rather be than at home raising my children for God's glory!