A true friend is more precious than gold.

An equally yoked spouse is a gift from God.

The love you have for your child is to be compared to the love of God, unending.

Who wants to do laundry? Nobody!

Shopping is good!

One thing I’ve been coined as saying is “things would be different, if things were different.” We cannot go backwards if we had made different choices; we would be in a different place in our lives today. But if we trust the Lord’s plan, we are where we are supposed to be.

Men come and go but ladies stay! I’m so thankful for wonderful Christian lady friends. Find a Christian lady more mature that can be a mother. I have learned a lot of godly words and messages from my friend that I took in heart and in mind and the truth about God. I have learned that friendship and believing in Christian friends is important and trusting in our God the Father. I have learned that God is important to have in our life. My friends have been a blessing and a light to my heart and life.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Choose the mountain you are willing to die on very carefully.

Laugh often.

Let me not lean on my own understanding. 

Put God first in your life! Life is like a recipe, your Bible is your guide (recipe) and as long as you follow your recipe, your life will come out right.

Marriage: You must each be willing to open up and calmly discuss (truthfully) problems to find a solution.

Make God the center of the marriage in thought and deed, not just theory.

Trust your partner and yourself to do the right thing by keeping close account with God

When things get crazy and something is really bothering you, remember this question: What will it matter in 10 years? Concentrate on things that are important, not just “urgent”

The question about Sundays being a day of rest: Our family has a quiet time on Sundays where we all go to our rooms for at least one hour. The neighborhood kids have also learned to not ring our doorbell because our kids will not be playing outside that day (they still play – just quietly in their rooms)

With God’s grace we can do more than we ever imagined!

God really does have control over everything. I’ve learned to relax in His grace and then I’ve realized how blessed I’ve been over the past years! Which makes me more appreciative, which in turn makes me realize how blessed I’ve been … which I appreciate … thank you God for the little things in my life!

Let everyone have their own tube of toothpaste.

Teach children to do their own laundry as soon as they are tall enough to operate the machine.

Just because you can do something better than your husband or children doesn’t mean you should. Let them be the tops and think their way is best.

Feed your family as healthy as possible even if they don’t always desire it. When they age gracefully they will appreciate the investment you made.  If you don’t have time to research the best prices on groceries, just take your needs list to one store, find the best deal on the shelf, and you will save money because you didn’t buy anything you didn’t really need and saved time and money by not visiting so many stores and buying those temptation items you really didn’t need.

We have done devotions/prayed together every night just before we go to bed even when we are arguing. This has forced us to resolve the argument before bed. You cannot pray with someone when you are arguing. In other words, never go to bed angry.

To have friends – you have to be a friend. 

Slow down and take time to treasure each other.

Worry is like a rocking chair; it will keep you busy, but get you nowhere!

Tough love is a parent’s best friend. I am the parent, you are the child and I love you too much to allow anything that separates you from God’s will for your life.

God was, is, and always will be in control of everything.

When trying to teach your child (or spouse) how to swallow pills: Have them place a small tablet on the back of their tongue. Use an old fashioned coke bottle and drink from it. The rim of the coke bottle will train them how to use their tongue and lips to swallow a pill!

Sunburn pain? Refrigerated plain mustard applied to the burn; rinse with cold water. Repeat as often as needed.

Get up before the kids.

A load a day (laundry) keeps the chaos away!

Start each morning with a devotion with your children. It should last as long as the youngest child’s age. My son is two years old so begin with 2 minutes – read the Bible, sing a song and then pray. We have now worked up to 10 minutes a day. The boys look forward to their special time with the Lord every morning. We have a pile of Bibles and Bible story books they can pull from.

Nothing compares to the fellowship of Christian women.

True happiness comes when you serve the Lord.

Time definitely is the most valuable thing that we have to give to anyone. I’ve always known this, but in taking care of my 90 year old mother, it has truly hit home.

Kiss your man daily.

Hug your kids and tell them how thankful you are that God let you be their mom!

Treat your husband like you want to be treated! Take an interest in his hobbies and interests.

Take every opportunity to build relationships.

Love extravagantly – love covers a multitude of sins.

Praise, edify and encourage far more than you rebuke and criticize.

Pursue your own relationship with God above all. Depend on Him for leadership – listen for it – wait for it – don’t go forward without it!

I have learned in marriage that if you will just “be nice” to your mate, things go a lot better.

Without God as your guide you are just spinning your wheels and not really going anywhere.

Put your quiet time with the Lord each morning before anything else. If you do anything else, you may not do it at all. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

Life ain’t pretty, fun or sweet so we all need someone to come alongside, hold our hand and just love us through it.

Give your children the opportunity to go through and experience each season and stage of life. 

I’ve been married 54 years, 1 month, and 17 days. We were married July 11, 1955. We have celebrated on the 11th day of every month since then. We always do something special together and wish one another a happy anniversary. We add a lot of “romance” and thank God for creating us for each other.

“You’re only being pruned to bloom” – Nancy Lee Demoss, Becoming God’s True Woman

When problems/issues come up with in-laws let your husband deal with his family, you deal with your side. Don’t discuss problems/issues concerning your spouse with your family – consult a godly person if needed who’s objective. Reason – you’ll get over it but others may hold on to bad feelings.

Learn from others’ mistakes – you don’t have enough time to make them all yourself

It’s the stories! When you’re in the midst of a “crisis” (minor or major), remember that after it’s over you’ll remember “the story”, hopefully to encourage others.

Lighten up!

The family table – the anti drug.

Be the kind of friend you want to have, always point them to the cross.

Put your husband before your children – this is the example they need for a successful marriage.

We have daddy/daughter, daddy/son, mother/daughter, mother/son dates.  One-on-one time with your child is precious and builds a solid relationship for years to come.

Enjoy every phase of your child’s life – no matter how challenging it may be. Realize that God knew and still knows why He gave you that child. Psalm 129 tells us that “children are a blessing from the Lord…”

Through many disappointments and frustrations (and feeling guilty, at times, for bad choices) I finally learned that I am not accountable for other peoples choices, including my child’s. Instead pray for discernment.  Even though I can’t make my child’s choices for him, I can teach and encourage him to make the right choice and teach love and forgiveness when wrong choices are made by him.

I always choose one day a week (Friday) and it is my “off day” for my son and me. We just play and take walks and only do necessary household chores.

Always stay in touch with a friend(s) even though they don’t stay in touch with you, because you never know what they may be going through.

Enjoy every moment of life that God has given us.

Treasure each moment and trust the Lord.

Don’t be anxious for anything but in everything by prayer and supplication make your request known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus.  Phil. 4:8-9.

God has a plan and His ways are higher than our ways.

This world is not my home; I’m just passing through…

I try to always remember: If the Lord brings you to it, He will bring you through it! This has always helped me through my marriage and raising my children. Every day I have some kind of challenge and I know the Lord will bring me through it. Going back to work after staying home for 11 years has been a challenge that this has helped me in also.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Without prayer, it is very easy to get off course.

In order to not grow old before our time remember that within each of us, there lives a child.

In order to have a friend, we must be one.

Life is a learning experience. There is always something new we can learn.

Always be open to ideas from others because someone else’s life experiences can also teach us.

Keep your children in church. Make sure they learn, read and understand God’s Word at home too.

Pray daily for wisdom, for your entire family.

Set up menus for a week at a time and make your grocery list from that.

Marriage is always a constant adventure so keep your passport up to date and prepare to add wonderful stamps along the way.

Never grocery shop while hungry.

Wear comfortable shoes when at the outlet mall.

Before you date: Camp at the friendship, he will still be around 6 months from now if he is what God has for you.

To the older generations – you are not a burden to your children. How else will our children learn that it is important, if they can’t get a chance to watch us take care of you?

409 will remove most stains from clothes.

Accept people (Christians) the way God made them. Let God put them on His potter’s wheel.

If you are not enjoying your life, stop what you are doing, and re-evaluate what you are doing with your resources.

Cherish your spouse – marriage should always be 100% to 100%.

No matter how difficult your life might be or become in the future, always cling to Jesus and know He is faithful and true!