The other day I came across a blog that is hosting a very interesting blog series. (At least it's interesting to me, and I thought it might be interesting to some of the other lady readers.) Elizabeth over at A Merry Rose: Blooming as Keeper of My Home is hosting a series entitled Online Finishing School for Ladies. This post describes what this Finishing School is, but I will attempt to briefly describe it for you.
From what I understand, each week for twelve weeks a blogger will act as a "teacher" and post about various issues concerning womanhood. The "students" are encouraged to make comments about their thoughts on the subjects and other encouraging notes related to the subject.
The "school" started this past Monday with Emma from Charming the Birds from the Trees doing a series on posture, presentation, personal grooming, etc. The tentative schedule will be as follows:
Week I: June 25-30 Personal Presentation, Part I. posture, grooming, health, clothing care, etc.
Break: July 1-7 – Independence Day in America – We’ll give our teachers and readers a semi-break. However, we might do some posts about American customs/culture during this week.
Week II: July 8-14 Bastille Day in France -- How French culture has influenced decorating, fashion, cooking, etc. How to prepare a simple French meal. Why it was considered important for finishing school students to learn about other cultures and how that can still be useful in today’s world. Simple French phrases that you might come across when reading books in English.
Week III: July 15-21: Baking: A romantic cake. Tea goodies.
Week IV: July 22-28 – the culture of Central Asia, what we can learn from Central Asian women.
Week V: July 29-August-4 Creating a lovely needlework pillow.
Week VI: August 5-11 Flowers, flowers, and more flowers!.
Week VII: August 12-18 Correspondence and Etiquette – particularly modern etiquette: email, cell phones, etc.
Week : VIII August 19-25 The best things we can learn from various cultures, customs in European countries
Week IX August 26-Sept. 1 – How to sew a pretty handkerchief (or nightgown, we're still deciding), ribbon embroidery – a woman can choose to purchase something ready-made on which to do the ribbon embroidery.
Week X: September 2-8 -- How to set a pretty table for various occasions; the correct way to set a table for a casual lunch, a buffet, a dinner, a shower, etc.-
Week XI September 9-15 Another week on personal presentation, keeping our bedrooms pretty and organized
Week XII September 16-22 Gracious Living on a Budget
I have thoroughly enjoyed the lessons this first week and I'm looking forward to the remaining 12 weeks. I hope some of the other ladies will join me in class and maybe we can discuss the lessons together. A blog is supposed to be set up just for the purpose of the Finishing School, but I don't believe it has been done yet. You can find out the teachers for each week and the links to their blogs at A Merry Rose: Blooming as Keeper of My Home. I will also try to post the link each week for those who are interested.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
"...with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."
Since I was introduced into the blogging world several months ago, I've often enjoyed visiting the Biblical Womanhood website and blog. The author of the site and blog is Crystal Paine, a Christian, stay-at-home wife and mother. Crystal just gave birth to her second child yesterday evening. Several months ago complications came up with her health, and she was diagnosed as severely anemic and very low platelet levels. After a long stint in the hospital, the doctors became concerned for her health and the health of her baby. Crystal and her husband had planned on a natural birth, but the complications led her to being induced at 37.5 weeks.
Crystal did a live birth diary throughout the duration of her labor and delivery. I spent most of the day yesterday refreshing my browser to keep updated on the process. Now, I realize that I have never met these people, so I really shouldn't be so involved in their life. However, I found myself so encouraged by the spirit and attitude that Crystal had throughout her pregnancy and especially in these last few weeks as so many things seemed to be going wrong. This woman maintained a positive attitude and it was clearly evident that she was completely relying on the Lord. Even when her plans for the birth of her baby were completely turned around, Crystal and her husband trusted that God had greater plans and they were fully relying on Him. To read the whole account of the birth day, you can see the post here.
As I was reading the entries yesterday and spending time in prayer for this family and for Caylub, I was reminded of this passage of Scripture: "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore." (Psalm 86:12) It was so encouraging and refreshing to here of God's children praising Him and trusting Him in a situation that might seem so horrible to many people. I was reminded that I often fall so short of giving proper praise to my merciful and gracious Father. When things don't go my way, I often forget that the Lord is in control and He is sovereign. Isaiah tells us of the Lord: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
All glory and praise be to God for giving Crystal strength to endure the trying delivery and to bless the family with a healthy baby girl. My heart just rejoices to know that God blesses His children and provides for their every need. I do hope that you will take a few minutes to read the account of His provision for this family. I pray to God that you and I might be able to trust in the Lord so faithfully and just be able to radiate the love and joy of the Lord at all times.
Psalm 89:1 "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."
Crystal did a live birth diary throughout the duration of her labor and delivery. I spent most of the day yesterday refreshing my browser to keep updated on the process. Now, I realize that I have never met these people, so I really shouldn't be so involved in their life. However, I found myself so encouraged by the spirit and attitude that Crystal had throughout her pregnancy and especially in these last few weeks as so many things seemed to be going wrong. This woman maintained a positive attitude and it was clearly evident that she was completely relying on the Lord. Even when her plans for the birth of her baby were completely turned around, Crystal and her husband trusted that God had greater plans and they were fully relying on Him. To read the whole account of the birth day, you can see the post here.
As I was reading the entries yesterday and spending time in prayer for this family and for Caylub, I was reminded of this passage of Scripture: "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore." (Psalm 86:12) It was so encouraging and refreshing to here of God's children praising Him and trusting Him in a situation that might seem so horrible to many people. I was reminded that I often fall so short of giving proper praise to my merciful and gracious Father. When things don't go my way, I often forget that the Lord is in control and He is sovereign. Isaiah tells us of the Lord: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
All glory and praise be to God for giving Crystal strength to endure the trying delivery and to bless the family with a healthy baby girl. My heart just rejoices to know that God blesses His children and provides for their every need. I do hope that you will take a few minutes to read the account of His provision for this family. I pray to God that you and I might be able to trust in the Lord so faithfully and just be able to radiate the love and joy of the Lord at all times.
Psalm 89:1 "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Memorizing Scripture
When watching the kids, I often have a few moments here and there when I'm not doing anything or I'm driving in the car. I usually spend this time thinking about pointless things, dwelling on the fact that the children are screaming at a decibel level higher than what is safe for my ears, and even occasionally joining in the screaming. Well, I decided that I would try to use these moments in a more productive way. I'm attempting to memorize various scripture verses. I've never been great at memorizing scripture, but I know that with a lot of prayer and dedication I can do it. I did this last summer and memorized all of Isaiah 53. Sadly, I can't quote it all to you today. I can remember a few verses, but not all 12 of them. (Just a note, I did remember that there were 12 verses, but I had to check to be sure.)
I decided to start out with 2 passages of scripture for this week:
2 Timothy 1:8-9 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
and
Proverbs 31:10-12 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."
I'm praying that the Lord might bless me in this goal. I believe that this will help the days go by quicker, help me during the times when I am frustrated, and be a general blessing in my life.
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Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
I decided to start out with 2 passages of scripture for this week:
2 Timothy 1:8-9 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
and
Proverbs 31:10-12 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."
I'm praying that the Lord might bless me in this goal. I believe that this will help the days go by quicker, help me during the times when I am frustrated, and be a general blessing in my life.
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Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
A Fiesta
There was a fiesta going on in the Corn household tonight...OK, well there wasn't any dancing, sombreros, or even a single Spanish word spoken (unless you count 'guacamole' and 'tortilla' pronounced the wrong way). No, our fiesta simply consisted of a Mexican menu for dinner. I was craving guacamole and black beans, so I went on a hunt for a good recipe that called for black beans. The result....
The menu consisted of:
*Chicken black bean tortillas
*Corn with tomatoes and chilies
*Lydia's Special Guacamole with tortilla chips (It's really only special because I make it...it's not a secret recipe.)
It was a delicious meal, if I may say so myself. I did get the chicken black bean mixture and the corn a little spicy, but it's good for your digestive system, right?
OLE!
The menu consisted of:
*Chicken black bean tortillas
*Corn with tomatoes and chilies
*Lydia's Special Guacamole with tortilla chips (It's really only special because I make it...it's not a secret recipe.)
It was a delicious meal, if I may say so myself. I did get the chicken black bean mixture and the corn a little spicy, but it's good for your digestive system, right?
OLE!
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