Disqus - Latest Comments for tt_valleygirl

Re: Becoming Worldly Saints

LaughingLady — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:39:45 -0000

Thank you, Tamara. (that's my name, too!) Maybe I'll have to add both books to my Amazon list then!!

Re: Becoming Worldly Saints

LaughingLady — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:12:01 -0000

I have a huge struggle between the desire to live radically self-sacrificially and the desire to spend time and money on things that aren't specifically mission-focused and/or are strictly for my own enjoyment/improvement. When my income tax refund comes, my first thought is to spend it on a family vacation that we've never been able to afford to take, or to replace our 20-yr old living room carpet which is worn out, ripply, and disgusting. And yet I cannot help but feel guilty about thoughts like these because when I compare myself to the starving masses in Asia and Africa, I don't need new carpet. I certainly don't need a vacation. But I feel like I'm stuck in limbo ~ not really feeling good about giving the money away, but not feeling at all comfortable with spending it on "frivolities" either. There has to be a balance somewhere. God doesn't condemn wealth, but how do we enjoy and maintain what we've been blessed with without feeling guilty for having more than so many others do; so much more than we, ourselves, actually NEED? If this book addresses exactly this problem, I'm ordering my copy immediately.

Re: Why Curious People Don't Get Bored

LaughingLady — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:51:46 -0000

Haha, I find the only time I'm "bored" is when I've got lots to do, but dread doing any of it!! (or when I'm surrounded by people whom I don't know well and/or conversations about subjects I know or care nothing about but can't excuse myself for whatever reason.) I heard/read once many years ago that "only boring people get bored" and I tend to agree, but I think it totally jives with your hypothesis here.

Re: Grace Covers Me: What People Who Are New to Your Church Want You to Know

LaughingLady — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 07:52:26 -0000

As someone struggling to feel "at home" in the church we've attended for almost a year, this brought tears to my eyes. I can so relate. But I also need to ask God to help ME be what I wish someone else would be/have been for me when I see visitors walk through the doors.

Re: Television's Rape Epidemic

LaughingLady — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 08:41:47 -0000

Unfortunately, it probably won't. We're far too concerned with being entertained than we are about listening to our consciences. In discussions with friends over the years about violence, sex, even just the reality of laughing at sin in sitcoms, the answer is always the same: "yeah, but it's never going to influence us to actually DO that. I mean, we KNOW it's wrong." The implication being, of course, then it's okay for them to watch it. Because they know the difference between what's right and wrong. And while it may never influence us to any outwardly measurable degree (though let's face it, television HUGELY affects our beliefs and worldview), I'm concerned about the message our kids get when they see us tacitly accepting and condoning things we tell them aren't okay simply because we continually watch them on TV.

Re: Setting Up My Kids for Salvation

LaughingLady — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 10:43:35 -0000

Oh, I can SO identify with this!! (only you articulated it so much better than I ever could!) I confessed once to our adult Sunday school class that one of my greatest fears was reaching the end of my life and still worrying I hadn't done enough as a mother. Having been a professing Christian basically all my life, the others in attendance seemed a little shocked that I was concerned about earning my salvation, until I explained it wasn't ME I was worried about. I was worried about whether or not I was teaching my daughters God's Word thoroughly enough, modelling faith and joy well enough, nurturing their walks with God enough, putting Scripture into practice in everyday life well enough... the list goes on. I guess what it boils down to is worrying it will be my fault if they never confess Christ as Savior and Lord.

And I think, for myself, it's also something of a matter of pride. I mean, how will it look to others if my kids don't turn out "perfect," like me?!

Re: A La Carte (May 29)

LaughingLady — Thu, 29 May 2014 07:42:56 -0000

I really appreciate the "What are we teacher our daughters?" article. I LOVE the concluding paragraph, especially this sentence:

"A woman who is skilled in every domestic art is of little Kingdom use unless she also thinks biblically, discerns wisely, understands the times, and can serve her family and church with these vital gifts as best she can."

Sounds so much like Paul's opening to 1 Cor. 13.

Re: The Word of the Year

LaughingLady — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 11:12:27 -0000

Very powerful last sentence. Good reminder.

Re: The Word of the Year

LaughingLady — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 11:12:09 -0000

Haha, I am right there with you! My thoughts exactly. Right down to that aging thing... :)

Re: Jesus On Every Page

LaughingLady — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 08:59:10 -0000

I'm SO glad I came here today! I have been looking for a book like this for MONTHS!! We bought "The Gospel Story Bible" (Marty Machowski) to read through with our daughters, but I've been wishing for something a little meatier for ME to sink my teeth into. This is awesome ~ it's going in my next Amazon order for sure!!

Re: Prayerlessness Is Selfishness

LaughingLady — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:15:29 -0000

Interesting... that's exactly the quote from your last post that stuck with me, too! Very true.

Re: New Year’s Weight Loss Challenge {Week 5}

LaughingLady — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:13:52 -0000

http://a-woman-of-moderatio...

::sigh:: Not so great again this week. But I'm stickin' with the plan and have added 20 minutes of daily pilates to attempt to make up for the 2-mile walks I'm no longer getting every day due to my job.

Re: New Years Weight Loss Challenge / Week 4 Weigh In

LaughingLady — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:57:05 -0000

http://a-woman-of-moderatio...

A little disappointed, and facing a challenging weekend!!

Re: New Year’s Weight Loss Challenge {Check-In #3}

LaughingLady — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:28:07 -0000

Down another pound, woo-hoo! Not quite as much as I'd hoped, but given the circumstances, still pretty good. And hey, it's still another pound GONE!

http://a-woman-of-moderatio...

Re: New Year’s Weigh Loss Challenge {Check-In #2}

LaughingLady — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:04:16 -0000

Down another 2.2 for a total of 4 already! So exciting!!

http://a-woman-of-moderatio...

Re: New Year Weight Loss Challenge / Weigh In #1

LaughingLady — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:13:03 -0000

Exactly!

Re: New Year Weight Loss Challenge / Weigh In #1

LaughingLady — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 07:50:45 -0000

Down 1.8# ~ WOOT! And I have not had the "return to routine" that I was expecting, so I'm pretty happy with this.

http://a-woman-of-moderatio...

Re: New Year’s Weight Loss Challenge – Kick-Off

LaughingLady — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:22:03 -0000

Well, I didn't "officially" join this challenge, but after a year and a half of not keeping track of anything and slowly gaining weight, I figure it's high time to head down the RIGHT track again.

http://a-woman-of-moderatio...

Re: Is My Wife's Job Harder Than Mine?

LaughingLady — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:30:57 -0000

I think we all tend to view the roles of others in terms of how we view our own capabilities. You often hear (or say), "I would NEVER be able to do that!" and yet most likely, if we found ourselves in a situation where we had no choice but to do "that" or had the proper training, we probably COULD do it. When I look at what my husband does for a living, I think I could never do his job either. I'm not trained the way he is, and I'm also not motivated by the same things he is. But quite honestly, 12 years ago, I would also never have thought I could handle motherhood either. I looked at young moms around me and didn't even WANT that job because it looked too overwhelming. Now I've been a mom for 10 years, and at times, it IS overwhelming, but I've found I CAN do this job. I can even do it WELL. (at times!!) It really is a matter of context and perception, in more ways than one.

Re: On Setting the Lonely in Families {a calling for every mom}

LaughingLady — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:58:10 -0000

Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL post! What a great inspiration and encouragement. Thank you for setting such a great example.

Re: Inconvenienced by Inconvenience

LaughingLady — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:43:28 -0000

As someone who struggles with hospitality, these are exactly the things I need to remind myself of. I have similar issues to the previous commenter, Marg S., but I so badly want to overcome them. This was great encouragement.

And I would add this encouragement for Marg specifically, because I have to keep reminding myself of the same thing: while being the subject of gossip is certainly undesirable, I really believe that if your sole purpose in opening your home is to be a blessing to your guests, gossip isn't something you'll worry about. Your goal is simply to make your guest feel loved. And if your guests feel loved, cared for, ministered to, they will have nothing bad to say about your housekeeping skills. Your mad hospitality skillz are all they'll notice! ♥

Re: Cultivating Your Own Circle of Friends

LaughingLady — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:40:36 -0000

Oh, this post was for me. I struggle with WANTING to surround myself with people; I'm happy alone. But my husband does NOT flourish in solitude the way I do! I keep saying I WANT to get better at it, but I just don't practice it, and yet I want my daughters to have a sense of belonging, that sense history with other families that you mention at the end of the post.

I really need God to transform my heart in this area.

Re: Free Stuff Fridays

LaughingLady — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:23:53 -0000

Oooo, pick me, pick me! I'd LOVE that series of books for my girls. It's been on their Christmas wish list for a couple of years already, but so far, none of their grandparents have been able to find them. (and buying stuff online is scary for them!)

Re: grabbing life by the horn{worm}s

LaughingLady — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:45:48 -0000

I have missed you. But mostly because my feed-reader said you weren't posting anything. Not sure what happened, but it seems to be working now! Glad to hear things are running along relatively smoothly at warp-speed (it's going that way here, too ~ well, the warp speed part, anyway ~ so you're not alone!) and SO impressed that you decided to become foster parents. What a blessing you will be to many, many children, I'm sure!! ♥

And yes, those worms are disgusting. If it would only dry out a little, I'd be able to check on my tomatoes... :P

Re: grabbing life by the horn{worm}s

LaughingLady — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:43:38 -0000

I love this conversation.