What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The Inland North
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I feel cheated. As someone who has lived her whole life below the Mason Dixon line, I think I should speak with a beautiful Southern drawl -- like many of my relatives do. But, while I do use southern and southern country expressions, I really do have a neutral accent. This is partly due to teachers who drummed into me the importance of pronouncing "pen" differently from "pin" and not pronouncing either one as "pe-un". It's also due to going to a high school where a good many of the students came from families that had transferred to the South from all over the country. And, I think it's also from majoring in journalism and English lit. Alas, no beautiful drawl for me.

What about you? What's your accent?

Enjoy!
elizabeth

It's Feminine Friday again!

Kelly blogged about purse love, since she found a lovely and reasonably priced purse that will double as a diaper bag. Having just the right purse is a delight! However, I don't have any pictures on short notice of my favorite bags.

So, instead, here's a favorite quote of mine:

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'
Maya Angelou

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Just dreaming!! I love the layout of this little home office, which is located in the kitchen of the sample house.

We don't have space in our kitchen to have a desk, but I can't complain as we do have other spaces for our desks. For more examples of home offices, check out this article: This old House.


Enjoy!

Elizabeth

He that is blessed with a good wife is as happy as if he were upon the throne, for she is no less than a crown to him. A virtuous woman, that is pious and prudent, ingenious and industrious, that is active for the good of her family and looks well to the ways of her household, that makes conscience of her duty in every relation, a woman of spirit, that can bear crosses without disturbance, such a one owns her husband for her head, and therefore she is a crown to him, not only a credit and honour to him, as a crown is an ornament, but supports and keeps up his authority in his family, as a crown is an ensign of power. She is submissive and faithful to him and by her example teaches his children and servants to be so too.

Matthew Henry

Doing my homework...

On my companion blog, "Project Home Economics: A One Year Course," I suggested an exercise: Think about a home -- other than your own -- where you feel (felt) welcomed and comfortable. What was it about that home that felt so beckoning? Do you or did you have a woman in your life (other than your own mother) who loved her family and kept her home in such a way that it inspired you? If so, what do you see in her that made her a special keeper of her home?

So often, I've admired a home without realizing the effort of the homemaker to make it inviting. Or, if I did recognize the effort, I wanted the same effect without all of the labor she put into it.
Yet, when I really think about what makes a home welcoming and commit myself to working towards that goal, it inspires me. Having a positive example in your mind, as well as a positive role model, focuses your mental and physical energy toward reaching your own goals.

One of my favorite homes was an old farm house belonging to two late relatives of mine. It stood at the top of a long, sloping rise. There was a large pond at the bottom of the rise, where cattle used to water. I used to love to sit in the porch swing and rock and look down at the pond. The house, which I think was antebellum, was furnished with antiques. Yet, I don't remember there being anything special about the way the home was decorated. It was just a simple, old rural American house. These particular relatives were not ones to keep up with styles or trends. They were just happy to live a simple farming life. I think the things that made their house special to me were a feeling of quiet and peace, as well as my relatives' warm, kind, happy way of making me feel special.

Another house I loved was a labor of love on the part of the husband and the wife. The wife was an excellent seamstress, and she made her own curtains, bedspreads, and cushions. She also added to her home through cross-stitch. I loved one bedroom in that house, because it was decorated in warm peaches and blues -- which is right up my alley. The qualities I saw in this homemaker were her industry, her organization, her creativity and thriftiness, and her love for her home. She also had a knack for setting every object in her home just so, so that you really felt that everything in her home had a place and that everything in her home was in its proper place. She was constantly working about her home. I also loved the sun room, which was done in warm pinks and greens and had -- you guessed it -- a wicker porch-type swing in it.

Another home keeper I remember used to "read cookbooks like other people read novels", she always said. She cooked wonderful meals that always had some nice touches. She was so organized ahead of time that you never realized how much work went into those meals. She was also warm and welcoming. She visited the sick or other people who were shut in and took them little gifts.

Finally, another home keeper I admire really involved herself in helping her husband's career. She loved and did kind things for the people who worked for him. She made a wonderful, restful feeling home. I am quite sure that she worked hard at it, yet, again, you never felt that she was frantically bustling about. She was welcoming, kind, and calm.

Now, three of these home keepers that I'm talking about had already raised their children or, in one case, had not been able to have children when I knew them. Yet, from hearing their stories, I know that they had made a wonderful home for their children, as well.

That reminds me of homes in which the sound of happy children playing is delightful. In such homes, you see a few toys here and there, but, unless it gets out of hand, it adds to the cheerful feeling of home.

So, what did I learn from a study of my favorite homes?

a) This is just my personal taste: Though I don't like clutter that is out of control, my style is not minimalist or modern. I like houses that have a "homey" feeling to them.
b) Having a place for everything and putting everything in its place really does pay off in creating a peaceful, restful home atmosphere. Plus, you can find things when you need them.
c) I want to work hard behind the scenes, but to be welcoming and relaxed around family and friends. People first, things second. This requires a lot of work, much of which may go unnoticed, but it's worth it.

How about you? Tell us about a home you enjoy or an inspiring home keeper in your life.

Enjoy!
elizabeth

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR November 10, 2008.

Outside My Window...There is frost on the green grass. The leaves are brilliant and breathtaking.

I am thinking...How much I enjoy reading everyone's Daybook.

I am thankful for...quilts to snuggle under.

From the kitchen...I'm soaking some white beans to have with cornbread, a favorite dish of Dear Hubby's

I am creating...new routines for my home.

I am going...to the store.

I am reading...Amish Grace. It's a study of how the Amish view forgiveness, especially in relation to the school shooting tragedy. It's Very heart wrenching and convicting, as well.

I am hoping...to feel better today; not up to snuff.

I am hearing...the hum of the heating.

Around the house...I have important work to do, and I'm looking forward to it.

One of my favorite things...making macaroni and cheese using half whole-wheat macaroni and half regular macaroni.

Picture thought for the Day:



Dear hubby lost our camera on a business trip. Since I am usually the loser of things, I cannot complain. At any rate, I thought I'd share this little bit of Victorian clip art.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Tomorrow (Monday) I'm starting Project Home Economics: A One Year Course. If you like, follow along with me as I give myself a refresher course in how to manage a home well. Whether you're a future keeper at home or whether you've been keeping a home for fifty years, we'll all learn something together.

I'm going to leave the blog up for a while even after the year is finished -- if the Lord wills -- so you can jump in any time.

I'm going to make suggestions for things we can do to improve our home keeping. I'll try to include some basic exercises for beginners and some more challenging things for those of us who have been keeping a home for a while. Do as much or as little as you like -- or simply read along.

Remember, I'm not an expert, but a fellow student of the art and science of home keeping along with you. We're taking this journey together. So, feel free to leave your comments so that all of us can have the benefit of your home keeping experiences. I will also ask some to be "guest" bloggers.

I'll try to include lots of free reference material from the Internet, as all as suggest some books you might find in the library.

In preparation, you might consider starting two notebooks:

1) A simple notebook to jot down your progress and also to save any information you want to keep. This could be a three ring binder or a plain spiral notebook.

2) A notebook we shall call, "My Book of Days". This can also be a plain spiral notebook. Or, it could be a pretty journal or even a scrapbook. In this notebook, we're going to jot down encouraging thoughts and also record the happy memories that we are building in our home. This is the type of notebook you'll want to pull out on those days when you wonder if you're making a difference or if you're lagging in motivation. So, feel free to make it as lovely and delightful as you'd like it to be.

We'll also keep things rolling along at the Merry Rose!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

I'm starting a companion blog to this one: Home Economics Project: A One Year Course. Basically, I'm giving myself a refresher course in being a Home Manager with lessons and exercises in various subjects related to the home. I will be sewing, cooking, organizing, managing money and time, etc.

I'm inviting anyone who's interested in improving or reviewing their home management skills to follow along with me, whether you're a seasoned home keeper or a young girl wanting to study home economics. I will offer items for the young girl learning at home as well as for those seasoned home keepers who would like to participate in some "graduate study".

Please understand that I am not a teacher by trade, and this course will not be a "credit" course. We will, though, have a printable certificate at the end of a years, which you may use to remind you of what we've all accomplished. I do hope that mothers who are either home schooling their daughters or are otherwise teaching them the skills needed to run a home will find this to be a useful program to do with their daughters. Please also, understand that I am not an expert despite almost three decades of home keeping, but will consider myself to be a student along with you.

I plan to make as much use as I can of materials available on the Internet and in most libraries, as well as draw up some lessons from materials that I have on hand. I will probably ask some guest bloggers to do a few lessons in their particular area of expertise, as well.

The format will be somewhat similar to the Online Finishing School, which I will keep updating, as well.

Anyone interested? Let me know.

I will let you know when the blog is up and ready to go.

Last night we had the easiest dinner ever....


Flour tortillas spread with just a smidgen of pizza sauce --(You could use more sauce if you like.)
Olives, mushrooms. (or whatever toppings you like)
Mozarella cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes -- Keep your eye on it as it bakes. I have an oven with several rack positions, so I had mine about the third rack down -- higher than in the middle but not so high as you would if you were broiling something.

That's it. I borrowed the idea from my mother-in-law.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Check out this post from Choosing Voluntary Simplicity about Sensible Frugality. She talks about choosing a frugal lifestyle, yet not going to such an extreme that you burn out and give up.

Also, Hadias is doing a series on Meal Planning.

Contentment on Election Day...

I suppose all presidential elections stir strong convictions in us. As we all know, this year's decision process has been particularly intense.

I managed to make it almost through the entire campaign without getting drawn into a political disagreement. The other day, however, I was at a luncheon, and I went over to hug two friends. As I drew near, I realized that they were having an emotional exchange about the candidates.

Wouldn't you know it? I jumped in with my two cents. I spoke impulsively, without taking the time to pray or think about what I was going to say.

As soon as I opened my mouth, I regretted it. All three of us had already voted early, so it wasn't as if we were engaged in helping each other make a good decision. The conversation was going nowhere, and it wasn't bearing good fruit. My contribution only made one of the women feel ganged up on. We all love each other, and we resolved things quickly and peacefully. Still, I realized that of the "times to speak" and the "times to be silent" mentioned in Ecclesiastes, this would have been a great time for me to "be silent" -- or, even better, to have been a peacemaker.

Well, the campaign comes to an end today, and the time of debating is over. I'm glad. Aren't you? Isn't it great to know that no matter what happens today, it will be in alignment with God's direct or allowed will?

As the Bible tells us: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by the Lord." Romans 13:1 "...for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations." Psalm 22:28. "..."He...sets up kings and deposes them." Daniel 2:21. "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him." Acts 17:26-27.

When Jesus was on this earth, a crowd came to forcibly make him a political king. John 6:14-15. Jesus withdrew from them, because he knew they had misunderstood his mission. He had not come to take charge of the earthly government right then. He had come to die for us, to be raised to life again, and to offer us admittance into the eternal heavenly kingdom.

Later on, he told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." John 18:36. During his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke often of this kingdom. "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." Matthew 9:35. There are roughly 116 references to this kingdom in the four gospels alone.

If we are disciples of Jesus, our true citizenship is in this heavenly kingdom. Phil. 3:20. As wonderful as our country is, our first and total allegiance is to the rule of God. Matthew 5:1-10, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:10.

So, what does our Heavenly King ask of us in terms of participation in our earthly government?

1) To submit to the governing authorities, unless they ask us to disobey the Lord. Romans 13:1-5, Acts 5:29.
2) To pay taxes. Romans 12:6-7
3) To give honor to whom honor is due. Romans 12:6-7
4) To pray for those in authority so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Timothy 2:1-3.

As far as I can tell, that's about it. This, of course, is in the context of loving our neighbors as ourselves, helping the poor and suffering among us among us, and spreading the good news of the eternal kingdom and of God's grace. God asks that we do these things personally and through the church. We impact hearts and lives one by one as we make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything. Matthew 28:18-28. We do this by depending wholly on the Lord and not on human wisdom or power.

The early church lived this way, and they revolutionized their world. Descriptions from early writings tell us that, among other things, the Christians of the first three centuries were known for adopting abandoned babies, for caring for the elderly, for being the only ones to take care of plague victims during a third-century epidemic, for founding the first hospitals, for forsaking ungodly entertainments, for sharing their possessions so that no one amongst them would go needy, and for loving those who persecuted them. They amazed others with their willingness to be martyred for their faith. They made an impact on their society even though the government and large segments of their society were antagonistic toward them. They changed the world not through politics, but through their devotion to the Lord.

Today, many people live in countries, such as the U.S., where we do have some say about how our government is run. This has not generally been the case in history, nor is it true for all people even now. So, it's a privilege to be able to cast our vote if it is our conviction to do so.

It's an even greater comfort to know that we can trust the Lord with the outcome. Christians rejoice, knowing that God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his promise. We are grateful, because we know that no matter what happens in earthly politics, we are "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken." Hebrews 12:28. We do not let civilian affairs distract us from our desire to please our Lord. 2 Timothy 2:3-6

Because of this confidence, we can give our new president -- whomever he might be -- the honor that is due him. We can pray for him. We can do this even if he is not our personal choice. We can shine by keeping a contented spirit and by not complaining. Phil. 2:14-16.

Earthly regimes come and go; Christ is our Lord forever. That's good news!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

More on contentment...The "Little Whiles"

In the excellent article on contentment at Homeliving Helper, Lady Lydia contrasts steadiness with restlessness:

"One way to gain the ability to be satisfied with life is to have a steadiness of purpose. Although it may rain when you wanted it fine, you are able to quickly find a substitute activity that will be useful and beneficial. Contentment sometimes depends upon your ability to be resourceful, a trait which can also be learned by substituting things when you do not have what you need. Being resourceful means finding different ways of doing things when other plans fail. Steadiness can be achieved by sticking to something until it is completed, even if it cannot be done all at once. If this is not practiced, it may be more difficult to stay dedicated to other kinds of duties which require more commitment.

Many women are restless and unable to understand that there will be an end to some trying times in life, and they will not put up with any inconvenience or any boredom or any hardship. If they learn at home, they are much better prepared for life's ups and downs, and can be content, even when others around them are undependable, disloyal, rude, or ungrateful."

Oh, how I needed this lesson when I was a young mother (and still need to remind myself of it.) I recall that an older friend of mine once counseled me to "be patient in the 'little whiles' of life."
She said this when I was nearly in tears over our family's second bout of LICE -- gasp! I was horrified and embarrassed that I had failed to protect my dear children from catching them. Eliminating the pesky critters required that everyone in the family take showers with nasty smelling shampoo, a lot of washing of linens, putting stuffed toys in bags for the prescribed amount of time, and painstakingly combing my children's thick, thick hair with a little tiny comb. My children and I had to stay indoors, and we had to miss our usual activities. None of this was in my picture of how things should be going at that moment. Of course, the Lord works all things for good, and I should have been looking to His picture of how things should be going.

What are the "little whiles" of life in which we must be patient? These are little trials -- such as lice -- which will soon pass. These little things will pass whether you have a good attitude or a poor one. If you let them unnerve you, as I was doing, the trial will pass slowly -- or it will feel that way, at least. You will make yourself and your family miserable in the process. If you maintain a hopeful, cheerful attitude, the little trials will seem to pass quickly. You and your family will even be able to find some things to be thankful about in the process.

By the same token, if we are prayerful, God can help us stay focused on his purpose for our lives even in the midst of a string of "little whiles". As in the parable of the sower, I can so often be the soil that is full of thorns -- the thorny soil that chokes the good seed with the worries and riches of life. God, however, can help us all to be the good soil -- the soil in which the seed multiplies to a large harvest. Mark 1:1-20.

Resourcefulness in the "little whiles" of life turns what might be a trying event into an opportunity. I learned that I wasn't the worst mother in the world just because my children contracted lice. I also learned that I needed to keep this little calamity in proportion. It's hardly the worst thing that can happen to a family. In fact, our "quarantine period" was a great opportunity for my children and I to spend a lot of quiet time together.

On this earth, Jesus was always mindful of his purpose. A great study to do is to read through the gospels and jot down every statement Jesus made about why he came to earth. Sometimes, his disciples got so focused on their own idea of the mission that they walked unwittingly by the very people God wanted to reach. Not Jesus. He took the time to talk to a troubled woman by the well, to call an eager tax collector out of a tree, to talk to a woman who had touched his cloak in a crowd, and to bless little children. Jesus was so in tune with his father's will and his love for people that he knew exactly when to stop and when to move on. Luke 4:42-44

Jesus said that to do the will of his Father was his food. John 4:34. Even when it was hard or uncomfortable, Jesus found satisfaction in carrying out his Father's mission. He traveled around, spreading the news of the kingdom and healing people. He had a purpose for His goings; He
wasn't just running to and fro because of a restless heart.

Much of our restlessness comes from a lack of unity with God's purpose for our lives. One thing about the homemaking life is that our quiet labors bring us in touch with what is going on inside of us. If we are not filled up with the Lord, we will keep searching for something to distract us from the emptiness we feel deep inside. We will find it hard to endure tedium or to cope with the "dailiness" of life. We will demand instant gratification and be unable to wait for things to come to us in their proper season. We will start one project and flit to another and never finish either one. Ecclesiastes is a portrait of a man who searched out every occupation and every entertainment "under the sun" and found them all to be wanting. He concluded that the best course in life is to fear the Lord and keep his commandments.

The woman who finds her satisfaction in the Lord will have a more peaceful heart. She can endure the "little whiles" and even the "long whiles" of life, knowing that the Lord works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose. She can be content even if her marriage is not all she wishes it to be at the moment. She will have faith for her children's future even if they are struggling with something in the short term. She sees little trials as an opportunity for her faith to grow and to be refined. She looks for ways to serve the Lord in everything -- from scrubbing a toilet to spending happy hours with her family to sharing her faith. She trustfully obeys the Lord and faithfully looks to him for the outcome.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Contentment...

Here's a wonderful article from Homeliving Helper about contentment. If you haven't read it already, I hope you'll check it out.

To me, contentment is closely aligned to having that quiet and meek (calm and gentle) spirit that I Peter 3 talks about. No matter whether our culture values these qualities or not, God finds them to be of great worth.

Here's the word that is rendered quiet or calm in I Peter 3: Hesuchios. It means quiet or peaceable. It is akin to the form Hesuchia, which means

1. quietness
   1. description of the life of one who stays at home doing his own work, and does not officiously meddle with the affairs of others
2. silence

That is translated in II Thessalonians 3:12 as

"Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."

The word for meek or gentle is praus. The definition of praus is

1. mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

"Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus,meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His people, and that He will deliver His people in His time."

As you can see, contentment, meekness, and quietness all tie in together. They all have their origin in resolutely trusting and obeying the Lord no matter what the circumstances are.

Some women -- especially those who were trained from birth to have a contended mindset -- seem to bear these wonderful fruits of quietness, meekness, and contentment naturally. Others of us -- myself included -- must be disciplined in prayer and in setting our thoughts on the right things in order to maintain these qualities.

Our culture associates these characteristics with someone who is insipid, boring, unhappy, and oppressed by others. Is that the case? Well, consider the opposites of quietness, meekness, and contentment. An absence of these traits would manifest itself in discontent, fretfulness, insecurity, worry, irritability, lack of trust in God, mistrust of others -- especially mistrust of those in authority, ingratitude, difficulty in working peaceably with others, rebelliousness, an over-concern with protecting one's own rights, contentiousness, nagging, trying to control others, inability to be happy unless people and circumstances are exactly as you want them to be, unrealistic expectations, and a neglect of one's daily duties. Aren't these last qualities the things that so often create unnecessary pain in life?

It seems to me that the meek, quiet, and content person is much happier than the one who resists these traits. Though it may seem counter-intuitive to our modern minds, the person who possesses meekness, calmness, and contentment is the stronger person, too. Because of quiet trust, this person is able to endure both the little trials and the larger storms of life.

"My crown is in my heart, not on my head, Nor decked with diamonds and Indian stones

, Nor to be seen: My crown is called content: A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy."
- William Shakespeare

"A contented heart is an even sea in the midst of all storms."
- Unknown

"A sense of contentment makes us kindly and benevolent to others; we are not chafed and galled by cares which are tyrannical. We are fulfilling our proper destiny, and those around us feel the sunshine of our own hearts."
- Edward George Earle Lytton

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

I'm a day late in participating in this Monday meme from over at The Simple Woman. I had a hectic day yesterday between my father having a minor health crisis and our hosting a party to watch our local football team on TV last night. But, this morning, I was inspired to join in by this lovely day book post from very CALM.

Here's my own entry for

October 28, 2008.

Outside My Window...It's a beautiful, nippy, sunny day. We had our first freeze of the year last night, and I'm delighted to see that my geraniums, roses, periwinkles, lavender, mums, and tomatoes all made it through the freeze without any damage. The forecasts call for it to warm up today, so I imagine we'll be back to those glorious gentle and ripe fall days.

Around My Home...All is quiet. The light is streaming in through the windows, and my house feels bright and warm. Downstairs, the shadows of the leaves on the trees make lovely, bouncing patterns on the couch and floor of my husband's home office. In my office/sewing room/extra bedroom/ the shadows of the shades alternating with ribbons of light are making lovely patterns on my sewing area.

I am thinking...I was thinking, rather ruefully, of all that I need to accomplish today. However, I've decided to concentrate instead on the fact that all of our children will be home for Thanksgiving! I can't wait. The weekend before that, we're all traveling to a family wedding, and we'll get to spend time with each other, as well.

I am thankful for...the wonderful friends who came over last night; for my dearest hubby and for the fact that we will celebrate 28 years of marriage next month; for a quiet morning.

I am wearing...a blue dress, ivory tights, and my comfy but cute work around the house brown shoes.

I am creating...order out of disorder! After both my father and me being sick all last week and throwing a party last night, it's catch up day for me today -- provided that my father is well.

I am going...maybe to Wal-Mart to buy cat food and a curtain rod.

I am reading...Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp.

I am hoping...that soon, I will finally finish the simple curtain panels I've been trying to get done for some months now.

I am hearing...the central heat. Usually, we are serenaded by lots of birds, and that is my favorite "at home" sound. They are quiet today, however, so I plan to put on some soft music later on. Another of my favorite sounds is the crackle of candles with wooden wicks. I don't think I will light mine today, though, as I want to save them for really cold weather.

One of my favorite things...curling up with a quilt as I pray; spending quiet time with the Lord. Another favorite things is all the lovely butterflies we've been seeing around our house in the past couple of months.

Here's my picture thought for the day: These are my initials and my Hubby's initials.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Is it really time for Feminine Friday already? The weeks fly by! I enjoyed all of the posts for this week, as I do every week. Be sure to stop by Kelli's blog and check them out.

Kelli posted some encouraging thoughts about her adjustment to motherhood. Her openness will be a comfort to any young mother who is feeling so many things -- happy and perplexing and even frightening or wistful-- as she starts on the journey of motherhood.

I can relate to many of the things Kellie felt, including anxiety. My children are in their twenties now, however. So, when I look back upon those times, I tend to forget what an adjustment they were and remember only the joys. I guess I'm like the example in John 16:21: A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. You forget it even more as time goes by.

Even though I don't think of it as much now, early motherhood was an adjustment for me! I had quick and easy natural labors, for which I am greatly thankful. Later, after I came home from the hospital after each birth, I had health challenges: fevers after both births, bouts of heavy bleeding after one birth; the reality of what it means to care for someone 24/7, my inexperience as a mother, etc.

Of course, there were the wondrous things as well: nursing!; holding each of my children for the very first time; hearing their little coos and their laughs. I loved nursing!!

I think God used the adjustments I went through as a young mother to show me the basic selfishness of my own nature and to teach me what His self-giving love is like. In fact, he has used every stage of motherhood, including the one I'm in now, to teach me something. Often, I've been a slow learner!!

Each stage of mothering brings its own joys and its own challenges. My children are both happily married now, but I still am constantly on my knees for them.

Motherhood is a profound expression of the feminine nature God has given to us. When I had my first child, I felt as if I'd joined a great sisterhood of mothers. I still feel that way sometimes.

As an older woman, I'd like to pass on a bit of advice that was given to me and that I ignored to my peril: It takes about a year after the birth of a baby for your internal organs to be fully returned to normal. Even though you may feel fine, you do need to be careful about lifting or moving objects heavier than your baby, and you do need to learn all you can about taking care of your health, especially your internal health. Many of my peers are starting to have health issues that result from "inner sagging" if you know what I mean. Taking care of yourself when you are in your most active childbearing years pays off when you hit middle age and beyond. Do those Kegels ladies!!

Also, each mother experiences the emotional, spiritual, and physical challenges of birth and taking care of a newborn in a slightly different way. Some have easy labors and bounce back to full energy quickly. Others have a harder adjustment. I hope young mothers feel free to enjoy their recovery from birth and the bonding process with their newborn at their own pace.

Oh, one more note to brand new moms: No matter what you suffer as a mother, it's worth it! Even if you are going through some hard times, take note of little happy things to treasure up in your heart, as Mary did about Jesus. The time will pass more quickly than you know. I used to nod my head when older women said that to me, and I believed it as an abstract fact. In actuality, however, I had no idea how quickly my children would become adults. It was especially hard to imagine that on a long day of changing diapers and running after toddlers. Now, I look back, and I finally get what those older women were talking about! Take time to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your little ones now.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Stretching the Family Food Dollar by Stocking Your Kitchen Well...

It can be a challenge to serve meals that are both nutritious and budget-friendly -- not to mention tasty to the family. The wise family manager is able to stretch her dollar to meet all three requirements.

One way to do this is to cut expensive impulse buying by having a small supply of goods on hand. If you can build up at least a two-week to six-month stock of food (as well as toiletries, medical supplies, etc.), you will be less likely to rush out and spend too much in a pinch. Moreover, your family can live off of your extra store in the event of an emergency. Situations where you might need to live out of your "stock" for a while range from missing a paycheck to being snowed in to having a new baby in the house.

Have you ever found yourself standing in line with all the other grocery store customers who are trying to buy milk and bread when a hurricane or a snowstorm is rolling in? By keeping your kitchen well-stocked, you can avoid such last minute trips. In this way, you are helping to cut down the minor panics that such events can bring.

Also, by keeping a well-stocked kitchen, you will have something to share with others if that is needed. I read about a family who donated their stock of food to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

We're not talking about hoarding here. It's poor stewardship to keep so much food on hand that it goes to waste in the end.

In general, it's cheaper and healthier to cook from scratch than it is to buy pre-packaged or "quick" foods. However, we all have situations in which we need to throw a meal together in a hurry. In such instances, it is more economical to have some "quick" foods on hand, rather than to go out and buy something.

It can be daunting to think of stocking your kitchen with extras if your grocery budget barely covers your family's basic needs. You can build your extra stock one item at a time. Look for deep sales on items that your family frequently uses. For example, if you're buying mustard and mustard happens to be dramatically priced down that week, snag an extra one. Little by little, you'll build your store of extra supplies.

If an item's marked down because it's almost at it's sell by date, it's probably not suitable for your extra stock.

If you can goods yourself, you can easily and economically build up a year's supply of many items. Not everyone can can their own goods however, so don't feel that you must in order to stock your kitchen well.

In keeping things stored, here are a few principles to keep in mind:

1) Check how long an item can be properly stored. Mark when you bought it or canned it or froze it.
2) Rotate your items so that no one item is sitting in storage past its spoil date.
3) Keep your family's tastes in mind. The items one family keeps on hand may not suit another family.
4) If you have a tiny kitchen, be creative about how and where you store things. Even small spaces can become extra "pantries". Just be sure that your items are stored in a way that if a bottle should break or a water jar should burst, your flooring won't be damaged. Also, be wary of places where the goods will be exposed to extreme heat, extreme cold, or too much moisture. Also, store things in containers that won't be tempting to children, pets, or "uninvited critters".
5) You can keep apples from an orchard (or your own trees) fresh for about a year if you bag them in zip-lock bags with just a teaspoon or less of water. Don't put in too much water!! Also, make sure the bags are tightly sealed and seal them back each time you remove an apple. If you live near apple-growing country, look for an orchard near you.

Here are some ideas of things that can be easily stored. I'm sure you can think of many others, but these should give you some ideas:

1) Powdered and canned milk; canned goat's milk; buttermilk powder for baking; powdered egg for baking; frozen homemade or store bought pie crusts.
2) Any variety of dried and/or canned beans.
3) Flour if you bake a lot; bought or homemade baking mix; rice (be careful to avoid contaminating your other supplies with meal worms. These often come into the kitchen on rice. Store your rice in the freezer for a month or place your rice in a glass container.) Large container of cous-cous; corn meal
4) For quick meals: frozen cookie dough; frozen rolls or frozen bread dough; frozen chicken pieces; extra casseroles (frozen); soups -- canned or frozen; dessert mix; homemade pudding mix or store bought pudding mix.
5) An extra jar of each condiment that your family likes, e.g. mayonnaise, mustard, pickle relish, jam, jelly etc.
6) coffee/tea/herbal teas -- make sure you don't exceed the date when these taste fresh.
7) cocoa or carob powder
8) canned tuna or canned chicken
9) spaghetti sauce/noodles/canned olives or mushrooms
10) canned tomatoes; MSG free chicken or beef broth; bought or homemade seasoning mixes
11) frozen and/or canned veggies and fruits
12) juices and water

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Manage Your Small Economy...

There's a lot of angst right now in our nation about the overall shape of our nation's economy. Other countries are watching what happens in the U.S., as well.

The building block of any healthy economy is the home. As we've already discussed, our English word "economy" comes from the Greek term, oikonomíā, which roughly translates to the management or rule of a household. (Oikonomíā also the root word for ecology.) Though the home is an economic unit in its own right, it's often interconnected with a small business or farm. These, also, are building blocks of a sound economy.

The home is where taxes are paid, where salaries are used or saved or invested, and, often, where income is generated. It's where the next generation of workers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and consumers learn their values. If a family can achieve some measure of economic health -- not luxury, but stability -- and are able to share with those less fortunate, they have become one healthy functioning economic unit that contributes to the country's overall welfare.

It does the keeper at home little good to fret about things on a global or national scale that are beyond her control. If she can find a constructive avenue for helping -- as she very well might -- that is one thing. But, it is unhealthy for a woman to become anxious about things she cannot control and to take on a burden she cannot carry by herself. Instead, it is better to focus on what one can do, rather than to bemoan what one can't do. In many cases, that comes down to managing one's household budget well.

We've already looked at some spiritual aspects of managing a home economy. Chief among these is faith in the Lord's provision. In practical terms, however, what can one woman do? Here are a few suggestions:

1) Familiarize yourself with the whole counsel of God concerning money. You'd be surprised how much the Bible has to say about this important topic.
2) Read books and blogs that help you develop a frugal, prudent, and generous mindset. You may or may not be naturally gifted at managing your household's resources. In either case, there is always room for growth. There are many resources to help you, so take advantage of them. Don't expect instant perfection of yourself. Look at doing the best you can with what you have as a happy adventure. Make a game of it.
3) With your husband, set financial priorities for your household. Pray together about how you use your money. Being united in this area will do much to foster an atmosphere of harmony in your family.
4) The U.S. and Western Europe have enjoyed a standard of living that may not be indefinately sustainable. In order to correct the troubles in our consumer-driven society, we all might have to re-think our priorities. Things we may have considered to be necessities may become luxuries. Whether this happens or not, one great secret to a peaceful household is to happily do the best you can with what you have. Learn to be content whether in plenty or in want, as Paul says. Teach your children to be content, as well. In your conversation, talk about your blessings more than the things you might have to do without. Teach your children that their value is not defined by what they wear or the things they own. Teach them how to enjoy things without worshipping them.
5) Dare to give sacrifically at times, and teach your children to do so, too. Think of Marmee and the girls in Little Women giving up their Christmas breakfast for a starving family. They complained in the short term, but they learned valuable lessons of character in the long term. Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
6) As a family, learn how to maintain the things you have: cars, shoes, appliances, clothing, faucets, heating, air conditioning, etc. It's important to know what needs to be done when so that someone in the family can either do it or hire it out to be done, if necessary. I tend to let my husband think about cars and applicances and such, but it wouldn't hurt me to familiarize myself with the process in case I ever find myself needing to oversee that part of our life someday.
7) Make a weekly menu and a grocery list. Keep at least a mental inventory of what you have in the way of foods, cleaning supplies, etc. Plan a way to use leftovers. Keep things organized and in place. Organization goes a long way toward eliminating excess spending.
8) Use what you have before spending more. I have extra cosmetics and extra cleaning products. I am on a mission to use them up before bringing in any more. The only exception might be allowing myself to buy a green or hypoallergenic cleaning product. Otherwise, it's use it all up before I spend more!
9) Keep a little stock of extra goods. When an item is on sale, consider picking up an extra one. If need be, you can live out of this extra stock for a time. If you don't have much storage space, be creative in finding healthy ways to keep your goods. Along with this, think in terms of having emergency supplies for inclement weather, etc.
10) Use an old-fashioned change jar. You'd be surprised what you can save simply by tossing extra change into a bucket. Cook from scratch. Find out if it's cheaper for you to grow some of your own food. You can even grow tomatoes and other vegetables on the balcony of a city apartment!

Enjoy!
elizabeth

The importance of vision in keeping a home...

"Doing up cut fingers, kissing hurt places, and singing bedtime songs are small things by themselves; but they will inculcate a love for home and family that will last through life and help to keep America a land of homes.

"Putting up the school lunch for the children or cooking a good meal for the family may seem very insignificant tasks as compared with giving a lecture, writing a book, or doing other things that have a larger audience; but I doubt very much if, in the ultimate reckoning, they will count for as much...It belittles us to think of our daily tasks as mall things, and if we continue to do so, it will in time make us small. It will narrow our horizon and make of our work just drudgery.

"There are so many little things that are really great, and when we learn to look beyond the insignificant-appearing acts themselves to their far-reaching consequences, we will, 'despise not the day of small things.' We will feel an added dignity and poise from the fact that our everyday round of duties is as important as any other part of the work of the world.

"And just as a little thread of gold, running through a fabric, brightens the whole garment, so women's work at home, while only the doing of little things, is like the garden gleam of sunlight that runs through and brightens all the fabric of civilization."

Laura Ingalls Wilder from "Little House in the Ozarks", written in May 1923
As quoted by Kathy Peel in "The Family Manager."

Frugally Fashionable at Home

I've snagged a few great deals for my daytime "at-home" wardrobe. First, I bought two dresses on clearance. One is a simple, forties-inspired dress in a blue color that is somewhere between royal and navy. The other is a simple burgundy cotton. They are comfortable enough to do housework in, yet passably cute enough so that I don't feel "frumpy" in them. I also wear them out to the store or any other place I need to go during the day. I don't always wear dresses at home, but when I do, I seem to find extra enjoyment in tending to my home. These particular dresses were marked down to such a low price that I don't mind wearing them out.

My next buy was a pair of brown Thom McAn flats with round toe, tan stitching and a strap across the bridge of the foot. I found these at K-Mart, of all places -- our run-down K-Mart that I was sure would go out of business once the Super Wal-Mart opened across the street. The store has held it's own after all, and while I am not crazy about K-Mart merchandise, I have found some good bargains there. (These bargains include two rose bushes -- love em!)

The Thom McAn flats have proved to be surprisingly comfortable so far. They are the perfect shoe to wear while managing a home and an at-home business. They are cute enough that I have worn them out a couple of times. Mostly, though, I slip into another pair before leaving the house. I have read some negative things about the quality of today's Thom McAn line, so don't rush out and buy any Thom McAn's without checking them out. However, I'm finding this particular style to be a great buy for the low price.

My other wardrobe find was free. I brought home a barely worn, wonderfully soft, dark-navy denim apron with pockets on the front from my Dad's house. When I tied it over my blue dress, I felt so right working around the house and in my kitchen.

Tip: If you keep a pair of shoes for working inside the home only, you won't track dirt around your house while you wear them. I'm a total barefoot-indoors girl, myself, but in my old age I've realized that a good pair of shoes protect your feet in several ways. They give your feet support, plus they soften the blow if you drop a can on your foot or have some other little household accident. Not only that, but wearing shoes can be a psychological booster. It can signal to your brain: "What we are doing right now is important." Let's get going! As much as I've resisted Lady Lydia's and Flylady's advice on this issue, I'm thinking that they're right after all. Sigh!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Trying out a vision statement...

Back in June, I blogged about wanting to come up with a vision statement for my role as a keeper of my home. I drew examples from a couple of other blogs.

Here's my attempt at coming up with a vision statement to help me stay focused in my role as keeper at home. I'm phrasing it as a prayer, because I do not consider myself to have attained this, at all. In fact, I'm a little embarrassed to share this publicly, because it is such a personal goal. I'm afraid it will sound as if I'm self-righteous or the "syrupy" kind of religious or as if I think I have it all together or something. It's just a way of helping me stay on track.

I included the part about taking my home making role as seriously as one might a job outside of the home, because I sometimes feel the pressure in today's culture to think of my role in the home as less important than it really is.

For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also out to love one another. I John 4:11

Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Psalm 119:54

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I have kept My
Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full. John 15:10-11

My prayer is that the Lord will always be the builder of our home.

Unless the Lord builds the home, they labor in vain who build it. Psalm 127:1

My prayer as an older woman is to serve the Lord in my home in a way that his name will be honored and never dishonored.
Titus Chapter 2:4-5 ...that the world of God may not be dishonored.

My prayer is for the Lord to use me to be a loving and helpful companion to my husband. One way I can do this is to manage our home well so that he can fulfill his role.

Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.

Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

Proverbs 31:12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

My prayer is for the Lord to use me to love and to encourage my children and their spouses and, if the Lord blesses them with children, my future grandchildren.

Behold, children are a gift from the Lord. Psalm 128:3

My prayer is to treat keeping my home as my main career and give it the same time and attention that a person who works outside the home gives their job.

Titus 2:5… Workers at home…

My prayer is to extend my arms to those outside of our family. My prayer is to use my home as a base for serving the Lord in all areas. I pray to welcome strangers and show hospitality.

I Timothy 5:10 And if she has devoted herself to every kind of good work.

I pray to be creative, prudent, faithful, and thrifty; to speak with kindness and wisdom; to look well to the ways of my household; to be a steward of whatever resources the Lord places in our hands; to serve nutritious food within a budget; to dress and keep my person in a way that encourages and refreshes my husband and family; to have strength for my tasks; to attend to my family’s clothing needs; to work with delight; and to choose my materials and endeavors well.

My prayer is to remember that I follow a Lord who gave up His home while on earth and also to remember that I am a pilgrim on this earth. I pray for the Lord to help me create, on a thrifty budget, a peaceful, restful, and joyful space around us no matter where we may lodge.

I welcome any suggestions and feel free to share your own personal vision statements either by leaving a link in the comments section or writing it out for us. I love to read the vision statements on other blogs. :)

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Update on bathroom redo...

I've taken down the light house Wallies that I was using in the bathroom. I enjoyed them for many years, and they still looked nice. However, I would like to move in a different direction. I don't know if any of you have tried Wallies, but I think they are an inexpensive and easy way to add a little decorative touch to your walls without doing full wallpaper. They come off easily when you are ready to change decor styles.

I am going to take photos tomorrow to post to get opinions about whether I should keep or return the white eyelet shower curtain. I already have a soft-blue shower curtain, which I've used for many years. I washed it to see if I could freshen it up. I placed the eyelet over it in the hope that the blue would show through the eyelet, but the blue is so soft and subtle that I'm not sure it works. Anyhow, I am thinking white might be fresh and in keeping with a spa feel. Of course, Topaztook had a point about using white floor mats in the bathroom. They can start looking dingier earlier than colored ones can. That might apply to a shower curtain, as well.

DH suggested before I could even ask him that we could pain the bathroom. I'd like to do a cheery blue.

I have some old-fashioned soap advertisements that I brought back from France. I'm using them in a bedroom right now, but am thinking of moving them into the bathroom instead.

My father-in-law, who is an excellent artist, had given each of his four children a set of three small paintings of a lighthouse that is located where we all spent a summer vacation together once. I have been using them in the bathroom, but will move them down to our entry hall, where we have a collection of his paintings.

So far, I haven't spent very much on the bathroom at all.

I hope I'm not boring anyone with details of my efforts to create a spa-feeling on a budget. It's just a fun project for me. I want to have it done by Thanksgiving so that my children -- especially my daughter and my daughter-in-law -- can enjoy it.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

The traveler returns...

Also titled "I have always relied on the kindness of neighbors"...

Our cat was missing for many days now --so long that we were actually thinking of putting up her food dishes so we wouldn't miss her every time we saw them. She was out during our last spell of several rainy days in a row, and I hated to think of her getting soaked. She does not enjoy rain at all!

I am guessing one reason she did not come home is that is afraid of two larger cats who seem to think our yard is their territory. Also, she seems very healthy, so I imagine someone thought she was a stray and has been feeding her.

When I was out walking yesterday, I met a neighbor I had not met before. She's lived in our neighborhood for almost four years, so it was nice to make her acquaintance. I mentioned in passing that our cat was missing, and she thought she had seen her. I told her where I lived, and she volunteered to bring our cat back to us if she showed up near her house again.

Well, this afternoon, I was on the phone with a friend, and I saw a blue van in my driveway. This kind neighbor had placed her little toddler boy (a wonderfully handsome little fellow!) into his car seat, had scooped up my cat, and had quickly driven to our house. I appreciate her thoughtfulness in bringing our little Ninette back to us. I know that it probably wasn't easy for her to interrupt her day with a toddler to bring a strange cat home to someone she just met. I'm so thankful for nice neighbors!

Ninette is craving lots of attention, but she's being very mum about her big adventure. I'm just delighted to have her home again.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

It's time for some medicinal chicken soup!

We have the fall sniffles at our house, so I am craving some "medicinal" chicken soup. I pulled out my crock pot and threw in a few chicken tenderloins, a box of no-MSG and organic chicken broth, and a bit of veggie and fruit concentrate. Don't worry; the concentrate tastes more like veggies than fruits, so it will complement the broth.

To that, I added a leek and an onion plucked from my own garden. You may get a giggle out of this: Whenever I buy more green onions at the store than I use at one time, I stick the extras in my garden soil. Of course, I do this only with the ones that have roots on them. The onions take root and grow somewhat larger, though they never get as round as other varieties of onions. That way, the onions last longer than they would when refrigerated, and I use them in cooking just as I would use any other kind. I know it sounds strange, but it's a thrifty tip that works for me.

The leeks, I started from seed.

After chopping up the onion and leeks, I added lots of celery. I had some in my fridge that I had intended to use for a shower and didn't. It was still fresh, but it was high time that I used it. According to Organic Facts, the health benefits of celery are that "they are rich in vitamin C, they lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, reduce high blood pressure, and promote health. Celery contains amino acids, boron, calcium, chlorine, essential fatty acids, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, sulfur, zinc, vitamin A, Vitamins B1, b2, b3, b5, b6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K and fiber." The site goes on to list a number of health benefits, as well as a warning that pregnant women should not consume celery seed. How accurate all that is, I don't know. But, I like to think that the celery will add some good things to my soup.

I will either make drop dumplings from a biscuit mix or place biscuits on top.

I'm positive chicken soup and a hug for the cook are good for whatever ails ya!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

The Empty Tomb...

An attack of allergies/asthma/cold kept me home from church yesterday. As I was praying, something turned my thoughts to the empty tomb. I realized there are so many reasons to praise God for what Jesus accomplished in the resurrection. Then, I reflected how often the Christians in Acts and the letters referred to the resurrection. They talked about it all the time. I decided I should think and talk more about it, as well.

Here are some reasons for praising God for the resurrection that I came up with. Maybe, you have some suggestions you want to share, as well.

1) The empty tomb turned what looked in the moment like the greatest defeat in history -- the cross -- into the greatest triumph. People in Jesus' day expected a triumphant Messiah who would restore earthly glory to the physical nation of Israel. When He took the way of the cross instead of becoming an earthly king, his enemies gloated (Matthew 27:39-44) and even those closest to Him were stumped (Matthew 17:21-24). When he rose from the dead, his followers finally understood. It was in going to the cross that Christ defeated the powers of sin and death and opened the door of salvation for all people. What does that teach us? In our darkest moments, look for God. He can do the most amazing things.
2) The empty tomb teaches us how to live. We find it hard to take up even the smallest of our crosses and follow Jesus -- or, at least I do. What, Lord? Wait on you in this situation when I want to take some kind of action -- RIGHT NOW! Deny myself for my health's sake, when I have convinced myself that I deserve that second piece of German chocolate cake? Forgive and love that person, who has verbally attacking my husband or my children? Be humble? Don't try to argue the other person into seeing things my way? Share my faith with that intimidating person? Trust you with all my heart when the situation looks so dire? To our natural self, the way of the cross hardly ever looks like the logical choice. Yet, Jesus proved by his resurrection that the way of the cross is always right. If we take up our crosses daily and follow Jesus, God will raise us up. Luke 9:23-26. And, the way of the cross is the only way we can hope to make a lasting difference in this world.
3) The empty tomb helps us understand that God has life within Himself. Death could not keep Jesus in the grave. We are dependent on God and the blessings He gives for physical and spiritual life. God does not depend on anything outside of Himself for life. He is the author of life, and He gives life.
4) The empty tomb is proof that Jesus defeated our greatest enemy and our greatest fear -- death. For the Christian, death holds no terror, but the sure hope of living eternally with the Lord. I Corinthians Chapter Fifteen
5) The empty tomb means we are no longer slaves to the penalty of sin or to the power of sin, either. We may still battle sin, but we are no longer under its complete control. Through God's power, we can live a resurrected life. "How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin. Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him." See also II Peter 2-11.
6) The cross and resurrection are the power that we come in contact with through baptism. "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." Col. 2:11-12, See also I Peter 3:21-22. Isn't that amazing that God allows us to participate in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? Otherwise, we'd just be getting wet.
7) The empty tomb means that our Lord is still with us! Can you imagine the joy that Mary Magdalene must have felt when Jesus said to her, "Mary!" and she realized it was her crucified Lord standing there -- alive! Or, can you think what amazement and happiness the other disciples felt when Jesus appeared to them? John 20:10-31. We can know this joy, too! Christ is in heaven interceding for us; He walks among the churches; God has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us! Not even death -- Jesus' or ours -- can separate us from God's love! Jesus says, "I was dead and behold, I am alive forevermore." From Rev. 1:18.
8) The empty tomb means that our loved ones who have died in the Lord are not separated from us forever. They will be raised. "Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again. Martha said to Him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:23-25
9) People have been trying to discredit the resurrection for 2,000 years. Yet, no one has ever successfully been able to do so.
10) The empty tomb means that our pasts don't define us. Like Paul says, we leave what is behind and press on toward what is ahead. We are new creations in Christ. Every day is a new day in Christ.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth