My Director

Just over 18 years ago I began my Mary Kay business. I was in college, a newer Christian, and quite passionate about many things. My longest-time friend, Ruth, had had me to her house for a facial (my skin was terrible) and the lady who did the small class is who I signed up under. She retired soon after I began my business, so my Senior Sales Director became my main point of contact.

We didn't hit it off great at first, but through the years she has become a beloved friend. I don't know if she'd even realize I think of her so fondly, but she stuck with me through my impetuous, too-outspoken younger years, and I appreciate it.

She traveled from Maryland to Kentucky to help me get my business revved up (in her pink Cadillac at the time), and has wished me Happy Birthday nearly every year.

She was an Opera singer, very talented, and contracted Graves disease, which is where Mary Kay entered her life so many years ago because her singing career ended due to her disease. Her continual enthusiasm for her work, and her passion toward others for all these years has taught me a lot.

While I didn't take the path she advised me to many times, she never got to where she wasn't there for me. I'd call her with orders that had to be in, and only she could place them because I didn't pay attention to the end of the month cut-off for Independent Beauty Consultants. Her scratchy, happy, voice would pick up the phone no matter what time I'd call (and it was usually very late at night), she'd get my credit card number and off she'd go to help me out. In hindsight it is really embarrassing how often that scenario played out!

I can't tell you how often Chan asked, "Have you got any irons in the fire?" It became a household phrase for my family, and we won't ever be able to say it without thinking of Chan. She's a prayer warrior, always looking out for all of us on her team and if she has helpful health advise (which she usually does), she offers it up with ease. It's appreciated since she turned her health around dramatically. I can't think of mayonnaise without remembering her telling me how she nearly completely cut it out of her diet so long ago...

It is funny how life changes as we get older. Funny how some people and their tenacity and desire to constantly do what's right impress us.

Chan's big heart and focus on her family and business have touched me, and I'm very thankful to have had her in my life. I look forward to more years working under her, doing the little things I do with my business. It's a great product line and the fact the company truly honors the 100% customer satisfaction guarantee impresses me more today than it did when I was younger, because now I've seen where companies say that, but they don't really mean it.

New Theme

Well, I've changed the theme of the blog...again. I am not sure why I finally pressed 'save' on a new theme because what I was looking for was for the time of the posts to be shown. Usually, about 98% of the time, I post just after midnight, but sometimes I'll post a little sooner. This is why I'll have multiple post on the same day. I could go and fix it, but who has the time?! I really did like my last theme and it takes time to customize just the way I like it, but it's nice to have an ocean picture up again. I took this last year or the year prior, though some of it is blocked by the blog title. Seeing a sunrise over the ocean always reminds me Who is in control. This is just one reason I'm not a fan of being land-locked.

Expectations of Children

Children live up to their parent's expectations or the expectations of others who are around them on a regular basis. We should realize they understand what we're saying long before they can verbalize. The idea of 'self-fulfilling prophesies' happen when we believe something about ourselves and as we work to not be that way, we actually focus so much ON the issue, we BECOME that way more and more. Alternatively, if we believe something about ourselves, we'll often just act in ways that ensure our reality aligns accordingly.

When a child hears over and over that they are _(negative)_____, let's not be utterly surprised when they continue in that pattern of behavior. If we tell ourselves over and over we are _(negative)____, let's not be utterly surprised when we continue in behaviors that confirm those thoughts.

Colossians 3:1-3 is worth learning to change our thoughts...because when we focus on ourselves, for good or bad, it isn't what will glorify the Father.

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Gluten-Free Craze: Is It Healthy? - WSJ

Gluten-Free Craze: Is It Healthy? - WSJ.

It is dangerous to cut out any food group unless you are encouraged to do so by a doctor who understands allergies and nutrition, particularly for children. An unbalanced diet can lead to malnourished growing kids.

Original post for this 2014. Who would have thought we'd see so many more people with sensitivities to foods here now that we're in 2025? We also now realize how many doctors have very little understanding of what excellent nutrition looks like. Doing sound research matters for how we should eat. Still, cutting out entire food categories is not wise for children unless they cannot eat something due to a genuine sensitivity or allergy. 

Literature & Resources for Mystery of History Vol 2 » A Classic Housewife in a Modern World

Literature & Resources for Mystery of History Vol 2 » A Classic Housewife in a Modern World.

Since we memorize history sentences and a timeline for history, the Mystery of History complements our school approach really well. In addition to the audio CD's, I think we'll try to work some of these books in next year! Thanks to Amber over at the Classic Housewife for the hard work of putting the list together!

Joyce Carpati: Sensational at 82

Joyce Carpati: Sensational at 82.

She makes some good points here. Love the hair style and gray.

God Revealing His Love

Recently my husband reminded me that God has a different time table for us than other people, and it was a comfort (I recently posted about this). God is so good though. During the last week He revealed Himself in ways that matter greatly to me. A beloved family member shared how she sees many of the problems with what the Catholic church teaches when compared to the Bible. This is huge and something I've prayed for for 20 years. We had an amazing discussion that has brought me tremendous fulfillment. There is nothing more satisfying than speaking the truth in love to someone we deeply love.

He also made an important schedule change that I needed to have happen in order for us to take a class that my husband wants us to start next week.

Is God At Work?

Have you ever wanted something and prayed for it, thinking that perhaps there were evidences along the way to indicate God was answering as you thought? Then, unexpectedly, you realize that what you were praying for was being fulfilled, but in a way that had nothing to do with you? It can be a discouraging realization when we think God is not at work in our lives. But God works on His time table, and the time table for you is not necessarily going to be the same as for other people. It sounds trite on one hand, but is true nonetheless: God's delays are not God's denials. What is amazing is how the Lord will give us a glimpse of His activity in our lives in ways that are very specific to us and which only He can do. I love Him for that.

Discretion

In talking with my husband recently, who is a discreet person if ever there was one, I came to realize that those who are not discreet can be easily (if not incorrectly) hurt by those who are. My guess is that it is a common misconception that discreet people are secretive, or that they are insincere. I thought I'd do a word study on discretion in the Bible, but my NASB exhaustive concordance doesn't have that word in it. Instead I went to 'trustworthy' because a discreet person IS a trustworthy person. Isn't it interesting how the Lord gives circumstances in our lives to help us see areas we need to improve or mature? It's not really fun in the moment, but if we want to be more like Jesus, it is ultimately something to be thankful for.


Proverbs 11:13
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.

PROVERBS 20:6

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?

Confession No. 128 – Back to the days of Christopher Robin

Confession No. 128 – Back to the days of Christopher Robin.

The part where he mentions the two kinds of people--the outspoken vs. quiet and reserved has resonated with me a lot tonight. Great post by Adam worth pointing out.

Seminary Wives Discipleship - The Master's Seminary

Seminary Wives Discipleship - The Master's Seminary.

I want to save this book list so am posting it here. I think very highly of this seminary so feel this list is probably something for me to consider for not only personal study, but for mentoring my daughters.

For First Time In History Islamic Prayers To Be Held At The Vatican -Fox Nation

For First Time In History Islamic Prayers To Be Held At The Vatican - Fox Nation.

What need I say? Horrible.

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11/20 this link no longer works, but this happened. 

'Christian' Causes

My husband and I were talking about how gullible Christians are, especially Christian home schoolers. Over the last 10 years we've seen many ideas come and go in popularity, watching, and sometimes participating, in the lemming-like following. An idea comes along that seems against the norm, and we are primed to accept it since we are already going against the grain. Let that sink in. We are primed to embrace ideas that are different because of who we already are--that means we are prime targets. And trust me that there are very smart people who know this about us and will exploit it.

There are many 'cause-celebs' out there, and every year more of us get sucked in: spending money, buying in to ideologies that seem cool and feel so right, forming subcultures...bonding on things that are not of Christ.

I think of a popular farm in our state that many people know, learn from, and get food from...loads of people start farmettes based on his ideas...and their beef is the worst we've ever had. We paid top dollar after traveling for over and hour for it, and fed much of it to the dog. I've known a few people to be very excited about what this man promotes and one who was very successful even, but it gives me pause to think of how many home schoolers embrace his ideas...as well as the raw milk movement, for example (excuse me while I polish my screen with my Norwex cloth...). 

As I said, I've embraced many of the popular causes through the years, and it is just a more recent realization that I don't think we are as original as we sometimes think, nor very discerning. In the future I want to be a lot more careful what basket I put my eggs in and who I listen to. I think there are plenty of people making a killing on the multitudes that buy in to the various movements, and I've certainly known very good saleswomen.

 

Group Activities

Here is a quote, from a friend of mine: "Group activities can motivate, but they cannot get it all done."

To this I say, "Amen."

A major fallacy in the church and homeschool world is that we need to be with other people often in order to be successful. Churches that are consumed with numbers fall into this mindset. Community is what holds people together in churches like this, under some false assumption that the community is under-girded by sound biblical doctrine. Because it's a church, and the Bible is there and Jesus is talked about, everyone is treated the same, like they are part of the brethren. Is this right, though? Can light have fellowship with darkness?

Martyn Llyod-Jones says it well-- we cannot have Christian fellowship with people who are not true believers in Christ. It is a myth. Likewise, we cannot worship with unbelievers because they do NOT worship God. They worship themselves or some other idol. Yet, we see churches bring in hoards of people, mislead, thinking great numbers prove their success. To this I say they are filled with people who fall in to 2 Tim 2:3, 4. Many do not want sound, deep theological teaching, instead they want a social group that talks about meaningless dribble. We wonder why kids in these establishments fall away from the faith; they have nothing solid to fall back on when the hard knocks of life come. This opinion is what differs from the church model that says, "Look like the world, bring in the masses, don't study the Bible too seriously while at church." This other model believes that community and alternatives to the world's fun are what will keep our youth from straying. But are the youth in these buildings really solid, true disciples?

How does this thinking relate to homeschooling?

There is quite a parallel actually. Homeschool moms, many of whom are the heads of their home and school, flock to various groups doing all sorts of things with their students. Those things are often enrichment; they aren't reading, writing and arithmetic. Moms get burned out running all over, consumed far more with their own social engagements and that of their children instead of hitting the books. It is hard to be home most days of the week, educating, training, correcting. Fun is needed, and time with others is too, but that cannot take the place of the hours required to actually educate children. There is a time for what matters most, and a time for what matters less.

Today's churches often get it backward, and so do moms. We must pray that our husbands will help us run our schools and be honest with them on how it is going. We ladies must remember it was Eve who was deceived and be wary of groups run and comprised of all women. If the women running the groups are not in subjection to their own husbands, how can we not see a risk of the train getting off the tracks? Men offer a perspective which is needed in our homeschools and churches. If our own husband won't help us with our school, we need to seek the advice of a woman who IS getting help from her husband.

As in Christianity, the narrow path is one that is not easy to walk. Discernment and wisdom are needed with each. But more than that these days, in this culture, we need to stop being so insecure and consumed with our social calendar. Nothing fulfills like a job well done or fellowship with true, solid believers. All else may offer a short-term balm, but that comfort quickly fades, and we have to spend valuable time recharging; time that should be spent on more lasting and important things.


Cheering you on,