She is clothed in...

Proverbs 31:22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

This is the verse I have been looking at recently. I have had many conversations about the issue of vanity. I have come to realize that I have a different outlook on it that many, in the sense that I feel like every morning a woman should be waking up, looking in the mirror, and feeling lucky for the rest of the world because they get to behold her beauty! Well, maybe that is an overstatement and could encroach into the pride arena but the basic premise I feel is true. You should feel good about who you are, God made you and He believes His creation is good. So should you.

With that said, I have been spending a lot of time at home lately. The design business has come to an abrupt halt and the weather has kept me from venturing too far from the hearth. As such, I have been working on organizing the house, learning all I can about blueberry farming, doing a great job of keeping up with the laundry, but not always getting out of my pajamas.

When you are at home all day comfy clothes seem like the way to go. A tshirt and sweats are warm and perfect for vacuuming, cleaning out closets, reading, and whiling away time on the Internet. What they are not is sexy! I have realized that it must be a bit of a drag for my hubs to come home every night after work to the home hobo. Now before you get all defensive and go off on my right to sweats hear me out. I want my husband to always find me attractive, and day in day out slob wife just isn't. I wouldn't find me very sexy either. Now, if you asked Jon he would probably tell me that I looked good anytime and that none of this mattered. But I think it makes a difference and so I have been attempting to be dressed and a little cuted up before he gets home at night regardless of what went on during the day. I think that the verse above shows that it isn't vain or prideful for a woman to take care of her appearance. I don't think it means you should be spending a mint on "fine linen" but that you can feel good about getting dressed up and doing your hair and makeup, just for the sake of it. So even though I might feel like just lounging all night in sweats I am making the effort to be cute for my husband.

When it snows

The cold white stuff has really been coming down lately. Whether in spurts of an inch or 18 the snow has created many obstacles over the past few weeks. I have to admit I have gotten out of the habit of reading over the p31 passage daily and so when reminded by a good friend the other day this verse just jumped out at me. It was like God was trying to tell me, "hey I'm here! I certainly haven't gone anywhere and I just want to remind you what you are working toward."

Proverbs 31:21

When it snows she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

Snow makes people crazy in NJ. In fact, I would rather eat whatever we have in the house than venture out to a grocery store, drugstore, Walmart, or the like on the day before or day of a storm. I have made the mistake before of wanting a few snacks to enjoy with our "snowed in" movie only to walk directly back out when I saw the line wound through the aisles all the way back to the meat department!! However, I do not have fear of the storm. My family is prepared to handle a few days stranded together. My pantry is full, my freezer is too, and that plow we have on the farm truck can get us out of anything that the F250 can't :-) But actually, I really enjoy the concept of a big storm. I look forward to making pancakes from scratch and cuddling on the couch with the hubs. I enjoy the time we get to spend together instead of being anxious about getting to all those things I was supposed to do that day.

I am finding that as this project goes on I am becoming more of a homebody. I love sharing my home with people and relish the time together. The busyness of life doesn't seem all that important and a quiet night of coffee by the fire beats an hour into the city every time...well maybe not every time but most! I think I am finding the joy in the little things, the important things. So when a storm is headed your way, prepare your water, get your groceries, and pick up a good winter movie and enjoy the time you get to spend together. The snow is a gift of time that God has given.