Airing My Dirty Laundry

I'm so thankful our washer and dryer is outside in the garage. We also keep our dirty clothes baskets in the garage. I live with three males, and the stench of dirty socks, underwear, and musty clothes is not something I want to smell everyday.

Firstborn and Secondborn wash their own clothes. This is a wonderful thing, but I'm reminded daily that they wash ONLY when they have to.

This morning, Secondborn says, "I need to wash clothes." Excuse me? Son, you needed to wash two weeks ago!

The large overflowing basket below is Secondborn's, the small one next to it is Firstborn's. I can't imagine having this in my house. It's right where it belongs - outside...airing!

Is the red towel supposed to hide the large mound and make it look neat or something? LOL!

Monday Meditation - Taboo Topic - Sex, Sex, Sex

The older woman is charged with teaching the younger woman, but I don't recall having anyone talk to me about how to physically please my husband. I'm not talking details, but just sharing the importance of sex in marriage and the power of prayer in this regards. Sex is right up there with the topic of money in marriage, but we obviously feel more comfortable talking about money than sex.

I've been talked to about encouraging my husband, supporting him, helping him, stroking him, and loving him, but I've never had anyone tell me about sexually satisfying him. Is this subject taboo or is it just too personal to bring up?

Last night as I held my husband, I began praying for him as I always do, and something came to mind that has never come to my mind before. If God created sex and disapproves of sex outside of marriage, hubby should be completely satisfied and desire only me, right?

I know men battle with temptations of the flesh in ways a woman will never understand, but I believe if God created sex to bring pleasure to a husband and wife, it should be more than our human minds can comprehend. We should have a WOW attitude instead of a 'not tonight' attitude.

My prayers turned to asking God to teach me how to fulfill hubby's sexual desires, wants, and needs. I also asked God to guard hubby's mind from the sexual tactics and snares the enemy has planned to tempt hubby outside our marriage - outside doesn't have to go far - it can be a commercial! I closed my prayer by asking for more energy and an increase in my desire to please hubby. Women easily get caught up in meeting the needs of the children forgetting the husband comes first.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be a sex crazed freak in the bed every night. Hubby would love this. I simply want lovemaking in my marriage to be of God. I want to experience sex God's way, not my way or hubby's way.

I thank God for this enlightenment after 15 years of marriage. I've always been concerned with pleasing my husband, but it's time to take it to another level. It's also time to share more openly with the younger woman. Sex is not a bad word! SEX, SEX, SEX! God created sex - the same God that created the world! If we look upon God's creation with amazement, we should look upon sex, talk about sex, and enjoy sex with the same level of amazement - in marriage of course.

Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Mothers and Chippendales - Can We Look?

What do Mothers have in common with the Chippendales? Well, we're both human and that's what this post is about.

The Black Chippendales are coming to my city and I actually had a thought of going to see them - relax, it was just a thought. I don't care if the Chippendales are white, black, yellow, or green, Chippendale Men are....well, Chippendale Men.

One of the local radio stations are giving away free tickets. Dare I try to win a ticket? Would someone see me? Can I disguise myself? Why am I even thinking about going to see these men who do nothing but seduce, tease, and excite women? Well, because I'm human. Some call this "entertainment" while others call it sin.

Hmmm... can a woman striving to be a Christ-controlled loving wife and influential mother have thoughts of seeing the Chippendales? Of course! I was a woman before I became a wife and mother. I'm STILL a woman and I'm very much human. The day I don't admire a handsome hunk of a man is the day I'll be worried. As a matter of fact, the day hubby isn't attracted to a beautiful woman is another day to be worried. We're human! Uh oh...I just realized someone else in the house is human...Firstborn will be 14 this month and he isn't striving to be Christ controlled, but he is definitely hormone controlled. Yikes!!

I took my just a thought of seeing the Chippendales a step further by calling a friend and asking her if she wanted to go. She laughed and I pray her laugh was because she knows my character. No, I'm not going to see the Chippendales and to be completely honest, I don't really have a desire to go...it was just a thought in the mind of Miss Flesh. I had to hold that thought captive! Maybe I'll tell hubby to "entertain" me tonight; he puts on a darn good show and I can do more than look!

So, dear, sweet, loving, faithful, wives and mothers, how about you? If you could be invisible and attend a Chippendale's Show with a guarantee that nobody would see you, would you go?

Marriage and Money - Joint Account, Separate Account, or Secret Stash

In our early years of marriage, hubby and I had a joint account. It worked out fine because we were newly married, basking in oneness, and covered in a blanket of blissful matrimony. We both were working and pulled our incomes together to pay the bills. We were a team!

Well, things changed when I retired from the Navy. Hubby has always kept the books in our home, but when I stopped working outside the house, I didn't feel comfortable having to give account for every penny I spent. I have never been a shopper, so he didn't have to worry about that, but if I wanted to do something just for me (rarely), I didn't see why I had to report to the Chief Financial Officer.

Why did I have to ask if we had money to get my hair done? When I had hair

Why did I have to ask for money to go to lunch with a friend? I worked for 20 years, why can't I spend $20 of my money?

I know I know...it's OUR money. Actually, it's God's money!

Why did I have to turn in receipts at the end of the day? I know...to keep the books accurate.

Although I had access to the money just as he did, something in me just didn't like asking and reporting for 5, 10, or even 30 dollars. Good grief, I'm a grown woman! Why didn't hubby have to ask or report? I know...I've got waaay too much independence to be married.

Money may be an issue in every marriage to some degree, and our marriage sure wasn't an exception. Needless to say, this wife had to get her own account. It gave me a sense of freedom and completeness, which is hard to explain.

This may be petty to some, but I'm well aware that money is a major issue in many marriages. This is one reason so many wives seek home based businesses and part-time jobs - to have their own money. Other women are sneaking shopping bags in the back door or keeping goods in the trunk of the car. Others have a secret stash hidden away.

Well, this marriage no longer has an issue with money. I no longer report to the Chief Financial Officer and if we come up short at the end of the month, guess who comes through? Yep, I've got my stash and there is nothing secret about it.