Memories For My Baby Girl: Daddy Twirls You Around the Kitchen

My memory may fail me at some point.  I know this, because it has before.  This little blog is not only my place to encourage others, but to chronicle my thoughts and store my memories, in case I ever forget these sweet moments.  I have no idea how long my posts will stay on the internet.  It's my hope that someday my children can see these and know they were so very cherished.

 

This Thankful Thursday is dedicated to my amazing husband.  He does so much to help me keep this house running smooth, clothes on our backs, and food in our bellies.  I thank him for those things, although I don't say it nearly enough.

 

The thing I want to thank him for today though, is dancing with our daughters and rocking around the kitchen with our son.

 

 I'm blessed to have a fun husband, even if sometimes that means I feel inadequate for being the party pooper.  

They really would listen to music and dance all night if I weren't here to stop them.  

 

Our youngest loves to shout "let's dance!" in the bathtub with her duckies.  She then giggles and twirls them, or stirs the water to make the little plastic duckies dance.  The ducks are dressed as a bride and groom (a gift from my brother and sister-in-law around the time of their wedding). 

Even more special is when that same little girl runs into the kitchen and asks her daddy to dance.

"Dance?" She says with a smile and her hand held out high to meet his.

 

And even more special than THAT will be the day he twirls her around the dance floor at her wedding reception.  We're in no hurry, and I'll savor each day between now and then.  I am still greatly looking forward to that day though.

 

You see, these moments are special and great, and I love every bit of it.  You know what though? I know there is far greater to come.  What a great promise to believe in.

 

Greater things are yet to come.

Why I'm Pulling Back the Shades and NOT Seeing 50 Shades of Grey

Ladies, we need to talk.  Grab a cup of coffee, this may take a while. 

I know many of you are really looking forward to seeing the 50 shades of Grey movie this weekend.  But can I just ask, WHY?  What about it is appealing to you?

Now before you envision me sitting up high on my soap box writing this to you, I want you to know that I too was tempted to see the movie, read the books, and fall victim to the ridiculous amount of advertising the brand has put out there.  I even bought all 3 books for my own mother!  Clearly I didn’t know what they were about or I wouldn’t have bought them for her.  For a friend maybe, but my mom? ewww. 

From what I know, the story line that goes along with 50 shades has left me with this feeling of being ever so thankful that my husband isn’t a dominant man who pushes me around in the bedroom, or anywhere else. 

50 shades is a fantasy that takes you on an unrealistic journey.  Or at least that’s what we would hope.  But for many couples, that’s their reality.  And it isn’t healthy.

My husband and I have had to work to overcome our intimacy and sexuality issues.  Body issues, experience and lack of experience issues, etc., etc.  

We’ve been together 11 years and are at a great place in our marriage, so I honestly believe I would be okay watching the movie.  BUT why risk all that we’ve worked for?  This stuff is bad folks, really bad. 

My real issue with this movie, and just the view that society has on sex is that it’s just that.  It’s just sex.  Worse than that is how Mr. Grey presents himself as this dominant controlling man. 

I pray to God that my daughters NEVER see this movie, or get the idea that marrying a man in this image is okay. 

I’m honestly worried for the young women watching this film and how they’re going to think this behavior is okay.  It is NOT okay.  It is NEVER okay to be taken advantage of.  I’ve read the 50 shades advocates saying “but he offers to have her sign a contract”, “she knew what was coming”.  Honestly, you think that makes it okay? 

Sex is not meant to be separate from LOVE.   I’m promoting the book called Pulling Back the Shades and doing a book study on it.  The authors do a great job of explaining it like this:

“Your sexuality was never meant to be separate from your deepest spiritual and relational longings but to be an expression of them.”

Think about what that means.  Analyze it and apply it.   

I have so much more to say on this, but I don’t want to get too graphic or too wordy.  The PBTS book does such a great job explaining and teaching about this that I’ll just refer you on to that. 

I’ll be hosting a giveaway for the book PULLING BACK THE SHADES!  Check back HERE or my FACEBOOK page for more details coming soon!

 

Ps.  As I’m editing through this I want to tell you more, give you specifics, open my heart wide and pour it all out.  Honestly I’m too scared though.  Satan has been attacking me hard through this whole Pulling Back the Shades journey.  I’ve missed countless study groups, church services, and dates to meet up with women and talk about the book.  Satan knows how powerful this book is and he will stop at nothing to keep us from sharing God’s truth on intimacy.  I have felt so defeated by this, but I have a great group of women praying for me and encouraging me to just keep pressing forward.  The harder the enemy fights us, the more we know this is exactly what God wants us to be doing.