What's My Name?

... Well, soon it will be Mrs. Amy I. Bayliss!! (OMGosh! I have never seen it written/typed before! lol)

Yes, you read that right. I am now engaged! My sweet hunk of a man proposed to me this past Friday. He called my three boys into the room and then with this shy, sincere grin, he opened the ring box and said it..... "Will you marry me?"

My heart stopped, I began to sweat, I smiled, I looked at my babies who were jumping for joy, I looked at the ring that stood for all I am now and who I will be, then I looked into his beautiful eyes and I said it.... "YES!" It was definitely an eternal moment. No date has been set yet. We are still pondering over how we want to do this. It will be soon though.

Now, about the ring....

It is exactly what I wanted. Something that is who I am:
*Not materialistic.
*Not traditional for the sake of tradition.
*Not empty in meaning.
*Not just like everyone else.

I have never been fond of the whole idea of my future husband spending 3 months salary on something I must guard with my life so I don't lose it; hide so no one will steal it; show off so I/others feel I am worth something to him; resent because of how much emphasis was placed on it and not the covenant I was about to enter into. It simply makes no logical sense to go into debt and be charged interest on a manufactured symbol of love. Especially not when 3 months salary could be put away into an emergency fund and earning interest just in case our new family faces a crisis and needs it.

I researched the origin of the diamond engagement ring and was startled to find out that it was started in the 20th century through a massive marketing campaign by De Beers who also instilled the ever popular slogan "A Diamond is Forever." Sure, the first recorded diamond engagement ring was from the Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy as a betrothal gift in 1477 but they were royalty for goodness sake! There were no more records of the diamond engagement ring until the De Beers campaign.

We can add to that the fact that I watched Blood Diamond. This movie opened my eyes to the barbaric, sinful acts that bring these common gems to our country. Thousands die every year to provide the world with these little pieces of crystallized carbon. Their biggest fans; Americans. If we didn't have such an unquenchable desire for these rocks then the demand would be dramatically decreased. I think it is worth it to save one life. Besides, I don't like the thought that the nearly 10,000 dollars spent on such a ring was the smaller price to pay when you consider how many may have died to get it to the jeweler it was purchased from.

I am so excited that my sweetheart really did listen to me and my many rants and raves about not wanting to start my new married life with death. I'm sure he didn't mind the price difference either! He also listened when I expressed my new found knowledge of the history and meaning of the peridot. I love my peridot ring. I found it's history in the bible. The Hebrew name is Pitdah. It is found in Exodus, Job, and Ezekiel as well as others. It was one of the gemstones on the "Breastplate of Aaron." Hebrew folklore states that the peridot symbolizes success in covenant/marriage. I love that it is the shape of a heart and that it is white and yellow gold. There are diamond chips in the ring but the entire ring was mined and made here in the US. The smaller diamonds can be found in Arkansas and the peridots mined in Arizona.

My intent in writing this is not to impose my convictions about diamonds on you but instead to provide you with accurate information so that you can make a well informed decision for yourself. Biblically speaking jewelry was exchanged as a symbol of impending marriage but it was not always a ring and diamonds were never mentioned though dozens of other stones were. That tradition was started later right here in the US. Please do some research on your own and see for yourself. Always search for the origin of traditions and decide for yourself whether or not they are a good fit for you and your beliefs.

As far me, my hunnie, and my little boys.... we are anticipating a wonderful life together with God as the center!

Additional sources of information:
Fox News
The Atlantic
Alert Net
World Press.org

♥ Amy

What's My Name?

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/04/whats-my-name.html

I'm Every Woman....

Well, we have all read it. We have all aspired to be as it says. We have all fallen short. Why then is the Proverbs 31 woman even mentioned in the bible? If we can't accomplish what she did then why would God put her characteristics out there for us to become frustrated over because we don't even compare to her? What does she have that we don't have?

How about wisdom? The wisdom to know that she alone can accomplish nothing. She puts God first in everything. She works with Him. Philipians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It does not say I can do all things (period). I does not say I will let God do all things (period). The key words are through Christ who strengthens me.

Some of the problem is that we can receive knowledge from the bible, from books, seminars, conferences, church, home groups, etc. and the first thing we try to do is devise and revise plans in our minds as to how we can accomplish all the great things we want to be for God. We want to be good servants, wives, mothers, friends, cooks, housekeepers, writers, teachers, speakers, business women, frugal and savvy. We try to increase our spiritual life, rearrange our home planners, our schedules, and our check book to meet a goal that we have yet to take to God in prayer ask for His help with. Or if we do ask for His help then we still try to accomplish it ourselves.

Well, if I add this or delete this.............

Maybe if we talk this out or give more love in this area then.......

And yet the end result is always the same: you do everything you possibly can to accomplish your objective, the harder you try, the more you fail at it; The more you fail the guiltier you feel; The more guilty you feel the harder you try. Round and round and round you go trapped in frustration. Does this sound familiar?

What is wrong with this picture?
Where is God?

Let's look at Philipians 4:13 again. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Some of us think that if we only trust God then He will take care of all it and do all of the work for us. If I just believe more, If I just press in more, If I just continue to hope then God will take away all my faults and I will become the Proverbs 31 woman. So we stand on every scripture we can find, pray every prayer, seek Godly counsel, have every answer we need and yet.... we are miserable. It is funny that as much as we talk about God doing things through us that He really doesn't seem to be doing too much. God isn't cleaning our house, taking care of the kids, caring for the husband, cooking dinner, volunteering in the community, God doesn't even wake us up to read His word. I mean, geez!

The end result of this is the same as the "Superwoman" mentality. We are now frustrated and guilt ridden because we don't see the results we wanted.

Why? The answer is as evident as the juice on the floor.... we didn't do it God's way. We are to be in partnership with Him. We do our part and He does His. We must always put Him first. We must start walking but let Him direct our steps.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Philipians 2:12-13
Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

I'm Every Woman....

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/04/im-every-woman.html

We Are Not the Same... from a duck

This is a wonderful video. Please take a look. I wrote a post a while back mentioning the different talents, desires, and gifts of my children and this describes my feelings exactly. This is one reason why I choose to home school my children.

This duck is the mother to a zebra, a kangaroo, and a bee. It is funny though because now that they are home schooled we are all advancing remarkably in relationship with God, in wisdom, knowledge, life skills, and socialization. Now that they are out of the government's school system they surpass the government's standards. Who would have thought?

We Are Not the Same... from a duck

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/04/we-are-not-same-from-duck.html

Can One Person Save the Planet?

I recently read some communication over Christians vs. Scientist and how to save the planet. Is one side right and the other side wrong and what can one person do about it?

Saving the Planet can be a very controversial issue. One that deserves much prayer and study. I do know that it is a very biblical issue though and can be solved by looking at the bible. When I was a bank representative I was taught that in order to spot counterfeit money I needed to study the real thing. If I knew well enough what true currency looked like then I would immediately know what was a counterfeit. So let's study the truth that way we can determine what is not the truth.

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15

We must be good stewards of the earth that God has given us. There are so many causes that we could fight for but let's stick to biblical things and everything else will line up.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

I'm sure all of you can think of many more things but here are a few things to start with:

The bible tells us not to be lazy and not to be lovers of money (1Ti 6:10, Pro 15:19 ). People who love money (and want to make more of it) use things like preservatives and growth hormones (which can kill us), chemicals to make plastics and such (these pollute the air and create massive landfills), pollution from cars (we are too lazy to walk anywhere), etc. This makes the producers wealthy and the lazy people have more conveniences.

In order to prevent this we can grow some of our fruits, veggies, and herbs which would be healthier for us, we can reuse and recycle to prevent production of more plastics and such, and we can walk and/or carpool to prevent pollution from cars.

Pornography is forbidden in the bible yet it is sold to ridiculous amounts of people causing men to never satisfy their lust and women to be insecure because they don't measure up. It also uses up thousands of trees a year for print and demeans and belittle those who participate.

In the same sense, tabloids use up way to much paper and rake in billions of dollars a year. Why? Do we really want to hear celebrity gossip that much? How does that edify us?

We can do many things to prevent the early demise of our planet. Just as our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be cared for then why not care for the planet our temple resides on? Pray to God for guidance. Ask what you can do. Study history to learn about ways people survived and thrived back when the earth was healthy and strong then follow their example. Share with others what you learn so that we can apply those same principles to our lives. I for one would love everyone to share some things. None of us are all knowing so we need input from others studies and experiences.

I hope this sheds some light on this area and I look forward to hearing what others have to say about it.

Can One Person Save the Planet?

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/04/can-one-person-save-planet.html

Saving TIME & MONEY in the Kitchen....

Here is how I make the most of my time in the kitchen:

First off, I make a two-week meal plan then I go grocery shopping. I'm sure to look for bargains and make a list to prevent overspending.

My meal planning is simple too since I use the basics for breakfast, the local schools lunch menu as a guide for lunches, and I base my dinners around this formula: Monday = fish, Tuesday = beef, Wednesday = chicken, Thursday = Turkey or Pork, Friday = random choice.

Here is a sample of a two week menu in my house:

Breakfast:
Monday: Pancakes

Tuesday: Oatmeal, Banana

Wednesday: Eggs, Bacon, Biscuits

Thursday: Grilled Cheese, Patty

Friday: Grits, Sausage, Toast

Monday: Cereal of Choice

Tuesday: Cinnamon Rolls

Wednesday: Oatmeal, Fruit

Thursday: Pancakes, Banana

Friday: Eggs, Toast, Sausage

Lunch: (based around local school lunch menues)
Monday: Ham & Cheese Sandwich On Wheat Bread, Banana, Milk or juice
Tuesday: Pig-In-A-Blanket, Tossed Green Salad, Oven Baked Fries, Fresh Fruit, Milk or juice
Wednesday: leftover Spaghetti w/meat sauce, green beans, Jell-o, Milk or juice
Thursday: Chicken Nuggets W/BBQ Sauce, Macaroni & Cheese, Peas, Fruit Cup, Milk or juice
Friday: Beef Taco, Apple Slices w/cinnamon, Cookies, Milk or juice

Monday: Fish Sticks, Macaroni & Cheese, Steamed Broccoli, Fresh Fruits, Milk or juice
Tuesday: Pepperoni Pizza Wedges, Seasoned Corn, Jell-o, Milk or juice
Wednesday: leftover Lasagna, green salad, bread , Milk or juice
Thursday: Beef Taco, Apple Slices w/cinnamon, Cookies, Milk or juice
Friday: leftover jambalaya, corn on the cob, bread, Milk or juice

Dinner:
Monday: Grilled Tilapia, green salad, bread
Tuesday: Spaghetti w/meat sauce, corn on the cob, French bread
Wednesday: Chicken Quesadillas, tortillas w/salsa, apple wedges w/cinnamon
Thursday: Turkey Burgers, baked fries, raw carrots
Friday: random

Monday: Blackened Cod, asparagus, bread
Tuesday: Lasagna, green salad, bread
Wednesday: Grilled Chicken w/pasta, peas, fruit, bread
Thursday: Jambalaya, corn on the cob, bread
Friday: random

Snacks:
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Cheese n crackers
Granola
Air popped popcorn
Nuts

Fruit

Random choices:
Sloppy Joes
Taco meat in pita bread
Steak w/salad
Soup
Chili bowl

Friday and weekends are filled with random choices since sometimes they go with their dad or we may go out to eat. So random choices are there “just in case”.

Now, to make it simple I do all of my shopping then come home and prepare all of my foods for the coming two weeks. I will brown all of the ground beef, allow it to cool, then bag it and freeze it.

I will grill my chicken, slice it, the bag it, and freeze it. Turkey burgers are made, bagged, then frozen. Pancakes and grilled cheese are cooked, placed on wax paper, put into freezer until an ice coat forms, then removed from freezer, placed in ziplocs and placed back into freezer. All onions, celery, garlic, and bell pepper are chopped then out into individual baggies and frozen. Oatmeal is cooked, cooled, then placed inside a plastic container and stored in the refrigerator.

If a recipe, such as the spaghetti, calls for specific seasonings then I measure them out, put them in a small container, label it and put it into the spice cabinet. I make one whole loaf of PB&J at a time, bag it, then freeze it. I make whatever I can ahead of time, then freeze so that all I have to do is take it out of the freezer and heat it. It saves so much time during the week.

I will post more tips and pictures in the coming weeks as I plan. I have a ton of them… I’m just tired of typing! :o)

Hope this helps!

View more Works For Me Wednesday!

Saving TIME & MONEY in the Kitchen....

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/04/saving-time-money-in-kitchen.html