Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

Meal Planning Monday

This week my youngest little goes back to school {super sad Mama face}, so these meal planning posts are a must to make my life easier!

Monday – mashed potato bowls

Tuesday – spaghetti and garlic bread

Wednesday – cheese steak sammys and onion rings baked in the oven with peach cobbler for dessert…

Thursday – breakfast for dinner…buttermilk pancakes with homemade amish maple syrup and the best sausage patties ever {from our fav little amish store}

Friday – bbq ham sandwiches with fries

Saturday – girls day out with two super sweet souls

Sunday – stuffed peppers and mashed potatoes…comfort food

Why I’m Not Raising a Feminist Daughter

I’m a wife, mama, daughter, sister, friend, business owner and former feminist.

My Dad always told me I could do anything, whether it be putting shingles on a roof, putting a universal joint in his ’69 Chevy or dragging out the acetylene tanks and welding. I don’t blame this on my Daddy, he had GREAT intentions. And I’m so thankful of the knowledge he taught me.

I’m the one who took it and turned it into a heart issue.

I grew up thinking I could do anything that a man could do. And if a man told me I couldn’t do it, I would make sure to prove him wrong. I wanted to be viewed as strong and independent. I even took the words “honor and obey” out of my vows. No one was going to control me, especially not my husband.

And then I became a Mama.

As my babies were growing up, I realized I couldn’t align myself with feminism anymore. Their message is the opposite of what I’m teaching my kids.

I’m teaching my daughter modesty, they feel it’s patriarchy. I’m teaching my son to be a gentleman, they feel it’s benevolent sexism. I’m teaching my daughter to be submissive to her husband, they feel that’s degrading. I’m teaching my son to be hard-working and provide for his family, they feel that they can provide for themselves. I’m teaching my daughter purity, they feel your body is yours to do with what you please. I’m teaching my son to treat his wife like a princess, they feel that’s offensive.

I simply cannot align myself with a message that has morphed into something accusatory, degrading, offensive and opposed to the morals and messages I am teaching my kids.

I’m actually super excited we are raising our littles the way we are, the opposite of how the world would have them raised.  I want my son to be chivalrous, to open doors and carry heavy loads. I want my daughter to be told she’s beautiful. I want my son to ask a girl out on a date and pay the bill without expecting anything in return.  I want my daughter to know she can depend on her husband.  I want my littles to know the beauty of a Christ-centered marriage.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2

The recent feminist campaigns are so degrading, I can’t help but feel they lost their direction amongst the shuffle of finding issues to fight for. Their messages come across so crass and offensive, it actually muddies the water and their direction is no longer clear.

With God, we have clear direction. We have a perfect owners manual for life in the Bible. And in the Bible we see that while we are created equal, we were given specific roles.  
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Ephesians 5:23-25



And that my friends is why we are teaching submission, headship and living a Christ-centered marriage. While it might not be the worlds opinion, we are following Gods word. That will bring joy, peace, contentment, fulfillment and freedom! And in turn, your life will bring glory to God. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

The Argument-Free Marriage {Book Review}

The Argument-Free Marriage
28 Days to Creating the Marriage You’ve Always Wanted with the Spouse You Already Have
By Fawn Weaver
About the book:

New York Times best-selling author Fawn Weaver challenges readers to declare peace in their marriages-and shows how it really can happen. 

Is an argument-free marriage possible? Fawn Weaver’s answer is yes, absolutely, even when one or both partners are strong willed, independent, and opinionated. (She admits to being all three.) In this groundbreaking book, the best-selling author and award-winning marriage blogger asks readers to invest twenty-eight days in learning how to live together without bickering, blame, angry outbursts, or silent treatments. 

Fawn begins with the startling premise that, contrary to popular opinion, conflict in marriage is not necessary or inevitable. Then she leads readers on a day-by-day journey toward a more peaceful and supportive relationship. Chapter by brief chapter, she offers fresh perspectives and practical strategies for communicating effectively, building understanding, and defusing anger while at the same time nurturing honesty, vulnerability, and mutual support.  

I’m sure if I asked who wanted an argument free marriage, I’d see all sorts of hands going up…including my own!  I can speak for my own marriage, most of our arguments are over small things and when the argument is over, sometimes I even have trouble remembering why it even started.

Fawn says that she is outspoken, so for her, an argument free marriage may be a difficulty. Boy, can this outspoken girl relate to that!  One of the hardest things for me to do is keep my mouth shut and walk away from an argument.  I have this deep desire to always get the last word in, and to be right.  Not my most endearing qualities.

In the book, Fawn says that there are 3 things that are essential in creating an argument-free marriage, and that these can be replicated in any relationship one desire’s to last a lifetime (marriage, siblings, parents, children): Understand and obey the law of acceleration, Stick to the original emotion and Keep at the forefront of your mind this indisputable fact: that tomorrow may never come.

The author’s tips are basic—things we know but too often don’t follow: don’t go to bed angry, for instance.  Actually, this may be basic but it’s a pretty big one.  From my own experience, I can tell you when I’ve went to bed angry I just never sleep well that night.  The Bible even says in Ephesians 4:26 to not let the sun go down while you’re angry.

There were many pearls pf wisdom in this book. And Fawn has delivered in this book what she does with her website: disseminating encouraging messages about how marriages can thrive.

This book was provided to me free of charge by Book Look in return for my honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Fawn Weaver, a USA Today and New York Times and bestselling author, is an investor, marriage advocate, TEDx alum and the founder of the Happy Wives Club, a community of nearly 1,000,000 women in more than 110 countries.

The Club’s website, HappyWivesClub.com, is an upbeat blog dedicated to positively changing the tone about marriage. Twice named the Best Marriage Site on the web by About.com, HappyWivesClub.com is the go-to place for women wanting to read about the “sunny side” of marriage and get tips on taking a marriage from good to great and from great to extraordinary.