17 Blissful Years

My husband and I just celebrated 17 glorious years of wedded bliss yesterday as we went on a romantic escape to New Buffalo, Michigan and rented a charming cottage on a private lake at a place called Sans Souci. I highly recommend this nature retreat because it was so much more than your average bed and breakfast. We were on a private lake on 50 acres amidst breathtaking nature scenes and wildlife. We also had our own private rowboat to make a memorable journey across the lake. Serenity and relaxation ruled our time there, as we enjoyed the gazebo, trails, hammocks, vineyard (yes, I said vineyard) and a hidden bridge.

The cottage included 600 sq.ft. of living space and a fully stocked kitchen, fireplace and hot tub and had classical music gently playing in the room when we showed up. The owner, Angie, is very personable and warmly welcomed us along with other innskeepers on the property. There is nothing like waking up and having breakfast along a sparkling, shimmering lake while you read your Bible and have total quiet communion with God. This fantastic getaway is one I will never forget and as we drove away we were already planning our next visit!

If you are looking for an enchanting place to go for a special occasion or just looking for a place to really relax and get away from it all this is the place to go! Here is the link so you can see for yourself:

Sans Souci Euro Inn & Cottages

(If you click the Nature Walk Photo Gallery, there are closeup pictures of the property)

This is how you would pronunce San Souci (make sure your sound is on), it is french meaning 'without worry". They also have a private massage services and do weddings and reunions.

After 17 years of being married to my husband Steve, I must say I am one lucky woman to be married to such a godly man who is fiercely faithful and loving father. I am also honored to be the mother to his eight beautiful children who bring me so much joy on a daily basis. Thank you, Steve, for a memorable anniversary and 17 wonderfully fun years---I am looking forward to many, many more! And thank you, Lord, for bringing such an amazing man into my life...

Quiet and Still

I'd like to ask a question...




Is your heart quiet and still before the Lord today?

Fatherhood Quotes

Father's Day will be here in a blink of an eye and around the Fuentes household we are busily preparing to have everyone over. I thought I would share some quotes:

None of the things I remember about my father had anything at all to do with his lifestyle of whom he knew or the places he had been or the style of the clothes he wore. I just knew that he was always there. -Cal Thomas

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. -Author Unknown

There is no more vital calling or vocation for men than fathering. -John Throop

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him Father! -Lydia M. Child

Children's children are the crown of old men and the glory of children are their fathers. -Proverbs 17:6

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person--he believed in me. -Jim Valvano

One night a father overheard his son pray, "Dear God, make me the kind of man my daddy is."---Later that night, the father prayed, "Dear God, make me the kind of man my son wants me to be. -Anonymous

F...You are my friend.
A...You are my ally.
T...You are my teacher.
H...You are my hero.
E...You are my example.
R...You are my rock.

-K. Williams

Here is how we have celebrated Father's Day in the past and a tribute I had written to my own father.

Feel free to print this out and stick this into your Father's Day card!

Have a Happy Father's Day and don't forget to honor the special men in your life!

Gifts--Not Monsters

"Look at her, she is such a monster."

I heard this not too long ago and felt such sadness---this was actually a mother describing her daughter in a very bitter, sarcastic and resentful way. I think that what we describe our children as reflects not the children but what is going on in our own hearts--"for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Luke 6:44-5)

If we truly believe that children are a blessing from God we should refrain from using language that demeans them as inferior. The use of 'monster', 'rugrats', and the like might be used affectionately or jokingly but can eventually lead to viewing children in a wrong and sinful light. With our tongues we are to encourage one another and build one another up (I Thessalonians 5:11) and this verse includes our children.

What It Teaches Our Children

How does a child evaluate themselves as they hear mom and dad referring to them with such words? Will they not have a low self esteem? Will they not try to live up to what they have been 'branded' as, even in jest? If they have been created in God's image then they are not what these words define them as. Remember that 'the tongue has the power of life and death' and we need to be wise in how we use that power. Are they truly gifts or burdens as how the world would like us to believe? If God's word is true we need to believe it ourselves and act as such. They will have a hard time believing they are a child of God is somebody if calling them names. And as we think about that--name calling comes from pride-not from humility, we have to remember that it is not Christ-like and could have lasting repercussions on a child.

What It Teaches The World

We are to be teachers of the Word and not of the world. We are to be an example to the unsaved and bring light to the darkness--but how can we do that if we do not have a biblical worldview of children ourselves? Does the world see a difference in how we view children or just go away shrugging their shoulders not touched by Christ's powerful hand in our lives? We are essentially teaching the world and our fellow Christians to hate and disdain children which is the spirit of Satan who is anti-God. We have become teachers of Satan. Instead, we should be teachers of God's Word teaching what is right and not what is opposite to His Word.

So the next time you see a mom with a lot of children I want you to think about how God gave His life for these children to be saved. How they are His gift from up above--some of those children could very well be your brothers and sisters in Christ. Be sure to speak blessings into their mom's life-----encourage her and support her. Let her learn from your example to love her children. This is what she needs---not the witty remark of 'doesn't she know how to stop having all these children." Shame on those who have thought this or stood by quietly without coming to her defense. I am shocked when I hear a statement like this in church, the one place a mother should feel the most welcomed!

Children are a blessing and gift from the Lord, let us all have a biblical worldview when it comes to children and reject the lies that they are anything less. Teach this to your children and your children's children so that there will be a generation that will hold fast to God's Word in this dark, evil world that despises and murders millions of innocent children because His Word has been forgotten.

Sisters and Brothers

Sisters scarcely know the influence they have over their brothers.

A young man once testified that the greatest proof to the truth of Christian religion was his sister's life.



-The Golden Gems of Life, 1884

A Foolish Woman Destroys Her Home By...

1. Complaining and murmuring

2. Being discontent

3. Being disrespectful to her husband (in thought and actions)

4. Being lazy

5. Allowing wordly thoughts to dominate her life and decision making

6. Not submitting to her husband

7. Not obeying God in all areas of her life

8. Trying to dominate her husband (pridefully thinking she knows better than him)

9. Not seeking and listening to godly counsel

10. And most importantly, not putting God first in her life.

Is this you?

These are just a few examples of how quickly we fall into the path of evil.

Lord, please help us to be better wives and to repent of our sinful, wicked ways!

Read more about:

Tearing Down Our Homes

The Foolish Woman

Contentment

The True Home

Homes are not made up of material things. It is not a fine house, rich furniture, a luxurious table, a fine garden, and a superb carriage that make a home.

Vastly superior to this is the true home.

Our ideal homes should be heart homes, in which virtue lives and love flowers bloom and peace offerings are daily brought to its altars. It is made radiant with every social virtue, and beautiful without by those simple adornments with which nature is every-where so prolific.

The children born in such homes will leave them with regret, and come back to them in after life as pilgrims to a holy shrine.

-Smith Ferguson, The Golden Gems of Life, 1884

Large Family Summer Scheduling

School is over and we've already got the garden in. Now we are looking forward to two weeks of relaxing (since dad will have his vacation time) and then we will be on our official summer schedule.

Yes, I said schedule!!!!!

Why am I a firm believer in scheduling during the summer? Because in our home we cannot function without order. Also, I could never imagine allowing all that free summertime going to waste. I believe that God has given us time as a precious gift and that we need to be good stewards of it. Believe me---children around here never get a chance to say "I'm bored!"----in fact, I think they might be afraid to since they know I have a list of jobs/projects awaiting them if they even dared to think such a thought! ;)

Here are some ways my daughters will be spending the summer:

learning to bake whole wheat bread/scones
creating a vlogging series that will minister to others
taking over fixing all meals
learn to make laundry soap
sell on Ebay
Create their own business on Etsy
create school scrapbooks
library volunteering
drama club
various home painting projects
learn to cut hair on their brothers
practice instruments: piano, violin, recorder
Character studies
learn Spanish/typing (for younger one)
get drivers permit
educational games online (to stay fresh!)
preparing for 2 garage sales
create garden/home notebooks

and most importantly: Their Summer Reading Lists

What is a Summer Reading List? It is a list that is handpicked and prayed over by us (the parents) that the child will read to encourage godly growth and character. It does not have to include just books but can also include great articles, blogs, etc. At the top of this is their personal devotional time with the Lord. We have something called Life Journals that we use to journal about what we read in the Bible, so we will be using those. My daughters are avid readers so I make sure that I keep godly/educational/feminine/homemaking books around to inspire. Biographies are great too, especially of legendary evangelists or martyrs of the faith.

This does not include other small projects they will be helping me with--this is just some of the bigger things I definitely want to accomplish with our precious time. My sons have a list as well. In fact, I have a notebook with a list for each child and what we are to accomplish with them by the end of summer--even right down to our little boy twins and their potty-training! And of course, don't forget Mom. My list is very important to me because once I get everything on paper I don't have to carry it all around in my head. It is like unloading luggage when I create a list that allows my mind to be free to think about other things, while not forgetting to do the important things.

Now lastly, I want you to remember that the list/schedule or any list/schedule that you make is not there to control you. You make sure to make it work for you and not vice versa. Make plenty of room for flexibility (it is summer after all!) Be sure to add plenty of fun in too and plan for some great summer memories early in advance---as we all know summer will pass by in a blink of an eye-----so be sure to get done what you set out to accomplish as you celebrate the summer season!

A Mother's Influence

"Mothers, please don't let the world rob you of the incredible joy of a life invested in your children.

They are your mark on the world.

They are your legacy, your testimony, and your contribution to mankind.

Don't let some other woman steal your influence.

Remember, 'The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.'

That saying didn't just show up one day.

That proverb is the result of centuries of observation.

A mother's influence is unmatched."

-Voddie Bauchaum, Family Driven Faith

Of Things Hoped For

The other day as we were gathered around the breakfast table, my lovely daughter Janai pointed out to me that most likely one day our family will be almost twice the size.

Twice the size?

Did she know something I didn't know?

"Yes, Mommy," she stated matter-of-factly all the while smiling,"you see if you have five sons and three daughters right now and we all eventually get married, that means you will be adding on five daughters and three sons for a total of 8 sons and 8 daughters."

I stared at her. I had never thought of it that way.

Five more daughters and three sons.

The mere thought brought tears to my eyes (and even now as I type this).

Could they really be out there somewhere? Could my heart be swelling up with love for 8 complete strangers that I don't even know right now whom of which will grace our family with their presence one day?

Surely, I have always dreamed of being a grandmother but to also have other sons and daughters to love and care for---I had never thought about such an honor in depth like this.

I hope I will remember all the things I'd like to do when my children are older. I would love to have them over all the time--especially once a week for dinner. I would love to help them out with their new homes and buy the little things that newlyweds/parents/grandbabies need...I want to express unconditional love and treat their spouses as if they were my own...I want to watch the grandchildren and have them over often...I'd love to host all the major holidays and the list goes on.

Sometimes around the dinner table, the children and I get to talking about the future once they are married and in their own homes. They share how this sister will visit their older sister and bring cookies and help plant a garden. How younger sister will cook a big dinner and invite all her older hungry brothers to her home. How little brother will go to older sisters home and mow the grass just to help out. I add to their thoughts by painting the picture of huge family get-togethers with all the children and grandchildren at my house with loads of food and what fun it will be!

These are some of my favorite family conversations. These are some of my most cherished dreams. I believe conversation regarding the future, close ties while they are young and fostering their walk with God now helps to lay the groundwork for keeping close relationships when they actually do get married. Whether they live close by or far away...

...these are the things that I hope for.

And for those special 'eight' I have yet to meet, I am praying for you as you wander this earth before the Lord brings you here--that God would keep you safe, far from evil and on the right path.

We love you and can't wait to meet you one day!