Archives for June 2013

Groom’s Cake Idea: Law Books (or any other books!)

June 27, 2013 by 2 Comments

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Groom’s cakes are so much fun. Anything goes, Mother of the Bride. Whatever captures the essence or interests of your girl’s beloved can translate into the perfect groom’s cake.

When your sweet couple start tossing around ideas, show them these shots of a stack of books, especially if a scholarly or professional theme would fit the groom’s personality. Jake, our daughter Kelli’s groom, was headed to law school right after their wedding so the law books were a perfect fit. And by the way, they looked so real, we didn’t know whether to try to read them or eat them!

Actually, you could spin this idea a number of different directions. Whatever interests of your daughter’s groom could be transformed into a stack of books—whether scholarly, coffee table, or even comic books. Brainstorm it together and see if this idea might work for the main man at the wedding in your near future!

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*Update: For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early August. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Photos by Will Flowers; Cake made by Country Cakes and Bridal Shoppe in the Joplin, MO area.

Filed Under: books, cake, fun, groom, Mother of the Bride

Midweek Morsel: Praying for World Leaders

June 27, 2013 by 2 Comments

When praying for our leaders, sometimes we think only of our own nation. We need to expand our vision at times and pray for those leading nations around the world as well.

Many passages of scripture can be turned into prayers for national leaders, but imagine what our world would be like if the following prayer came true. Substitute leaders for kings and make this passage your hope and prayer today:

“May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.” Psalm 138:4-5

*Which world leaders need our prayers in a special way right now? What are some other ways—or other scripture passages—we should pray for world leaders?

*Flickr photo by ToastyKen, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: international, leadership, prayer, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Heeding a Warning

June 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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Not long ago, I wanted to kick myself. I had ignored repeated warning signs and was finally suffering the consequences.

For at least a year, the clasp on my watch hadn’t worked properly. It often popped open when I was completely unaware of it. I might glance down at my wrist only to see my watch hanging on by its fingertips. Other times, it actually fell off.

I knew I needed to get the watch fixed. That was plain to see. Several times I even said to myself, “I’m going to lose this watch.”

So what did I do? I kept ignoring the warning signs. When all common sense told me not to wear the watch until I got it fixed, I daily slipped it on my wrist and ran the risk of losing it. I didn’t have time to go by the jeweler’s, plus I needed my watch to let me know just how little time I had.

The odds finally beat me. While moving furniture and cleaning one day, I lifted my wrist to check the time. My watch was gone. I had finally done it. I’d lost my watch.

After I, along with two other family members, made a careful search, the watch was still AWOL. Yes, I had to suffer the consequences. Since I rely on my watch a lot, its absence reminded me of my careless and foolish neglect several times a day.

Not heeding warning signs in other areas of life can bring about much more serious consequences than a lost timepiece, though. Our region dealt with quite a few tornado warnings a few weeks ago. I hate to admit it, but having grown up in this area, I don’t always take the warnings as seriously as I should. Sometimes when it’s too inconvenient to get in the car and go seek an underground shelter, I hunker down in our interior bathroom. When the big tornadoes hit, though, above ground shelter is insufficient. I need to fully heed the warnings.

Is there a warning sign that’s been trying to get your attention? Feel free to learn from my mistakes and save yourself from some unhappy consequences. Let’s heed the warnings God graciously gives.

“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Proverbs 22:3

*Have you ever had to suffer the consequences of ignoring a warning?

*Flickr photo by Ian Sane

Filed Under: action, disaster, learn, signs

Parting Thoughts from the Mother of the Bride

June 24, 2013 by 2 Comments

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*Mothers of the Bride, I wrote this piece originally for a general audience and used it on my other blog. It has also appeared in Sasee magazine. I’ve updated it a bit and wanted to share it with you, too, even though it’s not directed specifically to mothers of the bride. Hope it gives you a chuckle!

The bills have been paid and the gown preserved. Favorite photos have been selected and placed in a keepsake album. My job as a mother of the bride now consists solely of storage responsibilities. Rose garland and other wedding décor currently reside in our guestroom closet while the top layer of the cake made its home in my freezer until our daughter’s first anniversary. But I’m not complaining. These storage duties are nothing compared to the months leading up to the wedding.

The mother of the bride, however, is so much more than keeper of all things wedding related. Before my days as an MOB get too far behind me, allow me, if you will, to make a few general observations about these extraordinary women. After all, I’ve learned a lot about them in the past few years while teaming up with both my daughters as we navigated and ultimately conquered the course to their respective altars.

The MOB looks like any ordinary woman, but don’t be fooled. She’s capable of far more than mere appearance may lead you to believe. No one can match her speed and stamina on marathon shopping expeditions, and the massive amounts of detailed information stored in the forefront of her mind would fry the frontal lobes of those with lesser reservoirs of love and motivation. She’s nothing short of an organizational maven on steroids. No, nobody’s gonna mess up her baby’s wedding.

But, while MOBs have lots of business to attend to, they also manage to have major fun while helping plan the biggest parties of their little girls’ lives. So in that spirit of fun that all MOBs possess, here are a few sure-fire ways to spot these supermoms in their natural habitat. They may even now be circulating in your midst!

She might be an MOB if:

1. Her purse is home to an assortment of color swatches.

2. Her car’s GPS is permanently set to find the nearest Hobby Lobby.

3. Her spare bedroom, in fact, looks like Hobby Lobby threw up in it.

4. She feels the need to buy another bolt of tulle every time she leaves the house.

5. The latest decorating craze in her home seems to be yellow sticky notes.

6. Her eyes flash dollar signs every time she uses her credit card.

7. She uses her credit card every five minutes.

8. For every item she crosses off her list, she has to add three more.

9. She carries a notebook filled with enough plans to run a small country.

And finally, she might be an MOB if…

10. Even after all the shopping she’s done for the wedding, she still goes on a quest to find one special wedding memento for her precious daughter and her new son.

So if you spot one of these special women out and about, give her a hug—or a piece of chocolate or a gift certificate for a massage or something. Believe me, she needs it!

*Photo by Will Flowers

*What will you do in the future to encourage another MOB?

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, challenge, fun, Mother of the Bride, signs, strength

Bridal Shows—Both Fun and Practical!

June 20, 2013 by 2 Comments

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Mother of the Bride, want to have a fun day out with your daughter but also gather helpful ideas and maybe even discover the perfect vendor for one of your wedding needs? Attend a bridal show or wedding expo together!

Bridal shows are all part of the fun so enjoy one or two to the utmost. Remember, your role as mother of the bride (and your daughter’s of bride-to-be) will pass all too quickly so don’t miss out on a chance to fully live the experience.

Here are some fun and/or helpful things you will encounter at a bridal show:

*freebies for all the brides are offered by most exhibitors

*chances to win major prizes for those who register

*yummy samples of wedding cake and other menu items for the reception

*beautiful displays and informational handouts

*fashion show

*opportunity to meet florists, photographers, caterers, pastry chefs, etc.

*ideas for everything from flowers to invitations to make-up

*discounts for certain items or services

 So what are you waiting for? Check The Knot’s list of bridal shows or Google bridal shows in your area and then grab your little bride-to-be and take off for a day of fun and wedding planning. Who knows—maybe your daughter will win one of the prizes! Woohoo!! :)

*Have you attended a bridal show yet? Any tips to offer other MOBs?

*Flickr photo by Watershed Post, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: bride, fun, help, Mother of the Bride, opportunity, preparation Tagged With: , , , ,
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