Archives for September 2013

A Break for Me, Great Links for You

September 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment

4580058581_11bf83ed48_z

Hey Mothers of the Bride, I need to take a short blogging break while I attend to some other important matters, but I’ll be back in the mother-of-the-bride blogging saddle again next week on Thursday October 3rd. I’ll be thinking of you, though, and sending up a prayer that you’ll be able to get at least one important wedding planning detail taken care of in the meantime. That’s a gift in any MOB’s book, right? :)

I don’t want to leave you without any help while I’m gone, though, so I have some great links for you to peruse when you get a chance. For whatever season your daughter is planning her wedding, I hope you find some great ideas, inspiration, and help from the following sources. See you next week!

*Fall Wedding Ideas and Tips

Fall Weddings by The Knot

More Fall Weddings from The Knot 

Good Things for Fall Weddings from Martha Stewart Weddings 

*Winter Wedding Ideas and Tips

Good Things for Winter Weddings from Martha Stewart Weddings 

Winter Weddings on the Knot 

100 Ideas for Winter Weddings 

*Spring Wedding Ideas and Tips

Good Things for Spring Weddings from Martha Stewart Weddings 

Spring Weddings on the Knot 

100 Ideas for Spring Weddings from Bridal Guide 

*Summer Wedding Ideas and Tips

Good Things for Summer Weddings from Martha Stewart Weddings  

75 ideas for Summer Weddings from Bridal Guide 

Summer Weddings on the Knot 

*What’s one of your favorite sites for wedding planning inspiration? (Don’t forget to check out my Pinterest page for lots of great wedding ideas, too!)

*Flickr photo by Johan Larsson

Filed Under: autumn, help, Mother of the Bride, preparation, spring, summer, variety, winter

A Break for Me, Some Blessings for You

September 23, 2013 by 7 Comments

Oxeye Daisy

Hey friends, I need to take a short blogging break while I attend to some other important matters, but I’ll be back in the blogging saddle again next week on Thursday October 3rd. I hope that God blesses you in all kinds of wonderful ways in the meantime.

In fact, I’d like to pray a few blessings over us all straight from the Word of God. Even though we may be absent from one another at times, our God never leaves us. He is never absent. Luxuriate in his blessing today, friends!

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us,” Psalm 67:1

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

“May God give you of heaven’s dew and of earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.” Genesis 27:28

“From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.” Psalm 3:8

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

*How has God blessed you lately?

*My photo

Filed Under: blessing, Word of God

Midweek Morsel: Prayer in Violent Times

September 19, 2013 by 2 Comments

4802039217_266d5bb45f_z

Our world has seen some violent times over the past couple of months. The events in Syria and Egypt spring to mind. Violence of a different sort happens regularly within our own borders—like we saw with the mass shooting earlier this week in Washington, D.C.

What can we do in the face of such things? We can pray. As in the scripture below, we can ask God to bring an end to the violence. Join me, won’t you?

“O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” Psalm 7:9

*How do you deal with the violent times we live in?

*Flickr photo by Montreal 1976, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: help, peace, prayer, protection, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , ,

Wedding Thoughts from Anne Lamott’s Plan B

September 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Kristin happy

Mother of the Bride, have you ever  read any of Anne Lamott’s work? She has a way of speaking the truth—of laying life wide open in ways almost all of us can relate to. I love that humor is often a part of it.

I thought you might enjoy hearing some wedding truth laid open Anne-style. Enjoy this excerpt from Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith as Anne shares about a time when she was involved with a friend’s wedding:

“Building a wedding is a recipe for muddle—the bridal party, the families, the guests, the minister, the vows, the food. You’re attempting to make something beautiful out of unruly and unpredictable elements—the weather, the nuttier relatives, the rivalries, disorders, and dreams. Out of mostly old neurotic family and friends, you hope to create something harmonious. You do so as an act of faith, hoping that for a brief period of time, the love and commitment of two people will unite everyone; and it will sort of work . . .

 . . .Here’s what the priest said: ‘I promise you it will all work out, in its own perfectly imperfect way. Weddings are about families, and families can be a bit of a mess under stress. But the love that will gather tomorrow night is much more important than anything else on earth, and bigger than anything else on earth, too. Because finally that love is sovereign.’”

 So be encouraged, MOB. It will all work out.

*Photo by Chris Humphrey

*With which of Anne’s thoughts do you most identify?

Filed Under: books, encouragement, joy, love, Mother of the Bride, unity, victory

Climbing Towards a Goal

September 16, 2013 by 4 Comments

8416105407_0653008ca8_z

“With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” Psalm 18:29

I’ve been on the climb the past few years—scaling the wall toward traditional book publication. I’m not there yet, but I’m closer to having a shot than when I first started working towards my goal.

Thank goodness, I’m not making the climb on my own. God is scaling the wall with me. He’s providing guidance, the ideas and skill I need, and the strength to persevere as well as helping me connect with others in the writing world. He’s also blessed me with the support of family and friends.

I’ve had to put in the work, though. I’ve spent untold hours working to become a better writer. I’ve invested money in going to writers conferences where I can continue to learn and network. I’ve plunged into unfamiliar waters, taking steps to build my platform to reach readers. Yep, I’ve had to do the work.

Each step I’ve taken has been a step up the wall. I started my blog several years ago. Step. Joined the FCW writers group. Step. Attended my first writers conference. Step. Started publishing Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter. Step. Joined Facebook a few years ago and then just recently started my Cheryl Barker, Writer page there, too . Step, step. Became part of the FCW online critique group. Step. Launched my new website, started the Mother of the Bride Blog, and joined Pinterest all in one fell swoop. Step, step, step.

Believe it or not, these are just a few of the steps I’ve taken. And, of course, during it all, I’ve been writing. I’ve been submitting pieces for publication. And I won’t lie—it takes a lot of perseverance. I’ve experienced a lot of rejection. But the Lord has also rewarded my efforts with publication at times.

I’ve relied on God’s help and direction each step of the way. He has graciously provided technical help, instruction, and encouragement through other people just when I needed it. No doubt about it, book publication is definitely a wall I could not scale on my own.

Are you scaling a wall right now? Or does a wall loom in front of you that needs to be scaled? I hope you can learn from my climb. Put in the work, but don’t try to do it on your own. Take it a step at a time. Be patient and persistent. And most of all, rely on God. He will provide all you need.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

*What wall has God helped you scale? 

*Flickr photo by why 137 (slow!)      

Filed Under: books, bravery, challenge, determination, dream, fighter, goal, help, new thing, perseverance, preparation, writing Tagged With: , , , , , ,
Next Page »