Archives for June 2015

Wedding Cake Idea: The Textured Cake

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Mother of the Bride, here’s a wedding cake idea that has a different yet still elegant look—the textured look. The majority of wedding cakes have a highly finished, sleek look so the textured finish of this cake makes for an eye-catching and beautiful change of pace. If your bride-to-be hasn’t noticed textured cakes yet, be sure to show her these examples.

The example above is striking in solid white while the one below adds another element by combining an ombre cake with the textured look. Both are gorgeous. If your daughter prefers the more traditional white, she could still have the baker or florist add a splash of color with fresh flowers as a topper or even some other colorful topper.

Don’t you love how there are so many options for wedding cakes today, MOB? Hope you and your darling daughter have loads of fun surveying—and then sampling!—all the possibilities out there!

*You might also like to read Unique Wedding Cake Idea: Word Search Cake!, Wedding Cake Trend: Ruffles!, and Wedding Cake Idea: The Drape Effect.

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*Flickr photos by Whipped Bakeshop, Creative Commons License

7 Things I Would Tell My Younger Self

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I hate to admit it, but later this summer I’ll be celebrating a pretty big birthday. Big, that is, as in the number attached to it. I’ll let you guess which one, but suffice it to say, it could rock my emotional world if I let it. Instead, if I start taking a proactive approach now, maybe it will bring me as much joy as my last milestone birthday did. Yes, that’s a much better option, isn’t it?

With that in mind and in honor of turning older (and hopefully wiser) when August rolls around, I decided to write a list of things I’ve learned or am still learning. Maybe one of these tidbits of wisdom-gained-through-experience will benefit someone in some way. That’s my hope and prayer anyway.

So in no particular order and knowing it will definitely not be a comprehensive run-down of every lesson I’ve picked up over the course of my life, here are seven things I’d tell my younger self. Seven things I’d want to know deep down in my soul and live out in my life:

1. Know that God loves you just because you’re his. You don’t have to perform a certain way to earn his favor or stay in his good graces.

2. Be spontaneous and take more time to play—with your kids, with your husband and friends, and even by yourself. Let love and memories trump to-do lists every time.

3. Avoid extremes in almost every area of life and seek God’s wisdom at all times.

4. Grant grace to others when they fail and give yourself grace as well.

5. Nurture your marriage by dating regularly, even when time and money are in short supply. Make your marriage a priority.

6. Guard your health, time, and personal welfare by saying no to certain requests or activities. Don’t be a people pleaser or let yourself be guilted into things that aren’t good for you or your family. And then allow others to do the same.

7. Trust in God with all your heart, come what may. Trust in his perfect timing and plans.

Did you see anything here that strikes a chord with you? Something you’ve already learned or need to learn? Remember, this is not a comprehensive list and truth be told, almost all of these things are still a work in progress for me. But that’s okay. We’re all works in progress, aren’t we? Let’s be grateful for the progress we’ve made!

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

*What would you tell your younger self?

*Photo by Andrea Mann Photography

Midweek Morsel: Praying for Favor

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“The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight . . .’” Nehemiah 2:4-5a

Sometimes we find ourselves having to speak or make an appeal in an important or even fearful situation. The stakes are high, our nerves taut. Right words are needed, but even more than that, favor is needed from the one to whom we’re speaking. What do we do?

In the Old Testament, we see what Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, did in just such a situation. He had heard that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and that his countrymen were in trouble. He wanted to go help, but he would need the king to look on him with favor and grant him leave to make the journey.

So what did Nehemiah do? He prayed and asked God to give him success and grant him favor with the king. Wisely, Nehemiah knew that God could open the king’s heart to his request. And wisely, Nehemiah prayed before he ever approached the king (Nehemiah 1:11), but as we see in the scripture above, he also whispered a prayer immediately before he made his appeal. Nehemiah relied on prayer, he relied on God.

Are any of us in need of favor today? Let’s remember Nehemiah and his dependence on God. Let’s bathe the situation in prayer.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

*When has God granted you favor?

*Flickr photo by peasap, Creative Commons License

Mother of the Bride’s Wedding Day Advice for the Bride

So in loveMother of the Bride, would you like to give your daughter some invaluable advice for Wedding Day? No, not advice about marriage but advice for the big day itself. Advice that can change a jam-packed day from a blur to a beautiful experience and memory. Yes, somehow I knew you would.

Here’s what to do: Find a few moments during Wedding Weekend to pull your bride-to-be aside and give her some final motherly instructions before she becomes a married woman.

Tell her to enjoy her wedding day, to be present in the moment. Encourage her to delight in every detail, to capture the magic of the moments and imprint them on her heart. Remind her to drink in the beauty that surrounds her, starting with her groom and with the love they share. And then remind her to savor the love of family and friends and enjoy each moment with complete abandon.

Mother of the Bride, let your love and wisdom bless your sweet girl one more time. May you all have an unforgettably wonderful wedding celebration!

*You might also like to read Mother of the Bride – Needed and Loved and Mother of the Bride, You Are Appreciated!

*Photo by Chris Humphrey Photographer

Give God the Glory

522072241_f26a5973aa_zWhen we do something well or endure a particularly difficult situation and come out still standing, who usually gets the credit? Do we openly give God the glory or do we let pride spring up and bask in the glow of any success or accolades?

In the Old Testament, when Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret his dream, Joseph could have easily taken credit for his extraordinary ability to do so. Instead he said, “‘I cannot do it . . . but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’” (Genesis 41:16) Joseph gave God the glory. He acknowledged the source of his success in interpreting dreams.

When we experience success, do we remember that even though we may have worked hard or persevered or trained, it is ultimately God who grants success? It’s natural to feel a sense of pride in a job well done, whether in a task or weathering a life storm, but if we forget where our strength and abilities come from, then we rob God of his glory.

Let’s remember these words of David in Psalm 18:32-26:

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.”

God is the source of our strength, the giver of our abilities, and the One who prepares our way. Let’s be quick to give him the glory he alone deserves. Let’s give God the credit!

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1

*What would you like to give God the glory for today? I give him all glory for any abilities I have with the written word. He always empowers, he always guides and provides!

*See also Deuteronomy 8:18

*Flickr photo by Matt McGee, Creative Commons License