Thirty One

My fabulous sister has provided me with some bags that I love to brag about! I use them and enjoy them not only because they are so very practical but because they are so very cute. My favorite is my little lunch box cooler that I can put a few drinks in - and on the outside it says - "quinched" - when she gave it to me I just laughed out loud - it was perfect.

If you are unfamiliar with Thirty One - check it out! It is a great reminder for us of what the woman in Proverbs 31 was and who we can be! I hope by this I can encourage Worthie on this endeavor! PS - the prices are the bomb

Proverbs 31
The Words of King Lemuel
1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2What are you doing, my son?[a] What are you doing,(A) son of my womb?
What are you doing,(B) son of my vows?
3Do(C) not give your strength to women,
your ways to those(D) who destroy kings.
4(E) It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings(F) to drink wine,
or for rulers to take(G) strong drink,
5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and(H) pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6Give strong drink to the one who(I) is perishing,
and wine to(J) those in bitter distress;[b]
7(K) let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8(L) Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.[c]
9Open your mouth,(M) judge righteously,
(N) defend the rights of(O) the poor and needy.
The Woman Who Fears the LORD
10[d](P) An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than(Q) jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She(R) seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15She(S) rises while it is yet night
and(T) provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17She(U) dresses herself[e] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20She(V) opens her hand to(W) the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in(X) scarlet.[f]
22She makes(Y) bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is(Z) fine linen and(AA) purple.
23Her husband is known in(AB) the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes(AC) linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25(AD) Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29"Many(AE) women have done(AF) excellently,
but you surpass them all."
30(AG) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

Black and White

Sometimes life can produce decisions before us that are as clear as black and white and we have gut instincts of what we must do. Those decisions can pose easy roads or hard roads ahead but either way, when you know you've made the right decision - life is fuller.

Quitting:College

I was in my second year of college going into my third and I was not enjoying my major. This is nothing new to most who go into college with no clue what they really want to do. I wanted to "take a break" and perhaps return a year later with a different major. While working on the infamous river-the Nantahala with a bunch of fantastic friends I couldn't imagine any better education or life than being a river rat. So, I made a 9 hour drive down to the gulf with a good friend, Derrick, to see my parents... I was so bold and head strong that my determination was to TELL my parents that I was quitting school. Derrick smirked the whole way - as he has a PHD and is now a family counselor.

In his most gentle way, my sweet wonderful father sat with me on our front porch swing. He listened intently to all my grand ideas and what I wanted to do! Then, basically said - "that is wonderful honey, if that is what you want to do - BUT - if you do quit school, you will immediately be handed all your bills that I currently pay for & the vehicle that I was planning on getting you will remain with it's current owner."

Obviously, my tune of heartstrings changed very fast. I remained in school and not only did I finish with honors but was provided the privilege to travel overseas with our Navy and complete an internship on a NATO base.

That is one of my black and white stories.

Your Signature

A while back it was evident that I would need to put my signature on quite a few things. So, I signed a sheet of paper and made it available at the click of a button. For those of you who love the idea but are not sure how this works, I will be happy to help you. It usually takes me about an hour to make it perfect and email it to you - so - sign up today to have your signature readily available at the click of a button!

Ads

This is sort of a shabby placement of ads but I really enjoyed doing it - being creative with food for marketing can be exciting and wonderful for those who eat out all the time! Enticement of where to go when for specific reasons can boost ones bottom line in a matter of one season if worked properly.

For instance Elli Bistro in Gulf Shores promotes wine on Tuesdays by offering a bottle at 1/2 price. Not only does this allow them to keep their wine fresh but it also entices individuals who may not visit there on a regular occasion to come in - for so many reasons this is brilliant!

Hazel's in Orange Beach offers FREE ICE CREAM - all the time! Any smart parent watching their pocket book on vacation is bound to visit there to feed and appease a hungry family! Not to mention that children under 3 eat free!

These are great marketing tools to catch the eye and drag it over ... to what the chef specializes in! So kudos to Lane, Ginny & Wick!

News Letters

I can't remember the first time I laid pages out but I remember doing it for our middle school year book which seemed to be a massive project at the time. There is an art to it and creating a page with appeal. Now that email allows pictures to carry words and be displayed on our computers via email or to our phones or even on paper... news gets out and before we know it, it's old.

I have about 5 companies that I put together news articles for and my favorite is my dad's company, Tree of Life Landscaping, Inc. He really does just let me run with it and I come up with all kinds of fun news, much of what I learn straight from him - and working with he and mom in the garden or around the house.

If you are interested in a newsletter for your company and don't want to pay an astronomical amount - contact me - I'll be happy to work with you!