SHOW & TELL: Holiday Hoopla

OK, so maybe today's not a holiday to you. But today's my birthday (my 29th... yes I'm actually 29, not just saying so to coyly lie about my age), and tomorrow's our anniversary (our 8th!). [And yes-- I pre-scheduled this post, so I didn't have to even think about blogging this week.] So, as a weird backwards-day sort of "Birthiversary" present, you get a motherlode of wonderfully interesting links to peruse and enjoy. Hope you like reading 'em as much as I have.

Thoughts on... BEING A GODLY WOMAN
  • What do we do when facing problems with other people? C.S. Lewis offers wise, challenging advice.
  • Are you a bitter woman?
  • Never "get much" out of Leviticus? Or are you looking for ways to enrich your Bible study time? Check out Melissa's thoughts about reverence for God, and how she structures her Bible studies in order to better understand God's message.
  • Taming The Tongue: Desiring God's recent conference messages are all online... for me, and most women I know, this issue of our words is a particularly relevant challenge.
  • A woman's "highest calling"? In case you missed it, Amy's thoughts here are SO worth reading. I see this phrase thrown around a lot... I highly encourage you to read and consider what she writes.

Thoughts on... MARRIAGE

Thoughts on... CHILDREN

  • Wise words on how to overcome irritation with children
  • Beautiful perspective: What I'd Like You To Know (from a mom of many)... consider this link as a hearty "Amen!" from me.
  • Do kids NEED mom to play with them? Brenda shares some interesting thoughts about this often guilt-inducing subject.
  • When a friend miscarries: Wise words from my friend Tanya in her article, "Tanya, I just don't know what to DO."
  • Speak kindly to your children.
  • Having three children really isn't SO difficult.
  • An easy way to teach children to tie their own shoes.
  • When is a family TOO BIG? Whoopi Goldberg and others in an interesting (and, in many ways, scary) conversation.
  • PLEASE protect your kids online!!! Christine reminds us of what's at risk.
  • Lunch ideas for busy moms- here's a running list I've put together of potential, EASY meals for mid-day with kids-- I'd love to have you add your ideas!
  • Shaping Your Child's Sexuality: Mary Flo Ridley seems to have a thoughtful perspective on having "THE talk"... I've enjoyed all I've read/heard from her so far.
  • When Your Quiver Overflows- Stacy McDonald... a thoughtful perspective on the fruit of the womb
  • Scroll down this article until you see the headline "The Cost of Motherhood", and then read it. It's true...here's an excerpt:
    There is a cost of motherhood. And the price is no small sum. And if you are not willing to pay this price, no amount of encouragement about the joys of motherhood will satisfy.
    But the price of motherhood is not fundamentally different from the price of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In fact, Christian mothers see their duty as mothers flowing from their calling to Jesus Christ. And what is this cost?
    Christian motherhood means dedicating your entire life in service of others.

Thoughts on... RAISING DAUGHTERS

Thoughts on... HOMESCHOOLING


Thoughts on... ABORTION


Thoughts on... FINANCES & FRUGALITY


Thoughts on... FOOD

Random MISCELLANY that's potentially WORTH YOUR TIME

  • Do Christians in China still suffer persecution?
  • First Graders attend same-sex wedding- as a public school field trip. Since liberals aren't having their own children, they'll just take control of the consciences of everyone else's children through government schools. At the same time that American education is tanking in virtually every academic area, THIS is the stuff they want 5- and 6-year-olds to learn. Ugh.
  • How to fold a t-shirt in 2 seconds
  • Adjusting to life overseas... good advice for any ex-pat wife.
  • Mark Driscoll is, chapter by chapter, releasing his book-- "Porn-Again Christian" -- online, for FREE. Publishers have turned down the option of publishing this book because of Driscoll's straightforward handling of these issues-- I'm guessing this is one interesting book, relative to our culture, honoring to God, and offensive to the rigidly religious among us. But wasn't Jesus all of those things?
  • TV-free living? An article about us kooks.
  • In his new documentary, Religulous, Bill Maher clearly thinks that anyone who believes in God is a fool. Here's the preview-- you be the judge.
  • Answering Lottie Moon's Cry: an interesting article that at least raises worthwhile questions about complementarianism & women in overseas missions
  • Do you pop your neck? Is the temporary relief worth it? I confess that I have for more than a decade... but reading this article has caused me to re-think my habit.
  • Regardless of your thoughts on Palin, this article examining Palin's wardrobe is an interesting one. [For one thing, no such article would EVER be written about a male politician (unless he was effeminate). For another, I've really appreciated seeing a woman who's not afraid to be feminine. Mother, wife, long hair, skirts... finally, there's a prominent woman who's not afraid to overtly be, well, a woman.]
  • If you don't read ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES blog, you should. Some of the most thought-provoking blogging around paired with book giveaways. Does it get better than this?
  • Human sexual trafficking: Inform yourself... this interview (called, "They Could Kill You & Noone Would Ever Know") with a Central Asian woman gives an insightful view to this horrible, modern-day practice.

GOOD FOR A LAUGH

  • How to punish a cheating husband? Make him wear this! This website of crochet-gone-wrong cracks me up!
  • Cake Wrecks-- always good for a laugh... this blogger finds the BEST (read: worst) cakes to highlight!
HAPPY LINK-HOPPING!!!

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Jess,

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary too!!

I love your show and tell posts, so much stuff to explore. Thanks,
Mrs. P

Tami @ This Mom's Delight said...

Happy Birthday & Anniversary! ~Tami

Kim said...

Happy Birthiversary friend!

I don't have time to click on anything now (will do later!), but I wanted to say that The Care and Keeping of You is a GREAT book! I have a friend who bought it for her daughter (at about age 9 or 10) and it has sparked a lot of age-appropriate conversation and brought about all of those preadolescent change conversations (even buying different undergarments, etc.) in a more natural, easy way.

MaryBeth said...

Hi Jess,
Happy, Happy Birthday! and by the way it is a holiday...Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving ;) Love your links and it actually came on a day when I have time to sit and peruse them :) Hope you have a wonderful day. MaryBeth

Deb Burton said...

Wow, you have really been busy getting ready for this posting. Outstanding collection of links to check out, which I plan on hitting the ones involving parenting over the next day or so. I have a teaching ministry for parents at my blogsite and would love to read what other bloggers have to say.

Please visit mine when you get a chance - http://thegreatestmissiontrip.blogspot.com

naomi said...

here's to october birthdays! thanks for reading material on this snowy day in montana!

Elspeth said...

Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, and thanks for the link. Enjoy your week!

Catherine R. said...

HAPPY B-DAY/ ANNIVERSARY!!!

Holding my up glass (of milk) to you. Cheers and here's to hoping you eat something fatty and delicious today.

Looking forward to opening these links : )

Angie said...

Hope you have a great day! Thanks for all your great posts and links. I have started getting Mark Driscoll's podcasts and love them. I couldn't believe it was an hour long - the time just flew by. I appreciate your honesty and constant reference to the truth of God's word. It's too easy and common to come up with our own truths and then try to justify it with scripture. Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthiversary! As usual, thanks for a great balance between painfully convicting and absolutely hysterical. Looking forward to visitng them all!

Felicity said...

Thank you so much for all that information. I have just found your blog and its a wonderful resource and source of encouragement for me. I appreciate all the time and effort you have put into this post, I look forward to going through it all!
Felicity

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthversary!! You're so funny :)

I LOVED Terry's post about dating...my hubby and I have started thinking about how we're going to tackle that issue when our girls are older (thankfully they're 5yrs, 2 yrs, & 3 months now...lol)

Also, I wanted to tag you: post the 6th picture in the 6th file of your photos and then tag 6 others (I only tagged you though...I'm a rebel like that...lol).

darci said...

ooh i always love these posts, but it means i must get up at 5 tomorrow a.m. to come and hit all the links. and i see it's your bday! happy birthday! you young thing, you. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!! and Thanks!

Brandy said...

Mine was the 11th of October! Number 31 for me. Here's to October birthdays! I love all the links you posted. The only problem is that I want to read them all and that takes time I don't have!! Oh well, I usually find the time :0)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Jess, & thanks for all the links...lots of good reading! :o)

Brenda

Tanya said...

Happy Birthiversary!!!!! I always enjoy your Show and Tell posts (well, I enjoy pretty much all of your posts, but I really like the Show and Tell ones). Hope you are having a wonderful week!!!

Anonymous said...

First, Happy Birthday and Anniversary!

Second, somehow I have missed finding your blog until now. I have spent the last couple days reading through the last year of posts and still have lots more left!
I don't have any like minded friends in real life so it's such an encouragement to find blogs such as yours online!!
-Mandi
http://thelifeofamommy.com

Anonymous said...

OK, I think that picture of Silas eating his cereal with the spoon in his mouth, eyes shut, lashes swooping is my favorite picture in the world right now! ha! I love it!

Allison said...

Jess, thank you so much for posting the Vision Forum article. I still have chills after reading it.

Summer said...

Hi Jess. I always enjoy reading your blog and love all the links. I make the "oreo truffles" often, though I refer to them in a much less fancy way as oreo balls. lol And I also dip them in white chocolate. People go crazy over them! Thanks for encouraging women to be Kingdom-minded.

ChristineMM said...

Jess thanks for mentioning my blog post about keeping kids safe online. I am getting click-through's from your site.

You are amazing to have time to read all those posts!

I spend more time blogging/writing than reading others just because I'm pressed for time!

Jess Connell said...

Christine,
:) Yes, I read fast and read a lot. Yours is one I enjoy regularly.

I do skim and read a lot of articles... I only read them if they seem worthwhile, and then once I finish it, I immediately bookmark it to save for these mega-posts once a month. It's a good system, and it allows me to do one of my favorite things: point people in the direction of good resources.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Warrior said...

Wow! Great post. Lots of useful info in there. I was especially tickled when I say the Art of Manliness link. I love them!

Spencer

Sheila said...

Happy Birthday!

I love your big lists of links! Keep 'em coming!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey, this liberal has just had her third child. Just so you know...