Marital Advice in the Scriptures

As proper and happy marriage has been one of my goals since childhood, I have often asked the question, "Why isn't there more guidance for couples and marriage in the holy scriptures?"

Well, yesterday I had an insight which is neither original nor unique. Yet, it answered my question. The answer is:

"All of scripture is marital guidance."

Which I take to mean, all true principles found in God's word also apply to happy marriage. Let me give you an example.

Take the scripture, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." Romans 1:16

Personal meaning might be something like I am not afraid to be a Christian in public places. As in, I am not afraid to pray over my food in a restaurant, or I am not afraid to be honest in situations where it is unpopular, or I am proud to know my Lord.

But, as marriage guidance it might mean that You and Your spouse should not be embarrassed to have Christ in your home. You're not embarrassed to read the Bible together. You're not embarrassed to have His picture on your wall.

So, now I see that the scriptures can be likened unto a couple as well as unto an individual. Wow!

There is a plethora of marriage advice in there!

The Jury is In

Well, I only got one vote emailed in. It was to make my next major goal Learning Spanish, which I am doing a (very) little.

Anyway, in spite of minimal poll results, I have decided what my next "major" pursuit will be, and it turns out it didn't make the original list. (See last post.)

It could generally be termed Health.

My new health goal includes the following:

First, learning how to eat well on my current budget and with my current family

Also first, tweaking my personal fitness level.

Second, learning more about food.

And, eventually: Growing more of our own food, Using some all around good supplements, Learning how to preserve food, using food storage, learning about relationship between diet and female hormone-related mood-swings, etc.

Our current family project is to take on Dr. Weil's program called 8 weeks to optimum health. (Check out the book at your library!)

We're trying to successfully do "one week" every month. So, for 4 weeks, we'll be trying to master Week One of his program.

Optimum Health sounds exactly like what I'm looking for, and most of what he says is extremely intuitive and makes common sense. I'll let you know as we progress.

Speaking of week one, I better go take some Vitamin C!

Summer Days

Well, my days of teaching Seminary are at an end.

It is a wonderful time for me. I'm able to do things I didn't have time for before, for example take a shower. I actually responded to an email this morning. I have time that is disgressionary! It is so cool! I've just joined a gym, and I've been to 4 workout classes already. (More on that in another post.)

Now, I'm trying to decide which personal area I want to set goals in. Let's have a vote!

I could start working on:

Scrapbooking (finish my wedding album for starters...)
Learning Spanish
Social dancing
Playing the Piano
Playing the Violin
Singing lessons

What do you think? email me at royal.spamcan@gmail.com

Actually, that's royal's junk mail address, but he forwards everything to me!

We love you all!

Apples to Tomatoes

Sienna hasn't been as talkative a child as Grace was. And we've never minded that. But, recently her language and vocabulary have exploded.

She was calling everything that looked edible and round an apple. (pronounced " 'a-poo" with accent on the a as in apple.)

And, we are growing several tomato bushes in the garden. They have been loaded with green tomatoes for awhile. So, every day (for months) in the garden, Sienna would touch a green tomato and say, "A-poo". I would say to Sienna, "No, baby, that is a tomato." And, then one turned red. And I would say, "It is a tomato, Sienna".

Last week, she found a ripe strawberry on our single strawberry plant. I waited for the usually "A-poo". She looked up and squealed, "Tomano!" (pronounced like tomato). Now everything red is a tomano. I'd say that is definite progress!

Blueberry Merry

Well, if you carefully read a post I made months ago, You know I planted 3 blueberry bushes this spring. I've wanted to plant fruit for years, and I have always been too afraid to do it. Well, I did it! and this morning, we picked our first batch of ripe berries. We got about 15!

We had a problem with disappearing berries for awhile. We would get a berry almost ripe, and then it would suddenly vanish. Royal suggested we use netting. So, we made some pretty primitive nets for the bushes. The next day, I found a surprise in my net! A live bird caught himself in the netting! I freed the bird on the condition he tell all his friends that if they don't stay away from my berries, they won't get off so lucky! It worked! The birds have stayed out of the netting since then, and our berries have stayed on the bushes!

We got a picture, but I don't have it yet.

PS: my beloved canon just broke. Don't buy canon. I should have listened to the Jungheims and bought Nikon. Anyway, pictures are harder to get now. So, sorry if they are less frequently posted.

A Call for Quick, Simple Recipes

Dear Readers,

I'm looking for Quick, simple recipes that you use commonly. Please email them to royal.spamcan (at symbol) gmail.com

Here's one of my favorite, from the box:

Sea Shells Con Broccoli (From Mueller's pasta box)

16oz Pasta Sea Shells
4-8 cups fresh chopped broccoli florets, uncooked
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 cloves garlic, minced or 1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tbsp dried rosemary
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped fine
1/4 cup white grape juice concentrate
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

-Cook sea shells according to package directions, adding broccoli tha last 2 minutes of cooking itme
-Drain cover and set aside
-Heat oil in large skillet, add garlic, basil, rosemary, and tomatoes. Cook 2 minutes.
-Add juice and reduce by 1/2. Add broth.
-Toss in broccoli and sea shells, stir until heated through.
-Add cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.


The way I changed it was,

I do not add broccoli to pasta,
Instead, I add broccoli with garlic, etc, to hot oil. I stir fry for 2-3 min, then add juice and broth.
Then I simmer broccoli with other ingredients for 2-4 minutes.

Also, I didn't have sundried tomatoes. I just added fresh tomatoes.


This recipe is DELICIOUS!! PLEASE send me more! royal.spamcan@gmail.com