Introducing ... ME!

First things first Well, I thought I should probably introduce myself and explain my blog title before getting started.

My name is Chele. I have a great husband (who drives me nuts) and two great kids (who also drive me even more nuts). We're born again Christians. We believe that we should live the life that God has for us. Let me tell you. So many things come to folks' minds when they hear that. Hopefully, this blog will help dispell some of those myths. Or, I will prove that my family really is driving me nuts, and some kind person will call the men with the cozy white hug yourself coats to cart me away.

Let's see. I grew up just outside Buffalo NY. Yes, I've heard just about every joke there is to hear about snow. If you think you have a new one, just try me. I now live in the Blue Water area of Michigan. For those who don't know, that's around Port Huron. Country living is quite the adjustment. I have a candle-making business that I run from my home. That can be found at http://www.bluewaterscentsations.com/

Most of my family are very driven for success, very type A, very successful, and very confused about why I am not. Don't get me wrong. I want my business to succeed - very much so. But I don't have the degrees or work for some big firm, or anything like that. My ladder to success is on another type of building. While I'd like to have more money - or just less money worries - it's not a priority to me.

Now then, on to the part about my faith and God. Well, I was born again in December 1999. Sometimes I feel like it was just yesterday. Sometimes I feel like I've been born again for eons. Which one it is depends on how big the screw-ups were for that day. My goal is to be a true Proverbs 31 woman. The Proverbs 31 woman is outlined in verses 10-31. King Lemuel's mother is telling him what kind of wife to find. Let that be a lesson to all men out there - ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER! lol Yeah, if I tell my son that one, he'd laugh and ask me if I had taken cold medicine.

Anyway, the Proverbs 31 woman has it all and does it all. She's the original feminist. What was that old commercial? She could bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and - get this - her husband was respected in part because of his awesome wife!

Me? After I located the frying pan, washed it out, remembered I don't have any bacon because I'm trying to get my family to eat better, then decide that I'd rather not fry anything, but wait, did I remember to answer that email oh look my friend sent me a humorous email maybe I want a cup of tea but I have to use MY special tea mug which I'll put in the microwave and forget that it's in there and does my husband have clean socks for tomorrow and what is the dog barking at and what was I doing again? Proverbs 31 I'm not - yet.

I have books that I read on the subject, I have an online community that I belong to, and I pray to God that I learn how to do that before the ever growing pile of laundry takes over the world. I get closer each and every day. I still struggle with issues, like not giving in to my OCD tendencies and color coding everything even though there are days I really want to. I lose my temper, car keys, sunglasses and just about everything else. I am more slob than neat freak. There are days (and no, they are not just lady days) that I want to rip off everyone's lips and make them eat them for dinner.

Now then. For the not stupid part. If we all believed the stereotypes that people, mainly the mainstream media and hollywood types, try to shove down our throats, it would be a sad sad world. Come on folks! Not all Christians are hate-mongering big mouths. Yes, there are Christian idiots, just like there are idiots and morons of every shape, color and creed. But the vast majority of us, who don't get any air time, are just normal people. You know, I don't know of any born again Christians who kiss poisonous snakes. I don't know of any of them telling people they hate
them or are going to burn in hell. Actually, a lot of the people that are said to be saying that stuff don't even say that stuff. No one I know has actually hit anyone over the head with a Bible. I've wanted to hit my husband over the head with a frying pan (the really nice heavy one with the copper bottom), but never with a Bible.

Just because I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came down to die for our sins so we could have everlasting life in Heaven doesn't mean that I'm going to fall for the African money scheme or the "your bank account is compromised so send us your login information so we can
fix it" scam. For all of those Christians who try to perpetrate our own stereotypes, I don't know any born again Christians in my circle who think they are better than anyone else. We don't have all the answers. We don't have the right to be hate-filled. We do have the right to say when we
know something is wrong, but we need to do it in a loving way. I mean, I sure don't want my sins put out there for everyone to comment on. What gives you the right to do so? We do have the right to share the Gospel and tell people about how much God loved us. I mean, He sent his only son to die for our sins. Isn't that incredible?! Saved? Yes. Stupid? I don't think so.

Here's today's verse. Proverbs 31:10 - A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman - who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls - Amplified Bible.