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Family Rules!!

Making "rules" fun may seem like an oxymoron, but this project has given our Family Rules a positive spin. Every rule created is in a positive form, which I feel helps raise positive kids and having them displayed in such a beautiful way is not only a great accessory to the decor but also an amazing reminder of how we should act on a daily basis....not just for the kids but for mom and dad too!! 

Our Family Rules!

For quite awhile I have been itching to create this project. I first spotted it over at Pleated Poppy where I believe the original project began. There are a ton of versions out there and if you really like this project and would like to give it a try, I encourage you to check out the links that can be found at Pebbles & Poppys as well for inspiration. I will give an overview of the project but for more detailed instructions go here.

The supplies needed are:

1. Canvas-mine was 24x36
2. Craft Paint(to paint the edges of the canvas)-I mixed brown and black to make the perfect chocolate brown
3. Mod Podge
4. Sponge Brushes(to apply paint and mod podge)-I used about 5-6 brushes for the whole project
5. Scrapbook Paper in various colours and patterns(you will need to pieces for each row)-I found the lighter the colours and smaller the patterns the easier it was to read
6. Marker(for writing the rules)-mine was a dual end so I had a fine tip as well as a larger tip
7. Scalloped Scissors or tearing ruler
8. Standard Ruler(or you can eye ball it)

supplies

Here is a quick overview of the instructions:

Paint the canvas edges

Write your "Rules" and cut your paper into strips

begin lining up your papers and title

podge the canvas and then add paper adding a coat of podge on top of each strip of paper

let dry completely and then add 2-3 more coats of podge, drying about 1/2 hour between each coat

Hang completed project on the wall

Interestingly enough, after we hung the "Family Rules" on the wall, my husband had this brilliant idea to paint the wall.  It needed to be painted anyway, as there were holes from a baby gate that had hung there at the top of the stairs, however we had none of the original wall colour left, so my husband came up with the idea to paint the wall the same colour as our bathroom, so it would now be a feature wall.  I have to say, the choice was fabulous and the canvas looks so much better on the bluey coloured wall.

 

What do you think

???

These are the Family Rules we chose for our wall:

Thank God for This Day, This Family, This Home

Say I love you & give lots of hugs

Use Kind Words~Keep Your Promises~Always Tell The Truth

indoor Voices....listening ears

Husband, Love your Wife & Wife, Always Be on His Side

Say What Your Sorry For....Always Forgive

Be Your Siblings Best Friend & Biggest Fan!

Remember your Manners: Yes Please, No Thank-You!

There is no "mine" in this house....it all belongs to God

hands are for hugging...not hitting

Meal Time is Family Time~Bless Your Food~Be Grateful

Too much TV is bad....Too much reading is good

Act Responsibly~Be Respectful~Choose Wisely

Pray Often~Trust God

Titus 2'sday: Dare to Love....regardless!!

Have you every really read Titus 2...not just verses 3-5, which pertain to women??  Let me share some of this chapter with you!!

 ¹ You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. ² Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

 ³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

 ⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Interestingly enough, surrounding the verses on how women are to live according to God, there are verses on how the men are to live, according to Him, as well. I am not going to go on a man bashing rant....that is not what this is about at all.  As a matter a fact, it is totally the opposite.  I know for a long time it was hard for me to wrap my head around living according to Titus 2, but God got a hold of me and has slowly changed my view of how I, as a wife and mother, am to live.  See, the challenging part about these verses isn't to follow through ONLY if my husband (and children) are living accordingly but rather to live these verses daily REGARDLESS.  I am, as a wife and mom, to love them, be self-controlled (tough one sometimes) and pure, be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to my husband....yes submit to my husband, even if I don't think he deserves it....why? because this is what God has called me to do!! Can you say "Epic Fail"? Yup that's me...I have a hard time not holding grudges, stepping out of the way, so my husband can be the head of the house, being self controlled or even kind but this is God's idea of marriage and how marriage should work. It is perfect and although I am not perfect, I need to strive for a better marriage, to be a better spouse, a better mom, a better friend, a better woman!!  So, with all that in mind, I am now in the process of working on the very first part of verse 4 and I am doing the "Love Dare", from the movie "FireProof", working on loving my husband more. Our marriage is great but this book is teaching me how to love my husband deeper and showing him that love with respect as well as helping me work on things like being more giving, willing and selfless...no matter what his mood is, no matter what kind of day either one of us is having. This is a tough thing for a strong willed, independent, head strong and sometimes selfish woman to do and thank goodness I have God on my side helping me through this, breaking down my walls of selfishness and using my strong will for the positive!! We may never have a perfect marriage, but I will strive for the best marriage possible, through Him and with Him!!

To You...Love God!!

                                                   "For God so loVed the world That 

                                                                 He gAve

                                                               His onLy

                                                              BegottEn

                                                                    SoN

                                       That whoever

                                                            Believes In Him

                                                                  Will Not die

                                                           But have Eternal life"

                                                                                            John 3:16

Refocusing!

To move (something) to a higher place or position from a lower one; lift.

To increase the amplitude, intensity, or volume of.

To promote to a higher rank.

To raise to a higher moral, cultural, or intellectual level.

To lift the spirits of

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/elevate#ixzz1Cua9DPq6

To move (something) to a higher place or position from a lower one; lift.

To increase the amplitude, intensity, or volume of.

To promote to a higher rank.

To raise to a higher moral, cultural, or intellectual level.

To lift the spirits of

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/elevate#ixzz1Cua9DPq6

I began this blog just over a year ago...excited about sharing my journey towards a Titus 2 life,  a life that I knew I was being led to follow.  I was focused on living a strong God-centered life and growing in Him as served my family. Don't get me wrong, I am still on this path, but somewhere over the last year I lost focus. I wasn't sure why at first...maybe the move to the new house, my new career, spending more time with family and friends, longer days which meant less sleep....but NO! this wasn't it at all. I have found that in the last few months, I am actually spending less time with God! I have a special spot in my home, my Prayer Closet, a bench by the window, where I spend my first 1/2 hour or so of my mornings with a coffee and read: a book, devotion, or the Bible and pray! A GIFT [God, Imagination (I prefer Inspiration), Focus, Thanksgiving] quoted by FlyLady.  It truly is the best way to start the day...but I have not been doing that lately and I feel a difference. I feel less focus during the day, I have less patience, less energy, all around my day does not run as smooth. I have come to realize, something I always knew but have not always applied, that to have a God-centered day/life, I need to begin it with Him, EVERY DAY!!

Our church has a great Motto for this year....based on a verse in Colossians....

ELEVATE!

....the meaning of this word is simple:

1. To move (something) to a higher place or position from a lower one; lift
2. To increase the amplitude, intensity, or volume of.
3. To promote to a higher rank.
4. To raise to a higher moral, cultural, or intellectual level.
5. To lift the spirits of; elate.

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 1:10

Boy, that makes it pretty clear!! To grow in the knowledge of God, I need to spend time with Him which in turn will show me how to live a life worthy and pleasing to Him. With that said, I am going to begin this challenge of elevating my spiritual life.....DAILY! Will you join me?