To Seduce the Risk of Fire

CAUTION- To Seduce the risk of fire...


That is what the label inside my track lighting reads. Now, I know what you're probably thinking. Why on earth is that sticker still on the light fixture twenty-five years later? Maybe you think it's about time we remodel the kitchen. ;) Why did we choose to leave it there? Because it still makes us smile every time we change the light bulb. It's a great reminder that if you play with fire, you're going to get burned. This is especially true in marriage. We have been married for 28 years and we want to keep our marriage fireproof.


How close to that line do you walk? Do you and your spouse have separate facebooks? Maybe like mine, your spouse isn't even on facebook. Does your husband/wife know everyone on your friend's list? Does your spouse have access to your password? Can the two of you sit down and look through your private messages together? How about the history on your computer? Would you be willing to let your husband/wife see all of the places you've visited?


I have seen too many of our friend's marriages crumble over what began as a facebook friendship. They didn't even see it coming because it all started out as a simple friend request. We need to guard our hearts and our wedding vows.


Think of it this way. Would you be comfortable if Jesus were sitting beside you watching what you type or what web sites you visit? As a Christian, Christ is always with me. Wherever I go, He is already there. You can delete conversations, you can lie to your family and make excuses. You can even delete the history on your computer, but your Heavenly Father knows where you have been and what you've been doing.

Pass the dictionary please. I think you need another helping.

Pass the dictionary please. I think you need another helping.

I admit it. I am a "Grammar Snob". I cringe when I see a misspelled word. I want to gouge my eyes and ears out when someone uses improper English. I am guilty of mentally correcting someone's spelling on facebook, pinterest, someecards, and even church bulletins. Don't get me wrong. I would never actually call them out on it.


I'm not sure when I became such a snob. Maybe it was when my children were young and I was one of those pioneering homeschool moms. I was a slave driver as a teacher. My poor children never knew what a snow day was until they were in jr. high. If they weren't too sick to watch television, then they weren't too sick to do their school work. They knew that they didn't do anything else until their work was completed. Those were our rules.


Perhaps I pushed them so hard because I was all too aware of those homeschooling families that "played" school. I didn't want to be accused of being one of them. My kids didn't need a field trip every week and they certainly didn't need a play date in place of their education. I was all too aware that we were being constantly watched and scrutinized by those who thought children needed to be taught by licensed teachers. I didn't buy into the whole "It takes a village" then and I still don't.

It was also during this time that the public schools were bouncing back and forth with whole language vs. phonics. I knew that I wanted my children to excel in reading and I didn't believe that was possible without a strong phonics program.


It was important to me that my children worked hard and finished well. I wanted them to learn how to be successful adults one day. They haven't disappointed me. Reading was a huge deal in our home. We had our own little library overflowing with books for every age, which our granddaughters are now enjoying.


I couldn't be more proud of my kids today. They survived their tyrant mom K-12 and have continued to learn as adults. As for the rest of you, watch your "P"s and "Q"s (as well as their, there, they're, your, you're, two, to, and too). ;)

Guess What They're Teaching in First Grade These Days...

Guess What They're Teaching in First Grade These Days....How to make babies!

That was my status on Facebook today. It didn't really surprise me that some of the comments were of shock or disbelief. How many times have you read something and assumed the worst? Maybe it was a letter from a friend or perhaps a comment on your facebook. Then it is shared with others that 'this person said horrible things to me.' Can you believe that she would do this to me? Before you know it, without even talking to the person face to face, it has been spread all over and a relationship destroyed.

Unless you are talking to someone face to face, you really can't assume to know their intentions. You see, you can't hear the inflection in their voice or the emotion in which it was written.

How many relationships have been destroyed by assumption?

Oh...and to clarify, my granddaughter did learn how to make babies today. She also learned how to make puppies and kitties. You simply change the "Y" to an "i" and add -es.

So next time you receive a comment, note or even a letter in the mail and you don't know how the author intended it, don't assume. Go to the person face to face and ask them.