Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage

I admit that I was skeptical that I would enjoy this book. Even though we are told to not judge a book by its cover, I judged the book by its cover. Sorry, Rick and Bubba. It's your fault! (Can you tell that I read your book?)

And to be honest, I didn't enjoy the book until the VERY last few chapters. Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage published by Thomas Nelson and written by Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey, is a marriage book that does not resemble my marriage except for their suggestions in the dating department and their helpful exhortation to have a marriage built upon a biblical foundation. I could have skipped the majority of the book and been happy to read the nearly last two chapters, "The Unthinkable" and "After Fifty Years of Marriage."

The cover appeals to women, but I really think the book is more appropriate for a man. To be honest, I disagreed with many of their thoughts and experiences that occur between a husband and wife in daily life. That doesn't mean that their experience is any less true, I just couldn't relate and don't have friends with such relationships. But having read the chapters I previously mentioned, I think that Rick and Bubba were reeling their reader in like a true fisherman. You get hooked by their stories, and then they give you solid fish to chew on for a good marriage.

Read this book if you would like to be entertained by marriage stories and the often humorous battle between the sexes. Don't expect it to change your life or give you a strategy to improve a crumbling marriage. At the very least, tell your library purchase it for general circulation.

And if you are wondering . . . no, I didn't buy this book. I'm thankful to be reviewing it for the Thomas Nelson Publishing Book Review Blogger program.

Rick+and+Bubba's+Guide+to +the+Almost+Nearly+Perfect+Marriage book+review Thomas+Nelson

Wordless Wednesday

My friend, Sarah, might very well shoot me for posting this picture.

But I absolutely love it. I think that pregnant women are beautiful.


Anyway, this is Sarah's belly. She is nurturing a little girl. And see that sweet little boy in the background? That little guy is Sarah's.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139: 13

And then those little bundles that God knit together in our womb . . . they turn into silly little Mr. Me-Too's.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139: 14

Who insist on wearing their goggles too tight!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday photos at 5 Minutes for Mom.


psalm+139 pregnant+belly+photos goggles Wordless+Wednesday

Encouragement through Life Verses

God speaks to us through His Word.


The verses I have captured for you on these photographs from our garden and the Hottie Hubby's trip to India are most likely life verses for us. I say probably because the Hottie Hubby is currently sleeping. I doubt that he would want me to wake him up right now.

These verses re-launched Hottie Hubby back into short-term missions. We had both been to India twice (pre-kids) and hadn't done any mission work in several years.

I think that these scriptures were valid for him over a year ago when he traveled to India with Engineering Ministries International (and his good friend, Toby--who happens to have the lovely daughter my son will marry) and I think that we will revisit them in the future.


Had it not been for these verses speaking into our lives, I think I might have been a nervous wreck to have my husband leave me with two kids and one on the way. But I was so confident that Hottie Hubby was to travel to India and use the skills that God had given him.

The first two verses culminated in us discovering this final verse found in Isaiah 58:12

Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

And this is the verse that captures EMI's vision.







Engineering+ministires+international EMI missions encouragement+through+God's+word Blog+hop

Shopping Cart Honesty

Sometimes it is expensive to be honest.

I had to return a few items at Walmart today.

I hate to return things.

While we were there, I picked up some merchandise that we needed for our upcoming vacation. Due to the long duration that we will be sitting in the Looser Cruiser before arriving at our final destination in a few weeks, I felt that it would be beneficial to provide Mr. Smiley with a few toys of the musical sort of nature. . . .something that might entertain him. Something that he has never played with before--you know, the kind of toys that I have always stated that I would ONLY purchase for children when I wanted to drive their parents nuts or I didn't like said child's parents.

(Hottie Hubby, I really do love you.)

After making our noisy selection, and mentally wondering the ramifications of not providing educational open-ended wood toys for my 1-year old, we proceeded to purchase the items in the shopping cart, this is an important detail or distinction. As usual, I received several comments about having 3 children, especially the fact that I have 3 boys.

Out the door we went. At this point, my darling boys began to pester each other, sitting on the other's foot, squishing another against the cart, grabbing the favorite book as they clamor into the Loser Cruiser. Everyone erupts in screams and I am wondering why I stopped in the first place, only imagining what a 12 hour car ride is going to be like.

And then I notice.

There sat those two toys that require batteries and will probably lead to the demise of my sanity. They weren't in a Walmart plastic bag (Yes, I forgot my reusable bags). They were surprisingly quiet and restful on the bottom rack of the shopping cart. Crap.

To be honest, I toyed with just grabbing them and running. The thought of unloading these grouchy human beings and placing them back in the designated prison called a shopping cart, was not appealing. But I knew that I would be racked with guilt. The other intelligent idea I had was to leave them on the shopping cart and drive away without purchasing them.

But that hardly seemed responsible.

So, I did what an honest person should do. The boys were loaded back into the prison on wheels. The not-so-friendly-greeter who is supposed to be friendly, once again asked me if I had a return. I mumbled under my hot breath, "No. I didn't pay for these items." Only to realize that this would create more confusion, questions, and eat up time. I kept going, hoping that his hearing aide would catch my comment once I hit the check-out stand.

The lady I skidded up to, thought I was just dropping the colorful toys off because I was too lazy to walk back to the toy section. After explaining the second time, I said, "NO!!! I'm being honest. I could have driven away from here because NO ONE noticed the toys under my cart. I need to buy these. I want them."

She then became irritated because whoever checked me out, should have noticed the items under my cart. And someone in the optical department should have noticed, because we bought something there on the way out. And the grouchy greeter should have noticed. And someone spying on my circus from their secret camera location should have noticed. But no one did!

Well, I do know that someone saw.

Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:24)

God.

And if He didn't see, which I know that there is no chance of that, a very curious almost 5 year old might have asked why the toys were still on the bottom rack.

I'm glad I did the right thing.

But still, I want to whine and say, "Don't I get an earthly reward? Walmart, I saved you money and I even put my shopping cart in the carousel!"

Ahhh . . . the joys of motherhood and the events that happen with kids in the shopping cart.

walmart musical+toys honesty rewards+in+heaven

Full Disclosure

In the upcoming months, I know that I will be playing with toys, experimenting with curriculum, reading new books, and challenging myself with new ideas.

It may feel like I am endorsing a product or trying to sell you on an idea. Chances are, I could be trying to persuade you, but only because I really like something and want you to join in on the fun.

I am not being paid monetarily for the products I may feature through writing or photography on my blog. I get to keep the free stuff that I am being sent, but I don't get paid to write about the products.

That said, I will mention that I do get paid a few cents when you click on the Google ads or when you purchase something from my Amazon Store. However, in the 10 months that I have been blogging, I have yet to make enough money from your clicks to have Google issue me a check.

I feel it is important to be honest with you.

I am not rich.

I did not buy the items that I may soon be sharing with you.

In many ways, I feel like God is rewarding me with free stuff. One of the byproducts of my blogging habit is that occasionally I have packages arrive on my doorstep to review.

I will plainly state that in the upcoming months, if not years, should the Lord tarry, that chances are I will be blogging about free toys that Ebeanstalk ships to me, books that Thomas Nelson allows me to read for dirt cheap (actually free), and homeschooling curriculum from various vendors through The OldHomeschool Magazine.

Thus here is my full disclosure statement. This is sure to put you to sleep. So you can wait to read it for when you can't fall asleep some night.

This policy is valid from 01 August 2009


This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact thegranolamom4god@gmail.com.

This blog does not accept paid topic insertions. This blog will prayerfully consider sponsorships and paid advertising. We will and do accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated monetarily to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. We are not doctors. We are people who have opinions and feel called to share them. Read this blog at your own risk of having your opinion changed or challenged.

The owner(s) of this blog would like to disclose the following existing relationships. These are companies, organizations or individuals that may have a significant impact on the content of this blog.

We are employed by or consult with: God. Any company or products discussed is prayerfully considered and after being deemed appropriate is written about and featured.

We serve on the following non profit boards: motherhood, the body of believers in Christ, and parents to Granola kids.

We blog about people to whom we are related. If you know me, the owner of this blog, you know that you are at risk or privilege of being featured on the blog. The most interesting such people are: Hottie Hubby.


To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

blogging+with+integrity full+disclosure