Study Hard

My sister and I are alike in a lot of different ways. I mean, we are sisters. So we have a lot of similarities. We look a like, we talk alike, we act alike. We like the same things. If we go shopping separately, we will pick out the same clothes. We have really similar personalities. As kids this meant that we didn't get a long too well, but now we are really good friends. 

There are just a few ways that we are extremely different. I am a facts and information and research kind of person. She is an artsy kind of person who likes to do things based on her emotions and feelings, whatever interests her at the time. I am not at all like that. I need to make a list and observe the options... Every time. 

One of the big things that we were very different in high school was that I liked school and she didn't. She hated school.... Hated school! But I loved school! It was right up my alley. She wanted to be outside painting a picture. We are totally different in that way! If I am outside, I want to be reading a book or doing something. 

So every once in a while, now that she is in college, she will call me and say, "Hey, I am really struggling with this class, can you give me some study tips?" There are so many different ways to study and we are not at all alike in this area, so the conversation goes nowhere. 

But like a good big sister I give her a tip (a different tip every time!!), and she says every time, "Oh, I can't study that way; I don't learn that way."

I then offer another tip and you know what she says? "Oh, I cant study that way, I don't learn that way."

 And then back and forth over and over again. We are just different. How I need to study to learn the material, is different than how my sister will need to study to learn the material. 

Studying is important, isn't it? When buying a house, or purchasing a car, or moving to a new area, it is important to study the facts, so that you make the wisest decision for your family. So you can know what to expect. 

Just like it is important to study for a test or study for life, it is equally important... If not, more important... To study God's Word. 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

~2 Timothy 2:15~

There it says right in the Bible that we are supposed to study God's Word! Why? So we can correctly understand the truth. 

Consider this... you are listening to a guest preacher at church. The guest preacher suggests something that is really close to what is in the Bible. Maybe his thoughts are coming from somewhere else in the Bible. It sounds legit, but something doesn't sit right. Have you studied your Bible enough to know whether this man is speaking the truth or not? Can you discern the truth?

Not only do we need to be able to accurately discern truth, we also need to be able to intelligently answer the questions of others. 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

~1 Peter 3:15~

Finally we study the Bible so that we can know God better. 

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

~Jeremiah 29:13~

Whether you study the Bible with a notepad and pen, your iPad, Bible study books, commentaries, or podcasts, the important thing is that you study.

Find your method and grow in Christ! 

Tip of the Day

Today I received the most useful financial tip I think that I have ever heard in my entire life. Seriously! It kind of sounds weird, but it is really great.

Over the last couple of years certain things have happened to friends and family that made my husband and I realize that overall we didn't have enough insurance coverage. When we were first starting out, all we could afford was the most basic of insurance coverages. And to top it out, we really didn't know what we needed. Our agent was very kind, but not necessarily helpful.

Then a friend lost everything in a fire and didn't have enough coverage. A family member had huge medical bills not covered by insurance. And other similar situations, and we got to thinking... Do we have enough coverage?

Long story short since we just recently moved we decided to go meet our new agent and up our coverage. So glad we did!! Our agent was awesome. He answered all of our questions and helped us figure out what was best for us. Now don't just assume we got duped or sold a pitch. We had done research before and pretty much knew what we wanted. There were just some loose ends and unanswered questions.

One of our areas of discussion was life insurance for my husband. I have a tiny life insurance policy through my employer, but my husband had nothing. While the reality is that we would both really struggle financially without the other, I would be worse off than my husband.

We would really love to get a permanent life policy (meaning you pay a certain amount for a set period of time then have insurance for the duration of your life; it never expires and you never get disqualified) versus a term-life policy (meaning you pay for set period of time but the policy expires, you can be disqualified, and if you don't use it, you lose everything you paid into it). The problem is permanent life is more expensive and we cannot afford it right now. The other problem is it gets more expensive as you get older.

Note this - the younger you are, the cheaper permanent life insurance is!

So here is the most useful financial tip I think I have ever heard in my life....


Get a permanent life insurance policy for your infant or toddler.

Seriously!

Yes, it is more expensive than term life, but it is cheaper for a child than for an adult. It will cost a nice chunk of money for my husband to have this type of insurance, but would be far less if he were a baby. So get it for your kid. When he gets older, he can adjust the policy to fit his needs and those of his family, but the life insurance is there. And the painful "start-up costs" of your 20s are taken care of at a much cheaper price as an infant.

Random I know, but something to consider.

Grandparents, if you are planning on leaving your grandchildren an inheritance, consider paying for this expense when your grandchild is born. That could be more valuable and give you more "bang" for your buck.

Life insurance is one of things that is really weird to think about. I didn't like sitting next to my husband and saying, "Well, if you passed away, I would like to receive enough insurance money to pay off any outstanding debts and put a chunk of money down on a house so I don't have to move in with my parents or bear the expense of renting." How awkward is that? But if you can fit it in your budget, it is definitely something to consider.

And think about it - how awesome would it be if you taught your kids to pay it forward? You set them up with a permanent life insurance policy, so they didn't have to worry about that as an adult. Then they in turn set up their children with permanent life insurance, then your grandkids set up their children.

Train 'em right! The financial things my parents taught me, I am implementing in my life right now.

Again I know that this is totally random, but I thought it was such a good tip I had to share it!

Fellowship Required

"No man is an island."

We have heard that before, and we know that is the truth. But how many times does it feel like we are an island - totally alone, surrounded by a sea of people??

Far too often.

For a painfully long period of time in my life, I went to a church where the people all thought that they were their own little islands. Fellowship was not a necessary part of their lives. They didn't need friends. The lifestyle that resulted was very foreign to me, and I really struggled with it. Keep in mind I am the friendly girl from Big City, Northeast, settling into the vastly different culture of Small Town, South.

I felt like I was alone in life, in my spiritual life, even at church. It was painful and lonely. In fact that isolation that I felt was what inspired me to write a blog. I just wanted to fellowship with someone.

After many months of that lonely, isolated lifestyle, our situation has changed a little, and let me tell you...

Fellowship is required!!!

It's a necessary part of life. Now I know that some people require less fellowship than others, but it is still important. There needs to be people in your life whom you can speak with about serious matters, about fun matters, and about spiritual matters.

In the last two weeks, I have had more fellowship with such precious fellow Christians, than I have had in the last year. It has been so refreshing!

An older lady and spiritual mentor simply encouraged me to stay faithful to the Lord and shared some of her life experiences and how God has worked in her life. I was able to laugh a friend, catch up with another. Share burdens and trials, what I have learned and how I have grown, with another friend.

I have been spiritually encouraged and challenged. The fellowship has made an impact on my life in a way that I have not experienced for months. If there is anything that I have learned...

Fellowship is required.

Happy Summer!

Happy summer!!

Today is the first day of summer and it is safe to say that we are in that summer stretch. That period of time when things have finally wound done from the school year but before things wind up for the next school year. Typically the last week or two of June through the beginning of August. 

Do you feel it? The quiet? The momentary calm? The excitement over pending summer vacations? The longer days and beautiful sunsets and the fireflies at 9:30 pm. It is a glorious time, if I do say so myself. 

Make the most of this time. It is truly is short and fleeting.

1. Take a few minutes to spend some extra time with the Lord. The day starts earlier and ends later. Enjoy those extra moments of day light by growing in Christ. Read through the Psalms, enjoy a devotional book in addition to your regular devotions, listen to a podcast. 

2. Spend time with your family. Section out at least one weekend each month of this summer to be strictly a family day. In June, my husband & I drove into the city and did every free activity we could cram into the day. We had a fantastic time together and only paid for parking and lunch. Maybe a day at the local park, complete with an old-fashioned picnic is just what your family needs. Whatever it is make sure that you and your family are able to enjoy it together without the distractions of life interfering. 

3. Get involved with your church. Before all of the summer activities swallow your free time, check with your church and find out ways you can get involved. If there are any special activities, be sure to sign up and mark them on your calendar. Speaking from experience, church family is an important aspect to your spiritual life. 

Those three things seem to add up to the perfect summer to me! I hope you enjoy yours!

Women in the Workforce

I just recently started doing something that I have never really done before - I started working a secular job. If you are familiar with church lingo, you know that that means that I am now working a non-church-centered job.

Up until now for my entire life, I have worked in the church building. And I totally loved it! But recently I was simply filling in as a church secretary for a person who took medical leave. That time had expired and I was jobless again.

Reality is my husband's job could support us so that I didn't have to work, but that meant that we couldn't have even the most basic internet. Working even a few hours a week (for me) meant that we could open up some funds to save money, maybe eat out every once in a while, and not stress about grocery shopping. All of the above were a welcome blessing for us!

But when I found myself jobless, we had a crossroads decision to make. Do I go back to being a housewife with a really strict budget or do I work a secular job part-time to fill my time and give us some desired flexibility?

We decided that I would go to work. I was so nervous and not even sure what I wanted to do. So I just filled out a bunch of applications for stores that I could at least support their product (office supplies, cards & gifts, and prayed that God would direct me to the right job. I got hired on the spot by a high end ladies' clothing store. It is the type of store where the clothes are modest. I wouldn't wear everything because of my personal standards or preferences but the clothing is appropriate. Its the type of store that I would not hesitate to recommend to my church family or be embarrassed to tell an unsaved person that I as a Christian work there.

So that is my little story. Now on to the blog - is it ok for me as a Christian wife to work in the secular workforce?

This is definitely a question that every individual family needs to decide for themselves. I don't think there is a pat across the board type of answer. There is a lot of pressure for Christian wives to stay at home and be that perfect at-home housewife who makes her own soap, fresh bread daily, spend hours in God's Word, and can turn any stray article into a beautiful work of art. I truly believe that not everyone is going to fit that mold.

(My husband gets annoyed when I am not working because I get stir-crazy: the tiny apartment is majorly spotless, every meal is a three course meal, and I am ready to run out and see the world when he just wants to sit on the couch and relax for a little while. In other words, I don't fit the mold.)

For those of us who don't fit the mold, we can still be godly wives - even if we don't do things just so.

Things to Consider 

1. Family: If you decided to work twenty or forty hours, would you still be able to care for your family? Plan on it not being the same schedule or as convenient of a schedule if you worked. But if your family & home would be totally neglected, you may want to reconsider working. 
2. Income: Can you live reasonably on one income? If your reasonable, necessary bills each month are higher than your husband's single income and you cannot cut anymore fat from the budget, it might be time to consider a second income. Are you trying to save money for a down payment on a home? or because your car desperately needs replaced? or because you want to start a family but need to build up emergency savings? If you are considering working to save money for a fancy vacation or upgrade the slightly dated car, you may want to reconsider working.
3. Spiritual Life: Does this new job interfere with your spiritual life? Are you going to miss an unhealthy number of church services? Will you no longer have time for your personal devotions? How will the things that you are exposed to effect your mind? Will you be required to handle, sell, or support things that you cannot support morally or that violate Biblical principles? 

There is strong case to be made for Christian women in the workforce. If you are one of these hard-working women, keep it up!

Becoming Abraham

Sometimes when you are reading the Bible, you come across these stories that seem to parallel your life. At least, that happens to me... a lot. Especially when I read about Abraham.

Lately life has seemed a lot like Abraham, as I have picked up my tent and moved more times than I care to in the last two years. As God has called my husband and I to follow Him. To where though? We have no idea! We just pick up and follow as He calls us to!

Life is a lot like Abraham, as God has pulled us away from the comfortable and content life near family and friends to a place that seemed like a foreign land with no comfort, no friends, and no spiritual encouragement.

Life is a lot like Abraham, as God has (up to this point) withheld certain things that we desire.

Life is a lot like Abraham, as God has blessed us even when we relied on our own abilities instead of relying on His strength.

Life is a lot like Abraham, as God has asked us to sacrifice many things that we hold dear.

Life is a lot like Abraham, as God has shown Himself so clearly to us in the desert moments of life.

Life is a lot like Abraham, as God abundantly rewards obedience (although I must say, He has not blessed us financially in the way that He blessed Abraham!!).

Needless to say, I feel a lot like Abraham these days, but it makes me all the more grateful for the Bible! God gave us the story of Abraham's life so plainly.

We see his faith, his failures, his triumphs,  his struggles. Over and over, we see God's hand, His blessings, His testing, His blessing, His forgiveness, His guidance.

I can learn from Abraham's life. My relationship with God can grow because I can see that God moves. Because Abraham had faith, I too can have faith.

Who in the Bible does your life parallel?

Is it Moses? A great leader possessing an obvious relationship with the Lord, but lacking support or encouragement from those close to you. Is it Hannah? A loving wife plagued by the mocking of women around here and empty arms. Is it David? A guy who had high highs and low lows. Daniel? Alone in your stand for Christ.

I don't know who your life parallels these days, but lately I think I am becoming Abraham.

Through the Fog

God never promised that life would be easy, did He?

He never promised financial wealth. He never promised health. He never promised peace and safety, as we would define it. He never promised us that people would like us - even our own friends and co-laborers in ministry. He never promised that things would go according to plan.

He promised joy found in Him. He promised to work things together for His good and for His glory. He promised safety in His will - even if things are chaos around us. He promised peace in Him.

He promised that He would be with us.

When we "sign-up" for ministry, the truth is we are entirely aware of the problems ahead. No guarantee of financial security. No guarantee that the community will like us as people. Certainty that people will be alienated or angered by the truth of God's Word. Perhaps He called you to an area that we would not consider particularly safe. We knew that times would be hard and we wouldn't always understand and all we could do was follow God.

You just hope that all of the "worst-case scenario" stuff never happens. You wait for God to show you the next step. You hope that things go according to the plan that you trust He has laid before you.

Then sometimes God does the unthinkable, and He asks you to take a leap of faith into the darkness. A mysterious, unknown, invisible future. It's foggy. You can't see what's ahead. You can barely see the future from day to day. Maybe you are packing up your home with no future home to speak of. The moving truck is in the driveway and you literally do not know where you are taking it. {Ding, ding, ding!}

God knows. He knew from the beginning. From the moment you took that first step, following Him, that lead you to take that scary leap. He knew. And He still knows. All He wants is a little faith. Enough trust to know that He is going to work things out according to His plan. To bring glory to Him.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, 

and to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

~Romans 8:28~

Burden

Recently I have noticed a common theme in the Christian circles that I run in - at the ladies retreats, events, and Bible studies, on Facebook and Pinterest, in personal conversations, and far more blogs than I even knew were out there. So much of it revolves around being a housewife. Cooking organic meals from scratch, storing a months worth of food in the freezer, decorating to perfection, never spending more than [$20] on any purchase ever, getting married, having children, homeschooling, and doing everything just so. This whole idea is lauded and praised - and for good reason! To do all of these things successfully with the Lord's help is nothing short of an incredible accomplishment.

But I have been burdened by it, because it seems like I, as a Christian woman, have to fit into this mold or I am not fulling God's will for my life by being the Christian woman that He intended for me to be. That I am not fulfilling God's highest calling for my life. That's a lot of pressure!


It seems so trivial. Am I a better Christian than you because of gifts and talents that God gave me, but not you? Are you a better Christian because you have children and I don't? You know that doesn't make any sense.


When did my homemaking skills and child-birthing record determine my spirituality? I mean really - cooking organic meals from scratch - not everyone has time for that. It really doesn't fit into my schedule. I try to make healthy homemade meals as often as I can, but if I can save a few minutes by using a ready-made product, why not? Decorating my house: I try, I really do. I think my home looks better than average, but I only have so much of an eye for that kind of think. Truth: I like shopping. Spending money doesn't scare me (as long as it is in the bank account). God happened to bring a wonderful, godly, handsome man into my life when I was 19. One of my dearest friends is 25 and still waiting patiently for God to bring a man into her life. In the meantime, she is totally focused on God, growing spiritually, and blessing others. She is a strong person and I look up to her. God was completely of our lives. I am not more spiritual because I am married and my friend is not. I don't have children. I haven't been married long - long enough to have at least two children, but I don't. Does that mean that I am not spiritual? No! That means that God has chosen to lead my life in a different direction at this time, and I am totally ok with that.

So when did we forget that our "godliness" is determined by our personal, private relationships with our Savior? Our personal upward spiritual growth, our prayer life, our testimony to others, our efforts in bringing more people to Christ, and living overall according to the principles of the Bible.

To all of you women out there like me: Don't be discouraged if you can't live up to the seeming expectations of others. Don't be disappointed if you aren't married yet or don't have children. Enjoy this chapter of your life. You may never get to experience it again! Always remember that God is in control of everything, not you. You don't have to live up somebody else's ideas (if they don't come from the Bible!). Be the person that God intended you to be. He called you to be someone special. Be that person.

~Kay

In Case of Emergency

The year that my husband and I got married, over ten other couples - close friends - got married. It was so much fun! All of us planned our weddings together, shared decorations, and made sure our weddings were as unique as we were. A couple of months after the wedding celebrations settled down and we were now managing life as married adults. You know - nice apartments, not bachelor pads or a house full of girls. Opening gifts, pouring over the beautiful photos, buying cars or even houses, sending out thank you cards for all of the fantastic gifts, buying furniture, decorating our own homes, inviting our fellow newlyweds over. It was a blast!

Until a lovely fall day when we got word that the apartment of one of the new brides had burned to the ground. Everything she & her new husband owned was gone. All of the brand new furniture, the piles of wedding gifts, clothes, a lifetime of photos and mementos were gone in an instant. The couple was at work when their neighbor's unit caught fire, but there was nothing they could do when their home was destroyed as a result. Then things got worse when they found out that their insurance wouldn't cover even half of what it would cost to replace everything. Important personal documents and identification were destroyed. Something like this is always a tragedy, but for newlyweds who barely have their feet on the ground, it was even more so. 

How do you prepare for something like that? It is certainly not something that you want to think about, but it is a reality. Fire, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes. They all happen. But the truth is… We don't expect them to happen to us. I didn't think it could happen to me! But there it was - my dear friend lost everything in a fire. I realized that if something similar would happen to my husband & I, we would be sunk. 

So what do you do? How do you prepare for the worst?

I will be honest… I don't totally know. It seems like one of those things that you never know until it happens. And of course, it is one thing to get be prepared and it is another thing to stay prepared over the years. More than anything… it is a lot of work. 

So here is my thought… Take one step at a time.  Start now, as you freshly married. Don't wait until everything is put away and accumulated. 

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be working on some posts for preparing in case of an emergency. It is a personal project that I am working on in my own life. But I have to mention this... Invest in a home inventory software. Sure you can totally do it via Excel or Numbers, but trust me it is so much easier to just use the software! 

I had been using excel to keep track all of my possessions. It was a nightmare! There was so much information that needed recorded. Then one day I was just checking out some apps for my mac and I discovered this wonderful software by Binary called "Home Inventory" (similar products are available for windows). It has made a world of difference! What took me days to do before, took me a few hours today with the program. 

So step one: Inventory your home before you get so many years down the road that this task becomes impossible. 

Feeling at Home

When I moved it to Small Town, South, I knew that it was going to be culture shock. I knew that it was going to be tough. While I had lived in some polar-extreme places throughout the country, Small Town was going to be a really big change. I am a suburbs girl, and I was settling so far from the suburbs it was funny. Needless to say, the first couple of months I didn't feel at home.

Six months passed and I still didn't feel at home. Trust me it wasn't just moving away from close family and friends. My philosophy has always been family will always be there, and so will your closest friends... It was the culture shock. As one of my friends said, "You need a passport to go to that area." The food - beans, fried something, beans, and more greasy, fried something. The total lack of any friends or even people to talk to. The lack of convenience. (I still struggle with grocery shopping.)

How do you feel at home in a place that is clearly not home?

1.  Get to know the people. Invite them into your home for a simple dinner, chat, play games. (Playing games is really big here.) If they invite you into their home, don't turn down the offer unless you absolutely have to. Spend time talking to them before and after the church services. Make sure you are ready for the services before you get there, so that you can talk with the people. I like to stand in the lobby and greet people as they come into the building. Pray for them. After being at Small Town Baptist Church for sixth months, I still felt that I hadn't made much headway in getting to know the people in the church. They were so skeptical of my husband and I, but slowly, and I mean slowly, they started to come around.

2.  Be involved. It's kind of funny telling ministry-minded people to be involved, isn't it? Don't be so involved in the work of the ministry that you ignore the people of the ministry. So chat with the other lady in the nursery with you. Smile and chat as you serve food or pour beverages. Hand out bulletins or visitor packets. Always smile and always be friendly. You might have to be out of your comfort zone, but consider it an investment. Its an investment with a huge payday!

3.  Try new things. So yes, that new food sounds totally disgusting... And it tastes worse! But is it a local favorite. Just dig in once so that you can say that you have tried it. If people love doing a particular activity - like playing board games or hunting, join in! You don't have to do the new stuff all the time, but you certainly want to try it once. And you never know, you just might like it.

4.  Make memories. It's seems so simple and yet isn't all that easy to do. Get yourself a tour guide book for your state and a visitor's guide for your area... and become a tourist. (Check the local library!) Plan dates with your husband or your family to see the sights in your area. It's one of things that when you have lived in area for a while, you kind of forget to do. Find the historical sights. Visit the parks. Plan a picnic at the park. On a special day, spend some money and hit the tourist attractions. Just have fun exploring your area! Take pictures to record the memories. This is really important, especially if things aren't going well in your ministry. You will still have good and fun memories at that location. And because you have explored and gotten to know your area, you will feel more at home because of that personal connection.



Also, don't expect to feel at home overnight. I remember when my mom moved quite a distance away from the town she had lived in her entire life. It took her about four years to call our new area "home." When I moved to a different state in a different part of the country, I experienced the same type of thing. It took many, many months to feel at home. And we are still working at it.

~Kay

Helping My Husband

Prior to becoming a youth pastor’s wife, I was a full-time administrative assistant and a part-time school teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. My job, aside from teaching several classes, was to plan and organize and make my boss look good. I was used to having a big say in everything and it was my responsibility to see that it got done.

When we moved to Small Town, South, suddenly I found myself working a few hours a week doing odd jobs for the pastor. I was thankful for my job of course, because it meant our impossibly budget went from impossible to just tight (…and it gave me something to do). But I missed being needed and useful and having purpose.

The important thing for me to remember though is I have a new job – being a youth pastor’s wife. I am a support to my husband’s ministry, a representative of the church to the church and the community, and a wife. That’s a big job! 

Here are some ways that I can help my husband:

1. Pray for him. 

He has to preach a few times each week. He needs wisdom to deal with teenagers and their problems and parents and their problems. He has to plan and prepare for upcoming activities and events. He has to fulfill any other duties that might fall under his job description (like building maintenance, hospital visits, etc.) Plus he has to be the husband and bear the spiritual responsibility of that, perhaps a father depending on your family. Not to even mention the other things he is responsible for. And he has to do ALL of that being the happy, fun, spiritual guy that everyone expects him to be. That's a lot!

2. Encourage him.

Like we just said, your sweet husband has a lot on his plate. Sometimes his work can be difficult or discouraging. A lot of guys are high on the love language of words of affirmation, meaning you need to encourage him as often as you can. Tell him how much you enjoyed his Sunday School lesson, or what you learned from his sermon, or how excited a teenager was to spend time with him, or the great things that the parents said, or just how much you love him, spending time with him, and grateful you are that he works so hard and is such a godly man. Anything that you can say that will encourage your husband is what you need to say. 

I make sure I say these words of encouragement at the same time as holding his hand or squeezing his hand, or giving him a hug, or with a hand on his shoulder. These two love languages combined (words of affirmation & physical touch) speak volumes to my husband and they are what he needs. 

3. Don't complain. 

Living in Small Town, South, and adjusting to all its insane changes have been really hard for me. Although I haven't always done the best at this, I'm going to throw it out there anyway.... Don't complain. It's only going to make him feel bad about the decisions that he has made about being there, and he will feel like he isn't doing enough to make you happy. It will only discourage him. 

4. Look good for him.

So it can be tempting to wake up in the morning, and pretty much look the same at the end of the day... Sloppy and messy and not in top form... And when your husband comes home, he does notice. But he will notice and appreciate it more if you fix your hair, do a little light makeup, and spray some perfume. Oh, and change out of the pajamas. I want my husband to come home at the end of the day and think that I am the most beautiful woman in the world. I also want to do what I can to help him come to that conclusion. 

5. Take an interest in the teens.

At church and youth activities, be involved with the activities. Be as interested in the people your husband works with as he is. Talk with them. Ask about their lives. Be interested the things that they are interested in. This isn't just your husband's job. Youth ministry is your job as well. 

6. Take care of your responsibilities.

On a daily basis, keep up with the things that your husband expects you to do. Keeping the house clean, making the bed, doing the laundry & ironing clothes, paying the bills, washing the dishes (my least favorite!). I don't know what your husband expects you to do, but do it! He works hard every day, possibly with difficult individuals. Don't make him work on you too! 

Do what you need to do to help your husband. Every man is different. The things that I do to help my husband might not help your husband at all. But one thing is for sure, ladies, they need our help!