"We Fall Down...But We Get Up"

Donnie McKlurkin hits the nail on the nose when he belts these lyrics. We have such a forgiving and never changing God! No matter how bad the fall, how great the mistake, or how much we might have strayed, God is just to forgive us if we but ask, repent, and believe. Many people think they can't even be a Christian because they feel they are not perfect or good enough, but remember God's word tells us that no man is without sin and if he says he is than the truth is not in him. However difficult the task may be, we can accomplish what seems to be the impossible only with the help of the Lord. Through Him all things are possible. As the lyrics reveal, "A saint is just a sinner who fell down... and got up" So, just when you think that its over and you've ruined your chance to make things right, God's grace and mercy is what keeps us. Ask God to forgive you of your sin, repent, and get back up. Don't just get up, but raise up and try even harder to do whatever task has been set before you. Just know God won't put more on you than you can bear. If you really feel you can't bear it, think for a moment, Did God put this on me or did I put it on myself? Either way, He will hear your faithful cry and answer your prayers. We all fall, but only the righteous get back up.

So This Is What Its Like

To be content in whatever state you're in
To love whole-heartedly
To believe in something with all your might
To dream such vivid dreams you just know you're awake
To live a life without confusion
To know, that you know, that you know
To run without a fear of lagging behind
To challenge yourself to the utmost
To set no limits on your ability
To just be
To just do it
So this is what its like
To love God and be true to yourself

8 Ways to Be Single and Satisfied

Okay, I haven't forgotten about those men and women who are not married. If you are single, please read the following and get more on being single and satisfied by clicking the title of this post.

Happiness basically comes from within.
Furthermore, unless we have learned how to live fulfilled, contented and happy lives as singles, we are not likely to find fulfilling relationships or make healthy marriage partners should we decide to marry. Happy, well-adjusted people tend to have happy well-adjusted relationships. Looking to someone else to meet our unmet needs and fill the void caused by unresolved personal issues is a recipe for relational disaster. This is why it is imperative to resolve our own personal problems if we are to find loving, lasting and healthy relationships. Fundamentally, to a varying degree, especially romantically, we are as sick or as healthy as the people we are attracted to.
Happy, well-adjusted people tend to have happy well-adjusted relationships.
If you have either chosen a single life or been thrust into it by circumstances beyond your control, the question is, as a single, "How do you find fulfillment and satisfaction in light of the fact that we have been created for relationships?"

First, make a commitment to continue growing emotionally and spiritually.
Second, and equally important, is to take care of your physical wellbeing.
Third, maintain a clear conscience. There’s nothing like a guilty conscience to destroy one’s peace of mind.
Fourth, remember that character counts.
Fifth, know what your gifts and talents are and develop these.
Sixth, master the art of effective communications.
Seventh, recognize legitimate needs and get these met in healthy ways.
Finally, serve others.

Someone has wisely said that the person who is all wrapped up in him or her self makes a mighty small package. Don’t allow this to be said of you. If you consistently practice these eight principles, I am confident that you, too, will find considerable peace, contentment, fulfillment and satisfaction in your singleness.

25 Ways to Love Your Mate

I discovered these great tips for loving your mate at SelfhelpMagazine.com, posted by Connie Saindon. For the full 100 just click the title to linkback to their site. This one is not only for the virtuous women, but for those wonderful men as well. Be blessed!

1. Hug them.

2. Write a love note.

3. Call them at work just to say "Hi."

4. Give them a foot massage.

5. Tell them a joke.

6. Caress them with slow gentle strokes.

7. Go for a walk with them.

8. Send them a "happy gram."

9. Admit your mistakes.

10. Say: "I love you."

11. Indulge a whim.

12. Listen to them talk about an interest of theirs.

13. Be trustworthy.

14. Instead of complaining, tell them what you would prefer.

15. Look at them when you're in a discussion.

16. Send flowers.

17. Compliment something they did.

18. Offer to help.

19. Ask them to show you how to do something.

20. Call when you are going to be late.

21. Take them out to dinner.

22. Write them a poem about how special they are.

23. Cut out a cartoon they'll enjoy.

24. Ask them what they'd like sexually.

25. Go shopping together.

There is a Way Out

I've lost 8 lbs so far with Alli! I'm doing some things right now, so I will of course inform you of more later! God bless you all and be encouraged. Whatever it is you may be going through right now is just that, something to go through. It doesn't mean you will stay in that place, whether good or bad. If things are great just ask the Lord for his continued blessings and what you need to do to stay happy. Keep in mind there is always room for increase and with God there is no limit! If things are a bit challenging for you right now, just remember that joy really does come in the morning. Though dark may be your day, 1, 2, or 3 days, or maybe even years, on the other side of the clouds is sunshine. Ask God to show you what it is you can do to make things better. He will show you the way, but it is up to us to be obedient to His will. Due time, my brothers and sisters, due time. With Christ in our corner, just know there is a way out of what may seem to be a helpless and/or hopeless situation!

Portrait of the Ideal Virtuous Woman

The virtuous woman is an idealized woman, a composite of many capable women. After all, not all people have the same skills. Some women’s strengths are in music or art. Others may be in mathematics, teaching, or business. Some are better managers and organizers than others. While some women may excel at coming up with ideas, others may be more skilled at creating or producing what has been invented by someone else. No one excels at everything.

Some women work for several years after high school or college before marrying. Others, for one reason or another, do not marry at all. Does this mean that unmarried women cannot be Proverbs 31 women? No. Marriage and motherhood are not prerequisites for the successful Christian female’s life. The essential characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman can be applied to the the single woman, too.

The model woman described in Proverbs is a portrait of ideal womanhood. The focus of this portrait is a woman’s relationship with God, not her specific abilities or marital status. The Proverbs 31 woman realizes that regardless of her natural talents or acquired skills, or all her accomplishments, her strength comes from God.

Who is a virtuous woman today? Proverbs 31 tells you that it is the woman who puts God first. The ideal woman of Proverbs 31 should encourage all women everywhere. Cultures change, but this woman’s God-inspired character still shines brightly across the centuries.

Oh My Boys

Oh how I love them
The way they make me smile
When I'm unsure of my place
All I have to do is picture them
The boys in my life
My son and two nephews
The little men that fill my heart
My eyes cry tears of joy
Oh to rejoice in their toughness
The tumbles, the toys
Yes boys will be boys
But oh how I delight
In their laughter
Their silliness
The always wanting to show off
Always wanting to be first
and last
Never accepting my second best
Oh my boys always can tell
If I'm really into what they are doing
Or not
When I'm tired and frustrated
With their childish games and rituals
They yet again make me giggle
Like when I was their age
Young, innocent, Not ashamed,
For being silly and goofy
Oh my boys, I'll always love them so
To Brandon, Jaden, and Amir
My Boys

Time to Weigh In...

But, oops, I do not have a scale! Wow, I can't believe I do not own a scale. I usually just weigh myself at the gym, but I worked out at home today, so I will have to weigh in tomorrow. Using the myalliplan, you are suppose to set a day of the week in which you will weigh yourself and of course see how well Alli is working for you. I set my day for Sundays, but I will just have to go one more day. I feel I have lost weight and I am definitely eating a lot healthier. I thought this week and weekend would be extremely challenging since it was the fourth of July. I went to a big park event Wednesday, a birthday party and cookout Friday, and a huge family reunion/community day celebration Saturday. However, I did a great job with restraining myself and not pigging out as I would normally do for functions such as these. With prayer and self control, I stayed on track with my diet and I was conscientious of what I ate. I have to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 and of course so can you!

Staying on Track with Alli Diet Plan

It is day 6 on Alli and I feel great! I haven't had any treatment effects which come from eating too many fatty foods or going over the recommended amount of fat you intake per meal. Of course this is attributed to the fact that I have been eating healthy, low fat, and low calorie meals since Saturday! I will be weighing in on Sunday to see how much weight I've lost, but actually I got on a scale Monday night and it was 8 pounds lighter than the last time I weighed myself which was 2 weeks ago! I must say if I have really lost that much, I can't attribute that all to Alli because I had started eating less most days for the last two weeks. However, the Alli diet plan is keeping me on track with eating healthy mainly because I don't want to experience the treatment effects. I have been slacking with working out though. If I would just do that, the pounds would definitely shed and I'd get the tone I'd like. It will happen though. God will never give up on me, and I won't give up on myself.

Love is A Commitment...

...to leave no one behing on the journey to God.


If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have the faith to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and even hand over my body, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Wow! This means as a christian, we are to exhibit God's love everywhere we go, in whatever we do, and in everything we say. It can be very challenging especially in today's fast paced, hot tempered, flesh driven society, but it is what we are called to do. As a virtuous woman, we have a responsibility to uphold these characteristics and be a vessel for others.

If this seems like its difficult at times for you, say this prayer with me...
Heavenly Father, please help me to harbor only love and truth in my heart and I pray for strength and endurance in this spiritual journey to fight the good fight and remind me to look to you and not man in the time of trouble. In Jesus Name. Amen.

No Side Effects with Alli So Far

So I've taken my third Alli Pill and I have yet to experience any side effects. I know they may still come if I eat too much fat, so I've actually been eating a lot less fattening foods. This diet will really help me to get on track with eating healthy because I really do not want to experience those side effects. Well, God bless you all and remember to always put Him first.

Alli Diet, A Healthier Lifestyle

It is very helpful for a virtuous woman to be healthy and in shape in order to take better care of her household!

I have decided on what seems to be the latest surefire way to a healthier lifestyle. I just purchased the new FDA approved Alli. If you haven't heard about it, perhaps you have not been online long, watched television, or been in the store. This weight loss plan seems to be the best way to healthy eating that I've seen in a while. I've been struggling with what I feel is excess weight for the last 8 years I believe.

Well at first I was a bit skeptical and wondered if this was just another lose weight quick fad. After much research, I've learned that Alli is much more than that. Not only is it a weight loss product that physicians have been prescribing for years, but, it is a program that includes an individual plan for your gradual weight loss success and lifetime of healthier living! I started my pills today and I am really excited to see results as I begin eating healthier, exercising more, and buying smaller clothes (yippee!) I will keep you up to date on my progress, side effects, and overall success so keep checking back for more in post to come!

6 Ways to Praise God

Of course there are several ways to give the Almighty God praise and He is due all of our praise for all He has done and for who He is...
I love to refer to this beautiful psalm!

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150

Blessed Beyond Measure

I found this poem and I just thought it was fitting for how I'm feeling about my fam. Check it out~

Written and Submitted by: Geraldine Rose

A more precious family
There never could be
Than the family
God gave to me.

Always standing by my side
In good times and bad
I never can say
How grateful I am.

Blessed beyond measure
This woman sure is
The men in my life
Give me reason to live.

This is so true
I love each of you
So these words depart
Straight from my heart!

copyright © by Mrs. Geraldine Rose--November 7, 2003

A dedication to the men in my life, My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my husband James, and little man Amir

Characteristics of a Virtuous Woman

The majority of Proverbs 31 describes a virtuous woman who leads her home with integrity, discipline and giftedness. This wife and mother is a leader not because she tries to be one, but because of who she is.

Her Assets
She is trustworthy (v.11)
She is a positive influence (v.12)
She is a hard worker vv.13, 14, 19, 24-27)
She is a planner vv.21, 22)
She is protective(v.27)

Her Achievements
She meets the needs of her home (v.15)
She invests for her household (v.16)
She keeps herself in shape (v.17)
She helps her husband become successful (v.23)

Her Attitudes
Delightful (v.13)
Healthy (v.18)
Compassionate (v.20)
Unselfish (v.20)
Public (v.25)

Her Applause
From her family (v.28)
From her husband (vv.28,29)
From God's Word (v.30)
From her works (v.31)

Proverbs 31: 29 and 30 says "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all… a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

So, in the final analysis, what are you trying to hold on to… your role as a homemaker, housekeeper, mother, wife or is it to "fear the LORD" and live a directed life?
I know which one I'm striving for and I also know that in my pursuit of putting Him first, it's inevitable that I will become a better homemaker, housekeeper, mother and wife.

The Best Things in Life Aren't Things

So here we are blessed with another weekend and it seems that we have no funds to go anywhere or do anything too exciting. No worries! I am just as happy being home all day with my husband and child. At first I thought I might get cabin fever since I had been in the house nearly all week, but, the joy of just having my family here replaces any desire to leave the house. Funny how the best things in life don't cost a thing. When it comes right down to it, as the saying goes... "The best things in life aren't things!"

The Secret Revealed

Once again, I have come to a point in my writing where I see the need for change. While they say change is the only constant in this life, I beg to differ. The most important thing to remember is the Lord Jesus never changes. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

The general purpose of this blog to begin with was for me to have an outlet and hopefully give some insight or inspiration to others reading it. Of course I still want others to enjoy my scribbles and I want to use it as an outlet for my mental and emotional health. I will also often blog about everyday life as a wife, mother, friend, etc. Part of being a virtuous woman is having stability in all of the areas I tend to focus on: mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Now, I want to bring the focus back to God and becoming the woman God wants me to become. I changed my title because I have a strong desire to be a virtuous woman. On this journey, I hope other women will join me on this quest. As for the men reading my posts, I pray that you will find that virtuous woman God has for you. "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD." Proverbs 18:22

As you may have already known, the secret of The Virtuous Woman is already revealed in Proverbs 31 and it is in no way a secret. God wants women to be virtuous. In using the term the secret of the virtuous woman, I am speaking to my personal everyday opinions, reviews, suggestions, and thoughts on everyday things that may not be known to others except through my writings. Thus, I am the virtuous woman and my post will reveal the secret to becoming a virtuous woman like me. I am in no way saying I am perfect, but I am perfecting and speaking to the fact that if not already, I will become a virtuous woman. "As it is written: ... calls things that are not as though they were." Romans 4:17
Look for more on the secret in post to come...

27 Ways to Reduce Stress and Boost Energy

Stress can take a toll on both your physical health and mental well-being. It can lower your immunity to colds, flu, and even more serious illnesses. It can affect your sleep patterns, interfere with job performance, and leave you irritable. Stress can also trigger all sorts of skin disorders, including psoriasis, eczema, acne, rosacea, and hives.Fortunately, there are ways to get a handle on stress and up your energy:

1. Peace of Mind
2. Learn relaxation techniques.
3. Schedule "worry sessions."Set aside a specific 15 minutes each day when you'll concentrate on everything that's bothering you. When worries pop up during the day, save them for these 15 minutes. Then picture yourself conquering a particular challenge. It's not easy, but it's simple. And it works.
4. Keep a journal.New studies suggest that people who are able to write about their innermost feelings may enjoy better mental and physical health. Writing is also a powerful tool that helps you organize your thoughts and make life a little bit easier.
5. Pep up with a scent.When you need an energy boost, take a whiff of muguet or peppermint oil. Preliminary studies suggest these scents can promote alertness.
6. Power naps.15-20 minutes can be very energizing and rejuvenating. Careful - more than 20 minutes and you'll wake up more tired than you were to begin with.
7. Delegate.On your weekly calendar, eliminate the least important tasks and activities. Delegate household chores. Even if things aren't done the way you want them done, it's important for everyone to pitch in so you don't feel like the Lone Ranger.
8. Reward yourself.Every day engage in a just-for-you activity, PROVIDED you accomplished something you set out to do for that day.
9. Laugh.Laughter really is good medicine.
10. Cry.Feel better after a good cry? Studies show that the tears you produce when you're anxious, upset, sad, or angry contain stress-relieving hormones.
11. Get a body massage.
12. DO NOT skip meals.
13. Eat a "good mood" breakfast.
14. Have a midmorning muffin.USE THIS ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Carbs combined with a LIMITED amount of sugar can restore mental energy.
15. Quick, low-fat lunch.Broiled fish, skinless chicken, tuna, deli turkey or chicken with a teaspoon of low-fat mayo on whole-grain bread can give you energy for the afternoon.
16. Beat the mid-afternoon lag.If you're droopy by 3 pm, have a cup of coffee to get back on track. (I don't suggest doing this very often, either. It's quite possible you need to catch up with some Z's.)
17. Make dinner your lightest meal.If you've eaten a balanced, substantial lunch, you'll feel surprisingly satisfied with a light dinner.
18. Watch the caffeine.A little caffeine is okay for a little boost. Too much and you're making your adrenal glands work overtime.
19. Cut back on sugar and starches.
20. NO alcohol.
21. Aerobic exercise daily.Along with cardiovascular health, aerobic exercise boosts production of endorphins. 25-30 minutes can significantly reduce stress and increase energy.
22. Deep breathing.
23. Shrug off tight shoulders.Whenever you notice you're tense around your neck area and shoulders, shrug your shoulders ten times.
24. Take a break to stretch.Alternating arms, reach upward, stretching toward the ceiling. Five times each side.
25. Stretch neck tension away.Touch your chin to your chest and hold for 2 seconds. Try to touch your left ear to your left shoulder (keep it relaxed - no reaching up!) and hold for 2 seconds. Repeat for the right ear/shoulder for 2 seconds. Repeat entire cycle if necessary.
26. Stand up.If you spend most of the day sitting at a desk, stand up once every hour for 20 minutes, and do any of the exercises mentioned above to relax and stimulate circulation.
27. Take out your frustrations on the iron.Pumping iron, that is. You've got all those stress hormones flowing around your body and they're not getting used up. Aerobic exercise may calm them down some, but new studies are showing lifting weights help you burn off those stress hormones more effectively.

For more detailed ways to reduce stress/boost energy click here
Submitted at Fitness.com

How to Take Time to Write

I am on vacation this week and so I am thinking this means I will have plenty of time to post. Ugh! I'm not so sure about that. I have a list of things I really want to get done and I need to organize my time properly so that I will definitely take care of all that I need to. Have you ever looked at the time and it was way past the time you thought it was so you just start to wonder , " Where did the time go?" Well I will try my best to make a post each day because it is so necessary for my mental stability I think! Maybe a list would be appropriate to ensure that I get done what needs to be done in a timely manner but with less frustration and stress. Wait a minute, I did say I am on vacation this week right? OK let's start this over. I am on vacation this weeks and so this means I have plenty of time to post! YEAH... that's more like it! I will take the time to write. I am speaking it and so that settles it. As I've said before I speak best in the written form. God is good all the time! Right on...Write On!

How to Let Go and Let God

I've recently been doing a lot more soul searching and meditating. Talk about a wake-up call! I am coming to the realization that I have not been putting forth much effort in my passions. My husband, always very supportive, has helped me to understand that I need to take more time doing the things that I love to do and relax in a way that I have never relaxed. I am taking more bubble baths and allowing myself to laugh at myself. The buck definitely does not stop there. I have a whole list of things that I could be focusing more attention on, but at the top of that list is actually not listing. Okay maybe that was a little confusing or even contradictory, either way, it did spiral out the way I meant it. See, that's the thing, I've been too cautious in my writing and maybe a little too conservative. Bottom line; I haven't been giving it my all. Well I definitely accredit this awakening to my love for Christ and actually turning back to Him since I have also not been giving my all to Him either. What I am saying is this: It's time I, "Let Go, Let Love, Let God." I need to get back to making Him the center of my attention and everything else will fall into place: financial stability, mental health, physical health, family, friends, and being my all and all. "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" Ephesians 5:20

More Emphasis on Blogging

Okay it is time that I really get serious about blogging and getting the most from it. By the way I absolutely loved SpiderMan 3! Having a child really puts you in touch with your spidey senses. Now back to the message at hand. I have been doing a lot more research on linking and making money with blogs. It is really interesting and well worth the time and effort put into it. Why wouldn't you want to create income. doing something that you have always loved? I mean I have enjoyed writing since I was a little girl, but I never imagined getting paid to write. Of course the more you learn, the more you know, so I have a lot to learn about blogging. I will periodically share the knowledge because not only was that done for me, but it is what my heart believes is only right. I look forward to putting a lot more emphasis on the blog world!

Taking Some Time to Relax

My hubby and I are about to go see SpiderMan III and drop our son off at his Gammie's house. I for one am very excited. I'm not sure if its the fact that I get a break from my baby, I get to spend time alone with my man, or that I'm just getting out of the house. I guess its a combination of all three. Nonetheless, I will miss my little guy for those few hours, but I know he is in great hands! My husband and I haven't been out much since he was born, so any little event is exciting for us. I am definitely going to hit the gym mega hard this week and from hince forth. I need to reenergize! Well I have to go now, but I'll be back to give my critique of the movie.

I never knew I could love so deep

I sit my baby monitor so close to me when he is sleep you'd think I'd invest in a baby monitor headset. I just love to hear my child breathing. To know that my little miracle (well I shall say getting bigger by the minute it seems), miracle is breathing well just makes me so elated inside. I hold him just a few minutes longer than necessary when he falls asleep in my arms. Children are such a blessing no matter how rowdy or silly they get. I thank God everyday for my son and I am so grateful that I have him. Although I haven't managed to get back into the gym for a few weeks, I am still really happy that I have discovered blogging. Skipping a few days almost got me depressed. I am going to continue this adventure as long as I have a workable PC. I'm getting into the blog world more and more each day. This can too be addictive I suppose, but, I guess its okay as long as it doesn't take away from my time with my first loves, God, my child, and my hubby.

Getting it Done When Baby is One

So, I actually didn't make the gym this morning. I really need to start my spiritual fast. My child had a hard time staying asleep last night. OK, the real deal was that I didn't get into bed until around 3am, but I thought hey I could go on 2 and a half hours of sleep. Then it was suddenly past the time I needed to get up to go to the gym and I still hadn't gotten any sleep. At last he sips his juice and eats a baby mum-mum long enough for me to write a little. I love my baby dearly, but it's hard getting things done now that he's one. Maybe I should hit the hay earlier huh?

Pure Consumption

So they say our body needs 8 glasses of water a day right? No? I've heard that there is a such thing as too much H2O! I really want to be healthy for myself and my family, but it gets a bit confusing as to what I should or should not put in my body. I've tried several diets and exercise programs, a host of pills, and cutting back this or that. For the most part they have worked for a while until, BAM, I eat a french fry or don't get to the gym for a week and I feel I have failed miserably. Maybe I am too hard on myself. For the most part I am exceedingly happy and I try not to concern myself too much with my image, but then I watch TV! Image is everything huh?