part 2 of spice it up... what ED YOUNG has to say on the matter

http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=216617

Spice It Up Girls *** only for the MARRIED ladies***

Okay... I'm feeling a bit riskaaaaay! I really don't even know if I'm going to publish this for my blog followers... but let's see if I can be tasteful about a serious matter.

Lately, I have heard a LOT of my friends say the following... "man, our sex life sucks... he never tries anymore.... I wish he would go out of town and come back so that we could have some passionate sex... we just don't make love the way we used to... ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS... " lol...

So ... what do we do? First and foremost, this should be one of your TOP prayers request! And, this MUST be communicated to your husband!!

Over the past 3 months I have learned how important that part of our marriage is! This subject was definitely not talked about when I was growing up- I've always had a dirty/wordly opinion about the matter.... so I've been doing alot of studying up on it. It really started when our pastor did the challenge of "7 days of sex"- I'm sure you are all familiar but if not 'youtube' it.... anywho.... So let's stop complaing and fix the problem!

****************SEX IS A DUTY AS A HUSBAND/WIFE************

Women- stop depriving your husband! Stop using it as a reward... you are cheapening our GOD given blessing! Think about it... the only person that can satisfy your husband's sexual needs/desires is YOU! So look at it as a blessing, that you have that amazing powerful ability!

Get out of the rut that you are in!! Spice it up!!!

Okay, soo... you just aren't that into the act of it.... well, I KNOW you are into feeling sexy... it's part of being a women! Put some effort into it.. intice him. Send him a pic of yourself during the day, surprise him with a new lil outfit, etc.... you know what he likes!!! When you feel sexy- then the "mood" is more likely to follow!

The key is to put some effort into it. Of course, it helps when he makes an effort, but stop waiting around and FIX the problem!

**** and by spicing- this DEFINITELY does not include any type of porn! The only naked people should be you and your man!****************

I know this has to be said, because there was a time that the 'evil one' controlled my thoughts on this situation. And, porn was a way that I thought you could spice it up!

By adding porn into your bedroom- you are building the heighth of what "gets you going" up to a level that will be unattainable when you are only with your spouse. Does that make since? Okay here's an example... do you remember your first kiss. MAN, thats all you needed to feel warm and fuzzy... and over the years it takes a little more and a little more. Well, we should not take that level to watching pornography! - it's not what GOD wants us to do and it is like opening the door for satan to come into your life! --- okay enough on that.... OH BUT.. I did get the clear that it's okay to take pics/videos of just you and your man--- NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.. and... it'll give your hubby something to look at when he is feeling tempted to watch something on the net... --- which is a whole other matter!

So, let's recap!...

1. Communicate with your husband about your feeling on sex.. whatever it may be. And, both of your pray about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Stop waiting around for things to get better... you are "it" for him.. remind him how sexy you can be! and keep reminding him.. and keep reminding him.. :-)

3. NO porn.... of other people!

Okay, that's it for now...

My prayer request is that this motivates and inspires some of you married folks to 'get you groove on'!!!!

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Helllew alll! It's been awhile... been crazy busy... but been GOOD!

I don't really have a topic, so I shall just go with it...

Friday night Tim took me on a date... it was AWESOME.. it was fun! It was good to have alone time looking 'pretty'! LOL. Does that make since? Instead of around the house in my sweats and no make up- alone with him.

*5 minutes later*

Okay.. here's what I'd like to discuss.... PRAYING WITH YOUR SPOUSE! We all know about the "power of prayer" but recently Tim and I have learned about the "power of us praying together". At my Wednesday night bible study, a friend suggested that when we pray together that we pray for each others struggles/temptations. Wow- GOD is good! Incorporating this into our lives has really made a difference! Even in the short time that we have done this, we can see a difference! I believe that everyone gets caught up in their busy lives praying for everything and everyone (our kids, jobs, finances, etc), that we sometimes forget to pray about our husbands/wives- the most important human relationship! Or at least Tim and I do. To take the time to let your spouse know what you are needing prayer for and hearing him/her pray about them for you.... gave me personally a feeling of love and unity! It opened up alot of communication between us!

TRY IT!

It was difficult for Tim on some nights. For example: one of my prayer requests was that "i am able to understand, before being understood". I struggle with trying to get my point across and not taking the time to listen to Tim. Well.... he had a tough time with this... LOL.. because his prayer was the "I (Heather) understand him (Tim) before he understands me! haha, anyways, that was funny! :-)

PRAY!

PRAISES

*****SOOOOO... our new friends (home team leaders) have been trying to have a baby for 2 years! The found out Tuesday night that they were prego... woot woot.. PRAISE GOD! CONGRATS SPEEDS!!!!!!! ****

Okay, so life has been crazy lately. Tim FINALLY got home from his long trip to Cali. We get the boys tonight until Monday night! Yay! A long weekend with the whole fam!

So, once Tim got home yesterday.. we had a date DAY/NIGHT. It was perfect. A great time to reconnect and have some fun! Before we went to bed, we read a chapter in our book. About finances. Now this is a subject I ROCK at. LOL... I'm not bragging, it's just something I am gifted at. I am good at saving, not spending, and not living without! At any budget! I have been able to save even when I was making $10/hour, right after I had Madison! Now Tim.. Tim.. not so much, he's a spender!

Anywho, the chapter talked about the following...

1. Either pay your Credit Cards off monthly or tear them up. - Whoa Momma.... I liked this. I heard something 5 years ago, that if you can't afford it with cash- you don't need it. I have abided by this simple rule.

2. 10% to GOD (the church), 10% to savings, and the rest for whatever you need to pay. This info is from the bible. We have incorporated tithing into our weekly routine, but did not know that 10% was the proper amount to save. GOOD INFORMATION!

3. PRAY ABOUT YOUR MONEY, BUDGET, ETC --- of course! Why hadn't I thought about this?!?! I pray about everything else in my life, why not something as important as finances?!?! duh! I mean I have prayed "LORD HELP ME OUT WITH MAKING ENDS MEET!"..but never... "LORD SHOW ME HOW TO BUDGET, HELP ME TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO FOCUS ON, ETC" Makes since, we all need guidance in all we do. Even with money!

So how did we apply this new bit of info... WE PRAYED... Tim has decided he would like to be more apart of the finances... which I'm all for. So we got all of my spreadsheets on our budget/income out, calenders of when things are due, paper bills of how much, info on what is auto draft/what can be "bill paid" online, etc AND we prayed! It was awesome. A feeling of unity that I have never shared with anyone before (regarding mooola). LOL.. silly huh... I know I know... but it was painless and fun!

Prayer Request-
Heather- ability to give up some control with finances
Tim- ability to take on some more control with finances
Kids- For them to keep a positive attitude toward each other this weekend and focus on growing closer to each other--- and STOP trying to spend all our money.. haha

did you know.... ?

... that no where in the bible does it say to celebrate birthdays (even Jesus') or anniversaries, etc



It's so interesting how we spend so much money/time/effort to make each other feel special on that certain date.



A friend of ours stated on New Year's day "Isn't it odd how many things we feel obligated to do because it's the American way!".... Valentine's, big birthday parties, Christmas gifts, etc.... yet none of that is talked about in the bible.



... just a thought!



Littrell prayer request

Heather- open my heart to learn as much as I can at bible study tonight

Tim- safe trip to Cali

kids- bonding during their visit tonight

Forgive and FORGET

"Paul, who at one point called himself the "chief of sinners" tells us in Phillipians 3:13, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." God does not want you to focus on your past failures or those of anyone else, especially your spouse. Love and forgiveness provide hope for the future, not fear and condemnation from the past. Satan may be whispering to you, "Don't let him forgive that mistake." "Be sure and bring up the time when she had that problem." Do as Paul asked us to do, forget what lies behind, and reach forward to what lies ahead." page 51-52 of 'Creative Marriage' by Ed and Lisa Young

I think this part of our book spoke to us in sooo many ways! It is so easy to hold on to the wrong that has been done to us in our lives. It is so easy to hold on to guilt from our past. But, GOD forgives.... so should we! He forgives us for everything we do. Why can't we?

Forgive and Forget!

A special shout out to my lil baby sister- HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN! LOVE YA JKSKOK!

Also a huge praise- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TIM- 5 YEARS OF SOBRIETY- yesterday! woot woot- GOD IS GOOD!

Littrell Prayer Request
Heather- patience
Tim- motivation for his daily quiet time
kids- to love each other EVEN more!

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

Tim and I are currently reading a book written by our pastor and his wife titled “Creative Marriage”. (SIDE NOTE- This book is GREAT. It answers sooo many questions on marriage. I suggest all you married folks run out and get one today!) Anywho… the last chapter was about communication. Here are some of the key points that we learned-

A. 1. GOD 2. spouse 3. children

B. You only have 216 months to train your kids and get them ready for the real world!- then it’s just you and your spouse

C. Date night should be once a week, but definitely twice a month

D. Communication= 7% Verbal, 36% Tone, and 57% Facial Expression

E. You and your spouse should have a recreational pastime (not sex) that you do together- for fun

F. Have a “Sweet 16” every day.

There’s more.. but those will be the key points in today’s lesson.. LOL

Okay, so the bible tells us that your marriage is the most important relationship on earth!!! Did you know that?

With the 216 months that you have your children at home you MUST teach them the importance of your relationship with your husband/wife. I believe that this is sooo important! I want to show our children what a healthy-GOD BASED- marriage is like, for their future marriage!

Along with those months, you must maintain communication with your spouse, or like so many marriages we see- you’ll wake up and think “who are you”. Marriage is not just about the big things like being faithful. Marriage is about the small things, like complimenting your spouse, leaving little notes, sending a text to say “I love You!”, etc This is what keeps the love alive!

Date Night- you NEED that time to focus on each other. – we all know this!

Soooo, onto the facial expressions… oops, something I am definitely going to focus on! I don’t know what the statistic was based on or if it is completely accurate, but it does make sense. Think about it! When you are telling a story and someone is making an ugly face, we start to start sugar coating the rest of the story, etc When you ask your child to do something and they role their eyes but don’t say anything… we all know what they meant. etc


Recreational Pastime- your spouse is your BFF… besides raising kids, working, paying those darn bills, etc… y’all need to have fun. Tim and I decided we were going to take cooking lessons together! Sounds fun!

And, the “Sweet 16”- 16 minutes a day stop everything you are doing and find out about each other days. Men- interview your wives. Women feel that you are completely tuned in when you ask questions. Even if it sounds silly to ask- “How did you feel about that”… it sends us a message that you do truly care. Women- well, we know how to ask and talk.. so this part I believe is mainly for the husbands.

Prayer Request for the Littrell Family-

Heather- Positive Facial Expression Communication
Tim- Positive Tone Communication
The kids- to do it with a smile J

21
Ephesians 5
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing [b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Jesus Loves You! Happy 2009!

A friend of ours shared this video with us. It has such an AMAZING and true message!! Check it out!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfrbIleVf58