Book Review: The Love and Respect Experience A husband friendly Devotional that wives truly love by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

A few years ago my dear Josh and I went through the bible study " Love and Respect" and we really enjoyed it. We really gleaned so much from it that we own the book. So when I saw this devotional from book sneeze I knew I had to get it. The book contains 52 Devotions that are  based on the three cycles that make up the base of Love and respect.

 These cycles are: the crazy cycle, the rewarded cycle, and the energizing cycle.

When I received it in the mail I was thoroughly surprised and impressed. It is beautifully leather bounded. The colors are rich and pages are smooth and inviting. I love the way the pages are set up, especially that at the end we have a time of prayer and an action to take on after reading that devotional. My husband and I have been reading it before we go to bed and we are able to recall the information we learned before; but for those who have not read the book there are many resources at the end of the book. Devotionals are not on the men's top picks for book to read, so when I saw that this one was especially geared for men I knew we had to give it try. My husband is very satisfied with it and the only thing he wished for was for a bookmark as part of the book to mark the place we left off at. We highly recommend this devotional. Warning: you might not only be able to read one at a time or one a week for that matter!

Gracefully Daisy and Josh

One a year ago today

We are so blessed to remember today that we dedicated Samuel Benjamin to the Lord one year ago! I can't believe a year has passed we are truly in awe of the miracle that has taken place right before our eyes!

1 Samuel 1

Amplified Bible (AMP)

^"27For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.
    ²⁸Therefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there."

Gracefully Daisy

Summer Fun I heart faces photo contest

I love this photo-embodies all that summer is about! I love little Ayden's serious face!
Sammy ( in the hat) had a blast play in the pool with everyone that day!

Check out the rest of the pics at i heart faces

Gracefully Daisy

sweet summer breakfast

July 21st 

A sweet morning breakfast for Sam and me! Sweet Sam sized pumpkin zucchini muffins with whipped pumpkin butter.-for me- I'm also enjoying Greek yogurt and fruit with almonds.

Daddy left Sam half of a banana and he is having that in his mini kiwi, strawberry, and banana salad.

Gracefully Daisy

I heart faces-a touch of sun

I love this picture of Sam.
 The sun kissing his cheeks is so sweet, making the shadows fall in just the right places.

check out the rest of the pics 

Gracefully Daisy

1/2 Marathon

http://pinterest.com/pin/197879517/
via pinterest

Today, I am absolutely astounded at what my body is capable of doing when I set my mind to it. 
The day started out beautifully-perfect temperature for running! The breeze played across our faces and cooled us down! I enjoyed the beginning of the trail under the trees, next to a river, over bridges and open fields! 
I love that my darling running partner ( AKA the love of my life) and I were able to run our first half marathon together! we have done so many firsts in our 3years and 9 months of being married- glad this one is added to our list! 
By the end of the race I really wanted to just walk but we made such great time that we were going to be able to finish under 3 hours. I would have been happy with 3 but Josh always believed I could finish under three! so I ran my little heart out and my knees were screaming, my feet were protesting but the words of encouragement being spoken next to me were louder! I could not have done it without the Love of my life next to me! Thank you babe! you are the best! I am your number one fan! 


I leave you with this...

1 Corinthians 9:24

The Message (MSG)

 ^24-25You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

1 Corinthians 9:24

English Standard Version (ESV)

 ²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

~Gracefully Daisy

Sammy's 1st birthday party

tutorial found here

What a blessing this year has been! Our little guy has filled our lives with so much joy! we had a beautiful afternoon full of friends, family and laughter! it was a joy to watch Sammy open up all of his presents and play with his new toys! I believe we left the party feeling like a little kid again! loved it!
Gracefully Daisy

experiencing a wonderful weekend!

I have been gone for quite a while! I can't believe how fast time passes!
I have been away for a whole month and have been very busy!

here are a few things I have been working on:
1. a little boy who now loves to walk keeps me walking too!
2. a dear friend is going to have a baby and I planned and hosted an owl baby shower for her-can't wait to show pics!
3. We visited Texas and met our sweet new nephew Nathaniel David
4. Josh and I are training for a half marathon to happen on the 17th of this month-exhausting...
5. My friend Liz and I have been sewing... well it was really my first time ever...and I need more practice but we had two great craft days and we made some super cute owls! -can't wait to show you!
6. and last but not least have been planning my little cubby's first birthday party who is now turning 1 on September 8th!

I am in complete shock but I am doing well and we are going to have a wonderful green eggs and Ham inspired birthday party tomorrow!

More pictures to come!

Made by the beautiful Bernadette check out her Etsy page

Gracefully Daisy

A day in the Life... #1

Hi again!
 I will be posting my thoughts for this mini scrap book here and at times I will share the pics! 
For Monday my favorite part was finding this song and sending it to Josh in an email! 
It describes us so beautifully! so fun!
this song makes me want to go out in a meadow and twirl around!

I loved the picture of Sam before his bath!(I will share soon!)
Gracefully Daisy

Day 21st

I wrote this poem for Sam the last day of the 21 days of prayer. Be encouraged! I love you all!

A Poem of Humility for Sam

There is so much light in these beautiful eyes

So much hunger for love and knowledge

May the light in your eyes shine with humility

May the Lord take pleasure in you

and adorn you with Salvation

Your hunger will be satiated

but sometimes you will feel overwhelmed

At that time May you have all humility and gentleness

with patience bearing with others in love

I will always love you and shower you with  love but

there is One who has loved you before the beginning of time

He will always hear you from heaven 

when you humble yourself pray and seek his face

Dear son clothe yourself with humility daily

for 

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"

And when you walk in Humility before the Lord

He will  in the proper time exalt you

May the LORD take pleasure in___Our sons____, and adorn the humble with salvation (Psalm 149:4)

The Lord gave us the strength and we did it! we committed to praying for 21 days and here we are! 

I pray that the Lord continues to pour out his spirit over you and your sons! i pray that as they draw nearer to God you will also catch a glimpse of their heart! I pray that they will always follow after Christ and Serve him only! I pray for joy to your sons! May they bring you happiness as they walk out their lives by the Lord's grace! Many blessings to you!

Gracefully Daisy

Day 19 Salvation

May __our sons____ confess with their mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in his heart that God

raised him from the dead, and be saved (Romans 10:9)

This is what this  challenge is all about! We yearn for our sons to know the Lord and to ask him to be their Lord and Savior! We long to see them walk out their salvation with fear and trembling. we want them to realize that all the Lord did on the Cross was not in vain but to have a relationship with them and to live eternally with him. May our prayers today be so that our sons hearts will be changed by the grace that God gives freely because they can not be good enough and be saved. It is only by the grace of God that they can be saved. 

Lord, we pray that our sons will have an encounter with you and choose to accept your gift of salvation. May they walk in your ways all the days of their lives Lord. I pray that we will position ourselves through prayer and the teaching of your word to lead them to your heart! Give us the strength to persevere and to train them in your way and when they grow up they will not depart from it! Lord, give them a hunger and a thirst for you that will never be satiated so that all that they desire is you! in your name amen!

Gracefully Daisy

Day 18 Anger

May__our sons__ give a soft answer, which turns away wrath, and avoid harsh words which stir

up anger (Proverbs 15:1)

Encouragement from Brooke

So much of the Christian life is a choice. Every day (multiple times a day) we’re presented with a choice

to choose God or choose ourselves. Anger is a perfect example.

You can just feel it coming, can’t you? Anger is an almost total body experience. Muscles get tight. Temples

throb. Jaw clenches. Explosion feels imminent … wooing us into believing we have no choice but to react.

But it’s not true.We almost always have a choice when it comes to anger. We can choose to embrace it and sin. Or choose to put it away, and instead choose kindness, self-control, compassion, and love.

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."

~Ephesians 4:31

Today once more it starts with our hearts! today when you are tempted to get angry choose to ask God for the way out and for the strength to choose love and grace. Lord, thank you so much because your promises are true and you never give us too much that we can't handle. You always give us strength to persevere! Lord, may our sons choose your love and peace over anger and bitterness. I pray against all bitterness that would want to creep into our hearts and into the hearts of our sons take it away and help us to choose to replace it with your love kindness! amen

Gracefully Daisy

Day 17 Self Control

May__our son__present his body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is his

spiritual worship. May he not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewal of his

mind, that by testing he may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and

perfect (Romans 12:1-2)

The encouragement from Brooke for today is so right on that I want to share it all with you!

Encouragement from Brooke
What's on the throne of your son's heart? I recently spoke at a small local women’s conference on the
topic of finding balance in our physical and spiritual lives. Admittedly, this is an area I’ve struggled with
my entire life. I’m an emotional eater, and my weight has fluctuated over the years to prove it.
I used to think that could control it by counting calories, or walking four miles a day (yes, I used to do that). I’ve tried portion control, diet pills and running, but nothing sticks. Know why? Because I love food. I turn to it for comfort, fulfillment and joy. And until I dethrone it from Christ’s rightful place in my heart, I will continue to struggle.
It’s idol-worship, plain and simple (ouch). 

Food may not be the area of self-control with which your son struggles. Maybe he has video games, sports, sex, or money on the throne of his heart. The key to overcoming our tendencies toward worshiping something other than Christ is to choose to love Him more than we love our sin. A constant laying down of our desires and picking up of Christ is the only fix.
I wrote an article once on the topic of loving Him more …
It was a hot summer night, and I sat on my bed in a heaping culmination of all I'd been taught. A moment of rare heart understanding as I realized that life with Christ was not about what I could or could not do, but about loving Him more than I loved my sin.
Loving Him more.Anything that separates me from God is sin and anything good can be made sin if I love it more than I love Him.
And now twelve years later I'm still choosing.
I love Him. I love Him less than looking my best. I love Him. I love Him less than yelling at my kids. I love Him.
I love Him less than getting even with my husband. I love Him. I love Him less than having a published book. I
love Him. I love Him less than time to myself. I love Him. I love Him less than a stomach painfully full of my
favorite meal. I love Him. I love Him less than getting my own way.
I love Him.
I love Him less.
Every time I love Him less I love something else more.
But He loves me. He loves me always.
In the moment of choice this knowing of His steadfast, never-ending love is what gives me strength. This knowing of His great sacrifice for me … and for you. This knowing of the lengths He would go to love me more. More than I deserve. More than I can comprehend.
More than the power of Hell can stand against.

 "My Savior's sacrifice paid for all my sin. So in my suffering I look to the Cross again. No need, no want, no trial, no pain can compare to this: The wrath of God once meant for me, was all spent on Him. Before the Cross, I humbly bow. I place my trust in the Savior. Your finished work captures my gaze. You bore the wrath, I know the grace."

~Before the Cross (Sovereign Grace Music)

Now the little forever soul sits in front of me for what seems like the 20 millionth time today. And I look at him… and he looks at me. And I wonder, out loud, how he could possibly want to choose discipline over joyful obedience. After days of willful rebellion from two little men, I'm spent and I cannot understand in that moment why ANYONE would choose this chaos--this miser--when simple obedience would change everything. Don't they know the sweetness that would be theirs if they would just obey? Just CHOOSE to obey? Sigh. There's that word again.
The choice to love Him more begins from the beginning … hearts made to worship Him … choose Him. Hearts that left to themselves will choose our own way every time.
How many times have I chosen my own way when I knew the consequences? How many times have I forfeited the sweet, peaceful blessings of obedience in order to stamp my feet, cross my arms, dig in my stubborn threeyear-old-like heels and have my own way? 

And this from a woman who has tasted the goodness of God in the land of the living!
How can I expect my little ones to choose the good all the time when their own mama, a Jesus-follower for over 20 years, still gets it wrong?
Grace.
Grace.
And more grace.
Grace.
and choosing to love Him more.

 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ~1 Corinthians10:31

Be encouraged and know that he is in control. His spirit prays for us and intercedes for us. In the area of self control I need the Lord's help everyday. Praise the Lord for his unending love! He is with us today Amen!

Lord, I pray that you will continue to give us the strength to exercise self control over the things that try to take our attention away from you. Help us to dethrone anything in our hearts that is self serving-we want more of you! Lord, we want to lead by example and we need your help we can't do this on our own but with you we can do all things! in your name I pray amen!

Gracefully Daisy

Day 16 Gentleness

May__our son pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness (1Timothy 6:11)

Today has been a great day! Sam and I are both getting over infections and we are feeling better. The highlight of my day was praying over Sam at the dinner table. Today I had dinner ready early so all three of us sat at the dinner table. Josh and I took turns praying each of the verses over Sam and it seemed as if he was trying to pray as well! So precious!

I pray that you  will have the support of praying husband as well. I love that we are able to pray together even though we are apart;  because where two or more come together God is there. Lord, Thank you so much for loving us as you do-so gently yet so passionately! Teach us to love the way you do! May we be examples of gentleness to our sons. May we gently encourage them to follow after you and to love others with gentleness. Although in this crooked world they might be criticized for their gentleness, may they know that gentleness comes from God. May___our Sons__know that a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit

(Proverbs 15:4)

Gracefully Daisy

Day 15 Faithfulness

May_Sam___call this to mind and therefore have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love he is

not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.

May_Sam___say to himself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

(Lamentations 3:21-24)

Lord, we pray that in this unfaithful time we live, our boys will grow up to be faithful to you. As they learn to be faithful to you they will be faithful in all aspects of their life. Help us to be examples of faithfulness. As we interact at home with our husbands and that as we live out our life with you; may they see us faithful. In our walk through this world we want our light to shine especially light of faithfulness! Lord, we claim for them your faithfulness. you freely give it to us and renew it every morning thank you for that. I pray that you will teach them to walk in your faithfulness and to understand that they will not be perfect but they can be faithful!

Thank you because you always hear us...

Gracefully Daisy

Day 14 Goodness

Encouragement from Brooke

(Originally posted at the M.O.B. Society)

What are you aiming for? When your boys disobey, disrespect, are unkind. When they seek to understand

what's important. When they notice girls, cheat in school or fight on the bus. When they're seeking

marriage, failing in school or deciding whether to have sex for the first time or not … what are you aiming

for?

I want their hearts. No behavior modification or fad parenting of the day. No, I want the hearts of our boys,

because God wants the hearts of our boys. I'm aiming for the heart. But how?

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which

outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you

outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

(Matthew 23:27-28, ESV)

Looking at parenting through the lens of these verses has changed everything for me. You see I was a Pharisee. Boy was my cup clean on the outside. But on the inside? On the inside my cup was filthy, full of all uncleanness. I had everybody fooled, even myself. I believed that if I did good things, it made me good. Actually, it's probably closer to the truth to say I believed that if I didn't do bad things, I wasn't bad. I didn't know that no one is good. I didn't really understand that everyone sins. And I didn't understand the depth of my own sin until the Lord showed it to me.

Question: In our efforts to raise our sons are we teaching them that if they do good things they are good?

Righteous even? If we teach them that being good is all it takes, if our discipline and training focuses on their

behavior, how will they know they need a Savior?

Are we raising little Pharisees? Or are we raising Godly men with a heart for God? If a Godly son is your goal, you must aim for the heart. Because unless the heart is changed--touched--the behavior will stay the same. It might look a little different, morph some as they grow. But behavior is always a symptom of the state of the heart. What's in the heart, comes out.

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." ~Matthew 12:34

Ask yourself these questions:

• What parenting tools have I been using that only focus on changing behavior and not the heart? Am I

willing to lay them down even if they produce what looks like a good child?

• Reaching a child's heart takes time. Behavior modification is much faster! Am I willing to change things

about my life so that I have the time to invest in the hearts of my children?

• Most importantly: Am I willing to submit my own heart to God and allow Him to mold me from the

inside out? Shepherding our boys is not for the faint of heart friends! Once a week or more I'm tempted to just throw it all out the window (including the boys … ) and take the easier path. So what keeps me going?

I want their hearts. Just like my Heavenly Father wants mine.

May goodness and mercy follow_our sons all the days of their  life, and may they dwell in the

house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23:6)

Lord, thank you so much for your strength and for your goodness and mercies that are new every morning. You have carried us for these 14 days teaching us and showing us your heart for our sons. Help us to be more and more like everyday so that they will emulate us in serving you. I pray for the ladies that have enlisted with me in this mission-give them strength today and fill them with your joy! amen

Gracefully Daisy

Day 13 Kindness

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." ~Romans 12:10

 Thoughts from Sally Clarkson
(Author of The Mission of Motherhood and originally posted on the M.O.B. Society)

A strong gentle hand (kindness and gentleness)

I noticed that when I treated my boys in a gentle way, with respect and spoke directly to them, at eye level, and touched their little backs or shoulders, they were much more attentive.
"A gentle answer turns away wrath," from Proverbs became the pattern for my speech to my boys. Treating them with gentleness and patience created a desire in them to become civil with me. I was firm and consistent, but honored their desire for kindness.

From Brooke:

 Remember, kindness is not something that comes naturally. We're selfish, sinful beings who mostly want our own way. No, kindness is a learned art, usually caught by experiencing it first-hand from the hands of the people closest to us.

May__our sons__be kind and compassionate to others, forgiving, just as in Christ God forgave
him (Ephesians 4:32)

Lord, I pray for renewed strength today! show us all that you have in store for us through these days of seeking your wisdom and will for training up our sons in the way they should go! Help us to show kindness to them always even when our patience is tried, and we are drained may we always bear fruit of kindness just as you do towards us. Lord, we trust you and love all that you are doing in our lives. thank you for hearing us and for loving us as you do!

Gracefully Daisy

Day 12 Patience

May___our sons_be patient, for the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes7:8)

Brooke shares this thought: 

"Some of the most accomplished in the Kingdom of Christ are those whose names you and I will never know this side of heaven. And greatness is only measured by how well we respond to Christ in the little things. Being patient for what God's plan is and not necessarily pursuing our own dreams."

Question: Do you think we're teaching our sons that the "little things" are what matter most?


Lord, help us to bear fruit of patience as our children grow and watch us may they learn it through our actions. Lord, help us to teach them patience and what it means to respond to you in the little things. Lord, help us throughout this challenge to patiently wait for the harvest of what we are sowing in prayer for our sons let us not give up because you are faithful and you have been and always will be!

Gracefully Daisy

Day 11 Peace

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee."~Isaiah 26:3 (ASV)

Thoughts from Laura Lee Groves via Brooke

(Author of I'm Outnumbered! One Mom's Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys)

What can you do to help yourself?First, find someone to confide in--someone who’s walking your same path, or someone who has walked it before. My biggest support when my boys were small were two boy moms whose sons were a few years ahead of mine. Find someone you can be honest with about the trials of mothering. 

If at all possible, step away from the demands--for an hour, for an evening, even for just fifteen minutes. Letsomeone else hold the baby or chase the toddler for just a bit, and don’t feel guilty. If your son is school age, find a project or lesson that Dad or big brother or someone else can step into in your place, and take a break. Or just step back and give your son a little more responsibility--see if he can handle it. We too often see ourselves as indispensable when our sons can do some things on their own. 

You can help yourself by shifting your perspective as he grows. We have to accept that they’re growing and changing, and if we resist that, it just makes everything more difficult. As he grows, do whatever you can to stayclose to him. When he hits those middle and teen years, keep him talking. Do the one thing you know he enjoys doing, even if it’s not your favorite. Build a bridge, strengthen the connection between the two of you. Stay close but don’t smother, and love unconditionally. You’re poured a lot into your son. The proof of the pudding comes as he spreads his own wings and tries them. Sometimes he has to take a hit before he realizes it’s “real world time.” Don’t save him every time, or he’ll never be the man he was created to be.

And last--but most importantly--pray for him and for your relationship. Pray for the faith to let go, for confidence in your and his abilities. The One who made you and loves you is waiting to give help and comfort and peace all along the way. No, He doesn’t take away the pain and the frustration, but He gives us a way to deal with it. When we begin to think about ourselves and our children in His scheme of things, we begin to think big. We see ourselves and our children in His plan and our “today” perspective changes. What’s important for me to remember? Motherhood has many demands, but I can’t do everything. In fact, I don’t need to. There’s One who knowsbetter than I do and He’s waiting to catch me and my son when we stumble. He gives me grace to do all I can each day … then His grace provides for all I didn’t get to, as well. It’s hard to believe anyone loves my son more than I do. But He does.Knowing that, I can “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (Psalm 105:3,4)And I can help myself to peace--from above.

May_our sons_be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage others. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with him (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Lord, thank you so much for the peace that you give because it is whole and everlasting. I pray that our prayer group will always take hold of the peace that you offer from above. May our sons be raised in atmosphere of peace and know that we can only find peace in your presence daily. Give us the strength to endure through this challenge and to teach our sons everyday your ways.

Gracefully Daisy

Day 10 Joy

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my

heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." ~Psalm 28:7

Joy comes from the Lord and through it he gives us strength. Joy helps keep thanksgiving at the forefront because if we have Joy we can sing thanksgiving songs easily. I pray that the Lord will continue to give us his joy so that our sons will grow in an atmosphere of Joy taking it with them everywhere they go.



May our sons_be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22)


Lord,  be our strength as you fill our hearts with joy. May our sons learn to love you and thrive to seek your Joy because they will never be let down! Teach us oh Lord how to bear fruit over abundantly for you and that our sons will learn from us as we learn from you. 
we love you, amen

Gracefully Daisy