Friday, August 20, 2010

Inspiration Friday and A Great Start to the Weekend!

*I'm linking up with Weekly Words to Live By over at
Notes from a Cottage Industry *



This is the first official Inspiration Friday! I ran out of time this week to do a "linky" thing but hopefully I'll have it up and running by next week. There are many things that are inspiring me right now but with so much emphasis so far on Decorating, I thought I would switch gears a bit and maybe offer another form of Inspiration this week!
My sweet Yankee Husband and I are currently reading a book that is all about the joys and challenges of raising a Daughter in today's world.
Whew!
We alternate between feeling encouraged and terrified!
In it, the author quotes another book that I can't wait to get my hands on as soon as I finish this one.
Days after reading this particular passage, I am still pondering it in my heart and soul. John and Stasi Eldredge write...
"You see, every little girl-and every little boy-is asking one fundamental question. But they are very different questions, depending on whether you are a little boy or a little girl.

Little boys want to know, 'Do I have what it takes?' All that rough and tumble, all that daring and superhero dress up, all of that is a boy seeking to prove that he does have what it takes. He was made in the image of a warrior God. Nearly all a man does is fueled by his search for validation, that longing he carries for an answer to his Question.

Little girls want to know, 'Am I lovely'? The twirling skirts, the dress up, the longing to be pretty and to be seen-that is what that's all about. We are seeking an answer to our Question.
Nearly all a woman does in her adult life is fueled by her longing to be delighted in, her longing to be beautiful, to be irreplaceable, to have her Question answered, "YES!"...
And down in the depths of our hearts, our Question remains. Unanswered. Or rather, it remains answered in the way it was answered so badly in your youth. 'Am I lovely? Do you see me? Do you want to see me? Are you captivated by what you find in me?' We live haunted by that Question, yet unaware that it still needs an answer."


I pray every day that my children will know that the answer to those questions, "Do I have what it takes?" and "Am I lovely? Are you captivated by me?" is a resounding YES!
Yes, you have what it takes!
And, yes, we are captivated by you!
 And, not only is this answer from us, as their parents, but it is from the One who created them and gave them to us to be stewards of. We want to give them this gift of a solid foundation when they go into a world in which so often the answer they are given is "NO"!
We pray for wisdom and guidance as we shape and mold, love and discipline and thank goodness
we aren't going about it alone!


The other Inspiration for me today comes from one of my favorite Local Markets. It's my Happy Place!


We go there in the summertime mostly to get this...




But also for these...


And these...


It is truly a feast for the eyes and the stomach!
Here is one more piece of eye candy...


So, what is Inspiring YOU these days?

I hope you have a fabulous weekend and...
Blessings to you from this Southern Girl at Heart,
Vanessa

6 comments:

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Man...that is some good looking strawberry shortcake! I can see why you like to go there! :)

Vanessa said...

We made "short" order of it Susan! :-)
Vanessa

Kristin said...

That is a great book and I am guessing I am reading the one you are reading right now as well. Because today was a feeling of complete panic as I read.

My Cozy Corner said...

Hi
Thanks for visiting my blog. I love your blog and would love to join your Inspiration Friday and being a mom is the most rewarding and amazing we do in our lifetime. Kids just keep giving.
Thanks again for your comment.
xoxo
Betty @ My Cozy Corner

Suzy said...

Great food for thought when raising little ones!...and yummy shortcake!

Debbie said...

Love and tend to agree with the comments quoted from the book. I DO think those are our fundamental questions, however we phrase them.

I was INSPIRED even more by that window box than the strawberries! I'm all about pretty flowers.