Meaning and Memories: Christmas Traditions

Christmas is upon us. As I write this, I believe it is only 11 days away. Christmas is absolutely one of my favorite times of year (even though I don't particularly like the cold). One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the individual traditions that each family has. They are all different, but they all hold with them meaning and memories. For example, a few of our family's traditions are decorating the tree together, buying and wrapping gifts for one another, cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, and having the family over on Christmas day. I love the Christmas traditions that my family has, and I look forward to someday starting my own traditions (as well as keeping some of the old ones) with my own family. One of the best parts of Christmas is that it brings back that much-needed element of family to this world that seems to have forgotten it. What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? I hope that you are able to celebrate them with your family this year!

Merry Christmas!

Making Work More Enjoyable

Recently, I found a very good way to get work done that I would like to share with you. Sometimes work is just not very fun! But we have to do it anyway-so find a way to make it fun. While I am doing school, I will put in a CD of classical music-I prefer William Joseph or Tchaikovsky. Then I light a couple of candles. It makes doing my school so much more relaxing and enjoyable. I suggest you try this with any task that you find less-than-enjoyable. :)

~Brooke

My Story of Scoliosis

Today I am going to share a story with you-my story. Even though it's mostly a story about physical problems, if you look closely, it is also a story about God's provision and grace.
When I was 10 years old I was diagnosed with idiopathic juvenile scoliosis. Basically, I was growing so fast that my spine couldn't keep up, and as a result it was ending up curved instead of straight. Obviously, this can cause some pretty serious problems if not treated. My parents decided to have my treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, even though it was a 2-1/2-hour drive. (By the way, I loved Mayo Clinic.)
At my first appointment, we found out from the x-rays that I had a 27 degree curve. The doctor recommended bracing me. He normally wouldn't recommend that on the first visit, but my scoliosis was already progressed enough that bracing was needed immediately. So I was fitted for my first back brace. I wore a back brace for the next 4 years. It was not easy! I had to wear the brace for 20-23 hours a day, taking it off for bathing or sports, and/or an hour or so break a day. I was able to take it off myself, but had to have someone to help me put it on.
Having a brace was hard. I could do normal things when it was off, but after having it off for too long, my back got extremely sore. It was hard for me to go to sleepovers or summer camp. And because of the design of my brace, my posture was always crooked with 1 shoulder higher than the other-something that didn't look very nice in pictures.
Wearing the brace was sometimes painful, especially during the adjustment period. There was an initial adjustment period, when I adjusted to wearing the brace. There were also 2 other adjustment periods when I had to adjust to a new brace after outgrowing the one I was in. Even though a long undershirt is worn under the brace, sometimes sores can still develop on the skin. So we had rub my skin with rubbing alcohol to toughen it up. We were told that the first 2 weeks would probably be the worst-because of the adjustment period. Remarkably, those first 2 weeks were really not bad at all. I know it is because I had so many people praying for me. My diagnosis was quite a surprise to my family, so our church family was remembering us in prayer.
The hardest time for me was adjusting from my first to my second brace. It was extremely painful. That second brace continued to give me problems-it had not been formed right, so it ended up applying pressure to the wrong spots, creating some bad sore spots. Eventually we had to have a third brace that was formed correctly, but I was left with 2 scars (a small one on my upper back, and a much larger and worse one on my lower back) that I still have to this day.
But in the end, God worked it all out to his glory. You will remember my original x-ray showed a curve of 27 degrees. Now, bracing is not meant to correct a curve, only to keep it from getting worse. A very good brace wearer may, at best, correct their curve by 1 or 2 degrees. But after 4 years, my final x-rays showed a curve of only 11 degrees! I know that through so many people's prayers, God had decided to work a miracle. He had basically healed my scoliosis, as a curve is not even considered scoliosis unless it is higher than 10 degrees. The doctors were amazed and pleased.
After I was done wearing the brace I still had some things to work through. My back was weak after so many years of being supported by a brace. I had some physical therapy exercises to strengthen it. But through exercises, my karate classes, and God's healing, I now do not have those problems.
Today, even though it was extremely painful and difficult, I am so thankful that God gave me scoliosis and used me to show how he can do anything. Don't ever doubt Him! I am a living testimony that he answers prayers.
~Brooke Reninger

Teacher Training

My brother and I.

Today I would like to write to the stay-at-home-daughters (SAHD). This is officially my first year as a SAHD, as I just graduated in December. But as I am doing an online school course, I still feel like somewhat of a student. I am looking forward to graduating, when I will have more time to devote to things for training to be a stay-at-home-mother. But I am doing what I can now. This year in homeschooling, my mother is letting me teach my younger brother spelling. It is going pretty well so far-spelling is one of my stronger points, and my brother is a pretty good speller. ;) I am enjoying it and learning a lot-about my teaching style, changes to make when the curriculum needs some improving, etc. If you are a homeschooled SAHD with younger siblings, I would highly encourage you to try teaching a subject-with help and supervision from your mother. In most cases, she has been homeschooling for many years, and can offer an amazing amount of advice. It will give you wonderful training for the future when you may be homeschooling your own children. Also, start out small. This year I am only teaching spelling. But maybe next year I will teach 2 subjects. I would also suggest to teach not only with your strengths but your weaknesses as well. (I guess that means I should take science or math next year... oh dear!) As a SAHD you have a wonderful opportunity to learn and train at home, and get a "jump-start" for when you have your own family. Take advantage of this opportunity!

~Brooke Reninger

Facing the Opposition

I have told you in the past about the group I have on Facebook. Recently our fan numbers have skyrocketed to over 5,000. Unfortunately this has also brought with it quite a lot of horrible posts containing inappropriate content and language. Of course, I delete these posts as soon as possible, but I was finding it very discouraging. But then someone will put an encouraging post on the page. I have had more than one husband say something such as, "My wife and have been married for such and such years, and I wish I had saved my first kiss for her. It would have made it so special. Stay strong in your convictions!" I have had more than one mother write, "My children are all saving their first kiss for marriage." These sort of posts are so encouraging to me, and make me believe, once again, that the page is doing some good. And recently someone wrote something that encouraged me the most, "When you are doing the right thing, you are probably going to meet some opposition." So I hope to encourage all of you as well - if you are meeting a lot of opposition, maybe you are doing it right! Stay strong with the strength of the Lord and never give up. =)

P.S. Let's celebrate - this is our 30th post! ;)

~Brooke Reninger

Hate Posts

A few months ago, I created a fan page on Facebook called "Saving Your First Kiss for Marriage." The
intentions of this group were to unite people who had similar beliefs and convictions for the purpose of encouragement, and also that we might be able to get the word out to other people about this philosophy. I was surprised at how quickly it spread! We currently have over 300 fans- in only a few months. Through this page I have learned of so many people who share my beliefs, while in "real life", the number of people I know who believe in saving their first kiss for marriage can be counted on one hand. This has been such a blessing to me, and I hope to others as well. (If you would like to become a part of this group, there is a link at the bottom right of this blog page.)
But recently I have been getting a lot of "hate posts" on the page. People who don't agree with this way of thinking have been going on and sharing their feelings, sometimes to the point of inappropriate material. Obviously this can become very discouraging. But it has done just the opposite for the group! The opposition has spurred the members of the group on- our numbers are increasing every day, and people have been posting on why one should support the belief. There have been so many scriptures and good Biblical, spiritual, mature conversations lately. In face of opposition, the group members have stood up for what they believe in- in a very convincing way! It is very encouraging to see.
One member put it very well when they said that hate posts will not discourage us. It will only make us that more passionate about what we believe, and it will cause us to pray for those who find it necessary to post those hateful comments.
I have chosen not to delete comments only because the commenter does not agree with our viewpoints. That sort of discussion is good and healthy, and do not expect everyone to agree! I do, however, delete comments that contain any inappropriate content. I will continue to keep the page as pure as possible, while still promoting godly discussion.
The members of this group inspire me- I hope that in the future I will remember the lesson they have given me: When faced with opposition, stand strong! No one will sway me from my beliefs! Pray, and never lose heart.

~Brooke Reninger

For Such a Time as This

The other day, I was considering a verse in one of my favorite books in the Bible. "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" -Esther 4:14. I have always liked this verse. Mordecai was encouraging Esther to have the courage to stand up for her people, telling her that perhaps that was the very reason God had placed her in her position as queen- so that she might deliver the Jewish people.

But then I began to think about how this verse can be applied to our lives today. If we really think about it, as daughters of Christ, that makes us princesses. We, therefore, are in a royal position. What does the verse tell us? That perhaps God has placed us in our royal positions for such a time as this. He doesn't expect us to just sit around in our princess-ship, he expects us to use that power for his good and his glory. This can also be applied to the specific places we are currently in in our lives. God has placed us there for a reason. Whether it seems a royal position or not, who is to say he has not placed us there for such a time as this?

~Brooke Reninger