Why Dreads?

So today I am sitting here having my first cup of coffee. Yes I know....how wrong is it that I am having my first cup of coffee at 1 in the afternoon. It's just such a beautiful rainy day and it feels good to have a warm cup of coffee. So I started thinking about my week I have had. It's been full of so many feelings. First I got my dreads. I was nervous and excited...they turned out great. Just what I have always wanted. But then the reality of living in a small town hit. Outside appearance is everything in a small town. I don't care what small town you live it...they are all pretty much the same when it comes this topic. I have broken the mold of what kind of hair you should have here. Most moms have a mom do. A nice angled bob. I tried that once...it just wasn't me. But what is me? I would often wonder that myself. Living a life trying to fit in with everyone else...it just never felt right. I just want to be me. And so the verses....

Judges 16:19
She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.


1 Cor 11:15
but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

Now you are probably more confused than ever. That's ok...I was confused about alot of this myself at one point. Now let me say here...what I am about to say is not what I believe everyone should do. I feel that this is what I needed to do for me.



I was always intrigued by the story of Samson and his seven locks of hair. Did it ever confused anyone else that he only had seven locks of hair? Well when you are a kid they just tell you that they cut his hair. They don't say that he has seven locks of hair. So when I got a bit older and read the story for myself I always wondered why he only had seven locks of hair. I had actually read a Bible study when I was in high school about Samson and in this study they hinted towards the fact that Samson's hair might have been in braids or dreads. Dreads? So this sent me on my search. I was in high school and didn't even know what dreads were! But I did look around for info. Lots of places they talk about dread being done for spiritual purposes. Those who took the nazarite vow often would wear their hair in a dread like way. For years I have wanted to do my hair in dreads. I felt that if I did my hair in dreads maybe I would feel closer to God. I mainly forgot about my wanting to do this. I thought it was probably just a stage and I would eventually get over it and not want to do it. But not true! Over the years the thought would come to me and I would think about it. Lately it's been getting to me...I wanted to do it so badly! Finally I got my husband to agree with it and now it's done.

The second verse really stuck out to me when I was doing a study on head covers. This verse sums up what I learned from the study. I am not huge on head coverings. I did enjoy wearing a bandanna every once in a while...but not for spiritual purposes. This study kind of gave me a peace, that head coverings were not needed. My hair is my head covering. I have been feeling for a long time that I should keep my hair long. But I always have and urge to cut my hair short. People always say I look great with short hair and that makes the urge even greater! So I figured if I did my hair in dreads it would take that urge away. It has! :)

Now the first few days after I did my hair I was feeling horrible! At one point I honestly wanted to take them out. I was frustrated with the looks and everyone thinking one thing or another. What I thought everyone was thinking was bothering me. Then we went on a weekend trip, just me and my husband, to LifeLight. It's a free Christians music festival in South Dakota. It was a wonderful weekend for us. Also I felt like I was just another face in the crowd. There were so many people there with so many different styles that it wasn't a big deal! I LOVED IT! It really made me think how it would be to go back home. Would I continue to let other peoples thoughts and look bother me? Or would I just trust God and trust that I did this for Him? So it really got me thinking and reminded me that God is the only one that matters. His opinion is the one that should mean the most to me. Is God happy with me? I think He is.

Book review: The Heavens Proclain His Glory

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory

A Spectacular View of Creation Through The Lens of the Hubble Telescope

When I first saw that this book was available for review I was so excited! Then when I got the book in the mail I was even more excited! It was much bigger than I thought it would be. I sat with my two oldest girls and we were all amazed by the pictures! I began to read the quotes that went along with the book and it made it even more exciting. I have been using this book with my oldest daughters homeschooling. Not only can I use it as part of science, but I can also use it for Bible time. The girls love going through it just as much as I do. They love to pick out their favorite pictures. Right now they both are loving the pictures that look like butterflies. The red star is also a favorite. There are so many great pictures and you will just be in awe of the greatness of God when you read/look through this book!

Book Review: Out Live Your Life

Out Live Your Life
You were Made to Make a Difference

BY

Max Lucado

I love books that give me a challenge! And that is what Max Lucado always seems to do. This book did a wonderful job of encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone and go do something
that will change this world. This seems to be a theme in the books I have been getting from Thomas Nelson. That is good though. Sometimes it takes God a little bit longer to get His point across. Max does a great job in showing examples of people who are just ordinary people who steeped out and made a difference. Most of the time I think "There is no way I can make a difference. I am just a mom...an ordinary mom.". He also does a great job of showing that age should not be an obstacle. Gave me such encouragement to teach my kids this at an early age. If you haven't read a Max Lucado book...this would be a great one to start with! I would recommend this book to ANYONE. I would also recommend this book for teens!

Book Review: The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect
How Your Life Matters

By Andy Andrews

I enjoyed this cute little book a lot. It was written wonderfully and really gave a challenge. What are you doing on this earth? Does your life have purpose? Are you living your life purposefully? If gave the encouragement that no matter how little our lives seem or how little the things we do seem...even the smallest thing came make the biggest impact. One thing can lead to another.

The writing is done in such a great story telling way. The beautiful pictures on each page grab your attention. It brings you into the story and makes you feel as if you can make a difference. Thank you Andy for a great read!

Book Review: The Boy Who Changed the World

The Boy Who Changed the World

By Andy Andrews

This book is "The Butterfly Effect" written for Children. I thought it was a beautifully illustrated book that gives children the assurance that they can make a difference in the world. When it seems like that world is so big it seems as if anything we do won't really make a difference. This goes though stories of those who did a very small thing that turned into a big difference in the world. This book encourages kids to do their best in every thing they do...cause you never know it might change the world!

I do think the illustrations are just beautiful! I did however feel that while reading the book it felt a bit choppy. I am not sure if it's because I was just reading a book that had Chinese characters in it before I read this(whenever there are foreign characters in a book I always read in my head with an accent). If it's because I read it off the computer (It was and e-book). Or maybe it was just not written well. I am guessing it was one of the first two, but not really sure. I would still recommend this book to read to your kids. I don't think they will even notice the choppy feeling.