Q: Brenda asks on July 6th from the "Greetings from Texas" post if I have a church yet?
A: Kind of sort of. I am still trying to get my mind and body normalized here and trying to get the house set up and since we just got back from Oklahoma, I haven't had much time to church search. Still don't have our own car either. We had re rent the rental car we have been using for another week...ugh....
I have a few in mind that are not in town that I would like to visit, and I have also gotten out the phone book to look around my area for a church that seems decent. And I have been praying about it too. I don't want to go to just anywhere, know what I mean? I want God to lead me where He wants me to go. :-)
Q: Bev asks on July 6th on the "Greetings from Texas" post if I plan on going to the NTCC here?
A: I do plan on visiting and seeing how it goes. In fact I may go tomorrow night for services, I still need to call the Pastor and see if I can get a ride as my hubby begins his job tomorrow and he will take the car.
Since the church is not in town I will probably go as often as I can but I am also going to look for a like minded church in town so I have some place to go when I can't get out that way, and as I was looking though the phone book, I think I may have found one. :-)
Q: Daughter of the King asks on July 6th from the "Greetings From Texas" post if my husband is getting out or retiring from the military?
A: He is getting out of active duty after giving Uncle Sam 8.5 years of service. But he did join the Reserves for 3 years, I don't know if you read about that in previous posts. :-)
Q: Jessie-Bessie asks on July 9th on the "Less Hectic Today" post of I was plain when we got married? Or did it happen after and if so what denomination or type of church did I attend before?
A: No I was not plain when we got married. I began going plain and covering in early 2006 as the Lord lead.
I began dressing modestly in 2001 shortly after I got saved.
No man and no church told me to go plain.
In Germany I attended an Independent Baptist church and they certainly weren't plain / modest by any means. Well maybe the Pastor's wife heeded the call to modesty, but that's about it.
I began going plain and covering by the Lord's leading. He leads, I follow. Simple as that. :-)
---> Answers for this question will be in black. I thought I would just answer each question as is since their are a few of them all in one....
Q: Me asks on July 12th from the "Less Hectic Today" post... " I have 2 things to ask you about. Your blog is entitled On A Quest For Plain Living. You seem to shop a lot. (We are starting over. Just because we went to stores doesn't mean
we bought stuff at each store. We just went in to look and browse and check prices. Starting over means we have to shop. What else were we supposed to do?) I can understand the excitement of being back home (you have no idea) but I cannot see the reasoning of going to 6 different Wal-Marts. (Believe it or not, each Wal-Mart was different esp. in their prices and not all Wal-Mart's carried the same thing, we were comparing prices. Plus, my husband loves Wal-Mart so he could get more trading cards for a game he likes to play. What was I supposed to say to him? He was the one driving.
Just because we went to various Wal-Mart's doesn't mean we bought stuff at each of them. We mainly walked around and just checked things out.
We also went to several Target's and did price checks and snooped around for furnishings for our home and food.)
I may be wrong but I thought plain living involved giving up more worldly conveniences? ( Are you saying that because we got a fridge and washing machine? If so, well, if it were up to me, I would totally figure out a better way to keep my food colder than a fridge and as far as a washing machine goes, we got that because, well, we have dirty laundry, but I will be ordering a non electric washing machine here shortly when things settle down so I won't be using that electric one as much.
Or were you implying that because we ran around town going to various stores that I am in the wrong? Sorry if you feel that way. It's not a sin to go into a store and look around or buy something.)
Is Whataburger part of plain living? (Nope, but it sure is good! :-). So, we went out to eat? Mind you we were living at the hotel and there weren't exactly people lining up outside our door inviting us to dinner or what not. How would you have liked us to eat? Our electric wasn't turned on in our house then.) Or do you just pretend to be striving for plain living but really just can't resist the temptations of consumerism? (What are you talking about? My blog says I am on a Quest for plain living...a Quest...that means I am still trying to reach my goals. Sorry I am not all the way perfectly plain.
I am sorry we had to buy a couch. We didn't have one in Germany and my husband wanted one. I am sorry we had to buy dressers. We didn't have those in Germany and my husband thought it would be nice to have something to place our unmentionables in.
We didn't have a kitchen table in Germany, so we had to buy that as well. My husband wouldn't appreciate sitting in an empty house on the floor just because you think I am not living a plain enough life. He hasn't been called to go plain and since it's his money, he can do and spend it on whatever he wants. Who am I to tell him "no dear you can buy that with your own money?".
If you must know when we did go to 6 Wal-Mart's, I personally bought groceries, personal hygiene items, undergarments, and a few books.)
The other thing I wanted to ask about was I noticed you left an encouraging comment on Candy's blog. She runs your husbands faith through the mud and claims he is going to hell and you support her? ( She also doesn't support headcovering but so what? What she has to say about other denominations is her own doings. I enjoy her blog as she's a fellow homemaker and sister in Christ. She may blog about things that seem kind of off but that's her right.
Whether she is right or wrong on certain things, I don't know, but what I do know is that each of us should always be studying and reading our Bibles to make sure we don't fall into the traps of false teachings.
Just because I left a comment on her blog doesn't mean I support her. It was a comment. I leave comments on many blogs. Many blogs that aren't Christian, that may be Catholic, that may not have the same thinkings as me. So? What she has to say about the Catholic Faith doesn't affect my husband or me one bit.). :-)
----> because this question is really long, and my husbands answers are in black. Yes my husband is answering these (except the first 3 questions which I did of course) since they seem more applicable to him, so I don't want you to think I am just saying this stuff off the top of my head. :-) Let's all say hello to Robert!!!
Q: Getting fit asks on July 23rd on the "Just a Few Updates and Pictures" post...
Okay, sorry if this is long and rambling but I have a query or two.
Were you unsaved when you married? (yes I was unsaved when I got married. I got saved a few months after we wed though). If you received Christ as your Saviour before, were you Mennonite leaning in your desires and were they made known to your husband at the time? (see above question).
I ask because you have mentioned he goes to a Catholic Church (unless that is very sporadic). (He goes sporadically).
If he does attend one, have you considered by 'living apart' from him you may be hurting your witness of Christ to him? (Robert says it doesn't effect either of us. He says he doesn't see anything wrong with it).
I realize he may be absolutely indifferent or maybe supportive of your stance but you are living as a polar opposite to your husband, so....
I wonder if he ever sat down with you and shared what he would like for you both on a 'church' level? (Robert says we can't change strong feelings, wills, and convictions. My wife goes too the church she goes too and believes what she believes because in her heart she believes she is doing what God tells her. It is not my place to force my views upon my wife).
Because if he does, there are some saved Catholics. ( Robert says...it is what people tend to believe what is saved. For a Catholic perspective on such a thing it would mean a little translation of the full John 3:16 to mean baptism and not a forced pre conceived notion created by Martin Luther and Calvin that want to believe that water and spirit are not a part of baptism).
I know the churches can be oppressive for a believer, but you are living so polar opposite from him in church and dress.
I wonder if he's not interested in Christ? ( Robert says he would like to believe he is interested in Christ).
I understand the covering issue but sometimes it can be interpreted as an assail on the spouse's way of living turning them away from the Cross although not intended. (Robert says he is not turned away from the Cross. He says if anyone is turned away it is by their own choosing).
How have you and your husband arrived at living so separately? ( Robert says marriages are built on goals. Similar goals. In that Dawn and I are one. Plus we love each other and support each other).
And in peace? (Robert says every marriage isn't always 100% peace. There are times when we quarrel just like everyone else. I would like to think that God allows us to have strife in our life to help us grow in our marriage and as Christians. It is like a person who weight lifts cannot grow stronger with out putting stress upon his muscles, so is true in marriage and spirituality. I chose to be thankful to have a wife who loves me and whom I am also in love with).
For if he was able to share that you were indeed not a nun, but his wife, yet shares no interest in 'your way', have you considered asking him WHAT HE WOULD LIKE FROM YOU as pertaining to church and dress? (Robert says he does not control me. He says he is not a tyrant. If I told her how to dress I might as well tell her how to think. I also might as well tell her how to feel. I married my wife because she is an individual and I chose too be with her regardless of the changes that have happened to her because I made a commitment to God and her).
It would be interesting to hear this in either a reply or post.
Someone also asked the question not too long ago if we got our a/c looked at yet. The answer to that is no, not yet. I have no idea who we are supposed to ask. I know it's covered though. The weird thing is is that in the mornings, the upstairs is really cool and liveable but out comes the sun and 105 degree heat and forget about it. :-) But yes, it's on my to do list to get it checked. :-)
Well there you have it folks...a lengthy Q&A session from yours truly and with a little help from the hubby. :-)
God Bless You! <>< ~ Dawn
A: Kind of sort of. I am still trying to get my mind and body normalized here and trying to get the house set up and since we just got back from Oklahoma, I haven't had much time to church search. Still don't have our own car either. We had re rent the rental car we have been using for another week...ugh....
I have a few in mind that are not in town that I would like to visit, and I have also gotten out the phone book to look around my area for a church that seems decent. And I have been praying about it too. I don't want to go to just anywhere, know what I mean? I want God to lead me where He wants me to go. :-)
Q: Bev asks on July 6th on the "Greetings from Texas" post if I plan on going to the NTCC here?
A: I do plan on visiting and seeing how it goes. In fact I may go tomorrow night for services, I still need to call the Pastor and see if I can get a ride as my hubby begins his job tomorrow and he will take the car.
Since the church is not in town I will probably go as often as I can but I am also going to look for a like minded church in town so I have some place to go when I can't get out that way, and as I was looking though the phone book, I think I may have found one. :-)
Q: Daughter of the King asks on July 6th from the "Greetings From Texas" post if my husband is getting out or retiring from the military?
A: He is getting out of active duty after giving Uncle Sam 8.5 years of service. But he did join the Reserves for 3 years, I don't know if you read about that in previous posts. :-)
Q: Jessie-Bessie asks on July 9th on the "Less Hectic Today" post of I was plain when we got married? Or did it happen after and if so what denomination or type of church did I attend before?
A: No I was not plain when we got married. I began going plain and covering in early 2006 as the Lord lead.
I began dressing modestly in 2001 shortly after I got saved.
No man and no church told me to go plain.
In Germany I attended an Independent Baptist church and they certainly weren't plain / modest by any means. Well maybe the Pastor's wife heeded the call to modesty, but that's about it.
I began going plain and covering by the Lord's leading. He leads, I follow. Simple as that. :-)
---> Answers for this question will be in black. I thought I would just answer each question as is since their are a few of them all in one....
Q: Me asks on July 12th from the "Less Hectic Today" post... " I have 2 things to ask you about. Your blog is entitled On A Quest For Plain Living. You seem to shop a lot. (We are starting over. Just because we went to stores doesn't mean
we bought stuff at each store. We just went in to look and browse and check prices. Starting over means we have to shop. What else were we supposed to do?) I can understand the excitement of being back home (you have no idea) but I cannot see the reasoning of going to 6 different Wal-Marts. (Believe it or not, each Wal-Mart was different esp. in their prices and not all Wal-Mart's carried the same thing, we were comparing prices. Plus, my husband loves Wal-Mart so he could get more trading cards for a game he likes to play. What was I supposed to say to him? He was the one driving.
Just because we went to various Wal-Mart's doesn't mean we bought stuff at each of them. We mainly walked around and just checked things out.
We also went to several Target's and did price checks and snooped around for furnishings for our home and food.)
I may be wrong but I thought plain living involved giving up more worldly conveniences? ( Are you saying that because we got a fridge and washing machine? If so, well, if it were up to me, I would totally figure out a better way to keep my food colder than a fridge and as far as a washing machine goes, we got that because, well, we have dirty laundry, but I will be ordering a non electric washing machine here shortly when things settle down so I won't be using that electric one as much.
Or were you implying that because we ran around town going to various stores that I am in the wrong? Sorry if you feel that way. It's not a sin to go into a store and look around or buy something.)
Is Whataburger part of plain living? (Nope, but it sure is good! :-). So, we went out to eat? Mind you we were living at the hotel and there weren't exactly people lining up outside our door inviting us to dinner or what not. How would you have liked us to eat? Our electric wasn't turned on in our house then.) Or do you just pretend to be striving for plain living but really just can't resist the temptations of consumerism? (What are you talking about? My blog says I am on a Quest for plain living...a Quest...that means I am still trying to reach my goals. Sorry I am not all the way perfectly plain.
I am sorry we had to buy a couch. We didn't have one in Germany and my husband wanted one. I am sorry we had to buy dressers. We didn't have those in Germany and my husband thought it would be nice to have something to place our unmentionables in.
We didn't have a kitchen table in Germany, so we had to buy that as well. My husband wouldn't appreciate sitting in an empty house on the floor just because you think I am not living a plain enough life. He hasn't been called to go plain and since it's his money, he can do and spend it on whatever he wants. Who am I to tell him "no dear you can buy that with your own money?".
If you must know when we did go to 6 Wal-Mart's, I personally bought groceries, personal hygiene items, undergarments, and a few books.)
The other thing I wanted to ask about was I noticed you left an encouraging comment on Candy's blog. She runs your husbands faith through the mud and claims he is going to hell and you support her? ( She also doesn't support headcovering but so what? What she has to say about other denominations is her own doings. I enjoy her blog as she's a fellow homemaker and sister in Christ. She may blog about things that seem kind of off but that's her right.
Whether she is right or wrong on certain things, I don't know, but what I do know is that each of us should always be studying and reading our Bibles to make sure we don't fall into the traps of false teachings.
Just because I left a comment on her blog doesn't mean I support her. It was a comment. I leave comments on many blogs. Many blogs that aren't Christian, that may be Catholic, that may not have the same thinkings as me. So? What she has to say about the Catholic Faith doesn't affect my husband or me one bit.). :-)
----> because this question is really long, and my husbands answers are in black. Yes my husband is answering these (except the first 3 questions which I did of course) since they seem more applicable to him, so I don't want you to think I am just saying this stuff off the top of my head. :-) Let's all say hello to Robert!!!
Q: Getting fit asks on July 23rd on the "Just a Few Updates and Pictures" post...
Okay, sorry if this is long and rambling but I have a query or two.
Were you unsaved when you married? (yes I was unsaved when I got married. I got saved a few months after we wed though). If you received Christ as your Saviour before, were you Mennonite leaning in your desires and were they made known to your husband at the time? (see above question).
I ask because you have mentioned he goes to a Catholic Church (unless that is very sporadic). (He goes sporadically).
If he does attend one, have you considered by 'living apart' from him you may be hurting your witness of Christ to him? (Robert says it doesn't effect either of us. He says he doesn't see anything wrong with it).
I realize he may be absolutely indifferent or maybe supportive of your stance but you are living as a polar opposite to your husband, so....
I wonder if he ever sat down with you and shared what he would like for you both on a 'church' level? (Robert says we can't change strong feelings, wills, and convictions. My wife goes too the church she goes too and believes what she believes because in her heart she believes she is doing what God tells her. It is not my place to force my views upon my wife).
Because if he does, there are some saved Catholics. ( Robert says...it is what people tend to believe what is saved. For a Catholic perspective on such a thing it would mean a little translation of the full John 3:16 to mean baptism and not a forced pre conceived notion created by Martin Luther and Calvin that want to believe that water and spirit are not a part of baptism).
I know the churches can be oppressive for a believer, but you are living so polar opposite from him in church and dress.
I wonder if he's not interested in Christ? ( Robert says he would like to believe he is interested in Christ).
I understand the covering issue but sometimes it can be interpreted as an assail on the spouse's way of living turning them away from the Cross although not intended. (Robert says he is not turned away from the Cross. He says if anyone is turned away it is by their own choosing).
How have you and your husband arrived at living so separately? ( Robert says marriages are built on goals. Similar goals. In that Dawn and I are one. Plus we love each other and support each other).
And in peace? (Robert says every marriage isn't always 100% peace. There are times when we quarrel just like everyone else. I would like to think that God allows us to have strife in our life to help us grow in our marriage and as Christians. It is like a person who weight lifts cannot grow stronger with out putting stress upon his muscles, so is true in marriage and spirituality. I chose to be thankful to have a wife who loves me and whom I am also in love with).
For if he was able to share that you were indeed not a nun, but his wife, yet shares no interest in 'your way', have you considered asking him WHAT HE WOULD LIKE FROM YOU as pertaining to church and dress? (Robert says he does not control me. He says he is not a tyrant. If I told her how to dress I might as well tell her how to think. I also might as well tell her how to feel. I married my wife because she is an individual and I chose too be with her regardless of the changes that have happened to her because I made a commitment to God and her).
It would be interesting to hear this in either a reply or post.
Someone also asked the question not too long ago if we got our a/c looked at yet. The answer to that is no, not yet. I have no idea who we are supposed to ask. I know it's covered though. The weird thing is is that in the mornings, the upstairs is really cool and liveable but out comes the sun and 105 degree heat and forget about it. :-) But yes, it's on my to do list to get it checked. :-)
Well there you have it folks...a lengthy Q&A session from yours truly and with a little help from the hubby. :-)
God Bless You! <>< ~ Dawn
21 comments:
I am glad to read the questions and see your answers. Very brave of you to do that! I see nothing wrong in you buying the things you need to set up housekeeping. That is a must. Nothing wrong with a little treat for oneself either! I will keep you guys in my prayers still. Huggles.
So interesting how the questions you get resemble the questions I get. Today someone asked if I was Old German Baptist. My dress is similar but I wear solid colors; they wear prints and plaids.
I know you are anxious to settle back into stateside living. Good on you for making your house a home. Thank your husband, too, for protecting us.
Wow that's a lot of questions lol. I hope you get a ride to church! I'm sure you will have a good time! :)
Have a great weekend!
Bev
Hi Dawn, thanks for taking the time to answer so many questions. I was not referring to your appliances or furniture. I guess the thing that seems so off is that you blog about going out to eat a lot, and it just seems.....excessive. I have lived out of a hotel before (we're army, in germany- surprise!!) and we ate out a few times but it certainly wasn't what I wrote home about. I can see we are very different people so perhaps I am blowing it out of proportion. About the Candy issue, the comment you left was indeed, encouraging. I cannot quote you, since the post is long gone. If Candy's blog doesn't bother you or your husband, oh well.
Good on you sister for being open and honest!! And yea for Robert for sharing his views as well. :)
Blessings!!
Amy
Thank you so much for this! Hello, to both of you ;o). I do not believe that a husband sharing 'what he would like' for a wife to wear is CONTROLLING, though. I meant along the lines of what he finds attractive.....
Very informative ;o) and I again thank you both.
I do wear attractive clothing that my hubby likes, but in the privacy of our own home *wink wink*.
He doesn't care that I wear cape dresses as I just asked him again for the umpteenth time, I just wanted you to know that I do ask his opinion on pretty much everything and he doesn't care what I wear as far as cape dresses go.
But he does like me in more black colored cape dresses as he says I look cute in all black :-)
So there ya have it. I am off to begin our day!
God Bless,
Dawn
Sheesh! For someone offended by what they consider judging on one blog, she sure seemed to judge you quite a bit and was offended that you were not in judgment yourself! I've never seen people condemned for not being judgmental before.
We live a plain life and I didn't see one thing wrong with your purchases. Somehow people get the idea that plain means you intentionally make things hard on yourself so as to suffer more. That's not plain living, it's masochism!
Seriously, though, you still haven't emailed me your address so I can get this gift to you.
Hey there! Thanks for your comment on my blog! To answer your question(s) - We pick up the goats this Saturday (2 days - EEEEK) so everything must be done by then! The Lord will have to do a loaves and fishes thing with the days because I don't know how how we'll get it all done otherwise! My poor hubby has decided to take Friday off and have his buddies over so we can finish everything up.
Welcome back to the states! And thank you for visiting (and commenting) on my blog today. (o:
Blessings,
Michele
Very well done. Thanks, Dawn, and God bless you for your obedience to His call on your life.
Your husband and mine have a lot in common. He also wants me to just be myself as an individual and is bothered by my asking his opinion TOO often on things lol. I like that he values me for who I am and doesn't impose a lot of requirements on me. Not that there is anything wrong with husbands who do, I'm just glad mine doesn't! I do care about his opinion, but I don't dress the way he wants me to all the time because for 1 it's not a command, it's a request (his words) and 2 NOT modest!!
I did find the questions a bit intrusive and judgemental, but I think you both did a great job answering. I think the way you live your life is just fine. It may be different from other people's expectations, but that shouldn't bother you any. If it is not a question of salvation or child abuse or something like that, I try not to judge people on stuff that ain't my business. Though I do think disposable dipes border on child abuse (KIDDING!!).
Thank you for your comment on my blog! Have a great day!
You know how can a person be so critical of another? Dawn, having different faith's is not a Biblical reason to divorce or live separately. And being Mennonite leaning doesn't mean you can't shop at a Wal-Mart or 100 when you have seem one in quite sometime.
Stay Blessed
My goodness...you deserve a medal for graciousness under fire for answering all those questions! As someone who is in a spiritually mixed marriage myself, I can appreciate where you and your husband allow each other freedom in the areas of beliefs and convictions.
I applaud you for including your husband's thoughts/comments in answering the questions. It shows a unity in your marriage that many don't have.
tis my first visit here.. i came over from ginger-pie's
and i just wanted to say: my gracious what a lot of intrusive and judgmental questions! very sweet of you to answer them all so specifically:)
Bless your heart, Dawn! You are amazingly cordial and kind in your responses. Just shows your dear heart.
Blessings,
Lea
Wow very interesting. I can't believe that someone probed into your life to that degree. Well no I'm not shocked cause you know the crazy remarks/questions I get on my blog LOL!
God Bless
Chistine
Well Dawn, I have to say that you handled all of that very well and that some of the questions asked were very rude.
Unfortunately, others feel condemned sometimes because they realize that maybe they're not doing what they should be and they interpret their own condemnation as being disapproval from you when you're not feeling that way at all. :-(
So many people want to sit in judgement of others-they're so worried about what other folks are doing and fail to look closely at the way they live their own lives.
Anyway, bravo to you and Robert for letting them know you're just as human as the rest of us and that the way you choose to live your lives is just that-your choice!
Hi, you don't know me and I'm probably 100% on the other end of the spectrum from you on everything, but I loved the answers to me's and gettingfit's questions. It gives me hope for humanity ;) to see that people who have quite different views and maybe lifestyles can still be a happily married couple. I had the same feeling looking at Quaker Jane's website (you might know it).
Have fun settling in back home!
Krystyna
Ok Dawn. ....I have to ask, did people REALLY ask you those questions?????? I have only been blogging about a year and I am amazed that people came out and aksed you those things, just from posts you made they felt the need to make those comments and ask those things, Yikes! I think I am scared....... I guess I always just assumed you post what you want and people say nice things or don't say anything at all. I mean you are not hurting anyone by going to different Walmarts are you, lol. Good grief, I guess this whole thing leaves me in awe? Well my Husband is Catholic and so is his family, and we seem to be doing ok, haha at least I thought so until I read some of the comments!
Glad to see things are coming along and you guys are settling in, talk to you soon, think I may sign up for that Laines Letters, thanks for sharing.
kelly
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