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Hello All -

February proved to be a difficult month.

It is with great sorrow that I share that my co-author, and friend, Ron Deal, lost his precious 12 year old son Connor on Feb 17th to a MRSA related staff infection. For details, or to post a note, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/connordeal .

I am still in shock at how quickly this happened, he was only in the hospital for 5 days. Ron and I were able to complete final edits on The Smart Stepmom before Connor got much worse.

That same week two dear girlfriends lost their sisters to cancer. Both were in their 40’s.

Therefore, the brevity of life is very real to me. And I’m asking the Lord to help me to focus on what’s important, and to discard the things that are not.  I pray you will do likewise. I pray this edition is a blessing for you.

This Side of Heaven,

P.S. For details about MRSA, click here.

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall,
Who’s the Fairest of them All?

by Laura Petherbridge

When I was in my 20’s I could hardly pass by a mirror without looking into it, and primping. Now, I find myself avoiding the polished reflection whenever possible. Aging has a way of changing the view.

We live in a society where beauty, anti-aging and youthfulness are desired at all costs. People spend thousands of dollars to obtain a younger look. I try to fight the trend, but it’s not easy.

A few years ago I had an episode where I would see a bright flashing white light when I walked into a dark room. It was frightening. I visited my ophthalmologist and after a thorough examination he said, “Everything is fine. It’s just the gel in your eyes is thinning. This happens as we age.”

Once that I knew I wasn’t dying, an... [read more]

It’s not uncommon for a woman to compare herself to a former wife. We women are famous for comparing ourselves to everyone from the magazine at the grocery check out line to the red carpet. However, the question to ponder is why this woman’s beauty is intimidating you? it sounds as though it is causing you to question the relationship with your fiancé.

Does your fiancé gawk at other attractive women, make sexual comments or stare at scantily clad women in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable? Do you have reason to believe he still desires a relationship with his former wife? If the answer to either of those questions is yes then I suggest backing out of the engagement as both of these are red flags.

However, if he isn’t doing anything to cause you to feel insecure the problem may reside within you. There is nothing wrong with desiring to be “only one” for your sweetheart, and that’s the only way a marriage can survive. But when a second marriage occurs it means there will always be a former wife in the mix, even if she is deceased.

My suggestion is to discover the underlying reasons why you feel in competition with your fiancé’s former wife. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. (I Samuel 16:7) To your Creator you are beautiful. But until you know that as truth, I suggest putting the engagement on hold.

Did you know this about cosmetic procedures?

• 11.7 million performed in the United States in 2007
• 457% increase since 1997
• 91% are women
• In 2008 Americans spent $13.2 billion
• Age of most procedures is 35-50

American society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Feb 25, 2008
www.cosmeticplasticsurgerystatistics.com

Memorable Quote:

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy,
the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
— C S Lewis

Resource
Give-Away Contest:

The February 2009 Winner was Rebecca Claunch from Leawood, KS. Congratulations, Rebecca!

This month’s resource give-away contest winner will receive Beauty by God by Shelly Ballestero..

Check out her website:
www.shellyballestero.com/

Be the 10th person to contact me. To enter this month's Resource Give-Away Contest, enter simply by contacting me.