S.H.M.I.L.Y. Time:

• Write a letter to your hubby, reflecting on the past year together.  Talk about what you’ve went through together, and what he’s helped you with.  Tell him what you still love about him, and how you look forward to the coming year with him.
• Put it in an envelope (be sure to have SHMILY on the outside!) and wait to give it to him at midnight (after your midnight kiss of course!).  
• Don’t forget the midnight kiss for New Year’s!  (Even if you have to set the alarm!)

(This S.H.M.I.L.Y. Time can also include your kids!  Why not write them a letter that they will receive each year to "bring in the New Year" or each year for their birthday?  If you’re children aren’t old enough to stay up until midnight, tuck the letter under their pillow so they can have you read it first thing in the morning to them.)

I want this year to be different… like so many other years… and with so many changes on the horizon, (moving to a new place, planting a church… whatever ELSE God might put on our plate!… tee hee) my  foremost desire is to be strong and steadfast in the Lord… whatever may come. I’m printing out the CREATE IN MY A CLEAN HEART Devotional and plan on reflecting on each verse for a week. Here’s the "tricky" part… I’m asking for accountability… anyone else wanna join in?  Sometimes it helps when others are "in" with you.

I’ve created an event on facebook (sorry, but with the little time I can spend online, facebook has become my "new love" in place of blogging.  If you need to find me… I’m probably there).  Join in there and you can share and invite others to join as well. Click the following link to see it: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110177960180#/event.php?eid=110177960180&ref=nf

BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY 4TH, each week we’ll read a new week from the "CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART!" Motivational Devotional for the Disorganized, print out the verse to think about throughout the week, journal, and have the opportunity to join in discussion and encouragement on A CLEAN HEART facebook group. If you have a blog, you can share any links you might post there too.

GET THE WORD OUT AND INVITE OTHERS TO JOIN "A CLEAN HEART" FACEBOOK GROUP!
 
You’ll Need the following to get started (please join in at ANY time… it’s NEVER too late!):

• Devotional: http://www.acleanheart.com/DevotionalfortheDisorganized.pdf (print two-sided)
• Journal: http://www.acleanheart.com/Devotionaljournal.pdf
• Posters: http://www.acleanheart.com/Devotionalverses.pdf (print one-sided only. I also suggest using white cardstock, or a bright color(s) and change to greyscale printing)

Make 2009 a year that blesses our hearts and homes as we strive to get our lives in order!

I started one after last year (and money being tight), and had been saving up for this Christmas.  This year has been even harder for us financially than the last, and when it got really tough,  we went into the box and bought groceries with the money.  It was a really tough day for me because I truly believe investing in your marriage is a priority (so does my husband).  My sweet husband tried to make me feel better by quoting a line from a song from our wedding, "When we’re hungry, love will keep us alive…"  As thankful as I was that we had the money to get food, I also learned that I’d been saving the money for a "special" event instead of making sure I was doing SHMILY things more often.  I wish I would have been surprising my Beloved more often with little things instead of saving up for the 12 days of Christmas (as wonderful as they are).

Don’t forget how important it is to invest in your marriage.  Take a look at what you buy daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly.  What you buy says a lot about what you think is important.  What does it say about your marriage?  Don’t let your marriage go on the back burner.  Your spouse is supposed to be second, right after God.  Treat him that way… do your marriage a favor and make SHMILY a part in your budget for the coming year!

Here are some FREE ideas for you to love on your hubby…

• Massages are a great gift to give!  You could even make a coupon to give to him in the morning (so he would be looking forward to it all day) or mail it to him at work.  To take it a step further, you could even make this a gift for the entire 12 days, picking a different body part to focus on each night (uh… I don’t have to tell you what to save for last right?)  A good massage is at least 30 minutes.  Sometimes it may seem longer to you than it really is, so be sure to look at the clock by your bed before you begin so you don’t cut your sweet husband short!

• Breakfast in bed with a smile (and nothing else but a smile).

• Making coffee every morning and greeting your hubby with a cheerful "good morning".  How we start our husband’s mornings have a HUGE effect on the rest of their day, as well as how eager they are to come back.  (I know that I wouldn’t want to come home to me some days!)  Make it your goal to be cheerful each day for the 12 days.  Start his morning with a happy wife.  If you work outside of the home and leave before him, then having the coffee pot with coffee and a sweet note would be a thought too.

• Pray for him each day.  You could use The Power of a Praying Wife for this as well.  Whatever you choose, and regardless if your husband prays with you or not, get out of bed each day with your knees hitting the floor before your feet do.  Pray for the man God has blessed you with.  Thank Him for your husband.  Even if you’re struggling in your marriage, ask God to give you the strength to get through the 12 days with love and compassion and to renew your marriage.  You might be surprised what happens when he finds out that you’re praying for him every day.  Cover your husband in prayer each day… it may seem crazy, but YOU will become a better woman for it.

• Hmmm… this next one… well, it’s REALLY simple and may get one of the biggest reactions from your sweetie… but if you can’t afford to get some "blessings" to wear… you can always do what God intended from the beginning!  That’s right… NO panties.  Be sure to whisper it in his ear at the grocery store, church, or before he leaves for work.

• One of my personal favorites (and my Beloved’s)… Clean Lovin’.

• Take a marker and write SHMILY somewhere on your body for him to search for.

• Find out what he really likes by having him fill out the "I Feel Loved by You When You…" sheet… and then do it!

Some more ideas (some cost involved):

• Ice cream in bed together naked… one spoon.  For the ice cream lover, you could get the pints of ice cream and have ice cream in bed every night.  Don’t worry about the diet… this is only 12 days… get fat on each other’s love!

• Some "Christmas socks" you wear… and that’s it!

• 12 pair of sexy panties… one for each day.

• Misletoe (need I say more?)  You could used this throughout the 12 days as well by having it show up in various places in the house… or various times… and it could mean more than just kissing.  Write up a note and let your hubby know… you may want to even make it a "treasure hunt" by hiding it in various (obvious) places… and then follow through when he finds it!

• Three bows (or other wrapping ribbons for all over your body and hair) and place strategically on your body for him to "unwrap".

Remember, the whole idea here is to do what HE would like you to do.  Some men may like to talk walks.  Some may like to stay home and watch TV.  You may bless your hubby with a coupon that says he can watch his favorite sports team uninnterupted, or it may be by letting him read a book.  Find out what it is that HE would appreciate… and then do it!