The journey of womanhood has many seasons.  The excitement of spring when the womanly growth first begins to sprout in all its tender delicacy (think of baby leaves just emerging); summer, with all the fruit it yields - babies, vibrant life..., and then comes fall.  Fall, the picture of shucking off the old, making way for the new: "Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed, but if it dies it bears much fruit" (as the Bible states in John 12:24).  This is a picture of mature women, putting off the role of themselves being fruitful (having babies), and taking on the role of mentor to younger women around them - sharing all the wisdom they have learned through their years of homemaking (Titus 2:3-5).  And then winter comes.  The time of winding down and not much activity, anticipating the end of life.  Yet it is still filled with splendor.  Like a beautiful tree covered in frost, there is an elegance to old age.  The Bible says in Proverbs 16:31 that "Gray hair is a crown of splendor, if it be found in the way of the righteous."

So, whatever season of womanhood you find yourself in today, let it be glorious!  May you shine today as you live out to the fullest the journey your Creator gave you as a woman - to be a nurturer and life giver in the home, no matter what the season!

Bet you didn't know that most conventional laundry detergents have cancer-causing toxic chemicals in them!  Take a look (if you don't want to read the technical language, just look at the bold print):

According to the Organic Consumer's Association: 
"The alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) used in some detergents and cleaners have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen; one APE... has caused estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to multiplyin a test tube study."

Guess what?  That chemical is banned in Canada and most of Europe (according to this site).  But the US still allows it in detergents.