Women know The way to rear up children (to be just) They know a simple, merry, tender knack Of tying sashes, fitting baby shoes, And stringing pretty words that make no sense, And kissing full sense into empty words. ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests. ~Author Unknown
I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln
Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I’ve no time to be A saint by doing lovely things, or watching late with Thee, Or dreaming in the dawn-light, or storming Heaven’s gates, Make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates.
Although I must have Martha’s hands, I have a Mary mind, And when I black the boots and shoes, Thy sandals, Lord, I find. I think of how they trod the earth, what time I scrub the floor: Accept this meditation, Lord, I haven’t time for more. Warm all the kitchen with Thy love, and light it with Thy peace; Forgive me all my worrying, and make my grumbling cease. Thou who didst love to give men food, in room or by the sea, Accept this service that I do -— I do it unto Thee.
Financial walls: WALLS! To recap: They provide protections (by keeping things in or out), create boundaries, create an identity. They provide safety, security and freedom. The strength of my walls is directly related to my self-control!!! Start with the first in this series for more on the important "walls" in our lives. Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control." Self control is the BALANCE of the NOT and the DO. I am in NO way qualified to teach on finances... I will leave that up to the experts! However, I have learned some valuable lessons relating to self-control and money!!!!!
Over the past few years our family has been attacking our debt and changing our outlook on money. We discovered Dave Ramsey and our life has not been the same since! I do believe what Larry Burket said for years "The way you spend your money says a lot about the condition of your heart."
God, how is my financial wall?? Am I balancing the NOT and the DO? Are my motives right and pure?? We have made so many mistakes in our past! God is full of GRACE and has been with us each and every step of the way as we learn to line up our finances with HIS word!
The SPENDING PLAN requires CONSTANT self-control. It is so easy to fall to weak moments and chip away at the "wall". I have those days that I just don't FEEL like cooking.... I have those days I don't FEEL like paying the bills.... I have moments that I just FEEL like buying a new whatever.... I have days that my thoughts are full of the "If I only had", "If I could just get..", "If only I had more money" "I WANT", "I need", or "I wish...". Retail therapy is a hard habit to break (even if yard sales and goodwill are my shopping of choice)!! Little chips add up to big chunks.
Financial "Walls" need constant PROTECTION.... Self-control is a key way of protecting it. We can't control all of life's curve balls, but we can use wisdom to be as prepared as possible. Eliminating debt, saving up an emergency fund, paying off the house and investing for the future are all things we can do! Walking with self-control is the ONLY way I am going to accomplish these goals.... Exercising self-control in the area of money will make me look different than the rest of America.... Like Dave Ramsey says "Live like no one else, so that later I can live like no one else"!!!
God, continue to give me wisdom each day relating to our finances. Help me to walk in self control. Thank you for being faithful to meet ALL of our needs. Open my eyes to see more clearly the difference between a NEED and a WANT!
Comfort food... we just got to have it sometimes. My real life friend, Becky, makes the most amazing cornbread! Yesterday I asked her to share her wonderful recipe with me and I thought I would pass it on to all of you. What makes it so special?? It is so moist, and yummy and has CORN in it! Just a little unexpected surprise. She got the recipe from cooks illustrated. We are going to have it this weekend to enjoy with a big pot of chili! YUM!!!!
Before preparing the baking dish or any of the other ingredients, measure out the frozen kernels and let them stand at room temperature until needed. When corn is in season, fresh cooked kernels can be substituted for the frozen corn. This recipe was developed with Quaker yellow cornmeal; a stone-ground whole-grain cornmeal will work but will yield a drier and less tender cornbread. We prefer a Pyrex glass baking dish because it yields a nice golden-brown crust, but a metal baking dish (nonstick or traditional) will also work. The cornbread is best served warm; leftovers can be wrapped in foil and reheated in a 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), melted and cooled slightly
Instructions
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 8-inch-square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl until combined; set aside.
2. In food processor or blender, process brown sugar, thawed corn kernels, and buttermilk until combined, about 5 seconds. Add eggs and process until well combined (corn lumps will remain), about 5 seconds longer.
3. Using rubber spatula, make well in center of dry ingredients; pour wet ingredients into well. Begin folding dry ingredients into wet, giving mixture only a few turns to barely combine; add melted butter and continue folding until dry ingredients are just moistened. Pour batter into prepared baking dish; smooth surface with rubber spatula. Bake until deep golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes; invert cornbread onto wire rack, then turn right side up and continue to cool until warm, about 10 minutes longer. Cut into pieces and serve.
WALLS! To recap: They provide protections (by keeping things in or out), create boundaries, create an identity. They provide safety, security and freedom. The strength of my walls is directly related to my self-control!!! Read the first in this series for more on the important "walls" in our lives.
Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control." Self control is the BALANCE of the NOT and the DO.
How can we practice self control in our daily lives to keep our walls strong??
My day is filled with choices from the moment I wake up till the moment I fall asleep.... choices of what I will NOT do and what I will DO. Will I choose to follow the example of the Proverbs 31 woman who "brings good and not harm, all the days of her life" or the fool that breaks down his walls with his lack of self control?? How does all of this relate to "walls" and self-control???? My flesh wants to do what feels good. My flesh is all about my "feelings". If I don't feel like getting up, if I don't feel like doing the dishes, if I don't feel like balancing the check book, if I don't feel like exercising am I going to do it?? What is it I "feel" like doing..... spending time on the computer? Watching TV?? Reading a book?? Sleeping in or staying up late??
As I look back and read in my journal from January's entry I read: "When I fall into idleness and don't get my routines done this starts to weaken the walls. After enough neglect the walls will fall. The walls are connected and one wall being weakened will weaken the others...domino effect."
Each moment I have a choice: What am I NOT doing? What am I DOING? Is this action bringing good and not harm to my family and home? Is this Idleness? Is this worth my limited amount of time? If the way I spend my time was measured the way financial wealth is measured how would my accounts stand? Am I storing up treasures in heaven or am I filling up my life with earthly pleasures?? Daily, moment by moment I have these choices to make.... self- control... Having control over my self! When I stand before my maker am I prepared to be accountable for the time HE has GIVEN me to invest?? What are the rewards of my "investments" going to be?? What condition are my walls in??
These can be hard questions to answer.... God do I really have to answer this??? I don't FEEL like it!!
Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control."
hmm.... walls, city, self-control??
I have been re-reading through my journal lately. Something I wrote back in January really jumped out at me. What are walls?? They provide protections (by keeping things in or out), create boundaries, create an identity. They provide safety, security and freedom. The strength of my walls is directly related to my self-control!!! YIKES! What kinds of "walls" can be broken down in my life if I lack self control?
Financial
health/physical fitness
purity (in thoughts, word and actions)
time management
education
relationships
spiritual growth
respect
peace
organization
simplicity
routines/order
priorities
balance
What does self control in those ares look like?? Self control is not just NOT doing something, self control is discipline to DO the things that need done. Self control is the BALANCE of the NOT and the DO.
God, what else do you have to say to me about this??
Prov 31:11-12 "Her husband has full confidence in her, and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good and hot harm, all the days of her life."
Prov 31:27 "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."
WOW... God you do have more to say to me about this... directly relating to my daily life!
The Proverbs 31 woman (admit it, we love to hate her!) takes care to protect the "walls" in her life: her home, her husband and her children. She does not reap the consequences of idleness, she lives out the blessings of diligence. If she idled away her time she wouldn't be able to keep the walls up and secure and her husband, her children and her home would suffer harm!
I am not naturally born organized. I am not naturally strong in the area of routine and order! I am a very creative person by nature.... I don't want to do the same thing, the same way every day... BORING! The good news: God is a creative God, but he is a God of order and balance. I can live in self control without becoming a dud. I can find FREEDOM in self control! I can keep the very important walls in my life intact so that I can ENJOY life!! What our flesh wants to reject is really what we NEED! Just like my 3 year old fighting his nap!
How can we practice self control in our daily lives to keep our walls strong?? I will be continuing this post tomorrow and share with you more of what God has been trying to teach me... sometimes I can be a slow learner!
Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather
Monday, March 1, 2010
Simple Family Supper is my baby.... I have a PASSION for family supper. So many studies show how valuable family meals are in building strong families. I also know how BUSY and crazy modern life is. I created Simple Family Supper to make family supper simple! The complete March edition is ready for you to download today.
Have you given the sample menu a try?? Go here to print off your free one week sample menu. Enjoy stress free suppers! One week menu, detailed shopping list and EASY to prepare recipes.
Join the Simple Family Supper facebook page to enter for your chance to win a copy of the March Menu Plan Kit.
It is 5 O'clock... What is for supper??Eliminate this stress from your life!! The Simple Family Supper March Menu Plan Kit is ready for you to down load today. Stress free supper prep is possible with the complete organization Simple Family Supper provides.
25 Page March Menu Plan Kit Includes:
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Detailed weekly shopping lists
EASY to prepare, family friendly recipes
4 BONUS fish recipes (Lent season) You can use them even if you don't practice Lent :) Fish is HEALTHY!
Print it off NOW!
Only $7.95 (less than $2 per week)
March Menu Plan Kit Recipe List:
Easy Stroganoff
Lasagna Soup
Chicken Stir Fry
Sausage and Scalloped Potatoes
Club Quesadilla
Ranch Chicken
Crunchy Mexican Bake
Savory Chicken Sandwich
Italian Pot Roast
Pizza Potatoes
Tex Mex Pitas
Cranberry Pork Roast
Almost Lasagna
Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Italian Beef Sandwiches
Cordon Blue Stromboli
Chicken and Rice Soup
Honey Chicken
Pizza Crescents
Pork BBQ on Buns
BONUS: Perch Fillets
BONUS: Baked Fish and Rice
BONUS: Maple Salmon
BONUS: Italian Fish Fillets
Eliminate Supper Time stress!!!
If you have any questions or comments (I am always eager to hear from you) please contact me at simplefamilysupper @ ffni . com (don't include the spaces)
Weariness plagues our nation and women are the weariest of all. So many balls to juggle, so many things calling our name. From the moment we wake till we drift off to sleep our minds race with all there is to do, where we need to go and all the ways we are failing. The clouds of expectations looms over us.... often we believe that we lack in doing anything the way we should. There is always more, more to do and more we didn't get done. The exhaustion we feel penetrates deep to our bones and we long for a day of renewal.
We turn to all kinds of things to refresh us and calm the storm raging within. We exercise, we eat, we read, we watch tv, we take vacations, we participate in hobbies, we surf the web, we inhale chocolate, we call a friend. Yet, even after we have done these things to 'relax' and 'spend time on me' we still feel the daggers of exhaustion. The few moments of respite are erased by the pressures of life. How can we keep going, how can we have deep rest for our weary souls??
This past weekend I went to a ladies retreat at a local church. It was absolutely wonderful to "retreat" from the stresses of daily life, but even a retreat is just for a day. Life carries on and the pressures are still there. However, I was exposed to two verses this weekend that I had never heard (or if I had don't remember it). These verses are the secret to lasting rest! They are the promise to cling to, my new LIFE verse for the moment!!!! I now understand WHY nothing I do brings me complete rest. Why nothing I try works to relieve the weariness that plagues my heart. I was looking to what I can do, not to the ONLY source of rest that my soul NEEDS!
TRUE and LASTING rest!!!! REAL rest!!!
Psalm 62:1 (niv) "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him."
Psalm 62:5 (niv) "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him."
Going to anything but Jesus will not give us lasting rest! Ever wonder why even after doing nothing but veg in front of the tv for a couple of hours we can still feel exhausted? Ever wonder why nothing seems to completely sooth the unwound nerves?? The word of God is TRUE! NOTHING will give us REST except for JESUS!!! Time in the word, time in prayer, time in worship, time listening to our Lord God is the only place we will find rest!! Our SPIRITS need HIS refreshing and NOTHING we can do on this world will ever take the place of RESTING in our God!!!!
Today..... In those daily moments of sheer exhaustion, utter stress and feelings of failure reach for REST in Jesus! We NEED our daily time with God! We need moments WITH Him, resting in HIM throughout the day. Accept and receive the promise of REST that God offers!!!!
Start now! Turn on this song and allow God to bring you REST!!
You totally ENJOY a romantic Valentine's Day afternoon spent with your hubby out working in the barn!! LOL!! I spent the afternoon with my husband (and middle son) out rebuilding our chicken coop. We totally enjoyed our time together.... I know it is crazy, but hey, we are just country folk!! There is something so wonderful about working together and creating something that will benefit our family. We are both DOING people so working together suits us both just fine.
I have had chickens for six years and over that time our chicken wire has rusted and we had some holes... something got in and destroyed my flock... very sad day! Now, thanks to my husband's great uncle we are getting a new one year old flock! Yea! Our coop is totally fortified and ready to keep them all safe and sound. When I say fortified I mean it! This week I will once again have chickens.... I have really missed them! I am also missing my barn cats.... saw four mice yesterday... haven't seen live mice out in the barn in three years.... where oh where did my barn cats go?! I HATE mice!!
I'll post pictures of my new flock as soon as they are settled in.
My Grandmother called this morning and asked me to email her this recipe...... She said it is perfect for Valentines Day and I think she is right!! It is fun having a grandma plugged in to technology... she is one hip 85 year old even has a facebook page!! I just wish I was in Texas to enjoy these cookies with her!
Happy Valentine's weekend and enjoy the cookie recipe!
Cheery Cherry Cookies 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup butter 1 egg 2 TBL milk 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp backing soda 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and chopped 1/2 cup pecans 1/2 cup flaked coconut
Cream brown sugar, butter, egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, slat and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Fold in cherries, pecans and coconut. Drop by teaspoonful onto un-greased baking sheets. Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 4 dozen.
Choosing Simplicity.... breaking it down to the basics. I am CHOOSING simplicity by focusing on SIMPLE!
S = Surrendering pre-conceived expectaions. There are so many to let go of. I = Identify the basics of day to day life and focus on them. M = Map it out! A plan, a goal! P = Purge! Less is More! L = Leadership - being a home manager does not mean that I do it all myself! E = Enjoy the moment! Live in TODAY..."If's" and "When's" never bring joy.
Simplicity is not relying on the things of the world to bring me peace and joy!!!!!!! The thing of this world (possessions, accomplishments, beauty, fame, popularity, wealth) never give lasting joy. Only through JESUS can I experience true and lasting peace, joy and abundant life! Cry out to HIM, He will be there! HE will fill you with His love, his forgiveness, his joy!! Life is HARD, but with Christ life has real and lasting meaning. Our time here on earth is so short, eternity with Him is going to be wonderful!!
My real life friend, Melissa, told me about PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA! She led me to Hillbilly Housewife where I found the recipe my friend uses. I have since tweaked it to make it my own.... seriously, I just can't make a recipe without changing it up in one way or another!! I am a creative person to the core! I also wanted to add in some more protein and fiber. Below you will find the recipe as I make it.... LOVE it served with both milk or yogurt. I also really enjoy it with coconut sprinkled on top..... YUMMY!! Enjoy!
Peanut Butter Granola Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter or coconut oil (or a mixture)
1/3 cup (natural) peanut butter
1/3 cup honey (or brown sugar plus 1 TBL water)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup oat bran
3/4 cup dry milk powder
Directions:
Begin by melting the butter (and or coconut oil) and peanut butter together in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the honey (or brown sugar and water), vanilla and salt. Stir the mixture until it is smooth and hot throughout. It doesn’t need to boil. Add the oats, oat bran and powdered milk. Stir until the oats are completely coated with the sticky gooey peanut butter mixture. It will be chunky. Turn the mixture into an un-greased cookie sheet, or a large 9 by 13-inch pan. Spread the granola out evenly and bake it at 375° for 10 minutes. It will be brown and crispy. Now remove it from the oven and allow it to cool right there in the pan. Break it up into pieces after it is cooled. Transfer the granola to a sealed jar or container. ENJOY!!!
I have been missing from the computer for the last week due to two events. First we were away from home enjoying a 2 night family vacation.... our first family vacation in four years! It was WONDERFUL! We took advantage of the Indiana State Park system's "stay one night get the second free" winter special and stayed at a Brown County State park in one of their family cabins. They have an indoor water park (passes come with the rental of the cabin) and so we were able to enjoy some 'summer time' fun at the pool!! We had a GREAT time!!!!! It was an extremely affordable way for us to have a family vacation. The cabin had a complete kitchen and so we were able to cook our meals and enjoy them right in our cozy cabin.
When we got home our computer (has been giving us fits for a while) decided to STOP! YIKES!! Not only do we like to get online, but we have a business to run..... So the old computer went to the computer guy for four days. Now we have it back (all clear of massive infections) and running smoothly. I now have TWO virus programs and TWO spyware programs to keep us safe (hopefully). I have always had one of each, but that isn't enough anymore........ frustrating! Our computer is also getting OLD and we will have to budget replacement in the next year.
I will be away from the computer the next few days while Chris and I get away for some COUPLE time!!! Nothing like packing vacation time so close together, but the State Park's winter special was just too good to turn down. Chris and I will enjoy our 3 days/2 nights together celebrating our 17 year "Together" anniversary! I can't believe that I have now been with my husband longer than I was alive before I met him! He was my high school sweet heart and God blessed me with a GOOD man right from the start!! I was saved from heart ached that comes from multiple dating relationships. I am glad that our get away falls on this special anniversary.... I love to celebrate all kinds of things! I feel that celebrating life is important! I am so thankful for my mother in law staying with the kids (and getting them all off to school/babysitters in the mornings). I think that the kids are looking forward to their time AWAY from us and we are!! :)
I'll be back next week..... I do have one sad homestead experience to share and many SPRING fever dreams!
