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Mar
26

Menu Plan Monday….Again


I haven't posted my weekly meals in forever because I've just been so busy lazy. Yep, that's the truth of it. But we have eaten meals (in case you're wondering), and I have written out a menu (most weeks). I even forced myself to make a monthly menu plan for March. I didn't follow it exactly, but it did help keep me on the right track.

Here's this week's menu plan:

Breakfasts around our house tend to be a fend-for-yourself affair. I try to keep a wide enough selection of items on hand that the kids can either fix for themselves or can fix with minimal help. Also, since my husband works a job with odd hours, every meal is not a "family meal". When Dad is at work, I try to keep things simple to save time and my sanity (well, whatever sanity I have left by dinner time.). I've marked our "family meals" with an asterisk (*).

BREAKFAST
Leftover pancakes
Homemade granola
Pumpkin muffins
Cereal
Pop Tarts (horrible, right?)
Oatmeal
Eggs
Homemade bread
Toast
Yogurt
Fruit


LUNCH
*Pressed sandwiches
*Hot dogs, chips, veggies
Sandwiches
Mac & cheese
Quesadillas
Cheese, lunchmeat, crackers
Boiled eggs
Leftovers
Fruit
Veggies and dip

DINNER
*Salad with chicken, homemade Greek dressing
Pancakes, homemade syrup, homemade applesauce
Stir fry
*Black bean soup, cornbread, salad
Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread with cheese, salad
Leftovers
*Kebobs, rice pilaf

So, have you been making a weekly menu plan or simply taking it a day at a time? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!


Be sure to check out more menu ideas over at Menu Plan Monday.

Do you enjoy Gospel Homemaking? You may want to consider subscribing to get free updates, tips, and The Daily Plan-It right in your email inbox or in your feed reader. How cool is that?

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Mar
20

Spring


It's spring. I think. It looks like spring, feels like spring, and smells like spring. It must be spring. But I live in Ohio, so I can't be certain that we won't get an unexpected blast of snow.......the day after I pack away the winter clothes. Maybe that's why I rarely put away the sweaters and fuzzy jammies until mid-June. Or maybe it's because I'm lazy. I don't know.

Anyway.....

I hear a lot of people talking about "spring cleaning" right now. Many bloggers are doing a month-long series on the topic, and every magazine I pick up seems to have the same spring-clean-theme. It's all round me, but it just hasn't wiggled its way into my thinking or homemaking yet.

I see plenty of things that can (and should) be cleaned, but I simply don't have the "bug". I won't wait forever for some sort of magical motivation to show up, but I am much more productive when I'm in the mood.

Since I don't really feel like scrubbing the windows or dusting the baseboards (even though they could both use immediate attention), I've decided to focus on something a little different. I am going to spring clean my To Do List.

There are a few tasks that get moved from list to list each week. I always intend to do those tasks this week, but after awhile, I don't even see them written there anymore. I learn to overlook them until I'm putting together my next weekly plan. Then I promise myself (again) to finish the jobs once and for all. Except I don't. I just keep writing them on my list each week. Crazy, right?

So for the rest of the month, I want to tackle those craft projects, clean off that closet shelf, and schedule any necessary appointments. By the time April rolls around, I hope to be ready to clean and organize my home without those lingering chores hanging over my head.

But for now, I think I need to go check my To Do List....I'm pretty sure I saw "breathe spring air" penciled in somewhere!

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Mar
12

where I am….

I've had a rough couple of weeks. That happens to me sometimes. I wish it didn't, but it does. And it stinks.

I've spent way too much time over the past few days crying buckets of tears for no good reason. Well, I thought I had good reasons at the time, but I can't seem to remember them right now.

I really hated the thought of airing my dirty laundry here (oh, I just remembered one of my good reasons: dirty laundry), but I have a feeling that I'm not the only one who has the occasional grumpy day (or week....or two weeks...). Just maybe other women struggle with out of control emotions that make them seem like a crazy person from time to time. Maybe?  Anyone?

While I would love to blame my hormones, my family, and that pesky dirty laundry for all my troubles, I know that the real problem is my heart. It always is.  At church this week, God used His Word to convict and correct me.

I often struggle with having contentment right where I am. I long for a world without sin. I want a life where everyone loves me perfectly. I want the kids to obey, the dishes not to pile up, and the laundry to fold itself. I want things to be easy. I want a life God did not give to me. Of course, I don't want a different husband or kids, I just want my circumstances of the moment to be different.

And then God says, "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him..." (1 Corinthians 7:17). He goes on to talk to those who are slaves. SLAVES. He tells those who are in the worst situations possible that they have freedom through Him and that they should live their lives fully right where He has placed them, whether they are slaves or freemen.

Do I believe that God has placed me where I am?  Do I believe that the Lord has a sovereign plan and purpose in every situation? Do I believe it when the children are arguing? How about when the house looks like it's been ransacked? When everything feels like it's falling apart? I'd like to say that I believe it. As a matter of fact, if you asked, I probably would say that I believe it. But my actions and attitudes tell a different story.

I ignore the Truth. I get caught up in me and forget about Him. I think that if God would simply change my circumstances or the people around me, then I could glorify Him by living fully where I am. Then everything would be better. But like my pastor reminded us, we have Jesus. Things can't get better than that!

"So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, let him remain with God." (1 Corinthians 7:24)

I have Jesus. Right here, right now. In the middle of the piles of laundry and homeschool lessons and dusty furniture, I have Jesus.  When the people I love make loving hard, I have Jesus.  During those moments when everything seems all messed up and it feels like God has left me alone, I have Jesus.  Whether I believe it or not, I have Jesus.

I have Jesus, and it doesn't get any better than that.

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

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Mar
07

pre-sick prep

Last evening my husband came down with the stomach flu. Yuck!  He suffered with it through the night, and he looked rather pitiful for most of today....not a sight we're used to seeing around here.

Unfortunately, I doubt that my hubby will be the only sick, pitiful member of this family before the week is over. These things don't tend to go away quickly. Since I'm slightly paranoid about catching a stomach bug, I've washed my hands countless times today and have only eaten small amounts of food at a time, just in case. I'm dreading what the next few days may bring.

But besides keeping myself clean, hydrated, and empty, I've also used this day to prepare for the coming doom. Whenever I feel an illness coming on or know that one is likely to hit, I try to be intentional with the time I have before I'm either knocked out on the sofa or playing nurse. Or both. 

Here are some pre-sick tasks I find helpful:

DO THE TO-DO'S NOW-I like to take a look at my weekly plan to see if there are any tasks important enough to be done ahead of time. I'll run errands, pay bills, and make phone calls now instead of hoping for the time and energy later. 

GO SHOPPING-I'll make a quick grocery trip to stock up on the usual sick supplies:  Sprite, crackers, juice, Popsicles, fever medicine, tissues, paper towels and disinfecting wipes. I also might grab some frozen pizzas and boxes of mac & cheese so I don't have to work too hard for dinner if I'm sick while the family is still well (and hungry). 

WASH THE LAUNDRY (ALL OF IT)-As much as possible, I'll take care of all the dirty clothes today. I may need the washing machine for icky jammies and germ-infested sheets in the coming days. 

COOK AHEAD-I'm making a big pot of chicken soup for dinner, preparing extra pasta with lunch, and cooking up some homemade applesauce.  I want to have things in the fridge that can be heated up or dished out easily for meals and snacks. 

THINK OF ENTERTAINMENT-This is the time to stop by the library, search for favorites on Netflix, look for forgotten coloring books. If the kids are sick, they'll need some distractions. If I'm sick, they'll need some distractions. 

Well, that's what I have planned for the next few days. Maybe all of this planning will be for nothing. No sick kids. No nights spent in the bathroom. No scrubbing floors or washing sheets. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel tired and a bit queasy. But I think it's all in my head. I hope!

UPDATE:  It has begun. Before I could get this published, it hit the first of the kids. Hard. I suppose it's going to pick us off one by one. Thankfully, I'm usually spared until the last child had thrown up on me and the final load of dirty sheets has been tossed into the machine. Ahhh....something to look forward to.

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday. 

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Feb
29

writing this Word

I like writing out God's words. On Sunday, I stumbled upon a passage that I'll be copying during the course of this week.


Actually, I didn't just "stumble" upon it; I was led to it. My bookmark had been tucked away in the chapter for an entire week after some verses from the opposite page were read at church, but I never looked two columns over until this Sunday. I finally saw the passage when I needed it most. Providence.

Here's a little peek (check out the whole chapter):

Psalm 86:1-7; 11-13;

"Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you-you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God,
with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol."

Isn't God's steadfast love amazing and His sovereign, sometimes painful, plan full of mercy and grace? Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.....

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Feb
21

real life

Sometimes real life is just so very......real. Earlier this month, I told you that I wanted to share some thoughts on challenges we may face during this month of love and ways we can bless others this Valentine season. I had a list of ideas with dates noted in pen beside each one. And I wrote. A couple of times (here and here). 

Then reality hit me. Reality can be uncooperative like that. The simple things in life suddenly can become very complicated, and I find myself hanging on by my fingernails. I have very short nails. 

Through all this reality, God has been teaching me things. He's been teaching me about love. He's taught me lessons that I thought I already knew. Lessons I don't really want to learn. Lessons that I'm stuck in the middle of and just want to get past. 

So here I am. I'm being refined (by fire, I think), and I hear that's a beautiful thing. 

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