Happy Independence Day! (See ideas to celebrate in the Kids & others blog).
We are doubly blessed to have certain freedoms because of our relationship with Jesus and more freedoms because we live in the United States of America.
Being a perpetual list maker, (things to do,things to buy, things to clean out, cook, redo, etc.)I made a list of freedoms we have that we probably take for granted without realizing how different our lives would be without them.
Most of these are"Freedom of Choice" issues which are free for all!!
We are free to choose:
-our work, our place to live
-our attitudes(The Bible has some things to say about this, however)
-how we use our resources-time, energy and money *more on this
-our thoughts-we are free to make up or change our minds
-who or what we serve and love
-what we read, watch, hear, even eat and drink (again, the Bible also guides us here)
-what we wear (we don't have to cover ourselves with burkas, veils, etc.--we could if we wanted)
-where we travel
-our words-what we say or choose not to say (even more important sometimes!)
-our feelings, to some extent (we choose what to think about and how to feel about it)
-our actions--or lack thereof -
-another direction, we can always have a new start with forgiveness in Jesus
While all these freedoms are"free for all", freedom is never free.
The rights/priviledges we enjoy and even abuse came at a great cost--Jesus gave his life to give us our freedom from death/sin/guilt and many people in our country gave their lives/energy/time to allow us many of the other freedoms we have.
Here is my question for us--what are we doing with all these freedoms? Are we using them to release ourselves and others from some type of bondage, or are we abusing our freedom to choose and making choices that are actually enslaving us and others?
What are you "enslaved" to ? What aspect of your life causes you to feel defeated? For some of us, it may be cluttered rooms, spending habits, disorganized paperwork, food/weight/health issues, relationship challenges, financial difficulties, time and energy shortages. Sometimes,we feel so defeated and overwhelmed we don't know how to get ourselves "free". The real kicker that makes us feel even worse is that we know our bondage is mostly our own doing--that some of our choices landed ourselves in this mess!!
I just got back from my Mom's. My sister was there from Washington,D.C.. When my Mom moved to her home 12 years ago, she had to move a bunch of boxes belonging to my sister,who has a tough time getting rid of things. We looked though some of the boxes last week, and she decided she could let go of old college notes, textbooks, etc. that had been boxed up for 30 years! I asked her if her life had been enriched at all by those boxes that had been sitting there all this time, and she admitted that they had not. She did find 3 or 4 things she wanted to take back to D.C., but since she couldn't bring herself to go through the boxes and deal with their contents earlier, she missed out on using those things. While this was very hard for her, she said an interesting thing. She said, "I feel free letting some of this go!" Then she cried because she said she had a room at their home that if she had gone through boxes and gotten rid of things, her daughter could have used it for a play room for friends coming over.
Jesus said that He came to give us life, and to give us an abundant life, (Not in terms of stuff!)
He also came to make us free--we always have a new start!
Pick one of the things keeping you in bondage and resolve to start breaking free with Jesus' help! Ask for wisdom, and break your problem into steps. Just start with one or two small changes--then keep going!
Clean out one drawer a day, throw away old newspapers/magazines(recycle), file some important papers, make those appointments you need to make, start moving more, get rid of junk food, drink more water, forgive someone, forgive yourself, change a lousy attitude, let go of a grievance--you see where this is going. Choose one or two things and get going in the direction you want to go--your choices determine your days!! And, you are "free" to choose!! (Not always, I know--we have some constraints because of others who need us and other obligations)
My sister felt empowered by throwing away some things, and thinks she'll go home and do more--when we get ourselves moving in the right direction, even little steps take us farther than we thought we could go! You have to let go of the old to make room for the new!
Celebrate your freedoms--make those choices that will set you free!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Summertime..and the Living is Easy
As I type this entry, I'm looking out at my backyard with 10 rose bushes blooming, my newly washed and trimmed dog snoozing on the porch, and mama birds busily grabbing worms for their babies nesting in trees nearby. I just love this time of year!!!May has always been special, not only for its beauty, but because as any student or teacher will tell you, it marks the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. In the blog, Caring for Kids and Others, I wrote about the idea of rest and summer(not terms I would use together!)and also offered ideas for 3 different "R"s--Relax, Rejuvenate, and Reconnect.
I have great memories of summer as a kid and as a mom doing a lot of the same things with my kids--read the blog for more.
However, this year I'm sharing with the mama birds the leaving of my babies as they continue to "spread their wings" and leave the nest. This will be the first summer in 26 years I'll have no child at home! Our oldest son is married and finishing his teaching year in Lindsborg--he's off to State Track tomorrow with the qualifiers from his team. (It's the 100th anniversary of the Kansas High Schools State Track Meet) Our daughter graduated from KSU 2 weeks ago and we've been busy repurposing furniture(painting) and going to thrift stores to "feather" her new nest in Kansas City where she'll be attending the KU Med Center Physical Therapy School. We leave tomorrow morning! (We've been having cooking lessons so she can make more than peanut butter sandwiches) Our youngest son was home from KSU 1 week, and has"migrated south" to work at a children's camp in Arkansas this summer. I'll miss all the fun we had when they were younger but will still find ways to enjoy summer! I hope some of these will help you, as well.
Summer is a good time to.....
-Do some serious porch sitting. We have two porches and we alternate depending on the wind and time of day. Make a relaxing spot for your family and friends to gather outside--whether it's comfy furniture on the porch or out in the yard, it's a great place for visiting.(Don't forget iced tea with mint, lemonade or root beer floats!)
-keep de-cluttering. Have the kids help go through some of their things, school papers, clothes, etc. Donate to a thrift store--maybe offer a prize(a new item from the thrift store?) for a goodde-clutterjob.
-simplify meals. Eat fresh as much as possible. We have strawberries, lettuce, rhubarb and spinach that we're harvesting now. Support your local farmer's market. Make home-made ice cream. We're working on the perfect sorbet or gelato (my son became a fan in Italy)
Cook ahead--buy ground beef or chuck when it is on sale and cook 5 pounds or so--let cool and package in freezeer bags for easy meals(tacos,taco salad, spaghetti, BBQbeef cups, pizza, etc.)Use your crockpot to do roasts and a whole chicken and save part of the meat for another meal. Grill more hamburgers/hotdogs than you'll use for one meal to save for another.
Think Cold--freezer desserts and snacks. Buy some popsicle type plastic molds and make your own--we use banans, yogurt(plain or flavored), fruit juice and whatever left-over fruit we have and puree in blender,then pour into molds. Much cheaper and healthier than store bought treats. Frozen grapes are great,too.
-Equip your car for "day camping" or trips.
You never know when you'll happen on the perfcect spot for a picnic--equip your car with paper plates, plastic or real silverware, napkins, cups and a paring knife plus blanket. Always take water on trips in a jug, and some paper towels or wet wipes. Traveling with extra play shoes/clothes is a good idea, too.
You never know when you'll happen on the perfcect spot for a picnic--equip your car with paper plates, plastic or real silverware, napkins, cups and a paring knife plus blanket. Always take water on trips in a jug, and some paper towels or wet wipes. Traveling with extra play shoes/clothes is a good idea, too.
-Take longer family trips
Traveling with kids, especially little ones is a challenge! We found that bringing some different books/toys than they usually have, snacks in individual zip lock bags, and waterbottles help. Cheese sticks are great snacks, as are fruit pieces. Books on tapes was another great car entertainment or I would read a book about the locale where we would be traveling. One year we followed the Platte River in Nebraska and the Oregon Trail. We had a great book on tape, WagonTrain 911, and I had made fruit leather for snacks--the kids really enjoyed it and learned a lot.
When packing clothes for the little ones, I would put clothes, socks,undies, hair bows,etc. for each outfit in 1 large ziplock bag. That way, to dress them, just pull out a bag and everything you need is all together!
-have fun--reconnect with your inner child,or borrow some kids--a lot of summer's best pleasures are the simplest--go barefoot, run through the sprinklers, eat watermelon, read a book in a hammock--you get the idea--and if you don't, check out the Caring for Kids and Others Blog!
I hope some of these ideas will make your summer living easier and may God Bless you and yours this summer!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
May Musings
Happy May Day. Don't foget to celebrate--leave some May Day baskets at friends, neighbors, or even strangers' homes--practice hospitality! My mom was great at sending us around the neighborhood to older neighbors' homes with our construction paper/doily baskets filled with bridal wreath spirea, irises and cookies. I also have wound a Maypole(!!) in an elementary school program. Now those are ways to bring in May!
The National Day of Prayer is another good way to begin May. Attend a gathering, or open your home for a group, or pray by yourself--but pray!!
Your Prayer Closet
Do you have a special area set aside to have a quiet time with God and pray? Not a whole closet, but maybe a quiet, comfortable chair--make a prayer basket to have with you. This idea is either from Joyce Landorf or EmilieBarnes, or maybe both. Fill a basket with your Bible, Devotions guide, tissues, pens, paper, and "Thinking of you" note cards. Start your day here, or make an appointment that works for you. The things in your basket will keep you from wandering off--and help you to follow through on good intentions. Sometimes God brings someone to mind when you're praying and you think, "I should drop them a note", then you forget. Speaking as the poster girl for good intentions but lousy follow-through, having a card right there might actually enable me to get it done!
Cyndy Salzmann in her book, Making Your Home a Haven, has a great chapter called "Finding a Quiet Place". As all moms know, the only place you can really be alone is the bathroom--if you lock the door. Having tried this myself, I was not suprised with her experiences--the kids slipped notes under the door and spent their time talking/knocking on the other side. She then read about Susannah Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley. She would pull her apron up over her head to pray, and all the children would know not to bother her. When Cyndy tried this, she was constantly distrubed by the children's giggles and laughter. Not what she was going for. Her final try was a notebook to write her prayers--can be done anytime, anywhere. If you're interrupted, you can pick it right back up. I mentioned the Mom's prayer group I'm in (Caring for Kids blog) and when we look back over our prayer lists, we're amazed at how God has worked!
We're told in the Bible to "pray without ceasing", and of course, you can pray anywhere. Pray while you're ironing your husband's shirts, pray for your kids for their day when tidying up their areas, pray for your town while out walking/driving. I pray for students I work with at school. (You'd better believe there is prayer in schools--many of us have been doing it for years, just not always out loud--God hears us either way!)
Abraham Lincoln once said he had been driven to his knees to pray many times because he had nowhere else to go. So.....whether you find a quiet spot, keep a prayer journal, go about your day, or go to your knees, Pray!!!
Putting hands and feet to our prayers
Being a"Martha"type, sometimes when I'm praying I think about what that person needs done--what would bless them in terms of a physical action. I really need to be more intentional about serving others--again, I have good intentions but get distracted and forget to put the intentions into deeds. When I do manage to carry out my thoughts, it is such a blessing--to me! (Hopefully the other person feels blessed, but it is such a priviledge to try to be part of God's answers to someone's needs)
Practicing Hospitality--do it with heart, not perfection!
What do you think of when you hear the hospitality word? I always thought it meant having the house in order and a good meal ready at a moment's notice to entertain. Then I read the book Table Talk, by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg. Mimi recalls growing up as a missionary child in Zaire--the nearest grocery store was two countries away, but her family entertained any travelers needing a meal and a place to spend the night.(This meant Mimi would give up her bed and sleep in the bathtub, with the stopper in, to keep out snakes!)
This book pretty much takes away any of our slick magazine picture ideas of having to have things perfect before we open our homes and lives to others!
Some of the definitions I've come across for hospitality are: seeing needs in others and reaching out to meet them; encouraging others; and making people feel loved and welcome.
The Bible tells us, "Be hospitable to one another without complaint." God may want to accomplish something in our guests' lives, or in ours, if we're willing to share what we have to bless others. Mimi and Mary Beth change our ideas again by telling us to focus on what we do have, not what we don't--"a fireplace, a big shade tree, a patio, a great coffee cake recipe. It's not the decor or even the menu that's important." (p.91,TableTalk) You free other people to practice hospitality when you can have them over in less than perfect conditions!
The most important key to hospitality is having a giving heart attitude, focusing on the other person's needs instead of your desire to make a good impression. I really enjoy having company, but too often I think things have to be a certain way and wear myself out and then can't enjoy my company. Remind you of anyone? I have always identified with Martha in the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible. She wanted to honor Jesus with things being "just right". Mary made her guest feel welcome by giving Him her full attention.
Preparing to be Hospitable
For me, I've learned to be organized before-hand so I can relax when I have guests or can meet a need. This means:
- keeping living room, guest bath and kitchen fairly clean (or a fast pick-up routine!)
-having a guestroom or bed ready to go with clean linens and clean guest towels, even a basket with magazines, guest size samples of shampoos, etc.
-keeping snack foods in the pantry,cookies and ice cream in the freezer
-cooking ground beef and chicken ahead of time and freezing in meal-sized plastic bags to prepare quick meals (tacos, spaghetti, chicken enchiladas,casseroles)
NOTE--these things are not necessary, but helpful if you're a "Martha" like me--the most important thing is to make your guests feel welcome and at home!
Being hospitable away from home
This was a new concept for me, but one I was doing anyway--mostly. Now I pay more attention to those around me.
- if you carry a purse, stock it with some pain relievers, decongestants, safety pins, and band aids. As a parent, teacher and activity sponsor traveling with kids to events, I learned to be prepared even with tape and a mending kit. I love those Swiss Army knives and have a small one of those, too, with all the neat tools. You never know when a safety pin or something else will save the day. Once at State Music Contest, we made a quick fix of gum to hold a loose clarinet pad! (This is your chance to be a female McGyver--remember that show?) I don't always carry a purse, but I've made plastic bags full of these supplies plus plastic gloves for our car glove boxes.
-be hospitable, meet others' needs or show encouragement standing in lines, waiting for appointments, and traveling. Look for ways you can help, even if it is just by smiling and being welcoming to new people at church or those in other situations who are alone. A warm smile and a kind word don't cost us any'thing but could make someone else's day--or give them the strength to keep on. I've been in situations where someone's kind attention made me feel welcome and helped me through some hard times.
Keep praying and look for ways to be hospitable!
The National Day of Prayer is another good way to begin May. Attend a gathering, or open your home for a group, or pray by yourself--but pray!!
Your Prayer Closet
Do you have a special area set aside to have a quiet time with God and pray? Not a whole closet, but maybe a quiet, comfortable chair--make a prayer basket to have with you. This idea is either from Joyce Landorf or EmilieBarnes, or maybe both. Fill a basket with your Bible, Devotions guide, tissues, pens, paper, and "Thinking of you" note cards. Start your day here, or make an appointment that works for you. The things in your basket will keep you from wandering off--and help you to follow through on good intentions. Sometimes God brings someone to mind when you're praying and you think, "I should drop them a note", then you forget. Speaking as the poster girl for good intentions but lousy follow-through, having a card right there might actually enable me to get it done!
Cyndy Salzmann in her book, Making Your Home a Haven, has a great chapter called "Finding a Quiet Place". As all moms know, the only place you can really be alone is the bathroom--if you lock the door. Having tried this myself, I was not suprised with her experiences--the kids slipped notes under the door and spent their time talking/knocking on the other side. She then read about Susannah Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley. She would pull her apron up over her head to pray, and all the children would know not to bother her. When Cyndy tried this, she was constantly distrubed by the children's giggles and laughter. Not what she was going for. Her final try was a notebook to write her prayers--can be done anytime, anywhere. If you're interrupted, you can pick it right back up. I mentioned the Mom's prayer group I'm in (Caring for Kids blog) and when we look back over our prayer lists, we're amazed at how God has worked!
We're told in the Bible to "pray without ceasing", and of course, you can pray anywhere. Pray while you're ironing your husband's shirts, pray for your kids for their day when tidying up their areas, pray for your town while out walking/driving. I pray for students I work with at school. (You'd better believe there is prayer in schools--many of us have been doing it for years, just not always out loud--God hears us either way!)
Abraham Lincoln once said he had been driven to his knees to pray many times because he had nowhere else to go. So.....whether you find a quiet spot, keep a prayer journal, go about your day, or go to your knees, Pray!!!
Putting hands and feet to our prayers
Being a"Martha"type, sometimes when I'm praying I think about what that person needs done--what would bless them in terms of a physical action. I really need to be more intentional about serving others--again, I have good intentions but get distracted and forget to put the intentions into deeds. When I do manage to carry out my thoughts, it is such a blessing--to me! (Hopefully the other person feels blessed, but it is such a priviledge to try to be part of God's answers to someone's needs)
Practicing Hospitality--do it with heart, not perfection!
What do you think of when you hear the hospitality word? I always thought it meant having the house in order and a good meal ready at a moment's notice to entertain. Then I read the book Table Talk, by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg. Mimi recalls growing up as a missionary child in Zaire--the nearest grocery store was two countries away, but her family entertained any travelers needing a meal and a place to spend the night.(This meant Mimi would give up her bed and sleep in the bathtub, with the stopper in, to keep out snakes!)
This book pretty much takes away any of our slick magazine picture ideas of having to have things perfect before we open our homes and lives to others!
Some of the definitions I've come across for hospitality are: seeing needs in others and reaching out to meet them; encouraging others; and making people feel loved and welcome.
The Bible tells us, "Be hospitable to one another without complaint." God may want to accomplish something in our guests' lives, or in ours, if we're willing to share what we have to bless others. Mimi and Mary Beth change our ideas again by telling us to focus on what we do have, not what we don't--"a fireplace, a big shade tree, a patio, a great coffee cake recipe. It's not the decor or even the menu that's important." (p.91,TableTalk) You free other people to practice hospitality when you can have them over in less than perfect conditions!
The most important key to hospitality is having a giving heart attitude, focusing on the other person's needs instead of your desire to make a good impression. I really enjoy having company, but too often I think things have to be a certain way and wear myself out and then can't enjoy my company. Remind you of anyone? I have always identified with Martha in the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible. She wanted to honor Jesus with things being "just right". Mary made her guest feel welcome by giving Him her full attention.
Preparing to be Hospitable
For me, I've learned to be organized before-hand so I can relax when I have guests or can meet a need. This means:
- keeping living room, guest bath and kitchen fairly clean (or a fast pick-up routine!)
-having a guestroom or bed ready to go with clean linens and clean guest towels, even a basket with magazines, guest size samples of shampoos, etc.
-keeping snack foods in the pantry,cookies and ice cream in the freezer
-cooking ground beef and chicken ahead of time and freezing in meal-sized plastic bags to prepare quick meals (tacos, spaghetti, chicken enchiladas,casseroles)
NOTE--these things are not necessary, but helpful if you're a "Martha" like me--the most important thing is to make your guests feel welcome and at home!
Being hospitable away from home
This was a new concept for me, but one I was doing anyway--mostly. Now I pay more attention to those around me.
- if you carry a purse, stock it with some pain relievers, decongestants, safety pins, and band aids. As a parent, teacher and activity sponsor traveling with kids to events, I learned to be prepared even with tape and a mending kit. I love those Swiss Army knives and have a small one of those, too, with all the neat tools. You never know when a safety pin or something else will save the day. Once at State Music Contest, we made a quick fix of gum to hold a loose clarinet pad! (This is your chance to be a female McGyver--remember that show?) I don't always carry a purse, but I've made plastic bags full of these supplies plus plastic gloves for our car glove boxes.
-be hospitable, meet others' needs or show encouragement standing in lines, waiting for appointments, and traveling. Look for ways you can help, even if it is just by smiling and being welcoming to new people at church or those in other situations who are alone. A warm smile and a kind word don't cost us any'thing but could make someone else's day--or give them the strength to keep on. I've been in situations where someone's kind attention made me feel welcome and helped me through some hard times.
Keep praying and look for ways to be hospitable!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Spring Is Here!
Yes--it's finally here--Spring! Get out there and enjoy all the new life around us. Just as God lavishes His love on us extravagantly, He does some amazing things in Spring. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, birds are singing, little creatures are being born. Go ahead--if you know any of the words to "Spring Is Busting Out All Over" from the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, run out to the back yard, throw back your head, arms open wide and belt it out! (This feels great plus, it might stun the kids enough that they decide to behave because you've finally been driven over the edge). If you prefer to celebrate a little more quietly, plant a pot of pansies. Here are some other ideas to usher in Spring. (For ideas to celebrate Easter, please see the Caring for Kids & Others blog)
Let the Sunshine In
Spring Cleaning is a custom in many places to prepares homes for Easter. On a more practical note, it was done to clean all the grime left by coal/wood heating during the winter. Women scrubbed celings, walls, woodwork, and floors; washed heavy drapes and curtains, cleaned windows, beat rugs and polished furniture. Whew--feel free to mix and match! I save most of that kind of heavy cleaning for the fall, before the holidays and when we're not dragging in so much dirt from working outside. However, I do like the idea of a fresh, clean house for Easter. I would enlist the help of the kids during Spring Break or on a Saturday morning and we would do some of these things. Knowing what motivated my kids, we turned it into a competitive Olympic-like event with awards for different events. (I noticed the http://www.flylady.net/ site had a fun Olympic theme during the Olympics with an event for you to do each day)
Spring Cleaning as a competitive sport. Have your "team" dress in grunge wear, bandanas tied around their foreheads, wearing grubby clothes, holding brooms, mops, and dustbusters. For fun, take a picture. Events (based on age and ability) can be cobweb crashing(put a dust rag over a broom, go down corners of walls), blind buffing(dusting window blinds), my favorite, under-the-bed diving (vacuuming or sweeping)with a bonus for most amazing thing found under the beds. (We found lots of socks, toys, etc.) A similar event would be couch-cushion flipping. Kids can use a dust buster or vacuum attachment to vacuum furniture.
Polishing furniture, mopping floors with rags tied over their shoes(speed moppping) and filling trash bags with 5-20 items to throw/give away from their rooms are other events. Make a special fruit juice "power drink" and a snack for post event ceremony.
This is a good time to have the kids help change out closets and drawers, getting out spring clothes and storing winter ones. Sort out the clothes that need to be given-away, mended or dry cleaned. (I'm on my way to the thrift store with a load)
As a last part of spring cleaning, let the sunshine in by cleaning your windows. You may want to clean windows yourself. Just as clean windows let in more light, reflect (pun intended) on any cleaning that needs to be done in the windows of your soul to let more of Jesus' light in--or out!Now, things are clean and sparkling, and you can "lighten-up" your decor by putting away afghans, using fewer pillows, and putting away some accessories. Open windows on a nice day to let in fresh air. (unless you have allergies!)
Stormy Weather
Along with spring's beautiful weather, we can also get storms. We've had some close calls and even damage from tornados in the last couple of years so being prepared has become more important to me. Have a clear idea of where to take shelter and make everyone have shoes on and jackets with them. Take your purse, cell phone, laptop and any medications.
Before a storm hits, protect your family records and memories.
Scan pictures onto computers, and CDs. Store old negatives and new CDs in a safety deposit box at a bank, alongwith other important family documents. (Make copies of everything: birth certificates, social security cards, passports, drivers' licenses and credit cards. Keep these in a safe place at home.) As for all your records on the computer, be sure to transfer to zip drives or back up in other ways. My daughter transferred our old family videos onto dvds so they will last longer, and we need to store those in several different spots as well.
I helped clean up damage after the Greensburg tornado and that experience left me with some undeliable quirks, my family would say. (New quirks, additional quirks, as I had plenty already)
I had visited Greensburg several times for sports events, and though I didn't live there, while driving in the Monday after the storm, I was fighting back sobs. The devastation was incredible--4 foot high piles of debris everywhere but in the streets, trees stripped of any limbs over ten feet high, helicopters and national guard vehicles everywhere--it was a war zone.
The only things that lightened our hearts while searching for things that could be salvaged was the cameraderie of people there and discoveries of things that remained intact.
We were at my brother-in-law's family home and found an old trunk stored in a bedroom closet. With no roof overhead and with the houses's walls leaning out and gone, this trunk came through with the contents a little damp, but able to be saved. Inside were some quilts, an old wedding dress, a lovingly constructed scrapbook of family history, and love letters tied with pink ribbon that were 106 years old!
While the Bible clearly tells us we are not to lay up treasures on earth as rust and moths will consume and thieves steal (and tornado blow away), to find those family history pieces was such a God gift. Most people would tell you the stuff they lost can be replaced, but some things cannot be replaced, such as family pictures and momentoes. We also happened to find a hundred year old wedding ring that had been stashed in an envelope with some old eyeglass lenses--we almost threw it away, but happened to open the envelope and there it was.
So here are my quirks, courtesy of this experience:
1. Seeing all the piles of debris made me want to go home and clean closets--we all have too much stuff. (I know, how weird is this?) Actually we were collecting clothes and things for the victims, too.
2. Another quirk is grabbing my purse, jacket, and pictures that we don't have on computer(although we're scanning those now, too) when the sirens sound and we have to go to the basement. (Last spring I finally left the framedpictures stored in the basement and had blank walls as we had several warnings and I got tired of hauling them back and forth.)I've also purchased an emergency wind-up(no batteries)lantern/radio with a cell phone charger at the Coleman factory outlet store in Wichita. (I bought a 2 person boat, too, but that's another quirk for another time--purely for fun, not for emergency preparedness!)
3. If family momentoes/pictures are important, then they need to be stored appropriately. I have some pocket watches from my grandfathers that need to be stored better and I'm putting old family pictures in notebooks. (No throwing out the good stuff because it was stored with the mundane!)
In Your Easter Bonnet
Just as ladies used to set off their best spring outfits with a new hat, set off your home with a little cleaning and sprucing up of the porches or entry. It's been a long, hard winter and those areas have taken a hit. Being crazed with spring fever, I put a forsythia wreath (fake), real pansies, bird houses and a couple of bunnies (also fake) on my porch. I swept off both porches and got out the wicker furniture cushions, so I am ready. Unfortunately, I also had to put down more ice melt after our storm last weekend. Each time I sweep it up, we get more ice and snow. I may leave it there until July! Send the kids around the yard with trash bags to pick up all the debris that has blown in over the winter.
Happy Trails to You
However you choose to celebrate Easter and spring, remember the gift that is a fresh start, a"new life", that we are loved and forgiven, that Jesus said he came to give us abundant life. Throw off the sad, old, defeating thoughts and actions and take hold of what He offers us. Get out in the sunshine and enjoy a fresh start.
(If you are a fan of old musicals, you will have noticed several song titles in this blog. Can you name them?)
Let the Sunshine In
Spring Cleaning is a custom in many places to prepares homes for Easter. On a more practical note, it was done to clean all the grime left by coal/wood heating during the winter. Women scrubbed celings, walls, woodwork, and floors; washed heavy drapes and curtains, cleaned windows, beat rugs and polished furniture. Whew--feel free to mix and match! I save most of that kind of heavy cleaning for the fall, before the holidays and when we're not dragging in so much dirt from working outside. However, I do like the idea of a fresh, clean house for Easter. I would enlist the help of the kids during Spring Break or on a Saturday morning and we would do some of these things. Knowing what motivated my kids, we turned it into a competitive Olympic-like event with awards for different events. (I noticed the http://www.flylady.net/ site had a fun Olympic theme during the Olympics with an event for you to do each day)
Spring Cleaning as a competitive sport. Have your "team" dress in grunge wear, bandanas tied around their foreheads, wearing grubby clothes, holding brooms, mops, and dustbusters. For fun, take a picture. Events (based on age and ability) can be cobweb crashing(put a dust rag over a broom, go down corners of walls), blind buffing(dusting window blinds), my favorite, under-the-bed diving (vacuuming or sweeping)with a bonus for most amazing thing found under the beds. (We found lots of socks, toys, etc.) A similar event would be couch-cushion flipping. Kids can use a dust buster or vacuum attachment to vacuum furniture.
Polishing furniture, mopping floors with rags tied over their shoes(speed moppping) and filling trash bags with 5-20 items to throw/give away from their rooms are other events. Make a special fruit juice "power drink" and a snack for post event ceremony.
This is a good time to have the kids help change out closets and drawers, getting out spring clothes and storing winter ones. Sort out the clothes that need to be given-away, mended or dry cleaned. (I'm on my way to the thrift store with a load)
As a last part of spring cleaning, let the sunshine in by cleaning your windows. You may want to clean windows yourself. Just as clean windows let in more light, reflect (pun intended) on any cleaning that needs to be done in the windows of your soul to let more of Jesus' light in--or out!Now, things are clean and sparkling, and you can "lighten-up" your decor by putting away afghans, using fewer pillows, and putting away some accessories. Open windows on a nice day to let in fresh air. (unless you have allergies!)
Stormy Weather
Along with spring's beautiful weather, we can also get storms. We've had some close calls and even damage from tornados in the last couple of years so being prepared has become more important to me. Have a clear idea of where to take shelter and make everyone have shoes on and jackets with them. Take your purse, cell phone, laptop and any medications.
Before a storm hits, protect your family records and memories.
Scan pictures onto computers, and CDs. Store old negatives and new CDs in a safety deposit box at a bank, alongwith other important family documents. (Make copies of everything: birth certificates, social security cards, passports, drivers' licenses and credit cards. Keep these in a safe place at home.) As for all your records on the computer, be sure to transfer to zip drives or back up in other ways. My daughter transferred our old family videos onto dvds so they will last longer, and we need to store those in several different spots as well.
I helped clean up damage after the Greensburg tornado and that experience left me with some undeliable quirks, my family would say. (New quirks, additional quirks, as I had plenty already)
I had visited Greensburg several times for sports events, and though I didn't live there, while driving in the Monday after the storm, I was fighting back sobs. The devastation was incredible--4 foot high piles of debris everywhere but in the streets, trees stripped of any limbs over ten feet high, helicopters and national guard vehicles everywhere--it was a war zone.
The only things that lightened our hearts while searching for things that could be salvaged was the cameraderie of people there and discoveries of things that remained intact.
We were at my brother-in-law's family home and found an old trunk stored in a bedroom closet. With no roof overhead and with the houses's walls leaning out and gone, this trunk came through with the contents a little damp, but able to be saved. Inside were some quilts, an old wedding dress, a lovingly constructed scrapbook of family history, and love letters tied with pink ribbon that were 106 years old!
While the Bible clearly tells us we are not to lay up treasures on earth as rust and moths will consume and thieves steal (and tornado blow away), to find those family history pieces was such a God gift. Most people would tell you the stuff they lost can be replaced, but some things cannot be replaced, such as family pictures and momentoes. We also happened to find a hundred year old wedding ring that had been stashed in an envelope with some old eyeglass lenses--we almost threw it away, but happened to open the envelope and there it was.
So here are my quirks, courtesy of this experience:
1. Seeing all the piles of debris made me want to go home and clean closets--we all have too much stuff. (I know, how weird is this?) Actually we were collecting clothes and things for the victims, too.
2. Another quirk is grabbing my purse, jacket, and pictures that we don't have on computer(although we're scanning those now, too) when the sirens sound and we have to go to the basement. (Last spring I finally left the framedpictures stored in the basement and had blank walls as we had several warnings and I got tired of hauling them back and forth.)I've also purchased an emergency wind-up(no batteries)lantern/radio with a cell phone charger at the Coleman factory outlet store in Wichita. (I bought a 2 person boat, too, but that's another quirk for another time--purely for fun, not for emergency preparedness!)
3. If family momentoes/pictures are important, then they need to be stored appropriately. I have some pocket watches from my grandfathers that need to be stored better and I'm putting old family pictures in notebooks. (No throwing out the good stuff because it was stored with the mundane!)
In Your Easter Bonnet
Just as ladies used to set off their best spring outfits with a new hat, set off your home with a little cleaning and sprucing up of the porches or entry. It's been a long, hard winter and those areas have taken a hit. Being crazed with spring fever, I put a forsythia wreath (fake), real pansies, bird houses and a couple of bunnies (also fake) on my porch. I swept off both porches and got out the wicker furniture cushions, so I am ready. Unfortunately, I also had to put down more ice melt after our storm last weekend. Each time I sweep it up, we get more ice and snow. I may leave it there until July! Send the kids around the yard with trash bags to pick up all the debris that has blown in over the winter.
Happy Trails to You
However you choose to celebrate Easter and spring, remember the gift that is a fresh start, a"new life", that we are loved and forgiven, that Jesus said he came to give us abundant life. Throw off the sad, old, defeating thoughts and actions and take hold of what He offers us. Get out in the sunshine and enjoy a fresh start.
(If you are a fan of old musicals, you will have noticed several song titles in this blog. Can you name them?)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A Woman's Place
A Woman's Place is in the House...and in the Senate.
As we celebrate Women's History month, did you know that Kansas is the only state to have a woman governor, senator and representative at the same time? (Joan Finney, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, and I can't remember who was in the House of Representatives--does anyone know?) Women have made an impact not only in our state, but everywhere. Think of the women who have influenced your life--they may not have been famous, but they left their mark on your corner of the world.
We can all point to a special woman who helped us develop a character trait, spiritual insight, work habit, or skill set that has enriched our life and in turn, the lives of others. My mother was the oldest of six and helped take care of the others plus worked and attended college part-time in Missouri. Her dream was to attend Kansas State University, to major in Home Economics. It took her 9 years of saving money, but she did it! Due to this, I definitely viewed attending college as a priviledge with the responsibility to learn and make the most of the opportunity. (I had plenty of fun,too!) My mom taught me perserverence and optimism. She taught me practical skills that have saved me and my family tons of money over the years--how to sew my own clothes, mend, cook and preserve food. (I have fond memories of stemming strawberries or blackberries to freeze while watching The Johnny Carson Show and actually, I only learned how to bake--I was usually helping my Dad with farm work so didn't help in the kitchen much!)I learned how to garden, refinish furniture, paint rooms and houses. My Mom also taught me that faith was very important and that Jesus loved me. She worked with my sister and our friends in Girl Scouts, 4-H, and church and I was impressed by how much she wanted to help other kids achieve--something that I care about also. My Aunt Sue modeled hospitality and is the person I know who best exemplifies being the hands and feet of Jesus in her service to others. I can think of teachers who taught me about self-discipline and to aim for excellence. Some of the women who impacted my world (and still do) are real life women I read about. My heroes(heroines?) are women who, through their faith in God, kept their families and others going in tough times. (See the Caring for Kids and Others blog for more)
Leaving a Legacy
What will we be remembered for? What impact are we having on the lives of others--in our home? In our community? (Dream big-- we can impact our country and world, too!) I have pretty quilts and recipes from my grandmothers, flowers from my Mom and aunt, but memories of their faith and forbearance are of most value to me. I often wonder what am I modeling for my children and others?
It all begins at home --what do we model? Do we do our tasks at home with excellence and work hard? Do we show our appreciation for what God has given us by taking good care of it?(Stewardship) Do we complete our tasks in a timely manner?(the laundry is my downfall) Do we handle life's frustrations with patience and good humor? The tough thing about being a Mom or even a Christian is that we know what behaviors/traits we'd like to see in our kids and others, but we also know that we fall pretty short of the mark ourselves. Sigh.
This is when we get to model honesty, making a Plan B, laughing at goof-ups, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. Just for starters--do your kids see you reading your Bible, praying, organizing your day, learning and trying new things? We have to walk the talk , or we'll be a "Do as I say, not what I do" kind of person, which is not a legacy we want to leave!
On the Home front...time for a Spring Fling!
One of the things we can model in our home is order and peace. Make room for the things that matter and improve your life by getting rid of those that don't.
Give Me Five
This idea comes from the book, The Art Of Home, by Hannah Keeley. Grab a trash bag and throw 5 things away everyday. ( Establilsh a give away bag, as well) If you get everyone in the family doing this, you can de-clutter a lot over several weeks. You can require everyone to do this little exercise and even offer small incentives...be sure to check kids' throw away bags and make it clear that they can only bag up their own stuff, not someone else's! Teach your kids that stuff is only stuff and God doesn't want us to love stuff more than Him. Some things are important and need to be taken care of, such as family memory pieces or equipment. Getting rid of stuff also teaches us that stuff can't make us happy and actually can make us unhappy when we have to pay for it, clean it, and store it. Let It Go!
See some Spring Break/Spring Cleaning ideas inthe Kids and Others Blog.
On the financial front
(Did you know the first woman cabinet member was Francis Perkins, Secretary of the Treasury for Franklin D.Roosevelt, from Kansas?) As I was de-cluttering, I was purely disgusted with myself for the money I had spent on knickknacks, magazines,and other things that I'm now getting rid of. Slap my hands if you see me near anything like that. Notice I left out books. Books are my addiction. I have been donating many, but have a gazillion still. (I do read them again, andmany are children's books I enjoy reading to young visitors) Even when I buy them at library sales, too many is too many! When you de-clutter, make note of what your spending downfalls are and try to steer clear in the future.
The Power of Women
If you go to Flylady.com, look for last March in the Archives. They had a challenge for women to pay an extra $16 off their credit card bills. Their goal was to pay off about 2 million. When the month was over, an amazing $9 million of debt had been paid--wow! Setting financial goals is important and even small amouunts paid to retire debt or to save can make a big difference.
A Woman's words to remember...
These words from Martha Washington are on a large poster hanging on one of our high school teacher's classroom door--they provide a good lesson for all of us.
"I am determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have learned from experience that a greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
(This is the equivalent to the apostle Paul's statement that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he was in--even in jail for preaching about Christ. And one of my favorite bible verses urges us to..." be content with such things as you have for He himself has said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake You.")
As we celebrate Women's History month, did you know that Kansas is the only state to have a woman governor, senator and representative at the same time? (Joan Finney, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, and I can't remember who was in the House of Representatives--does anyone know?) Women have made an impact not only in our state, but everywhere. Think of the women who have influenced your life--they may not have been famous, but they left their mark on your corner of the world.
We can all point to a special woman who helped us develop a character trait, spiritual insight, work habit, or skill set that has enriched our life and in turn, the lives of others. My mother was the oldest of six and helped take care of the others plus worked and attended college part-time in Missouri. Her dream was to attend Kansas State University, to major in Home Economics. It took her 9 years of saving money, but she did it! Due to this, I definitely viewed attending college as a priviledge with the responsibility to learn and make the most of the opportunity. (I had plenty of fun,too!) My mom taught me perserverence and optimism. She taught me practical skills that have saved me and my family tons of money over the years--how to sew my own clothes, mend, cook and preserve food. (I have fond memories of stemming strawberries or blackberries to freeze while watching The Johnny Carson Show and actually, I only learned how to bake--I was usually helping my Dad with farm work so didn't help in the kitchen much!)I learned how to garden, refinish furniture, paint rooms and houses. My Mom also taught me that faith was very important and that Jesus loved me. She worked with my sister and our friends in Girl Scouts, 4-H, and church and I was impressed by how much she wanted to help other kids achieve--something that I care about also. My Aunt Sue modeled hospitality and is the person I know who best exemplifies being the hands and feet of Jesus in her service to others. I can think of teachers who taught me about self-discipline and to aim for excellence. Some of the women who impacted my world (and still do) are real life women I read about. My heroes(heroines?) are women who, through their faith in God, kept their families and others going in tough times. (See the Caring for Kids and Others blog for more)
Leaving a Legacy
What will we be remembered for? What impact are we having on the lives of others--in our home? In our community? (Dream big-- we can impact our country and world, too!) I have pretty quilts and recipes from my grandmothers, flowers from my Mom and aunt, but memories of their faith and forbearance are of most value to me. I often wonder what am I modeling for my children and others?
It all begins at home --what do we model? Do we do our tasks at home with excellence and work hard? Do we show our appreciation for what God has given us by taking good care of it?(Stewardship) Do we complete our tasks in a timely manner?(the laundry is my downfall) Do we handle life's frustrations with patience and good humor? The tough thing about being a Mom or even a Christian is that we know what behaviors/traits we'd like to see in our kids and others, but we also know that we fall pretty short of the mark ourselves. Sigh.
This is when we get to model honesty, making a Plan B, laughing at goof-ups, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. Just for starters--do your kids see you reading your Bible, praying, organizing your day, learning and trying new things? We have to walk the talk , or we'll be a "Do as I say, not what I do" kind of person, which is not a legacy we want to leave!
On the Home front...time for a Spring Fling!
One of the things we can model in our home is order and peace. Make room for the things that matter and improve your life by getting rid of those that don't.
Give Me Five
This idea comes from the book, The Art Of Home, by Hannah Keeley. Grab a trash bag and throw 5 things away everyday. ( Establilsh a give away bag, as well) If you get everyone in the family doing this, you can de-clutter a lot over several weeks. You can require everyone to do this little exercise and even offer small incentives...be sure to check kids' throw away bags and make it clear that they can only bag up their own stuff, not someone else's! Teach your kids that stuff is only stuff and God doesn't want us to love stuff more than Him. Some things are important and need to be taken care of, such as family memory pieces or equipment. Getting rid of stuff also teaches us that stuff can't make us happy and actually can make us unhappy when we have to pay for it, clean it, and store it. Let It Go!
See some Spring Break/Spring Cleaning ideas inthe Kids and Others Blog.
On the financial front
(Did you know the first woman cabinet member was Francis Perkins, Secretary of the Treasury for Franklin D.Roosevelt, from Kansas?) As I was de-cluttering, I was purely disgusted with myself for the money I had spent on knickknacks, magazines,and other things that I'm now getting rid of. Slap my hands if you see me near anything like that. Notice I left out books. Books are my addiction. I have been donating many, but have a gazillion still. (I do read them again, andmany are children's books I enjoy reading to young visitors) Even when I buy them at library sales, too many is too many! When you de-clutter, make note of what your spending downfalls are and try to steer clear in the future.
The Power of Women
If you go to Flylady.com, look for last March in the Archives. They had a challenge for women to pay an extra $16 off their credit card bills. Their goal was to pay off about 2 million. When the month was over, an amazing $9 million of debt had been paid--wow! Setting financial goals is important and even small amouunts paid to retire debt or to save can make a big difference.
A Woman's words to remember...
These words from Martha Washington are on a large poster hanging on one of our high school teacher's classroom door--they provide a good lesson for all of us.
"I am determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have learned from experience that a greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
(This is the equivalent to the apostle Paul's statement that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he was in--even in jail for preaching about Christ. And one of my favorite bible verses urges us to..." be content with such things as you have for He himself has said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake You.")
Kitchen Wonders
How are things going in your kitchen, the heart of the home? I am doing the things I write about so I have been decluttering, cleaning and improving my kitchen,too. I have turned up some interesting finds and discoveries.
For instance, cleaning out the pantry, checking expiration dates on cannned goods, I found a can of cranberry sauce that expired in 1995. We also have 4 more cans as every year I buy more at Thanksgiving when I am the only one who will eat it--why do I keep doing this? We also have, for reasons unknown to me, 12 cans of pineapple--crushed,rings and chunks. I don't even use pineapple much.
This leads me to wonder, "What was I thinking, buying so much of some things?" Note to self--just because something is on sale doesn't mean it's a good buy if no one eats it! I'm also wondering how to use all this pineapple!
I got really brave and cleaned out the broom closet, where we store (besides the broom!)cleaning supplies, dust rags, household tools and odds and ends. Some finds turned out to be odder than others, such as a bottle of stuff to take the chlorine out of tap water when cleaning your fishbowl. We haven't had a goldfish in the house since about 1998. From the number of different cleaners I have, you would expect our house to be a whole lot cleaner than it is. I end up using plain old vinegar a lot, but have been lately led astray by all the new aroma-therapy type cleaners. They do make mopping the floor more fun, though probably no more clean. Another note to self--quit buying this stuff when you still have plenty!
I am wondering if any of you want to share any of your unexpected "finds" with us--we'd love to hear from you!
Here's the big "I wonder..., as in I wonder what to have for supper/dinner?"
Cooking is not my favorite thing so I have struggled with this over the years. However, I firmly believe in the importance of family mealtimes and serving healthy food. Some of our best family bonding and just catching up happened at supper. I felt really good about those evenings when I had planned ahead and the food was ready, and not so good when meals were late or not all they could be. Just like with everything else, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Enlist everyone's help and fill out index cards with complete meal ideas starting with the entree, bread, a vegetable, fruit and/or dessert. Each person can plan one or two favorite meals and you can get 14-21 index cards of meals and rotate. Theme meals are my favorites--Mexican, Italian, BBQ, Cajun, Soup and sandwiches,etc.
Each week, pick 7 of your meal cards, then plan your grocery/shopping list. Make your list of needed items, (check your pantry first!) choosing entrees according to what's on sale. Keep an"emergency" meal on hand, such as makings for pancakes, spaghetti, or pizza. Just pull your index card meal for each day and you're good to go. I enjoy using the crockpot as I start supper at 8:oo a.m. and can do something else the rest of the day without having to stop to make suppper later. (Especially if spring ever gets here, as I will be outside gardening and I forget to come in to start supper!)
Adding wonder... since my cooking is so-so, I go for presentation or "style" points. Light candles, use different dishes, put some flowers or other decorative items on the table to make family meals special. A theme night meal with corresponding music is fun--we would replicate a meal we'd had on travels or from a book we'd read. Once we did a "land run" supper after reading a book about the settling of Oklahoma with the land run where people raced to stake out a claim. We ate beans and cornbread off granite wear plates (camping kind) and had used sticks and twine to make "claims" in the backyard. The kids lined up and raced to choose the best "farm" location, tying a bandana around the twig to "claim" it. Our next-door neighbor got in the act by being a "sooner", he tied a bandana to a claim before the "run" started! As you can tell, I enjoy the details surrounding a meal more than the preparation!
Whatever you serve, serve it with love. Remember to give thanks and ask God's blessing for your food. Ask too, for God to help you make your kitchen a fun, productive and welcoming place--and to use family mealtimes to strengthen and encourage your family.
I hope you've been able to add some fun and better function in your kitchen this month. And if you have a good recipe for canned pineapple,let me know!
For instance, cleaning out the pantry, checking expiration dates on cannned goods, I found a can of cranberry sauce that expired in 1995. We also have 4 more cans as every year I buy more at Thanksgiving when I am the only one who will eat it--why do I keep doing this? We also have, for reasons unknown to me, 12 cans of pineapple--crushed,rings and chunks. I don't even use pineapple much.
This leads me to wonder, "What was I thinking, buying so much of some things?" Note to self--just because something is on sale doesn't mean it's a good buy if no one eats it! I'm also wondering how to use all this pineapple!
I got really brave and cleaned out the broom closet, where we store (besides the broom!)cleaning supplies, dust rags, household tools and odds and ends. Some finds turned out to be odder than others, such as a bottle of stuff to take the chlorine out of tap water when cleaning your fishbowl. We haven't had a goldfish in the house since about 1998. From the number of different cleaners I have, you would expect our house to be a whole lot cleaner than it is. I end up using plain old vinegar a lot, but have been lately led astray by all the new aroma-therapy type cleaners. They do make mopping the floor more fun, though probably no more clean. Another note to self--quit buying this stuff when you still have plenty!
I am wondering if any of you want to share any of your unexpected "finds" with us--we'd love to hear from you!
Here's the big "I wonder..., as in I wonder what to have for supper/dinner?"
Cooking is not my favorite thing so I have struggled with this over the years. However, I firmly believe in the importance of family mealtimes and serving healthy food. Some of our best family bonding and just catching up happened at supper. I felt really good about those evenings when I had planned ahead and the food was ready, and not so good when meals were late or not all they could be. Just like with everything else, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Enlist everyone's help and fill out index cards with complete meal ideas starting with the entree, bread, a vegetable, fruit and/or dessert. Each person can plan one or two favorite meals and you can get 14-21 index cards of meals and rotate. Theme meals are my favorites--Mexican, Italian, BBQ, Cajun, Soup and sandwiches,etc.
Each week, pick 7 of your meal cards, then plan your grocery/shopping list. Make your list of needed items, (check your pantry first!) choosing entrees according to what's on sale. Keep an"emergency" meal on hand, such as makings for pancakes, spaghetti, or pizza. Just pull your index card meal for each day and you're good to go. I enjoy using the crockpot as I start supper at 8:oo a.m. and can do something else the rest of the day without having to stop to make suppper later. (Especially if spring ever gets here, as I will be outside gardening and I forget to come in to start supper!)
Adding wonder... since my cooking is so-so, I go for presentation or "style" points. Light candles, use different dishes, put some flowers or other decorative items on the table to make family meals special. A theme night meal with corresponding music is fun--we would replicate a meal we'd had on travels or from a book we'd read. Once we did a "land run" supper after reading a book about the settling of Oklahoma with the land run where people raced to stake out a claim. We ate beans and cornbread off granite wear plates (camping kind) and had used sticks and twine to make "claims" in the backyard. The kids lined up and raced to choose the best "farm" location, tying a bandana around the twig to "claim" it. Our next-door neighbor got in the act by being a "sooner", he tied a bandana to a claim before the "run" started! As you can tell, I enjoy the details surrounding a meal more than the preparation!
Whatever you serve, serve it with love. Remember to give thanks and ask God's blessing for your food. Ask too, for God to help you make your kitchen a fun, productive and welcoming place--and to use family mealtimes to strengthen and encourage your family.
I hope you've been able to add some fun and better function in your kitchen this month. And if you have a good recipe for canned pineapple,let me know!
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Heart of the Home
If your household is like ours, everyone spends alot of time in the kitchen.
The kitchen is truly the heart of your home. Think of the activites that take place here: food preparation, food storage, meals and snacks, clean-up, and possibly desk work or homework. Our kitchen has also served as the place for preschool activities, 4-H club crafts meetings, birthday parties from age one to 50, high school and college friends hang-out, and a home hair cut parlor. Throw in the occasional bedtime snack and late night talk session ,family meeeting and staging area and even science laboratory with experiments gone awry. (Some of these have been inadvertent--such as the time we tried to make root beer at home. My kids have a memorable impression of fermentation as upon uncapping our root beer, it sprayed all over the ceiling, cabinets and floor.)(This is what is called false economy--it would have been much cheaper to buy rootbeer!) Since our kitchens are so important, this month let's put our"hearts" into making them fun and functional.
Move It and Lose It--yep, just another way to say Declutter! Take back your "prime real estate", the areas best for storing the things you need/use the most. Get rid of duplicates(how many cool whip containers, let alone stray lids, does a family need, after all?) Make a game with the kids of matching up other plastic containers and lids--pitch loners and extras. Try to get as much off your counters and out of your cabinets as possible. I gave away a bread machine and a ice tea maker because I considered them space hogs. I'd rather have workable space than gadgets--I make tea by boiling water and make bread dough in my mixer. Move out what can be stored elsewhere--my canner and turkey roaster live on shelves in the garage most of the time. I use my coffee maker at most once a week, so it doesn't get a spot on the cabinet either. Move out seasonal or rarely used items from prime space.
Get In the Zone-in kitchen design,we try to store things at their point of use. In the mix/bake zone store mixers, blenders, food processors, baking ingredients, baking spices, measuring cups, spoons, and spatulas. In the cook zone around your range you would store pots, pans, potholders,utensils like spatulas, big spoons, cooking spices like basil, tumeric, dill, garlic salt, pepper, etc. I have acrylic cutting boards, knives and peelers next to my sink for food preparation.
You get the idea. A lot of frustration can be avoided if you have room to work and can find what you need.
Who's the Mom? Freeing up space can help you be amazing. Create an "emergency hospitality" shelf where you keep dips, chips, crackers, pizza crust mix, fancy cookies for tea parties, etc. You can freeze cookies, chili and other items also. (Just keep them hidden from your family) You will be prepared when friends drop by or your son brings 30 people home from school for lunch on the spur of the moment. (You will remember your emergency stash and can quit hyperventilating.) You can also use space to make room for other activities, too. I still have a cabinet full of play dough, crayons, coloring books, and puzzles that younger kids would use at our kitchen table while I worked.
Pace Yourself--do only 1 drawer, shelf, etc. at a time. Don't forget to clean out and reorganize your pantry. Throw out expired items and make a list of what is needed.
Heart and Soul-after decluttering and reorganizing, make your kitchen fun as well as functional. Clean, shine and add "heart". Display a few items that make your heart happy, play soothing or peppy music, burn candles at dinner, post bible verses and quotes to inspire you and most of all--do a heart check. Your attitude and energy put the heart into your kitchen and everywhere else. Nothing says love like a happy mom/wife and great smells coming from the kitchen. (I still remember the smell of blackberry cobbler greeting me after getting home from school--yum!) Remember, you're not just making supper--you're making memories! You're feeding body and soul, so do it with all your heart!
The kitchen is truly the heart of your home. Think of the activites that take place here: food preparation, food storage, meals and snacks, clean-up, and possibly desk work or homework. Our kitchen has also served as the place for preschool activities, 4-H club crafts meetings, birthday parties from age one to 50, high school and college friends hang-out, and a home hair cut parlor. Throw in the occasional bedtime snack and late night talk session ,family meeeting and staging area and even science laboratory with experiments gone awry. (Some of these have been inadvertent--such as the time we tried to make root beer at home. My kids have a memorable impression of fermentation as upon uncapping our root beer, it sprayed all over the ceiling, cabinets and floor.)(This is what is called false economy--it would have been much cheaper to buy rootbeer!) Since our kitchens are so important, this month let's put our"hearts" into making them fun and functional.
Move It and Lose It--yep, just another way to say Declutter! Take back your "prime real estate", the areas best for storing the things you need/use the most. Get rid of duplicates(how many cool whip containers, let alone stray lids, does a family need, after all?) Make a game with the kids of matching up other plastic containers and lids--pitch loners and extras. Try to get as much off your counters and out of your cabinets as possible. I gave away a bread machine and a ice tea maker because I considered them space hogs. I'd rather have workable space than gadgets--I make tea by boiling water and make bread dough in my mixer. Move out what can be stored elsewhere--my canner and turkey roaster live on shelves in the garage most of the time. I use my coffee maker at most once a week, so it doesn't get a spot on the cabinet either. Move out seasonal or rarely used items from prime space.
Get In the Zone-in kitchen design,we try to store things at their point of use. In the mix/bake zone store mixers, blenders, food processors, baking ingredients, baking spices, measuring cups, spoons, and spatulas. In the cook zone around your range you would store pots, pans, potholders,utensils like spatulas, big spoons, cooking spices like basil, tumeric, dill, garlic salt, pepper, etc. I have acrylic cutting boards, knives and peelers next to my sink for food preparation.
You get the idea. A lot of frustration can be avoided if you have room to work and can find what you need.
Who's the Mom? Freeing up space can help you be amazing. Create an "emergency hospitality" shelf where you keep dips, chips, crackers, pizza crust mix, fancy cookies for tea parties, etc. You can freeze cookies, chili and other items also. (Just keep them hidden from your family) You will be prepared when friends drop by or your son brings 30 people home from school for lunch on the spur of the moment. (You will remember your emergency stash and can quit hyperventilating.) You can also use space to make room for other activities, too. I still have a cabinet full of play dough, crayons, coloring books, and puzzles that younger kids would use at our kitchen table while I worked.
Pace Yourself--do only 1 drawer, shelf, etc. at a time. Don't forget to clean out and reorganize your pantry. Throw out expired items and make a list of what is needed.
Heart and Soul-after decluttering and reorganizing, make your kitchen fun as well as functional. Clean, shine and add "heart". Display a few items that make your heart happy, play soothing or peppy music, burn candles at dinner, post bible verses and quotes to inspire you and most of all--do a heart check. Your attitude and energy put the heart into your kitchen and everywhere else. Nothing says love like a happy mom/wife and great smells coming from the kitchen. (I still remember the smell of blackberry cobbler greeting me after getting home from school--yum!) Remember, you're not just making supper--you're making memories! You're feeding body and soul, so do it with all your heart!
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