Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Celebrate Babysteps!

I cleared and organized a shelf yesterday.  Of course, that is not all that I did, but it was one extra thing that I did.  The shelf looks good, and I want to continue.  Yay me!  (I also had a periodontal cleaning that was horrid, but I don't want to talk about it.)

Too often we succeed, but not fast enough.  Too often, others progress, but we want their progress to be as fast as we want it to be.  Somehow, it is not good enough if it is not fast enough for our tastes. Today, let's give others the grace that we desire, and celebrate their achievements and progress.  Let's let them know that we see that they are trying, that they are making an effort.  Sometimes, we are harder on those who are closest to us! Let's extend to our nearest and dearest a heaping helping of grace.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Start with one thing

   I am always so fascinated when I see beautifully organized homes.  I get all excited to read about how they did it, and like a New Year's resolution, I determine that one day soon, my house will look like that.  I am reading now about Marie Kondo's tidying up methods. Fascinating, as usual.

 More often than not, I crash and burn before I start. It's too overwhelming.  We've got too much junk.  My DH is a packrat.  (This excuse is true).   I always have this feeling that I am going to fail miserably, so I don't start.

  Then I remember my Flylady training, and remember to just start with one thing, one change.  This is how we do anything.  For me, maybe it's one drawer.  Today.  
 
 Who knows what I might be able to accomplish tomorrow?

Saturday, September 12, 2015

My need for a peaceful Sunday


    Sunday at our house is not exactly restful. Since it is the Lord's day, my goal is to make it a great day.  In my dream world, this would include Sunday lunch out at a restaurant.  There are a few factors that make this not as desirable as it would seem.  First, we don't have the budget to eat out at a nice place every Sunday.  Second, since there are larger crowds at restaurants on Sunday afternoon, there is usually a longer wait, which cuts into our customary Sunday nap before choir practice and evening service.
   The reality though, of coming home to make lunch after the morning service is appalling to me.  Everyone is hungry and I don't have the time to make anything good.  So the best option is Saturday night cooking.  This is harder than it sounds because it seems like there is some social event or another going on every Saturday evening.
  Tonight was different.  I was home this evening, and I cooked and cleaned.  All I have to do tomorrow is reheat and serve.  All the cooking mess is done, and loading the dishes into the dishwasher will be a breeze.  The Sunday dinner stress is gone, and the budget has survived to see a new day!   My mom, Flylady and Dave Ramsey would be proud!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

A Homemaking Link Up!

Raising Homemakers is having a link up!

A Home like God intended


It's always interesting to me that God created the family in the beginning.  The family is what God designed so that we could grow and thrive. He created the family, and he gave us instructions on how to maintain it.  He made it to be a place of refuge and comfort.  He authorized it to be a place of instruction and correction.

Sin has all but destroyed what God intended for the Home to be.   Generations of selfishness and sinful behavior have defiled what God made on Day 6, and called good. It's so bad, in fact, that we sometimes don't even know what a godly home looks like!

Thankfully, God loves us all enough to teach us in His Word, and through others, and through His Holy Spirit, what Home is supposed to be.  The sad thing is that so many have given up, for whatever reason.  Here's what I know.  God loves us all, and He wants us to have the homelife that He intended.  It may not, and will not be perfect, but the feel and love of Home can be found!

In Titus chapter 2, God commands the older ladies to teach the younger ladies how to be Keepers at home.  It's a big deal to God, and if he wants us to learn about it, then he wants us to do it!  No matter where we are right now, we can start learning to be keepers at home.  Why should we do this?  Well, besides being obedient to God, it blesses us!

My belief is that a Keeper at home is about two things.  The house, and the people in it, and not in that order.  A Keeper at home grows daily in her walk with the Lord.  She educates herself in becoming a godly wife.  She learns how to train her children according to the Scriptures.  She strives for a clean and orderly home.  Step by step, she grows in her ability to cook and feed her family.  She does her best to be a good home economist, being wise with the Family's money.

That seems overwhelming!!!!!!!  Here is the sweet truth.  God does not want me to be overwhelmed!  He says that we are to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us.  God has a plan for helping me be the Keeper at home that He wants me to be that is not overwhelming.
He wants me to start and the He will grow me to be what He wants me to be!

Thank you, God for not expecting perfection from an imperfect being.  Thank you for helping me grow and thrive as a Keeper at home. I love You.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Be honest!

Yes, I am sure that you are probably not a liar. But I am not talking about lying to others, I am talking about being honest with yourself about yourself.   

Its so easy to complain about how I am being treated, about how he is behaving towards me.  We wonder why our spouse/family member is acting that way.  Often, their behaviour has absolutely nothing to do with us, and we need to "let go and let God".    However, many times, they are reacting to us. "I don't know why he/she is acting that way".   Really?   Then the time has come for you to get honest with yourself about you. The Bible says to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  Don't we want so-and-so to realize what they are doing?  Then we need to do the same!  Scripture also says to pull the beam out of our own eye first.   "Search me, oh God" is something that should be our constant prayer.

Dealing with difficult people in difficult circumstances is made easier when I am in an open and honest relationship with God.   When I can honestly admit to God that I am the one who is critical/nagging/grumpy/demanding/you-name-it, I can do my part to fix the relationship that is suffering.  When I realize things about my life need working on, I can be more patient with the other person who is working on their faults. Maybe he will change and maybe he won't, but I will have changed and my relationship with God will be better for it!


Wednesday, September 2, 2015

An image from my old blog

Still true, and I am still thankful. 
 This is still the reason I do what I do.

One thing that I have learned along the way

When we got married, way back in 1993, I didn't really think about what it would take to stay happily married for life.  I just assumed that we would, as I am an optimist. But as often is the case, marriage does not always bring out the best in people.   You no longer "put your best foot forward" like when before you were married.  You no longer practice the self-control you did before.  Then, you are surprised when problems arise and you argue and/or fight.
    A lot of marriages don't survive, and many that do, are not happy.  So here is one thought that I had about what I have learned.

1. Be teachable. Always.    Having and "know it all" spirit is terrible for marriage. Even thinking that God is somehow going to solve all of your problems isn't helpful.  Can He? Of course he can, but that is not His goal.  His goal is to transform me into the image of His Son.  He often uses marital discord to show me my failings, my sins.  If I am open, He will teach me what I need to do to fix myself, and ultimately, keep my marriage going strong.  
   You can learn about marriage from anywhere and/or anyone, but beware!  God is the Creator of marriage and He alone gives me truth about marriage. So, everything that I read or listen to about marriage had better line up with the Word of God.  If not, toss it out, quickly!  I like to read, so I read a lot about marriage in books, and online.  If you know the Scriptures, it will be easy to spot bad advice.
  I have learned alot.  For example, I know that, biblically, I must respect my husband.  But I didn't really have a good idea about what that meant in practicality. So God sent me several books and teachings that have helped me put the theoretical into practice.
  Do I always show the respect that I should in the way that I should?  Unfortunately, no.  But thanks be to God, love covers a multitude of sins.