Thursday's Thoughts -- my WHY

"She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard."  This is a verse on my memory list and I've been praying about how it can be implemented in my life.  I want to be a blessing to my husband and family. 

A few years back I heard of a business called thirty-one and the ladies in my Bible study talked highly of the bags from that company.  Unfortunately with our large family we don't have extras even for wonderful bags, so I had to just enjoy "window" shopping in the catalog.

Just recently, I saw a catalog again at a book party.  I had never heard of that.  The lady is my pastor's sister and she lives in MO, but she sent catalogs to her nephew and his wife and orders were taken that way.  Pretty cool.  I'm learning about different ways to party!!!!  It really seemed like something I could be involved in. 

So I signed up.  They ask you what is your WHY all the time around this company.   Hadn't really thought about it, but now I have 5 WHY's on different levels.

#5 is that I really liked the bags, but don't have the funds in our bank for these things, this way I can afford a few bags myself

#4 I love organizing and have always thought it would be fun to help people with that.  There are so many great things for organizing in the catalog and a myriad of ways to use different bags.

the top 3 are not in any order necessarily

#3 I love to share with women and really want to help them grow in their lives.  To help them be successful as wives and mothers.  This gives me a chance to get out there and get to know people and have an opportunity to minister in their lives

#2 I really believe that God has called me to stay home, but again with our size of family things get pretty tight financially.  So I'm excited to see how God is going to use this in our lives.  My kids need me home - need a constant, a north star.  Hubby and I tried tag-teaming it and it doesn't work out so well.

#1 My husband would really love to be back in full-time ministry.  I would love to support him in that from home. 

I can't tell you how much I have been on my knees about this and right now while it's a bit stressful at times, I see that it won't be stressful always and mostly just for the first couple of months as I charter new waters and navigate new territory. 

Keep pressing on!  What's your WHY?  We talked about priorities last week and I can't believe how much my WHY ties into that.  It helps me have guidance about what takes precedence in my life.

Have a great day!  Today my box arrives, I saw that it's shipping out of the big town near here today.  Yay!  I'm so excited.

Steph

Wednesday's Household - conquering my day

Because I'm absolutely crazy and added something new to my workweek, I need to keep my time focused.  I am very much the SHE (Side-tracked Home Executive) that FLYLady talks about.  I go to my e-mail and see a note from a friend and instead of getting something done that was on my list, now I'm e-mailing my friend.  

So yesterday, I was almost in tears trying to figure out this new business (and I know that it is just for now) and I completely overwhelmed myself watching videos and reading papers on how this all works. And my national director posted a video about organizing.  Something she said clicked for me - make a top 5 list.  A list of the top 5 things you need to do tomorrow.  So I did.

Focused is so much less stressed.  Helps so much.  But I decided to focus time periods as well.

• When I wake up in the morning until 6:30 - I must get breakfast ready, make coffee (maybe), make Carpenter's lunch, and right after he leaves, get the fire going and the laundry started and the bathroom clean.
• Till 6:30, I'm working on Scripture Typer, and change the laundry over at 7:00
• From then until 8:00 I need to do dishes and/or do the room project for the day (M-under beds, T-closet; W-dressers; Th-desks; F-floors).  I'm also hurrying the kids' through their paces of piano, dressed, make bed, etc.
• Till 9:00 - Driving kids to school, breakfast for the little ones and me and e-mail check

That's as far as I've gotten.  But I'm gonna keep adding some order to my days.  Making a list of rules is overwhelming but when I view it as a guide not a rule, it helps.

Keep pressing on,

Steph

Cooking Tuesday - Beef and Bean Burritos

Beef and Bean Burritos

3  lbs gr. beef

1 cup water

¼ cup taco seasoning

16 tortillas

3 cans refried beans.

Cook meat and drain.  Add 1/4 cup of taco seasoning to the meat and water.  Simmer 20 minutes until water has evaporated.  Cool.  For each burrito, place ¼ c gr beaf and 1/3 c refried beans on each shell.  Or divide one can of beans between five shells.  Wrap like a burrito and wrap in tin foil.  Place in Ziploc bags.

The recipe doesn't call for it, but you can put a sprinkle of cheese on the meat and beans before you wrap it up.  Yum!!!  Take from the freezer and take foil off,  place on a microwave safe plate and heat for about 2 minutes depending on your microwave.  Or if you are making a meal out of it (we don't usually do that), bake in the oven at 350 degrees till heated through.

Keep pressing on.

Steph

Project Monday - Onions

I'm trying something new this week.  I planted the root parts of the onions to see if I can grow my own.  I have pictures, but will have to post those next week.  I would love to be able to have free onions. 

Next time you cut an onion, try planting the root end of it and see what happens.  Stay tuned for pics of this project.

Keep pressing on,
Steph

Titus 2 Tea - a new study

I'm so excited that we are going to start a new Bible study in a town near my house.  We'll be covering some of the same things at the study we did last year, but with a whole new group of women.  The time will also be perfect for moms with little ones.  We're meeting mornings on Thursdays. 

If you live near here and are interested, let me know.  If you live far away, please pray for me as I prepare that I would be organized in my thoughts and words, and that I would use the quiet minutes in my house to prepare for this.

So excited!

Steph

Thursday's thoughts - Tribulation produces patience

Romans 5 says that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character and character, hope. 

This will be a short thought for the day.  How many times do I begrudge the tribulation that is in my life?  Sometimes I feel that tribulation is my kids clamoring for my attention, or being sick for the fourth time this winter, or the laundry pile that is never-ending?  But most of the time I don't remember that it's tribulation. 

I easily turn to grumbling and wishing for a different life.  But if the gold jumped from the fire every time it got too hot, it would never be refined. 

As one of my friends reminded me this week, "It's hard to trust God in the small things." I forget I need to.  The big things, I usually am running to His feet and quickly leaving all my burdens there.   But the little things, well I forget that they are tribulations as well.  That I'm learning perseverance/patience with them.  And it's how I respond to the little things that earns me perseverance, which in turn brings about character.  And at the end of all these things is hope. 

May you and I remember today that the little one with the whiny voice, the running nose, and all the things they need today, will yield patience and character in our lives.

Keep pressing on,
Steph

Wednesday's Household - Priorities

So many great things to do these days, but how do I know what to choose?  Will my life be fulfilling if there isn't something scheduled for every evening?   "Everyone else seems to manage just fine and they have kids in all the sports, why shouldn't I?"  "There's a bake class for the girls, if mine don't go they'll be lacking in this area of their lives?"

Sports, baking classes, 4-H stuff, parties, work - these are all great things but... at what point do I say no?  Really there are no right answers across the board.  There are only answers for you and your family.  And no one should judge you for the choices you make.  I think too many times our choices are made because - What will people think?  This is not the right question, not at all a good reason for making a choice.  Our choice must be made based on other things.

First of all, talk with your husband.  Prayerfully, together, consider what God has for your family.  Your family is unique and no one else will be involved in all the same things as you are.  Make a list of your desires for your family.  What do you think God has for you?  Are you desiring to be in ministry?  Can these things allow for that ministry? 

Once you have your list, prioritize that list.  Decide what is negotiable and what takes top priority in your family.  If it came to these two activities on the same night, which one would take precedence and why?  Do you have a reason for what you are planning every night?  Or is it just because nothing else is going on that night?

Now, you can make decisions based on what is on the list.  The list is not something you should be enslaved to, but rather something that helps give you direction. 

What about planning to be home as much as possible?   My kids love being home.  They can't wait to get home and see the babies I watch during the day.  They tend to be disappointed if they don't get a chance to see their younger "siblings" that day.    Is this not valuable time?  Maybe nothing is scheduled.  Maybe you didn't plan a game night at home.  But just being together is necessary for our growing family. 

Let's not do things by the "seat of our pants" as it were, but rather prayerfully, thoughtfully considering the things we choose to be involved in and the ramifications that may come because we choose them.

Some things are beneficial for US to do with our children.  A baking day at home may be much more valuable than another night out in town to let someone else teach our kids.  Again there is no judgment on your choices.  Your family is unique and you need to choose the things that your family will be involved in.

My challenge to you is - Be deliberate about your choices.  Don't let others rule your family.  You never know what regrets they may be feeling because of the choices they have made.

Keep pressing on,
Steph