Monday Meanderings

1. Bible Study /Devotions - I still have not come across any devotions that I can call regular. I read the Bible daily and that is pretty much all for now. I did subscribe to Above Rubies email list, but I don't think I have received an email yet. (However I have not checked my email for several days now) I will however be checking out the one's that Tiany listed on her post for this week.

2. "Must Do" -

• Help kids get re-enrolled in school
• Set up a system in my notebook to keep track of Bible verses and thoughts concerning them
• Continue organizing personal spaces
• Continue before bed routines and morning routines
• Get some interview outfits together... that fit! :)

3. Zones -

Last week I cleaned under the bathroom sink and some of the kitchen cabinets, but still have one left (pots and pans cabinet) that really needs some attention. And the outside storage closet needs to be sorted through. My sis is having a garage sale and I would like to take most of the stuff over there to get rid of.


4. Train Them Up -

Teaching by example has been having a real and true impact on the kids. I am just living the way God has put in me to live and let that do the rest. My 3rd son happened to catch part of the "I want my daddy" sermon I talked about here. He didn't really say anything, but I overheard him sharing some of what he heard to my 2nd son. Their father is a mirror image of my father. I pray for healing for them concerning him.

5. Meal Planning -

My mentally planning meals and making out grocery lists has been working out pretty well. I cook once day, on the weekends twice and everyone seems pretty happy. :) I want to cut down what we are spending on groceries each week. We were spending around $150 a wk., last week we consciously cut it down to about $120 (that's $120 a month saved... yay!), so we will see what we can do this week. :)

Meal Suggestions:

1. Steak, mashed potatoes, sweet peas & carrots, macaroni n cheese

2. Hamburgers, french fries

3. Chili over rice, cornbread

4. Baked chicken, white rice w/ butter, corn, macaroni n cheese, cornbread

5. Chicken enchiladas, spanish rice, refried beans

6. BBQ chicken, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, white bread


I would also like to make a banana nut bread this week... may try this recipe... yummmmmmmm :)

Peace

I cannot describe what peace I am now feeling. When I try to think of a description, tears come to my eyes, no words. No fighting or struggling in my head, I just feel free. I feel a renewed sense that I can cope and that life is good. But it seems these words don't do describing this peace justice. It kind of feels like I never skipped a beat. And all those issues I was going to hash over and sort out... that need no longer exists. Thank you Lord for encompassing everything.

And thank you Mom for not giving up on me and for planting these "seeds" so I can be sustained from them now.

I also wanted to say a great big huge thank you to a blogger that I only emailed briefly several months ago, but her words and blog have impacted me greatly. Thank you so much for your kind and wise words Tiany.

Also of course to my great, great friend Miss Mone... Thank you sister.

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I am also participating in Tiany's Monday's Meanderings for the first time... a description from her blog...

"Monday Meanderings” is the perfect way to use your blog to keep you accountable to the most important part of your life, your “Home Life”! Simply pick 5 things each week that will better prepare you to tackle the week ahead!"

Really great idea to incorporate something that tends to take away from Home Life and help in balancing it out. Okay so here goes for my Monday Meanderings:

1. Bible Study/Devotions - I do not have a Bible Study or Devotional plan, so I am going to plan one and look around to find some ideas. I started by clicking on the Above Rubies link on Tiany's page and found this:

Two Blessing for the Home Pt. 2, No. 181

Jeremiah 6:16; “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls, But they said, we will not walk therein.”

The second thing God wants shepherdesses to provide for their little flock is to lead them into REST.

What about rest? Does this mean the children can loaf around and do what they like? No, this is not talking about laziness. It is a rest of peacefulness. It is rest from tension and strife. The shepherdess leads her family into a restful atmosphere. Ezekiel 34:14 Knox says, “I will lead them into fair pastures, the high mountains of Israel shall be their feeding ground, the mountains of Israel, with soft grass for them to rest on.”

It is delightful to lie down in soft grass, isn’t it? Who can lie down in prickly grass? No one. The shepherdess/mother seeks to eradicate all prickliness from the atmosphere of her home. She works as a peacemaker against all contention. She leads her family to soft grass. It’s beckoning. It’s comfortable.

Of course, life is never perfect. There will always be conflicts to overcome in the home. There are often arguments and upsets. The enemy is always lurking around to disrupt the peace and make the grass prickly. But the shepherdess is also a watchwoman. She guards her family from the attacks of the enemy. She uses the weapon of intercession to push back the enemy of discord. She prays in the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit to put out the fires of discord and bring harmony and peace. I am often challenged by Proverbs 18:6 which says, “A fool’s lips enter into contention.” We can dissipate many conflicts if we bite our lips!

The shepherdess who safely folds her flock also makes sure everything is clean and in order in her home. It is difficult to rest in a home that is out of order.

We need to remind ourselves that God calls the home a resting place. Numbers 10:33 tells us that God went before the children of Israel to search out a resting place for them.

Proverbs 24:15 gives a strong warning to anyone who destroys the peace and rest of a godly home, “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting place.”
Isaiah 32:18, "My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
Hosea 11:11 Knox, “And in their own home, says the Lord, I will give them rest.”

May you live in rest in your home of rest.
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“I pray, Lord, that you will help me to make the grass soft for my children to lie in. Help me to lead them away from prickly grass. Help me to create an atmosphere of rest. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

In meadows green we rest
Where the grass is soft to nest!

This definitely applies to some things are happening in our home right now. I really desire for our family to have healthier habits and be happy as themselves. But more on that in the "Train Them Up" section...


2. "Must Do" - This week I must:

• Organize where everyone is going to keep their personal items. (The kids recently moved back home)
• Update my Organization Folder (inspired by here)
  
• Start back up on my Routines and Fly Lady inspired schedules.
• Get dressed and make up bed right after I wake up
• Get my hair styles, hair grooming techniques/maintenance and clothing organized.
  

3. Zone - I don't have specific zone schedule set up, but my kitchen cabinets and drawers really need attention and under the bathroom sink.

4. Train Them Up - My kids are young adults and teenagers, but there are most definitely some areas that need to be addressed. But as being my kids are older, I do believe I need to start "teaching" by being an example. They already have some foundation, but we have all had a rough time of it and especially in the last 5 or 6 years. So I will update as to what comes up.

5. Menu Planning - I have been winging it for the past several weeks and it's been working out pretty good for us. But here is a little guide plan that I can look at during the week to work with:

Meals Suggestions


1) BBQ Chicken, white rice, mixed vegetables, mac n' cheese, white bread or corn bread

2) Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, sweet peas

3) Carne Asada, refried beans, spanish rice, potato salad, tortillas

4) Baked Chicken, mashed potatoes, mac n' cheese, cabbage, cornbread

5) Enchiladas, spanish rice, refried beans

6) Tacos, spanish rice, refried beans

7) Spaghetti w/ ground beef, salad, bread and butter

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Okay I think that is about it. Probably more to come later.