What Hinders You?

I know I had a post with a similar title a few weeks ago! That one was about decorating. This one is about cleaning.

What is it that hinders you from keeping your house clean? That's the question I faced as I studied the first day in the Spring Clean Challenge at A Virtuous Woman. Melissa listed several things that hinder people from cleaning, and I had to admit that "all of the above" was my answer. This morning I sat down and found Scriptural thoughts to combat each of these reasons, and I wanted to share them here.

1. I don't know how to organize.

If you don't know how to organize your home - learn! James 1:5 says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Ask God to help you learn to clean and organize, and He will lead you to books and/or people that can help you. I still remember my amazement when I found FlyLady! I know, to this day, that she was a direct answer to my prayer for some way to begin keeping my home better. Ask for wisdom, then put some feet on that prayer and start looking for the information you need.

2. I have too much stuff.

Get rid of some of your stuff! Jesus warned against covetousness, the desire to have more stuff: "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15 Go through your home and clear it of all those things you don't use or wear on a regular basis. You don't have to throw these things away; give them away or sell them on Craigslist or Ebay. Learn to let go of the material things of this life. They won't matter in eternity, and they are far less important than the people we love - and I want to make my home a place for my loved ones, not all my stuff.

3. I would rather be doing something else.

Wouldn't we all! Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" There is a time to do everything you need to do, and there is even a time to do those things you want to do. The really great thing is that, when you do the things you need to do, you can do the things you want to do without guilt! Learn to have a time for everything. Quit whining about not wanting to do what you should, and just do it.

4. I spend too much time on the computer or reading.

Again, there is time for each of those things, but we need to spend our time wisely. There's nothing wrong with being online or reading, as long as it's a wise use of our time. Two places in the New Testament we're told to redeem the time. Ephesians 5:16 - "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." And again in Colossians 4:5 - "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." I did a little word study on these verses, focusing on redeem and time. In those two verses, time is speaking of a set or proper time - as in having a time for everything, as mentioned above. To redeem something is to buy it back or rescue it from loss. So use every minute so as not to waste it. Have some time be online, and make sure that time is profitable. Read, but make it profitable. Again, a time for everything!

As I've written these things, my heart has been saying, "What right do you have to say these things? You are guilty of all of these." That's right. All of these are things I regularly think and do. So this post was written to myself first. I have been praying much over the past few days and asking God to show me how to honor Him most, and these are the responses He is giving me. I hope they're a help to you! God's Word is relevant today, for our lives in 2009!

Worn Out!

We had an exceptionally busy and exciting weekend! You can read more about it on my regular blog, ByGrace, if you'd like. Now my husband and I are worn out! I spent this morning alternating between wake and sleep. I literally got up, then went back to bed to take a nap!

Something that has burdened me lately is my laziness. Today has really shown up my lazy streak - but I do recognize that the past few days have been busier and more emotionally exciting than usual, so I'm trying to show myself a little grace. But overall, I want to do better. I've been attempting to stay off the computer more, and I'm beginning the Spring Cleaning Challenge from A Virtuous Woman. Have you joined in on it? I am an entire month behind, but because of its devotional nature, I want to do the entire challenge and not just jump in halfway through. I plan to make this part of my regular devotional reading/meditating/praying for the next few weeks. Let me know if you're participating too!

Well, my house isn't horrible, but it's not great, either. So I'll be working harder in the future and always learning to do better!

Need to Make Some Plans

Just a quick check-in to say that the Chalupa was great last night! It was a hit with everyone, and it makes a lot so there are plenty of leftovers. I'm planning to use it in burritos tomorrow along with the leftover rice and some cheese. I'll have to make some more tortillas, though. Andrew ate 3 tortillas with chalupa inside (basically burritos) last night!

I've been working on spending less time online this week, and what time I am online I'm trying to make profitable rather than aimlessly surfing. I love to surf, so I think I'll make a time once a week when I can check out other blogs . . . I just can't do it indefinitely every day. So since I am spending less time online, I'm finding time to get other things done, like more home decorating, reading, crafting, and practicing music. The thing is, I have so many interesting things I want to do that I get bogged down trying to figure out what to do next!

I was thinking on this this morning. I remember staying with my Granny when I was a little girl. She was never rushing around, but she was never idle either. She would work in the house a bit, bake a little something, do some laundry, work in the yard a bit, listen to the radio, sew a little, read a little, watch the late news on TV . . . she was busy doing things, but not in a tizzy trying to do everything. And she was always humming; that's one of my sweetest memories of my Granny! I realized this morning that I want to be like her: busy, but not frantic.

Did Granny have a schedule? Not one that was written down, if she did. I do know that she did house things in the morning, including any baking she wanted to do. After lunch she would sit down and sew while listening to the radio, and in the evening is when she would do her reading. In the summer she'd do yard work in early morning or late evening - she always had a neat yard and beautiful flowers. I never even saw her hurry on Sunday mornings! She got her clothes ready the night before, then got up early so she wouldn't have to hurry. She was always ready and waiting for my uncle to come and pick her up for church at least an hour ahead of time. She'd set supper on to cook sometime in late morning, then reheat it at the proper time, or at the least get things ready to cook so she wouldn't have to rush around during meal time. Especially if people were coming over.

Today as I remember Granny's peaceful home (not spotless by any means, but peaceful), I find myself wanting the same thing. Not the frantic rush of trying to get a kajillion things done, but the relaxed pace of a simple life and simple work. Yes, I do have things to do, but I want to find that refreshing way of getting them done a little at a time. Spending less time online is a start. Slowing down and being in the moment is another inroad. Knowing my priorities is another key.

What do you think? How are ways that you can be busy, but not frantic?

Recipe: Chalupa

We're having another new dish tonight: Chalupa. It's from Fix-It & Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook. I've already sampled it while it's been cooking (should be done in about another hour), and I think we're going to like it! It's a pork dish, with pinto beans and Mexican seasonings. The recipe calls for it to be served over lettuce, but I'm making rice and we'll have tortillas, sour cream, and salsa on the side.

Chalupa

3 lb. pork roast, trimmed of fat
1 lb. dry pinto beans
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. salt
4-oz. can chopped green chilies
Water

1. Cover beans with water and soak overnight in slow cooker.
2. In the morning, remove beans (reserve soaking water) and put roast in bottom of cooker. Add remaining ingredients (including the beans and their soaking water) and more water if needed to cover all the ingredients.
3. Cook on High 1 hour, and then on Low 6 hours. Remove meat and shred with two forks. Return meat to slow cooker.
4. Cook on High 1 more hour.
5. Serve over a bed of lettuce. Top with grated cheese and chopped onions and tomatoes.

Time for another week of menus! I don't always follow my menu plans exactly. Last week was a perfect example; I ended up switching things around on several days. But it sure does help to have some things written down so I have a basic idea of what's going on . . . and can switch meals out! Here are my plans for this week . . .

Monday - Cheeseburger Buns, Cheddar Potato Strips, coleslaw
Tuesday - Salmon Patties, creamed potatoes, chili beans, coleslaw
Wednesday - Beef Patties in Brown Gravy, rice, green beans
Thursday - Chalupa* (pork roast dish) over rice, tortillas, salad
Friday - Homemade Beef & Bacon pizza, salad
Saturday - Beef & Bean Burritos, corn, veggies & dip
Sunday - Pizza (Youth Appreciation Day at church)

*Recipe posted the day we plan to have this

For more menu plans and ideas, please visit Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Spring Cleaning 2009

I just found a site, by recommendation of my blogging friend Sophia, that is having a Spring Cleaning Challenge 2009. First of all, I do prefer to do my heavy cleaning a bit at a time, a la FlyLady or Motivated Moms. At the same time, though, this challenge looks like something that would be good not only for our homes, but also for our hearts. I haven't read through much of it, but what I have read seems to be very helpful. So I thought I'd throw it out here for you to check into and see if it's something that might be a help to you. I certainly plan to read it and glean some helpful thoughts.

On the page I'm sending you to, you can scroll down to Day 1 and follow from there. The challenge started on March 1st, so it's not far into the challenge yet, and the author is graciously giving a catch-up post to help those who are just now hearing of the challenge. It's not too late!

Recipe: 10-Layer Slow-Cooker Dish

Makes 8 servings

6 medium potatoes, thinly sliced, unpeeled
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
15-oz. can corn, drained
15-oz. can peas, drained
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, browned and drained
10 3/4 oz. can cream of mushroom soup

Layer 1: 1/4 of potatoes, 1/2 of onion
Layer 2: 1/2 can of corn
Layer 3: 1/4 of potatoes
Layer 4: 1/2 can peas
Layer 5: 1/4 of potatoes, 1/2 of onion
Layer 6: remaining corn
Layer 7: remaining potatoes
Layer 8: remaining peas and water
Layer 9: ground beef
Layer 10: soup

Cover; cook on High 4 hours.

Exchange List Values: Starch 2.5, meat, lean 2.0, Fat 0.5
WW Points: 7 per serving

Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook, Spiral-bound By Phyllis Pellman Good

Menu Plan Monday - March 2 (on Tuesday!)

I'm sorry this is being posted so late! Not only late in the day, but a day late to boot. One of my meals from last week made it onto this week's menu, because I didn't get it in the crockpot on time, so I had to postpone it for another day. I'm good like that. I'm also known for not getting things in the crockpot on time!

Monday - Tortellini with Alfredo sauce, corn on the cob, spinach salad
Tuesday - Taco Bake, corn, baked beans, green salad
Wednesday - Potato Chowder with ham, fresh homemade bread
Thursday - 10-Layer Slow-Cooker Dish*, baby carrots, rolls
Friday - Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, salad
Saturday - Enchilada Stuffed Shells, ranch-style beans, coleslaw
Sunday - Parmesan Chicken, green beans, corn, rolls

*Recipe posted on the day we plan to eat it

For more menu plans and meal ideas, please visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

A Decent Day

If you've been around me for very long at all, you know I love Mondays! I started this one feeling energetic, but by mid-morning I was aching and cramping and tired. My sweet husband suggested I take a rest day, and so I have to an extent. I kept going, just at a slower pace. I knew that I wanted to get my morning routine and my housework done, so I just did the next thing till all that was done. It wasn't done in record time, but it's done. There are no piles staring at me, no dirty dishes or gritty floors, no icky sinks . . . that's the beauty of a routine. You can get the basics done and then rest if you need to. Laundry has been slow too, but it's getting done.

I am learning to quilt. I have two projects going right now, a doll quilt and a baby-size quilt. I still have to do the hand-quilting on the doll quilt, which is something I've never done before. I hope to do a little more on that tonight. And I just started cutting the pieces for the top of the other quilt over the weekend. I worked on that right before lunch, but my back was aching too much to continue on that today.

That's it for this Monday! I will post my Menu Plan tomorrow, a day late. Just wanted to share how having routines and a plan can help you get through those just-don't-feel-good days, when you aren't sick enough to be in bed, but not up to snuff either!