The Homekeeper's Journal - It's Back

The Homekeeper’s Journal ~ August 9

.

In my kitchen this week ………. I've been trying to stick to menu, it's not really working, but at least I do have a better idea of what I have on hand; so I have an pretty idea what I'm serving & and not rummaging around the house at 5:00 trying to answer the "What's for supper" question.

Around the house ……. School's started back so we're trying to get back into the swing of things.  I've redone my schedule...Now I just have to actually to FOLLOW IT!

The family ….. Dalton started Middle School this week...So far it's gone fine.  Bobbye Sue started 3rd grade.  Barrett has his 1st Saturday Morning  Coaches.  This is he's last free Friday night for  months - until the Christmas break.  So I really need to make it a special family night.
New projects …… Nothing really "new" just trying to get everyone back  on track with school and trying to regain some order.

Ideas …… Fall  is like my "New Year" as I said in an earlier post, so I have like all these ideas on getting more organized and creating a new start an order to our life.

On my mind this week …… A couple at our church lost their 30 year old son in a tragic car wreck.  He leaves behind 2 kids.  The funeral was today and it was so sad.  It's just one of those time in life when something just slaps you in the face and really makes you stop and think how fragile and precious life is.

Home Making Journal - What's up

In my kitchen this week ……. Same ole same ole.

Doing this and that …. Cleaning, finishing up school & getting ready for vacation.

We’re getting geared up for summer by ...Dalton'ss graduated today.


My summer plans include...We going to the Smokie's June 6-1o, Dalton has 3 camps. My sister and nephew are gradurating this weekend. We have VBS the last week of June. bobby Sue and I all going to visit my mom for a week and I hope to meet up with an online friend.

The weather here has been …… A little cold and stormy.

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: Home & Garden

Homekeeper's Journal ~ May 17th

(Click on the image to go to the hosting site.)

This week’s Journal is all about Home and Garden!

This week in my kitchen ……….We really need to get back to eating healthy - back to the basics; 6 0z protein, 6 oz veggies & 1 starch - no veggies at breakfast.

My gardening thoughts this week ……. Granddaddy and the kids keep the garden.  I'm dreaming of peppers, onions and squash!


My plans for my home this summer  …….. I really want to deep clean the kids' bedroom.  But basically just keep the house clean!

This absolutely positively has to be done to my home this year ...We really would love to pull up the carpets in the bedrooms & put down new flooring.

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: Disapointment

Today’s Homekeeper’s Journal is all about disappointment.

Disappointment. The thing we don’t want and we don’t want our children to experience. But then again, we do want our children to experience it so that they can learn and grow. Disappointment is something that we just wish wasn’t part of life, but it always will be.

My biggest kitchen disappointment ……… For the past few weeks I really haven't felt well for the past couple of weeks; I'm in a lot a pain (Going to the doctor Tuesday).  But because I'm not feeling well I wasn't able to clean the kitchen the house like I wanted or needed to.  

I’ve learned this from disappointment ….. I was blessed with 2 great parents who taught me how to deal with disappointments.  Growing  up with a disability, I had many challenges.  Some I was able to overcome and others I weren't.  My parents  always  tried to encourage and not let me wallow in self - pity.  They pushed me to be the best that I could.  I think disappointment are a part of life and you have to face them and move on.  Some of the most crucial lessons I have learned in my life, have came out of my times of disappointment.  I have to constantly  remind myself to ask; "OK God, what do you want me to learn from this?"What I hope my children can learn from disappointment ….. Just that: that they can learn from disappointment.    I'd like them see their disappointment as stepping stones to get closer to God.

Disappointment with people …..I'm a "people pleaser" by nature and I really want people to be happy so I hate to disappointed them.  On the other hand I try to give people the benefit of the doubt when they disappoint.  However, this is harder to do with the people I love most: Bryan, Dalton & Bobbye Sue.  I tend to be harsher with them.    I really need to pray and seek God's guidance in this area.

The Bible speaks about disappointment a lot. Here are some verses that give us comfort and strength in the face of disappointment.   Tell how these verses can help you overcome disappointment……

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Colossians 3:23-25  We are to work to please God and not others.  I have to pray that God will give me the right frame mind, heart and spirit in order to do my work to please & glorify God.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:13-14  This verse tells me that I am  to be confident in all I do because I believe in Jesus and have eternal life.  If I trust in God and that if I do what I believe that God wants me to do, everything will work out. 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28  I know that if I love God and follow His will for my life that everything will work out.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Philippians 4:6-7  I am not suppose   to get anxious or upset about anything.  I'm to pray about everything and give all my worries to God.

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: Spring Cleaning

The Homekeeper’s Journal is a way to keep track of your thoughts, in journal form, online. I have given you the prompts, written my own responses, and given you a Mclinky to use to leave the link to your own Journal entry. A link back here is nice. Its also a great way to get traffic moving to your blog and share your thoughts with others.

This week’s Homekeeper’s Journal is about Spring Cleaning of a different sort….

In my kitchen this week …..  Not much, cleaned it today

In my home this week …..  Trying to recoup from spring and gear up for the least 9 weeks of school.  I want to start a deep spring cleaning next week, so I'm getting ready for that.  I'm going to buy grocries  tomorrow.  Barrett has a confrence with Dalton's teachers tomorrow.  The kids got report cards yesterday and Dalton's grades really dropped.  Not sure what's up with that.  Bobbye Sue's suppose to go spend the night with a friend Friday Night.  She has a soccer game Saturday and then we have to  drive to White House to buy a scooter I found on  Craiglist.

Read these verses

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

These verses tell me ……Everything starts with a pure and sincere heart.  If you think about this, it goes along   with both spring cleaning and renewing our relationship with God.  However, on my own I'm not likely to do a deep, thorough  cleaning until  I feel like I 'm being suffocated by the mess, just like sometimes I need t get into the darkness because I'm so far away from God, that it takes the prompting of the the Holy Spirit to get back to Him

Now read these verses

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

These verses tell me ………My attitude reflects what my mind thinks which reflects what I put into and expose it to.  I need to put good and pure things into my life, so that I can concentrate on God and live for him. 

I will start Spring Cleaning my Heart this week by …… Praying...I've been listening to the  book "The Power Of A Praying Parent".   It suggested going through a doing a "spiritual housecleaning" and actually going through and praying for my house room by room.

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: This and That

This week’s Homekeeper’s Journal is about This And That!

In My Kitchen this week……….. Today was my big monthly grocery trip so I spent the afternoon putting stuff up and cleaned out the fridge

In My Yard …….. Our Bradford Pear Treas are blooming!!!  I can see on  them from  my kitchen window.

I’ve been thinking …. V-A-C-A-T-O-N!!!  We'll be going to the Smokies June 6th-10th.   Started planning last week

What motivates me more than anything else ...When I feel good both physically AND mentally.   

My Devotional life and walk with Christ …. Could be so much better.!!! As I've spoke up many times in my blog I struggle with depression in the winter and too often the first thing that I let slide is  my personal time with God.  Spring is slowly coming around.  I am starting to listen  to more sermons and worship music, as well as pray and read more.

I struggle ….. That's a loaded question!!!  This week I've really been struggling with Mama Guilt.    I want to be a good mama; and I believe I am, but many times think or feel like I should be doing  more.  Satan uses this as one of his tactics to gets to me.  Most days I can act and feel like just a "NORMAL" mama, but sometimes a challenge comes up where  my disablity stands out and then I remember...Oh, maybe I'm not.    As the kids get older, especially Dalton, that don't like anything that makes them stick out.  Having a disabled mama is kind of like having a big pink elephant in the room.  The lastest is they are  having  parent/teacher confrences tomorrow.  He came in yesterday saying they said I had to have a confrence.  Since I don't drive, going to school for a 10  minute conference isn't very easy.  So I sent both his teachers an email saying if I needed to come in I would but that if we could communicate by phone or email (which we do) that'd be great.    So today,  he comes home and tells he almost got a strike because I didn't sign the conference sheet.  (???)  He says that I think I have different rules.   I don't, but I can't do the impossible .  I know that there are going ti be some difficult issues in out mother/child relationship.  I hope and pray that when time passes, they'll look back on their childhoods and see that I loved them with all my heart and every thing I had, even though I wasn't there at every event and didn't do everything the way a typical mother did.  

I dread ….  Dalton starting middle school in the fall.

But I look forward ….  Spring break is next week!!!

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: Service

The Home Keeper's Journal

In my kitchen this week …Not much, just trying to keep it clean.

Service is/is not something that is on my mind very much because … I'd like to do more, but physically I'm limited in what I can do.   Over the last couple of years I've tried of figure out what God wants me to do.  It may sound silly, but I feel like when I encourage people and pray for them I doing service.

There are times when my service seems …..I want to be able to do more.

I know I serve others when I ….. Can see peace in their life and eyes.

My service to others is most like Jesus when …. It's automatic and truly comes from my heart  rather than a what can you do for me attitude.

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: Spring Time Changes

Homekeeper's Journal 3/1/2011

Spring Time Changes

In my kitchen this week... Dalton grilled fish tonight on the George Forman Grill.  It was so GOOD!!! And I really don't like fish.  Tomorrow I need to plan my menu for the next 2 weeks and make my grocery list, as I'll go to the store on Thursday. 

Changes I make to my home in spring...Open the window; bring in spring colors and fragrances.

Changes in my schedule...I actually just redid my schedule today.  Just need to be vigilant to follow it.

Changes in my yard....Not my field.  Bobbye Sue is itching to plant flowers - Granddaddy has found seeds through he's new hobby; "Dumpster Diving"  Dalton commented today that it was about time to mow the yard.

What I look forward to this spring...We may try to buy a pop up camper.  We sold our camper trailer this pay fall and have decided if we want to buy a camper or not.    We like camping, but think a pop up may be easier to use.

Spring brings with it....Longer days, more family time.  fresh air...Bobbye Sue is starting soccer  next week.  She's always wanted to play.  Have a question...Am I an official soccer mom, even though I can't drive a minivan??? LOL!

A sure sign of spring...Warmer weather!

A favorite spring activity...Sitting out on the swing with Barrett watching the kids play.

Want to participate? Visit The Christian Homekeeper for details!

HOME KEEPER'S JOURNAL: Being Gentle

Homekeeper's Journal 2/22/11

If you would like to participate in The Homekeeper's Journal go on over to The Christian Homekeeper. 

This week's Homekeeper's Journal is about homemaking and being gentle.

In my kitchen this week... Same ole, same ole.  Trying to keep it clean.

On my mind this week... Praying, thinking and researching about homeschooling,

Gentleness is one of the Fruit of the Spirit so as a Christian … I need to pray to be more gentle and I also need to look up the definiton  of gentle:  (from marriamandwebster.com)

Definition of GENTLE

1

a : belonging to a family of high social stationb archaic : chivalrousc : honorable, distinguished; specifically : of or relating to a gentlemand : kind, amiable —used especially in address as a complimentary epithet <gentle reader>e : suited to a person of high social station

2

a : tractable, docileb : free from harshness, sternness, or violence

3

: soft, delicate

4

: moderate

When the Bible says that Moses was the meekest of all men (Numbers 12:3);  (New International Version, ©2010) ³ (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.    it reminds me that …People who are truly followers of God stand out from the rest.  We are not suppose to try to be like and live like the world

The gentle person has died to self, so when I am gentle in situations that cause others to be angry and violent (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28) … 

Proverbs 16:32 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
   one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
   is a person who lacks self-control.

       These verses remind me that it is crucial for me to be patient and have self control in my life.  I really need to work on this - especially in relationship to my husband and my kids.

Knowing that gentleness is not cowardice or lack of conviction 

1 Peter 2:22-23 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ²² “He committed no sin,
   and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^[a]

 ²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly


    I am encouraged to …  Be strong and confident in God.    I don't need to be ashamed of being gentle.  It's a gift from God.     It's funny because I don't think of myself as a gentle person, thought I want to be.  I'm more like a bull in a china shop.  I couldn't be physically gentle if my life depended on it.  I do try.  Sometimes, it seams like the harder  I  try to be gentle; the more chaos I cause.  I think the moral of this is that whenever I try on my own  to be gentle; I will fail.  However, If I rely on God; He'll make me gentle